La2Sb, a layered superconductor with metal-metal bonds

We found that La(2)Sb with a layered structure composed of alternate stacking of La square nets and LaSb layers exhibits bulk superconductivity with a critical temperature of 5.3 K. This suggests that the presence of the square net with strong La-La metal bonding is essential for the emergence of superconductivity.     

On an empty triangle with the maximum area in planar point sets

Let P be a finite set of points in general position in the plane. We evaluate the ratio between the maximum area of an empty triangle of P and the area of the convex hull of P.     

A converse of Hörmander’s L2-estimate and new positivity notions for vector bundles

Science China Mathematics - We study conditions of Hörmander’s L2-estimate and the Ohsawa-Takegoshi extension theorem. Introducing a twisted version of the Hörmander-type condition,...     

Mirror symmetry,mirror map and applications to Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces

Mirror Symmetry, Picard-Fuchs equations and instanton corrected Yukawa couplings are discussed within the framework of toric geometry. It allows to establish mirror symmetry of Calabi-Yau spaces for which the mirror manifold had been unavailable in previous constructions. Mirror maps and Yukawa couplings are explicitly given for several examples with two and three moduli.On leave of absence from Dept. of Math., Toyama Univ., Toyama 930, Japan (address after Sept. 1, 1993)Address after Oct. 1, 1993: Dept. of Math., Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. after April 1, 1994: CERN, Theory Division, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland     

The stress concentration in keyways when torque is transmitted through keys

The stress-concentration factor for keyways is obtained by the electroplating method of strain analysis which was recently developed in Japan. The stresses in keyways are examined under most practical conditions. The shaft to be examined is set in a boss and fixed with a key so that the torque is wholly transmitted to the test piece through the key. To obtain the limit value for a shaft twisted only through a key, the fitting is devised so as to minimize the surface friction at the fitted portion. The results are compared to those reported previously by other authors in which local effects of the key are ignored.     

Elastic scattering of 56 MeV polarized deuterons on 4He

The differential cross section and the vector and tensor analyzing powers A_y, A_xx, A_yy and A_xz were measured for the d-⁴He elastic scattering at 56 MeV. The measurement of A_xz was performed using a deuteron beam polarized in the horizontal plane. An optical-model analysis of the experimental data was carried out. The magnitude of the tensor analyzing powers could not be reproduced without the tensor potential. By including the T_R type tensor potential, the optical-model calculations give a reasonable reproduction of the experimental data at θ_c.m. < 120°. The obtained T_R tensor potential was much stronger than that predicted by the folding model. The strength of the real T_R potential was roughly in accordance with that obtained from the optical-model analysis of d-⁴He elastic scattering at 20.2 MeV.     

Intermetallic Electride Catalyst as a Platform for Ammonia Synthesis

Electrides loaded with transition‐metal (TM) nanoparticles have recently attracted attention as emerging materials for catalytic NH₃ synthesis. However, they suffer from disadvantages associated with the growth and aggregation of nanoparticles. TM‐containing intermetallic electrides appear to be promising catalysts with the advantages of both electrides and transition metals in a single phase. LaRuSi is reported here to be an intermetallic electride with superior activity for NH₃ synthesis, and direct evidence is provided supporting its electride‐character‐induced catalytic performance. The discussion is made mainly based on the contrasting synthesis rates over the isostructural compounds LaRuSi, CaRuSi, and LaRu₂Si₂, and the N₂ isotope‐exchange reactions over these compounds. Lattice hydride ions, which can reversibly exchange with anionic electrons, are shown to be indispensable in the promotion of NH_x formation. The mechanism derived from the present findings provides new guidelines for NH₃ synthesis.     

Phonon confinement effect on nanocrystalline LiCoO2 studied with Raman spectroscopy

A systematic investigation on nanocrystalline LiCoO₂ has been carried out using Raman spectroscopy. We synthesized nanocrystalline LiCoO₂ (ca. 20-50 nm) through a combination of rapid thermal annealing at various annealing temperatures and a sol-gel method assisted with a triblock copolymer surfactant. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements revealed the formation of LiCoO₂. The crystallite size of LiCoO₂ from the Scherrer equation strongly depended on the annealing temperature. The crystallite size was confirmed by SEM and TEM measurements. Raman shifts of the A_1g and E_g modes for nanocrystalline LiCoO₂ exhibited a broadening and a frequency shift according to the crystallite size. While the frequency shift could be ascribed to a structural strain at the surface, the broadening was due to the phonon confinement effect produced by narrow crystal boundaries.     

Diffusion and reactions of interstitial oxygen species in amorphous SiO2: A review

This article briefly summarizes the diffusion and reactions of interstitial oxygen species in amorphous SiO₂ (a-SiO₂). The most common form of interstitial oxygen species is oxygen molecule (O₂), which is sensitively detectable via its characteristic infrared photoluminescence (PL) at 1272 nm. The PL observation of interstitial O₂ provides key data to verify various processes related to interstitial oxygen species: the dominant role of interstitial O₂ in long-range oxygen transport in a-SiO₂; formation of the Frenkel defect pair (Si–Si bond and interstitial oxygen atom, O⁰) by dense electronic excitation; efficient photolysis of interstitial O₂ into O⁰ with F₂ laser light (λ = 157 nm, hν = 7.9 eV); and creation of interstitial ozone molecule via reaction of interstitial O₂ with photogenerated O⁰. The efficient formation of interstitial O⁰ by F₂ laser photolysis makes it possible to investigate the mobility, optical absorption, and chemical reactions of interstitial O⁰. The observed properties of O⁰ are consistent with the model that O⁰ takes the configuration of Si–O–O–Si bond. Interstitial O₂ and O⁰ react with dangling bonds, oxygen vacancies, and chloride groups in a-SiO₂. Reactions of interstitial O₂ and O⁰ with mobile interstitial hydrogen species produce interstitial water molecules and hydroperoxy radicals. Interstitial hydroxyl radicals are formed by F₂ laser photolysis of interstitial water molecules.