Amorphous Fe–Mg alloy thin films: magnetic properties and atomic vibrational dynamics

Amorphous (a-) Fe _x Mg_1?x alloys are interesting materials for the investigation of non-Debye-like low-energy vibrational excitations. We have prepared a-Fe _x Mg_1?x alloy thin films (0.3 ≤ × ≤0.7) by vapour quenching. The amorphous state was confirmed by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy between 4.2–300 K, and the x- and temperature-dependence of the isomer shift and hyperfine magnetic field was measured. For x= 0.6 and 0.7, magnetic ordering occurs below ~150 K. The atomic vibrational density of states, g(E), was determined by nuclear resonant inelastic scattering, providing clear evidence for the non-Debye-like low-energy vibrational excitations.     

Intercalated smectic-A structures in a new class of laterally branched substances

X-ray, DSC and optical studies of a new class of substances with aromatic rings in the lateral branches are reported. The thermal behaviour of the substances is discussed. The X-ray measurements lead to a structural model of the SA phases consisting of layer structures with intercalating molecules.     

The first <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Superscript>-cohomology of some groups with one end

Let p be a real number greater than one. In this paper we study the vanishing and nonvanishing of the first L ^p -cohomology space of some groups that have one end. We also make a connection between the first L ^p -cohomolgy space and the Floyd boundary of the Cayley graph of a group. We apply the result about Floyd boundaries to show that there exists a real number p such that the first L ^p -cohomology space of a nonelementary hyperbolic group does not vanish. Received: 4 August 2006 Revised: 2 November 2006     

Time Asymptotic Behaviour for a One-Velocity Transport Operator with Maxwell Boundary Condition

This paper is concerned with the spectral analysis of a one-velocity transport operator with Maxwell boundary condition in L ₁-space. After a detailed spectral analysis it is shown that the associated Cauchy problem is governed by a C ₀-semigroup. Next, we discuss the irreducibility of the transport semigroup. In particular, we show that the transport semigroup is irreducible. Finally, a spectral decomposition of the solutions into an asymptotic term and a transient one which will be estimated for smooth initial data is given.     

Raman spectroscopy of carbon fibres

Investigations of coated carbon fibres are reported using Raman spectroscopy. Relationships between different process parameters (for example precursor concentration, reactor temperature and various precursors) and the resulting types of carbon fibres are discussed.     

Structural changes in discotic samples during transition from crystal to discotic mesophase as revealed by electron microscopy and diffraction

Classical methods of structural analysis cannot be applied to liquid crystals because higher order reflections disappear during the transition from crystal to liquid crystal due to the reduction in long range orientational and translational correlations. However, in order to relate physical properties to the molecular architecture, it is essential to have information about molecular positions and orientations in the crystalline state as well as in the liquid crystalline state. In this work, the transition from crystalline to liquid crystalline phase is carefully monitored and the relationship between the original lattice and the new molecular positions found using electron diffraction. In addition to this, a new high resolution electron-microscopic technique is described in which the positions of molecules in the crystalline and the quenched discotic phase are directly imaged and the defects observed in the crystalline and LC phase compared and quantitatively analysed.     

The potential of pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for determining the progress of lignification: An investigation of maturing asparagus sclerenchyma tissue

Sclerenchyma tissues from semi-mature and mature asparagus spears were analysed by pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and by conventional chemical methods in order to determine the degree of lignification and compare analytical techniques. The pyrolysis data are similar to those obtained by a chemical method involving alkaline extraction at 70°C followed by spectrophotometric determination of phenolic content. The pyrolysis method was more rapid, sensitive and informative than the chemical technique and shows considerable potential for studying the chemical basis of the textural development of plant foods.     

A high sensitivity titration calorimeter using pyroelectric sensor

A new sensitive isothermal titration microcalorimeter using polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) as detector has been developed. Heat pulses of less than 0.4 μJ can be detected and the baseline noise level (p-p) is 40 nW. The calorimeter is constructed with one reaction cell (0.7 ml) insulated by several radiation shields inside a vacuum chamber. The performance of the instrument was examined by measuring the heat of protonation of Tris with HCl. The enthalpy of reaction was found to be ?49±1 kJ·mol^?1, in good agreement with the reported value of ?47.5 kJ·mol^?1.     

Trace determination of Tl, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Zn in specimens of the limnic environment using isotope dilution mass spectrometry with thermal ionization

Within the framework of the German Environmental Specimen Bank program, Tl, Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn were determined in homogenized materials from the limnic environment using Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) with thermal ionization. The analytical procedures which were developed for the trace metal analysis of bioindicator and sediment samples are described in detail. Results obtained in bream, mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and sediments of Lake Constance/Estuary of Constance in the sampling years 1981, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1993 are discussed and compared with those of bream from the lakeland district of Born-hoeved/Lake Belau and from the River Saar as well as from reference materials.