Cusp catastrophe in slowly varying equilibriums

Solutions of the equations v _x+v ³?tv+x=0 and v _xx=v ³? tv+x, which describe the nucleation of domain walls occurring in the neighborhood of cusps of slowly varying equilibriums, are analyzed. Examples related to the diffusion in smoothly inhomogeneous media are considered.     

Characterization of phospho-olivines as materials for Li-ion cell cathodes

Solid State Reaction was employed to prepare phospho-olivines LiMPO₄ (where M=Fe, Co) as pure phase and LiNiPO₄ in presence of foreign phases, as cathodic materials for lithiumions batteries. The relationship between structural, morphological and electrochemical properties were investigated in the case of LiFePO₄. Structural investigation has been carried out by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and Rietveld refinement. The influence on the morphology of annealing temperature, different flowing gas mixture and addition of ascorbic acid during the synthesis, has been analysed via scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical cycling performances on LiFePO₄ showed to be positively affected by the modifications of the experimental conditions. Cyclic voltammetry showed a good reversibility during insertion-extraction mechanism, in particular in presence of additives. LiCoPO₄ and LiNiPO₄ are interesting as high voltage cathode materials for Li-ion batteries and have been taken into account, but their electrochemical operating conditions are still to be optimised. In the case of LiNiPO₄ it is very difficult to obtain, by solid state synthesis, suitable purity powders, having a grain size small enough to exploit it usefully as cathodic material for Li-ion cells. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16 – 22, 2000.     

On the Behavior of Some Second Order Nonlinear Differential Equations

Qualitative behavior of second order nonlinear differential equations of type y″+p(t)y+q(t)f(y)=0, is studied. It includes properties such as positivity, number of zeros, oscillating nature, boundedness and monotonicity of the solutions.     

Change in the energy of a charged particle moving in the field of a slow electromagnetic wave

A differential equation is obtained that describes the change in the energy of a charged particle in the field of a slow wave (with phase velocity not equal to unity) as a function of the distance traversed. Analysis of this equation yields the amplitude and period of the change in the particle's energy.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 97–102, February, 1981.     

Relaxation dynamics of a broadband nanosecond acoustic pulse in a bubbly medium

The first experimental observation of the propagation dynamics of a short broadband acoustic pulse in a resonance medium with gas bubbles is carried out. The probing pulse is generated using the optoacoustic effect. It is shown that the theory of short pulse propagation in media with generalized resonance relaxation adequately and accurately describes the dynamics of short pulse dispersion. A possibility to determine the relaxation and resonance parameters of media by the pulsed testing technique is demonstrated.     

Diffraction of elastic waves by a free wedge. Reduction to a singular integral equation

The problem of diffraction of a plane elastic wave by a free wedge is considered. A method of reduction of the problem to a singular integral equation is proposed.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova, Vol. 179, pp. 37–45, 1989.