Calorific study of the smectic A—smectic C transition in TBBA

An a.c. calorimetric technique has been used to measure the heat capacity variation associated with the smectic A—smectic C transition in terephthal-bis-(4n)-butylaniline (TBBA). Contrary to expectations based on the recent observation of petransitional acoustic effects in the semectic-A phase, the heat capacity shows no evidence of critical fluctuations and can be well described by a Landau mean-field model.     

Trans-bis(dimethylglyoximato) cobalt(III) complexes containing imidazole and thiocyanate as axial ligands

Imidazole(Im), benzimidazole(BzIm), morpholine (Morph) and their derivatives react with Co(CNS)₂ and dimethylglyoxime(DH₂) in ethanolic medium in presence of air to form a number of new cobalt(III) complexes of the type trans-[Co(DH)₂(L)(SCN)], which are characterised on the basis of electronic and IR spectra, NMR (¹H and ¹³C) and mass spectra as well as thermogravimetric (TG-DTA) and conductance measurements. The thiocyanate groups are S-bonded. The NMR observations suggest that in solution these compounds exist as mixtures of the neutral species [Co(DH)₂(L)(SCN)] and the salt [Co(DH)₂(SCN)₂]^? [Co(DH)₂(L)₂]⁺. The mass spectra does not show the molecular ion peak of the complex. The TG-DTA measurements show that the thermolysis of these complexes proceeds through polymeric intermediates giving CO₃O₄ as the end product.     

Hartree-Fock cluster investigation of location and hyperfine properties of normal muonium in silicon-trend with respect to diamond

Using the first-principles Hartree-Fock Cluster procedure employed earlier for normal muonium (Mu) in diamond, the total energy and hyperfine field at the muon site in silicon have been studied as a function of muon position along the <111> direction. The muon was found to be localized in the tetrahedral interstitial region, although the potential was significantly shallower as compared to diamond. The vibrationally averaged hyperfine constant for the muon shows a correct trend compared to diamond but is somewhat larger than experiment, possible reasons for which will be discussed. Results for the superhyperfine constants in silicon will be presented and compared with those for diamond.     

Low temperature magnetic structure of MnSe

In this paper we report low temperature neutron diffraction studies on MnSe in order to understand the anomalous behaviour of their magnetic and transport properties. Our study indicates that at low temperatures MnSe has two coexisting crystal structures, high temperature NaCl and hexagonal NiAs. NiAs phase appears below 266 K and is antiferromagnetically ordered at all temperatures while the NaCl phase orders antiferromagnetically at 130 K.     

A systematic study of the Toda lattice

We apply the results of our recent investigation of integrable models to the particular case of the Toda lattice. We obtain the conserved quantities in closed form and derive the recursion relation which leads to their involution. We compare our Lax equation with the conventional and present the higher order Lax equations also in a closed form.     

A Graphical Approach to Price-Break Analysis—3

The price-break problem is a non-linear discrete problem of two variables and three parameters which is not solvable analytically. As such, a graphical solution is suggested here by re-formulating the problem in two stages: first, as an equivalent non-linear, and next, as a linear problem of two variables and a single parameter. The later formulation affords an efficient graphical solution which was not possible earlier. In addition, useful procedures for plotting iso-cost curves and deriving approximate numerical solutions are also discussed.     

Nonlinear fluctuating hydrodynamics and sequence of time scales of relaxation in supercooled liquids

Nonlinear fluctuating hydrodynamic (NFH) models for relaxation in the supercooled liquid are considered. Recent results on self consistent mode coupling theory for the slow relaxation of density fluctuations are analyzed to explain the glassy dynamics. The relaxation mechanisms for different types of models with and without wave vector dependences are discussed. For the schematic models where all wave vector dependences are dropped a sequence of time scales enters the relaxation process. For the non-ergodicity parameter very close to the ideal transition point is scaled by an exponent equal to 1/2. This is demonstrated here through an analysis of the mode-coupling equations for the wave vector dependent models that follow from equations of NFH.     

Chiral ordering in the nematic and an optically isotropic mesophase of bent-core mesogens with a halogen substituent at the central core

Two new homologous series of bent-core compounds have been synthesized. Their mesophase behaviour has been investigated by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, and by dielectric and electro-optical measurements. It was found that, with one exception, all the chlorine-substituted compounds form a nematic phase and an optically isotropic 'banana phase'. The latter phase shows spontaneously chiral domains of opposite handedness. This phase may be considered as a type of smectic blue phase. The mesophase behaviour of the homologous bromine-substituted compounds is more complicated. Depending on the chain length, B₆, columnar, nematic or the isotropic 'banana phase' occur.