Non‐linear stability for convection with quadratic temperature dependent viscosity

In this paper, we study the non‐linear stability of convection for a Newtonian fluid heated from below, where the viscosity of the fluid depends upon temperature. We are able to show that for Rayleigh numbers below a certain critical value, Ra_c, the rest state of the fluid and the steady temperature distribution remains non‐linearly stable, using the calculations of Diaz and Straughan (Continuum Mech. Thermodyn. 2004; 16 :347–352). The central contribution of this paper lies in a simpler proof of non‐linear stability, than the ones in the current literature, by use of a suitable maximum principle argument. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unfolding the torus: Oscillator geometry from time delays

Summary We present a simple method of plotting the trajectories of systems of weakly coupled oscillators. Our algorithm uses the time delays between the “firings” of the oscillators. For any system ofn weakly coupled oscillators there is an attracting invariantn-dimensional torus, and the attractor is a subset of this invariant torus. The invariant torus intersects a suitable codimension-1 surface of section at an (n−1)-dimensional torus. The dynamics ofn coupled oscillators can thus be reduced,in principle, to the study of Poincaré maps of the (n−1)-dimensional torus. This paper gives apractical algorithm for measuring then−1 angles on the torus. Since visualization of 3 (or higher) dimensional data is difficult we concentrate onn=3 oscillators. For three oscillators, a standard projection of the Poincaré map onto the plane yields a projection of the 2-torus which is 4-to-1 over most of the torus, making it difficult to observe the structure of the attractor. Our algorithm allows a direct measurement of the 2 angles on the torus, so we can plot a 1-to-1 map from the invariant torus to the “unfolded torus” where opposite edges of a square are identified. In the cases where the attractor is a torus knot, the knot type of the attractor is obvious in our projection.     

Quantum confinement effects of CdTe nanocrystals sequestered in TiO2 matrix: effect of oxygen incorporation

Thin films of TiO₂ with high volume fraction (40–55%) and crystallite size (6–40 nm) of CdTe nanoparticles had been prepared by rf magnetron sputtering from a composite TiO₂:CdTe target at room temperature and 373 K. A detailed optical properties of nanocrystalline CdTe:TiO₂ films as-deposited and after thermal treatment (300 °C) are studied. The absorbance of the TiO₂ films with CdTe nanocrystallite dispersions depends both on the nanocrystallite size and volume fraction. The blue-shifts of the optical absorption edge concurrent with the CdTe nanocystal size reduction for as-deposited and after thermal treatment of nanocrystalline CdTe:TiO₂ thin films with respect to the bulk semiconductor agrees quite well with the strong quantum confinement theory. A slight deviation in absorption edge values than the predicted values from the strong quantum confinement model can be attributed to change in interplanar distance due to oxygen incorporation and inhomogeneous size distribution of CdTe nanocrystallites in these films.     

Characterization of glass surfaces by electron spectroscopy

Commercial glasses typically consist of many metal oxides and the surface composition of a glass article can be very different from that of its interior due to vaporization, surface migration, etc., during fabrication. At the same time the chemical make-up of the surface is extremely important in any commercial application, directly affecting the strength and durability of the product. Analytical techniques capable of examining the surface composition have been limited, however, and classical methods of chemical analysis have never been able to supply the desired information. This paper contains a review of analytical procedures that have been used for glass surface analysis and explores the potential of several recently developed techniques. These include the Electron Microprobe, Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), Auger Electron Spectroscopy, Ion Scattering Spectroscopy and Secondary Ion Mass Analysis. The use of Electron Spectroscopy in the study of glass compositions common to the glass fiber industry will be explored in depth.     

A unique method for reducing losses of bends in dielectric optical wave guide

The dielectric optical wave guide is finding growing attention at millimeter wave frequencies. However the dielectric optical waveguide radiates at bends and thus transmission loss increases. These radiations are in the outword direction of bends. This output radiation at output bends arises due to change in phase velocities of the propagating wave at the centre of the dielectric guide and the phase velocity at the outer surface of the dielectric guide. A unique methiod is suggested to avoid these radiation losses.Experimental results are also shown at microwave frequencies.     

Specific contact resistivity of silver contacts on highT cYBa2Cu3O7 superconductors

Specific contact resistances of vacuum-evaporated silver contacts on new oxide superconductors, YBa₂Cu₃O₇ are measured using a modified Kelvin test structure. Contact resistivity increases continuously as the temperature decreases down to zero resistance point. AtT _c, its value is ∼0.15 ohm cm² which is high for technological applications. The nature of contacts appears different from that of semiconductor metal structures.     

Photoelectric effects in chlorophyll membranes

Photoinduced potentials and currents and photo-electroosmotic velocities were measured across cellulose acetate membranes impregnated with chlorophyll pigments. Chlorophyll was extracted by both solvent extraction, Chl^s, and column chromatography, Chl. Photoelectric effects in membranes prepared with the following pigments were investigated: (i) Chl^s-a + β-carotene, (ii) Chl^s-b + xanthophyll, (iii) Chl^s-a, (iv) Chl^s-b, (v) β-carotene, (vi) xanthophyll, (vii) Chl^s-a + anthraquinone, (viii) Chl^s-b + anthraquinone, (ix) Chl-a, (x) Chl-b, (xi) Chl-a + anthraquinone, (xii) Chl-b + anthraquinone, (xiii) Chl-a + benzoquinone, and (xiv) Chl-b + benzoquinone. β-Carotene, xanthophyll, Chl-a and Chl-b obrained by chromatographic separation do not show a photoinduced potential or current. However, these effects are observed when “pure” (doubly chromatographed) Chl-a or Chl-b are mixed with anthraquinone or benzoquinone. These effects are observed in systems (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vii) and (viii) involving Ch^s. Although photoinduced potentials and photoinduced currents are not observed in Chl-a or Chl-b membranes, photoelectroosmosis is still observed. p]Both photoinduced potentials and currents are found to depend on pH. When the pH is changed appropriately, Chl^s-a acts as photocathode while Chl^s-b becomes a photoanode. Photocurrents are considerably enhanced when the pH is lowered. The change of photopotential with temperature is found to be insignificant. Photoelectroosmosis is always found to be directed towards the dark side, regardless of the polarity of the electrodes. A model based on the role of plastiquinone has been proposed to explain these phenomena, which have excellent reproducibility. The model predicts that ΔpH = (pH)_d — (PH)₁ (where (pH)_d and (pH)₁ denote the pH on the dark and illuminated side of the membrane respectively) would be positive when the pH of the bathing solution is higher than approximately 7, while it would be negative for lower pH. This behaviour is observed in the case of mixture of pure Chl-a + anthraquinone and pure Chl-b + benzoquinone. The model also predicts photoelectroosmosis irrespective of the presence of plastiquinone, in agreement with experimental observation.     

Unusual pressure-induced phase behavior in crystalline poly-4-methyl-pentene-1

We report some highly unusual phase behavior, of general implication for condensed matter, on the polymer poly(4-methyl-pentene-1) (P4MP1) induced by changes in pressure and temperature, as observed in situ by x-ray diffraction. Upon increasing pressure beyond a threhold, the polymer, crystalline under ambient conditions, loses its crystalline order isothermally, passing through a continuously varying sequence of mesomorphic states, the process being reversible. This behavior is observed in two widely separated temperature regions, suggesting, for the first time in a single component system, the possibility of reentrant liquid-crystal and amorphous phases. At the upper temperature region (ca. 250°C) there is a consecutive increase and decrease of melting point with pressure. In the lower temperature region (room temperature) the pressure converts the crystal into an amorphous-like glass obviating the need for going through the melt first, and this in a reversible manner. The latter pressure-induced disordered phase converts into crystal on raising the temperature, and reverts to the glassy, disordered phase on lowering the temperature. Some aspects of this behavior have been found quite recently in water-ice and silica but the process of “melting on cooling” has no precedent in any known system. Other unexpected findings include a new pressure-induced modification of P4MP1 with a one-way only entry with temperature, but full reversibility with pressure leading to a triple point in the PT phase diagram. The above highly uncommon results are putting several prevailing preconceptions to test which are being scrutinized. In the course of it some early expectations on general phase behavior, allowing among others for reentrant phases in one component systems, are being invoked as potentially appropriate for certain polymeric systems, if not for condensed matter in general. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.