Line tension and the shape of nanodroplets

Various factors are discussed which might influence the equilibrium contact angle of nanodroplets placed on a solid substrate. Special emphasis is put on the possible role of the dependence of the solid-liquid interface tension g^SL \gamma^{{{\rm SL}}}_{} on the pressure in the liquid, which in nanodrops considerably exceeds the saturation pressure. We show that certain published data regarding that dependence are meaningless because these have been deduced based on an inconsistent data analysis.     

A linearized Eulerian sound propagation model for studies of complex meteorological effects

Outdoor sound propagation is significantly affected by the topography (including ground characteristics) and the state of the atmosphere. The atmosphere on its part is also influenced by the topography. A sound propagation model and a flow model based on a numerical integration of the linearized Euler equations have been developed to take these interactions into account. The output of the flow model enables the calculation of the sound propagation in a three-dimensionally inhomogeneous atmosphere. Rigid, partly reflective, or fully absorptive ground can be considered. The linearized Eulerian (LE) sound propagation model has been validated by means of four different scenarios. Calculations of sound fields above rigid and grass-covered ground including a homogeneous atmosphere deviate from analytic solutions by < or = 1 dB in most parts of the computed domain. Calculations of sound propagation including wind and temperature gradients above rigid ground agree well with measured scale model data. Calculations of sound propagation over a screen including ground of finite impedance show little deviations to measured scale model data which are probably caused by an insufficient representation of the complex ground impedance. Further calculations included the effect of wind on shading by a screen. The results agree well with the measured scale model data.     

Vibrations of mechanical systems in the presence of uncertainty

The minimax state estimation problem is solved for a linear mechanical system with a finite number of degrees of freedom. The proposed procedure is extended to distributed-parameter systems. As an example, we consider an elastic rod that executes small longitudinal oscillations under uncertainty in the initial-boundary conditions.Translated from Vychislitel'naya i Prikladnaya Matematika, No. 58, pp. 95–100, 1986.     

Liquid crystalline side group polymers with azo-chromophores and fluorinated tails of varying length

A series of side group liquid crystalline polymethacrylates with 4'-(1H,1H-perfluoroalkoxy)-azobenzene mesogenic units was synthesized and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods depending on the tail length. The phase behaviour is discussed as a function of the length of the tail groups. Very high clearing temperatures up to 290°C were observed for the polymers with long tail groups.     

Zur Lumineszenz des Zinkoxyds

The temperature dependance of efficiency and decay of the ultraviolet and green luminescence bands at UV- and cathode ray-excitation is investigated. In addition to earlier results the Riehl-effect is only observed when excited by cathode rays. The UV-band decays hyperbolically at all temperatures while the decay of the green band depends on kind and intensity of the excitation as well as on temperature. The results can be interpreted by considering the increasing number of electrons in the conduction band under different kinds of excitation and the variation of conductivity with temperature. Furthermore, the glow curves of various ZnO-samples (untreated and annealed in reducing atmosphere) show one or two peaks respectively, thus revealing two trap depths. As the light sum increases with the efficiency it is assumed that by reduction both activators and traps are created. The occurrence of thermoluminescence with many conduction electrons being present leads to the assumption of hole traps.