Paradigms and Paradoxes: Energetics of Aqueous Oxyanions of Nonmetals and Metalloids

The enthalpies of formation of simple nonmetal or metalloid oxyanions in aqueous solution are discussed. Archival values are cited and estimates are made. Trends prove evasive.     

Chaos-controlling technique for suppressing self-modulation in backward-wave tubes

A method for suppressing self-modulation in backward-wave tubes is proposed. Additional delay is introduced into the feedback circuit, owing to which the output signal amplitude affects the electron beam current that enters into the interaction space. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the operating current in the single-frequency oscillation mode may be increased roughly twofold.     

Conic Formulation for l p -Norm Optimization

In this paper, we formulate the l _p -norm optimization problem as a conic optimization problem, derive its duality properties (weak duality, zero duality gap, and primal attainment) using standard conic duality and show how it can be solved in polynomial time applying the framework of interior-point algorithms based on self-concordant barriers.     

Synthesis and electrical characteristics of polyaniline nanoparticles and their polymeric composite

Monodisperse polyaniline nanoparticles (PAPSSA) were synthesized from an oxidative dispersion polymerization using poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSSA) as both a polymeric stabilizer and a dopant agent due to its acidity. The nanoparticles were being stabilized with two different molecular weight of PSSA. Size effect of PAPSSA particles were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The d.c. electrical conductivity of composite films on the glass substrate was measured by a four-probe method. It was found that the electrical properties of the composite films are affected by the content of nano-sized polyaniline and different molecular weights of stabilizer in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix.     

Variety of LaSrMnO structures induced by growth conditions and laser irradiation

Crystallographic phase transitions in perovskite-like LaSrMnO metallic oxides are studied. The transitions are induced when internal stresses generated during film synthesis (at temperatures between 450 and 730°C) vary (decrease or increase) upon subsequent irradiation by a KrF laser emitting in the UV range. As the synthesis temperature T _s grows, the rhombohedral-to-orthorhombic phase transition occurs at 650–670°C. The resistivity is shown to be either temperature-independent, ρ(T)=const, at T<T _crit, or varies and reaches a maximum, ρ(T)=ρ_max, at the Curie temperature T _c. Optical transmission spectra taken at photon energies ℏω=0.5–2.5 eV exhibit both a high (0.8–0.9) and low (0.1–0.3) transmission coefficient t, depending on the synthesis temperature. As follows from X-ray diffraction data, the laser irradiation causes a phase transition only in LaSrMnO films grown at T _s<650°C. Phases of different size scales appear: the long-range-order orthorhombic matrix and mesoscopic-range-order rhombohedral clusters are observed in the films grown at T _s=450–550°C and the rhombohedral matrix with orthorhombic clusters, in the films grown at T _s=550–650°C.     

Magnetic hysteresis of the magnetoresistance and the critical current density in polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7−δ–Ag superconductors

A systematic study of the magnetic hysteresis in transport properties of polycrystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ–Ag compounds has been made based on two kinds of measurements at 77 K and under applied magnetic fields up to 30 mT: critical current density J_c(B_a) and magnetoresistance R(B_a). The R(B_a) curves show a minimum in their decreasing branch occurring at B=B_min which was found to be both the excitation current I_ex and the maximum applied magnetic field B_am dependent. In addition, for a certain value of B_am>5 mT, we have observed that B_min increases with increasing I_ex and reaches a saturation value. The J_c(B_a) curves show a maximum in decreasing applied magnetic fields occurring at B=B_max. We have also found that B_max increases with increasing B_am and reaches a saturation value. The minimum in the R(B_a) and the maximum in J_c(B_a) curves were found to be related to the trapped flux within the grains. All the experimental results are discussed within the context of the flux dynamics and transport mechanisms in these high-T_c materials.     

Van der waals waves in free-surface liquids

It is shown that, along with gravity waves, surface and internal waves caused by van der Waals forces may exist in a liquid with a horizontal free surface. A dispersion relation is found by using the stepwise approximation for the coefficients of a wave equation derived for these waves. The surface waves are similar to surface gravity waves in dispersion and amplitude distribution but differ in frequency by several orders of magnitude. Another sequence of roots in the spectrum corresponds to internal van der Waals waves that have an upper frequency bound and the dispersion law typical of a multimode waveguide.     

NMR excitation by an electric field as a dynamic manifestation of magnetoelectric and antiferroelectric interactions

The possibility of excitation of NMR signals by an ac electric field in magnetically ordered crystals is discussed. Such signals can be recorded using the time-dependent component of the electric polarization vector. It is assumed that the electric and magnetic characteristics are coupled to each other through magnetoelectric and antiferroelectric interactions. Several types of magnetic structures are analyzed in which these interactions are not forbidden by symmetry. Such structures include two-sublattice single-position ferro-and antiferromagnetic phases in centrosymmetrical crystals, two-sublattice magnetic crystals without a center of symmetry (such as KNiPO₄), and four-sublattice antiferromagnetic crystals with three types of antiferromagnetism vectors (such as Cr₂O₃ and α-Fe₂O₃).     

Multilayer optics for XUV spectral region: technology fabrication and applications

We present research investigations in the field of multilayer optics in X-ray and extreme ultra-violet ranges (XUV), aimed at the development of optical elements for applications in experiments in physics and in scientific instrumentation. We discuss normal incidence multilayer optics in the spectral region of “water window”, multilayer optics for collimation and focusing of hard X-ray, multilayer dispersing elements for X-ray spectroscopy of high-temperature plasma, multilayer dispersing elements for analysis of low Z-elements. Our research pays special attention to optimization of multilayer optics for projection EUV-lithography (ψ-13nm) and short period multilayer optics.