Raman, XRD and microscopic investigations on CeO2-Lu2O3 and CeO2-Sc2O3 systems: A sub-solidus phase evolution study

A sub-solidus phase evolution study was done in CeO₂-Sc₂O₃ and CeO₂-Lu₂O₃ systems under slow-cooled conditions from 1400 °C. Long-range order probing of X-ray diffraction technique is utilized in conjunction with the ability of Raman spectroscopy to detect the changes in local co-ordination. Lu₂O₃ showed solubility of 30 mol% in CeO₂, thus forming an anion deficient fluorite-type (F-type) solid solution, whereas Sc₂O₃ did not show any discernible solubility. A biphasic region (F+C) was unequivocally detected by Raman spectroscopy in Ce_1−xLu_xO_2−x/2 (0.4?x?0.9) and in Ce_1−xSc_xO_2−x/2 (0.1?x?0.9) systems. Raman spectroscopy was valuable in studying these systems since oxygen vacancies are created on doping RE₂O₃ into ceria and Raman spectroscopy is very much sensitive to oxygen polarizability and local coordination. Back scattered images collected on representative compositions support the above-mentioned results.     

Optical vortex coronagraph

We describe a method to observe dim exoplanets that eliminates light from the parent star across the entire exit pupil without sacrificing light from the planet by use of a vortex mask of topological charge m = 2.     

A new lithium alkoxide accelerated diastereoselective cyanation of ketones

[reaction: see text] A remarkably general lithium heteroatom assisted TMSCN or TBSCN addition to aldehydes and ketones has been discovered. The process provides excellent selectivities and high rates. Conformationally constrained ketones such as camphor, fenchone, and nopinone give excellent diastereoselectivities with TMSCN. Reduction of 2 provided diastereopure amino alcohol 3 in good yield. alpha- and beta-Methyl cyclohexanones with TBSCN-LiOR afford high diastereoselectivities and yields.     

Observed scattering into a dark optical vortex core

The dark core of an optical vortex was used to detect on-axis, forward-scattered light from a colloidal solution in the single and multiple scattering regimes. Using no adjustable parameters we obtain good agreement with a concentration-dependent scattering model.     

Anomalous magnetic hysteresis loops and smallH c1 values in highT c superconductors

We have studied the hysteresis loops of RBa₂Cu₃O₇ (R=Gd, Ho and Y) and detected anomalies in some of them. The observed anomalies support a recent prediction by Ravi Kumar and Chaddah based on an extension of Bean’s model. The anomalies indicate lowH _c1 values and we have confirmed this by studying the onset of low-field hysteresis in less than 10 Oe at 77 K for these highT _c superconductors.     

Electrochemical transcarbonation: Hydroquinoxy carbonyl protecting group for alcohols and amines

An electrochemically labile protecting group for alcohols and amines is reported. It can be removed under acidic or basic conditions and at low temperatures.     

Computer-aided determination of annihilation and momentum transfer rates of slow positrons from argon gas atoms

Annihilation and momentum transfer rates of slow positrons in argon gas have been determined by an iterative computer-based analysis. Agreement of calculated positron annihilation decay constant with experimental measurements at various electric and temperature fields is very good.