The structure of light p-shell nuclei

It is demonstrated for the first time that a number of observed low lying nuclear states in light p-shell nuclei are in fact eigenstates of a two-body hamiltonian which describes the two nucleon system. It is observed that in some heavier p-shell nuclei there appear states which may not be eigenstates of this hamiltonian.     

The polymerisation of functionalised methacrylate monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide

This paper describes the homopolymerisations of isobornyl methacrylate (IBMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) and copolymerisation with methyl methacrylate (MMA). We have used two different stabiliser systems poly(dimethyl siloxane) monomethylacrylate (PDMS-MMA) and Krytox 157FSL, both of which have been shown previously to be highly effective stabilisers for dispersion polymerisation in scCO₂. The effect of initiator concentration and copolymer composition is studied. For the copolymerisation of IBMA and MMA, under optimised conditions it is possible to form discrete particles with diameters in the range 1.4-3.6 μm. The PDMS-MMA macromonomer was found to be less effective as a stabiliser, causing particle aggregation due to the low solubility of this stabiliser in the monomers. The copolymers of PEGMA and MMA are also studied. The materials have interesting solubility properties with a transition in solubility from aqueous to organic media on increasing the MMA content.     

Behavior of intruder based states in light Bi and Tl isotopes: the study of 187Bi α decay

The excitation energies of the single-particle normal and intruder levels in both ¹⁸³Tl and ¹⁸⁷Bi were measured for the first time via the α decay of ¹⁸⁷Bi produced in the ⁹⁷Mo(⁹²Mo,pn)¹⁸⁷Bi reaction. The previously unobserved ¹⁸⁷Bi ground state (h_9/2) to ¹⁸³Tl ground state (s_1/2) α transition was identified, establishing the ¹⁸⁷Bi intruder state excitation energy to be 112(21) keV, 70 keV less than that of the same level in ¹⁸⁹Bi. Received: 10 September 1998 / Revised version: 18 December 1998     

Moreau's hydrodynamic helicity and the life of vortex knots and links

This contribution to an issue of Comptes rendus Mécanique, commemorating the scientific work of Jean-Jacques Moreau (1923–2014), is intended to give a brief overview of recent developments in the study of helicity dynamics in real fluids and an outlook on the growing legacy of Moreau's work. Moreau's discovery of the conservation of hydrodynamic helicity, presented in an article in the Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences in 1961, was not recognized until long after it was published. This seminal contribution is gaining a new life now that modern developments allow the study of helicity and topology in fields and is having a growing impact on diverse areas of physics.     

Synthesis and electrical characterisation of the perovskite niobate-titanates,Sr1−x/2Ti1−xNbxO3−δ

The synthesis and electrical characterisation over a range of oxygen partial pressures (10⁻²⁰ to 1 atm) are reported for the cubic perovskite niobate-titanates Sr_1−x/2Ti_1−xNb_xO_3−δ, which are proposed as potential anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. Single phase samples were observed for 0≤x≤0.4, and phase purity was retained on annealing at both high and low oxygen partial pressures. Good electrical conductivity was observed on reduction in low oxygen partial pressures, with a maximum for the sample with 25% Nb (x=0.25), σ=5.6 Scm⁻¹ at 930°C (P (O₂)=10⁻¹⁸ atm). For dense samples the higher the Nb content the more resistant the reduced sample was to reoxidation as the oxygen partial pressure was increased. Paper presented at the 3rd Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Teulada, Sardinia, Italy, Sept. 15–22, 1996     

How amorphous are the tin alloys in li-inserted tin oxides?

Several different metal oxides based anode systems are compared to give insight into their cycling behaviour. The simple electrochemical model for these systems does not usefully predict the ability for a battery to cycle. Pb and Zn oxides cycle less well than Sn oxides, and show more initial crystallinity. SnF₂ and PbF₂ cycle less well than SnO and PbO. Cubic SnP₂O₇ cycles better than the layered polymorph. The nature and structure of the supporting matrix is therefore important in the ability of the tin oxides to cycle. Any material with observable crystallinity in first cycle, will not cycle well. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16–22, 2001.