Percolation and electrical resistivity in the YBa2Cu3O7−Ag composite system

We have measured the resistivity of the YBa₂Cu₃O₇–Ag composite system with Ag volume fraction,p _Ag ranging from 0–100%. The percolation behavior and the normal-state resistivity are studied. We find a three-dimensional threshold for the Ag matrix occurring atp _Ag 20% and a threshold for the superconducting matrix occurring at 1–p _Ag30%. The electrical resistivity is interpreted in terms of a resistivity model for granular YBa₂Cu₃O₇ proposed by Halbritter et al. [Z. Phys. B —Condensed Matter71, 411 (1988)]. Based on this model, we show that the resistivities between the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ grains and flaws in the grains are greatly diminished in the samples, indicating significantly improved grain growth behavior of the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ phase resulting from the addition of Ag. With the diminishing of the grain boundary resistivities, an intrinsic value for the temperature coefficient of resistivity, (1/gr)(d/dT), can be inferred, which is 3.3×10^–3/K at 300 K. This value is very close to that observed in the Cu–O₂ planes in single crystals and epitaxial films of YBa₂Cu₃O₇.     

Photothermal determination of vertical crack lengths in silicon nitride

In this paper we describe the use of thermal microscopes in measuring the lengths of vertical cracks in silicon nitride. Results of theoretical calculations for temperature profiles in samples near the end of the cracks are demonstrated. These calculations showed that the effect of the crack decreases to a non-measurable level at distances of about 10 m from the end of the crack. Experimental measurements showed that thermally obtained crack lengths were at least 34% longer than those that were optically measured. The obtained crack length was independent of the heat modulation frequency used.     

Upper-Branch Instability of Flow in Pipes of Large Aspect Ratio with Three-Dimensional Nonlinear Viscous Critical Layers

We consider the upper-branch neutral stability of flow in pipesof large aspect ratio, basically extending the work of F. T.Smith to the nonlinear regime. The inclusion of weak nonlinearityleads to an eigenproblem whose solution depends on the propertiesof three-dimensional nonlinear critical layers. Two specialcases are considered. The first is for very small amplitude perturbations, where R is a Reynolds numberbased on the height of the tube and which is assumed large.Then a fully analytical solution of the three-dimensional criticallayers is possible, from which the linear results of Smith maybe deduced. The second case studied is that of flow in a rectangularpipe, where a solution of the nonlinear critical layer problemcan be obtained. Further analysis of neutral modes in this lattercase suggests the possible existence, inter alia, of neutralmodes for finite aspect ratio tubes. These modes depend on thescaled amplitude and have O(1) wavespeeds.     

Structure of a nonequilibrium high-frequency discharge

The problem for a one-temperature plasma is considered with allowance for the finite ionization rate. It is shown that in the developed nonequilibrium case the leading effect of ambipolar electron diffusion and ionization lag lead to a qualitatively different picture as compared with the equilibrium case. In particular, the heat release zone covers only a relatively small leading part of the ionization zone with a relatively low (n_e n_ef) electron concentration.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 161–169, May–June, 1989.The authors thank A. A. Barmin and A. G. Kulikovskii for useful discussions.     

Anticancer agent development: X-ray crystal structure and keto-enol tautomerism of dimethyl 1-hydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-4-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl-trans-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylate

Structural and conformational information obtained from the crystal structure and solution¹H nmr investigations of the title compound are compared. The 4-aryltetralone, C₂₄H₂₄O₁₀, crystallizes as a chloroform solvate in the monoclinic space group, P2₁/n, witha=12.519(4),b=17.938(6),c=12.534(9)Å,=111.90(5)°, and D_calc=1.51 g cm^–3 forZ=4. The data for this compound were collected at –150°C. Least-squares refinement of 2796 observed [F _o5(F _o)] reflections led to the final agreement index ofR=0.062. A threefold static disorder was observed for one of the carboxyl groups. The second carboxyl group participates in an intramolecular hydrogen bond and is thus ordered. The¹H nmr spectrum revealed the title compound to exist as a keto-enol tautomeric mixture in solution. Vicinal hydrogen coupling constant analysis proved reliable in ascertaining B-ring stereochemistry of 2,3-disubstituted-4-aryltetralones.     

Impossibility of centrally symmetric shock waves in vacuum in the relativistic theory of gravitation

Burevestnik Scientific-Industrial Union, Leningrad. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 473–480, June, 1989.     

A modified Tolman mass-energy formula

A modified Tolman mass (energy) formula is derived for spherically symmetric, time-independent systems. In the absence of surfaces of discontinuity, the modified formula has, in contradistinction to the original formula, the following desirable properties: (i) it always gives the correct mass of the system as a whole; (ii) it always gives the correct mass of any portion of the system which is surrounded by vacuum; and (iii) it remains invariant under a rescaling of the time coordinate of the formt Ct, C=constant. In the presence of surfaces of discontinuity the Tolman mass formula is further modified by the addition of the Israel mass associated with each surface. The resulting formula also has the above three properties. A new exact solution of Einstein's equations which is well behaved everywhere and is, in a sense, a generalization of Florides' new interior Schwarzschild solution is also presented.This result explains why, takingT ₁ ¹ =[C] in Section 2, we were able to obtain a solution free of surfaces of discontinuity.     

Variation of the instability index on stationary curves of elliptic equations depending on a parameter

The set of solutions of the equation A(u, )=0 in the case of general position consists of smooth curves. Solutions of a quasilinear elliptic equation with large instability index are constructed and an estimate obtained for the number of turning points of the solution curves.Translated from Trudy Seminara imeni I. G. Petrovskogo, No. 12, pp. 47–58, 1987.     

Spectrum of the algebra of pseudodifferential operators in a halfspace

One considers C*-algebras, generated by pseudodifferential operators in a halfspace. The operators act in functional spaces with weighted norms. One describes the set of all classes of equivalent irreducible representations of algebras and reveals the topology on the spectrum. One investigates, in particular, the dependence of the spectrum on the choice of the weighted functional space.Translated from Problemy Matematicheskogo Analiza, No. 10, pp. 160–180, 1986.     

Quantum field theories of vortices and anyons

We develop the quantization of topological solitons (vortices) in three-dimensional quantum field theory, in terms of the Euclidean region functional integral. We analyze in some detail the vortices of the abelian Higgs model. If a Chern-Simons term is added to the action, the vortices turn out to be anyons, i.e. particles with arbitrary real spin and intermediate () statistics. Localization properties of the interpolating field, scattering theory and spin-statistics connection of anyons are discussed. Such analysis might be relevant in connection with the fractional quantum Hall effect and two-dimensional models of HighT _csuperconductors.