On the diameter and radius of randon subgraphs of the cube

The n-dimensional cube Qⁿ is the graph whose vertices are the subsets of {1,…n}, with two vertices adjacent if and only if their symmetric difference is a singleton. Clearly Qⁿ has diameter and radious n. Write M = n2^n-1 = e(Qⁿ) for the size of Qⁿ. Let Q = (Q_t)_o^M be a random Qⁿ-process. Thus Q^t is a spanning subgraph of Qⁿ of size t, and Q_t is obtained from Q_t–1 by the random addition of an edge of Qⁿ not in Q_t–1, Let t^(k) = τ(Q;δ?k) be the hitting time of the property of having minimal degree at least k. We show that the diameter d_t = diam (Q_t) of Q_t in almost every Q? behaves as follows: d_t starts infinite and is first finite at time t⁽¹⁾, it equals n + 1 for t⁽¹⁾ ? t⁽²⁾ and d_t, = n for t ? t⁽²⁾. We also show that the radius of Q_t, is first finite for t = t⁽¹⁾, when it assumes the value n. These results are deduced from detailed theorems concerning the diameter and radius of the almost surely unique largest component of Q_t, for t = Ω(M). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A generalised model and calculation of the hyperfine interaction constant for anomalous muonium in the crystalline lattice of silicon

A new microscopic model of anomalous muonium for the elemental semiconductors is proposed. The relevant configuration consisting of both a diamagrentic molecule Si−Mu and an unpaired orbital e⁻ is contained into a semivacancy of the real lattice. By using the unrestricted Hartree-Fock computational method the principal properties of the system are established. A dynamical version of the model together with a question on the formation of such system are discussed.     

Scanning tunnelling microscopic images of the surface ordering of the liquid crystal 4-n-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl

Images of the surface ordering of 4-n-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl, a room temperature smectic liquid crystal deposited upon graphite, have been obtained by scanning tunnelling microscopy. The microscope was operated in air using the constant-current mode. Under certain tunnelling conditions it has been possible to resolve both the aliphatic and aromatic parts of the molecule, and to observe individual benzene rings. Two previously unreported conformations have been observed: an overlapping bilayer structure with spacing 3.7 nm, and a monolayer structure with spacing 2.4 nm. The latter structure may represent the first visual evidence for a surface polar ordered structure.     

Isotopic study of the mechanism of ozone formation

The mechanism of ozone formation has been studied using ¹⁶O and ¹⁸O₂. High-resolution microwave spectroscopy was used to measure the amounts of the isotopomeric ozone species formed. The study is hampered by the very rapid exchange process between the reactants, that tends to scramble the isotopes and hence give a 2:1 statistical ratio between the two possible isotopomers. We have found a strategy to come around this difficulty and conclude that the mechanism is a simple end-on-addition.     

Temperature dependence of the rate constants for reactions of the carbonate radical with organic and inorganic reductants

Rate constants have been measured by pulse radiolysis for the reactions of the carbonate radical, CO₃^·?, with a number of organic and inorganic reactants as a function of temperature, generally over the range 5 to 80°C. The reactants include the substitution-inert cyano complexes of Fe^II, Mo^IV, and W^IV, the simple inorganic anions SO₃^2?, ClO₂^?, NO₂^?, I^?, and SCN^?, several phenolates, ascorbate, tryptophan, cysteine, cystine, methionine, triethylamine, and allyl alcohol. The measured rate constants ranged from less than 10⁵ to 3 × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1, the activation energies ranged from ?11.4 to 18.8 kJ mol^?1, and the pre-exponential factors ranged from log A = 6.4 to 10.7. The activation energies for the metal complexes and inorganic anions generally decrease with increasing driving force for the reaction, as expected for an outer sphere electron transfer. For highly exothermic reactions, however, the activation energy appears to increase, probably reflecting the temperature dependence of diffusion. For many of the organic reactants, the activation energies were low and independent of driving force, suggesting that the oxidation is via an inner sphere mechanism.