Radial Distribution Function Analysis of the Amorphous Barrier Layer in Magnetic Spin Tunnel Junctions

Spin tunnel junctions consist of two ferrromagnetic layers separated by an amorphous insulating barrier layer which is a few nanometers thick. The barrier layer is the most critical layer in terms of magnetic transport properties and yet, of all the layers, the structure of this layer has been the least investigated, mainly due to difficulties in carrying out structural investigations of nanovolumes of amorphous materials. In this paper we demonstrate how the technique of radial distribution function analysis using electrons can be used to investigate such small volumes, by applying it to the aluminium oxide amorphous layer in a junction. The analysis results in a radial distribution function which matches those obtained by neutron and X-ray diffraction from bulk material.     

Measurement of the branching ratio and asymmetry of the decay Xi degrees -->Sigma degrees gamma

We have studied the rare weak radiative hyperon decay Xi degrees -->Sigma degrees gamma in the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. We have identified 4045 signal events over a background of 804 events. The dominant Xi degrees -->Lambdapi degrees decay, which was used for normalization, is the only important background source. An analysis of the acceptance of both modes yields a branching ratio of B(Xi degrees -->Sigma degrees gamma)/B(Xi degrees -->Lambdapi degrees ) = (3.34+/-0.05+/-0.09)x10(-3). By analyzing the final state decay distributions, we have also determined that the Sigma degrees emission asymmetry parameter for this decay is alpha(XiSigma) = -0.63+/-0.09.     

Bioconcentration of zinc and its effect on the biochemical constituents of the gill tissues of Labeo rohita: An FT-IR study

In the present work, an attempt has been made to assess the bioconcentration and distribution of zinc on the selected organs of Labeo rohita and to study the effect of zinc exposure on the biochemical constitutions of gill tissues of L. rohita by using FT-IR Spectroscopy. The concentration pattern in the organs reveals that the liver is the prime site of metal binding and muscle accumulates least metal concentration. The accumulation profile is in the order: liver > gill > kidney > brain > bone > muscle. It has also been observed that the administration of chelating agent d-Penicillamine (DPA) reduces the zinc concentration in all tissues more effectively than the administration of the chelating agent Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid. The FT-IR spectra reveal that zinc exposure causes significant changes in the biochemical constitutions of the gill tissues. It causes an alteration in the protein secondary structures by decreasing the α-helix and increasing the β-sheet contents. Further, it has been observed that the administration of chelating agent DPA improves the protein and lipid contents in the gill tissues compared to zinc exposed tissues. This result shows that DPA is the effective chelator of zinc in reducing the body burden of L. rohita fingerlings. In conclusion, the findings of the current study suggest that zinc exposure causes significant changes in both lipids and proteins of the gill tissues, and changes the protein profile in favour of β-sheet structure.     

Dark field microscopy for diffraction analysis of amorphous carbon solids

Diffraction methods for determining structure in non-crystalline materials often rely solely on the determination of pair correlation functions, extracted from measurements of the diffracted intensity. A dark field image of a non-crystalline solid taken with a conventional transmission electron microscope contains phase information lost in the measurement of the diffracted intensity which can be accessed by evaluating a variance function. This variance function is defined in terms of spherical averages of the diffracted intensity and the mean square of the diffracted intensity. The latter contains higher order correlation information derived from correlations between two pairs of atoms. We examine the sensitivity of the variance function, to subtle atomic structural differences between carbon network structures. The structures have similar pair correlations, but different levels of diamond like bonding. The variance function is shown to give improved discrimination between the networks.     

Beer’s Law Is Not a Straight Line: Amplification of Errors by Transformation

Beers law plots are commonly straight-line graphs in which absorbance is plotted versus concentration. The errors in such a plot are accentuated in the high-absorbance region due to the logarithmic transformation. This paper discusses the errors inherent in all Beers law plots and the choices the student has available: the use of either linear or nonlinear plotting methods.An experiment is described in which student Beers law data are treated in several ways to find out if transformation errors are significant. The conclusion is that if the absorbance values obtained for the calibration data exceed A=1, then nonlinear regression or weighted linear regression is indicated.     

The chemistry of adsorbed Cu(II) and Mn(II) in aqueous titanium dioxide suspensions

We studied the adsorption behavior of Cu(II) and Mn(II) on the surface of titanium dioxide over the pH range from 2.0 to 11.5. The titanium dioxide we used in these experiments was prepared by hydrolyzing TiCl₄ and had a surface area of 113.7 m² g⁻¹. All suspensions, which were 9.04 × 10⁻³ M in NaClO₄, contained 20 m² liter⁻¹ of oxide surface and divalent metal ion concentrations sufficient (at full adsorption from solution) to cover the available surface with one-half, one, and four layers of close-packed, hydrated ions. Both divalent ions began adsorption below titanium dioxide's isoelectric point (pH = 6.2). Cu²⁺ adsorption was accompanied by net OH⁻ uptake from solution and it was inferred that the titania surface also provided OH⁻ for Cu²⁺ adsorption. ESR spectra demonstrate the coexistence of two distinct forms adopted by these metal ions on the surface. A portion of the adsorbed metal ions occupies sites magnetically isolated one from another, as evidenced by the paramagnetic behavior of this form. The majority of the metal ions, however, exist in hydrous-metal-ion clusters in which spin-exchange coupling of the electron dipoles determines the magnetic behavior. Electrophoretic mobility measurements indicate that ions adsorbed at isolated sites exert a stronger influence on the electrophoretically measured charge of the suspension particles than ions in clusters. Even though these experiments were performed in the absence of oxygen, we observed the oxidation of a limited amount of the Mn(II) on the surface as low as pH = 5. Presumably this occurs as a result of electron transfer between photo-induced electron holes and Mn(II) on the surface.     

A Monte-Carlo study of ring formation during step-growth polymerization in three dimensions

The formation of ring and chain molecules during an irreversible step-growth polymerization has been modelled on a three-dimensional twenty six choice cubic lattice, and examined by the Monte-Carlo method. Movements were not allowed in the system in this preliminary study. The limiting value of the extent of reaction was found to be p = 0,9837 (±0,0003), and the number fraction of molecules found to be rings was 0,300 (±0,045), but the weight fraction was much smaller, 0,056 (±0,005).