Preparation of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films by hybrid sputtering

In order to fabricate Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin films, hybrid sputtering system with two sputter sources and two effusion cells is used. The Cu₂ZnSnS₄ films are fabricated by the sequential deposition of metal elements and annealing in S flux, varying the substrate temperature. The Cu₂ZnSnS₄ films with stoichiometric composition are obtained at the substrate temperature up to 400 °C, whereas the film composition becomes quite Zn-pool at the substrate temperature above 450 °C. The Cu₂ZnSnS₄ film shows p-type conductivity, and the optical absorption coefficient and the band gap of the Cu₂ZnSnS₄ film prepared in this experiment are suitable for fabricating a thin film solar cell.     

Covariant quantization of string based on BRS invariance

Covariant canonical quantization of the bosonic string is performed, based on the BRS invariance principle. Defining a physical state by a modified form of Kugo-Ojima's subsidiary condition Q_B|phys〉 = 0 (Q_B = BRS charge), we prove a no-ghost theorem in a simple manner. There an interesting relation between critical dimension and BRS symmetry is noticed; namely, the conditions D = 26 and α₀ = 1 for the space-time dimension D and the zero-intercept α₀ of leading trajectory are required by the nilpotency Q_B² = 0 of the BRS charge. In addition, ghost number fractionization is observed in this system.     

Temperature dependence of local density augmentation for acetophenone N,N,N',N'-tetramethylbenzidine exciplex in supercritical water

Local density augmentation around exciplex between acetophenone and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylbenzidine in supercritical water was measured by observing the peak shift of transient absorption spectrum at temperatures from 380 to 410 degrees C and at pressures from 6 to 37 MPa. Large local density augmentation was observed at lower solvent densities. Local density augmentation was evaluated by the excess density, which was defined as the difference between local density and bulk density, and the density enhancement factor, which was defined by the ratio of the local density to the bulk density. The number of solvating molecules was estimated with a Langmuir adsorption model. The excess density was found to exhibit a maximum at approximately 0.15 g cm(-3), which decreased with increasing temperature. The density enhancement factor was found to decrease with increasing temperature; however, its value was much greater than unity at 410 degrees C, which provides evidence that exciplex-water interactions still exist at these conditions. The temperature dependence of local density augmentation around the exciplex in supercritical water was comparable with that in supercritical carbon dioxide, which suggests that the ratios of the solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions are comparable between these two systems.     

The modified Yamabe problem and geometry of modified scalar curvatures

Study of modified scalar curvatures and the modified Yamabe problem is given. An existence theorem of type of Trudinger and Aubin is obtained. Interpreting Isotropic curvature as a certain modified scalar curvature we can extend the four-dimensional sphere theorem of [23]. Another modified scalar curvature is used in solving open problems concerning the conjecture of self-dual Einstein 4-manifold and the Goldberg conjecture, both being under negative Ricci condition.     

Simultaneous derivatization/preconcentration of volatile aldehydes with a miniaturized fiber-packed sample preparation device designed for gas chromatographic analysis

A novel in-needle sample preparation device has been developed for the determination of volatile aldehydes in gaseous samples. The needle device is designed for the gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of aldehydes and ketones commonly found in typical in-house environments. In order to prepare the extraction device, a bundle of polymer-coated filaments was longitudinally packed into a specially designed needle. Derivatization reactions were prompted by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (NDPH) included in the needle, and so the aldehydes and ketones were derivatized to the corresponding hydrazones and extracted with the extraction needle. A reproducible extraction needle preparation process was established, along with a repeatable derivatization/extraction process that ensures the successful determination of aldehydes. The storage performance of the extraction needle was also evaluated at room temperature for three days. The results demonstrate the successful application of the fiber-packed extraction device to the preparation of a gaseous sample of aldehydes, and the future possibility of applying the extraction device to the analysis of in-house environments.     

Global existence to the initial–boundary value problem for a system of nonlinear diffusion and wave equations

We prove the global existence of weak solution pair to the initial boundary value problem for a system of m-Laplacian type diffusion equation and nonlinear wave equation. The interaction of two equations is given through nonlinear source terms $f(u,v)$ and $g(u,v)$.     

Regiocontrolled intramolecular cyclizations of carboxylic acids to carbon-carbon triple bonds promoted by acid or base catalyst

We systematically investigated, for the first time, the relationship between regioselectivity and acid/base effects in the cyclization reactions between carboxylic acids and carbon-carbon triple bonds. We found novel acid- and base-promoted cyclizations to selectively give isocoumarin or pyran-2(2H)-one and phthalide or furan-2(5H)-one skeletons, respectively, and established a catalytic version of regioselective heterocyclic ring synthesis. Density functional theory calculations and application to a short route to thunberginol A were also described. [reaction: see text].     

Extended string field theory for massless higher-spin fields

We propose a new gauge field theory which is an extension of ordinary string field theory by assembling multiple state spaces of the bosonic string. The theory includes higher-spin fields in its massless spectrum together with the infinite tower of massive fields. From the theory, we can easily extract the minimal gauge-invariant quadratic action for tensor fields with any symmetry. As examples, we explicitly derive the gauge-invariant actions for some simple mixed symmetric tensor fields. We also construct covariantly gauge-fixed action by extending the method developed for string field theory.