Jahn-teller chromium ions in CdF<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystals: An EPR spectroscopic study in the frequency range 9.3–300 GHz

The bivalent chromium impurity centers in CdF₂ and CaF₂ crystals are investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in the frequency range 9.3–300 GHz. It is found that Cr²⁺ ions in the lattices of these crystals occupy cation positions and form [CrF₄F₄]^6? clusters whose magnetic properties at low temperatures are characterized by orthorhombic symmetry. The parameters of the electron Zeeman and ligand interactions of the Cr²⁺ ion with four fluorine ions in the nearest environment are determined. The initial splittings in the system of spin energy levels of the cluster are measured.     

Potential distribution in ferroelectric ceramic during pulsed exoelectron emission

The potential and polarization distributions in a planar emitting layer of PLZT-9/65/35 ferroelectric ceramic with a set of conductive strip electrodes on the emitting side and a continuous electrode on the opposite side are studied by numerical methods. The state arising immediately after polarization switching at the leading edge of an applied voltage pulse (i.e., before the polarization charges are screened by free charges) is considered. When the pulsed field strength far exceeds the double coercive field, regions with alternating polarization are found to form in the surface layer between the strips. The normal component of the polarization at its maxima is close to saturation. The electric field on both sides of the surface varies as the polarization vector and reaches 200 kV/cm. At surface microirregularities, the electric field strength is much higher. This means that field emission is responsible for electron escape from the ferroelectric ceramic during pulsed polarization switching.     

Creation of a donor-acceptor pair for studying intraprotein electron transfer with the participation of amino-acid derivatives of fullerene C60

Efficient quenching of eosin phosphorescence by amino-acid derivatives of fullerene (AADFs) such as C₆₀-alanine and C₆₀-glycine in aqueous solutions indicates the possibility of transferring electrons from eosin to fullerene upon collisions or in the exciplex state. To investigate electron transfer in the protein structure, we studied the process of incorporation of C₆₀-alanine and C₆₀-glycine into the heme pocket of myoglobin by controlling Förster quenching. The dissociation constant for the protein-AADF complex was estimated.     

Numerical simulation of silane decomposition in an RF plasma

A model of silane decomposition in a radio-frequency argon plasma is constructed. The concentrations of SiH₄ decomposition products, as well as products of synthesis (higher silanes), are calculated. The role of metastable argon atoms in the formation of SiH₃ radicals and the higher silanes is analyzed.     

Time-Cost Trade-Off Analysis in Some Constrained Assignment Problems

Several variations of two-dimensional (workers x jobs) and three-dimensional (workers x jobs x machines) time- as well as cost-minimizing assignment problems, which arise owing to (i) precedence relations of some form among the jobs or (ii) capacity restrictions on workers/machines imposed by the requirement that the surplus resources have to be fully employed, have been considered in the literature. In this paper, an algorithm is presented for time-cost trade-off analysis which is applicable to any general pair of such constrained problems. The algorithm is also illustrated by a numerical example.     

Element Pools and Numeric Coprocessors for Linear Programming on Personal Computers

This note discusses the need to use various data-compaction schemes in the implementation of sophisticated large-scale linear programming codes on modest personal computers. It demonstrates a method whereby the overhead of using these schemes is significantly reduced on Intel 80 x 86 processors.     

On a Modified Subgradient Algorithm for Dual Problems via Sharp Augmented Lagrangian*

We study convergence properties of a modified subgradient algorithm, applied to the dual problem defined by the sharp augmented Lagrangian. The primal problem we consider is nonconvex and nondifferentiable, with equality constraints. We obtain primal and dual convergence results, as well as a condition for existence of a dual solution. Using a practical selection of the step-size parameters, we demonstrate the algorithm and its advantages on test problems, including an integer programming and an optimal control problem. *Partially Supported by 2003 UniSA ITEE Small Research Grant Ero2. Supported by CAPES, Brazil, Grant No. 0664-02/2, during her visit to the School of Mathematics and Statistics, UniSA.