Localized canting of spins structure in the spinel oxide system: ZnzTizFe2−x−zCrx−zCoO4

The spinel oxide system Zn_zTi_zFe_2−x−zCr_x−zCoO₄; z=x²; x=0.60, 0.65, 0.70 and 0.80, was studied using neutron diffraction technique, low field DC magnetization measurements (ZFC–FC measurements), magnetic hysterisis, Mössbauer spectroscopy and low field AC susceptibility measurements. All the compositions show significantly less B-site magnetic moments at 10 K temperature derived from neutron diffraction data than the free ions site moments deduced assuming collinear arrangement of spins. This combined with some other features seen in the low temperature neutron diffraction patterns suggest localized canting of spins (LCS) type of magnetic ordering in the present system where a long range order of longitudinal component of moments co-exists along with totally disordered transverse component of moments. The conclusion is also supported by the features seen in the other measurements. The magnetic moments derived from 10 K neutron diffraction data are explained using the LCS approach for different exchange integrals ratios.     

Spatial characterization of the transversal structure of rotationally symmetric pulsed beams

A simple analytical model is proposed to describe the transversal spatial structure of a tridimensional rotationally symmetric pulsed beam. The spatial behaviour of the pulse amplitude is shown to be linked to its (measurable) second- and higher-order intensity moments, namely, beam width, quality parameter and kurtosis. As an illustrative experimental example, this model has been applied to high-quality TEA CO2 laser pulses. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetic behaviour of (Fe<Subscript>0.85</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>As

Magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements have been made on the title pseudo-binary of tetragonal anti-ferromagnets Fe₂ As and Cr₂ As. In this system antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering appears below 310 K. The moments are confined in theab plane but unlike in the end members they are tilted off thea-axis. In addition to the AFM structure a weak ferromagnetic behaviour shows up below∼80 K with a rather low moment of ∼0.07 μB per formula unit at 5 K and under a field of 3 T.     

Greatly attenuated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in aquaporin-4 knockout mice

Background  

The involvement of astrocyte water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system has been suggested following the identification of AQP4 autoantibodies in neuromyelitis optica, an inflammatory demyelinating disease.     

Structure of the Nematic Phase of Pbaba

X-ray diffraction investigations of the nematic phase (191°C - 276°C) of p-n-propyloxybenzylidene-p-amino benzoic acid have shown that this phase is a skewed cybotactic nematic phase. The diffraction patterns, obtained with aligned samples, reveal an additional surprising structural feature, - the presence of one dimensional molecular correlation in a direction parallel to the nematic director. At 192°C, it is found that the molecular unit, thus correlated, is about 37 Å in length (dimer length) and the correlation range extends up to about seven such units. This l-d correlation persists up to the N-I transition.     

Quantum superarrivals and information transfer through a time-varying boundary

The time-dependent Schrödinger equation is solved numerically for the case of a Gaussian wave packet incident on a time-varying potential barrier. The time evolving reflection and transmission probabilities of the wave packet are computed for several different time-dependent boundary conditions obtained by reducing or increasing the height of the potential barrier. We show that in the case when the barrier height is reduced to zero, a time interval is found during which the reflection probability is larger (superarrivals) compared to the unperturbed case. We further show that the transmission probability exhibits superarrivals when the barrier is raised from zero to a finite value of its height. Superarrivals could be understood by ascribing the features of a real physical field to the Schrödinger wave function which acts as a carrier through which a disturbance, resulting from the boundary condition being perturbed, prpagates from the barrier to the detectors measuring reflected and transmitted probabilities. The speed of propagation of this effect depends upon the rate of reducing or raising the barrier height, thus suggesting an application for secure information transfer using superarrivals.     

X-ray and Raman investigations of two smectic phases of HxBPA

The temperature dependence of certain lattice parameters of HxBPA (4-n-hexyloxybenzylidene-4′-n-propylaniline) has been determined from 250 K to 300 K, in the smectic phases, S_m and S_H, by X-ray diffraction. There is a marked difference in the Raman spectra for the two phases in the frequency range, 200 to 1100 cm^-1. In the light of our observations, it seems that the S_m → S_H transition is due to the onset of disorder in the hydrocarbon chains.     

Phase-transition studies of 5O.5 and 9O.4

As part of our detailed comparative studies of groups of liquid-crystalline compounds that belong to a homologous series, we present phase-transition studies of the compounds N-(4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene)4'-n-pentylaniline (5O.5) and N-(4-n-nonyloxybenzylidene)4'-n-butylaniline (9O.4) using different experimental techniques. The compound 5O.5 is reported to exhibit a phase sequence N, S_A, S_C, S_B and S_G, while 90.4 shows the sequence S_A, S_F and S_G. The salient features of our work on 5O.5 are (i) a new smectic F phase is found in place of the reported smectic B phase, which is confirmed by both miscibility and X-ray studies; (ii) the formation of smectic-C-like short-range order in the nematic phase well above the S_A-N transition; and (iii) a large tilt-angle variation in the smectic C phase (0-23·5°C) in a small temperature range (4·1°C). The phase changes across the S_A-I transition, and for the first time across S_F-S_A transition, are carried out by volumetric studies. The detailed inferences of these are also presented.