Impact of generalized dissipative coefficient on warm inflationary dynamics in the light of latest Planck data

The warm inflation scenario in view of the modified Chaplygin gas is studied. We consider the inflationary expansion to be driven by a standard scalar field whose decay ratio \(\Gamma \) has a generic power-law dependence with the scalar field \(\phi \) and the temperature of the thermal bath T. By assuming an exponential power-law dependence in the cosmic time for the scale factor a(t), corresponding to the intermediate inflation model, we solve the background and perturbative dynamics considering our model to evolve according to (1) weak dissipative regime and (2) strong dissipative regime. Specifically, we find explicit expressions for the dissipative coefficient, scalar potential, and the relevant inflationary observables like the scalar power spectrum, scalar spectral index, and tensor-to-scalar ratio. The free parameters characterizing our model are constrained by considering the essential condition for warm inflation, the conditions for the model evolves according to weak or strong dissipative regime, and the 2015 Planck results through the \(n_s\)–r plane.     

Influence of plasticizer on ionic conductivity of PVC-PBMA polymer electrolytes

Plasticized polymer electrolytes comprising of ethylene carbonate as the plasticizing agent in poly (vinyl chloride) [PVC]–poly (butyl methacrylate) [PBMA] blended polymer electrolytes were prepared by solution casting technique. Complex formation, structural elucidation, conductivity, dielectric parameters (?′, ?″, M′, and M″), thermal stability, and surface morphology are brought out from FTIR, XRD, ac impedance analysis, dielectric studies, thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopic studies, respectively. Polymer electrolytes are found to exhibit higher ionic conductivity at higher concentration of plasticizer at the cost of their mechanical stability. Conductivity of 1.879 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 is exhibited by the polymer electrolyte consisting of 69% of plasticizer with appreciable thermal stability up to 523 K. Temperature and frequency dependence of conductivity is found to follow Vogel Tammann Fulcher relation and Jonscher power law, respectively. Real and imaginary parts of dielectric constants are found to decrease with increase in frequency which could be due to the electrode polarization effect.     

Anisotropic Inflationary Scenario Via Generalized Chaplygin Gas Model

We investigate generalized chaplygin gas for warm inflationary scenario in the context of locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type I universe model.We assume two different cases of dissipative coefficient,i.e.,constant as well as function of scalar field.We construct dynamical equations as well as a relationship between scalar and radiation energy densities under slow-roll approximation.We also derive slow-roll parameters,scalar and tensor power spectra,scalar spectral index,tensor to scalar ratio for analyzing inflationary background during high dissipative regime.We also use the WMAP7 data for the discussion of our parameters.     

Pilgrim dark energy in f(T) gravity

We discuss the interacting f(T) gravity with pressureless matter in an FRW spacetime. We construct an f(T) model by following the correspondence scheme incorporating a recently developed pilgrim dark energy model and taking the Hubble horizon as the IR cutoff. We use constructed model to discuss the evolution trajectories of the equation-of-state parameter, the ω _T -ω′ _T phase plane, and state-finder parameters in the evolving universe. It is found that the equation-of-state parameter gives a phantom era of the accelerated universe for some particular range of the pilgrim parameter. The ω _T -ω′ _T plane represents freezing regions only for an interacting framework, while the ΛCDM limit is attained in the state-finder plane. We also investigate the first and second laws of thermodynamics assuming equal temperatures at and inside the horizon in this scenario. Due to the violation of the first law of thermodynamics in f(T) gravity, we explore the behavior of the entropy production term. The validity of a generalized second law of thermodynamics depends on the present-day value of the Hubble parameter.     

An Efficient Green Synthesis of a New Class of α‐Aminophosphonates under Microwave Irradiation Conditions in the Presence of PS/PTSA

The present work focuses on the study of catalytic activity of polystyrene‐supported p‐toluenesulfonic acid (PS/PTSA) and the synthesis of α‐aminophosphonates from the Kabachnik–Fields (KF) reaction under microwave irradiation in solvent‐free conditions. Recently, the catalytic activity of PS/PTSA was tested with good yields. This procedure is the simplest, most straightforward, environment friendly method for the synthesis of α‐aminophosphonates from simple to different substituted aldehyde substrates. Furthermore, this catalyst can be recovered and reused without loss of its catalytic activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of immobilized activated carbon doped TiO2 thin films

Immobilized activated carbon doped TiO₂ thin films were prepared by sol–gel dip coating method by using Titanium IV isopropoxide as a precursor. Aim of our work is to synthesize and investigate the structural, surface morphology and optical properties of the synthesized thin film. X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the crystallinity of the film increases with increase in temperature. Also, the structural parameters such as particle size, microstrain and dislocation density have been calculated. The formation of nanosphere of diameter ranging from 300 nm to 500 nm has been confirmed by Scanning electron microscope. Photocatalytic active large optical band gap at 3.75 eV was found by using UV–visible sspectrum.     

Influence of temperature on the electric,dielectric and AC conductivity properties of nano-crystalline zinc substituted cobalt ferrite synthesized by solution combustion technique

Cobalt–zinc nanoferrites with formulae Co $_{1-x}$ Zn $_{x}$ Fe $_{2}$ O $_{4}$ , where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3, have been synthesized by solution combustion technique. The variation of DC resistivity with temperature shows the semiconducting behavior of all nanoferrites. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant ( $\varepsilon $ ’) and dielectric loss tangent (tan $\delta )$ are investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. Dielectric constant and loss tangent are found to be increasing with an increase in temperature while with an increase in frequency both, $\varepsilon $ ’ and tan $\delta $ , are found to be decreasing. The dielectric properties have been explained on the basis of space charge polarization according to Maxwell–Wagner’s two-layer model and the hopping of charge between Fe $^{2+}$ and Fe $^{3+}$ . Further, a very high value of dielectric constant and a low value of tan $\delta $ are the prime achievements of the present work. The AC electrical conductivity ( $\sigma _\mathrm{AC})$ is studied as a function of temperature as well as frequency and $\sigma _\mathrm{AC}$ is observed to be increasing with the increase in temperature and frequency.     

Study of the structural and morphological changes during the phase transition of ZnS to ZnO

Nanocrystalline zinc sulfide (ZnS) (nanorods) was synthesized by chemical precipitation method, and they were annealed in air at different temperatures in the range 200–700 °C for the phase transition of ZnS to ZnO. The characterization of the system was done by different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From the XRD and TEM analysis, the crystal structure is found to convert from cubic ZnS phase to the hexagonal ZnO phase and its morphology from nanorods to nanoparticles with the increasing annealing temperatures. The UV–Visible absorption and photoluminescence measurements revealed that the relative changes in the phases alter the band gap and introduce new kinds of defects in the system. The percentage of the ZnS and ZnO phase has been found to be proportional to the annealing temperature for a fixed time interval, and the DSC measurement has also found similar results as in the XRD pattern during the phase transitions.     

Structural,dielectric and optical properties of sol–gel synthesized 0.55Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–0.45(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 ceramic

Lead-free polycrystalline ceramic 0.55Ba(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃–0.45(Ba_0.7Ca_0.3)TiO₃ (0.55BZT–0.45BCT) was synthesized by sol–gel method and the dielectric, impedance and optical properties of this ceramic were studied. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of pure perovskite phase with the coexistence of tetragonal and rhombohedral structures. The high value of dielectric constant (~6,985) with low dielectric loss (~0.013) was obtained at room temperature. Bulk and grain boundary resistances were measured by impedance analysis, which revealed negative temperature coefficient of resistance behaviour in this ceramic. The estimated value of optical band gap was found to be ~3.16 eV, which is related to the presence of intermediate energy levels. Two emission bands one at ~365 nm (UV region) and another at ~465 nm (blue region) were observed in photoluminescence spectrum at room temperature.