Enthalpy and heat capacity of the intermetallic compound CsBi<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the solid and liquid states

Enthalpy of solid and liquid intermetallic compound CsBi₂ in the temperature range of 430–1225 K was measured by massive isothermal drop calorimeter. Approximation equations were obtained, and isobaric heat capacity and enthalpy change on melting were determined. The tables of recommended values of caloric properties in the range from 298.15 K to 1225 K were developed. The experimental uncertainty of enthalpy and heat capacity measurements were estimated to be within 0.35 and 1.0%, respectively. The obtained results were compared with the calculations according to the laws of ideal solutions.     

Thermal conductivity of ozone-safe C10M1 refrigerant in liquid and gaseous phases

Thermal conductivity of ozone-safe refrigerant C10M1 in liquid (303.9–342.4 K, 1.23–4.257 MPa) and gaseous (324–398.15 K; 0.672–2.107 MPa) states was studied by the methods of high-frequency thermal waves and coaxial cylinders. The estimated measurement errors for the temperature, pressure, and thermal conductivity are ±0.02 K, ±1.5 kPa, and ±1.5–2.5 %, correspondingly. Approximation dependencies for thermal conductivity were obtained over the studied range of temperatures and pressures as well as on the dew and bubble lines. It is shown that thermal conductivity in the liquid state is additive relative to mass concentrations of components. The work was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No. 04-02-16355).     

Search for direct photons from S-Au collisions at 200 GeV/nucleon by the CERES Collaboration

In this note we comment on a recent publication in this journal by the CERES (NA45) Collaboration [1]. The authors report to have determined an upper limit on the direct photon yield relative to the decay photon yield in S + Au collisions of 14% and 7% by two different methods, respectively. We argue that these limits are unsupported by the results and analysis of the CERES data. The systematic error estimates quoted in the CERES analysis are consistently overly optimistic. Using more realistic estimates of the various error contributions and propagating them appropriately we arrive at a direct photon upper limit which at best is 20% of the inclusive photon yield, and most probably is much higher.     

The peculiarities of crystallization of low-temperature eutectic in magnesium-lead system

Density of low-temperature eutectic in magnesium-lead system (83.06 at. % Pb) has been measured by gamma-raying of the samples with narrow beam from cesium-137 isotope over the temperature range 293–1000 K of solid and liquid states. Approximation density dependences have been obtained and data of this work and other authors have been compared. Reference tables of temperature dependences of the alloy thermal properties have been compiled for the entire range of measurements and their errors estimated. It is shown that differences in the values of volumetric changes obtained during melting and crystallization are bound with the metastable β′-phase formation.