Separation of screw-sensed particles in a homogeneous shear field

The Stokes motions of three-dimensional screw-sensed slender particles in a homogeneous shear field are investigated, including the effects of buoyancy. Conclusions are drawn about the possibility of achieving a separation of mixtures of right- and left-handed particles. The linearity of the Stokes equations allows complex flows to be solved by adding the effects of the several terms which describe the flow in which the particle is immersed. The homogeneous shear flow considered here consists of three such terms; solutions for a series of 12 unit motions are sufficient to determine the hydrodynamic resistance tensors. The forces and torques experienced by screw-sensed particles are calculated from these 51 resistance tensors, using slender-filament theory. The results allow an estimate of the range of buoyancy parameters for which gravitational sedimentation can be neglected. The fundamental component of the particle motion is a rotation, at approximately the same angular velocity as that of the fluid. Superimposed on this are variations, of large period, in the particle orientation. A phase plane analysis is used to find the terminal orientations. Very long calculation times are required for the phase portrait. An approximate method based on azimuthally-averaged equations is developed to avoid the requirements for long time integration.     

Hamiltonian circle actions on symplectic manifolds and the signature

Let M be a symplectic manifold with a Hamiltonian circle action with isolated fixed points. We prove that σ (M) = b₀(M) − b₂(M) + b₄(M) − b₆(M) + … where σ (M) is the signature of M and b_i(M) is the ith Betti number of M.     

Certification of the sulphur content of three rapeseed reference materials

Summary The sulphur content of three rapeseed reference materials has been certified on the basis of measurements made by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, isotope-dilution mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. Their suitability for the calibration of x-ray fluorescence spectrometers used for measuring sulphur in rapeseed samples was established.     

Interface analysis of the system Si/YBa2Cu3O7?x

Summary The influence of different preparation conditions and substrate surface orientations on the superconducting properties of thin YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (YBCO) films on silicon was studied. Comparative electrical and surface spectroscopic measurements were performed. SAM and SIMS depth profile analysis show an enrichment of barium at the interface between the superconductor and silicon for samples with T_c<76 K. Comparison with XPS data obtained for thin silicon films on YBCO indicates the formation of barium and yttrium silicates at the interface under these conditions.     

A numerical study of time-dependent schr?dinger equation for multiphoton vibrational interaction of NO molecule, modelled as Morse oscillator, with intense far-infrared femtosecond lasers

For the NO molecule, modelled as a Morse oscillator, time-dependent (TD) nuclear Schr?dinger equation has been numerically solved for the multiphoton vibrational dynamics of the molecule under a far-infrared laser of wavelength 10503 nm, and four different intensities,I = 1 × 10⁸, 1 × 10¹³, 5 × 10¹⁶, and 5 × 10¹⁸ W cm⁻² respectively. Starting from the vibrational ground state at zero time, various TD quantities such as the norm, dissociation probability, potential energy curve and dipole moment are examined. Rich high-harmonics generation (HHG) spectra and above-threshold dissociation (ATD) spectra, due to the multiphoton interaction of vibrational motions with the laser field, and consequent elevation to the vibrational continuum, have been obtained and analysed. Dedicated to Professor C N R Rao on his 70th birthday An erratum to this article is available at .     

Non-destructive analysis of archeological samples by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence

Summary A non-destructive method is described for the determination of major and minor constituents in archeological specimens by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Homogeneity tests are made by measuring at various sites of the specimen. In the same way, mean values are obtained for inhomogeneous specimen without taking samples. For calibration, powder standards are used. In case of the determination of elements with numbers up to 14 (Si) a vacuum chamber is used and the dimensions of the specimens are limited by the dimensions of that vacuum chamber, whereas for the determination of elements from K up to U specimens of any size, form or weight are suitable.

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Zerstörungsfreie Analyse von archäologischen Proben mit Hilfe der Energie-dispersiven Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse

Zusammenfassung Eine zerstörungsfreie Methode für die Bestimmung von Haupt- und Nebenbestandteilen in archäologischen Proben mit Hilfe der Energie-dispersiven Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse wird beschrieben. Für Homogenitätstests wird an mehreren Stellen der Probe gemessen. In der gleichen Weise werden für inhomogene Proben Mittelwerte erhalten ohne Probenahme. Für die Eichung werden Pulverstandards verwendet. Im Falle der Bestimmung von Elementen mit Ordnungszahlen bis 14 (Si) wird eine Vakuumkammer eingesetzt, und die Dimensionen der Proben sind durch die Dimensionen dieser Vakuumkammer begrenzt, während für die Bestimmung der Elemente K bis U Proben jeder Größe, jeder Form oder jeden Gewichts verwendbar sind.

     

Solvothermal synthesis of TiO2: anatase nanocrystals and rutile nanofibres from TiCl4 in acetone

This work reports a new synthetic approach for single‐phase TiO₂ nanomaterials by solvothermal treatment of titanium tetrachloride in acetone at 80–110 °C. Small, uniform, and yet size‐tunable (5–10 nm) anatase titania nanocrystallites were obtained using a low concentration of TiCl₄ in acetone (i.e., at molar ratios of TiCl₄/acetone ≤ 1:15) in the temperature range of 80–110 °C, while rutile nanofibers were synthesized using a high concentration of TiCl₄ (e.g., TiCl₄/acetone = 1:10) at 110 °C. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.