Magnetic and martensitic transitions in Ni-Fe-Ga alloy

The ferromagnetic shape memory alloy with nominal composition Ni₅₄Fe₁₉Ga₂₇ is investigated by Ac susceptibility and resistivity measurements. The alloy shows long-range ferromagnetic order below 290 K. The anomaly due to the martensitic transition is observed in the susceptibility and resistivity data in the temperature range around 220 K, which is associated with clear thermal hysteresis. Minor hysteresis loop technique was used to investigate the phase coexistence across the martensitic transition, and our analysis indicate that both martensite and austenite phases mutually coexist in the region of hysteresis.     

Diffusion of water in molecular magnet Cu(0.75)Mn(0.75)[Fe(CN)6]·7H2O

Here we report the dynamical behaviour of water in Prussian blue analogue (PBA) Cu(0.75)Mn(0.75)[Fe(CN)(6)]·7H(2)O molecular magnet in the temperature range 260-360 K as studied using the quasielastic neutron scattering technique. While significant quasielastic broadening is observed in the hydrated sample, no broadening was observed in the dehydrated one. Data analysis showed that the observed quasielastic broadening in Cu(0.75)Mn(0.75)[Fe(CN)(6)]·7H(2)O corresponds to the dynamics of the non-coordinated water molecules at the 32f site and the coordinated water molecules at the 24e site, existing in the cavities created by the absence of Fe(CN)(6) units. The non-coordinated water molecules at 8c interstitial sites do not contribute to the broadening, suggesting that they are immobile at least within the time window of the spectrometer used. Behaviour of the elastic incoherent structure factor is consistent with the model where the water molecules undergo translational diffusion localized within the cavity of 5.1 ?. While all the non-coordinated water molecules at the 32f site are dynamic over the entire range of temperatures, the coordinated ones at the 24e site become progressively dynamic with temperature. The water molecules were found to undergo hindered (~1.16 × 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) at 300 K) diffusion compared to bulk water and the diffusivity followed Arrhenius behaviour within the measured temperature range with an activation energy of 1.26 kcal mol(-1).     

On an estimator in T3-class of linear estimators in sampling with varying probabilities from a finite population

Summary Horvitz and Thompson [4] introduced three classes of linear estimators for estimation of population characteristics on the basis of a sample drawn with varying probabilities and without replacement. TheirT ₃-class of estimators does not admit a best unbiased estimator. In this paper, the variance and an unbiased estimate of variance for an estimator in T₃-class, which is proved to have several good properties by Godambe [2], [3], are derived for sampling with varying probabilities with or without replacement.     

Finite Larmor radius effect on thermosolutal instability of a plasma in porous medium

The thermosolutal instability of a plasma in porous medium is considered in the presence of finite Larmor radius effect. The finite Larmor radius, stable solute gradient and magnetic field introduce oscillatory modes in the systems which were nonexistent in their absence. For stationary convection, the finite Larmor radius and stable solute gradient have stabilizing effects on the thermosolutal instability in porous medium. In presence of finite Larmor radius effect, the medium permeability has a destabilizing (or stabilizing) effect and the magnetic field has a stabilizing (or destabilizing) effect under certain condition whereas in the absence of finite Larmor radius effect, the medium permeability and the magnetic field have destabilizing and stabilizing effects, respectively, on thermosolutal instability of a plasma in porous medium. The sufficient conditions for nonexistence of overstability are obtained.The financial assistance to Mr. Sunil in the form of Senior Research Fellowship of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged.     

On the non-BoltzmannA-X emission in Na2 following laser excitation of theB state

A ¹Σ _u ⁺ -X ¹Σ _g ⁺ emission in Na₂ is observed following excitation ofB ¹π _u by various lines of an argon ion laser. The excitation energy ofB ¹π _u is collisionally transferred to the (2)¹Σ _g ⁺ which then radiatively populates theA ¹Σ _u ⁺ state. The Na vapour is contained in a stainless steel crossed heat pipe with Ar buffer gas and temperature around 600°C. For all laser lines except 4579 Å, the coarse features ofA-X emission are independent of the laser wavelength. However, at high resolution the finer differences between different laser line excitation are explained. Variousv′-v″ transitions in this emission are identified. Computer simulation is presented to help explain some features of this emission.     

Plastics as nuclear track detectors for thermal neutron dosimetry

An attempt is made to determine the response of CR-39 and cellulose nitrate plastic track detectors subjected to thermal neutrons. The α-particles are produced from (n, α) reactions in lithium tetraborate convertor placed in contact with different plastics and are recorded in the detectors. The corrected track density gives a fluence sensitivity and dose sensitivity of the order of 10^?4 tracks per neutron and 10² tracks/cm² mrem respectively. A linear relationship is observed between track density and neutron fluence.     

NGR study of pyrrhotites obtained in coal hydroliquefaction

Iron Mössbauer spectroscopy has been performed on 38 residues of hydroliquefaction of the French bituminous Freyming coal, without and with added iron based catalysts. 56 to 94 % of the area of each spectrum was occupied by 2, 3, 4 or 5 sextets of Fe_1?xS, either at 295 K or at 78 K or at 4 K. Values of H at 295 K are proposed: 299, 283, 268, 254, 242 and 228 kOe, ±3 kOe, associated with δ(α-Fe)=0.72±0.02 mm/s. The vacancies responsible for the values of H are likely to be randomly distributed. The best accuracy on the relative intensities cannot ensure a precise determination of the overall stoichiometry, so that a better knowledge of the samples is given by the distribution of the Fe sites.     

Thermosolutal convection in a Maxwellian viscoelastic fluid in porous medium

The thermosolutal convection in a layer of Maxwellian viscoelastic fluid heated and soluted from below in porous medium is considered. The effects of uniform magnetic field and uniform rotation on the thermosolutal convection are also considered. For stationary convection, the Maxwellian viscoelastic fluid behaves like a Newtonian fluid. The sufficient conditions for the nonexistence of overstability are obtained. The critical Rayleigh number is found to increase with the increase in magnetic field, rotation and stable solute gradient.     

Measurement of στ product of solid state laser materials by an alternative method: Application to Nd3+ doped YVO4 crystal for 4 F 3/2→4 I 11/2 transition

In this paper an alternative approach for measurement of στ product for ⁴ F _3/2→⁴ I _11/2 transition of Nd³⁺ doped YVO₄ crystal is reported. In this method a microchip laser is formed by keeping a small piece of the sample in plane-plane resonator and a diode laser (808 nm) is used for pumping. The pump power induced thermal lensing effect is used to make the cavity stable. The cavity mode area is estimated by measuring the thermal lens focal length at the threshold and the average pump area is measured by Gaussian fit to the intensity profiles of the pump beam. The value of στ product of Nd:YVO₄ crystal obtained by this method is within 10% of the reported values. The advantage of this method is that it is a simple method for direct measurement of στ product of laser crystals.