Laser-induced breakdown threshold and fracture versus the nanostructure of two-phase glass

The radiation hardness and mechanical strength of single-and two-phase glasses are studied for the case when nanosecond laser pulses (λ= 1.06 μm, τ_0.5 ≈ 12.5 ns) are focused inside the material. Laser interferometry is applied to measure the displacement of the free surface, find optical breakage thresholds, and carry out the fractographic analysis of damaged regions. It is shown that breakdown channels and damage regions develop in a nonlinear manner according to optical breakdown mechanisms, changing each other with an increase in the laser energy. The strength of the two-phase glass is found to be more than four times that of the single-phase glass, although their elastic properties differ insignificantly. Such a considerable difference in the hardness of these materials with chemically similar constitutents is attributed to the presence of the double-lattice nanometer-scale structure of the two-phase glass.     

Variation of supramolecular structure of heat-resistant polyimide films during thermal treatment

Variation of the supramolecular structure of heat-resistant polymide films in the course of high-temperature treatment was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy in solids.     

A fractal model of reinforcement of elastoplastic nanocomposites

Within the framework of fractal analysis and percolation theory, an alternative model of reinforcement of filled polymers is offered. Practically, this model can be used only to describe the reinforcement of nanocomposites, because, according to the treatment considered, a pronounced reinforcement can be reached only at ratios of filler particle diameter to the statistical segment length of about 10 and less. A theoretical calculation showed a good qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiments. The type of reinforcement mechanism of composites is determined by the type of the space (fractal or Euclidean) in which the structure of the polymeric matrix is formed. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 797–802, November–Decem ber, 2006.     

Superconducting magnetis in spectrometers of high-energy particles

This is a retrospective review of superconducting magnets for spectrometers of high-energy particles. The magnets are grouped according to the purpose of the spectrometers and the shape of coils. Data on the thermostatting and electrical protection of the coils are presented. Design features of various-type magnets are described. The first large superconducting solenoids were constructed for hydrogen bubble chambers. Further progress was related to the construction of spectrometers that were designed for experiments at colliders and included solenoids with radiation-transparent walls. Along with solenoids, dipole and toroidal magnets were used in spectrometers; some designs of such magnets are also discussed in the review. A special type of polarizing solenoid is used in polarized targets. Spectrometers with magnets of various coil shapes were created for astrophysical research. As an instance, the original radiation-transparent solenoid and the dipole magnet with a cryocooler are represented. Prospects for the future development of magnets are connected with the use of high-temperature superconductors (HTS). Information on the present situation in engineering the HTS ribbon and solenoids is given.     

Comparative analysis of the twin and heterophase structures in (1−x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3−xPbTiO3 crystals

The specific features of the coexistence of phases in heavily twinned crystals of the (1?x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃?xPbTiO₃ system in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary (0.30≤x≤0.40) are investigated. The phase transformations in crystals at x = const during cooling are considered at electric field strengths E=0 and 0.1 MV/m. The conditions of the formation of interphase boundaries (zero net strain planes) are determined for different first-order phase transitions. The results of calculating the tetragonal-monoclinic M _C and monoclinic-monoclinic (M _C –M _A ) phase transitions are represented in the form of “twin state-interphase boundary” diagrams. The effect of a 90° domain (twin) structure of the tetragonal phase on the heterophase state associated with the presence of monoclinic phases is analyzed.     

Sorption of Sc(III) on phosphorus-containing cation exchangers

Kinetics of Sc(III) sorption from hydrochloric acid solutions on KRF-20t-60 cation exchanger is studied. The experimental data are analyzed in terms of the gel and film kinetic models. The Sc(III) diffusion coefficient in the resin phase is estimated. Static and dynamic sorption data are obtained on Sc(III) sorption from various process solutions on KRF-20t-60, PA-1, AFI-22 ion exchangers, and also on ion exchangers supported on polyacrylonitrile-based fibrous material. Desorption of Sc(III) from KRF-20t-60 is also studied.     

Algebraic curve in the unit ball in ℂ2 that passes through the origin and all of whose boundary components are arbitrarily short

A negative answer is given to the following question of A.G. Vitushkin: Does there exist a nontrivial lower bound for the length of the maximal component of intersection of the unit sphere and an algebraic curve passing through the origin. Published in Russian in Trudy Matematicheskogo Instituta imeni V.A. Steklova, 2006, Vol. 253, pp. 135–157. To the memory of Anatolii Georgievich Vitushkin     

Bimodal fission in binary and ternary spontaneous fission of 252Cf

The hot bimodal fission of ²⁵²Cf is reexamined with new high-statistics data. We constructed a γ-γ-γ coincidence cube for binary fission and LCP-gated γ-γ matrix for ternary fission. By identifying the secondary fission fragments from their γ-ray transitions, we measured the yields for various fission splits. The normal neutron yield distribution is found to be Gaussian for Xe-Ru. However, the binary fission split of Ba-Mo is found to exhibit a bimodal neutron distribution with the “hot mode” corresponding to ≈3.1% of the total yield. In α ternary fission, the first measurements of yields for specific fission splits are presented. The Te-α-Ru and Xe-α-Mo neutron yields fit well with a single mode, but the Ba-α-Zr split shows evidence for an enhanced hot mode with an intensity of ≈13.8% of the normal mode. The text was submitted by the authors in English.