Characterization of surface deformation around Vickers indentations in InGaAsP epilayers on InP substrate

The deformation surrounding Vickers indentations on InGaAsP/InP epilayers have been studied in detail. The surface topography was characterized by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The material pile-up and sink-in regions around the indentation impression was observed for the quaternary InGaAsP/InP epilayers. The sectional analysis mode of the AFM shows the depth profile at the indented region. Microindentation studies were carried out for different atomic fraction of the quaternary InGaAsP/InP compound semiconductor alloys. The microhardness values of InGaAsP/InP epilayers were found to be in the range of 5.08 and 5.73 GPa. These results show that the hardness value of the quaternary alloy drastically increases as the composition of As was increased by 0.01 atomic fraction and when the phosphorous concentration decreases from 0.4 to 0.38. The reason may be that the increase in As concentration hardens the lattice when phosphorous concentration was less and hardness decreases when phosphorous was increased.     

Critical phenomena in FINEMET alloy

The Fe_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B₉ FINEMET alloy has been prepared by the rapid solidification technique. The critical behaviour of this alloy in the amorphous as well as in its nanocrystalline states has been studied near their respective Curie temperatures. From the values of the critical exponents one can conclude that the alloy behaves like a 3D Heisenberg ferromagnet in the amorphous and nanocrystalline states. But there exists a slight increase in the value of β for the alloy annealed at 823 K (the nanocrystalline state) as observed in most of the amorphous alloys.     

Simulation model for shapiro time delay and light deflection experiments

The time delay experiment proposed by I.I. Shapiro in 1964 and conducted in the seventies was the most precise experiment of general relativity until that time. Further experimentation has improved the accuracy level of both the time delay and the light deflection experiments. A simulation model is proposed that involves only a simple mass and time transformation factor involving velocity of light. The light deflection and the time delay experiments are numerically simulated using this model that does not use the general relativistic equations. The computed values presented in this paper compare well with recent levels of accuracy of their respective experimental results.     

A novel method for the preparation of T3 free plasma/serum for routine RIA

A novel method to eliminate T₃ from gross sera/plasma based on prior treatment with 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulphonic acid has been standardized. This method is rapid with a minimum loss of protein and uses only small quantities of charcoal. The treated sera have been tested for acceptance in the RIA system for routine assays.     

Precise lattice parameter measurements in CsCl-Br solid solutions between room temperature and 90°K by powder x-ray diffraction

Solid solutions of CsCl-Br in five different concentrations were prepared in sealed quartz tubes by heating the mixture to 1123°K for 6–8 hr and quenching to room temperature. X-ray diffractograms were taken at eight different temperatures between room temperature and 90°K for these solid solutions using the YPC50NM powder diffractometer and a continuous flow cryostat. The observed lattice parameters for each sample at each temperature obtained from the powder diffractograms were then extrapolated to give the true lattice parameters using the least square method with Nelson-Riley extrapolation scheme. The values of the true lattice parameters at each concentration and at each temperature were tabulated and the results discussed. It is shown that the lattice parameters vs temperature for some concentrations exhibit an anomalous behaviour. Contribution No. 691     

Working group report: Neutrino and astroparticle physics

This is the report of neutrino and astroparticle physics working group at WHEPP-7. Discussions and work on CP violation in long baseline neutrino experiments, ultra high energy neutrinos, supernova neutrinos and water Cerenkov detectors are discussed.     

Effect of Mn substitution on the delicate balance between structure and properties of Gd1.4Ce0.6Sr2RuCu2O10

Some new members of a ruthenocuprate(2212) series have been synthesized by Mn substitution for Ru in Gd_1.4Ce_0.6Sr₂RuCu₂O₁₀. Characterization by x-ray diffraction (XRD) phase analysis has been carried out. Changes in structural features on substitution, including a significant change in lattice parameter for a very low substitution level, have been observed. Four-probe resistivity studies indicate the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism for the pristine compound and a semiconductor-like upturn in resistivity and the absence of superconductivity even for very low levels of Mn substitution. AC susceptibility measurements show a progressive suppression of the magnetic transition temperature as well as a smearing of the magnetic transition as a function of Mn substitution. Possible reasons for the absence of superconductivity have been discussed.     

Electronic and molecular properties of an adsorbed protein monolayer probed by two-color sum-frequency generation spectroscopy

Two-color sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (2C-SFG) is used to probe the molecular and electronic properties of an adsorbed layer of the green fluorescent protein mutant 2 (GFPmut2) on a platinum (111) substrate. First, the spectroscopic measurements, performed under different polarization combinations, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) show that the GFPmut2 proteins form a fairly ordered monolayer on the platinum surface. Next, the nonlinear spectroscopic data provide evidence of particular coupling phenomena between the GFPmut2 vibrational and electronic properties. This is revealed by the occurrence of two doubly resonant sum-frequency generation processes for molecules having both their Raman and infrared transition moments in a direction perpendicular to the sample plane. Finally, our 2C-SFG analysis reveals two electronic transitions corresponding to the absorption and fluorescence energy levels which are related to two different GFPmut2 conformations: the B (anionic) and I forms, respectively. Their observation and wavelength positions attest the keeping of the GFPmut2 electronic properties upon adsorption on the metallic surface.     

A total synthesis of spiruchostatin A

We achieved the total synthesis of the histone deacetylase inhibitor spiruchostatin A, as the prelude to the preparation of a combinatorial library of its analogues. Two key reactions were an asymmetric acetate aldol reaction using a Zr-enolate and macrolactonization using the Shiina method.     

Cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of conjugated 3-(benzylidene/salicylidene)-β-diketones (having no enolisable γ-carbon proton) and their reactions

Transition Metal Chemistry - The synthesis and structural characterization of new metal(II) chelates (M = CoII, NiII, CuII and ZnII) of neutral conjugated bidentate β-diketone ligands, having...