Spectral distributions in nuclei: General principles and applications

The subject of spectral distribution methods where one derives and applies the locally smoothed forms of observables in nuclei is briefly reviewed. It is well understood that the local forms (with respect to energy) of the level density function, expectation values and strength densities are Gaussian, linear (or ratio of Gaussians) and a bivariate Gaussian respectively. To accomodate symmetries in the above forms, one has to deal with multivariate distributions in general; for example the angular-momentum (J) decomposition leads to a bivariate Gaussian form for the level density. These results extend to indefinitely large spaces by method of partitioning and they generate convolution forms. The origin of these remarkable spectral properties is discussed and shell model examples are given to substantiate their applicability to nuclear systems. Spectral distribution theory is a practical, usable theory because the smoothed forms are defined in terms of traces of low particle-rank operators, and the trace information propagates. Finally we discuss the application of the spectral methods for a wide range of nuclear problems; these include binding energies, orbit occupancies, electromagnetic andβ-decay sum rule quantities, analysis of operators, symmetry breaking, numerical level densities, and determination of bounds on time-reversal non-invariant part of nucleon-nucleon interaction.     

Characterization of Ultrathin Films of Cellulose Esters

The adsorption of cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) from solutions prepared in acetone onto silicon wafers led to ultrathin films, which were characterized by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. The polysaccharides films were characterized in the air just after their formation and after annealing at temperatures higher than their glass transition temperature or melt temperature. The films thickness close to 2 nm and surface roughness did not vary significantly upon annealing. AFM images revealed the presence of small clumps dispersed on a homogeneous layer, which covered completely the Si wafers. Such topographic details were also observed after annealing. However, upon annealing the films surfaces changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, evidencing molecular re-orientation at the solid–air interface. The adhesion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lipase onto the cellulose esters films was quantified in order to evaluate the possibility of applying such films as selective support for biomolecules.     

Novel simulated moving-bed adsorber for the fractionation of gas mixtures

The separation of propylene-propane mixture is an energy intensive operation commercially practiced using cryogenic distillation. The separation by pressure swing adsorption has been studied as an alternative. A fixed-bed pressure swing adsorption yields the heavy component as a pure product. The product recovery and the productivity are not high. In a moving-bed process, because of the counter-current solid-gas contact, the separation achieved is similar to that of the fractionation by distillation. Although the moving-bed operation offers the upper limit for the performance of a cyclic adsorptive process, due to mechanical complexities in the handling of solids the 'simulated' moving-bed is preferred. By moving the inlet and outlet ports of streams located along the length of the bed, a moving-bed process can be realized in a fixed bed. We describe here a 'moving-port' system which permits injection or withdrawal of the fluid along the axial direction in a fixed bed. A fixed bed embedded with the moving-port systems emulates a simulated moving-bed adsorber. The proposed adsorber can fractionate a binary gas mixture into two product streams with high purities. It is similar to the Sorbex process of UOP but does not have the eluent as an additional separating agent. A parametric study indicates that high purity products and a higher productivity by an order of magnitude can be achieved with simulated moving-beds compared to the fixed beds.     

Thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene in shock waves

The thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) was studied behind reflected shock waves using both a single-pulse method (reaction time between 0.8 and 3.3 ms) and a time-resolved UV-absorption method (230 nm). The studies were done over the temperature range of 1170–1690 K at the total pressure range of 1.3–2.3 atm. The mechanism was used to interpret both the early and late stages of vinylacetylene decomposition at the high temperatures. It was confirmed that C₄H₄ dissociation proceeded through the following three channels. The rate constant expression of reaction (1) was determined as k₁ = 6.3 × 10¹³ exp(?87.1 kcal/RT) s^?1. The rate constants of the succeeding reactions (chain reaction, C₄H₄ + H → i-C₄H₃ + H₂ and C₄H₄ + H → C₂H₂ + C₂H₃ and decomposition reactions of free radicals, i-C₄H₃ + M → C₄H₂ + H + M) were confirmed or estimated. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation of transitions and relaxation processes in polystyrene by using positron annihilation

The glass transition and relaxation processes in polystyrene resins with the number average molecular weight ranging from 7.0·10² to 9.8·10⁴ were studied with the positron annihilation technique. The pick-off annihilation lifetime of ortho-positronium (₃) and its intensity (I ₃) were measured in the temperature range from 20 to 430 K. The glass transition temperature (T _g) was determined as an onset temperature coefficient of ₃.T _g shows the molecular weight dependence in these samples. BelowT _g, local motions were detected by measurements ofI ₃. The local motions could be observed above 100 K in this experiment.I ₃ show the minimum at around 250 K and it does not show molecular weight dependence.     

Observation of magnetic order of Cu-moment aroundx=0.12 in La2−x Ba x CuO4 and La2−x sr x CuO4 by μ+SR

Zero field positive muon spin rotation method ( ⁺SR) is applied on La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ around forx=0.12 at which the high-T _c superconductivity (SC) is suppressed. The magnetically ordered state of Cu-moments, which is not a spin glass state but an antiferromagnetic like state, appears below 15 K for 0.105x0.120. The magnetic phase boundary is very similar to the one of the La_2–x Ba _x CuO₄ in which the structural transition from the low temperature orthorhombic (LTO) phase to the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) phase is observed aroundx=0.12. The present study suggests that there is no big difference of the electronic state of the CuO₂ plane between the La-Ba system and the La-Sr system and that the magnetic ordering of Cu-moments plays an important role for the suppression of the high-T _c SC aroundx=0.12 in both of the systems, although the LTO-LTT structural transition has not been observed yet in the La-Sr system.