Intermittency in the Slow Particle Emission During Hadron–Nucleus Interactions

The study of the angular distribution of slow particles during high energy hadron-nucleus interaction indicates that emission of slow particles takes place from a thermally non-equilibrated system. This evidence has come out from the presence of intermittency - a phenomenon that reveals a fractal structure and represents a self-similarity in the particle production process. Hence, this study highlights inadequacy of cascade-evaporation model and advocates the need of its refinement.     

Laser induced air breakdown using 0.355, 0.532, and 1.06 µm radiation

Studies of breakdown threshold intensity for air at various pressures in the range of 24–760 torr using 0.355, 0.532 and 1.06 μm radiation are reported. We observep ^−0.8 scaling ofI _th at 1.06 μm and a weak scaling ofp ^−0.4 at 0.532 and 0.355 μm radiation. Strong dependence of breakdown spot size on laser power but weak dependence on air pressure is observed.     

Water-induced stabilization of ZnS nanoparticles

Surface states become important in particles with reduced size as the surface to volume ratio increases. Here we provide direct evidence of water-induced structure buildup and stabilization of nanocrystalline ZnS. The ZnS nanoparticles, prepared employing a non-equilibrium route, provide an ideal platform to investigate microscopic details of water induced structural transformation and thus demonstrate the role of S-H interactions in the time-evolution of crystalline behaviour in these particles. The colossal changes observed make these materials ideal for water sensing.     

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.     

Preconcentration and recovery of uranium and thorium from Indian monazite sand by using a modified fly ash bed

Adsorption of uranium, as UO₂ ²⁺, and thorium, as Th⁴⁺, has been studied using a modified fly ash bed. Effects of pH and various ions like La³⁺, Fe³⁺, Ce⁴⁺, SiO₃ ^2- etc., have been examined. Synthetic mixtures of UO₂ ²⁺ and Th⁴⁺ in different concentrations were passed through the bed and eluted separately with various selective reagents viz. ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate and acetic acid-sodium hydroxide buffer. Separations of these elements at ppm level are shown to be very effective. The separation of uranium and thorium in the presence of lanthanides in monazite sand has been studied successfully. In the analysis of monazite sand, the oxalate precipitation has been avoided. The method is simple and of very low cost. The modified fly ash bed can also be used to remove uranium from contaminated water.     

Ion Beam Driven Ion Cyclotron Double Layers

We present here a self consistent theory of small amplitude double layers associated with electrostatic ion cyclotron waves in a plasma containing hot electrons, cold ions and traversed by an ion beam. It has been shown that compressive type of double layers solution exists when θ_b (beam temperature) < α_b (beam concentration) < 1.     

Dielectric studies of binary mixtures of n -propyl alcohol and ethylenediamine

Dielectric constant (ε’) and dielectric loss (ε") of n-propyl alcohol (PA), ethylenediamine (EDA) and their binary mixtures, for different mole fractions of ethylenediamine have been experimentally measured at 11.15 GHz microwave frequency. Values of density (ρ), viscosity (η) and square refractive index (n _D ² ) of binary mixtures as well as those of pure liquids are reported. Excess square refractive index, viscosity and activation energy of viscous flow have also been estimated. These parameters have been used to explain the formation of complexes in the system.     

Novel solid-phase extraction and preconcentration technique coupled with ICP-AES for the determination of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in various water samples

Newly synthesized 2-propylpiperidine-1-carbodithioate (2-PPC) was used for the extraction of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) from various water samples. In the present investigation, the use of a syringe loaded with sorbent for the separation and enrichment of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was proposed to substitute the batch and column techniques. The described method was compared with the column technique with respect to fastness, simplicity, recovery, and risk of contamination. The syringe was loaded with 1.0 g of sorbent in order to retain the analyte elements. Next, 7.0 mL of sample solution (pH 5.0 ± 0.2) was drawn into the syringe in 15 s and discharged over 15 s. Then, an eluent (3.0 M HCl) was drawn into the syringe and ejected back to desorb the analyte elements. At the optimum conditions, the percentage recoveries of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were in the range of 94.50 to 99.62% with a standard deviation (S.D.) of 0.03%. The elements could be concentrated by drawing and discharging several portions of sample successively and eluting only one time. The detailed study of various interferences proved the method to be highly selective. The risk of contamination is less than that with the column technique. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in spiked and natural water samples. The results obtained are in good agreement with those obtained by the reported methods at the 95% confidence level. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Mechanism of Metal Ion Catalysis in the dissociation of cis-diaquobisoxalatochromate(III) ion

The metal ion (M²⁺) catalysed dissociation of cis-diaquobisoxalatochromate into the tetraaquomonooxalato complex in aqueous perchloric acid medium which follows the rate law — d(complex)/dt = {k_H[H⁺] + k_M[M²⁺]}[complex] has been studied. Based on k_M values the order of catalysing effect of the different metal ions studied is Cu²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Co²⁺ > Mn²⁺, which is also the order of stabilities (K_MOx) of the monooxalato complexes of these metal ions; in fact the plot of log k_M vs. log K_MOx is linear. This together with the relative values of ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠ for the H⁺ catalysed and M²⁺ catalysed paths is in agreement with a mechanism involving chelation of the catalysing cation through the free carbonyl oxygens of the oxalate ligand bound to Cr(III), followed by the dissociation of the Cr(III)? O bonds with simultaneous entry of two water molecules into the coordination sphere of Cr(III).     

Toluene oxidation on LaCoO3, LaFeO3 and LaCrO3 perovskite catalysts. A comparative study

Vapor phase catalytic oxidation of toluene over perovskites viz., LaCoO₃, LaCrO₃ and LaFeO₃ has been studied. The maximum activity was observed at 450°C. The oxidation is first order. The order of catalytic reactivity is LaCoO₃>LaFeO₃>LaCrO₃. The activation energy (E_a) values for LaCoO₃, LaFeO₃ and LaCrO₃ are 13.4, 23.93 and 25.31 kJ/mol, respectively.