Multifunctional cryogenic sensors from n-BaTiO3 ceramics having strong negative temperature coefficient of resistance

Donor-doped n-BaTiO3 polycrystalline ceramics show a strong negative temperature coefficient of resistivity below the orthorhombic-rhombohedral phase transition point, from 10(2-3) Omega cm af 190 K to 10(10-13) Omega cm at less than or similar to 50 K, with thermal coefficient of resistance alpha = 20-23% K-1. Stable thermal sensors for low-temperature applications are realized therefrom. The negative temperature coefficient of resistivity region can be modified by substituting isovalent ions in the lattice. Highly nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) curves are observed at low temperatures, with a voltage maximum followed by the negative differential resistance. The I-V curves are sensitive to dissipation so that cryogenic sensors can be fabricated for liquid level control, flow rate monitoring, radiation detection or in-rush voltage limitation.

Optical studies of SN 2009jf: a Type Ib supernova with an extremely slow decline and aspherical signature

Optical UBVRI photometry and medium-resolution spectroscopy of the Type Ib supernova SN 2009jf, during the period from similar to -15 to +250 d, with respect to the B maximum are reported. The light curves are broad, with an extremely slow decline. The early post-maximum decline rate in the V band is similar to SN 2008D; however, the late-phase decline rate is slower than other Type Ib supernovae studied. With an absolute magnitude of M-V = -17.96 +/- 0.19 at peak, SN 2009jf is a normally bright supernova. The peak bolometric luminosity and the energy deposition rate via the 56Ni -> 56Co chain indicate that similar to 0.17+0.03(-0.03) M-circle dot of 56Ni was ejected during the explosion. The He i 5876 A line is clearly identified in the first spectrum of day similar to -15, at a velocity of similar to 16 000 km s-1. The O i] 6300-6364 A line seen in the nebular spectrum has a multipeaked and asymmetric emission profile, with the blue peak being stronger. The estimated flux in this line implies that greater than or similar to 1.34 M-circle dot oxygen was ejected. The slow evolution of the light curves of SN 2009jf indicates the presence of a massive ejecta. The high expansion velocity in the early phase and broader emission lines during the nebular phase suggest it to be an explosion with a large kinetic energy. A simple qualitative estimate leads to the ejecta mass of M-ej = 4-9 M-circle dot and kinetic energy E-K = 3-8 x 1051 erg. The ejected mass estimate is indicative of an initial main-sequence mass of greater than or similar to 20-25 M-circle dot.

Spin state and exchange in the quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet KFeS2

We report the optical spectra and single crystal magnetic susceptibility of the one-dimensional antiferromagnet KFeS2. Measurements have been carried out to ascertain the spin state of Fe3+ and the nature of the magnetic interactions in this compound. The optical spectra and magnetic susceptibility could be consistently interpreted using a S = 1/2 spin ground state for the Fe3+ ion. The features in the optical spectra have been assigned to transitions within the d-electron manifold of the Fe3+ ion, and analysed in the strong field limit of the ligand field theory. The high temperature isotropic magnetic susceptibility is typical of a low-dimensional system and exhibits a broad maximum at similar to 565 K. The susceptibility shows a well defined transition to a three dimensionally ordered antiferromagnetic state at T-N = 250 K. The intra and interchain exchange constants, J and J', have been evaluated from the experimental susceptibilities using the relationship between these quantities, and chi(max), T-max, and T-N for a spin 1/2 one-dimensional chain. The values are J = -440.71 K, and J' = 53.94 K. Using these values of J and J', the susceptibility of a spin 1/2 Heisenberg chain was calculated. A non-interacting spin wave model was used below T-N. The susceptibility in the paramagnetic region was calculated from the theoretical curves for an infinite S = 1/2 chain. The calculated susceptibility compares well with the experimental data of KFeS2. Further support for a one-dimensional spin 1/2 model comes from the fact that the calculated perpendicular susceptibility at 0K (2.75 x 10(-4) emu/mol) evaluated considering the zero point reduction in magnetization from spin wave theory is close to the projected value (2.7 x 10(-4) emu/mol) obtained from the experimental data.

Hidden order in serrated flow of metallic glasses

We report results of statistical and dynamic analysis of the serrated stress-time curves obtained from compressive constant strain-rate tests on two metallic glass samples with different ductility levels in an effort to extract hidden information in the seemingly irregular serrations. Two distinct types of dynamics are detected in these two alloy samples. The stress-strain curve corresponding to the less ductile Zr65Cu15Ni10Al10 alloy is shown to exhibit a finite correlation dimension and a positive Lyapunov exponent, suggesting that the underlying dynamics is chaotic. In contrast, for the more ductile Cu47.5Zr47.5Al5 alloy, the distributions of stress drop magnitudes and their time durations obey a power-law scaling reminiscent of a self-organized critical state. The exponents also satisfy the scaling relation compatible with self-organized criticality. Possible physical mechanisms contributing to the two distinct dynamic regimes are discussed by drawing on the analogy with the serrated yielding of crystalline samples. The analysis, together with some physical reasoning, suggests that plasticity in the less ductile sample can be attributed to stick-slip of a single shear band, while that of the more ductile sample could be attributed to the simultaneous nucleation of a large number of shear bands and their mutual interactions. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photophysics of PPV derivatives with varying conjugation lengths

Photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL) and photoconductivity (PC) of poly[(2,5-dimethoxy-p-phenylene) vinylene] (DMPPV) of varying conjugation length were studied. Thin film devices of the DMPPV with different conjugation lengths, as the active medium, were prepared. The PL emission spectra revealed the radiative decay of the singlet excitons with peak values corresponding to energies below the absorption onset. The PL. emission spectra of the copolymer films also revealed vibronic features, which get well resolved upon cooling to 80K, The devices exhibit light emitting diode (LED) behavior; the I-V curves and EL spectra are compared in these DMPPV samples having different conjugation lengths. The PC studies reveal subtle features, which can be attributed to the optically generated excitations in the system.

Solutions of cubic equations in quadratic fields

Let K be any quadratic field with O-K its ring of integers. We study the solutions of cubic equations, which represent elliptic curves defined over Q, in quadratic fields and prove some interesting results regarding the solutions by using elementary tools. As an application we consider the Diophantine equation r + s + t = rst = 1 in O-K. This Diophantine equation gives an elliptic curve defined over Q with finite Mordell-Weil group. Using our study of the solutions of cubic equations in quadratic fields we present a simple proof of the fact that except for the ring of integers of Q(i) and Q(root 2), this Diophantine equation is not solvable in the ring of integers of any other quadratic fields, which is already proved in [4].

Stability of non-parabolic flow in a flexible tube

Flows with velocity profiles very different from the parabolic velocity profile can occur in the entrance region of a tube as well as in tubes with converging/diverging cross-sections. In this paper, asymptotic and numerical studies are undertaken to analyse the temporal stability of such 'non-parabolic' flows in a flexible tube in the limit of high Reynolds numbers. Two specific cases are considered: (i) developing flow in a flexible tube; (ii) flow in a slightly converging flexible tube. Though the mean velocity profile contains both axial and radial components, the flow is assumed to be locally parallel in the stability analysis. The fluid is Newtonian and incompressible, while the flexible wall is modelled as a viscoelastic solid. A high Reynolds number asymptotic analysis shows that the non-parabolic velocity profiles can become unstable in the inviscid limit. This inviscid instability is qualitatively different from that observed in previous studies on the stability of parabolic flow in a flexible tube, and from the instability of developing flow in a rigid tube. The results of the asymptotic analysis are extended numerically to the moderate Reynolds number regime. The numerical results reveal that the developing flow could be unstable at much lower Reynolds numbers than the parabolic flow, and hence this instability can be important in destabilizing the fluid flow through flexible tubes at moderate and high Reynolds number. For flow in a slightly converging tube, even small deviations from the parabolic profile are found to be sufficient for the present instability mechanism to be operative. The dominant non-parallel effects are incorporated using an asymptotic analysis, and this indicates that non-parallel effects do not significantly affect the neutral stability curves. The viscosity of the wall medium is found to have a stabilizing effect on this instability.

Tidally compressed gas in centers of early-type and ultraluminous galaxies

In this paper we propose that the compressive tidal held in the centers of flat-core early-type galaxies and ultraluminous galaxies compresses molecular clouds producing dense gas observed in the centers of these galaxies. The effect of galactic tidal fields is usually considered disruptive in the literature. However, for some galaxies, the mass profile flattens toward the center and the resulting galactic tidal field is not disruptive, but instead it is compressive within the flat-core region. We have used the virial theorem to determine the minimum density of a molecular cloud to be stable and gravitationally bound within the tidally compressive region of a galaxy. We have applied the mechanism to determine the mean molecular cloud densities in the centers of a sample of flat-core, early-type galaxies and ultraluminous galaxies. For early-type galaxies with a core-type luminosity profile, the tidal held of the galaxy is compressive within half the core radius. We have calculated the mean gas densities for molecular gas in a sample of early-type galaxies which have already been detected in CO emission, and we obtain mean densities of [n] similar to 10(3)-10(6) cm(-3) within the central 100 pc radius. We also use our model to calculate the molecular cloud densities in the inner few hundred parsecs of a sample of ultraluminous galaxies. From the observed rotation curves of these galaxies we show that they have a compressive core within their nuclear region. Our model predicts minimum molecular gas densities in the range 10(2)-10(4) cm(-3) in the nuclear gas disks; the smaller values are applicable typically for galaxies with larger core radii. The resulting density values agree well with the observed range. Also, for large core radii, even fairly low-density gas (similar to 10(2) cm(-3)) can remain bound and stable close to the galactic center.

A finite element assessment of flexural strength of prestressed concrete beams with fiber reinforcement

This paper presents an assessment of the flexural behavior of 15 fully/partially prestressed high strength concrete beams containing steel fibers investigated using three-dimensional nonlinear finite elemental analysis. The experimental results consisted of eight fully and seven partially prestressed beams, which were designed to be flexure dominant in the absence of fibers. The main parameters varied in the tests were: the levels of prestressing force (i.e, in partially prestressed beams 50% of the prestress was reduced with the introduction of two high strength deformed bars instead), fiber volume fractions (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%), fiber location (full depth and partial depth over full length and half the depth over the shear span only). A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis was conducted using ANSYS 5.5 [Theory Reference Manual. In: Kohnke P, editor. Elements Reference Manual. 8th ed. September 1998] general purpose finite element software to study the flexural behavior of both fully and partially prestressed fiber reinforced concrete beams. Influence of fibers on the concrete failure surface and stress-strain response of high strength concrete and the nonlinear stress-strain curves of prestressing wire and deformed bar were considered in the present analysis. In the finite element model. tension stiffening and bond slip between concrete and reinforcement (fibers., prestressing wire, and conventional reinforcing steel bar) have also been considered explicitly. The fraction of the entire volume of the fiber present along the longitudinal axis of the prestressed beams alone has been modeled explicitly as it is expected that these fibers would contribute to the mobilization of forces required to sustain the applied loads across the crack interfaces through their bridging action. A comparison of results from both tests and analysis on all 15 specimens confirm that, inclusion of fibers over a partial depth in the tensile side of the prestressed flexural structural members was economical and led to considerable cost saving without sacrificing on the desired performance. However. beams having fibers over half the depth in only the shear span, did not show any increase in the ultimate load or deformational characteristics when compared to plain concrete beams. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Performance analysis of single-symbol maximum likelihood decodable linear STBCs

Performance of space-time block codes can be improved using the coordinate interleaving of the input symbols from rotated M-ary phase shift keying (MPSK) and M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM) constellations. This paper is on the performance analysis of coordinate-interleaved space-time codes, which are a subset of single-symbol maximum likelihood decodable linear space-time block codes, for wireless multiple antenna terminals. The analytical and simulation results show that full diversity is achievable. Using the equivalent single-input single-output model, simple expressions for the average bit error rates are derived over flat uncorrelated Rayleigh fading channels. Optimum rotation angles are found by finding the minimum of the average bit error rate curves.

Chromatographic methods for determination of nimesulide and for stability studies

Simple and rapid HPLC, GC, and TLC procedures have been developed for detection and determination of nimesulide, a non-pharmacopeial drug, in preformulation and dosage form. Use of these techniques has enabled separation of impurities and the precursor in the bulk material and in formulations. Isocratic reversed-phase HPLC was performed on a C-18 column with methanol-water-acetic acid, 67:32:1 (v/v), as mobile phase and UV detection at 230 nm. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 100-1000 mug mL(-1) with a good correlation coefficient (0.9993) and a coefficient of variation of 1.5%. Gas chromatography was performed on an OV-17 packed column with temperature programming and flame-ionization detection. The lower limit of determination by HPLC and GC was 4 ppm. Thin-layer chromatography of nimesulide was performed on silica gel G with toluene-ethyl acetate, 8:2, as mobile phase. Stability testing of the drug was performed under different temperature, humidity, and UV-radiation conditions.

Optimal allocation of carbon credits to emitting agents in a carbon economy

Reduction of carbon emissions is of paramount importance in the context of global warming. Countries and global companies are now engaged in understanding systematic ways of achieving well defined emission targets. In fact, carbon credits have become significant and strategic instruments of finance for countries and global companies. In this paper, we formulate and suggest a solution to the carbon allocation problem, which involves determining a cost minimizing allocation of carbon credits among different emitting agents. We address this challenge in the context of a global company which is faced with the challenge of determining an allocation of carbon credit caps among its divisions in a cost effective way. The problem is formulated as a reverse auction problem where the company plays the role of a buyer or carbon planning authority and the different divisions within the company are the emitting agents that specify cost curves for carbon credit reductions. Two natural variants of the problem: (a) with unlimited budget and (b) with limited budget are considered. Suitable assumptions are made on the cost curves and in each of the two cases we show that the resulting problem formulation is a knapsack problem that can be solved optimally using a greedy heuristic. The solution of the allocation problem provides critical decision support to global companies engaged seriously in green programs.

Crystal structure and thermal and electrical properties of the perovskite solid solution Nd1-xSrxFeO3-delta (0 <= x <= 0.4)

The crystal structure, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity of strontium-doped neodymium ferrite (Nd1-xSrxFeO3-delta where 0less than or equal toxless than or equal to0.4) were investigated. All compositions had the GdFeO3-type orthorhombic perovskite structure. The lattice parameters were determined at room temperature by X-ray powder diffraction. The orthorhombic distortion decreases with increasing Sr substitution. The pseudocubic lattice parameter shows a minimum at x=0.3. The thermal expansion curves for x=0.2-0.4 displayed rapid increase in slope at higher temperatures. The electrical conductivity increased with Sr content and temperature. The calculated activation energies for electrical conduction decreased with increasing x. The electrical conductivity can be described by the small polaron hopping mechanism. The charge compensation for divalent ion on the A-site is provided by the formation of Fe4+ ions on the B site and vacancies on the oxygen sublattice. The results indicate two defect domains: for low values of x, the predominant defect is Fe4+ ions, whereas for higher values of x, oxygen vacancies dominate. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Crystal structure, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity of Nd0.7Sr0.3Fe1-xCoxO3 (0 <= x <= 0.8)

The crystal structure, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity of the solid solution Nd0.7Sr0.3Fe1-xCoxO3 for 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.8 were investigated. All compositions had the GdFeO3-type orthorhombic perovskite structure. The lattice parameters were determined at room temperature by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The pseudo-cubic lattice constant decreased continuously with x. The average linear thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in the temperature range from 573 to 973 K was found to increase with x. The thermal expansion curves for all values of x displayed rapid increase in slope at high temperatures. The electrical conductivity increased with x for the entire temperature range of measurement. The calculated activation energy values indicate that electrical conduction takes place primarily by the small polaron hopping mechanism. The charge compensation for the divalent ion on the A-site is provided by the formation of Fe4+ ions on the B-site (in preference to Co4+ ions) and vacancies on the oxygen sublattice for low values of x. The large increase in the conductivity with x in the range from 0.6 to 0.8 is attributed to the substitution of Fe4+ ions by Co4+ ions. The Fe site has a lower small polaron site energy than Co and hence behaves like a carrier trap, thereby drastically reducing the conductivity. The non-linear behaviour in the dependence of log sigmaT with reciprocal temperature can be attributed to the generation of additional charge carriers with increasing temperature by the charge disproportionation of Co3+ ions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication and evaluation of 450 F electrochemical redox supercapacitors using inexpensive and high-performance, polyaniline coated, stainless-steel electrodes

Redox supercapacitors using polyaniline (PANI) coated. stainless-steel (SS) electrodes have been assembled and characterized. PANI has been deposited on SS substrate by a potentiodynamic method from an acidic electrolyte which contains aniline monomer. By employing stacks of electrodes, each with a geometrical area of 24 cm(2), in acidic perchlorate electrolyte, a capacitance value of about 450 F has been obtained over a long cycle-life. Characterization studies have been carried out by galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling of the capacitors singly, as well as in series and parallel configurations. Various electrical parameters have been evaluated. Use of the capacitors in parallel with a battery for pulse-power loads. and also working of a toy fan connected to the charged capacitors have been demonstrated. A specific capacitance value of about 1300 F g(-1) of PANI has been obtained at a discharge power of about 0.5 kW kg(-1). This value is several times higher than those reported in the literature for PANI and is, perhaps, the highest value known for a capacitor material. The inexpensive SS substrate and the high-capacitance PANI are favorable factors for commercial exploitation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.