EPECUR setup for the search for narrow baryon resonances in pion-proton scattering

The EPECUR experimental setup has been designed to search for narrow resonant states by precisely measuring differential and total reaction cross sections for pion-nucleon interactions with 1-MeV pion energy steps. Over the 5 years that passed from the submission of the idea of the experiment to the start of data taking in April 2009, a non-magnetic spectrometer with a liquid hydrogen target based on the large-aperture multiwire drift chambers with a hexagonal structure has been built at the universal beamline 322 of the U-10 proton synchrotron at the Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics. Owing to the unique properties of the beamline, the beam particle momentum can be measured with an accuracy of 0.1% or better using 1-mm-pitch proportional chambers located at the first focus of the beamline. The design of numerous subsystems of the setup is based on modern electronic components including microprocessors and field programmable gate arrays. All the subsystems have been tuned and tested both individually and as parts of the whole setup. The distributed data acquisition system is based on the widely spread USB and Ethernet protocols, which help achieve high performance characteristics and take full advantage of the industrial solutions.     

Comparison of the phase behaviour of the liquid-crystalline polymer/poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl acetate)/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

The phase behaviour of blends of a liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), as well as the phase state of blends of PMMA and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA) has been investigated using light scattering and phase-contrast optical microscopy. The blends of LCP and PMMA have been obtained by coagulation from ternary solutions. The cloud point curves were determined. It was established that both pairs demix upon heating, ie have an LCST. In the region of intermediate composition, the phase separation proceeds according to a spinodal mechanism; however for LCP/PMMA blends, the decomposition proceeds according to a non-linear regime from the very onset. In the region of small amounts of LCP, the phase separation follows a mechanism of nucleation and growth. For PMMA/PVA blends, the spinodal decomposition proceeds according to a linear regime, in spite of the molecular mobility that PVA chains develop at lower temperatures. Only after prolonged heat treatment does the process transit to a non-linear regime. The data show a similarity between the phase behaviour of blends of liquid-crystalline and of flexible amorphous polymers. The distinction consists of the absence of a linear regime of decomposition for LCP-PMMA blends. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Metastable states during dissociation of carbon dioxide hydrates below 273 K

In this study, the dissociation of isolated carbon dioxide hydrate particles of sizes in the range 0.25–2.5 mm was investigated. It was found that below the ice melting point, the hydrates dissociated into supercooled water (metastable liquid) and gas. The formation of the liquid phase during CO₂ hydrate dissociation was visually observed, and the pressures of the hydrate dissociation into supercooled water and gas were measured in the temperature range 249–273 K. These pressures agreed well with the calculated data for the supercooled water–hydrate–gas metastable equilibrium (Istomin et al., 2006). In the P–T area on the phase diagram bounded by the ice–hydrate–gas equilibrium curve and the supercooled water–hydrate–gas metastable equilibrium curve, hydrates could exist for a long time because the metastable phase and their stability are not connected to the self-preservation effect. The growth of the metastable CO₂ hydrate film on the surface of supercooled water droplets formed during the hydrate dissociation was observed at pressure above the three-phase supercooled water–hydrate–gas metastable equilibrium pressure but still below the three-phase ice–hydrate–gas equilibrium pressure. It was found that the growth rate of the metastable CO₂ hydrate film was higher by a factor of 25 and 50 than that for methane hydrate and propane hydrate, respectively.     

The diagnostic potentials for the consulting surgeon in a medical aviation department

Three cases of cri du chat syndrome with varying ages of presentation are compared and contrasted to highlight the clinical features and evolution of the phenotype with time.     

Filler effect on polymerization kinetics and phase separation in polymer blends formed in situ

The kinetics of formation of a mixture of two polymers [poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyurethane] in situ in the course of two simultaneously proceeding reactions was studied in the presence of various amount of a filler (fumed silica). It was shown that the filler affects the rates of both reactions. In addition, the filler exerts an influence on the phase separation induced by the chemical reaction increasing the amount of a filler increases the time for the onset of phase separation. The effects observed may be explained both by the increase in the viscosity of the reaction system due to introduction of a filler and by selective adsorption of reaction system components at the interface with filler particles. In all cases, phase separation in the early stages of reaction proceeds in a four‐component system (two polymers formed and two initial compounds) and obeys the spinodal mechanism. It is also shown that the final morphology is determined far from the end of the reaction and before establishing the equilibrium state. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Theoretical principles of optical measurements on the components of multicomponent displacements for mobile objects on the basis of multivariate tests

The principles are considered of a multivariate test method for optical measurements on the components of complicated displacements of mobile objects, which includes combinational models for such displacements and tests, with examples of realization. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 11, pp. 3–9, November, 2007.     

Numerical simulation of interaction between arc discharge and transverse magnetic field

An unsteady-state three-dimensional numerical model of radiation magnetogasdynamics is used to calculate the structure of an arc discharge which interacts with an external transverse magnetic field and transverse gas flow. The velocity field and the distribution of gas temperature obtained as a result of calculations agree with experimental data. The difference between the calculated and measured values of temperature in the discharge column is approximately 5%.     

Novel Ion-Lens Configurations: A Further Step to 2-nm Ion-Beam Lithography

Composite axially symmetric immersion ion lenses are considered that consist of an electrostatic and a magnetic lens. For the first time, their performance is evaluated over the entire range of operating conditions: from the case of a zero magnetic field to the case of a zero ion energy on the target. Operating conditions are characterized in terms of = W _t/W ₀, where W ₀ is the energy of an ion at the boundary of the region in which the trajectories are parallel to the axis and W _t is that on the target. For the first time, simple analytical approximations are derived for C _c/r, C _s/r, f/r, and NI, where C _c is the chromatic-aberration coefficient, C _s is the third-order spherical-aberration coefficient, f is the focal distance, NI is the magnetomotive force of the coil, and r is the outer radius of the coil. The behavior of the four quantities is explored as a function of . The following conclusions are drawn: (i) The aberrations are maximum for a zero magnetic field. (ii) The aberration coefficients decrease monotonically with increasing NIand decreasing , the lens changing from an accelerating to a decelerating one. (iii) If , then C _s/r – ^1/4, C _c/r – ^1/6, f/r– ^1/3, and NI – ^–1/2. (iv) The lenses are suitable for resistless heavy-ion projection lithography and can provide 20 × 10¹¹ pixels of area 2 × 2 nm² for an exposed area of 3 × 3 mm². (v) Used in heavy-ion microprobe systems, the lenses could enable resistless lithography over much larger areas than existing equipment.