Louis, Godfrey; Philip, J(The American Physical Society, 1996)
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Abstract:
A detailed ultrasonic study of the elastic properties of lithium ammonium sulfate ~LiNH4SO4! or LAS has
been carried out below room temperature. The elastic constants of LAS at room temperature are reported. The
discrepancy present in earlier elastic constant data associated with the different choice of axes for this orthorhombic
system are clarified. The results of the temperature variation study down to 220 K confirm the
ferroelastic phase transition at 285 K and establish a thermal hysteresis of about 2.5 K between the cooling and
heating cycles. Results of the investigation on the suspected weak phase transition at 256 K suggest that this
transition occurs at 242 K on cooling and at 256 K on heating, thus having a thermal hysteresis of about 14 K.
However, since the observed elastic anomaly for this transition is very small, the nature of this transition still
remains unclear
Joseph Mathai, C; Anantharaman, M R; Venkitachalam, S; Jayalekshmi, S(Elsevier, September , 2002)
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Abstract:
Polyfurfural thin films lying in the thickness range of 1300–2000 A˚ were prepared by ac plasma polymerization technique.
The current–voltage characteristics in symmetric and asymmetric electrode configuration were studied with a view to determining
the dominant conduction mechanism.It was found that the Schottky conduction mechanism is dominant in plasma polymerized
furfural thin films.The predominance of Schottky mechanism was further confirmed based on the thermally stimulated current
measurements.
Sudha Kartha,C(Indian academy of science, February 24, 2003)
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Abstract:
Significant results of our experimental investigations on the dependence of pH on real time
transmission characteristics on recording media fabricated by doping PVC with complexed methylene blue
are presented. The optimum pH value for faster bleaching was found to be 4×5. In typical applications, the
illumination from one side, normal to the surface of this material, initiates a chemical sequence that records
the incident light pattern in the polymer. Thus direct imaging can be successfully done on this sample. The
recorded letters were very legible with good contrast and no scattering centres. Diffraction efficiency
measurements were also carried out on this material.
Malini, K A; Kurian, P; Anantharaman, M R(Elsevier, July , 2003)
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Abstract:
Composite magnetic materials have the unique advantage of property modification for tailoring devices for various
applications. Rubber ferrite composites (RFCs) prepared by incorporating ferrites in rubber matrixes have the advantage of easy
mouldability and flexibility. RFCs containing various loadings of nickel zinc ferrite (NZF) (Ni1 xZnxFe2O4) in a natural rubber
matrix have been prepared. The cure characteristics and the mechanical properties of these composites were evaluated. The
effect of loading on the cure characteristics and tensile properties were also evaluated. It is found that the loading dependence on
the cure time and mechanical properties exhibit an identical pattern.
Sudha Kartha,C(Taylor and francis, October 20, 2003)
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Abstract:
Polymer materials find application in optical storage technology,
namely in the development of high information density and fast access type
memories. A new polymer blend of methylene blue sensitized polyvinyl alcohol
(PVA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) in methanol is prepared and characterized
and its comparison with methylene blue sensitized PVA in methanol and
complexed methylene blue sensitized polyvinyl chloride (CMBPVC) is presented.
The optical absorption spectra of the thin films of these polymers
showed a strong and broad absorption region at 670-650 nm, matching the
wavelength of the laser used. A very slow recovery of the dye on irradiation was
observed when a 7:3 blend of polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylic acid at a pHof 3.8
and a sensitizer concentration of 4.67 10 5 g/ml were used. A diffraction
efficiency of up to 20% was observed for the MBPVA/alcohol system and an
energetic sensitivity of 2000 mJ/cm2 was obtained in the photosensitive films
with a spatial frequency of 588 lines/mm.
Shenoy, S D; Joy, P A; Anantharaman, M R(Elsevier, February , 2004)
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Abstract:
Nanosized ZnFe2O4 particles containing traces of a-Fe2O3 by intent were produced by low temperature chemical
coprecipitation methods. These particles were subjected to high-energy ball milling. These were then characterised using
X-ray diffraction, magnetisation and dielectric studies. The effect of milling on zinc ferrite particles have been studied
with a view to ascertaining the anomalous behaviour of these materials in the nanoregime. X-ray diffraction and
magnetisation studies carried out show that these particles are associated with strains and it is the surface effects that
contribute to the magnetisation. Hematite percentage, probably due to decomposition of zinc ferrite, increases with
milling. Dielectric behaviour of these particles is due to interfacial polarisation as proposed by Koops. Also the defects
caused by the milling produce traps in the surface layer contributes to dielectric permittivity via spin polarised electron
tunnelling between grains. The ionic mechanism is enhanced in dielectrics with the rise in temperature which results in
the increase of dielectric permittivity with temperature.
Anantharaman,M R; V P N Nampoori; Radhakrishnan,P; Girijavallabhan,C P; Sajan,D George; Saravanan, S; Venkatachalam,S(Physical Review, American Physical Society, June 8, 2004)
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Abstract:
Thermal diffusivity of the composites of camphor sulphonic acid (CSA) doped polyaniline (PANI) and its
composites with cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) has been measured using open cell photoacoustic technique.
Analysis of the data shows that the effective thermal diffusivity value can be tuned by varying the relative
volume fraction of the constituents. It is seen that polaron assisted heat transfer mechanism is dominant in CSA
doped PANI and these composites exhibit a thermal diffusivity value which is intermediate to that of CSA
doped PANI and CoPc. The results obtained are correlated with the electrical conductivity and hardness
measurements carried out on the samples
Sudha Kartha,C(Optical society of America, June 20, 2004)
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Abstract:
A methylene-blue-sensitized polymer blend of polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylic acid is fabricated and
tested for holographic recording. It was found to have good characteristics such as high sensitivity,
storage stability, ease of fabrication, and environmental stability. Optimization of the ratio of polyvinyl
alcohol polyacrylic acid, the sensitizer concentration, pH, energy, diffraction efficiency measurements,
etc., have been done. pH is found to have a great influence on the recovery of the dye in this matrix.
The results of experimental investigations into the properties of this new material are reported.
Jayaraj, M K(Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia Ltd, 2005)
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Abstract:
ZnGa2O4 spinel is a promising new UV transparent electronic conductor. Enhancing the electrical conductivity of this
potential oxide phosphor can make it a promising transparent conducting oxide. In this paper, we have investigated the
effects of processing and doping on the conductivity of semiconducting ZnGa2O4, particularly thin films. Crystalline
zinc gallate thin films have been deposited on fused quartz substrates employing the pulsed laser deposition (PLD)
technique at room temperature for an oxygen partial pressure of 0.1 Pa (0.001mbar). The films were found to be UV
transparent, the band gap of which shifted to 4.75eV on hydrogen annealing. The band gap of the oxygen stoichiometric
bulk powder samples (4.55eV) determined from diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS) shifted to 4.81eV on reduction in a
hydrogen atmosphere. The electrical conductivity improved when Sn was incorporated into the ZnGa2O4 spinel. The
conductivity of ZnGa2O4:Sn thin films was further improved on reduction.
Sudha Kartha,C(Taylor and francis, March 13, 2005)
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Abstract:
A new photopolymerizable recording media is introduced based on poly
(vinyl alcohol) and vinyl acetate sensitized with methylene blue. It is observed
that this MBPVA/VAc system can be reused a number of times without
significant decrease in diffraction efficiency. The PVA-VAc ratio was optimized
at 2:1. Diffraction efficiency of 6.3% was obtained without any fixing at a dye
concentration of 9.3 10 4 mol/l at an exposure of 750 mJ/cm2. The material is
attractive on account of its reusability.
A new photopolymerizable recording media is introduced based on poly
(vinyl alcohol) and vinyl acetate sensitized with methylene blue. It is observed
that this MBPVA/VAc system can be reused a number of times without
significant decrease in diffraction efficiency. The PVA-VAc ratio was optimized
at 2:1. Diffraction efcienc4y of 6.3% was obtained without any fixing at a dye
concentration of 9.3 x 10- mol/l at an exposure of 750mJ/cm2. The material is
attractive on account of its reusability.
Anantaraman, M R; Swapna S, Nair; Mercy, Mathews; Anantharaman, M R(Elsevier, May , 2005)
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Abstract:
Superparamagnetic nanocomposites based on Y-Fe2O3 and sulphonated polystyrene were synthesised by ion-exchange process
and the structural characterisation has been carried out using X-ray diffraction technique. Doping of cobalt in to the Y-Fe2O3 lattice
was effected in situ and the doping was varied in the atomic percentage range 1–10. The optical absorption studies show a band gap
of 2.84 eV, which is blue shifted by 0.64 eV when compared to the reported values for the bulk samples (2.2 eV). This is explained on
the basis of weak quantum confinement. Further size reduction can result in a strong confinement, which can yield transparent magnetic
nanocomposites because of further blue shifting. The band gap gets red shifted further with the addition of cobalt in the lattice
and this red shift increases with the increase in doping. The observed red shift can be attributed to the strain in the lattice caused by
the anisotropy induced by the addition of cobalt. Thus, tuning of bandgap and blue shifting is aided by weak exciton confinement
and further red shifting of the bandgap is assisted by cobalt doping.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on quartz, silicon, and polymer substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD)
technique at different oxygen partial pressures (0.007 mbar to 0.003 mbar). Polycrystalline ZnO films were obtained at
room temperature when the oxygen pressure was between 0.003 mbar and .007 mbar, above and below this pressure the
films were amorphous as indicated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). ZnO films were deposited on Al2O3 (0001) at
different substrate temperatures varying from 400oC to 600oC and full width half maximum (FWHM) of XRD peak is
observed to decrease as substrate temperature increases. The optical band gaps of these films were nearly 3.3 eV. A
cylindrical Langmuir probe is used for the investigation of plasma plume arising from the ZnO target. The spatial and
temporal variations in electron density and electron temperature are studied. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to
identify the different ionic species in the plume. Strong emission lines of neutral Zn, Zn+ and neutral oxygen are
observed. No electronically excited O+ cations are identified, which is in agreement with previous studies of ZnO plasma
plume.
Louis, Godfrey; Santhosh Kumar, A(Springerlink, January 1, 2006)
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Abstract:
A red rain phenomenon occurred in Kerala, India starting from 25th July 2001,
in which the rainwater appeared coloured in various localized places that are spread
over a few hundred kilometers in Kerala. Maximum cases were reported during
the first 10 days and isolated cases were found to occur for about 2 months. The
striking red colouration of the rainwater was found to be due to the suspension
of microscopic red particles having the appearance of biological cells. These particles have no similarity with usual desert dust. An estimated minimum quantity
of 50,000 kg of red particles has fallen from the sky through red rain. An analysis of this strange phenomenon further shows that the conventional atmospheric
transport processes like dust storms etc. cannot explain this phenomenon. The
electron microscopic study of the red particles shows fine cell structure indicat-
ing their biological cell like nature. EDAX analysis shows that the major elements
present in these cell like particles are carbon and oxygen. Strangely, a test for DNA
using Ethidium Bromide dye fluorescence technique indicates absence of DNA in
these cells. In the context of a suspected link between a meteor airburst event and
the red rain, the possibility for the extraterrestrial origin of these particles from
cometary fragments is discussed.
Jayaraj, M K(American Institute of Physics, January 4, 2006)
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Abstract:
The radio frequency plasma generated during the sputtering of Indium Tin Oxide target using Argon
was analyzed by Langmuir probe and optical-emission spectroscopy. The basic plasma parameters
such as electron temperature and ion density were evaluated. These studies were carried out by
varying the RF power from 20 to 50 W. A linear increase in ion density and an exponential decrease
in electron temperature with rf power were observed. The measured plasma parameters were then
correlated with the properties of ITO thin films deposited under similar plasma conditions.
Optical emission spectroscopic studies were carried out on the plasma produced by ablation of zinc
oxide target using the third harmonic 355 nm of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, in vacuum and at three
different ambient gas oxygen pressures. The spatial variations of electron density Ne and electron
temperature Te were studied up to a distance of 20 mm from the target surface. The kinematics of
the emitted particles and the expansion of the plume edge are discussed. The optimum conditions
favorable for the formation of high quality zinc oxide thin films are thereby suggested.
The differaction efficiency,sensitivity and storage life of Methylene Blue sencitized poly (vinyl chloride) film was improved by the addition of an electron donor in the matrix. The
addition of pyridine enhanced the diffraction efficiency by two times and storage life of the
gratings was increased to 2-3 days.
Sudha Kartha,C(Japan society of applied physica, November 8, 2006)
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Abstract:
Copper doped methylene blue sensitized poly(vinyl alcohol) (MBPVA)–acrylamide films were fabricated to improve the
storage life of recorded gratings. The films were fabricated using gravity settling method and the copper chloride
concentration was optimized as 3:18 10 3 mol/l for a dye concentration of 6:2 10 4 mol/l. The gratings recorded on the
optimized film constitution could be stored for months with stable diffraction efficiency (24%) without any chemical or
thermal fixing techniques. The resolution of the material is found to be unaffected with the addition of copper chloride.