Optical phonons in new ordered perovskite Sr2Cu(Re0.69Ca0.31) Oy system observed by infrared reflectance spectroscopy

We report infrared reflectivity spectra for a new correlated cupric oxide system Sr2Cu(Re0.69Ca0.31)Oy with y ~ 0.6 at several temperatures ranging between 8 and 380 K. The reflectivity spectrum at 300 K comprises of several optical phonons. A couple of residual bands located around 315 and 653 cm-1 exhibit exceptionally large intensity as compared to the other ones. The overall reflectivity spectrum lifts up slightly with increasing temperature. The energy and damping factor of transverse-optical phonons are determined by fitting the imaginary dielectric constant by Lorentz oscillator model and discussed as a function of temperature in terms of lattice anharmonicity.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, presented at ISS2005, to appear in Physica

Land-locked: An Examination of Some of the Inefficiencies Affecting Transactions Involving Immovable Property

In the study of law and economics, the Coase Theorem posits that an efficient allocation of resources will result when transactions costs are zero.1 These “transaction costs” may be viewed as impediments to an efficient allocation of resources and can take many forms. For example, long distances between a prospective vendor and purchaser of property and a lack of communication facilities between them would impede even the best of intentions to enter into a bargain. Similarly, the cost of mobilising labour and materials might impede a property developer from pursuing a tender for civil works. In some cases, a high rate of Stamp Duty on transactions can result in the parties reconsidering their decision to enter into such bargains. To the extent this author can claim knowledge of economics, the Coase Theorem also suggests that transaction costs and inefficiencies hamper the natural flow of bargains, result in inefficient allocation of resources and thus impact the economy. Some transaction costs are small enough to ignore whereas some, imposed, for example, by the law, are unavoidable. In such cases, a mutual understanding between the parties may see the burden of these transaction costs shared or, in others, avoided altogether. For example, the statutory requirements that all leases purporting to grant a term in excess of one year or which reserve an annual rent must be registered and stamped2 often results, in owners of residential property granting indefinitely renewable leases of 11 months and thus avoiding such requirements