218 research outputs found
Anodically polarized nickel electrodes in DMSO or DMF solutions of pseudohalide ions: IR spectroelectrochemical studies
A novel subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (SNIFTIRS) investigation of anodically polarized nickel electrodes in pseudohalide-containing DMF or DMSO solutions (i.e. OCNâ», SCNâ», SeCNâ»), in supporting electrolyte, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP), is presented. In general, the data showed that nickel demonstrated irreversible anodic dissolution in all solutions studied at very high values of the applied potential, > +500 mV (AgCl/Ag). The predominant speciation of nickel in these systems was as complex ions consisting of NiÂČâș ion complexed to pseudohalide ions and solvent molecules. Insoluble films and dissolved COâ were also detected, though mostly in the Ni/OCNâ» systems studied. Ni(II)/pseudohalide complex ion species detected were modeled using solutions containing NiÂČâș ion mixed with pseudohalide ion in different mole ratios. In general, the Ni/OCNâ» electrochemical system behaved differently relative to those of Ni/SCNâ» and Ni/SeCNâ» due to the difference in colors observed in cell solutions after SNIFTIRS experiments which was mirrored in the model solutions. Ni(II)-cyanate species had a different, coordination geometry and gave a characteristic bright blue color due possibly to Ni(NCO)âÂČâ» ion while Ni(II) thiocyanate and selenocyanate complex ion species had octahedral coordination geometries containing solvent and one coordinated pseudohalide ion and formed greeny yellow solutions
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Determination of the Aspect-ratio Distribution of Gold Nanorods in a Colloidal Solution using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy
Knowledge of the distribution of the aspect ratios (ARs) in a chemically-synthesized colloidal solution of Gold Nano Rods (GNRs) is an important measure in determining the quality of synthesis, and consequently the performance of the GNRs generated for various applications. In this work, an algorithm has been developed based on the Bellman Principle of Optimality to readily determine the AR distribution of synthesized GNRs in colloidal solutions. This is achieved by theoretically fitting the longitudinal plasmon resonance of GNRs obtained by UV-visible spectroscopy. The AR distribution obtained from the use of the algorithm developed have shown good agreement with those theoretically generated one as well as with the previously reported results. After bench-marking, the algorithm has been applied to determine the mean and standard deviation of the AR distribution of two GNRs solutions synthesized and examined in this work. The comparison with experimentally derived results from the use of expensive Transmission Electron Microscopic images and Dynamic Light Scattering technique shows that the algorithm developed offers a fast and thus potentially cost-effective solution to determine the quality of the synthesized GNRs specifically needed for many potential applications for the advanced sensor systems
A Comparison of Supersymmetry Breaking and Mediation Mechanisms
We give a unified treatment of different models of supersymmetry breaking and
mediation from a four dimensional effective field theory standpoint. In
particular a comparison between GMSB and various gravity mediated versions of
SUSY breaking shows that, once the former is embedded within a SUGRA framework,
there is no particular advantage to that mechanism from the point of view of
FCNC suppression. We point out the difficulties of all these scenarios - in
particular the cosmological modulus problem. We end with a discussion of
possible string theory realizations.Comment: Added clarifications and references, 20 page
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A pilot study: Evaluation of sensor system design for optical fibre humidity sensors subjected to aggressive air sewer environment
Research has identified that humidity plays a fundamental role on the conversion of hydrogen sulphide into sulphuric acid during corrosion of concrete in gravity sewers and that potentially minor reductions in humidity can reduce corrosion rates. The high levels of hydrogen sulfide and the high relative humidity (typically > 98%) that leads to condensation in sewer air makes humidity measurement within such environment difficult. The work presented here aims to tackle this issue by applying a more durable packaging that could withstand the harsh environment. The humidity monitoring element in the probe is based on a moisture-sensitive polymer coated fibre grating in series with an uncoated grating for temperature compensation. To optimize the device to be operational, two designs of the probe assembly were configured using different material, thus aiming to provide long term durability. The aim of the probe design evaluated was to achieve both a good sensitivity to humidity and to protect the sensing elements from the aggressive environment and which had rendered ineffective the electrical sensors placed in the sewer and used for cross-comparison. The packaged sensors were trailed in situ over a period of 5 months, during which the sensors were constantly subjected to the prevailing high, but varying levels of humidity and hydrogen sulfide gas. The results show the significant promise for tailor made packaging which will protect the sensor element from the harsh environment while retaining good sensitivity. These outcomes show a promising future for optical fiber sensors to be employed for the measurement of humidity in the long term in harsh environmental applications
Effects of heavy modes on vacuum stability in supersymmetric theories
We study the effects induced by heavy fields on the masses of light fields in
supersymmetric theories, under the assumption that the heavy mass scale is much
higher than the supersymmetry breaking scale. We show that the square-masses of
light scalar fields can get two different types of significant corrections when
a heavy multiplet is integrated out. The first is an indirect level-repulsion
effect, which may arise from heavy chiral multiplets and is always negative.
The second is a direct coupling contribution, which may arise from heavy vector
multiplets and can have any sign. We then apply these results to the sGoldstino
mass and study the implications for the vacuum metastability condition. We find
that the correction from heavy chiral multiplets is always negative and tends
to compromise vacuum metastability, whereas the contribution from heavy vector
multiplets is always positive and tends on the contrary to reinforce it. These
two effects are controlled respectively by Yukawa couplings and gauge charges,
which mix one heavy and two light fields respectively in the superpotential and
the Kahler potential. Finally we also comment on similar effects induced in
soft scalar masses when the heavy multiplets couple both to the visible and the
hidden sector.Comment: LaTex, 24 pages, no figures; v2 some comments and references adde
Gaugino Anomaly Mediated SUSY Breaking: phenomenology and prospects for the LHC
We examine the supersymmetry phenomenology of a novel scenario of
supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking which we call Gaugino Anomaly Mediation, or
inoAMSB. This is suggested by recent work on the phenomenology of flux
compactified type IIB string theory. The essential features of this scenario
are that the gaugino masses are of the anomaly-mediated SUSY breaking (AMSB)
form, while scalar and trilinear soft SUSY breaking terms are highly
suppressed. Renormalization group effects yield an allowable sparticle mass
spectrum, while at the same time avoiding charged LSPs; the latter are common
in models with negligible soft scalar masses, such as no-scale or gaugino
mediation models. Since scalar and trilinear soft terms are highly suppressed,
the SUSY induced flavor and CP-violating processes are also suppressed. The
lightest SUSY particle is the neutral wino, while the heaviest is the gluino.
In this model, there should be a strong multi-jet +etmiss signal from squark
pair production at the LHC. We find a 100 fb^{-1} reach of LHC out to
m_{3/2}\sim 118 TeV, corresponding to a gluino mass of \sim 2.6 TeV. A double
mass edge from the opposite-sign/same flavor dilepton invariant mass
distribution should be visible at LHC; this, along with the presence of short--
but visible-- highly ionizing tracks from quasi-stable charginos, should
provide a smoking gun signature for inoAMSB.Comment: 30 pages including 14 .eps figure
Invariant Regularization of Anomaly-Free Chiral Theories
We present a generalization of the Frolov-Slavnov invariant regularization
scheme for chiral fermion theories in curved spacetimes. local gauge symmetries
of the theory, including local Lorentz invariance. The perturbative scheme
works for arbitrary representations which satisfy the chiral gauge anomaly and
the mixed Lorentz-gauge anomaly cancellation conditions. Anomalous theories on
the other hand manifest themselves by having divergent fermion loops which
remain unregularized by the scheme. Since the invariant scheme is promoted to
also include local Lorentz invariance, spectator fields which do not couple to
gravity cannot be, and are not, introduced. Furthermore, the scheme is truly
chiral (Weyl) in that all fields, including the regulators, are left-handed;
and only the left-handed spin connection is needed. The scheme is, therefore,
well suited for the study of the interaction of matter with all four known
forces in a completely chiral fashion. In contrast with the vectorlike
formulation, the degeneracy between the Adler-Bell-Jackiw current and the
fermion number current in the bare action is preserved by the chiral
regularization scheme.Comment: 28pgs, LaTeX. Typos corrected. Further remarks on singlet current
The Stretched Horizon and Black Hole Complementarity
Three postulates asserting the validity of conventional quantum theory,
semi-classical general relativity and the statistical basis for thermodynamics
are introduced as a foundation for the study of black hole evolution. We
explain how these postulates may be implemented in a ``stretched horizon'' or
membrane description of the black hole, appropriate to a distant observer. The
technical analysis is illustrated in the simplified context of 1+1 dimensional
dilaton gravity. Our postulates imply that the dissipative properties of the
stretched horizon arise from a course graining of microphysical degrees of
freedom that the horizon must possess. A principle of black hole
complementarity is advocated. The overall viewpoint is similar to that
pioneered by 't~Hooft but the detailed implementation is different.Comment: (some misprints in equations have been fixed), 48 pages (including
figures), SU-ITP-93-1
On the Effective Description of Large Volume Compactifications
We study the reliability of the Two-Step moduli stabilization in the type-IIB
Large Volume Scenarios with matter and gauge interactions. The general analysis
is based on a family of N=1 Supergravity models with a factorizable Kaehler
invariant function, where the decoupling between two sets of fields without a
mass hierarchy is easily understood. For the Large Volume Scenario particular
analyses are performed for explicit models, one of such developed for the first
time here, finding that the simplified version, where the Dilaton and Complex
structure moduli are regarded as frozen by a previous stabilization, is a
reliable supersymmetric description whenever the neglected fields stand at
their leading F-flatness conditions and be neutral. The terms missed by the
simplified approach are either suppressed by powers of the Calabi-Yau volume,
or are higher order operators in the matter fields, and then irrelevant for the
moduli stabilization rocedure. Although the power of the volume suppressing
such corrections depends on the particular model, up to the mass level it is
independent of the modular weight for the matter fields. This at least for the
models studied here but we give arguments to expect the same in general. These
claims are checked through numerical examples. We discuss how the factorizable
models present a context where despite the lack of a hierarchy with the
supersymmetry breaking scale, the effective theory still has a supersymmetric
description. This can be understood from the fact that it is possible to find
vanishing solution for the auxiliary components of the fields being integrated
out, independently of the remaining dynamics. Our results settle down the
question on the reliability of the way the Dilaton and Complex structure are
treated in type-IIB compactifications with large compact manifold volumina.Comment: 23 pages + 2 appendices (38 pages total). v2: minor improvements,
typos fixed. Version published in JHE
Evaporating Black Holes and Entropy
We study the Hawking radiation for the geometry of an evaporating 1+1
dimensional black hole. We compute Bogoliubov coefficients and the stress
tensor. We use a recent result of Srednicki to estimate the entropy of
entanglement produced in the evaporation process, for the 1+1 dimensional hole
and for the 3+1 dimensional hole. It is found that the one space dimensional
result of Srednicki is the pertinent one to use, in both cases.Comment: 29 pages, one figure (available from authors), Latex. (Mailer errors
removed.
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