A New Pseudopolymorph of Hexakis-(4-cynaophenyl)benzene

The title compound (systematic name: benzene-4,4′,4′′,4′′′,-4′′′′,4′′′′′-hexaylhexabenzonitrile dichloromethane disolvate), C48H24N6•2CH2Cl2, crystallizes as an inclusion compound during the slow diffusion of methanol into a solution of hexakis(4-cyanophenyl)benzene in CH2Cl2. The hexakis(4- cyanophenyl)benzene molecule lies on an axis of twofold rotation in the space group Pbcn. Weak C—H•••N interactions between hexakis(4-cyanophenyl)benzene molecules define an open network with space for including guests. The resulting structure is a new pseudopolymorph of hexakis-(4-cyanophenyl)benzene. The eight known pseudopolymorphs have few shared architectural features, in part because none of the intermolecular interactions that are present plays a dominant role or forces neighboring molecules to assume particular relative orientations

Gauge-theory approach to planar doped antiferromagnets and external magnetic fields

A review is given of a relativistic non-Abelian gauge theory approach to the physics of spin-charge separation in doped quantum antiferromagnetic planar systems, proposed recently by the authors. Emphasis is put on the effects of constant external magnetic fields on excitations about the superconducting state in the model. The electrically-charged Dirac fermions (holons), describing excitations about specific points on the fermi surface, e.g. those corresponding to the nodes of a d-wave superconducting gap in high-$T_c$ cuprates, condense, resulting in the opening of a Kosterlitz-Thouless-like gap (KT) at such nodes. In the presence of strong external magnetic fields at the surface regions of the planar superconductor, in the direction perpendicular to the superconducting planes, these KT gaps appear to be enhanced. Our preliminary analysis, based on analytic Scwhinger-Dyson treatments, seems to indicate that for an even number of Dirac fermion species, required in our model as a result of gauging a particle-hole SU(2) symmetry, Parity or Time Reversal violation does not necessarily occurs.Based on these considerations, we argue that recent experimental findings, concerning thermal conductivity plateaux of quasiparticles in planar high-$T_c$ cuprates in strong external magnetic fields, may indicate the presence of such KT gaps, caused by charged Dirac-fermion excitations in these materials, as suggested in the above model.Comment: 26 pages LATEX, 6 figures (incorporated) (In this revised version references on magnetic catalysis were added, and also a note was added with a comparison of the theoretical results presented here with a second experiment (cond-mat/9709061), reporting on unconventional superconducting phases in certain cuprates). Journal ref.:Based on Invited talk by N.E.M. at the `5th Chia Workshop on Common Trends in Particle and Condensed Matter Physics', Conference Center, Grand-Hotel Chia-Laguna, Chia, Italy, 1-11 September 199

Multimegawatt MPD thruster design considerations

Performance and lifetime requirements for multimegawatt magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters were used to establish a baseline 2.5 MW thruster design. The chamber surface power deposition resulting from current conduction, plasma and surface radiation, and conduction from the hot plasma was then evaluated to establish the feasibility of thruster operation. It was determined that state of the art lithium heat pipes were adequate to cool the anode electrode, and that the liquid hydrogen propellant could be used to cool the applied field magnet, cathode, and backplate. Unresolved issues having an impact of thruster design are discussed to help focus future research

Dynamical Gauge Symmetry Breaking and Superconductivity in three-dimensional systems

We discuss dynamical breaking of non-abelian gauge groups in three dimensional (lattice) gauge systems via the formation of fermion condensates. A physically relevant example, motivated by condensed-matter physics, is that of a fermionic gauge theory with group $SU(2)\otimes U_S(1) \otimes U_{E}(1)$. In the strong U_S(1) region, the SU(2) symmetry breaks down to a U(1), due to the formation of a parity-invariant fermion condensate. We conjecture a phase diagram for the theory involving a critical line, which separates the regions of broken SU(2) symmetry from those where the symmetry is restored. In the broken phase, the effective Abelian gauge theory is closely related to an earlier model of two-dimensional parity-invariant superconductivity in doped antiferromagnets. The superconductivity in the model occurs in the Kosterlitz-Thouless mode, since strong phase fluctuations prevent the existence of a local order parameter. Some physical consequences of the $SU(2) \times U_S(1)$ phase diagram for the (doping-dependent) parameter space of this condensed-matter model are briefly discussed.Comment: 17 pages Latex, 1 macro, three figures (included) (minor typo on page 14 concerning the critical coupling of SU(2) corrected

Gaseous optical contamination of the spacecraft environment: A review

Interactions between the ambient atmosphere and orbiting spacecraft, sounding rockets, and suborbital vehicles, and with their effluents, give rise to optical (extreme UV to LWIR) foreground radiation which constitutes noise that raises the detection threshold for terrestrial and celestial radiations, as well as military targets. Researchers review the current information on the on-orbit optical contamination. Its source species are created in interaction processes that can be grouped into three categories: (1) Reactions in the gas phase between the ambient atmosphere and desorbates and exhaust; (2) Reactions catalyzed by exposed ram surfaces, which occur spontaneously even in the absence of active material releases from the vehicles; and (3) Erosive excitative reactions with exposed bulk (organic) materials, which have recently been identified in the laboratory though not as yet observed on spacecraft. Researchers also assess the effect of optical pumping by earthshine and sunlight of both reaction products and effluents

Path integral Monte Carlo simulation of helium at negative pressures

Path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulations of liquid helium at negative pressure have been carried out for a temperature range from the critical temperature to below the superfluid transition. We have calculated the temperature dependence of the spinodal line as well as the pressure dependence of the isothermal sound velocity in the region of the spinodal. We discuss the slope of the superfluid transition line and the shape of the dispersion curve at negative pressures.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physical Review B Revised: new reference, replaced figure