Synthesis of a new class of highly fluorinated aliphatic diisocyanates

Synthesis is basis for preparation of polyurethanes that are compatible with liquid oxygen. The two step process preparation from fluorocarbon diacid fluorides is explained in text

Investigating the BPS Spectrum of Non-Critical E_n Strings

We use the effective action of the $E_n$ non-critical strings to study its BPS spectrum for $0 \le n \le 8$. We show how to introduce mass parameters, or Wilson lines, into the effective action, and then perform the appropriate asymptotic expansions that yield the BPS spectrum. The result is the $E_n$ character expansion of the spectrum, and is equivalent to performing the mirror map on a Calabi-Yau with up to nine K\"ahler moduli. This enables a much more detailed examination of the $E_n$ structure of the theory, and provides extensive checks on the effective action description of the non-critical string. We extract some universal ($E_n$ independent) information concerning the degeneracies of BPS excitations.Comment: 50 pages, harvmac (b

Nova Scorpii 1941 (V697 Sco): A Probable Intermediate Polar

V697 Sco, the remnant of Nova Scorpii 1941 and currently at V ~ 20.0, is found from photometric observations to have the characteristics of an intermediate polar (IP) with an orbital period (Porb) of 4.49 h and a rotation period (Prot) of 3.31 h. It therefore appears to be a member of the rare class of IPs where Prot ~ Porb, which are probably discless systems. The prominence of the modulation at 0.5 Prot, and its orbital sidebands, indicates two-pole accretion.Comment: To appear in the November 2002 issue of PAS

KUV 01584-0939: A Helium-transferring Cataclysmic Variable with an Orbital Period of 10 Minutes

High speed photometry of KUV 01584-0939 (alias Cet3) shows that is has a period of 620.26 s. Combined with its hydrogen-deficient spectrum, this implies that it is an AM CVn star. The optical modulation is probably a superhump, in which case the orbital period will be slightly shorter than what we have observed.Comment: Published by PASP. See also the latest Early-Release Research Paper website of the PAS

Dependence of the critical temperature of laser-ablated YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) thin films on LaAlO3 substrate growth technique

Samples of LaAlO3 made by flame fusion and Czochralski method were subjected to the same temperature conditions that they have to undergo during the laser ablation deposition of YBa2Cu3O(7 - delta) thin films. After oxygen annealing at 750 C, the LaAlO3 substrate made by two methods experienced surface roughening. The degree of roughening on the substrate made by Czochralski method was three times greater than that on the substrate made by flame fusion. This excessive surface roughening may be the origin of the experimentally observed lowering of the critical temperature of a film deposited by laser ablation on a LaAlO3 substrate made by Czochralski method with respect to its counterpart deposited on LaAlO3 substrates made by flame fusion

Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy and optical characterization of a-C-H and BN films

The amorphous dielectrics a-C:H and BN were deposited on III-V semiconductors. Optical band gaps as high as 3 eV were measured for a-C:H generated by C4H10 plasmas; a comparison was made with bad gaps obtained from films prepared by CH4 glow discharges. The ion beam deposited BN films exhibited amorphous behavior with band gaps on the order of 5 eV. Film compositions were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The optical properties were characterized by ellipsometry, UV/VIS absorption, and IR reflection and transmission. Etching rates of a-C:H subjected to O2 dicharges were determined