764 research outputs found
Investigations of Gold-Graphene Nanocomposite for ORR in Aqueous Electrolytes
Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an essential reaction step in fuel cell and metal-air batteries. The kinetics of ORR is very sluggish; it requires very high potential to occur. Many interesting articles have been published to enhance the kinetics. In this direction, we are working on metal nanoparticles modified graphene sheet. Gold nanoparticles are attached on two dimensional graphene sheets by in-situ reduction of metal ion in an aqueous reaction mixture. The synthesized nanocomposite is characterized by powder XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. Microscopy image shows gold nanoparticles are attached to graphene sheets. ORR is studied in 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M K2SO4 electrolytes. O2 reduction in aqueous electrolytes produces water molecules on gold-graphene nanocomposite
Ability of fullerene to accumulate hydrogen
In the present paper, using a modification of the LJ-potential and the continuum approach, we define С60-H2 (He) potentials, as well as interaction energy of two fullerene particles. The proposed approach allows to calculate interactions between carbon structures of any character (wavy graphenes, nanotubes, etc.). The obtained results allowed to localize global sorption zones both inside the particle and on the outer surface of the fullerene
Discovery of Two New Faint Cataclysmic Variables
We report on the discovery of two new faint cataclysmic variables. The
objects were selected as candidates from two different imaging surveys aimed at
the discovery of such faint systems. One survey used color and variability
while the other used color and H emission as selection criteria. We
present our spectra of the two new variables and discuss their properties. A
discussion of the implication of these discoveries on the space density of
faint cataclysmic variables is presented.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Accepted to A&A letter
First measurement of the Head-Tail directional nuclear recoil signature at energies relevant to WIMP dark matter searches
We present first evidence for the so-called Head-Tail asymmetry signature of
neutron-induced nuclear recoil tracks at energies down to 1.5 keV/amu using the
1m^3 DRIFT-IIc dark matter detector. This regime is appropriate for recoils
induced by Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMPs) but one where the
differential ionization is poorly understood. We show that the distribution of
recoil energies and directions induced here by Cf-252 neutrons matches well
that expected from massive WIMPs. The results open a powerful new means of
searching for a galactic signature from WIMPs.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl
A Preliminary Observational Search for Circumbinary Disks Around Cataclysmic Variables
Circumbinary (CB) disks have been proposed as a mechanism to extract orbital
angular momentum from cataclysmic variables (CVs) during their evolution. As
proposed by Taam & Spruit, these disks extend outwards to several a.u. and
should be detected observationally via their infrared flux or by absorption
lines in the ultraviolet spectra of the CV. We have made use of archival
HST/STIS spectra as well as our own near-IR imaging to search for observational
evidence of such CB disks in seven CVs. Based on the null result, we place an
upper limit on the column density of the disk of N_H~10^17 cm^-2.Comment: accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal (July 2004
Low Energy Electron and Nuclear Recoil Thresholds in the DRIFT-II Negative Ion TPC for Dark Matter Searches
Understanding the ability to measure and discriminate particle events at the
lowest possible energy is an essential requirement in developing new
experiments to search for weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark
matter. In this paper we detail an assessment of the potential sensitivity
below 10 keV in the 1 m^3 DRIFT-II directionally sensitive, low pressure,
negative ion time projection chamber (NITPC), based on event-by-event track
reconstruction and calorimetry in the multiwire proportional chamber (MWPC)
readout. By application of a digital smoothing polynomial it is shown that the
detector is sensitive to sulfur and carbon recoils down to 2.9 and 1.9 keV
respectively, and 1.2 keV for electron induced events. The energy sensitivity
is demonstrated through the 5.9 keV gamma spectrum of 55Fe, where the energy
resolution is sufficient to identify the escape peak. The effect a lower energy
sensitivity on the WIMP exclusion limit is demonstrated. In addition to recoil
direction reconstruction for WIMP searches this sensitivity suggests new
prospects for applications also in KK axion searches
Determination of the D0 -> K+pi- Relative Strong Phase Using Quantum-Correlated Measurements in e+e- -> D0 D0bar at CLEO
We exploit the quantum coherence between pair-produced D0 and D0bar in
psi(3770) decays to study charm mixing, which is characterized by the
parameters x and y, and to make a first determination of the relative strong
phase \delta between doubly Cabibbo-suppressed D0 -> K+pi- and Cabibbo-favored
D0bar -> K+pi-. We analyze a sample of 1.0 million D0D0bar pairs from 281 pb^-1
of e+e- collision data collected with the CLEO-c detector at E_cm = 3.77 GeV.
By combining CLEO-c measurements with branching fraction input and
time-integrated measurements of R_M = (x^2+y^2)/2 and R_{WS} = Gamma(D0 ->
K+pi-)/Gamma(D0bar -> K+pi-) from other experiments, we find \cos\delta = 1.03
+0.31-0.17 +- 0.06, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic,
respectively. In addition, by further including external measurements of charm
mixing parameters, we obtain an alternate measurement of \cos\delta = 1.10 +-
0.35 +- 0.07, as well as x\sin\delta = (4.4 +2.7-1.8 +- 2.9) x 10^-3 and \delta
= 22 +11-12 +9-11 degrees.Comment: 37 pages, also available through
http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/. Incorporated referee's comment
Measurement of the eta-Meson Mass using psi(2S) --> eta J/psi
We measure the mass of the eta meson using psi(2S) --> eta J/psi events
acquired with the CLEO-c detector operating at the CESR e+e- collider. Using
the four decay modes eta --> gamma gamma, 3pi0, pi+pi-pi0, and pi+pi-gamma, we
find M(eta)=547.785 +- 0.017 +- 0.057 MeV, in which the first uncertainty is
statistical and the second systematic. This result has an uncertainty
comparable to the two most precise previous measurements and is consistent with
that of NA48, but is inconsistent at the level of 6.5sigma with the much
smaller mass obtained by GEM.Comment: 10 pages postscript,also available through
http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, Submitted to PR
Suppressed Decays of D_s^+ Mesons to Two Pseudoscalar Mesons
Using data collected near the Ds*+ Ds- peak production energy Ecm = 4170 MeV
by the CLEO-c detector, we study the decays of Ds+ mesons to two pseudoscalar
mesons. We report on searches for the singly-Cabibbo-suppressed Ds+ decay modes
K+ eta, K+ eta', pi+ K0S, K+ pi0, and the isospin-forbidden decay mode Ds+ to
pi+ pi0. We normalize with respect to the Cabibbo-favored Ds+ modes pi+ eta,
pi+ eta', and K+ K0S, and obtain ratios of branching fractions: Ds+ to K+ eta /
Ds+ to pi+ eta = (8.9 +- 1.5 +- 0.4)%, Ds+ to K+ eta' / Ds+ to pi+ eta' = (4.2
+- 1.3 +- 0.3)%, Ds+ to pi+ K0S / Ds+ to K+ K0S = (8.2 +- 0.9 +- 0.2)%, Ds+ to
K+ pi0 / Ds+ to K+ K0S = (5.0 +- 1.2 +- 0.6)%, and Ds+ to pi+ pi0 / Ds+ to K+
K0S < 4.1% at 90% CL, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic,
respectively.Comment: 9 pages postscript,also available through
http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, Submitted to PR
Measurement of the Decay Constant using $D_S^+ --> ell^+ nu
We measure the decay constant fDs using the Ds -> l+ nu channel, where the l+
designates either a mu+ or a tau+, when the tau+ -> pi+ nu. Using both
measurements we find fDs = 274 +-13 +- 7 MeV. Combining with our previous
determination of fD+, we compute the ratio fDs/fD+ = 1.23 +- 0.11 +- 0.04. We
compare with theoretical estimates.Comment: 6 pages postscript,also available through
http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007
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