In this article, we study the recent development of the qualitative uncertainty principle on certain Lie groups. In particular, we consider that if the Weyl transform on certain step-two nilpotent Lie groups is of finite rank, then the function has to be zero almost everywhere as long as the nonvanishing set for the function has finite measure. Further, we consider that if the Weyl transform of each Fourier–Wigner piece of a suitable function on the Heisenberg motion group is of finite rank, then the function has to be zero almost everywhere whenever the nonvanishing set for each Fourier–Wigner piece has finite measure.

Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2–4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sensitive band of current detectors. We present the design concept and science case for a Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory (NEMO): a gravitational-wave interferometer optimised to study nuclear physics with merging neutron stars. The concept uses high-circulating laser power, quantum squeezing, and a detector topology specifically designed to achieve the high-frequency sensitivity necessary to probe nuclear matter using gravitational waves. Above 1 kHz, the proposed strain sensitivity is comparable to full third-generation detectors at a fraction of the cost. Such sensitivity changes expected event rates for detection of post-merger remnants from approximately one per few decades with two A+ detectors to a few per year and potentially allow for the first gravitational-wave observations of supernovae, isolated neutron stars, and other exotica.

Dust vortices with a void at the centre are reported in this paper. The role of the spatial variation of the plasma potential in the rotation of dust particles is studied in a parallel plate glow discharge plasma. Probe measurements reveal the existence of a local potential minimum in the region of formation of the dust vortex. The minimum in the potential well attracts positively charged ions, while it repels the negatively charged dust particles. Dust rotation is caused by the interplay of the two oppositely directed ion drag and Coulomb forces. The balance between these two forces is found to play a major role in the radial confinement of the dust particles above the cathode surface. Evolution of the dust vortex is studied by increasing the discharge current from 15 to 20 mA. The local minimum of the potential profile is found to coincide with the location of the dust vortex for both values of discharge currents. Additionally, it is found that the size of the dust vortex as well as the void at the centre increases with the discharge current.

Mg-Mn amphibole (tirodite), with or without pyroxmangite in the total absence of pyroxenes and high-calcic pyroxenoids, occurs in the Mn silicate rocks of the Sausar Group, India. The rocks were metamorphosed to amphibolite facies condition (T ∼ 650°C, P ∼ 6 kbar). Tirodite-pyroxmangite pairs developed in both carbonate-free and rhodochrosite-bearing assemblages. Also tirodite coexists with either kutnahorite or manganoan calcite in the absence of pyroxmangite. Mineral reactions inferred from modal abundances and compositions of the phases indicate stabilization of the amphibole alone from a bivalent cation-bearing residual unbuffered X CO2 system with X Mn < 0.3. On the other hand, tirodite-pyroxmangite pairs appeared in unbuffered low to intermediate X CO2 assemblages with X Mn > 0.35. Pyroxenes and high-calcic pyroxenoids did not appear in the present situation, though they occur elsewhere in rocks with broadly similar contents of immobile components. Closely associated assemblages of diverse mineralogy suggest that the X Mn and X CO2 , rather than the physical conditions of metamorphism, are the decisive factors in promoting the observed phase assemblages.

At Mamandur, southern India, zincian spinel is associated with Zn-Pb-Cu sulphide ores, metamorphosed to the granulite facies. The Zn-spinel (XZn = 0.44–0.82) occurs in assemblages of: (a) cordierite + biotite + sillimanite + sphalerite + pyrite and/or pyrrhotite; (b) garnet + biotite + sphalerite + pyrite and/or pyrrhotite; (c) hornblende + biotite + sphalerite + pyrite and/or pyrrhotite; and (d) it also occurs in highly sheared quartz veins with sphalerite + pyrite/pyrrhotite. Two texturally and compositionally distinct modes of occurrence of Zn-spinel have been recorded from the metamorphic assemblages: one shows a polygonal, granular (equilibrium) fabric with Zn-spinel grains in textural equilibrium with cordierite in the granulite facies assemblage; the other which is involved in the formation of coronas in garnet- and hornblende-bearing assemblage of a younger paragenesis (presumably belonging to a late retrograde stage), shows distinct compositional zoning with depletion of Zn and enrichment in Fe and Mg from the rim inwards. A third mode of occurrence is as perfectly euhedral grains embedded in a quartzose matrix in quartz veins, often with sphalerite moulded over the Zn-spinel grains.

From textural evidence and consideration of stoichiometric balance, Zn-spinel occurring in association with cordierite is suggested to have formed by the prograde reactions: 0.46 biotite (Mg-rich) + 1.80 sillimanite + 3.01 quartz + 0.11 sphalerite = cordierite + 0.20 Zn-spinel + 0.80 K-feldspar + 0.06 pyrite + 4(OH,F) or 0.48 biotite (Mg-rich) + 2.08 sillimanite + 2.72 quartz + 0.26 sphalerite = cordierite + 0.50 Zn-spinel + 0.83 K-feldspar + 0.13 S2 + 4(OH,F) and, the Zn-spinels occurring in association with garnet and hornblende by the retrograde reactions: garnet + 4.53 Al2SiO5 + 4.17 sphalerite = 5.38 Zn (-Fe)-spinel + 0.22 Ca-feldspar + 0.92 pyrite + 7.06 quartz + 1.23 S2 and hornblende + 26.93 Al2SiO5 + 20.17 sphalerite + 0.88 pyrite = 25.93 Zn-spinel + 2 Ca-feldspar + 56.81 quartz + 11.32 S2 + 2(OH,F) Zn-spinel in the sheared quartz vein may be of (meta-) hydrothermal origin. Formation of sphalerite through sulphurization of gahnite is ruled out on the evidence of the perfectly euhedral nature of the spinel and the absence of any breakdown product from the spinel.

Rice has the lowest grain protein content (GPC) among cereals. Efforts have been made to improve GPC through the modified bulk-pedigree method of selection. A total of 1780 F8 recombinant lines were derived in the year 2013 from five different cross combinations involving two high-GPC landraces, namely ARC10075 and ARC10063, three high-yielding parents, namely Swarna, Naveen and IR64, and one parent, namely Sharbati, known for superior grain quality with high micronutrient content. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to facilitate high-throughput selection for GPC. Significant selection differential, response to selection and non-significant differences between the predicted and observed response to selection for GPC and protein yield indicated the effectiveness of this selection process. This resulted in lines with high GPC, protein yield and desirable levels of amylose content. Further, based on high mean and stability for GPC and protein yield over the environments in the wet seasons of 2013, 2014 and the dry season of 2014, 12 elite lines were identified. Higher accumulation of glutelin fraction and non-significant change in prolamin/glutelin ratio in the grain suggested safe guarding of the nutritional value of rice grain protein of most of these identified lines. Since rice is the staple food of millions, the output of breeding for high GPC could have a significant role in alleviating protein malnutrition, especially in the developing world.

In this paper, case wise studies have been made to investigate the possibility of propagation of Rayleigh-type wave in a composite structure comprised of two transversely-isotropic material layers with viscoelastic effect. The common interface between the layers is considered to be rigid whereas the base has been considered as rigid, stress-free and yielding in three different cases (Case-I, II and III). Closed-form of frequency equation and damped velocity equation has been established analytically for propagation of Rayleigh-type wave in a composite structure for all three cases. In special cases, frequency equations and damped velocity equations for the case of composite structure with rigid, stress-free and yielding base have been found in well-agreement to the established standard results pre-existing in the literature. Numerical and graphical computation of phase and damped velocity of Rayleigh-type wave propagating in the composite structure comprised of double transversely-isotropic viscoelastic Taylor sandstone material layers (Model-I) and double isotropic viscoelastic material layers (Model-II) have been carried out. Significant effect of anisotropy and width ratio of layers, dilatational and volume viscoelasticity associated with viscoelasticity of layer medium and yielding parameter associated with yielding base of composite structure on phase and damped velocities of Rayleigh-type wave for the considered models have been traced out. The comparative study has been performed to unravel the effect of viscoelasticity over elasticity and anisotropy over isotropy in the present problem.

Measurements of local plasma parameters in dusty plasma are crucial for understanding the physics issues related to such systems. The Langmuir probe, a small electrode immersed in the plasma, provides such measurements. However, designing of a Langmuir probe system in a dusty plasma environment demands special consideration. First, the probe has to be miniaturized enough so that its perturbation on the ambient dust structure is minimal. At the same time, the probe dimensions must be such that a well-defined theory exists for interpretation of its characteristics. The associated instrumentation must also support the measurement of current collected by the probe with high signal to noise ratio. The most important consideration, of course, comes from the fact that the probes are prone to dust contamination, as the dust particles tend to stick to the probe surface and alter the current collecting area in unpredictable ways. This article describes the design and operation of a Langmuir probe system that resolves these challenging issues in dusty plasma. In doing so, first, different theories that are used to interpret the probe characteristics in collisionless as well as in collisional regimes are discussed, with special emphasis on application. The critical issues associated with the current–voltage characteristics of Langmuir probe obtained in different operating regimes are discussed. Then, an algorithm for processing these characteristics efficiently in presence of ion-neutral collisions in the probe sheath is presented.

Bats are known to be reservoirs of several medically important viruses including lyssaviruses. However, no systematic surveillance for bat rabies has been carried out in India, a canine rabies endemic country with a high burden of human rabies. Surveillance for rabies virus (RABV) infection in bats was therefore carried out in Nagaland, a north-eastern state in India at sites with intense human–bat interfaces during traditional bat harvests. Brain tissues and sera from bats were tested for evidence of infection due to RABV. Brain tissues were subjected to the fluorescent antibody test for detection of viral antigen and real-time reverse transcriptase PCR for presence of viral RNA. Bat sera were tested for the presence of rabies neutralizing antibodies by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. None of the bat brains tested (n = 164) were positive for viral antigen or viral RNA. However, rabies neutralizing antibodies were detected in 4/78 (5·1%) bat sera tested, suggesting prior exposure to RABV or related lyssaviruses. The serological evidence of lyssaviral infection in Indian bats may have important implications in disease transmission and rabies control measures, and warrant extensive bat surveillance to better define the prevalence of lyssaviral infection in bats.

Assumption that the common interfaces of the media are perfectly bonded may not be always true. Situation may arise that composition of the two medium may be responsible for weakening the contact between them. So, it becomes obligatory to consider a loosely bonded interface in such cases which may affect the propagation of elastic waves through them. This paper thrashes out the propagation of torsional surface wave in an initially stressed visco-elastic layer sandwiched between upper and lower initially stressed dry-sandy Gibson half-spaces, theoretically. Both the upper and lower dry-sandy Gibson half-spaces are considered to be loosely-bonded with the sandwiched layer. Mathematical model is proposed and solution in terms of Whittaker's and Bessel's function is obtained. Velocity equation is obtained in closed form, its real part deals with the dispersion phenomenon whereas its imaginary part provides the damping characteristics. Influence of heterogeneities, sandiness, gravity parameters, initial-stresses, loose-bonding and internal-friction on the phase and damped velocities of torsional wave are computed numerically and depicted graphically. Deduced dispersion equation and damped velocity equation matches with classical Love-wave equation and vanishes identically for the isotropic case respectively.

In a quasineutral plasma, electrons undergo collective oscillations, known as plasma oscillations, when perturbed locally. The oscillations propagate due to finite temperature effects. However, the wave can lose the phase coherence between constituting oscillators in an inhomogeneous plasma (phase mixing) because of the dependence of plasma oscillation frequency on plasma density. The longitudinal electric field associated with the wave may be used to accelerate electrons to high energies by exciting large amplitude wave. However when the maximum amplitude of the wave is reached that plasma can sustain, the wave breaks. The phenomena of wave breaking and phase mixing have applications in plasma heating and particle acceleration. For detailed experimental investigation of these phenomena a new device, inverse mirror plasma experimental device (IMPED), has been designed and fabricated. The detailed considerations taken before designing the device, so that different aspects of these phenomena can be studied in a controlled manner, are described. Specifications of different components of the IMPED machine and their flexibility aspects in upgrading, if necessary, are discussed. Initial results meeting the prerequisite condition of the plasma for such study, such as a quiescent, collisionless and uniform plasma, are presented. The machine produces δnnoise/n ⩽ 1%, Luniform ~ 120 cm at argon filling pressure of ~10−4 mbar and axial magnetic field of B = 1090 G.

A class of compact cold stars in the presence of strange matter is obtained for a pseudo-spheroidal geometry. Considering the strange matter equation of state $p = \frac{1}{3}(\rho-4B)$ with pressure anisotropy described by Vaidya-Tikekar metric, we determine the parameter B both inside and on the surface of the star for different values of anisotropy parameter α. In the anisotropic case, we note that a stable model of a compact star may be realized.

The mica mines of the Kodarma area in the Hazaribagh district of Bihar contribute as a single unit the largest quantity of muscovite (locally known as “Ruby mica”) to the world. The mica-pegmatites of this area have attracted the attention of geologists and mining engineers since the beginning of the last century, but still many petrological problems connected with them have not been satisfactorily solved. During recent years the present authors have studied the geology of the Government Reserve Forest of Kodarma; and they intend to discuss in this paper the origin and the characteristic features of the Kodarma pegmatites and to review the literature already existing on this subject.

Inverse Compton scattering is a promising method to implement a high brightness, ultra-short, energy tunable X-ray source at accelerator facilities. We have developed an inverse Compton backscattering X-ray source driven by the multi-10 TW laser installed at Daresbury. Hard X-rays, with spectral peaks ranging from 15 to 30 keV, depending on the scattering geometry, will be generated through the interaction of laser pulses with electron bunches delivered by the energy recovery linac machine, initially known as energy recovery linac prototype and subsequently renamed accelerators and lasers in combined experiments. X-ray pulses containing 9 × 107 photons per pulse will be created from head-on collisions, with a pulse duration comparable to the incoming electron bunch length. For transverse collisions 8 × 106 photons per pulse will be generated, where the laser pulse transit time defines the X-ray pulse duration. The peak spectral brightness is predicted to be ~1021 photons/(s mm2 mrad2 0.1% Δλ/λ).

Chattopadhyay et al. [Biosystems (2003),68, pp. 5-17] proposed and analyzed an N – P model in the presenceof viral infection on phytoplankton population. They studied thedynamics under the constant nutrient input. The present paper dealswith the problem with seasonal variability on nutrient input. We usea general periodic function for nutrient input. We observe thedynamics of the system by considering (i) the infected phytoplanktonconsumes nutrient and (ii) the infected phytoplankton is not in astate to consume nutrient. Conditions for the persistence andextinction of populations are worked out. Our numerical experimentsshow that if the infected phytoplankton does not take nutrient thensusceptible phytoplankton coexists with the infected ones. But ifthe infected phytoplankton consumes nutrient then there is a chancefor extinction of susceptible phytoplankton for high rate ofinfection. We also observe that periodic nutrient input enforces thesystem to enter into chaotic region.

The electron beam welding technique was used to join Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 bulk metallic glass (BMG) to crystalline pure Zr. Compositional, microstructural, and mechanical property variations across the welded interface were evaluated. It is shown that a crystalline layer develops close to the welding interface. Transmission electron microscopy of this layer indicates the crystalline phase to be tetragonal with lattice parameters close to that reported for Zr2Ni. However, the composition of this phase is different as it contains other alloying additions. The interface layer close to the bulk metallic glass side contains nanocrystalline Zr2Cu phase embedded in the glassy matrix. Nanoindentation experiments indicate that the hardness of the crystalline layer, although less than the bulk metallic glass, is more than the Zr itself. Commensurately, tensile tests indicate that the failure of the welded samples occurs at the Zr side rather than at the weld joint.

HfO2 films were grown on SiO2/4H-SiC and SiON/4H-SiC layers by evaporation of metallic Hf in an electron beam deposition system followed by thermal oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of HfO2 films. There is no evidence of formation of hafnium silicide or carbon pile up at the surface as well as at the interfacial layer. Electrical measurements show the presence of fewer slow traps in the HfO2/SiON gate dielectric stack on 4H-SiC and comparable values of interface state density. The HfO2/SiON stack layer improves leakage current characteristics with a higher breakdown field and has better reliability under electrical stress.

Thin films with a nominal composition close to Ti62.5Si37.5 were deposited on NaCl substrate at room temperature by pulsed laser ablation to study the evolution of the intermetallic compound Ti5Si3 using a combination of high-resolution and in situ transmission electron microscopy. The as-deposited amorphous films contain Ti-rich clusters, which influence the phase evolution and the decomposition behavior of the amorphous film. These clusters influence the nucleation of a metastable fcc Ti solid solution (ao = 0.433 nm) with composition richer in Ti than Ti62.5Si37.5 as the first phase to crystallize at 773 K. The Ti5Si3 nanocrystals form later, and even at 1073 K they coexist with fine fcc Ti-rich nanocrystals. Subsequent Ar+ ion-milling of the crystallized film results in a loss of silicon. The composition change leads to the dissolution of the Ti5Si3 nanocrystals and evolution of a new metastable Ti-rich fcc phase (ao= 0.408 nm).

We report the synthesis of thin films of B–C–N and C–N deposited by N+ ion-beam-assisted pulsed laser deposition (IBPLD) technique on glass substrates at different temperatures. We compare these films with the thin films of boron carbide synthesized by pulsed laser deposition without the assistance of ion-beam. Electron diffraction experiments in the transmission electron microscope shows that the vapor quenched regions of all films deposited at room temperature are amorphous. In addition, shown for the first time is the evidence of laser melting and subsequent rapid solidification of B4C melt in the form of micrometer- and submicrometer-size round particulates on the respective films. It is possible to amorphize B4C melt droplets of submicrometer sizes. Solidification morphologies of micrometer-size droplets show dispersion of nanocrystallites of B4C in amorphous matrix within the droplets. We were unable to synthesize cubic carbon nitride using the current technique. However, the formation of nanocrystalline turbostratic carbo- and boron carbo-nitrides were possible by IBPLD on substrate at elevated temperature and not at room temperature. Turbostraticity relaxes the lattice spacings locally in the nanometric hexagonal graphite in C–N film deposited at 600 °C leading to large broadening of diffraction rings.

A contender for future generations of CMOS technology is the strained silicon (S-Si) MOSFET. The mobility enhancement in S-Si can be exploited to maintain the performance enhancements demanded by Moore's law with reduced critical dimensions. S-Si is obtained by growth of a thin Si layer over a thick virtual substrate (VS) of relaxed silicon-germanium (SiGe). The mobility of a surface channel MOSFET is dependent on the quality of the silicon-oxide (Si/SiO2) interface. Ge may out diffuse from the virtual substrate to the oxide interface causing an increase in trapping density. As the Ge content in the virtual substrate increases surface roughness also increases. These phenomena both lead to a reduction in mobility.

The study of a matrix of devices having variable Ge composition and S-Si thickness is crucial in deconvolving the contributions of Ge diffusion and wafer cross-hatching roughness on electrical parameters. Increasing VS Ge composition increases the Ge concentration at the SSi/SiO2 interface and cross-hatching amplitude whereas reducing S-Si channel thickness only increases Ge concentration at the S-Si/SiO2 interface and does not increase cross-hatch amplitude. Interface state density, drive current, gate leakage current, transconductance and carrier mobility data are presented for this two-dimensional space of VS composition and S-Si thickness. The relative importance of Ge diffusion and cross-hatching roughness can be seen in this data. The results of this study indicate a lower limit of 7 nm for the S-Si thickness and an upper limit of approximately 20 % Ge in the virtual substrate for the current processing technology. Understanding the performance-limiting mechanisms in S-Si is crucial in the optimisation of VS Ge composition and S-Si thickness for current and future generations of S-Si CMOS.