Bianchi VI0 cosmological model in Saez and Ballester theory

The problem of perfect fluid distribution in spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type VI₀ space-time is considered in a scalar tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (1985). Exact solutions of the field equations are derived when the metric potentials are functions of cosmic time only. Some physical and geometrical properties of the solutions are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A study on soil physico-chemical, microbial and metal content in Sukinda chromite mine of Odisha, India

Soil samples from chromite mining site and its adjacent overburden dumps and fallow land of Sukinda, Odisha, were analysed for their physico-chemical, microbial and metal contents. Chromite mine soils were heterogenous mixture of clay, mud, minerals and rocks. The pH of the soils ranges between 5.87 and 7.36. The nutrient contents of the mine soils (N, P, K and organic C) were found to be extremely low. Analysis of chromite mine soils revealed accumulation of a number of metals in high concentrations (Fe > Cr > Mn > Ni > Zn > Pb > Sr) which exceeded ecotoxicological limits in soil. Correlation and cluster analysis of metals revealed a strong relation between Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn among the different attributes studied. Assessment of different microbial groups such as fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria (heterotrophic, spore forming, free-living nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilising and cellulose degrading) from mine soils were found to be either extremely low or absent in some soil samples. Further chromium tolerant bacteria (CTB) were isolated using 100 mg/L Cr(VI) enriched nutrient agar medium and were screened for their tolerance towards increasing concentrations of hexavalent chromium and other toxic metals. Out of 23 CTB isolates, three bacteria tolerated up to 900 mg/L, 6 up to 500 mg/L, 20 up to 200 mg/L of Cr(VI). These bacteria were also found to be sensitive towards Cu > Co > Cd and very few CTB strains could show multiple metal tolerance. These strains have great scope for their application in bioremediation of toxic chromium ions in presence of other metals ions, which needs to be explored for their biotechnological applications.     

Can we constrain the evolution of HI bias using configuration entropy?

We study the evolution of the configuration entropy of HI distribution in the post-reionization era assuming different time evolution of HI bias.We describe time evolution of linear bias of HI distribution using a simple form b(a)=b₀aⁿ with different index n.The derivative of the configuration entropy rate is known to exhibit a peak at the scale factor corresponding to theΛ-matter equality in the unbiasedΛCDM model.We show that in theΛCDM model with time-dependent linear bias,the peak shifts to smaller scale factors for negative values of n.This is related to the fact that the growth of structures in the HI density field can significantly slow down even before the onset ofΛdomination in the presence of a strong time evolution of the HI bias.We find that the shift is linearly related to the index n.We obtain the best fit relation between these two parameters and propose that identifying the location of this peak from observations would allow us to constrain the time evolution of HI bias within the framework of theΛCDM model.     

Low resolution spectroscopy of selected Algol systems

The analysis of spectroscopic data for 30 Algol-type binaries is presented. All these systems are short period Algols having primaries with spectral types B and A. Dominant spectral lines were identified for the spectra collected and their equivalent widths were calculated. All the spectra were examined to understand presence of mass transfer, a disk or circumstellar matter and chromospheric emission. We also present first spectroscopic and period study for few Algols and conclude that high resolution spectra within and outside the primary minimum are needed for better understanding of these Algol type close binaries.     

Forsterite-diopside-spinel-liquid equilibria in the system CaO−MgO−Al2O3−SiO2 at 20 kbar and petrological applications

Liquidus phase relationships in the CaAlAl–SiO₆–Mg₂SiO₄–CaMgSi₂O₆–CaAlSi₂O₈ portion of the simplified basalt tetrahedron in the CaO–MgO–SiO₂–Al₂O₃ system have been experimentally determined at 20 kbar pressure. The fo+di _ss+sp+li univariant curve, that pierces the fo-di-an join and meets the fo+di _ss+ en_ss+sp+li invariant point in the basalt tetrahedron, extends all the way to and pierces the di-fo-CaTs join, the limit of the simplified basalt tetrahedron toward the silica undersaturated portion.An algebraic method, relying on compositions of two successive liquids on a univariant curve and those of the crystalline phases in equilibrium with the respective liquids, is developed to identify the type of reaction that takes place along an isobarically univariant curve and to detect whether there is a temperature maximum on that curve. Use of this method for the di _ss+fo+sp+li univariant equilibria shows that a temperature maximum exists on this curve at the composition Fo₁₁Di₅₆An₃CaTs₃₀, very close to and slighthly to the SiO₂-rich side of the fo-di-CaTs join. The temperature along the univariant curve continuously decreases from the temperature maximum (1500°C) to the invariant point (1475°C) where the univariant curve is terminated by the appearance of e _ss as a member of the equilibrium assemblage. Along this part of the curve, a reaction relationship occurs according to the equation fo+li=di _ss+ sp. Compositions of di _ss in equilibrium with the liquids from the temperature maximum to the fo+di _ss+en_ss+ sp+li invariant point range from Di₆₆En₉CaTs₂₅ to Di₃₆En₄₀CaTs₂₄. Because of the reaction relationship of forsterite with liquid, fractional crystallization of a model alkalic basaltic liquid would cause liquids to move off the fo-di _ss-sp-li univariant curve onto the sp-di _ss divariant surface. Crystallization of di _ss and sp would then lead to silica enrichment of residual liquids. Thus at pressures below 30 kbar, at which pressure the Al₂O₃–CaSiO₃–MgSiO₃ plane becomes a new thermal divide cutting through both the tholeiitic and alkalic volumes, alkalic liquids will fractionate toward tholeiitic compositions without crossing a thermal divide. This relationship would be expected to persist at pressures down to about 4 kbar where a maximum on the fo-di-an-li boundary line causes a thermal divide near the fo-di-an plane. Strongly SiO₂-undersaturated liquids (e.g. nephelinites, basanites), on the other hand, cannot be derived from SiO₂-undersaturated basalts (e.g. alkali olivine basalt) by fractional crystallization at 20 kbar. We also found that no gt primary phase volume cuts the wo-en-Al₂O₃ join at 20 kbar pressure. The wehrlite, the olivine clinopyroxenite, and the Al-augite group lherzolite xenoliths, containing highly aluminous clinopyroxenes (enriched in Ca-Tschermak), can be interpreted as crystal cumulates from alkalic basalts in the light of this experimental study. This is consistent with the mode of origin of these xenoliths proposed from petrographic, mineralogic, and geochemical studies.Abbreviations and notations di CaMgSi₂O₆ - fo Mg₂SiO₄ - an CaAl₂Si₂O₈ - CaTs CaAlAlSiO₆ - sp MgAl₂O₄ - en MgSiO₃ - wo CaSiO₃ - gt Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂–Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ - qz SiO₂ - li Liquid - gl glass - ss Solid Solution - A An mxn matrix - X A column vector - kbar kilobar     

Effect of resonant neutrino oscillation on TeV neutrino flavor ratio from choked GRBs

In the collapsar scenario of the long duration Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs),multi-TeV neutrino emission is predicted as the jet makes its way through the stellar envelope.Such a neutrino signal is also expected for more general failed GRBs in which a putative jet is choked by a heavy envelope.If the ν e →νμ neutrino oscillation parameters are in the atmospheric neutrino oscillation range,we show that the resonant oscillation of ν e  νμ,τ can take place within the inner high density region of the choked jet prog...     

Magnetoelastic shear wave propagation in pre-stressed anisotropic media under gravity

The present study investigates the propagation of shear wave (horizontally polarized) in two initially stressed heterogeneous anisotropic (magnetoelastic transversely isotropic) layers in the crust overlying a transversely isotropic gravitating semi-infinite medium. Heterogeneities in both the anisotropic layers are caused due to exponential variation (case-I) and linear variation (case-II) in the elastic constants with respect to the space variable pointing positively downwards. The dispersion relations have been established in closed form using Whittaker’s asymptotic expansion and were found to be in the well-agreement to the classical Love wave equations. The substantial effects of magnetoelastic coupling parameters, heterogeneity parameters, horizontal compressive initial stresses, Biot’s gravity parameter, and wave number on the phase velocity of shear waves have been computed and depicted by means of a graph. As a special case, dispersion equations have been deduced when the two layers and half-space are isotropic and homogeneous. The comparative study for both cases of heterogeneity of the layers has been performed and also depicted by means of graphical illustrations.