Physics

Massive gravitons in effective field theories can be recovered by extending General Relativity and taking into account generic functions of the curvature invariants not necessarily linear in the Ricci scalar R. In particular, adopting the minimal extension of f(R) gravity, an effective field theory with a massive state is straightforwardly recovered. This approach allows to evade shortcomings like ghosts and discontinuities if a suitable choice of expansion parameters is performed. We show that the massive state can be identified with a massive graviton.

Symmetries play a crucial role in physics and, in particular, the Noether symmetries are a useful tool both to select models motivated at a fundamental level, and to find exact solutions for specific Lagrangians. In this work, we consider the application of point symmetries in the recently proposed metric-Palatini Hybrid Gravity in order to select the f(R) functional form and to find analytical solutions for the field equations and for the related Wheeler-DeWitt (WDW) equation. We show that, in order to find out integrable f(R) models, conformal transformations in the Lagrangians are extremely useful. In this context, we explore two conformal transformations of the forms dτ = N(a)dt and dτ = N(φ)dt. For the former conformal transformation, we found two cases of f(R) functions where the field equations admit Noether symmetries. In the second case, the Lagrangian reduces to a Brans-Dicke-like theory with a general coupling function. For each case, it is possible to transform the field equations by using normal coordinates to simplify the dynamical system and to obtain exact solutions. Furthermore, we perform quantization and derive the WDW equation for the minisuperspace model. The Lie point symmetries for the WDW equation are determined and used to find invariant solutions.

Cosmological inflation is discussed in the framework of $F(R,{\cal G})$ gravity where $F$ is a generic function of the curvature scalar $R$ and the Gauss-Bonnet topological invariant
$\cal G$. The main feature that emerges in this analysis is the fact that this kind of theory can exhaust all the curvature budget related to curvature invariants without considering derivatives of $R,$ $R_{\mu\nu}$, $R^{\lambda}_{\sigma\mu\nu}$ etc. in the action.  Cosmological dynamics results driven by two effective masses (lenghts) related to the $R$ scalaron and the $\cal G$ scalaron working respectively at early and very early epochs of cosmic evolution. In this sense, a double inflationary scenario naturally emerges.

ABSTRACT In the present work, the self-assembly of Co2+ and Fe3+ doped SnO2 nanoparticles (Co and Fe = 5 mol% each) into nanorods by co-doping of Ce3+ (4 mol%) ions is studied. The nanorods are prepared by a chemical route using polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant with the composition Sn0.91Co0.05Ce0.04O2 (SCC54) and Sn0.91Co0.05Ce0.04O2(SFC54). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), magnetic and electrical measurements are used to characterize these nanorods. The XRD pattern show the tetragonal rutile and polycrystalline nature of SnO2 nanorods which is also confirmed by TEM. The TEM images exhibit that the diameter of SCC54 nanorods lie in the range of 15-20 nm, length~100-200 nm whereas for SFC54 specimen, diameter ~5-15 nm and length ~50-100 nm. In our previous work, we fabricated Co and Fe (3 and 5 mol% each) doped SnO2 nanoparticles which exhibited high ferromagnetism. It is observed that on Ce3+ co-doping, nanoparticles assembled themselves into rod like structures and the values of saturation magnetization and dielectric properties have further enhanced. Thus the nature and the concentration of dopants are found to play crucial role in tuning the morphology, magnetic and electrical properties of nanostructures. The values of saturated magnetization (Ms) are 1.14 and 0.14 emu/g and coercive field are 112 and 42 Oe, in SCC54 and SFC54 specimen, respectively, at room temperature. The variation in dielectric behavior is attributed due to the interface polarization. However, in lower frequency regime, the decreasing trend of dielectric permittivity with increasing frequency is explained by the Maxwell-Wagner theory and Koops' model, whereas, in higher frequency region, the resonant behavior is observed due to nano size effect.

Core-shell CoFe2O4@BaTiO3 nanoparticles and nanotubes have been prepared using a combination of solution processing and high temperature calcination. Both the core-shell nanostructures exhibit magnetic and dielectric hysteresis at room temperature and magnetoelectric effect. The dielectric constant of both the nanocomposites decreases upon application of magnetic field. The core-shell nanoparticles exhibit 1.7% change in magnetocapacitance around 134 K at 1 T,

ABSTRACT Structural, microstructural, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, saturation magnetization and magnetoelectric (ME) measurement of BaTiO3 (BFT0) and BaFe0.01Ti0.99O3 (BFT1) nanostructures have been studied. BFT0 and BFT1 were prepared by a hydrothermal method of processing temperature 180 °C/48 h. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the coexistence of cubic/tetragonal and hexagonal phases for BFT0 and cubic/tetragonal for BFT1. The Raman spectra confirm the coexistence of tetragonal and hexagonal phases in BFT0 and cubic in BFT1. Transmission electron microscopy images show nanorods of hexagonal shaped faces for BFT0 and cubic shaped nanowires for BFT1. The resulting mechanism of the formation of these nanostructures is discussed. The experimental and theoretical results by photoluminescence are related to the degree of disorder existing in both BFT0 and BFT1 and suggest the presence of localized states existing inside of the band gap which are directly affected for degree of order–disorder. A strong ferromagnetism in BFT1 and diamagnetism in BFT0 is observed by magnetic hysteresis. As BFT1 is ferromagnetic, the value of linear coefficient, α called Magnetoelectric (ME) coefficient is calculated as ∼16 mV/Oe cm at a fixed frequency of 850 Hz. This ME coefficient α corresponds to induction of polarization by a magnetic field or of magnetization by an electric field. The observed optimum dc bias field at which the maximum ME coupling occurs is ∼750 Oe.

ABSTRACT We have studied the effect of hydrothermal conditions at constant temperature of 180 °C, varying preparation time for 15, 30 and 45 h on nanostructures of diluted magnetic semiconductor Sn0.95Co0.05O2 (SC5). X-ray diffraction pattern confirm the tetragonal SnO2 rutile phase. The transmission and scanning electron microscopy shows the resulting nanostructures i.e. nanospheres and nanorods. The proposed reaction mechanism is given. The Raman spectra show the formation of tetragonal rutile structure of SC5 nanostructures. Fourier transform infrared spectrum has been used to verify the existence of Sn–O bond. The photoluminescence spectra show that the emission spectral intensity increases gradually with decreasing grains size, increasing hydrothermal heating time of SC5 samples and exhibits an intense blue luminescence centered at a wavelength of 531 nm. The optical absorbance measurements revealed that the nanometric size of the materials influences the energy band gap. All the prepared SC5 samples exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism.

ABSTRACT Structural, microstructural, X-ray photoemission spectra (XPS) and magnetic properties of transition metal ion [5 mol% of Co (SC5) and Fe (SF5)]-doped SnO2 nanoparticles have been studied. The SC5 and SF5 nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical route using polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant. The doped SnO2 crystallites were found to exhibit a tetragonal rutile structure and the average grains size was measured by the Scherer relation of X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the average grain size of SC5 is smaller than SF5. SC5 nanoparticles showed strong ferromagnetic behaviour but SF5 exhibited an F-centre exchange (FCE) mechanism. Temperature-dependent magnetization showed the values of phase transition temperature. XPS confirmed the presence of Sn–O–Co and Sn–O–Fe bonds in these SC5 and SF5 nanoparticles. The oxidation states of Sn, Co and Fe were found to be +4, +2 and +2, respectively, while the core level XPS peaks of Sn 3d, O 1s, Co 2p and Fe 2p were analyzed.

Liquid processing of 2D crystals offers scalable strategies for the production of 2D materials. Herein, we produce the hybrids of MoS 2 /graphene, consisting of few-layered nanosheets of luminescent MoS 2 and biofunctionalized few-layered graphene assisted by the Vmh2 hydrophobin, a self-assembling adhesive fungal protein, through a green route of production. The functionalization of the graphene flakes assisted by Vmh2 adds surface charge, which enables electrostatic interaction between MoS 2 and graphene flakes, leading to the van der Waals coupling. The surface morphology of 2D material based films is analyzed through optical imaging, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The produced dispersions of MoS 2 , bGr and the hybrid solutions, are investigated by electrophoretic mobility, UV-Vis, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Interestingly, the effect of van der Waals interactions between the layers of MoS 2 and bGr crystals are evidenced through the significant upshift of 14 cm À1 in the G 0 Raman peak of graphene and an upshift of 1.4 cm À1 of the A 1g peak of MoS 2. Due to the formation of heterostructures, significant quenching of the characteristic photoluminescence emitted from the monolayers of MoS 2 was also observed, indicating the charge transfer process occurring between the crystal layers. This approach of scalable synthesis of 2D material based nano-bio hybrids offers economic and eco-friendly solutions to promote novel applications in biosensing and photodetection.