Here, we review recent advances in precision Casimir force measurements with both non-magnetic and magnetic materials. In addition, the measurement of the geometric dependence of the Casimir force, ...both lateral and normal, using uniformly corrugated surfaces is briefly presented. Finally, the measurement of the thermal Casimir force in graphene is discussed.
Boron (B) is a vital micronutrient that many crops, including vegetables, require in small amounts. However, brassica vegetables need B in higher doses. Although Chitwan has the highest area under ...cauliflower production, the productivity is low as a result of inadequate B fertilization. Cauliflower is a B-sensitive crop, and low B in soil results in poor growth, yield, and yield-related parameters. So, to study the growth, yield, and yield-related response of cauliflower varieties due to different B levels, a field experiment was conducted at the horticulture farm of Agriculture and Forestry University of Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in a two-factor factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) having (B levels: 0.55 kg ha−1, 1.1 kg ha−1, 1.65 kg ha−1, and 2.2 kg ha−1) and (cauliflower varieties; Kathmandu Local, White Top, and Snow Crown), which were replicated thrice. The maximum values of growth parameters like the plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, plant canopy diameter, and the number of leaves were obtained from B 2.2 kg ha−1. Similarly, the White Top variety produced the tallest plant, the longest leaf, and the highest number of leaves, while the broadest leaf and canopy cover were observed in Snow Crown. The shortest days required for first, 50 % and 100 % curd initiation were observed in B 2.2 kg ha−1, and in the case of varieties, White Top took the least time for first, 50 %, and 100 % curd initiation. Similarly, the highest curd weight, curd diameter, and curd yield were obtained when B was applied at 2.2 kg ha−1. White Top produced the curd with the highest weight, diameter, and yield. A strong positive correlation was observed between curd diameter and leaf length (r = 0.89, p < 0.01) and curd diameter and leaf breadth (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). Curd yield and diameter were also positively correlated with r = 0.78 at p < 0.01. Thus, according to the current findings, it can be recommended that in the mid-season condition at Chitwan, Nepal, application of B at the rate of 2.2 kg ha−1 and the use of the White Top variety should be made for better growth and yield of cauliflower.
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•Boron is an essential micronutrient for the growth, yield, and quality of crops including vegetables.•Brassica vegetables require boron in higher amount as compared to other crops.•Growth and yield parameters of cauliflower are severely influenced due to less boron use that ultimately reduces curd yield.•Boron at the rate of 2.2 kg ha −1 and the choice of White Top variety is therefore suggested in the mid-season condition at Chitwan, Nepal.
As a root crop known for its substantial nitrogen requirements, carrot responds well to both organic and inorganic fertilizers that supply different amounts of nitrogen. This study aimed to assess ...the efficacy of various proportions of farmyard manure (FYM) and recommended dosages of chemical fertilizers (RDF) in carrot production to address the issues posed by their sole use. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to plan the field study, which consisted of five treatments and five replications with different nitrogen rates and sources, viz., T1 (100% FYM), T2 (25% RDF+75% FYM), T3 (50% RDF+50% FYM), T4 (75% RDF+25% FYM), and T5 (100% RDF) during December 2019 to April 2020 in the tropical region of Sindhuli, Nepal. Among the treatments, T3 exhibited the earliest germination (7.60 DAS) and the most desirable plant height (42.61 cm), root length (20.41 cm), root diameter (3.01 cm), fresh root weight plant-1 (96.04 g), total root dry matter content (15.01%), root biomass plant-1 (55.44 g), and total biomass plant-1 (85.33 g) at harvest. However, T5 resulted in the highest leaf count plant-1 (8.6) and fresh foliage weight plant-1 (42.96 g) at harvest. Similarly, T3 was significantly higher for quality parameters, such as cortex diameter (1.36 cm), pH (6.72), TSS (12.48 0Brix), TA (0.22 g liter-1), and organoleptic score (7.60). Although there were minimal root disorders in T3 (17%), T1 also had insignificant cases of cracking (8%) and postharvest weight loss (1.63%). Thus, reducing nitrogen input from the recommended dose and adding FYM improves carrot yield, quality, and shelf life. Furthermore, this guarantees higher economic returns with a B:C ratio of 1.65. Despite these positive results, the efficacy of the tested nutrient combinations needs to be analyzed on a larger scale, as well as in different ecological regions.
We investigate the feasibility of using electrons in a linear Paul trap as qubits in a future quantum computer. We discuss the necessary experimental steps to realize such a device through a concrete ...design proposal, including trapping, cooling, electronic detection, spin readout, and single- and multiqubit gate operations. Numeric simulations indicate that two-qubit Bell-state fidelities of order 99.99% can be achieved assuming reasonable experimental parameters.
We have measured differential yields for double capture and double capture accompanied by ionization in 75 keV p + Ar collisions. Data were taken for two different transverse projectile coherence ...lengths. A small effect of the projectile coherence properties on the yields were found for double capture, but not for double capture plus ionization. The results suggest that multiple projectile–target interactions can lead to a significant weakening of projectile coherence effects.
We performed a fully differential experimental and theoretical study on ionization of He in intermediate-energy collisions with protons for a small projectile coherence length. Data were taken for an ...ejected electron energy corresponding to a speed close to the projectile speed (velocity matching). In the fully differential angular electron distributions, a pronounced double-peak structure, observed previously for a coherence length much larger than the atomic size, is much less pronounced in the current data. This observation is interpreted in terms of interference between first-and higher-order transition amplitudes. Although there is large quantitative disagreement between experiment and theory, the qualitative agreement supports this interpretation.
Aluminum monochloride (AlCl) has been proposed as a promising candidate for laser cooling to ultracold temperatures, and recent spectroscopy results support this prediction. It is challenging to ...produce large numbers of AlCl molecules because it is a highly reactive open-shell molecule and must be generated
in situ
. Here we show that pulsed-laser ablation of stable, non-toxic mixtures of Al with alkali or alkaline earth chlorides, denoted XCl
n
, can provide a robust and reliable source of cold AlCl molecules. Both the chemical identity of XCl
n
and the Al : XCl
n
molar ratio are varied, and the yield of AlCl is monitored using absorption spectroscopy in a cryogenic gas. For KCl, the production of Al and K atoms was also monitored. We model the AlCl production in the limits of nonequilibrium recombination dominated by first-encounter events. The non-equilibrium model is in agreement with the data and also reproduces the observed trend with different XCl
n
precursors. We find that AlCl production is limited by the solid-state densities of Al and Cl atoms and the recondensation of Al atoms in the ablation plume. We suggest future directions for optimizing the production of cold AlCl molecules using laser ablation.
Laser ablation is used to generate AlCl using mixtures of Al with different chloride salts. AlCl absorption is monitored as a function of mixing ratio and the data is modelled by nonequilibrium atomic encounters followed by rapid cooling.
Advancing our understanding of the few-body dynamics in simple atomic systems is one of the most important goals of atomic scattering research. In perturbation theory, this goal entails accurately ...describing the relative contributions from first versus higher-order mechanisms. One higher-order mechanism that is particularly important for target ionization by a charged-particle impact is known as post-collision interaction (PCI). There, the projectile and the ejected electron interact with each other at least twice. In the first interaction, the projectile transfers sufficient energy for the electron to be lifted to the continuum. The second interaction occurs in the outgoing part of the collision, where the projectile and the electron attract each other towards the initial beam axis. It is well known that PCI maximizes when the electrons are ejected with a speed close to that of the projectiles. However, a systematic study on a fully differential level of ionization by ion impact was lacking for this kinematic regime. Kinematically complete experiments on ionization of H2 and He by 75 keV proton impact were performed. Fully differential cross sections (FDCS) were extracted for a broad range of fixed electron energies for each of the targets. Pronounced post-collisional effects between the projectile and the ejected electrons were observed. The results were compared with two conceptually similar calculations, both based on distorted wave approaches. Surprising discrepancies were observed between the experimental data and theory, and also between conceptually similar theoretical models. This shows that the FDCS are very sensitive to the details of the underlying few-body dynamics in this region. Data also indicated the limitations of perturbative methods and the need for non-perturbative approaches.
An experiment was carried out to study the effect of post-harvest dipping and various packaging materials on quality traits of mandarin at the laboratory of Project Implementation Unit (Citrus zone) ...Udayapur, Katari from January to February 2019. The parameters observed were physiological loss in weight, juice content, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, TSS/TA ratio and shelf life. The packaging materials include individual newspaper wrapping, perforated polyethene and corrugated box. Gibberellic acid with a concentration of 100 ppm was used as a dipping material. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 8 treatment replicated 3 times. The result showed that among eight treatments combination, fruits treated with GA3 in combination with perforated polyethene recorded minimum physiological loss in weight (1.99%) and control (19.08%). High retention of juice content (40.30%), total soluble solids(12.83 brix) and titrable acidity (0.60%) was recorded in fruits treated with GA3 in combination with perforated polyethene in 24 days of storage. Fruits treated with GA3 in combination with perforated polyethene attained shelf life of 48 days followed by perforated polyethene with a shelf life of 44 days. Finding of the experiment may prove to be helpful in rural area to store mandarin with minimum loss as markets are far from the village.
Potato germination is highly sensitive to ecological conditions. High altitude and low annual average temperature result in tuber dormancy and poor sprouting. Dormancy has become a significant ...constraint for lowering potato production, which hinders the possibility of growing two crop cycles per year. An experiment was conducted from February to April 2020. Two major potato varieties (Desiree and Cardinal) were treated with four Thiourea concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3%) in a two factorial, completely randomized block design with three replications. Tubers were soaked for 2 hours in different Thiourea solution as per treatments, air dried until excess solution was removed and kept in a dark room on plastic trays. With the progress of experiment dormancy breaking and sprouting parameters like early sprouting, dormancy breaking, sprout length and sprout density were recorded. It was found that Thiourea has a significant effect on all observed attributes as per varieties of potato. For Desiree variety, Thiourea (1%) decreased dormancy period by 22 days compared to control (Desiree*Thiourea 0%) and produced the longest average sprout of 7.36cm at 49 days after treatment (DAT). On the other hand, for the Cardinal variety, Thiourea (3%) decreased tuber dormancy by 27 days compared to control (Cardinal*Thiourea 0%) and produced sprout of 7.75 cm at 49 DAT. In case of sprouts/tuber 1% and 3% Thiourea produced 4.13 and 1.91 sprouts/tubers in Desiree and Cardinal, respectively. The overall mean finding indicate that, 1% and 3% Thiourea concentration was significantly superior for breaking dormancy and enhancing sprouting of potato varieties of Desiree and Cardinal respectively.
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