Internal structure of neutron stars

The equation of state and the structure and composition of neutron star matter are investigated in the density region 3.1 × 10¹¹−2 × 10¹⁵g/cm³. Below the density 3.1 × 10¹¹ g/cm³ the matter is a solid consisting of neutron-rich nuclei in a degenerate electron gas. At 3.1 × 10¹¹g/cm³ neutrons start to drip out of the nuclei; as the density increases, the lattice spacing continuously decreases while the geometrical size of the nuclei only slightly increases, until at about 15 × 10¹³g/cm³ the nuclei disappear by coalescing into a homogeneous liquid in an almost continuous phase transition. The maximum proton number per nucleus is 40, which is obtained between the densities 1−2.5 × 10¹³g/cm³; after that the proton number decreases until at the solid-to-liquid phase boundary it is about 20. In the liquid-core region, muons appear at the density 20.5 × 10¹³g/cm³.     

Step algebras of semi-simple subalgebras of Lie algebras

For each pair (G,K) where G is a complex finite-dimensional Lie algebra and K a semi-simple subalgebra of G, we construct an associative algebra (step algebra) $\text{Y}$ (G,K) and a homomorphism i_*: $\text{Y}$ (G,K)→E(G) is the enveloping algebra of G. $\text{Y}$ (G,K) has the following properties: (1) If V is any G-module and x ? V a K-maximal vector, then sx = i_* (s)x is K-maximal for any s ? $\text{Y}$ (G,K); (2) If V is irreducible and a certain simple criteria is fulfilled, then any K-maximal vector can be written in the form sx_m, s ? $\text{Y}$ (G,K), where x_m is some fixed K-maximal vector. Because of these properties $\text{Y}$ (G,K) has great practical value when constructing irreducible representations of Lie algebras in a form which makes the reduction with respect to a semi-simple subalgebra explicit.     

Nano-scale mapping of mechanical and chemical surface properties of pigment coated surfaces by torsional harmonic atomic force microscopy

In this study, torsional harmonic atomic force microscopy (TH-AFM, HarmoniX mode) was applied for surface mapping of the mechanical properties of pigment-latex coated paper samples. In addition, topographic images and force maps of adhesive tip-sample interactions were captured concurrently. The spatial distribution of latex binder on the composite surface was distinguished with high resolution. The latex was found to dominate the surface chemistry of the composite coating, despite the fact that latex is a minor component in the coating color formulation. The latex resided as a thick layer between the pigments and as a thin layer on the individual pigments. In addition, the tip-sample thermodynamic work of adhesion of the composite materials on the coated surface was compared to the surface energy values obtained by contact angle measurements. A high tip-sample work of adhesion correlated to high surface energy.     

Sulfonated cellulose nanofibrils obtained from wood pulp through regioselective oxidative bisulfite pre-treatment

The consecutive pre-treatment of cellulose with periodate and bisulfite was used as a new potential method to promote nanofibrillation of hardwood pulp and to obtain nanofibrils with sulfonated functionality. Nanofibrils having typical widths of 10–60 nm were obtained from sulfonated celluloses having low anionic charge densities (0.18–0.51 mmol/g) by direct high-pressure homogenization without the use of any mechanical pre-treatments. The aqueous nanofibrils existed as highly viscous and transparent gels and possessed cellulose I crystalline structures with crystallinity indexes of approximately 40 %. A transparent film was obtained from sulfonated nanofibrils having tensile strength of 164 ± 4 MPa and Young’s modulus of 13.5 ± 0.4 MPa. Oxidative sulfonation was shown to be a potential green method to promote nanofibrillation of cellulose, as it avoids the production of halogenated wastes, because the periodate used can be efficiently regenerated and recycled as shown in the preliminary experiments.     

Eye‐safe UV stand‐off Raman spectroscopy for the ranged detection of explosives in the field

Increasing worldwide terrorist attacks involving explosives presents a growing need for a rapid and ranged explosive detection method that can safely be deployed in the field. Stand‐off Raman spectroscopy shows great promise; however, the radiant exposures of lasers required for adequate signal generation are often much greater than what is safe for the eye or the skin, restricting use of the technique to unpopulated areas. Here, by determining the safe exposure levels for lasers typically used in Raman spectroscopy, optimal parameter values are identified, which produce the largest possible detection range using power densities that do not exceed the eye‐safe limit. It is shown that safe ultraviolet pulse energies can be more than three orders of magnitude greater than equivalent safe visible pulse energies. Coupling this to the 16‐fold increase in Raman signal obtained in the ultraviolet at 266 nm over that at 532 nm results in a 131 times larger detection range for the eye‐safe 266‐nm system over an equivalent eye‐safe 532‐nm laser system. For the Raman system described here, this translates to a maximum range of 42 m for detecting Teflon with a 266‐nm laser emitting a 100‐mm diameter beam of 23.5‐mJ nanosecond pulses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vacuum expectation values of products of chiral currents in 3+1 dimensions

An algebraic rule is presented for computing expectation values of products of local nonabelian charge operators for fermions coupled to an external vector potential in 3+1 space-time dimensions. The vacuum expectation value of a product of four operators is closely related to a cyclic cocycle in noncommutative geometry of Alain Connes. The relevant representation of the current is constructed using Kirillov's method of coadjoint orbits.     

Studies on the reaction of 2-aminoacetophenone with thiophosgene

The reaction of 3- and 4-aminoacetophenone with thiophosgene in a chloroform-water-calcium carbonate mixture at room temperature results in good yields of the related, known isothiocyanates. At first, however, we failed in all our attempts to produce 2-isothiocyanatoacetophenones with this reaction. Closer inspection of the reaction showed, that the product distribution depends upon the concentration of hydrogen ions pro-ducted and on the reaction time. When the reaction was followed with thin-layer chromatography, it was observed that the isothiocyanates formed first. In the further course of the reaction, they were converted to the 4-methylene-2-oxo-3,1-benzothiazines by the action of protons. The final products of the reaction were the 4-(3,1-benzothiazin-4-yl)-methylene-3,1-benzothiazines, formed from the monomer in a dimerization process. Depending upon the time the protons were removed from the reaction mixture, different products could be isolated.     

Independent-cluster methods as mappings of quantum theory into classical mechanics

Summary The algebraic structures of theconfiguration interaction, normal coupled cluster, andextended coupled cluster methods are reviewed and developed. These methods are pointed out to perform a mapping of the quantum mechanical problem into a classical phase space, where in each case the classical canonical coordinates have characteristically different cluster and locality properties. Special focus is given to the extended coupled cluster method (ECCM), which alone is based on an entirely additively separable coordinate system. The general principles are formulated for systems with both bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom, allowing both commutative and anticommutative (Grassmann) cluster amplitudes. The properties of the classical images are briefly discussed. It is proposed that phase spaces may exist which are fixed points of quantization.Based on a talk given at theWorkshop on Coupled-Cluster Theory at the Interface of Atomic Physics and Quantum Chemistry, Harvard-Smithsonian Institute for Theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics, Cambridge, MA, August 7–11, 1990     

On a relation between massive Yang-Mills theories and dual string models

The relations between mass terms in Yang-Mills theories, projective representations of the group of gauge transformations, boundary conditions on vector potentials and Schwinger terms in local charge algebra commutation relations are discussed. The commutation relations (with Schwinger terms) are similar to the current algebra commutation relations of the SU(N) extended dual string model.     

A novel strategy for the preparation of naturally occurring phosphocitrate and its partially esterified derivatives

A novel method for the synthesis of phosphocitrate (1, PC) starting from triethyl ester of citric acid and MeOPCl2 is described. The method is based on selective stepwise hydrolysis of ester moieties from the intermediate Me-O-P(O)(Cl)(Z) (Z = triethylcitrate), 4a, which also allows one to prepare partially esterified derivatives of PC with good yield and purity without chromatographic purifications.