The Plasma Archipelago: Plasma Physics in the 1960s

With the foundation of the Division of Plasma Physics of the American Physical Society in April 1959, plasma physics was presented as the general study of ionized gases. This paper investigates the degree to which plasma physics, during its first decade, established a community of interrelated specialties, one that brought together work in gaseous electronics, astrophysics, controlled thermonuclear fusion, space science, and aerospace engineering. It finds that, in some regards, the plasma community was indeed greater than the sum of its parts and that its larger identity was sometimes glimpsed in inter-specialty work and studies of fundamental plasma behaviors. Nevertheless, the plasma specialties usually worked separately for two inter-related reasons: prejudices about what constituted “basic physics,” both in the general physics community and within the plasma community itself; and a compartmentalized funding structure, in which each funding agency served different missions.     

A vibrational investigation of the stability, morphology and surface reactivity of NiO on Ni(100)

The formation and thermal stability of NiO on Ni(100) have been investigated using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Our results indicate that the saturated NiO/Ni(100) layer prepared at 300 K is rather poorly ordered and is thermally unstable at higher temperatures. Heating this NiO/Ni(100) layer to 800 K produces a surface with mixtures of crystalline NiO(100) clusters and c(2 × 2)−O chemisorbed local structures. The long range order of the NiO(100) clusters could be improved by repeated cycles of oxygen adsorption at 300 K followed by heating to 800 K. The NiO(100) clusters obtained after 9 cycles of such dosing-annealing exhibit bulk-like properties, as suggested both by the off-specular EELS measurements and by the experimental observation that the intensities of the multiple loss features follow the expected Poisson distribution. The Ni---O bond strength of the NiO(100) clusters, estimated from the overtone spectra, is 3.6 eV. In addition, the reduction of NiO(100) clusters by H₂ at 800 K has also been investigated. The NiO(100) clusters are reduced preferentially with respect to the c(2 × 2)−O overlayer, resulting in a reduction sequence of NiO(100) → c(2 × 2)−O → p(2 × 2)−O → Ni(100).     

Neutron–proton analyzing power at 12 MeV and inconsistencies in parametrizations of nucleon–nucleon data

We present the most accurate and complete data set for the analyzing power Ay(θ)$A_y(\theta )$ in neutron–proton scattering. The experimental data were corrected for the effects of multiple scattering, both in the center detector and in the neutron detectors. The final data at En=12.0 MeV$E_n=12.0\text{MeV}$ deviate considerably from the predictions of nucleon–nucleon phase-shift analyses and potential models. The impact of the new data on the value of the charged pion–nucleon coupling constant is discussed in a model study.     

Portable capillary LC for in-line UV monitoring and MS detection: Comparable sensitivity and much lower solvent consumption

Pharmaceutical development currently relies on quality separation methods from early discovery through to line-of-site manufacturing. There have been significant advancements made regarding the column particle packing, internal diameter, length connectivity, the understanding of the impact key parameters like void volume, flow rate, and temperature all that affects the resultant separation quality, that is, resolution, peak shape, peak width, run time, and signal-to-noise ratio. There is however a strong need to establish better alternatives to large bulky high-performance liquid chromatography racks either for process analytical reaction monitoring or mass spectrometry analysis in establishing product quality. Compact, portable high-pressure liquid chromatography can be a more efficient alternative to traditional ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography and traditional liquid chromatography. The compact versatile instrument evaluated here allows good separation control with either the on-board column with fixed ultra-violet wavelength cartridge or for use with a high-resolution mass spectrometry. Significant space reduction results in greener lab spaces with improved energy efficiency for smaller labs with lower energy demands. In addition, this compact liquid chromatography was used as a portable reaction monitoring solution to compare forced degradation kinetics and assess portable liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry capability for the analyses required for pharmaceutical drug product testing.