ALMA Band 10 tertiary optics

The ALMA Band 10 (787–950 GHz) receiver is a dual-polarization heterodyne system based on NbTiN superconducting technology. The coupling of energy from the secondary mirror of the ALMA Cassegrain antenna to the Superconductor–Insulator–Superconductor (SIS) mixers used for down-conversion is achieved by a frequency-independent optical system composed of two elliptical mirrors to focus and redirect the incoming radiation, a wire-grid to separate orthogonal linear polarizations and two corrugated horns, one for each polarization and SIS mixer. In this paper, we present the ALMA Band 10 tertiary optics design and evaluate its performance by quasi-optical techniques, Physical Optics simulations and measurements. Detailed results of secondary aperture efficiency and beam-squint are provided. The characterization procedure described in this paper can be used for any optical system at around 1 THz.     

Optimal analytical and numerical approximations to the (un)forced (un)damped parametric pendulum oscillator

The (un)forced (un)damped parametric pendulum oscillator (PPO) is analyzed analytically and numerically using some simple, effective, and more accurate techniques. In the first technique, the ansatz method is employed for analyzing the unforced damped PPO and for deriving some optimal and accurate analytical approximations in the form of angular Mathieu functions. In the second approach, some approximations to (un)forced damped PPO are obtained in the form of trigonometric functions using the ansatz method. In the third approach, He's frequency-amplitude principle is applied for deriving some approximations to the (un)damped PPO. In the forth approach, He's homotopy technique is employed for analyzing the forced (un)damped PPO numerically. In the fifth approach, the p-solution Method, which is constructed based on Krylov–Bogoliúbov Mitropolsky method, is introduced for deriving an approximation to the forced damped PPO. In the final approach, the hybrid Padé-finite difference method is carried out for analyzing the damped PPO numerically. All proposed techniques are compared to the fourth-order Runge–Kutta (RK4) numerical solution. Moreover, the global maximum residual distance error is estimated for checking the accuracy of the obtained approximations. The proposed methodologies and approximations can help many researchers in studying and investigating several nonlinear phenomena related to the oscillations that can arise in various branches of science, e.g. waves and oscillations in plasma physics.     

Theoretical investigation of the structures of unsupported 38-atom CuPt clusters

A genetic algorithm has been used to perform a global sampling of the potential energy surface in the search for the lowest-energy structures of unsupported 38-atom Cu–Pt clusters. Structural details of bimetallic Cu–Pt nanoparticles are analyzed as a function of their chemical composition and the parameters of the Gupta potential, which is used to mimic the interatomic interactions. The symmetrical weighting of all parameters used in this work strongly influences the chemical ordering patterns and, consequently, cluster morphologies. The most stable structures are those corresponding to potentials weighted toward Pt characteristics, leading to Cu–Pt mixing for a weighting factor of 0.7. This reproduces density functional theory (DFT) results for Cu–Pt clusters of this size. For several weighting factor values, the Cu₃₀Pt₈ cluster exhibits slightly higher relative stability. The copper-rich Cu₃₂Pt₆ cluster was reoptimized at the DFT level to validate the reliability of the empirical approach, which predicts a Pt@Cu core-shell segregated cluster. A general increase of interatomic distances is observed in the DFT calculations, which is greater in the Pt core. After cluster relaxation, structural changes are identified through the pair distribution function. For the majority of weighting factors and compositions, the truncated octahedron geometry is energetically preferred at the Gupta potential level of theory.     

A Path Integral Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a Harpoon-Type Redox Reaction in a Helium Nanodroplet

We present path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) calculations of an electron transfer from a heliophobic Cs2 dimer in its (3Σu) state, located on the surface of a He droplet, to a heliophilic, fully immersed C60 molecule. Supported by electron ionization mass spectroscopy measurements (Renzler et al., J. Chem. Phys. 2016, 145, 181101), this spatially quenched reaction was characterized as a harpoon-type or long-range electron transfer in a previous high-level ab initio study (de Lara-Castells et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2017, 8, 4284). To go beyond the static approach, classical and quantum PIMD simulations are performed at 2 K, slightly below the critical temperature for helium superfluidity (2.172 K). Calculations are executed in the NVT ensemble as well as the NVE ensemble to provide insights into real-time dynamics. A droplet size of 2090 atoms is assumed to study the impact of spatial hindrance on reactivity. By changing the number of beads in the PIMD simulations, the impact of quantization can be studied in greater detail and without an implicit assumption of superfluidity. We find that the reaction probability increases with higher levels of quantization. Our findings confirm earlier, static predictions of a rotational motion of the Cs2 dimer upon reacting with the fullerene, involving a substantial displacement of helium. However, it also raises the new question of whether the interacting species are driven out-of-equilibrium after impurity uptake, since reactivity is strongly quenched if a full thermal equilibration is assumed. More generally, our work points towards a novel mechanism for long-range electron transfer through an interplay between nuclear quantum delocalization within the confining medium and delocalized electronic dispersion forces acting on the two reactants.     

[ReIII(thiourea-S)6]Cl3 · 4 H2O and [ReIII(N-methylthiourea-S)6]Cl3 as Precursors to other ReIII Complexes: a Kinetic Study in Aqueous Media. Crystal Structure of [ReIII(N-methylthiourea-S)6](PF6)3 · H2O

Capability of [Re^III(tu-S)₆]Cl₃, where tu = thiourea, as a precursor to other Re^III complexes by ligand substitution in aqueous medium is studied. For the decomposition of [Re(tu-S)₆]Cl₃, experiments suggest pseudo first order kinetics and observed rate constants vary from 1.3 × 10^–2 to 9.6 × 10^–2 min^–1 in the pH range 2.80–5.04. Experiments in presence of incoming ligand (ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid or diethylentriaminepentaacetic acid) show that ligand substitution is significantly slower than decomposition of the precursor, even when pH and temperature are modified. Similar results were obtained working with [Re^III(Metu-S)₆]Cl₃, where Metu = N-methylthiourea. Molecular structure of [Re^III(Metu-S)₆](PF₆)₃ · H₂O was determined by single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The coordination polyhedron around the Re ion is a distorted octahedron. The six methylthiourea ligands are bonded to the metal through the sulfur atoms [bond lengths range from 2.409(2) to 2.451(2) Å].     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of [ReO(Me4tu)4](PF6)3 (tu = thiourea)

A new Re^V oxo complex with tetramethylthiourea, [ReO(Me₄tu)₄](PF₆)₃, has been synthesized by reduction of perrhenate with tin(II) chloride in strongly acidic solution in the presence of excess tetramethylthiourea. The complex has been characterized by elemental analysis and electronic and FTIR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of the compound was determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. The coordination polyhedron is a regular square pyramid with the substituted thiourea sulfur atoms in the equatorial positions [d(Re–S) = 2.339(3) Å] and the oxo ligand located in the summit [d(Re–O) = 1.63(2) Å]. Computational methods were employed to analyze the geometric and electronic structures of tetramethylthiourea and thiourea. Quantum mechanical studies suggest steric hindrance as the reason for the stabilization of the ReO³⁺ center instead of the Re^III one.     

When SF5 outplays CF3: effects of pentafluorosulfanyl decorated scorpionates on copper

Polyfluorinated, electron-withdrawing, and sterically demanding supporting ligands are of significant value in chemistry. Here we report the assembly and use of a bis(pyrazolyl)borate, [Ph₂B(3-(SF₅)Pz)₂]⁻ that combines all such features, and involves underutilized pentafluorosulfanyl substituents. The ethylene and carbonyl chemistry of copper(i) supported by [Ph₂B(3-(SF₅)Pz)₂]⁻, a comparison to the trifluoromethylated counterparts involving [Ph₂B(3-(CF₃)Pz)₂]⁻, as well as copper catalyzed cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate and CF₃CHN₂ are presented. The results from cyclopropanation show that SF₅ groups dramatically improved the yields and stereoselectivity compared to the CF₃.

Copper–ethylene and carbonyl complexes of the newly developed [Ph₂B(3-(SF₅)Pz)₂]⁻ enable the study of ligand steric and electronic effects caused by the –SF₅ group (dubbed “super CF₃”), and a comparison to the –CF₃ bearing analogs.     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of NO3 radicals and O3 with 3-methylfuran and the OH radical yield from the O3 reaction

Using relative rate methods, rate constants have been measured for the gas-phase reactions of 3-methylfuran with NO₃ radicals and O₃ at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. The rate constants determined were (1.31 ± 0.461) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the NO₃ radical reaction and (2.05 ± 0.52) × 10⁻¹⁷ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the O₃ reaction, where the indicated errors include the estimated overall uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference reactions. Based on the cyclohexanone plus cyclohexanol yield in the presence of sufficient cyclohexane to scavenge > 95% of OH radicals formed, it is estimated that the O₃ reaction leads to the formation of OH radicals with a yield of 0.59, uncertain to a factor of ca. 1.5. In the troposphere, 3-methylfuran will react dominantly with the OH radical during daylight hours, and with the NO₃ radical during nighttime hours for nighttime NO₃ radical concentrations > 10⁷ molecule cm ⁻³. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.