New interpretations of XPS spectra of nickel metal and oxides

A current interpretation of XPS spectra of Ni metal assumes that the main 6 eV satellite is due to a two hole c3d⁹4s² (c is a core hole) final state effect. We report REELS observation in AES at low voltages of losses (plasmons and inter-band transitions) corresponding to the satellite structures in Ni metal 2p spectra. The satellite near 6 eV is attributed to a predominant surface plasmon loss. A current interpretation of Ni 2p spectra of oxides and other compounds is based on charge transfer assignments of the main peak at 854.6 eV and the broad satellite centred at around 861 eV to the cd⁹L and the unscreened cd⁸ final-state configurations, respectively (L is a ligand hole). Multiplet splittings have been shown to be necessary for assignment of Fe 2p and Cr 2p spectral profiles and chemical states. The assignments of Ni 2p states are re-examined with intra-atomic multiplet envelopes applied to Ni(OH)₂, NiOOH and NiO spectra. It is shown that the free ion multiplet envelopes for Ni²⁺ and Ni³⁺ simulate the main line and satellite structures for Ni(OH)₂ and NiOOH. Fitting the NiO Ni 2p spectral profile is not as straightforward as the hydroxide and oxyhydroxide. It may involve contributions from inter-atomic, non-local electronic coupling and screening effects with multiplet structures significantly different from the free ions as found for MnO. A scheme for fitting these spectra using multiplet envelopes is proposed.     

Quintessence and Dark Matter Created by Weyl–Dirac Geometry

A spatially closed universe undergoing at present accelerated expansion, having a non-vanishing cosmological constant, and filled with luminous- and dark matter is described in terms of the Integrable Weyl–Dirac theory. It is shown that, during the dust-dominated period, dark matter and the quintessence pressure, the latter giving rise to acceleration: both are created by the Dirac gauge function. The behavior of two models: a nearly flat one and a well closed are considered in appropriate gauges, and plausible scenarios are obtained. The outcome of the present paper, together with results of a previous work,⁽³¹⁾ provide a geometrically based, classical, singularity-free model of the universe, that has originated from a pure geometric Weyl–Dirac entity, passed a prematter period, the radiation-dominated era, and continues its development in the present dust period.     

Derived Lengths of Solvable Groups Having Five Irreducible Character Degrees II

Let G be a solvable group with five character degrees. Suppose that there is some prime p so that G/O ^p (G) is not Abelian. Also, assume that cd(G) contains a degree that is not divisible by p. Under these hypotheses, we show that the derived length of G is at most 4.     

Nitric oxide-assisted atmospheric pressure corona discharge ionization for the analysis of automobile hydrocarbon emission species

Nitric oxide reagent gas has been found to improve the sensitivty and robustness of the atmospheric pressure corona discharge ionization (APCDI) process. Sensitivity has been increased by a factor of 20-100, depending on the compound, over APCDI without nitric oxide. The robustness (defined as the sensitivity to matrix interferences) of APCDI in the presence of water has been improved by a factor of 3 over normal APCDI. These improvements are due in part to a modification of the commercial inlet system and ionization chamber that allows the chamber and sample gases to be heated to 100 and 350 °C, respectively. Nitric oxide was chosen as the reagent gas because of the variety and selectivity of its interaction with hydrocarbons with differing functional groups. Product ions of nitric oxide ionization and their subsequent tandem mass spectra are presented and discussed for selected alkanes, alkenes, alkylbenzenes, alcohols, aldehydes, and an ether. A tandem mass spectrometry (unique parent ion-daughter ion transition) method was developed to quantify componds of specific interest in vehicle emissions. The absolute sensitivty for these compounds, under ideal conditions, was determined and ranges from 0.006 ppb for xylene (most sensitive) to 80 ppb for C₈ (or larger) normal alkanes. Routine sensitivity for real-world samples was in the single parts per billion range for aromatic and olefinic species. Potential applications include the real-time, on-line monitoring of selected hydrocarbons in automobile exhaust.     

Working group report: Neutrino and astroparticle physics

This is the report of neutrino and astroparticle physics working group at WHEPP-7. Discussions and work on CP violation in long baseline neutrino experiments, ultra high energy neutrinos, supernova neutrinos and water Cerenkov detectors are discussed.