Laser systems specialized for laser spectroscopy at storage rings

Laser spectroscopy at storage rings often suffers from a limited resolution due to Doppler-broadened resonances. Broadening is caused by the velocity spread of the ions stored in the beam. In the following, the present status of our work on laser systems specialized on the specific needs of laser spectroscopy at storage rings is reported. Two pulsed laser systems were developed. One is a dye laser whose spectral bandwidth can be switched by inserting different Littrow-prisms into the resonator. An increase in bandwidth up to a factor of 45 was achieved. This laser was used for fast qualitative scans and high resolution measurements. The other laser system is a Nd : YAG laser pumped optical parametric oscillator. It is a tunable laser system covering the spectral range from 410 to 4000 nm. Furthermore, a continuous wave laser with a frequency shifted feedback cavity is described. It shows broadband emission with an adjustable bandwidth of up to 4.5 GHz. This laser can be advantageous for laser cooling of ion beams. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Topochemically Controlled Redox Reactions in the System In/Sn/Cl

The difference in reactivity of the two modifications of InCl in solid state reactions with SnCl₂ is discussed. It is explained on the basis of semi‐empirical and ab initio calculations giving the density of states diagrams of InCl and the energies of possible disproportionation reactions. Their general features are discussed on the basis of a simple bonding picture for open‐packed structures involving inert pair elements. A detailed analysis of the DOS distribution allows to pinpoint the observed redox instability to a specific structural feature of α‐InCl.     

Laser-induced breakdown of soda-lime glass microspheres using Nd:YAG laser

The Nd:YAG laser-induced breakdown of 20 μm glass microspheres was investigated using time-resolved optical shadow and Schlieren images. Time-resolved imaging showed the location of the initial breakdown and the shockwave motion over its first 400 μm of expansion. Measured shockwave velocities were in the range of 1–10 km/s and showed a linear dependency on laser fluence within 30 ns.     

Moisture sorption, transport, and hydrolytic degradation in polylactide

Management of moisture penetration and hydrolytic degradation of polylactide (PLA) is extremely important during the manufacturing, shipping, storage, and end-use of PLA products. Moisture transport, crystallization, and degradation, in PLA have been measured through a variety of experimental techniques including size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Quartz crystal microbalance and dynamic vapor sorption experiments have also been used to measure moisture sorption isotherms in PLA films with varying crystallinity. A surprising result is that, within the accuracy of the experiments, crystalline and amorphous PLA films exhibit identical sorption isotherms.     

CONFLICT AND COOPERATION IN UTILIZING A COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCE

Noncooperative games are used to demonstrate that, while free riding is always an option, the “tragedy of the commons” is not inevitable. When the decision to cooperate or free ride is considered in a dynamic setting, there is no intermediate case where some cooperate and others free ride. The game is only stabilized in either full cooperation or full defection. The important factor in obtaining a cooperative outcome is the critical number of players that decide to cooperate. The concept of commitment is used to demonstrate the necessary and sufficient conditions for full cooperation. Although the analysis is based on a shared water resource, it can be extended to other natural resources with common costs and private benefits, especially in the cases where there are no international authorities or treaties that internalize the externalities involved in privatizing the resource.     

Inclusive\bar K^{0*} (892) andK 0*(892) production on silicon by 200 GeVK − andπ −

The production of the neutralK ^? (892) resonances by 200 GeVK ^? andπ ^? has been studied over the kinematic range 0.0<x _f<1.0 andp _t ² <5.0 GeV². Longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions are presented. In addition the decay angular distributions inK ^? fragmentation to \(\bar K^{0*} \) have been investigated.     

Two-dimensional visualization of the flame front in an internal combustion engine by laser-induced fluorescence of OH radicals

Two-dimensional laser-induced fluorescence (2D-LIF) imaging of OH radicals, excited at 308 nm, has been employed to visualize the flame front in an internal combustion engine burning air/propane mixtures. Light sheet thicknesses down to 70 m have been attained for excitation. Hydroxyl radicals were detected up to pressures of 7.5 bar at engine speeds of 500 rpm. An upper limit of 300 m for the flame front thickness was obtained from line intensity profiles.     

Luminescence kinetic and association equilibria of lanthanide ions in aqueous solutions. II. Determination of the formation constant of Tb acetato complex by means of luminescence lifetime measurement

The association constant K of mono-acetato complex of Tb³⁺ has been determined at normal p and T conditions by measurement of its luminescence lifetime in aqueous solution containing increasing concentrations of acetate. Two experimental arrangements used for the measurement are described.     

Cluster isobars for high-precision mass spectrometry

Doublet mass measurements of the isobars²⁸Si₃ and¹²C₇ are performed by use of a Penning trap mass spectrometer and the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR). The carbon and silicon cluster ions are produced by laser ablation. Results of these preliminary measurements are presented.