The calculation of frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities including electron correlation effects

The theory for the calculation of the frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities β(?2ω; 0, ω), β(?ω; 0, ω), and β(0; ω, ?ω) is discussed. New relations between these tensors are derived for those wave functions that obey the time-dependent Hellmann–Feynman theorem (e.g., the self-consistent field [SCF] or the exact wave function). Using second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), expressions are obtained for the hyperpolarizabilities in terms of derivatives of appropriately defined linear polarizability tensors with respect to a static electric field. Results are presented for ammonia and formaldehyde for the optical Kerr effect and for secondharmonic generation. These results indicate that it is desirable to determine the frequency-dependent contribution to the hyperopolarizability at the MP2 rather than the SCF level of theory, in cases where the static hyperpolarizability has a large contribution from electron correlation and/or where the frequency-dependent contribution may be more significant, such as for secondharmonic generation.     

Orbital-selective Mott-insulator transition in Ca 2 - x Sr x RuO 4

The electronic structures of the metallic and insulating phases of the alloy series Ca_2-xSr_xRuO₄ ( 0 ? x ? 2) are calculated using LDA, LDA+U and Dynamical Mean-Field Approximation methods. In the end members the groundstate respectively is an orbitally non-degenerate antiferromagnetic insulator (x = 0) and a good metal (x = 2). For x > 0.5 the observed Curie-Weiss paramagnetic metallic state which possesses a local moment with the unexpected spin S = 1/2, is explained by the coexistence of localized and itinerant Ru-4d-orbitals. For 0.2 < x < 0.5 we propose a state with partial orbital and spin ordering. An effective model for the localized orbital and spin degrees of freedom is discussed. The metal-insulator transition at x = 0.2 is attributed to a switch in the orbital occupation associated with a structural change of the crystal. Received 27 July 2001     

Crystallization of Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C N-(1-D-carboxyethyl)-L-norvaline dehydrogenase and its complex with NAD+

The novel NAD+-linked opine dehydrogenase from a soil isolate Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C belongs to an enzyme superfamily whose members exhibit quite diverse substrate specificites. Crystals of this opine dehydrogenase, obtained in the presence or absence of co-factor and substrates, have been shown to diffract to beyond 1.8 ? resolution. X-ray precession photographs have established that the crystals belong to space group P21212, with cell parameters a = 104.9, b = 80.0, c = 45.5 ? and a single subunit in the asymmetric unit. The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme will provide a structural framework for this novel class of dehydrogenases to enable a comparison to be made with other enzyme families and also as the basis for mutagenesis experiments directed towards the production of natural and synthetic opine-type compounds containing two chiral centres.     

Air oxidation of hydrazine. 1. Reaction kinetics on natural kaolinites, halloysites, and model substituent layers with varying iron and titanium oxide and O- center contents

Air oxidation of hydrazine was studied by using a group of kaolinites, halloysites, and substituent oxides as models for the tetrahedral and octahedral sheets. The rate was found to be linear with oxygen. The stoichiometry showed that oxygen was the primary oxidant and that dinitrogen was the only important nitrogen-containing product. The rates on kaolinites were strongly inhibited by water. Those on three-dimensional silica and gibbsite appeared not to be. That on a supposedly layered silica formed from a natural kaolinite by acid leaching showed transitional behavior--slowed relative to that expected from a second-order reaction relative to that on the gibbsite and silica but faster than those on the kaolinites. The most striking result of the reaction was the marked increase in the rate of reaction of a constant amount of hydrazine as the amount of clay was increased. The increase was apparent (in spite of the water inhibition at high conversions) over a 2 order of magnitude variation of the clay weight. The weight dependence was taken to indicate that the role of the clay is very important, that the number of reactive centers is very small, or that they may be deactivated over the course of the reaction. In contrast to the strong dependence on overall amount of clay, the variation of amounts of putative oxidizing centers, such as structural Fe(III), admixed TiO2 or Fe2O3, or O- centers, did not result in alteration of the rate commensurate with the degree of variation of the entity in question. Surface iron does play some role, however, as samples that were pretreated with a reducing agent were less active as catalysts than the parent material. These results were taken to indicate either that the various centers interact to such a degree that they cannot be considered independently or that the reaction might proceed by way of surface complexation, rather than single electron transfers.     

A generalization of the method of stimulated emission pumping

Drawing on the results of an analysis of the nature of the pulse that generates complete transfer of population from one to another level in a system with a discrete spectrum, a generalization of the method of stimulated emission pumping is proposed. It is shown that a small subset of the Fourier components of the optimal pulse will, if their relative amplitudes are the same as in the optimal pulse, generate almost as efficient a population transfer, thereby generating the opportunity to prepare a system in a selected state with a selected population.