TRIUMF resonant ionization laser ion source

The range of isotopes available at the TRIUMF Isotope Separator Accelerator (ISAC) facility has been greatly enhanced by adding a Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS). A large wavelength range is accessible with the fundamental, second and third harmonic generation of titanium-sapphire laser light. In addition a dedicated laser is available for non-resonant laser ionization. The first on-line beam ⁶²Ga was delivered in Dec. 2004. In general RILIS improves the intensity, purity and emittance of ion beams. ⁶²Ga and ²⁶Al and Be beams have been delivered so far on-line. This work was financed by TRIUMF which is federally funded via a contribution agreement through the National Research Council of Canada.     

Resonance ionization spectroscopy for trace analysis and fundamental research

Resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS) and its combination with mass spectrometry (RIMS) have grown to become powerful techniques, which offer high sensitivity as well as elemental and isotopic selectivity. The principles of RIS and RIMS are introduced; they primarily concern the analysis of the optical spectra for the choice of efficient excitation schemes and the suitable design of the experimental apparatus. Recent applications span from studies of short-lived isotopes at on-line mass separators to a wide variety of trace analysis applications for radioactive isotopes, which can range from measurements of solar neutrino flux to environmental assessment.On leave from Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, USA     

The effect of simultaneous temperature, pressure and stress on the experimental annealing of spontaneous fission tracks in apatite: a brief overview

Tracks made in minerals by the electronic stopping of uranium fission fragments provide a modern geological dating tool, and are believed also to yield specific information on the low-temperature thermal history of rocks. Experimental work showing that the damaged crystal lattice along a fission track recovers primarily as a function of temperature ignored the fact that the basic theory of atomic diffusion requires an exponential decrease in the intrinsic diffusion coefficient with increasing pressure. Here, fission track recovery was experimentally investigated in basic apatite under the simultaneous influences of temperature, pressure and stress. We show that track fading is a complex recovery mechanism responding to several environmental physical parameters simultaneously. In particular a strong decrease in the track recovery rate was observed as a function of increasing pressure. And a nearly temperature-independent recovery was observed in samples under stress.     

Hyperfine structure and isotope shift investigations in202–222Rn for the study of nuclear structure beyond Z=82

The hyperfine structure (hfs) and isotope shift (IS) in the isotopic chain of the radioactive element radon have been studied for the first time. The measurements were carried out by collinear fast-beam laser spectroscopy at the mass separator facility ISOLDE at CERN. The IS between 16 isotopes in the mass range 202A222 and the hfs of 7 odd-A isotopes were determined in the transitions 7s [3/2]₂-7p [5/2]₃ (745 nm) of Rn I. The nuclear spins and moments, as well as the observed inversion of the odd-even staggering for^218–222Rn, can be associated with the effects of octupole instability around N=134.This work was supported by the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Characterization of nickel loaded mordenite catalysts by temperature programmed reduction

Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) has been used to study the redox behavior of Ni(II) ions in nickel sodium mordenite (NiNaM) and decationated nickel mordenite (NiHM). The TPR profiles suggest that Ni(II) ions occupy nonequivalent sites with different cooridination states in the mordenite. The reducibility of Ni(II) depends strongly on the zeolite acidity.

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() Ni^II NiNaM NiHM. . .

     

Lifetimes of Hg(3P0) complexes with methanol,ammonia, and water

Lifetimes of Hg(³P₀) complexes were determined by simultaneous observation of Hg(³P₀) optical absorption and complex emission, using a modulation technique and phase sensitive detection. The lifetimes of the mercury complexes with methanol, (1.4 ± 0.7) × 10^-8 s, and water, ? 8 × 10^-8 s, were found to be much shorter than reported in earlier work. For the ammonia complex, however a lifetime was measured which is in good agreement with previous determinations. Reasons for the large errors in earlier work where the methanol and water complex lifetimes were determined from complex emission data alone are discussed, and these data are reinterpreted. In the reaction rate of Hg(³P₀) with methanol no detectable contribution from the termolecular process Hg(³P₀) + 2CH₃OH → (Hg·CH₃OH)^* + CH₃OH could be observed.     

Trace determination of gadolinium in biomedical samples by diode laser-based multi-step resonance ionization mass spectrometry

The application of high-resolution multi-step resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) to the trace determination of the rare earth element gadolinium is described. Utilizing three-step resonant excitation into an autoionizing level, both isobaric and isotopic selectivity of >10(7) were attained. An overall detection efficiency of approximately 10(-7) and an isotope specific detection limit of 1.5 x 10(9) atoms have been demonstrated. When targeting the major isotope (158)Gd, this corresponds to a total Gd detection limit of 1.6 pg. Additionally, linear response has been demonstrated over a dynamic range of six orders of magnitude. The method has been used to determine the Gd content in various normal and tumor tissue samples, taken from a laboratory mouse shortly after injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), which is used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The RIMS results show Gd concentrations that vary by more than two orders of magnitude (0.07-11.5 microg mL(-1)) depending on the tissue type. This variability is similar to that observed in MRI scans that depict Gd-DTPA content in the mouse prior to dissection, and illustrates the potential for quantitative trace analysis in microsamples of biomedical materials.     

Cyclohexane conversion on nickel mordenite

Two series of nickel mordenite catalysts have been prepared on the basis of Na-mordenite and H-mordenite. Their catalytic activity in cyclohexane conversion has been studied. It has been found that the properties of the catalysts are strongly dependent on the acidity of mordenite.

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NaM HM. .

     

Structural basis for the highly selective inhibition of MMP-13

Inhibitors for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are under investigation for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Here, we report a class of highly selective MMP-13 inhibitors (pyrimidine dicarboxamides) that exhibit no detectable activity against other MMPs. The high-resolution X-ray structures of three molecules of this series bound to MMP-13 reveal a novel binding mode characterized by the absence of interactions between the inhibitors and the catalytic zinc. The inhibitors bind in the S1' pocket and extend into an additional S1' side pocket, which is unique to MMP-13. We analyze the determinants for selectivity and describe the rational design of improved compounds with low nanomolar affinity.