Status of heavy element research using a gas-filled recoil separator at RIKEN

A gas-filled type of recoil separator for heavy element research was installed at an experimental hall of RIKEN Linear Accelerator facility to realize getting higher intensity of primary beam and long beam time. Performance of the separator was studied using target recoils and various nuclear reactions. The results show the high performance of the separator for heave element research. As an application of the GARIS, production and identification of an isotope of the 110th element ²⁷¹[110] have been performed using the ²⁰⁸Pb(⁶⁴Ni,1n)²⁷¹[110] reaction. Three decay chains coincide well both in decay times and energies with the ones reported by the group of SHIP experiment at GSI, Germany. Our results provide a confirmation of the synthesis of an isotope ²⁷¹[110] of element 110.     

Photoluminescence properties of trace amounts of Pr and Tb in yttria-stabilized zirconia

We have investigated the photoluminescence (PL) properties of trace amounts of Pr and Tb in single-crystal samples of yttria-stabilized zironia (YSZ), and found that Pr of the order of 10⁻⁶ mass% and Tb of the order of 10⁻⁵ mass% in YSZ can be detected by the PL spectroscopy. The PL spectra of the YSZ samples for the 280 nm excitation were comprised of several peaks and a broad emission. The peaks were attributed to transitions of Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the YSZ samples, whereas the broad emission seemed to be attributed to the yttria-associated oxygen vacancies. The peak intensities corresponded to the amounts of Pr and Tb in the YSZ samples, the amounts of which were analyzed by glow discharge mass spectrometry. In the PL excitation spectra, but not in the photoabsorption spectra, small peaks at 376 and 381 nm were observed, and were attributed to the transitions of Tb³⁺ in the YSZ samples. The results of the PL excitation spectra corresponding to the Pr³⁺ line emissions suggest that the charge transfer occurs between the YSZ and Pr ion in it. The trace amounts of these lanthanoids in YSZ would disturb the decay process of the photoinduced electrons to the yttria-associated oxygen vacancies.     

Two-mass models of the vocal cords for natural sounding voice synthesis

Three new two-mass models of the vocal cords are treated. First, the features, structure, and differential equations of motion are described for each of the new models and compared with those of previous models. Second, performances of the models are discussed in terms of glottal volume flow, glottal area, radiated sound pressure, trajectories of mass movement, running spectra of the output sound pressure, and perceptual naturalness of the output sound. Finally, the major effects of glottal source-vocal tract interaction including skewing, truncation, and superposition are investigated, using one of the simplest types of two-mass models and two types of load representing the vocal tract.     

Development of high-repetition-rate LD pumped Nd:YAG laser and its application

High-average-power and high-energy lasers with good beam quality are fundamental tools for pumping high-peak and high-average-power ultrafast Ti:sapphire laser systems. Laser-diode (LD) pumped solid slate lasers with phase conjugation offer a unique combination of efficiency, reliability, and compactness. We present the design details and performance characteristics of a 360-W 1-kHz LD pumped Nd:YAG phase-conjugated laser. We also discuss the basic design aspects and present our preliminary experimental investigations on ultrashort-pulse laser systems.     

Alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxide by manganese porphyrin: The first example of polycarbonate synthesis from 1-atm carbon dioxide

The first successful example of the formation of polycarbonate from 1-atm carbon dioxide and epoxide was demonstrated by the alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxide with manganese porphyrin as a catalyst. The copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide with (porphinato)manganese acetate proceeded under the 1-atm pressure of carbon dioxide to give a copolymer with an alternating sequence. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3549–3555, 2003     

Preparation and properties of isobutylene–isoprene rubber–clay nanocomposites

Isobutylene isoprene rubber (IIR)‐clay nanocomposites have been prepared successfully by melt intercalation with maleic anhydride‐grafted IIR (Ma‐g‐IIR) and organophilic clay. In IIR‐clay nanocomposites, the silicate layers of the clay were exfoliated and dispersed into the monolayer. The nanocomposites exhibited greater gas barrier properties compared with those of Ma‐g‐IIR. When 15 phr clay was added, gas barrier properties were 2.5 times greater than those of Ma‐g‐IIR. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1182–1188, 2006     

Specific interaction between polyethylenimine and azo dyes carrying hydroxyl groups

The binding of acid azo dyes having phenolic hydroxyl groups such as orange I ( I ), orange II ( II ), chrome violet ( III ), 4-hydroxyazobenzene-4′-sulfonate ( IV ), and 2,4-dihydroxyazobenzene-4′-sulfonate ( V ) by polyethylenimine was studied by equilibrium dialysis and spectroscopic methods. The results obtained indicate that dyes ( III ) and ( V ) with two OH groups are bound much more strongly than dyes ( I ), ( II ), and ( IV ) with one OH group. Also polyethylenimine is far superior to any other polymers which have been examined, including bovine serum albumin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and poly-L -lysine, in its ability to form complexes with these dyes ( III ) and ( V ). The OH groups involved participate preferentially in complex formation with polyethylenimine. The unusual affinity of polyethylenimine for the dyes carrying OH groups is discussed.     

Sol-Gel Preparation and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Fe2TiO5 Thin Films

Polycrystalline Fe₂TiO₅ films were prepared on nesa silica glass substrates by the sol-gel method, and their photoanodic properties were measured in a three-electrode wet cell with an aqueous buffer solution of pH = 7. Gel films were crystallized into Fe₂TiO₅ when fired at 500°C. The photoanodic current significantly increased when the films were fired at 700°C, and then decreased with increasing firing temperature. Thicker films obtained by repeating the gel film deposition and firing showed smaller photocurrent, and the 50 nm thick film prepared via non-repetitive deposition exhibited the maximum photocurrent. Although the photoresponse was extended to wavelengths near 500 nm, the maximum quantum yield was as low as 0.12 at a wavelength of 340 nm.