Study of the parameters of the He(3 <Superscript>3</Superscript>S)-He(2 <Superscript>3</Superscript>P) line *

We have observed emission spectrum in dense plasmas of helium excited by a corona discharge at 706.69 nm. In continuation of an analysis of spectra obtained in gaseous helium at 300 K, we report on a study of the line parameters of the observed spectra. We discuss the major importance of temperature and perturber density in the broadening, shift and asymmetry measured from calculated profiles within a unified line shape semi-classical theory. The comparison is done with existing data derived from experimental spectra at 300 K. The theoretical work is extended at lower temperatures down to 40 K.     

Budgeted matching and budgeted matroid intersection via the gasoline puzzle

Many polynomial-time solvable combinatorial optimization problems become NP-hard if an additional complicating constraint is added to restrict the set of feasible solutions. In this paper, we consider two such problems, namely maximum-weight matching and maximum-weight matroid intersection with one additional budget constraint. We present the first polynomial-time approximation schemes for these problems. Similarly to other approaches for related problems, our schemes compute two solutions to the Lagrangian relaxation of the problem and patch them together to obtain a near-optimal solution. However, due to the richer combinatorial structure of the problems considered here, standard patching techniques do not apply. To circumvent this problem, we crucially exploit the adjacency relations on the solution polytope and, surprisingly, the solution to an old combinatorial puzzle.     

Electron mobility in liquid and supercritical helium measured using corona discharges: a new semi-empirical model for cavity formation

Electron mobilities in supercritical and liquid helium were investigated as a function of the density. The mobilities were derived from I(V) curves measured in a high-pressure cryogenic cell using a corona discharge in point-plane electrode geometry for charge generation. The presented data spans a wide pressure and temperature range due to the versatility of our experimental set-up. Where data from previous investigations is available for comparison, very good agreement is found. We present a semi-empirical model to calculate electron mobilities both in the liquid and supercritical phase. This model requires the electron-helium scattering length and thermodynamic state equations as the only input and circumvents any need to consider surface tension. Our semi-empirical model reproduces experimental data very well, in particular towards lower densities where transitions from localised to delocalised electron states were observed.     

Dimethylselenide as a probe for reactions of halogenated alkoxyl radicals in aqueous solution. Degradation of dichloro- and dibromomethane

Using pulse radiolysis and steady-state gamma-radiolysis techniques, it has been established that, in air-saturated aqueous solutions, peroxyl radicals CH 2HalOO (*) (Hal = halogen) derived from CH 2Cl 2 and CH 2Br 2 react with dimethyl selenide (Me 2Se), with k on the order of 7 x 10 (7) M (-1) s (-1), to form HCO 2H, CH 2O, CO 2, and CO as final products. An overall two-electron oxidation process leads directly to dimethyl selenoxide (Me 2SeO), along with oxyl radical CH 2HalO (*). The latter subsequently oxidizes another Me 2Se molecule by a much faster one-electron transfer mechanism, leading to the formation of equal yields of CH 2O and the dimer radical cation (Me 2Se) 2 (*+). In absolute terms, these yields amount to 18% and 28% of the CH 2ClO (*) and CH 2BrO (*) yields, respectively, at 1 mM Me 2Se. In competition, CH 2HalO (*) rearranges into (*)CH(OH)Hal. These C-centered radicals react further via two pathways: (a) Addition of an oxygen molecule leads to the corresponding peroxyl radicals, that is, species prone to decomposition into H (+)/O 2 (*-) and formylhalide, HC(O)Hal, which further degrades mostly to H (+)/Hal (-) and CO. (b) Elimination of HHal yields the formyl radical H-C(*)=O with a rate constant of about 6 x 10 (5) s (-1) for Hal = Cl. In an air-saturated solution, the predominant reaction pathway of the H-C(*)=O radical is addition of oxygen. The formylperoxyl radical HC(O)OO (*) thus formed reacts with Me 2Se via an overall two-electron transfer mechanism, giving additional Me 2SeO and formyloxyl radicals HC(O)O(*). The latter rearrange via a 1,2 H-atom shift into (*)C(O)OH, which reacts with O2 to give CO2 and O2(*)(-). The minor fraction of H-C(*)=O undergoes hydration, with an estimated rate constant of k approximately 2 x 10(5) s(-1). The resulting HC(*)(OH)2 radical, upon reaction with O2, yields HCO 2H and H (+)/O2(*-). Some of the conclusions about the reactions of halogenated alkoxyl radicals are supported by quantum chemical calculations [B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)] taking into account the influence of water as a dielectric continuum [by the self-consistent reaction field polarized continuum model (SCRF=PCM) technique]. Based on detailed product studies, mechanisms are proposed for the free-radical degradation of CH 2Cl 2 and CH 2Br 2 in the presence of oxygen and an electron donor (namely, Me 2Se in this study), and properties of the reactive intermediates are discussed.     

The on-line asymmetric traveling salesman problem

We consider two on-line versions of the asymmetric traveling salesman problem with triangle inequality. For the homing version, in which the salesman is required to return in the city where it started from, we give a $\frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{2}$-competitive algorithm and prove that this is best possible. For the nomadic version, the on-line analogue of the shortest asymmetric Hamiltonian path problem, we show that the competitive ratio of any on-line algorithm depends on the amount of asymmetry of the space in which the salesman moves. We also give bounds on the competitive ratio of on-line algorithms that are zealous, that is, in which the salesman cannot stay idle when some city can be served.     

Reductive halogen elimination from phenols by organic radicals in aqueous solutions; chain reaction induced by proton-coupled electron transfer

Gamma-radiolysis and measurements of halide ions by means of ion chromatography have been employed to investigate reductive dehalogenation of chloro-, bromo-, and iodophenols by carbon-centered radicals, *CH(CH(3))OH, *CH(2)OH, and *CO(2)-, in oxygen-free aqueous solutions in the presence of ethanol, methanol, or sodium formate. While the reactions of 4-IC(6)H(4)OH with *CH(CH(3))OH and *CH(2)OH radicals are endothermic in water/alcohol solutions, the addition of bicarbonate leads to iodide production in high yields, indicative of a chain reaction. The maximum effect has been observed with about 10 mM sodium bicarbonate present. The complex formed from an alpha-hydroxyalkyl radical and a bicarbonate anion is considered to cause the enhancement of the reduction power of the former to the extent at which the reduction of the iodophenol molecule becomes exothermic. No such effect has been observed with phosphate, which is a buffer with higher proton affinity, when added in the concentration of up to 20 mM at pH 7. This indicates that one-electron reduction reactions by alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals occur by the concerted proton-coupled electron transfer, PCET, and not by a two-step ET/PT or PT/ET mechanisms. The reason for the negative results with phosphate buffer could be thus ascribed to a less stable complex or to the formation of a complex with a less suitable structure for an adequate support to reduce iodophenol. The reduction power of the carbonate radical anion is shown to be high enough to reduce iodophenols by a one-electron-transfer mechanism. In the presence of formate ions as H-atom donors, the dehalogenation also occurs by a chain reaction. In all systems, the chain lengths depend on the rate of reducing radical reproduction in the propagation step, that is, on the rate of H-atom abstraction from methanol, ethanol, or formate by 4-*C(6)H(4)OH radicals liberated after iodophenol dehalogenation. The rate constants of those reactions were determined from the iodide yield measurements at a constant irradiation dose rate. They were estimated to be 6 M(-1)(s-1) for methanol, 140 M(-1)(s-1) for ethanol, and 2100 M(-1)(s-1) for formate. Neither of the tested reducing C-centered radicals was able to dehalogenate the bromo or chloro derivative of phenol.     

Time-resolved FT EPR and optical spectroscopy study on photooxidation of aliphatic alpha-amino acids in aqueous solutions; electron transfer from amino vs carboxylate functional group

Using time-resolved Fourier transform electron paramagnetic resonance, FT EPR, and optical spectroscopy, the photooxidation of glycine, alpha-alanine, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, and model compounds beta-alanine, methylamine and sodium acetate, by excited triplets of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate dianion was studied in aqueous solutions in the pH range 5-13. Anthraquinone radical trianions showing strong emissive spin-polarization (CIDEP) were formed, indicating fast electron transfer from the quenchers to the spin-polarized quinone triplet as the primary reaction. None of the primary radicals formed upon one-electron oxidation of quenchers could be detected at the nanosecond time scale of FT EPR measurements because of their very fast transformation into secondary products. The latter were identified to be decarboxylated alpha-aminoalkyl radicals for alpha-amino acids anions and zwitterions, beta-aminoalkyl radicals for beta-alanine zwitterions, and methyl radicals for acetate anions; corresponding aminyl radicals were the first EPR detectable products from beta-alanine anions and methylamine. Thus, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate triplet can take an electron from both NH(2)- and -CO(2)(-) functional groups forming aminium ((+*)NH(2)-) and acyloxyl (-CO(2)(*)) radicals, respectively. Aminium radicals derived from beta-alanine anions and CH(3)-NH(2) stabilize by deprotonation into aminyl radicals, whereas these derived from alpha-amino acids anions are known to suffer ultrafast decarboxylation (tau approximately 10 ps). Analysis of the polarization patterns revealed that decarboxylation from acyloxyl radicals are considerably slower (ns < tau < 0.1 micros). Therefore, in the case of alpha-amino acids, the isoelectronic structures NH(2)-CR(2)-CO(2)(*) and (+*)NH(2)-CR(2)-CO(2)(-) probably do not constitute resonance mesomeric forms of one and the same species and the decarboxylation of aminium radicals is not preceded by the intramolecular carboxylate to amino group electron transfer. Absolute triplet quenching rate constants at zero ionic strength were in the range of 2 x 10(8) to 2 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) for R-NH(2) and 2 x 10(7) to 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) for R-CO(2)(-) type of electron donors, reflecting in principle their standard reduction potentials. The strengths of acids: (+)NH(3)-(*)CH(2), (+)NH(3)-(*)C(CH(3))H, and (+)NH(3)-(*)C(CH(3))(2), pK(a) <4, >6, and >7, respectively, were found to be remarkably strongly dependent on alpha-C substitution. The conjugate bases of these alpha-aminoalkyl radicals reduce anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate dianion ground state with k(sec) = 3 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1).     

Oxidation of cyclic dipeptides by photoinduced H-atom abstraction. A laser flash FT EPR and optical spectroscopy study

Laser flash photolysis with the Fourier transform electron paramagnetic resonance (FT EPR) and optical spectroscopy detection methods on the nanosecond time scale have been employed in order to investigate the oxidation mechanism of cyclic dipeptides glycine, alanine, and sarcosine anhydrides initiated by SO4*- or 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (2,6-AQDS) triplet in oxygen free aqueous solutions. A direct hydrogen abstraction from the ring C-H position of an anhydride by both oxidants is proposed as the primary reaction, rather then an electron transfer from nitrogen followed by (alpha)C-H deprotonation. The overall second-order rate constants for the reaction with SO4*- were determined to be 7.2 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), 1.2 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), and 5.2 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) for glycine anhydride, alanine anhydride, and sarcosine anhydride, respectively. The rate constants for 2,6-AQDS triplet as oxidizing species are about two times lower. The radical intermediate products derived from cyclic dipeptides observed on the microsecond time scale were assigned to the general structure of piperazine-2,5-dione-3-yl radical. These are spin polarized by the mechanisms of chemically induced dynamic electron polarization (CIDEP). For SO4*- as the oxidant the spectra are exhibiting an E/A* polarization pattern originating partially from F-pairs of two piperazine-2,5-dione-3-yl radicals.     

An approximation algorithm for the wireless gathering problem

The Wireless Gathering Problem is to find an interference-free schedule for data gathering in a wireless network in minimum time. We present a 4-approximate polynomial-time on-line algorithm for this NP-hard problem. We show that no shortest path following algorithm can have an approximation ratio better than 4.