Thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties of Nd:YAG–CO2 Double-Pulse Laser-Induced Iron Plasmas

Double-Pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of iron using both Nd:YAG and TEA–CO₂ lasers has been investigated to better understand mechanisms of signal enhancement. The signal dependence on the delay between the two laser pulses shows an enhanced signal when the CO₂ laser pulse interacts with the sample before the Nd:YAG pulse. Signal kinetics and a simple model of sample heating by the CO₂ pulse show that the enhancement during the first 700 ns is due primarily to sample heating. Images of the sample surface after ablation as well as time-integrated pictures of the plasma suggest that particles are ejected from the surface during the first microseconds after the arrival of the CO₂ pulse and provide fuel for the subsequent plasma created by the Nd:YAG laser.     

Photoinduced ferrimagnetic systems in Prussian blue analogues C(I)xCo4[Fe(CN)6]y (C(I) = alkali cation). 4. Characterization of the ferrimagnetism of the photoinduced metastable state in Rb1.8Co4[Fe(CN)6]3.3-13H2O by K edges X-ray magnetic circular dichroism.

In Part 2 of this work, the electronic and local structure of the photoinduced metastable magnetic state of the Prussian blue analogue Rb1.8Co4[Fe(CN)6]3.3-13H2O were characterized. To determine directly the relative orientation of the magnetic moments of Co(II) and Fe(III) ions in the metastable state, and the nature of the exchange interaction between them, we performed X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments at the cobalt and iron K edges. We present the first direct experimental evidence of the antiferromagnetic interaction between the cobalt and the iron ions, leading to the ferrimagnetism of the photoinduced metastable state.     

Internal rotation and chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling of o-chlorotoluene studied by microwave spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The microwave spectrum of o-chlorotoluene has been reinvestigated using molecular beam Fourier transform microwave (MB-FTMW) spectrometers in the frequency range of 4–23 GHz. Due to the high resolution of this molecular beam technique the analysis yielded improved rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and, for the first time, the complete chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor. From the torsional fine structure the barrier to internal rotation of the methyl group was found to be 5.5798(52) kJ mol⁻¹. Experimental results and ab initio calculations are compared.     

Femtosecond Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Detection of Trace Elements in Sophora Leaves

Sophora leaves from several areas in Beijing are analysed by femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy （femto-LIBS）. Although the used spectral detection system is not time-resolved, the spectral lines of trace mineral elements are detected and analysed. It is proven that the femto-LIBS can be an efficient method to detect mineral trace elements contained in tree leaves which is a biomonitor for atmospheric pollution assessment or botanic studies. An interesting case of correlation between trace elements detected in tree leaves and the pollution of the concerned area is presented, for the first time to our knowledge.     

Time-resolved ultraviolet laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for organic material analysis

Ultraviolet pulses (266 nm) delivered by a quadrupled Nd:YAG laser were used to analyze organic samples with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). We present characteristics of the spectra obtained from organic samples with special attentions on the emissions of organic elements, O and N, and molecular bonds CN. The choice of these atomic or molecular species is justified on one hand, by the importance of these species to specify organic or biological materials; and on the other hand by the possible interferences with ambient air when laser ablation takes place in the atmosphere. Time-resolved LIBS was used to determine the time-evolution of line intensity emitted from these species. We demonstrate different kinetic behaviors corresponding to different origins of emitters: native atomic or molecular species directly vaporized from the sample or those generated through dissociation or recombination due to interaction between laser-induced plasma and air molecules. Our results show the ability of time-resolved UV-LIBS for detection and identification of native atomic or molecular species from an organic sample.     

Discriminant analysis in the presence of interferences: Combined application of target factor analysis and a Bayesian soft-classifier

A method is described for performing discriminant analysis in the presence of interfering background signal. The method is based on performing target factor analysis on a data set comprised of contributions from analyte(s) and interfering components. A library of data from representative analyte classes is tested for possible contributing factors by performing oblique rotations of the principal factors to obtain the best match, in a least-squares sense, between test and predicted vectors. The degree of match between the test and predicted vectors is measured by the Pearson correlation coefficient, r, and the distribution of r for each class is determined. A Bayesian soft classifier is used to calculate the posterior probability based on the distributions of r for each class, which assist the analyst in assessing the presence of one or more analytes. The method is demonstrated by analyses performed on spectra obtained by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Single and multiple bullet jacketing transfers to steel and porcelain substrates were analyzed to identify the jacketing materials. Additionally, the metal surrounding bullet holes was analyzed to identify the class of bullet jacketing that passed through a stainless steel plate. Of 36 single sample transfers, the copper jacketed (CJ) and non-jacketed (NJ) class on porcelain had an average posterior probability of the metal deposited on the substrate of 1.0. Metal jacketed (MJ) bullet transfers to steel and porcelain were not detected as successfully. Multiple transfers of CJ/NJ and CJ/MJ on the two substrates resulted in posterior probabilities that reflected the presence of both jacketing materials. The MJ/NJ transfers gave posterior probabilities that reflected the presence of the NJ material, but the MJ component was mistaken for CJ on steel, while non-zero probabilities were obtained for both CJ and MJ on porcelain. Jacketing transfer from a bullet to steel as the projectile passed through the steel also proved difficult to analyze. Over 50% of the samples left insufficient transfer to be identified. Transfer from NJ and CJ jacketing was successfully identified by posterior probabilities greater than 0.8.     

The uptake of Mn-DPDP by hepatocytes is not mediated by the facilitated transport of pyridoxine

Manganese-dipyridoxal diphosphate (Mn-DPDP) is a liver-selective contrast agent selectively taken up by the hepatocytes. Because of the analogy of structure with pyridoxine (vitamin B₆), it was previously suggested that this compound can be selectively taken up by the facilitated transport of vitamers B₆. To understand the uptake mechanism, an in vivo binding study was performed based on a competition between ⁵⁴Mn-DPDP and pyridoxine on the one hand, and Mn-DPDP and [³H]pyridoxine on the other. We found that the [³H]pyridoxine levels in the liver were not significantly different 5 min after intravenous administration of several doses of Mn-DPDP (5 nmol/kg to 50 μmol/kg): 5.0 ± 0.3% of the injected dose/g tissue. The content of ⁵⁴Mn (administered as ⁵⁴Mn-DPDP) in the liver was not affected by a saturation dose of pyridoxine (1 mmol/kg) and was found to be constant (±10% of the injected dose/g tissue) for 60 min. These experiments showed that the uptake of Mn-DPDP is not mediated by the transporter of pyridoxine.