(e, 3e) test on e-e correlations in helium

The angular variations of the five-fold differential cross section obtained by using different wave functions of helium are compared with experimental data. It is found that in the coplanar geometry two kinematical arrangements, (i) equal energy sharing between the two ejected electrons with one of them ejected along the momentum transfer direction and the other along varying direction and (ii) the Bethe ridge condition with fixed sum of ejected electron energies and varying angle between them, are very sensitive to e-e correlations contained in the target wave function. This comparison has been used to show that open-shell class of wave functions better incorporate e-e correlations than the closed-shell class.     

Continuous-Wave Operation of a 460-GHz Second Harmonic Gyrotron Oscillator

We report the regulated continuous-wave (CW) operation of a second harmonic gyrotron oscillator at output power levels of over 8 W (12.4 kV and 135 mA beam voltage and current) in the TE(0,6,1) mode near 460 GHz. The gyrotron also operates in the second harmonic TE(2,6,1) mode at 456 GHz and in the TE(2,3,1) fundamental mode at 233 GHz. CW operation was demonstrated for a one-hour period in the TE(0,6,1) mode with better than 1% power stability, where the power was regulated using feedback control. Nonlinear simulations of the gyrotron operation agree with the experimentally measured output power and radio-frequency (RF) efficiency when cavity ohmic losses are included in the analysis. The output radiation pattern was measured using a pyroelectric camera and is highly Gaussian, with an ellipticity of 4%. The 460-GHz gyrotron will serve as a millimeter-wave source for sensitivity-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance (dynamic nuclear polarization) experiments at a magnetic field of 16.4 T.     

Photoelectrochemistry on Ru(II)-2,2'-bipyridine-phosphonate-derivatized TiO2 with the I3-/I- and quinone/hydroquinone relays. Design of photoelectrochemical synthesis cells

Photocurrent measurements have been made on nanocrystalline TiO2 surfaces derivatized by adsorption of a catalyst precursor, [Ru(tpy)(bpy(PO3H2)2)(OH2)]2+, or chromophore, [Ru(bpy)2 (bpy(PO3H2)2)]2+ (tpy is 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, and bpy(PO3H2)2 is 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-diphosphonic acid), and on surfaces containing both complexes. This is an extension of earlier work on an adsorbed assembly containing both catalyst and chromophore. The experiments were carried out with the I3-/I- or quinone/hydroquinone (Q/H2Q) relays in propylene carbonate, propylene carbonate-water mixtures, and acetonitrile-water mixtures. Electrochemical measurements show that oxidation of surface-bound Ru(III)-OH2(3+) to Ru(IV)=O(2+) is catalyzed by the bpy complex. Addition of aqueous 0.1 M HClO4 greatly decreases photocurrent efficiencies for adsorbed [Ru(tpy)(bpy(PO3H2)2)(OH2)]2+ with the I3-/I- relay, but efficiencies are enhanced for the Q/H2Q relay in both propylene carbonate-HClO4 and acetonitrile-HClO4 mixtures. The dependence of the incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) on added H2Q in 95% propylene carbonate and 5% 0.1 M HClO4 is complex and can be interpreted as changing from rate-limiting diffusion to the film at low H2Q to rate-limiting diffusion within the film at high H2Q. There is no evidence for photoelectrochemical cooperativity on mixed surfaces containing both complexes with the IPCE response reflecting the relative surface compositions of the two complexes. These results provide insight into the possible design of photoelectrochemical synthesis cells for the oxidation of organic substrates.     

Identification of pre-sliding friction dynamics

The hysteretic nonlinear dependence of pre-sliding friction force on displacement is modeled using different physics-based and black-box approaches including various Maxwell-slip models, NARX models, neural networks, nonparametric (local) models and dynamical networks. The efficiency and accuracy of these identification methods is compared for an experimental time series where the observed friction force is predicted from the measured displacement. All models, although varying in their degree of accuracy, show good prediction capability of pre-sliding friction. Finally, we show that even better results can be achieved by using an ensemble of the best models for prediction.     

Dynamic nuclear polarization at 9T using a novel 250 GHz gyrotron microwave source. 2003

In this communication, we report enhancements of nuclear spin polarization by dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in static and spinning solids at a magnetic field strength of 9 T (250 GHz for g = 2 electrons, 380 MHz for ¹H). In these experiments, ¹H enhancements of up to 170 ± 50 have been observed in 1-¹³C-glycine dispersed in a 60:40 glycerol/water matrix at temperatures of 20 K; in addition, we have observed significant enhancements in ¹⁵N spectra of unoriented pf1-bacteriophage. Finally, enhancements of ∼17 have been obtained in two-dimensional ¹³C–¹³C chemical shift correlation spectra of the amino acid U–¹³C, ¹⁵N-proline during magic angle spinning (MAS), demonstrating the stability of the DNP experiment for sustained acquisition and for quantitative experiments incorporating dipolar recoupling. In all cases, we have exploited the thermal mixing DNP mechanism with the nitroxide radical 4-amino-TEMPO as the paramagnetic dopant. These are the highest frequency DNP experiments performed to date and indicate that significant signal enhancements can be realized using the thermal mixing mechanism even at elevated magnetic fields. In large measure, this is due to the high microwave power output of the 250 GHz gyrotron oscillator used in these experiments.     

Synthesis and characterization of oligoproline-based molecular assemblies for light harvesting

Helical oligoproline arrays provide a structurally well-defined environment for building photochemical energy conversion assemblies. The use of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to prepare four such arrays, consisting of 16, 17, 18, and 19 amino acid residues, is described here. Each array contains the chromophore [Rub'(2)m](PF(6))(2) (b' = 4,4'-diethylamidocarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine; m = 4-methyl-2,2'-dipyridine-4'-carboxylic acid) and the electron transfer donor PTZ (phenothiazine). The arrays differ systematically in the distance between the redox-active metal complex and PTZ sites. They have been used in photophysical studies to provide insight into the distance dependence of electron transfer. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 14506-14514). This work describes the synthesis, purification, and characterization of the oligoproline arrays, including a general procedure for the synthesis of related arrays.     

Nonlinear dynamics, stability and control of the scan process in noncontacting atomic force microscopy

The nonlinear equations of motion for the scan process in noncontacting atomic force microscopy are consistently derived using the extended Hamilton’s principle. A modal dynamical system obtained from the continuum model reveals that scan control appears in the form of parametric excitation. The system is analyzed asymptotically and numerically to yield escape bounds limiting the noncontacting mode of operation. Approximate stability bounds are deduced from both a global Melnikov integral and a local Moon–Chirikov overlap criterion. The Melnikov–Holmes stability curve and the overlap criterion are found to be similar for small damping. However, for very small damping, typical of ultra-high vacuum conditions, where the Melnikov bound becomes trivial, the Moon–Chirikov criterion yields an improved stability threshold.     

Theory of sheath in a collisional multi-component plasma

The aim of this brief report is to study the behaviour of sheath structure in a multi-component plasma with dust-neutral collisions. The plasma consists of electrons, ions, micron size negatively charged dust particles and neutrals. The sheath-edge potential and sheath width are calculated for collisionally dominated sheath. Comparison of collisionless and collisionally dominated sheath are made.     

Determination of manganese with triethanolamine and o-tolidine by conventional and long-path photometry

A very sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of manganese is reported. To the sample is added triethanolamine (TEA) and sodium hydroxide to give a pH above 11; after atmospheric oxidation of manganese(II) to the green manganese(III)—TEA complex, sodium pyrophosphate is added and the solution is acidified. Manganese(III) thus forms a complex with pyrophosphate. Then o-tolidine is added and is oxidized in a 2e step to the intensely yellow quinonediimine, while manganese(III) is reduced to manganese(II). The absorbance is measured at 440 nm. The calibration curve is linear up to 1.6 μg Mn ml^-1 in the final solution; the limit of determination is 0.2 μg Mn ml^-1. For the 20-cm path cell, the respective data are 45 ng Mn ml^-1 and 2 ng Mn ml^-1. The only severe interferences are strong oxidants like dichromate or cerium(IV), which are readily reduced with sulfurous acid. Vanadium in amounts up to 2–3 times that of manganese can be dealt with by an appropriate blank solution; larger amounts of vanadium must be removed e.g. by a cupferron extraction.     

A test of the transition-metal nanocluster formation and stabilization ability of the most common polymeric stabilizer, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), as well as four other polymeric protectants

Following an introduction to the nanocluster stabilization literature and DLVO (Derjaugin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) theory of colloidal stability, the most common steric stabilizer of transition-metal nanoclusters, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), has been examined for its efficacy in the formation, stabilization, and subsequent catalytic activity of prototype, test case Ir(0)n nanoclusters. First, the five criteria established previously for ranking nanocluster protectants for their nanocluster formation and stabilization ability were evaluated for 1 monomer equiv of 10000 average molecular weight (MWav) PVP in the absence, and then presence, of the traditionally weakly coordinating anion BF4- as well as the absence and presence of the strongly coordinating, superior anionic stabilizer P2W15Nb3O62(9-), all in propylene carbonate solvent. It is found that neither 1 equiv of BF4- in propylene carbonate nor 1 monomer equiv of (undried) PVP alone allows for isolable and redissolvable nanoclusters without bulk Ir(0)n metal formation. Careful predrying of the PVP, and by implication other polymers, is shown to be necessary for the formation and stabilization of the nanoclusters. Next, 40 monomer equiv of 10000 MWav PVP and 1 equiv of BF4- in propylene carbonate are shown to allow isolable, redissolvable nanoclusters. Control experiments reveal little difference on nanocluster stabilization by 3500 or 55000 (i.e., vs 10,000) MWav PVP, but yield interesting effects on nanocluster nucleation by the 3500 MWav PVP, as well as by the polymer poly(bis(ethoxy)phosphazene) (PBEP). Four other key polymers reported in the literature to be nanocluster stabilizers are tested by the five criteria method for their efficacy in the formation and stabilization of Ir0n nanoclusters (now in acetone due to the polymers' solubility) and in comparison to each other, specifically, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(styrene) (PS), poly(methylhydrosilane) (PMHS), and PBEP. Only 40 monomer equiv dried PMMA allows isolable and redissolvable nanoclusters in acetone. Control/reference point experiments show that the electrostatic stabilizer P2W15Nb3O62(9-) is superior to each of the five polymeric stabilizers studied herein in both acetone and propylene carbonate, at least for the test case of Ir(0)n nanoclusters. Further controls show that 40 monomer equiv of PVP added to P2W15Nb3O(62)9--stabilized nanoclusters has no discernible effect on the five criteria other than to reduce by approximately 50% the nanocluster catalytic activity and total catalytic lifetime for cyclohexene hydrogenation. The main finding of this work is that DLVO theory as applied to nanocluster stabilization is fully supported; that is, surface-bound anions in high dielectric constant solvents provide superior stabilization. The importance of even traditionally weakly coordinating anions such as BF4- in nanocluster stabilization is a second, important finding of this work. The fact that HPO4(2-) has been shown to be a simple, cheap, commercially available, thermally robust, and 31P-NMR-handle-containing analogue of the more esoteric P2W15Nb3O62(9-) stabilizer is also discussed in the 14 total Conclusions from this first study ranking polymeric stabilizers of modern transition-metal nanoclusters.