Theoretical performance of an HF chemical CW laser

A quantitative analysis of an HF cw chemical laser is presented that includes the influence of stimulated emission on the reacting medium. The numerically determined solutions encompass one-dimensional fluid mechanics, chemical kinetics, radiative de-excitation, and their mutual interaction. A comprehensive parametric study examines the effects due to changed plenum conditions, mixture ratios and cavity parameters. Best efficiency is obtained when the pumping is by the F + H₂ reaction. Pumping by the chain reaction sequence F + H₂ → HF(υ ≤ 3) + H and H + F₂ → HF(υ ≤ 6) + F results in substantially lower efficiencies due to increased HF-HF vibration-translation deactivation. Detailed discussions are presented of (1) vibration-vibration and vibration-translation energy exchange, (2) chemical efficiency, (3) mechanisms that cause lasing termination, and (4) cavity operation with a selective grating.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Quantum effects on translation and rotation of molecular chlorine in solid para-hydrogen

Structure and quantum effects of a Cl₂ molecule embedded in fcc and hcp para-hydrogen (pH₂) crystals are investigated in the zero-temperature limit. The interaction is modelled in terms of Cl₂–pH₂ and pH₂–pH₂ pair potentials from ab initio CCSD(T) and MP2 calculations. Translational and rotational motions of the molecules are described within three-dimensional anharmonic Einstein and Devonshire models, respectively, where the crystals are either treated as rigid or allowed to relax. The pH₂ molecules, as well as the heavier Cl₂ molecule, show large translational zero-point energies (ZPEs) and undergo large-amplitude translational motions. This gives rise to substantial reductions in the cohesive energies and expansions of the lattices, in agreement with experimental results for pure hydrogen crystals. The rotational dynamics of the Cl₂ impurity is restricted to small-amplitude librations, again with high librational ZPEs, which are described in terms of two-dimensional non-degenerate anharmonic oscillators. The lattice relaxation causes qualitative changes of the rotational energy surfaces, which finally favour librations around the crystallographic directions pointing towards the nearest neighbours, both for fcc and hcp lattices. Implications on the reactant orientation in the experimentally observed laser-induced chemical reaction, Cl + H₂ → HCl + H, are discussed.     

A molecular-beam investigation of the reaction H2 + 12O2 → H2O on Pd(111)

Using molecular-beam relaxation techniques and isotopic exchange experiments, the water-formation reaction on Pd(111) has been shown to proceed via a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. The reaction product H₂O is emitted from the surface with a cosine distribution. The rate-determining step is the formation of OH_ad in the reaction O_ad + H_ad → OH_ad. The activation energy for this step is 7 kcal/mole with a pre-exponential factor, v, of 4 × 10^?8 cm² atom^?1 sec^?1. This value for v lies well below that observed for simple second-order desorption of dissociatively adsorbed diatomic gases, but is roughly of the order of that obtained for the oxidation of CO on Pd(111). The formation of H₂O proceeds differently under conditions of excess O₂ or H₂. In an excess of H₂, the kinetics is dominated by the transport of atomic hydrogen between the bulk and the surface as was found for the H?D exchange reaction on Pd(111). In an excess of O₂, diffusion of hydrogen into the bulk is blocked by adsorbed oxygen and the hydrogen reservoir available for reaction at the surface is decreased by several orders of magnitude. This results in a drastic reduction of the reaction rate which can be reversed by increasing the partial pressure of H₂.     

A DFT study of reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline with SnCl2 and hydrochloric acid

A fundamental reduction reaction, nitrobenzene to aniline in SnCl₂ and hydrochloric acid, was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. First, the change of SnCl₂ → SnCl₄^2? → Cl₄SnH^? was discussed, and the reaction path of SnCl₄^2? + H₃O⁺ → Cl₄SnH^? + H₂O was obtained. Starting from nitrobenzene, six elementary processes were found so as to arrive at the protonated aniline. The hydride ion from Cl₄SnH^? is connected always to the cationic nitrogen, and the proton is always to oxygens. An intermediate Ph?N⁺H₂OH was obtained, which is isomerized to the para O?H adduct protonated imine via the Bamberger rearrangement. This species may undergo the H^? acceptance at the sp² N⁺H₂ center. In the nitrobenzene reduction, the proton enhances the electrophilicity of the nitrogen center, which makes the hydride shift ready. N?H bonds are formed, and N?O bonds are cleaved both by the proton attach and subsequent H₂O elimination and by the formal [1,5] OH shift. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Behavior of coal-chlorine in chemical looping combustion

This work focuses on two aspects: (i) the behavior of coal-derived chlorine in chemical looping combustion (CLC); (ii) the potential adverse impacts of primary gaseous chlorine (i.e., HCl) on Cu-based oxygen carrier (OC). The inactivation mechanism of the sol-gel-derived CuO/Al₂O₃ OC is investigated. Systematic experiments are conducted in a batch fluidized reactor. First, in CLC of coal, chlorine distribution including HCl, Cl₂, Cl adsorbed in the outlet tube and Cl in solid phase is studied under various bed inventories, temperatures and gas atmospheres. The main gaseous Cl from coal is HCl, which shows a high reactivity towards CuO and is partially physically adsorbed by Al₂O₃. Unconverted HCl is 15.63 ± 0.20%, which could result in corrosion of the CO₂ transportation line and compression equipment. What's more, the coal ash exhibits a dechlorination function by forming KCl and CaCl₂. The CO₂ atmosphere and high temperature in fuel reactor show a promotion on the conversion of coal-Cl to HCl. Then, the corrosion of various OC components is evaluated by a mixture gas with 400 ppm HCl, i.e., Cu-Al (whole OC), CuO (active phase) and Al₂O₃ (inert support phase). It is found that a part of HCl is converted to Cl₂ via the Deacon reaction (4HCl + O₂ = 2H₂O + 2Cl₂) and oxidized by CuO (2CuO + 4HCl = 2CuCl + Cl₂ + 2H₂O). At the high concentration of HCl (400 ppm) atmosphere, CuO is partially lost from the OC, producing the gaseous copper chlorides, i.e., CuCl and (CuCl)₃, which are found to be condensed in the outlet tube. Besides, the solid-phase copper chlorides also degrade the oxygen donation capacity of the OC. Finally, the migration path of coal-chlorine during CLC is summarized. This work will contribute to the development of Cl-resistance OCs and control approaches for Cl emission.     

On some rare weak baryon decays

With the soft-pion technique the form factors of the weak baryon decayA→B+π+l+v _l are related to the form factors ofA→B+l+v _l. The ratio of the decay rates of these two processes turns out to be of the order 10^?5.     

Bond making and breaking on transition-metal surfaces: Theoretical projections based on bond-order conservation

Our analytic Morse-potential model of chemisorption based on bond-order conservation [Surface Sci. 150 (1985) L115; 163 (1985) L645, L730] has been used to calculate the heats of chemisorption of various diatomic AB and polyatomic AB_x species (coordinated via A) and to estimate the activation barriers for their dissociation and transformations. Examples include adspecies such as CH_x, NH_x, OH_x, and possible intermediates and elementary steps of reactions such as CO + O → CO₂, NO + N → N₂ + O, N₂ + H₂ → NH₃, H₂ + O₂ → H₂O, and CO + H₂ → CH₄. Both the qualitative projections and numerical estimates are in good agreement with experiment. In particular, it is shown that (1) the most reactive adspecies should be the most weakly bound, and (2) the recombination activation barrier should primarily depend on (and may even be close to) the heat of chemisorption of the weaker bound partner.     

Absorption measurements of H2O at high temperatures using a CO laser

Absorption of CO laser radiation (v = 8→7, J = 14→15 transition at 1901.762 cm^-1) by H₂O has been studied in shock-heated H₂/O₂/Ar mixtures over the temperature range 1300–2300 K. This laser transition is nearly coincident with the v₂-band 12_3,10←11_2,9 transition of H₂O at 1901.760 cm^-1, thereby providing a convenient and sensitive absorption-based H₂O diagnostic useful for studies of combustion. The collision-broadening parameter for this H₂O line, due to broadening by Ar, was determined to be 2γ (cm^-1atm^-1) = 0.027 (T/1300)^-0.9 in the temperature range 1300–2300 K. Calculations of the H₂O absorption coefficient (at 1901.762 cm^-1) based on this expression for 2γ are presented for the temperature range 300–2500 K and pressure range 0.3–1 atm.     

The frequency,fluence and pressure dependence of the absorption of pulsed CO2-laser radiation by CF2HCl

Absorption measurements in the CF₂HCl fundamental vibrational band v₃, and combination band v₅ + v₉, for laser energy fluence between 0.1–1.2 cm⁻² and 1–100 Torr gas pressure, are reported. Three distinct regions are experimentally observed for the fluence dependence of the absorption cross section σ and the average number of absorbed photons <n>. Adding Ar buffer gas to CF₂HCl enhances the absorption efficiency only in the v₃ band.     

A statistical model for the product energy distribution in reactions leading to prompt dissociation

Direct dynamics calculations have been performed for three reactions: C₃H₈ + H → i-C₃H₇ + H₂, C₃H₈ + H → n-C₃H₇ + H₂, and C₂H₃ + O₂ → HCO + CH₂O. The fraction of the population for the radical products that promptly dissociates is computed. The results for C₃H₈ + H are qualitatively similar to previous results for C₃H₈ + OH, but the new results exhibit a slightly higher branching fraction for prompt dissociation products, owing to the fact that a greater fraction of the internal energy in the transition state ends up in the radical. For C₂H₃ + O₂ → HCO + CH₂O, the fraction of HCO that promptly dissociates is in excess of 99%. Consequently, the main product for C₂H₃ + O₂ at lower temperatures should be written as H + CO + CH₂O and not HCO + CH₂O. These results are then compared with four previous systems: CH₂O + H → HCO + H₂, CH₂O + OH → HCO + H₂O, C₃H₈ + OH → i-C₃H₇ + H₂O, and C₃H₈ + OH → n-C₃H₇ + H₂O. Based upon these seven system, several statistical models are presented. The goal of these statistical models is to predict the fraction of the transition state energy that ends up in the rovibrationally excited radical. On average, these statistical models provide an excellent prediction of product energy distribution. Consequently, these models can be used instead of costly trajectory simulations for predicting prompt radical dissociation for larger species.     

Manifestation of nonuniformity in the electron charge distribution in H<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> molecular ions colliding with each other

The anomalous character of threshold properties in the ion-molecule reactions H ₂ ⁺ + H ₂ ⁺ → H ₃ ⁺ + p and H ₂ ⁺ + H ₂ ⁺ → H + p + H + p has been theoretically analyzed. It has been shown that these reactions proceed through the formation of the intermediate H ₄ ⁺⁺ complex. Molecules H ₂ ⁺ in the collision process are described by a chemical model, where the positive charge is concentrated in one of the nuclei. The calculations of the reaction cross sections are in good agreement with the experimental data. It has been shown that the chemical model of the H ₂ ⁺ molecule can be consistently explained only in terms of dynamic interactions, i.e., polarization forces and van der Waals forces.     

Selective effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions in the system N21-CO

In the system N₂¹-CO, effects arising only from the reactions in the homogeneous phase have been isolated in a reactor with inert walls. After an induction period of 0.13 s, they involve a stationary rate of enhancement of N₂(B³Π_g) and N(⁴S) concentrations according to the reactions N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺)_v¹+CO→ CO(X¹Σ⁺)_v1 + N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺ and CO(X¹Σ⁺)_v1 + N₂(A³Σ_u⁺) → N (⁴S) + N(⁴S) + CO(X¹Σ⁺).In a reactor with active walls, both the above reactions in the homogeneous phase and heterogeneous reactions due to CO adsorbed on the walls are involved according to CO_ads + N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺)_{v1 ads or not} → CO(X¹Σ⁺)_v1 + N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺ and N(⁴S) + N(⁴S) + CO_ads → N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺) + CO(X¹Σ⁺)N(⁴S) + CO_ads → N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺) + CO(X¹Σ⁺). In this case, the rate of enhancement is not stationary. Furthermore, for cylindrical reactors with large diameters, the two types of reaction do not interact and their effects are additive.     

Characteristics of double-pomeron exchange

A detailed kinematic study is made of the cross section for double-pomeron exchange. We consider reactions of the type a + b → c + d + (h₁ + h₂ + …) where a → c and b → d are quasi-elastic transitions with limited momentum transfer and (h₁ + h₂ + …) is a centrally produced hadron cluster. The dependence of the cross section on the relative azimuthal angle φ between the final hadrons c and d provides an important test for double-pomeron exchange. We calculate this φ-dependence for all cases of interest, using a model in which pomeron exchange is represented by an effective current-current interaction. For limited momentum transfer, where the pomeron spin is nearly equal to one, this model is equivalent to Reggeized pomeron exchange. We give a complete formalism for the partial-wave analysis of the double-pomeron reaction ab → cd + h₁₂ which differs from the one given by Rushbrooke and Webber. Furthermore, we discuss the two-pomeron vertex, and the construction of detailed and realistic models for double-pomeron reactions.     

Precision infrared spectroscopy in CF379Br by means of infrared-microwave double resonance

From the observation of double resonance effects on the microwave spectrum two coincidences between 9.4 μm CO₂ laser lines and infrared transitions of the ν₆ → (ν₆ + ν₁) band of CF₃⁷⁹Br have been determined: R(30) laser line coincident with ^qR₂(7), F = 17/2→17/2 transition, R(28) laser line coincident with all four ΔF = 0 hyperfine components of the ^qQ₈(13) transition. In both cases other infrared transitions lay within the tuning range of the laser. The frequencies of these two laser lines allowed calculations of the band center frequency ν₀ = 1083.530 ± 0.001cm^?1 and α_A = 11.93 ± 0.3MHz, for the ν₆ → (ν₆ + ν₁) band.α_B constants were determined for the vibrational states v₆, (v₆ + v₁), v₁, and v₃.     

Bulk viscosity of strange quark matter

We rederive the bulk viscosity of strange quark matter from the dominant reactionu + s ?d + u by taking the effect of temperature and quark-gluon coupling perturbatively to first order in the chemical composition of the quark matter. We also calculate the contribution from the β-decay processes s(d) →u + e + ¯v andu + e → s(d)+ v and show that this contribution has different temperature dependence and can even be larger than the contribution from the former reaction at temperatures of the order of the electron Fermi energy.     

Pyrolysis of diethyl carbonate: Shock-tube and flow-reactor measurements and modeling

Shock-tube and flow-reactor experiments were used to study the thermal decomposition of diethyl carbonate (C₂H₅OC(O)OC₂H₅; DEC). The formation of CO₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₅OH was measured with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-repetition-rate time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HRR-TOF-MS) behind reflected shock waves. The same products were also detected by GC/MS in flow reactor experiments. All experiments combined span a temperature range of 663–1203 K at pressures between 1.0 and 2.0 bar. Time-resolved species concentration profiles from HRR-TOF-MS and product compositions from GC/MS measurements were simulated applying a detailed reaction mechanism for DEC combustion. A master-equation analysis was conducted based on computed energies from G4 calculations. Quantum chemical calculations confirm that DEC primarily decomposes by six-center elimination, C₂H₅OC(O)OC₂H₅ → C₂H₄ + C₂H₅OC(O)OH (1a), followed by rapid decomposition of the alkoxy acid, C₂H₅OC(O)OH → C₂H₅OH + CO₂ (1b). Measured DEC decomposition rate constants k(T) at p ≈ 1.5 bar can be represented by the Arrhenius equation k(T) = 10^13.64±0.12 exp(?204.24±1.95 kJ/mol/RT) s ^{? 1}. Theoretical predictions for k_1a were in good agreement with experimentally derived values. The theoretical analysis also included dipropyl carbonate (C₃H₇OC(O)OC₃H₇; DPC) decomposition and the reactivities of DEC and DPC are compared and discussed in the context of reactivity of dialkyl carbonates under pyrolytic conditions.     

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Dy3+, Sm3+ activated Sr5SiO4Cl6 phosphor

Dy³⁺ and Sm³⁺ doped Sr₅SiO₄Cl₆ phosphors were prepared by the modified solid state method and their luminescent properties were studied. From a powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis the formation of Sr₅SiO₄Cl₆ was confirmed. In the photoluminescence emission spectra, the Sr₅SiO₄Cl₆:Dy³⁺ phosphors show efficient blue and yellow band emissions, which originates from the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 transitions of Dy³⁺ ion, respectively. Photoluminescence properties of Sm³⁺ doped Sr₅SiO₄Cl₆ phosphor exhibited characteristic orange-red emission coming from the intra-4f-shell ⁴G_5/2 →⁶H_J electron transitions.     

Kinetic study of chlorine behavior in the waste incineration process

The waste incineration atmosphere was simulated as HCl/H₂O/O₂/CO₂/N₂ in order to experimentally study chlorine behavior as temperature ranges from 1173 to 1473 K and residence time varies. The results show that Cl radicals, produced by the decomposition of HCl at high temperature, mainly recombine to form Cl₂ and HCl at the quenching section. It was found that temperature, residence time, cooling rate and feeding gas composition influence Cl₂ concentration. To thoroughly understand this reaction system, a kinetic model was developed and validated against experimental results. The key reactions and main pathway were found out with the use of sensitivity and rate of production analysis (ROP). The reaction HCl + O₂ → Cl + HO₂ was shown to initiate the reaction system, and it was found that a significant amount of Cl₂ was simultaneously produced by the following high temperature reaction: Cl + HOCl → Cl₂ + OH. In the cooling process, the main consumption reactions of Cl radicals were H₂O + Cl → HCl + OH, OH + Cl → HCl + O and Cl + Cl + M → Cl₂ + M. Among these, the first two reactions can be used to explain the effect of H₂O on the concentration of Cl radical at high temperature. In addition, the influence of the quenching rate on the distribution of chlorine was found to occur because of the varying effects that temperature change causes to the different Cl radical consumption reactions.     

Emission of Cl atoms from NaCl during Vk-center decomposition

The emission of atomic Cl from NaCl has been detected during V_k-center annealing. The experiment utilizes the technique of temperature programmed thermally stimulated exoemission of particles after exposure of the sample to 1.5 keV electrons at 100 K. Direct evidence is provided for atomic Cl emission via the mechanism V_k → Cl^? + Cl. It is further argued that the exoelectrons observed during the same reaction are due to the formation of sodium chloride when the Cl atom from the V_k-center reacts with the excess surface Na produced during the electron bombardment.     

Infrared absorption intensities of nitrous acid (HONO) fundamental bands

A Fourier transform spectrometer with a resolution of 0.06 cm^-1 was used to measure the absorption intensities of the four in-plane fundamental bands (v₁, v₂, v₃ and v₄) of trans-nitrous acid (HONO) and three of the in-plane fundamental bands (v₁, v₂ and v₄) of cis-nitrous acid. The equilibrium constants for the reactions NO + NO₂ + H₂O?2HONO, NO + NO₂?N₂O, and 2NO₂?N₂O₄ were used to determine the partial pressure of HONO in the gas mixture in the absorption cell. Interferences from overlapping absorptions of NO₂, H₂O and other species were digitally subtracted from the spectra.