Determination of the excited state structure of 7-azaindole using a Franck-Condon analysis

The change in structure of 7-azaindole upon electronic excitation was determined by a Franck-Condon analysis of the intensities in the fluorescence emission spectra obtained via excitation of six different vibronic bands. A total of 107 emission band intensities were fit, together with the changes in the rotational constants of four 7-azaindole isotopomers. The geometry change of the ring framework upon electronic excitation from the electronic ground state to the ¹L_b state (ππ*) can be described by an overall expansion of the pyridine ring of 7-azaindole, with minor changes of the pyrrole ring. The resulting geometry changes are interpreted on the basis of ab initio calculations.     

Spectral photosensitivity of an organic semiconductor in a submicron metal grating

The photoelectric effect in films of the copper phthalocyanine organic semiconductor (α-CuPc) has been experimentally studied for two fundamentally different geometries. A sample in the first, normal geometry is fabricated in the form of a sandwich with an α-CuPc film between a transparent SnO₂ electrode on a substrate and an upper reflecting Al electrode. In the second case of the planar geometry, the semiconductor is deposited on the substrate with a system of submicron chromium interdigital electrodes. It has been found that the effective photoconductivity in the planar geometry is more than two orders of magnitude higher than that in the normal geometry. In addition to the classical model (without excitons), a simple exciton model has been proposed within which a relation has been obtained between the probability of the formation of electron–hole pairs and the characteristic recombination and dissociation times of excitons. An increase in the photoconductivity in the planar geometry has been explained within the exciton model by an increase in the rate of dissociation of excitons into electron–hole pairs owing to acceptor oxygen molecules, which diffuse more efficiently into the film in the case of the planar geometry where the upper electrode is absent.     

Optical emission spectroscopy of point-plane corona and back-corona discharges in air

Results of spectroscopic investigations and current-voltage characteristics of corona discharge and back discharge on fly-ash layer, generated in point-plane electrode geometry in air at atmospheric pressure are presented in the paper. The characteristics of both discharges are similar but differ in the current and voltage ranges of all the discharge forms distinguished during the experiments. Three forms of back discharge, for positive and negative polarity, were investigated: glow, streamer and low-current back-arc. In order to characterize ionisation and excitation processes in back discharge, the emission spectra were measured and compared with those obtained for normal corona discharge generated in the same electrode configuration but with fly ash layer removed. The emission spectra were measured in two discharge zones: near the tip of needle electrode and near the plate. Visual forms of the discharge were recorded with digital camera and referred to current-voltage characteristics and emission spectra. The measurements have shown that spectral lines emitted by back discharge depend on the form of discharge and the discharge current. From the comparison of the spectral lines of back and normal discharges an effect of fly ash layer on the discharge morphology can be determined. The recorded emission spectra formed by ionised gas and plasma near the needle electrode and fly ash layer are different. It should be noted that in back arc emission, spectral lines of fly ash layer components can be distinguished. On the other hand, in needle zone, the emission of high intensity N₂ second positive system and NO _γ lines can be noticed. Regardless of these gaseous lines, also atomic lines of dust layer were present in the spectrum. The differences in spectra of back discharge for positive and negative polarities of the needle electrode have been explained by considering the kind of ions generated in the crater in fly ash layer. The aim of these studies is to better understand the discharge processes encountered in electrostatic precipitators.     

The use of a LiNbO3 deflector in a ∽ 100 ps resolution streak camera

This paper describes the performance of a LiNbO₃ electro-optic deflector. Used in the streak mode, the device is shown to yield better than 100 ps temporal resolution. Some simple improvements in the streak circuit and in the electrode geometry should allow ∽ 25 ps resolution to be obtained.     

CASPT2 and CCSD(T) calculations of dipole moments and polarizabilities of acetone in excited states

The acetone molecule is investigated in its ground state and valence ^1,3n-π*, ^1,3π-π*, and ^1,3σ-π* excited states and Rydberg ^1,3n-3s, ^1,3π-3?, ^1,3n-3p_y and ^1,3π-3p_y states using the CASSCF, CASPT2, and CCSD(T) methods. Equilibrium geometries of excited states are obtained and their changes with respect to the ground state are discussed. For most excited states the C_2v symmetry of the ground state is lowered to the C_s symmetry. A series of valence vertical and adiabatic excitation energies is presented along with excitation energies for Rydberg states. The main body of the paper contains Finite-Field Perturbation Theory (FFPT) calculations of electric properties of the vertically as well as geometry relaxed excited states. Dipole moments of valence excited states decrease significantly upon excitation, being about one half of the ground state dipole moment. Polarizabilities usually change upon excitation much less (increase by about 30%) but hyperpolarizabilities are enhanced up to one or two orders of magnitude. The orientation of the dipole moment is reversed in some vertically excited Rydberg states. Properties of the ground and excited states are discussed considering alterations of the electronic structure and shifts in the geometry.     

The catalytic activity of gold-plated electrodes in a slab-geometry CO2 laser

2 laser in a slab geometry with a heated gold-plated electrode is shown. The catalytic activity of the gold electrodes to regenerate the laser gas can substantially increase the optimum output power of the CO₂ laser. An output power of 116 W is obtained for a slab that was 370 mm long and had a cross section of 2.5 mm×15 mm. Received: 18 July 1996     

Characteristic study of cold atmospheric argon plasma jets with rod-tube/tube high voltage electrode

Atmospheric argon plasma jets are generated with the rod-tube/tube high voltage electrode and a ring ground electrode at 8 kHz sinusoidal excitation voltage. It is found that the vibrational temperature, electronic excitation temperature, atomic oxygen density and spectral intensity with the rod-tube high voltage electrode are enhanced significantly than that with the tube high voltage electrode. The atomic oxygen density, molecular nitrogen density, and average electronic density are about magnitude of 10¹⁶ cm^?3, 10¹⁵ cm^?3, and 10¹² cm^?3 respectively, and the excited Ar, N₂, OH and O are presented in the plasma plume with the rod-tube/tube high voltage electrode.     

Power scaling of diffusion-cooled lasers

An excitation and optical extraction geometry suitable for compact high power gas lasers is described. Multiple slab discharges are established in a diffusion-cooled radial electrode array. Each gain channel is independently driven from a common RF source via a resonant-cavity power distribution system. Radial excitation augmented with multi-channel self-injection phase locking provides stable optical power extraction at good efficiency. The concept is easily scalable to very high powers while dramatically reducing unit size and cost.     

Line broadening studies in low energy plasma focus

Optical emission spectroscopic studies were carried out to characterise the plasma leading to the estimation of two plasma parameters, electron density and temperature. These experiments were conducted on a 2 kJ plasma device which is equipped with squirrel cage electrode configuration enclosed in a glass vacuum chamber filled with hydrogen at a pressure of 5 mbar. Spectral emissions obtained from each flash were photographed in the region of 4000–6000 Å using one metre Czerny-Turner spectrograph cum monochromator. Detailed examination of the observed features showed that theH _β andH _λ lines of hydrogen showed significant broadening of the order of 35 Å FWHM which is due to Stark effect expected in high density plasmas. Further several atomic lines of Cu and Zn from the electrode material (brass) showed broadening which was due to quadratic Stark effect. A comparative study of the broadening of lines obtained in DC arc, hollow cathode and plasma focus was made. Electron density from Stark broadened hydrogen lines and quadratic Stark Coefficient C₄ for the CuI and ZnI lines were evaluated. The excitation temperature was determined from the line intensity ratio method using CuI lines.     

Crystal structure of Ni(II) complex and fluorescence properties of Zn(II) complex with the Schiff base derived from diethenetriamine and PMBP

The Schiff base, H₂L, was derived from 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP) and diethenetriamine. The crystal structure of [NiL(C₂H₅OH)]·H₂O obtained from ethanol solution was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The coordination geometry of Ni(II) ion is a distorted octahedron with three oxygen atoms and three nitrogen atoms. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light, strong fluorescence of solid Zn(II) complex was observed. In addition, the fluorescence enhancement was obtained in the presence of Zn²⁺ in THF solution of the ligand, indicating that H₂L may be a potential fluorescent sensor for Zn²⁺.     

Dispersion of volume relativistic magnetoplasma excitation in a gated two-dimensional electron system

The dispersion of the volume relativistic magnetoplasma mode in a gated GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well is measured using a coupled resonators detection technique. The weakly damped relativistic mode exhibits an unusual zigzag-shaped magnetodispersion dependence dictated by the diagonal component of the resistivity tensor ρ_xx. The plasma excitation easily hybridizes with photon modes due to a large spatial delocalization of its electromagnetic field. The effects of electron density and structure geometry on the excitation spectrum have been investigated.     

High-resolution overtone spectra of molecular complexes

A high-resolution spectrum of the acetylene–water complex has been recorded in the overtone range. Two bands of C₂H₂–D₂O were analysed, corresponding to the overtone excitations of either the acetylene or the water units. The vibrational shifts and the upper states rotational constants were retrieved, demonstrating that the geometry of the complex is only slightly modified by the excitation. A larger linewidth was observed for the 2CH band than for the 2OD?+?DOD band, probably due to the direct coupling of the 2CH excitation with the dissociation coordinate.     

Thermal Nonequilibrium of a Free-Burning Argon Arc Plasma

The axial distributions of the electron temperature and number density of a free-burning atmospheric argon arc plasma at 15 Amps have been measured using a Thomson scattering technique. In addition, the excitation temperature of singly ionized argon has been found spectroscopically by relative line intensity method. The results are presented in terms of the degree of electron temperature nonequilibrium as compared with the calculated Saha equilibrium temperature and with the measured ionic excitation temperature along the axis of the arc. The observed temperatures are discussed with respect to the theoretical ion-like particle temperature and to the effect of electrode geometry.     

A spark channel plasma electrode for a CO2 laser gas discharge

A plasma electrode potentially suitable for dc discharge pumped lasers has been developed based on the repetitive creation of a spark channel. The high-density plasma is a source of charge carriers for the dc discharge, thereby largely eliminating the cathode and anode falls. Potential reduction improves with increasing spark repetition frequency until about 9 kHz, at which point the falls are virtually eliminated. Fortuitously, the most beneficial regime of plasma electrode operation also appears to coincide with the optimum E/N range for CO₂ laser vibrational excitation.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy of 4‐tert‐butylpyridine on a silver electrode

We report the observation of large surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) (10⁶) for 4‐tert‐butylpyridine molecules adsorbed on a silver electrode surface in an electrochemical cell with electrode potential set at − 0.5 V. A decrease in electrode potential to − 0.3 V was accompanied by a decrease in relative intensities of the vibrational modes. However, there were no changes in vibrational wavenumbers. Comparison of both normal solution Raman and SERS spectra shows very large enhancement of the intensities of a₁, a₂, and b₂ modes at laser excitation of 488 nm. Enhancement of the non‐totally symmetric modes indicates the presence of charge transfer as a contributor to the enhancement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sonoelectrochemical recovery of silver from photographic processing solutions

This paper describes the effect of ultrasound upon the electrochemical recovery of silver from photographic processing solutions using a newly designed electrochemical cell--SonoEcoCell. Rates of deposition of silver (obtained potentiostatically) were studied in the model 'fix' solutions (dilute aqueous Na2S2O3/NaHSO3 at a stainless steel cylinder electrode in both the absence and the presence of ultrasound. Under silent conditions, the magnitude of the cathodic potential is a major factor in the removal of silver. Under 20 kHz sonication, the rate of deposition of silver increases with increasing ultrasonic intensity. The cathode efficiency is also enhanced under insonation. The position of the ultrasonic probe with respect to the rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) was studied. It was found that for a 'face-on' geometry (probe parallel to the electrode) led to higher rate constants compared with a 'side-on' geometry (probe perpendicular to the electrode). The effect of coupling an RCE with ultrasound upon these rate constants employing the two geometry was also investigated. It was found that, employing either the face-on or the side-on geometry alone, improved rate constants were obtained below approximately 1500 and 2000 rpm, respectively.     

Impedance study of SrTi1−xFexO3−δ (x = 0.05 to 0.80) mixed ionic-electronic conducting model cathode

SrTi_1?xFe_xO_3?δ (STF) model cathodes, with compositions of x = 0.05 to 0.80 were deposited onto single crystal yttria stabilized zirconia by pulsed layer deposition as dense films with well defined area and thickness and studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a function of electrode geometry, temperature and pO₂. The STF cathode was observed to exhibit typical mixed ionic-electronic behavior with the electrode reaction occurring over the full electrode surface area rather than being limited to the triple phase boundary. The electrode impedance was observed to be independent of electrode thickness and to the introduction of CGO interlayers and inversely proportional to the square of the electrode diameter, pointing to surface exchange limited kinetics. Values for the surface exchange coefficient, k, were calculated and found to be comparable in magnitude to those exhibited by other popular mixed ionic-electronic conductors such as (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O₃, thereby, confirming the suitability of STF as a model mixed conducting cathode material. The surface exchange coefficient, k, was also found to be insensitive to orders of magnitude change in both bulk electronic and ionic conductivities.     

Parameterized effective potential for excited electronic states

The method of the parameterized effective potential (PEP) is developed for constructing the potential curves of excited electronic states of the same symmetry. Unlike the traditional methods of the density functional theory, the PEP is constructed as the direct mapping of an external potential. The PEP generates the one-particle orbitals such that the corresponding single-determinant Kohn-Sham function constructed on their basis is orthogonal to the determinant functions of lower-lying states. A comparison of the potential curves constructed for the HeH and H₂ molecules by the PEP method with the precision data obtained based on the time-consuming configuration interaction methods shows that the PEP method can provide good accuracy for the geometry of an equilibrium configuration and the vertical excitation energies.     

Simplification of the helical TE N2 laser

We report the observation that the helical TE N₂ laser can effectively be simplified by giving up the use of decoupling elements as well as by abolishing the segmentation of the electrode structure. Although, as a consequence of this simplification, the operating pressure range was slightly decreased, the output power could be improved by roughly 30%, a result which is attributed to the new electrode geometry exhibiting lower inductance and lower damping losses.