Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy-based sensor system for sulfur dioxide detection using a CW DFB-QCL

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) trace gas detection based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) using a continuous wave, distributed feedback quantum cascade laser operating at 7.24 μm was performed. Influence of water vapor addition on monitored QEPAS SO₂ signal was also investigated. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of NNEA (1σ) = 1.21 × 10^?8 cm^?1 W Hz^?1/2 was obtained for the ν ₃ SO₂ line centered at 1,380.93 cm^?1 when the gas sample was moisturized with 2.3 % H₂O. This corresponds to a minimum detection limit (1σ) of 63 parts per billion by volume for a 1 s lock-in time constant.     

Hematite from a mining area in the east border of Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Iron oxides are dominant minerals in many geo-domains of economical interest, as iron ore mines. Knowing the main mineral transformation pathways is a fundamental step to plan prospecting new mineral deposits. This study aimed at contributing to a better understanding of the chemical and mineralogical processes related to the genesis and transformations of iron oxides involving hematite in an iron-ore mine of the east border of Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two representative geo-samples were analyzed with synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (XRD), ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and saturation magnetization (σ) measurements. The iron content varied from 65 to 69 mass% Fe. From XRD data, hematite is indeed the major mineral for all samples but characteristic reflections of goethite and magnetite also appear. For the magnetic sample, σ = 6.9 J T^???1 kg^???1. 298 K- and 110 K-Mössbauer data allow characterizing hematite in these iron-rich geo-materials.     

Search for narrow baryons in π−p total cross section between 2 and 14 GeV/c

A high-statistics search for resonances in the π^?p total cross section has been carried out over the incident momentum region from 2 to 14 GeV/c. The measurements were performed with a transmission technique using multiwire proportional chambers in place of the conventional counter arrays. A microprocessor unit was used for the on-line analysis of the data, allowing a total of ≈ 50 000 events to be examined in a 300 ms burst. The search aimed at detecting the possible formation in π^?p collisions of narrow non-strange baryon resonances. The momentum region was uniformly scanned with a total of ≈4500 mmeasurements in fixed fractional momentum steps of dP/P = 5 × 10^?4. The relative statistical precision of each measurement was dσ/σ = ±0.3%. Within these limits no significant structure was detected.     

A quantum cascade laser-based optical feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometer for the simultaneous measurement of CH4 and N2O in air

Optical feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (OF CEAS) has been demonstrated with a thermoelectrically cooled continuous wave distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (QCL) operating at wavelengths around 7.84 μm. The QCL is coupled to an optical cavity which creates an absorption pathlength greater than 1000 m. The experimental design allows optical feedback of infra-red light, resonant within the cavity, to the QCL, which initiates self-locking at each TEM₀₀ cavity mode frequency excited. The QCL linewidth is narrowed to below the mode linewidth, greatly increasing the efficiency of injection of light into the cavity. At the frequency of each longitudinal cavity mode, the absorption coefficient of an intracavity sample is obtained from the transmission at the mode maximum, measured with a thermoelectrically cooled detector: spectral line profiles of CH₄ and N₂O in ambient air were recorded simultaneously and with a resolution of 0.01386 cm^?1. A minimum detectable absorption coefficient of 5.5×10^?8 cm^?1 was demonstrated after an averaging time of 1 s for this completely thermoelectrically cooled system. The bandwidth-normalised limit for a single cavity mode is 5.6×10^?9 cm^?1?Hz^?1/2 (1σ).     

A search for narrow resonances in the φφ system

Inclusive φφ production has been studied in π^?Be interactions at 85 GeV/c incident momentum, and a signal of 4327 φφ events was found in a sample of data recorded with the aim of studying the low mass φφ system. We estimate that ～ 75% of this signal can be attributed to the correlated production of two φ′s. A search for narrow enhancements leads to upper limits at the 99.7% confidence level for σ(X) × BR(X → φφ) varying from ? 562 nb/Be nucleus at a mass of 2.1 GeV/c² to ? 221 nb/Be nucleus at 3.1 GeV/c², where X represents a possible narrow state. These upper limits represent an increase in sensitivity by a factor 3 to 5 when compared to currently available data.     

Thermal neutron induced α-particle reaction on64, 65, 67Zn and77Se

The (_n th,α) reaction spectroscopy was done on^{64, 65, 67}zn and⁷⁷Se at the 87 m curved thermal neutron guide of the Grenoble high flux reactor. In each of the⁶⁴Zn(n, α)⁶¹ Ni and⁶⁷ Ni(n, α) ⁶⁴Ni reactions, one line showed up corresponding to anα-particle transition to the first excited state in⁶¹Ni and⁶⁴Ni withσ _α1=11±3 μb and 159±20 μb respectively. In the case of the radioactive⁶⁵Zn(T _1/2=244d) nucleus, two lines showed up corresponding to the ground state and the first excited state transitions in⁶²Ni with large values ofσ _α0=1.0±0.1b andσ _α1=1.0±0.1b. For the⁷⁷Se(n, α)⁷⁴Ge reaction, the ground state and first excited transitions were present withσ _α0=940±20 μb andσ _α1 = 30±5 μb respectively. The spin-parity (J ^π) of the neutron resonance contributing at thermal energy are discussed.     

A More Accurate and Competitive Estimative of <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript> in Intermediate Redshifts

In order to clarify the tension between estimates of the Hubble Constant (H₀) from local (z ? 1) and global (z ? 1) measurements, Lima and Cunha (LC) proposed a new method to measure H₀ in intermediate redshifts (z ≈ 1), which were obtained H₀ = 74.1 ± 2.2 km s^??1Mpc^??1 (1σ), in full agreement to local measurements via Supernovae/Cepheid dataset. However, Holanda et al. (Month. Not. R. Astronom. Soc. Lett. 443(1) L74–L78 (2014)) affirm that a better understanding of the morphology of galaxy clusters in LC framework is needed to a more robust and accurate determination of H₀. Moreover, that kind of sample has been strongly questioned in the literature. In this context, (i) we investigated if the sample of galaxy clusters used by LC has a relevant role in their results, then (ii) we perform a more accurate and competitive determination of H₀ in intermediate redshifts, free of unknown systematic uncertainties. First, we found that the exclusion of the sample of galaxy clusters from the determination initially proposed by LC leads to significantly different results. Finally, we performed a new determination in H₀, where we obtained H₀ = 68.00 ± 2.20 km s^??1 Mpc^??1 (1σ) with statistical and systematic errors and \(H_{0} = 68.71^{+?1.37}_{-1.45}\) km s^??1 Mpc^??1 (1σ) with statistical errors only. Contrary to those obtained by LC, these values are in full harmony with the global measurements via Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation and to the other recent estimates of H₀ in intermediate redshifts.     

Measurement ofR ine + e − annihilation for\sqrt s between 7.4 and 9.4 GeV

The rationR=σ(e ⁺ e ^?→hadrons)/σ(e ⁺ e ^?→ µ⁺ µ^?) was measured with the LENA detector at DORIS in a scan between 7.40 and 7.48 GeV and between 8.67 and 9.43 GeV center of mass energies. Corrected for QED radiative effects,R is found to be constant with an average value ofR=3.37 ±0.06_stat±0.23_syst. No narrow resonances withΓ _ee (Γ _had/Γ _tot)?0.30 keV (95% C.L.) and no steps have been observed. Based on this value ofR, revised values for υ(1S) resonance parameters are presented.     

CW DFB RT diode laser-based sensor for trace-gas detection of ethane using a novel compact multipass gas absorption cell

The development of a continuous wave, thermoelectrically cooled (TEC), distributed feedback diode laser-based spectroscopic trace-gas sensor for ultra-sensitive and selective ethane (C₂H₆) concentration measurements is reported. The sensor platform used tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) and wavelength modulation spectroscopy as the detection technique. TDLAS was performed using an ultra-compact 57.6 m effective optical path length innovative spherical multipass cell capable of 459 passes between two mirrors separated by 12.5 cm and optimized for the 2.5–4 μm range TEC mercury–cadmium–telluride detector. For an interference-free C₂H₆ absorption line located at 2,976.8 cm^?1, a 1σ minimum detection limit of 740 pptv with a 1 s lock-in amplifier time constant was achieved.     

Relaxation process and ferromagnetic resonance investigation of ferrofluids with Mn–Zn and Mn–Fe mixed ferrite particles

The magnetic relaxation processes in two ferrofluids with Mn_0.4Zn_0.6Fe₂O₄ (sample F1) and Mn_0.6Fe_0.4Fe₂O₄ (sample F2) mixed ferrite particles, dispersed in n-decan and kerosene, respectively, are investigated through the determination of components χ′ and χ′′ of the complex magnetic susceptibility in the range of (2–30) MHz. The values of the saturation magnetization of the two ferrofluids are M_∞=5.28 kA/m for sample F1 and M_∞=10.99 kA/m for sample F2. A maximum of the imaginary component χ′′ was observed for both samples at frequencies of tens MHz. This maximum was assigned to relaxation processes of Néel type.The effective anisotropy constant K of the particles from the studied samples was evaluated, using both static and dynamic measurements and the values were found to be K₁=6.12×10³ J m⁻³ for the ferrofluid F1, and K₂=5.60×10³ J m⁻³ for the ferrofluid F2. From ferromagnetic resonance measurements, and based on the theoretical values computed for the Lande factor (g), the effective anisotropy constants for the mixed ferrite particles in the studied ferrofluids and the anisotropy field values were determined using a new method. The values obtained in this way for the anisotropy constants K₁ and K₂ are compared to the ones determined from magnetic relaxation measurements.     

Gluonium and the 0++ spectrum

We suggest that the σ (broad ππ s-wave states below 1 GeV) and the S¹(0.98) can be interpreted by a mixing between a scalar gluonium and an SU(2) singlet meson with a mixing angle of the order of 14°–19°. The decays of the σ and of the S¹ into a pseudoscalar pair are shown to be dominated by their gluon component. In this way, one expects a universal coupling of the σ and of the S¹ to ππ and KK?. The above scheme is confronted to the ψ-decays and to some scattering data. A radial excitation assignment of the G(1.6) is discussed.     

Thermal expansion measurements for estimating vacancy concentration in X-ray irradiated KCl single crystals

A sensitive capacitance technique is used for measuring changes in length (Δl) of KCl single crystals with temperature in the region 30–300°C. These measurements have been taken on KCl in (i) as-cleaved (ii) X-ray irradiated (iii) quenched and X-ray irradiated conditions (X-ray irradiation was always done at room temperature (≈ 30°C). The linear coefficient of thermal expansion (α) of the as-cleaved sample is 40.8 × 10^-6°C^-1. Variation of Δl with temperature in X-ray irradiated crystal shows two regions: (a) 30–180°C where α is 48.1 × 10^-6°C^-1, (b) 180–300°C where α is 40.4 × 10^-6°C^-1. Similar behaviour is exhibited by quenched and later X-ray irradiated KCl the first region is up to 140°C, beyond which the second region takes over. From these data, concentration of vacancies in X-ray irradiated KCl at room temperature is calculated to be 3.4 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3 which is in fairly good agreement with the value obtained from F-band absorption measurements on the sample. An attempt has been made to understand these results.     

Experimental investigation of dipolar interaction in suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles

The structure and the magnetisation behaviour of two different systems of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP), namely Resovist^® with a wide core size distribution (diameter, σ=0.3) and SHP-20 with a rather narrow distribution (σ=0.1), were investigated by magnetorelaxometry (MRX) and magnetisation measurements in a wide concentration range. MRX on fluid and solid suspensions yielded the distribution of hydrodynamic diameters and effective magnetic anisotropy energies (E_A), where towards higher iron concentrations the spatial particle correlation, i.e. aggregation, and also the width of the E_A distribution were increased significantly. It was further found that these effects quantitatively depend on the suspension medium, where an increased salt concentration enhanced the aggregate size distribution and E_A dispersion. At mentioned higher MNP concentrations, the quasistatic magnetisation, normalised with respect to the iron content, decreased by up to 40%. In the case of SHP-20, where single core MNPs dominate, the maximum of this drop down of the magnetisation occurred at a field strength that corresponds to the strength of mean squared dipolar interaction.     

Energy shifts and forbidden transitions in H+ 2 due to electronic g/u symmetry breaking

A full account is given of calculations and measurements of transition frequencies and intensities of the forbidden pure rotation transition (v = 19, N = 1)-(v = 19, N = 0) in the ground electronic state (1sσ_g) of H⁺ ₂. The transition has measurable intensity because of ortho-paru mixing that arises from electronic g/u symmetry breaking caused by the Fermi contact hyper-fine interaction. Measurements of the transition were made in both single and double resonance using a fast ion beam/microwave spectrometer. The transition frequency was determined to be at 14961.7 ± 1.1 MHz (95% confidence, 5 measurements), in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction of 14960 ± 3 MHz. The intensity of the transition relative to the allowed 1sσ_g (v = 19, N = 1)-2pσ_u,(v = 0, N = 2) transition was estimated from the available measurements to be 8000, in reasonable agreement with the theoretically predicted value of ?3000.     

Determination of the isotope shift of115m Cd by a Zeeman scanning method

We have used an optical pumping-Zeeman scanning technique in order to determine the isotope shift in the 3,261 Å resonance line of 43-day, spin-11/2^115m Cd. A sample of ≈5×10¹² atoms was aligned in the¹ S ₀ diamagnetic ground state by optically pumping the sample with one selected Zeeman-scanned component of the³ P ₁?3,261 Å resonance line from a¹¹⁴Cd lamp. The alignment was detected through the modulation of the pumping beam at the nuclear resonance frequency. Thus by Zeeman scanning theF = 9/2 component of the³ P ₁ level and using previously determinedA- andB-values, we findδ5v(114–115m (9/2))= ?4,234(48) MHz and¹¹⁴Cd-^115mCd isotope shift = 87(48) MHz. We calculate a staggering parameterγ(^115mCd)=0.73(26), and a change in mean-square nuclear charge radiusδ〈r ²〉^114,115m =0.035(18)fm².     

Relaxationserscheinungen im 63 P 2-Zustand des Quecksilber-Isotops199Hg bei Stößen mit Quecksilberatomen im Grundzustand

The decay ofrf resonance signals (Δm _F =± 1, ΔF=0) in the hfs-states (F=3/2, 5/2) of the 6³ P ₂-state of¹⁹⁹Hg has been observed by means of a sampling method. By comparing the relaxation times to those of the even isotopes, the cross section σ₂(F) for the destruction of an alignment in the hfs-states by collisions with ground state Hg-atoms could be measured. The following ratios were obtained: σ₂(F=3/2)/σ₂=1.04±0.06 and σ₂(F=5/2)/σ₂=0.90± 0.03. The cross section σ₂ for the even isotopes was found to be (2.620±0.265) 10^?14cm². Assuming total decoupling of nuclear spinI and electronic angular momentumJ during the collision, the cross sections for the destruction of an orientation (σ₁) and an “octupolarisation” (σ₃) could be calculated. For the even isotopes the following ratios were derived: σ₁/σ₂=0.76 ± 0.07 and σ₃/σ₂=1.08 ± 0.09.     

Charge exchange cross sections for He+ incident on Cs

The total charge-exchange cross section, σ₊₀, for He⁺ incident on Cs vapor has been measured in the energy range 0.5 to 41 keV. The cross section falls from (1664 ± 100) × 10^?17 cm² at 1.4 keV to (224 ± 20) × 10^-17 cm² at 41 keV. These measurements are compared with previous measurements and with theoretical calculations of this cross section.     

Acetylene detection based on diode laser QEPAS: combined wavelength and residual amplitude modulation

Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) is demonstrated for acetylene detection at atmospheric pressure and room temperature with a fiber-coupled distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser operating at ~1.53 μm. An efficient approach for gas concentration calibration is demonstrated. The effect of residual amplitude modulation on the performance of wavelength modulated QEPAS is investigated theoretically and experimentally. With optimized spectrophone parameters and modulation depth, a minimum detectable limit (1σ) of ~2 part-per-million volume (ppmv) was achieved with an 8.44-mW diode laser, which corresponds to a normalized noise equivalent coefficient (1σ) of 6.16 × 10^?8 cm^?1 W/Hz^1/2.     

Multihadronic decays and partial widths of the J/Ψ (3100) resonance produced in e+e− annihilation at adone

The reactions e⁺e^?→ hadrons and e⁺e⁺e^?→e⁺e^? have been studied at the J/gY (3100) resonance). The relative weights of the topological cross sections for fixed charged multiplicity are σ₂=(32±5)%, σ₄=(49±8)%, σ₆=(18±3)%, and σ₈=(1±0.6)%. The average pion multiplicities are 〈n_ch〉=3.8±0.3 and 〈n_{π^o〉=3.1±0.8}. The decay widths are Γ_e=(4.6±0.8) keV, Γ_h=(59±24) keV, and Γ=(68±26) keV.