Nature of 2-Aminoxanthone Fluorescence

Absorption and fluorescence spectra of 2-aminoxanthone in solutions of different types at 77–350 K were studied. The existence of three bands (_{1 max} = 417 nm, ₁ = 14 ns; _{2 max} = 528 nm, ₂ = 13 ns; and _{3 max} = 565 nm, ₃ = 6 ns) in fluorescence of 2-aminoxanthone solutions has been established. It was shown that the first short-wave band was determined by deactivation of singlet excitation of an aminoxanthone molecule. The band with _{3 max} = 565 nm (depending on the concentration) is connected with excimer-type aggregates, which are formed by aminoxanthone molecules grouped with the help of dipole molecules of solvent or by weak hydrogen bonds between aminoxanthone molecules. The emission in band _{2 max} = 528 nm is caused by reversible changes in the 2-aminoxanthone molecule and probably is connected with an intramolecular proton transfer.     

On the total cross-section for thermal neutrons of hydrogen in niobium

Neutron transmission experiments have been performed to determine the total cross-section of hydrogen interstitially dissolved in niobium. The wavelength and temperature dependence of the total cross-section can be described by a model with the protons as harmonic oscillators. No changes in the total cross-section were found for the different phases of the interstitials in the niobium host lattice. An upper limit for the jump-time of a proton in diffusion _D is given compared to its mean time of localization _L on an interstitial site. _D <0.2 _L is found.     

Preparation of lucifer yellow fluorescent liposomes: A method for cells' membrane labeling

This report describes a method to conjugate lucifer yellow to the external surface of liposomes. The heterobifunctional cross-linking reagentN-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate has been used to activate DMPE molecules. The DMPE-dithiopyridine product has been mixed with DMPC to prepare liposome vesicles. These have been reduced by DTT and finally reacted with lucifer yellow-iodoacetamide to produce the fluorescence-labeled vesicles. The quenching of their fluorescence intensity by Kl is consistent with fully exposed fluorophores. The decay of the fluorescence intensity of the lipid-bound lucifer yellow is biexponential (₁=7.9 ns; ₂=1.1 ns), with a relative yield of 0.16. When the fluorescent liposomes are mixed with cells, the lucifer yellow-DMPE derivative is transferred. Boar spermatozoa and peripheral human blood lymphocytes have been used as cellular models. The extent of incorporation is dependent on the incubation time and temperature. At 36°C, lucifer yellow fluorescence appears in the spermatozoa cells after 10 min of incubation and reaches its maximum at about 60 min. The fluorescent phospholipid derivative seems to incorporate specifically into membrane structures. The highest labeling ratio is observed with integer, scarcely motile, spermatozoa. A poorer labeling yield (15%) is found with lymphocytes. Interestingly, photobleaching due to epiillumination of the labeled cells is apparently negligible and cells are clearly visible after irradiation times ranging from several minutes to few hours.A preliminary account of this work was presented at the Quarto Simposio su Biotecnologie Biochimiche, Capri, 28–30 June 1992.     

Photophysical Processes in the Vapor of Carbazole

The characteristics of the rapid and retarded fluorescence of the vapor of carbazole excited by the radiation of a nitrogen laser are studied. The dependences of the intensity and rate of decay of the retarded fluorescence on the exciting-radiation intensity, the temperature, and the pressure of the vapor and foreign gases are used to determine the predominant mechanisms of relaxation of triplet molecules. It is shown that the decay of the retarded luminescence is governed by the competition between the processes of triplet-triplet annihilation that lead to the emission of annihilation retarded fluorescence and intercombination conversion of the triplet molecules to the ground electronic state. The characteristic times of these processes and the lifetimes of the triplet state in the vapor _T are evaluated; the temperature dependence of _T is analyzed in a wide interval of temperatures (77–573 K). It is inferred that in all aggregative states, the reduction in _T with increase in the temperature has a common nature and reflects an increase in the rate of intercombination transition T ₁ — S ₀ with increase in the content of vibrational energy.     

Magnetoresistance in two-dimensional magnesium films of various thicknesses

The magnetoresistance of thin magnesium films in the weakly localized regime has been measured at 4.2 K as a function of film thickness. The results are analysed in a new and simple way based on the theory of Hikami et al. [1]. We use only two adjustable parameters, the inelastic relaxation time _i and the spin-orbit scattering time _so. Whereas _so is found to be almost independent of thickness, _i changes significantly. The variation of _i with thickness is discussed in the light of the theories for the enhanced electron-electron interaction, but it does not seem to tie up with any of the existing theories.     

Enhancement of conductance fluctuations in two-dimensional mesoscopic electron systems with valley structures

Conductance fluctuations are studied in twodimensional mesoscopic electron system with a two-hold valley degeneracy (n _v =2), which corresponds to the inversion layer of Si-MOSFET formed in (1,0,0) plane. It is shown that the intervalley scattering modifies conductance fluctuations depending on the ratio, Min { _c , _T }/ _v , where _v = ( – 2)/2 and _c , _T , and are, respectively, system traversal time, thermal diffusion time, intervalley scattering time and total life time of electrons. Conductance fluctuations are no longer universal and vary from G _univ 0.862·e ²/h to {ie223-5} at low temperatures even for isotropic systems. The conductance fluctuations increase with decreasing system size, increasing electron density and increasing intervalley scattering time. The effect of intervalley scattering is essentially the same as that of intersubband scattering as previously reported. At finite temperatures where _{T c} , the intervalley scattering modifies the fluctuations through the change in the energy correlation range to results in the reduction of the conductance fluctuations. In Si-MOSFET formed in (1, 1, 1) plane, wheren _v =6, more enhanced fluctuations are expected. Experimental studies are desired on theoretically predicted points.     

A matrix method for estimating the Liapunov exponent of one-dimensional systems

Let : [0, 1][0, 1] be a piecewise monotonie expanding map. Then admits an absolutely continuous invariant measure. A result of Kosyakin and Sandler shows that can be approximated by a sequence of absolutely continuous measures _n invariant under piecewise linear Markov maps _itn. Each _itn is constructed on the inverse images of the turning points of . The easily computable measures _n are used to estimate the Liapunov exponent of . The idea of using Markov maps for estimating the Liapunov exponent is applied to both expanding and nonexpanding maps.     

Microscopic theory of gas-surface interaction

A kinetic theory for inelastic scattering, trapping and desorption of gas molecules by surfaces is described. The theory is valid if the time scale _l = 1/r introduced by the relaxation ratesr in the kinetic equations (which is of the order of the life time of vibrational states of adsorbates) is sufficiently large compared to the vibrational period ₀. For sufficiently large activation energies of the adsorbates another time constant _res, the residence time of adsorbed particles, can be determined from the theory. One thus may distinguish four different partly overlapping regimes defined by the time scalest _{I l} , ₀t_II, _l t_III and _rest_IV. Regime I is governed by the Schrödinger equation regime II by the kinetic equations. In the region where both regimes overlap the kinetic coefficients can be expressed in terms of microscopic quantities which have been calculated previously. The relevant quantities in the other regimes are introduced and discussed from a unified point of view thus providing a link between the regimes I and IV which have been treated in detail before.     

A study of the decays of tau leptons produced on theZ resonance at LEP

From the analysis of a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.63 pb^–1 taken during the 1990 run of LEP at centre of mass energies between 88.2 GeV an 94.2 GeV, the tau decays and their charge conjugates have been studied. The following branching ratios have been measured; , , Br(^{– –} (K^–)v)=11.9±0.7±0.7%, BR (^{– –} v)= 22.4±0.8±1.3%, in good agreement with world averages. The measured electronic and muonic branching ratios lead to a measurement of the strong coupling constant, _s (m) = 0.26 _–0.12 ^+0.09 . Extrapolating the _s value fromm tom _Z yields _s (m_Z) = 0.109 _–0.028 ^+0.012 .The average polarizationP of taus produced in Z ^{s s} decays has also been measured using the above decay modes. The weighted mean of the polarizations obtained from the four decay modes isP =–0.24±0.07. This value ofP gives, in the improved Born approximation, a ratio between the axial and vector coupling constants of the tau of /a = 0.12 ± 0.04, and hence a value of the effective electroweak mixing parameter sin² _W(m _Z ² ).     

The temperature dependence of polarization according to the fluorescence spectrum

The temperature dependence of the degree of polarization according to the spectrum of fluorescence for solutions of phthalimide is investigated. The relationships obtained agree with the change in time of the excited state of molecules according to the spectrum of the radiation depending on temperature. The fact that depends on the spectrum of fluorescence for specific temperatures is the result of radiation from different centers.The relationship P =f(_f1) arises because of the differing interaction with the surroundings of different centers of the long and short wave ends of the spectrum.The author thanks L. G. Pikulik for suggesting the subject and directing the research and M. Ya. Kostko for the measurements of _f1.     

Spectral-Kinetic Characteristics of Pyrene Fluorescence in Model Systems and Membranes of Etioplasts

The decay kinetics parameters of monomer and excimer fluorescence of pyrene in artificial galactolipid protein-free micelles and membranes of prolamellar bodies (PLB) of etioplasts have been determined. A complex law of probe fluorescence decay in artificial and native membranes has been discovered. It has been found that the addition of protochlorophyllide (Pd) to lipid micelles led to a considerable reduction in the lifetime of the long-lived component of the fluorescence-decay kinetics of the monomer form of pyrene (₂) and to the appearance of luminescence in the region of 640 nm in the stationary spectra of fluorescence at excitation of the pyrene molecules present in the bilayer. In native membranes of etioplasts, the monomer duration ₂ did not depend on the pigment content and the Pd fluorescence upon excitation through pyrene was absent. The membranes of etioplasts and the pigment-containing artificial micelles did not differ in the ₂ value of the excimer. They only differed in the contribution of the long-lived component to the total fluorescence (low in native membranes). The pigment-protein interaction in the etioplast membranes and the absence from them of pigment directly associated with lipids are discussed.     

Tau decays into K* mesons

Using the ARGUS detector at the storage ring DORIS II we have measured decays into three charged mesons containingK ^* mesons. Exploiting the good particle identification capabilities of the detector we have determined the following branching ratios: ,B _r (^–K ^*0 K ^– v )= (0.20±0.05±0.04)%, andB _r (^–K ^*– X ⁰ v ) =(1.15±0.15_–0.18 ^+0.13)%.Supported by the German Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, under contract number 054DO51P.     

Effect of Phase-Sensitive Reservoir on the Decoherence of Pair-Cat Coherent States

We study the decoherence of a superposition of four coherent states under the action of a phase sensitive reservoir. We verify that the decoherence times _k,l, k,l=1,2,3,4, between any two coherent states of the superposition can be controlled through the reservoir parameters. The decoherence time between two components of any pair, for instance _1,2 or _3,4, can be significantly increased, compared with the decoherence time when the state is acted by a thermal reservoir. However, this occurs at the expense of decreasing the decoherence time between the ``cat states" (1,2) and (3,4). This can be useful in quantum computation.     

The Landau-Pomeranchuk effect and soft lepton-pair production in heavy ion collisions

The most general angular decay distribution of the hadronic system in the decay of a polarized into one pseudoscalar plus a vector is calculated. Emphasis is put on decays ine ⁺ e ^– experiments where the neutrino escapes detection and the restframe cannot be reconstructed. We propose a model for the decay intov involving both a vector- and a second class axial vector-current contribution. Then we present numerical results for this decay channel.     

Spannungsverläufe Nach Wechseln der Verformungsgeschwindigkeit an Metalleinkristallen

The theoretical relations between _v and measured stress changes are discussed and compared with experimental results. For instantaneous change in the strain rate, the first deviation of the stress increase from the linearity ( _C ) can be used as a measure of _v for small deformation only. The comparison of _C with the extrapolated value _A enables to reveal the presence of recovery. The comparison of stress changes measured after a given rate change at the same strain on unrecovering (low temperatures) and recovering (higher temperatures) samples enables to differentiate between various types of recovery.     

Transport of light radiation in a spatially finite three-dimensional scattering medium

We propose a new method for solving radiation transport problems, which permits including in analytic form for the case of normal incidence the effect of spatial finiteness of the scattering medium. The formation of the light field accompanying changes in the optical parameters and optical dimensions of the medium is analyzed.this paper, we examine the simplest case of a geometry of a scattering medium in the form of a parallelipiped with optical length _x, height _y, and width _z. The analysis is performed for the case =1, _y = _z with the latter varying in the range 0.1 to . The results obtained show that the light field depends strongly on the optical dimensions of the medium. The limiting values of the optical dimensions (_y = _z), beginning with which the spatial finiteness of the medium can be neglected, are determined.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavednii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 82–85, August, 1982.     

Luminescence Studies of the trans-[Cr–Cyclam(CN)2]ClO4(Cyclam = 1,4,7,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane) Complex: Its Luminescence Spectra in Several Solvents and the Concentration Dependence of Its Luminescence Lifetime

The luminescence lifetime (_lum) and the luminescence spectra of the title complex (I) were determined in eight solvents. We found that in spite of former assumptions, the _lum of I depends on the concentration of the complex. We determined the self-quenching (k _Q) and Stern–Volmer (K _SV) constants, and the relative values of luminescence quantum yields in eight solvents. There was no measurable self-quenching in 1,2-ethanediol and N,N-dimethylformamide; dynamic self-quenching was found (the concentration dependence of _lum and _lum was the same) in N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, water, propylene–carbonate, and pyridine. In acetonitrile we found both dynamic and static self-quenching based on the different concentration dependence of _lum and _lum of I; K _SV and the association constant of I in acetonitrile were computed     

From the eden model to the kinetic growth walk: A generalized growth model with a finite lifetime of growth sites

We propose a new class of cluster growth models where growth sites have a finite lifetime , which contains as special cases the Eden model ( = ) and the kinetic growth walk ( = 1). For finite but large values the growth process can be characterized by a crossover timet _X; for times belowt _X an Eden-type cluster is formed, while for times abovet _X the growth process belongs to the universality class of the self-avoiding random walk. The crossover time increases monotonically with . We develop a scaling theory for the time evolution of the mean end-to-end distance between the seed and the last-added site, and for the average number of growth sites by which the kinetics of the growth process can be characterized. We test this scaling theory by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We also extend our results to inhomogeneous media (percolation systems).     

Intramolecular energy transfer in compounds with two 1-pyrenoate groups separated by methylene spacers

Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy (r) and fluorescence lifetime () measurements have been used to study the efficiency of nonradiative singlet energy transfer as a function of alkane size in 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid alkanediyl esters (as a function ofm in Py-COO-(CH₂) _m -OOC-Py, where Py denotes pyrene substituted in the 1-position, andm=2–6). Experiments were performed in media of different viscosity, , obtained by changing the temperature (from –20 to 40°C) of dilute solutions in ethylene glycol and by examination of the compounds in a solid matrix of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at ambient temperature. The Py-COO-(CH₂)_m-OOC-Py exhibit intramolecular excimer emission in ethylene glycol at these temperatures, but the intensity of this emission is much lower than when these compounds are placed in common solvents of lower . The values of indicate that excitation hopping or intramolecular energy transfer takes place between the chromophores attached to the ends of the alkane bridges. Values ofr obtained by the extrapolationsT/0 orT/0 in ethylene glycol, as well as the values obtained in the rigid matrix of PMMA, show very little dependence onm. A theoretical conformational analysis, using the rotational isomeric state (RIS) model, was also performed. The combination of the experimental results forr in the media of high with the theoretical (RIS) analysis produces an estimated value of 21 ±2 Å for the Förster radius in Py-COO-(CH₂)_m-OOC-Py.     

The magnetic structures of NdCu2 determined by single crystal neutron diffraction

We investigated the magnetic structure of NdCu₂ by means of neutron diffraction as a function of temperature between 1.5 K and 8 K in zero external field. The diffraction data were obtained on two single crystals with different orientations using the triple-axis-spectrometer TAS6 at the DR-3 reactor at Risø. Two magnetic phases were observed between 1.5K andT _N =6.5K. From 1.5 K to 4.1 K the magnetic reflections can be described by the commensurate wave vector =(3/5 0 0) and its higher harmonics 3 and 5. Below 2.5K the structure is completely squared-up. For 4.1 KT6.5 K the magnetic structure is incommensurate with the chemical lattice and can be described by the wave vector=(3/5 0 0) and its higher harmonies 3 and 5M. Below 2.5 K the structure is completely squared-up. For 4.1 K T 6.5 K the magnetic structure is incommensurate with the chemical lattice and can be described by the wave vector ^*=(0.62 0.044 0). In both phases the Nd-moments are oriented along the easyb-direction.