Sonochemiluminescence of lucigenin using amines as coreactant: Reactivity and mechanism studies

Sonochemiluminescence (SCL) from aqueous solution of lucigenin (Luc²⁺) has been studied using aliphatic amines as coreactant. The SCL intensity are strongly dependent on the dissolved gases such as air, oxygen, nitrogen and argon. The most strong SCL signals are observed from oxygen saturated alkaline solution containing Luc²⁺ when small amount of trialkylamine, such as tripropylamine (TPrA) was added into the solution. In an ultrasonic field, TPrA can adsorb onto the cavitation bubble/solution interface where TPrA is oxidized by OH to form a radical cation TPrA⁺ and subsequently produce a highly reducing TPrA species through a deprotonation reaction of the TPrA⁺. TPrA is suggested to initiate the reduction reactions of Luc²⁺ and molecule oxygen to produce Luc⁺ and superoxide radical anion (O₂⁻), respectively. The radical-radical coupling reaction between Luc⁺ and O₂⁻ is expected to initiate the light emission. The production of O₂⁻ is examined by spectrofluorometric method using 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazoline as a fluorescent probe. The results show that the production of O₂⁻ by ultrasound was more efficient in oxygen saturated solution in the presence of coreactants, consistent with the results with SCL measurements.     

Luminescence spectra of Eu ions and interstitial oxygen in PbWO4 crystal

The site-selective excitation and emission spectroscopy, and luminescence decay have been investigated under a pulsed, tunable, narrowband dye laser of the ⁵D₀→⁷F₀ region in the europium ions-doped lead tungstate PbWO₄ (PWO) in single crystal. In as-grown sample, the experimental results show that there is only one ⁷F₀→⁵D₀ excitation transition indicating the only one Eu³⁺ site in PbWO₄ lattices. The sequential annealing treatments were conducted to investigate the effects of oxygen components on the microstructure environments of Eu³⁺ in the lattices. The site distribution of Eu³⁺ was changed by the annealing in air atmosphere, which could create new sites in PWO lattices. Confirmation of interstitial oxygen and interpretations of charge compensation mechanism for the observed new sites were discussed in the context of site-selective excitation and emission spectra. The main Eu³⁺ site is related to the charge compensation by the [(Eu_Pb³⁺)-V″_Pb-(Eu_Pb³⁺)] complex; the other minor new sites after annealing are originated from [(Eu_Pb³⁺)-O″_i-(Eu_Pb³⁺)] defects. Emission spectra excited by 355-laser and RT-Raman spectra were also measured.     

Radiation-induced transmission loss in optical materials at infrared wavelengths

Information concerning the effect of irradiation on the optical properties of materials in the infrared, sub-mm-and mm-wavelength regions is of increasing importance in fusion plasma diagnostics. The radiation induced transmission loss of a number of materials has therefore been investigated at wavelengths in the ranges 200 nm to 40 μm and 0.23 to 2.0 mm. The samples were irradiated with doses of up to 10¹⁰ rad in a nuclear reactor. While germanium shows considerable transmission loss at doses as low as 10⁶ rad, and the transmission of TPX decreases at 10⁹ rad, other materials, e.g. fused quartz and possibly ZnSe, exhibit sufficient radiation hardness for use in fusion plasma diagnostics.     

Radiation-induced damage in calcium fluoride ionic crystals exposed to high-intensity ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet light

An experimental setup for studying optical materials under the action of plasma-emitted intense (up to 10⁵ W/cm²) ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet radiation is described, and methods for estimating the radiation damage are developed. The damage produced in calcium fluoride ionic crystals at ～300 K by low (10³ rad) and moderate (10⁶ rad) absorbed doses is experimentally estimated.     

Application of fibre-optic rotational seismometer in investigation of seismic rotational waves

Application of a fibre-optic Sagnac interferometer as a rotational seismometer is presented in this paper. It is a new device which parameters (sensitivity equal to 4.3×10⁻⁸ rad/s for 2σ) are comparable with the parameters of typical mechanical rotational seismometers. However, a direct measurement of rotation without influence of linear motions for fibre-optic rotational seismometer designed it for a direct measurement of a ground rotation component. Experimental data obtained during simultaneous application of the above two types of sensors are also presented. Research of near-field seismic events, the amplitude of which has been identified in the range of 1.5×10⁻⁶ rad/s to 2×10⁻⁷ rad/s, shows directly that, so-called, seismic rotational waves exist independently of typical seismic waves generated during earthquakes.     

The compensation of the noise due to angular oscillations of the laser beam in the Precision Laser Inclinometer

An experimental method for the compensation of the noise originated by the laser ray angular oscillations was proposed and experimentally proved for the Precision Laser Inclinometer (PLI). The PLI noise spectral density was reduced by factor 30× and reached 10^–8 rad/Hz^1/2 level at the frequency of 5 × 10^–5 Hz. The angular noise of a laser ray leaving the one-mode optical fiber in the vacuum and in stabilized temperature conditions has been measured. The amplitude of the oscillations for one-day observation reached 0.46 μrad.     

Passively mode-locked Nd: YAG and ruby lasers with high brightness per unit active volume

Passively mode-locked Nd: YAG (at room temperature) and ruby (at ≈100 K) lasers with unstable confocal resonators are described. They generated ultrashort pulses with a single pulse energy up to 50 mJ (Nd: YAG) and 50–100 mJ (ruby) and duration ≈40 ps. The active volume was only 5–10 cm³. A beam divergence ≈3 x 10^-4 rad close to the diffraction limit and high brightness of radiation ≈10¹⁷ W cm^-2 srad^-1 were obtained.     

An optical lever for measuring very small rotational oscillations

The optical lever serves to measure small angular displacements. We use one here in conjunction with a twin photodiode and lock-in amplifier to measure the amplitude and phase of a rotational oscillation. This simple combination permits an extremely low noise level; in our experiment the noise level was 10^-13 rad, or .     

Hybrid solvothermal/sonochemical-mediated synthesis of ZnO NPs generative of OH radicals: Photoluminescent approach to evaluate OH scavenging activity of Egyptian and Yemeni Punica granatum arils extract

Zinc oxide NPs were synthesized solvothermally within sonochemical mediation and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, elemental mapping, TEM and UV–vis. spectrophotometry. To evaluate the hydroxyl radicals (OH) scavenging activity of arils extract of Egyptian (EGY-PAM) and Yemeni Punica granatum (YEM-PAM), the developed zinc oxide nano particles (ZnO NPs) as a highly productive source of hydroxyl radicals (under Solar-illumination) was used. The yield of OH was trapped and probed via fluorimetric monitoring. This suits the first sensitive/selective photoluminescent avenue to evaluate the OH scavenging activity. The high percentage of DPPH radical scavenging reflected higher contents of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins that were found in EGY-PAM and YEM-PAM. Although, some secondary metabolites contents were significantly different in EGY-PAM and YEM-PAM, the traditional DPPH radical scavenging methodology revealed insignificant IC₅₀. Unlike, the developed fluorimetric probing, sensitively discriminated the OH scavenging activity with IC₅₀ (105.7 µg/mL) and lower rate of OH productivity (k = 0.031 min⁻¹) in case of EGY-PAM in comparison to IC₅₀ (153.4 µg/mL) and higher rate of OH productivity (k = 0.053 min⁻¹) for YEM-PAM. Our findings are interestingly superior to the TBHQ that is synthetic antioxidant. Moreover, our developed methodology for fluorimetric probing of OH radicals scavenging, recommends EGY-PAM as OH radicals scavenger for diabetic patients while YEM-PAM exhibited a better OH radicals scavenging appropriate for high blood pressure patients. More interestingly, EGY-PAM and YEM-PAM exhibited high anticancer potentiality. The aforementioned OH and DPPH scavenging activities as well as the anticancer potentiality present EGY-PAM and YEM-PAM as promising sources of natural antioxidants, that may have crucial roles in some chronic diseases such as diabetics and hypertension in addition to cancer therapeutic protocols.     

Assay of hydroxyl radicals generated by focused ultrasound

Water sonolysis leads to the formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH). Various techniques are used to detect the OH production and thus to assess the level of ultrasound-mediated cavitation generated in vitro. In this study, we used terephthalic acid (TA) as an OH trap. This method is based on the fluorescent properties of hydroxyterephthalic acid (HTA) formed by the reaction of TA with OH and used as an indicator of the degree of inertial cavitation caused.The experimental system is comprised mainly of a focused piezoelectric ultrasound transmitter and a measurement cell containing 1X PBS/TA diluted solution. In the first part, we aimed to characterize the most appropriate experimental conditions (TA dosimeter solution, irradiation time) in order to optimize the resulting HTA fluorescence values. Then, we could determine that the HTA production increased with the level of the cavitation phenomenon caused by the acoustic power from which OH production may be estimated.     

Hydrogen-assisted fabrication of spherical gold nanoparticles through sonochemical reduction of tetrachloride gold(III) ions in water

Spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were selectively synthesized through sonochemical reduction of tetrachloride gold(III) ions ([AuCl₄]⁻) in an aqueous solution of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) tetrahydrate (HAuCl₄·4H₂O) with the aid of hydrogen (H₂) gas in the absence of any additional capping agents. On the other hand, various shaped-AuNPs such as spherical nanoparticles, triangular and hexagonal plates were formed from sonochemical reduction of [AuCl₄]⁻ in argon (Ar)-, nitrogen (N₂)- or oxygen (O₂)-purged aqueous [AuCl₄]⁻ solutions. The selective fabrication of spherical AuNPs assisted by H₂ gas is most likely attributed to the generation of hydrogen radicals (H) promoted by the reaction of H₂ introduced and hydrogen oxide radicals (OH) produced by sonolysis of water.     

Application of persulfate with hydrodynamic cavitation and ferrous in the decomposition of pentachlorophenol

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) and Fe(II) are advanced oxidation processes, in which pentachlorophenol (PCP) is treated by the redox method of activating persulfate (PS). The kinetics and mechanism of the HC and Fe(II) activation of PS were examined in aqueous solution using an electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping technique and radical trapping with pure compounds. The optimum ratio of Fe(II)/PS was 1:2, and the hydroxyl radical (HO) and sulfate radical (SO₄⁻) generation rate were 5.56 mM h⁻¹ and 8.62 μM h⁻¹, respectively. The generation rate and R_ct of HO and SO₄⁻ at pH 3 and 50 °C in the Fe(II)/PS/HC system are 7584.6 μM h⁻¹, 0.013 and 24.02 μM h⁻¹, 3.95, respectively. The number of radicals was reduced as the pH increased, and it increased with increasing temperature. The PCP reaction rate constants was 4.39 × 10⁻² min⁻¹ at pH 3 and 50 °C. The activation energy was 10.68 kJ mol⁻¹. In addition, the mechanism of PCP treatment in the Fe(II)/PS/HC system was a redox reaction, and the HO⁻/SO₄⁻ contribution was 81.1 and 18.9%, respectively. In this study, we first examined PCP oxidation through HO and SO₄⁻ quantification using only the Fe(II)/PS/HC process. Furthermore, the results provide the foundation for activation of PS by HC and Fe(II), but also provide a data basis for similar organic treatments other than PCP.     

A laser sensor of a seismic slope of the Earth surface

A principally new method of the measurement of a seismic slope of the Earth surface is suggested. The method makes it possible to stabilize the position of the laser beam as a highly extended coordinate axis in the metrological support of the precision construction of large-scale physical installations. The method has been tested experimentally: for the first time, low-frequency periodic angular oscillations have been registered with an amplitude of 5 × 10^?7 rad and the noise registration value of 2.5 × 10^?8 rad. The measurements were taken at CERN, during the construction of the spectrometric complex ATLAS.     

Determination of nitrofurans in feeds based on silver nanoparticle-catalyzed chemiluminescence

A highly sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of nitrofurans (NFs) was developed based on the enhancement of CL intensity of luminol–H₂O₂–NFs system by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). It was supposed that the oxygen-related radicals of OH and superoxide radical (O₂^?) could be produced when NFs reacted with H₂O₂. Furthermore, the enhancement mechanism was originated from the reinforcer of AgNPs, which could catalyze the generation of the OH radical. Then OH radicals reacted with luminol anion and HO₂^? to form luminol radical (L^?) and O₂^?. The excited state 3-aminophthalate anion was obtained in the reaction of L^? and O₂^?, which was the emitter (luminophor) in the luminol–H₂O₂ CL reaction system and the maximal emission of the CL spectrum was at 425 nm. The experiments of scavenging oxygen-related radicals were done to confirm these reactive oxygen species participated in the CL reaction. The limits of detection (LOD) (S/N=3) were 8×10^?7 g mL^?1 for furacilin, 8×10^?8 g mL^?1 for furantoin, 4×10^?8 g mL^?1 for furazolidone and 2×10^?7 g mL^?1 for furaltadone. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of NFs in feeds and pharmaceutical samples.     

Using pulsed wave ultrasound to evaluate the suitability of hydroxyl radical scavengers in sonochemical systems

Hydroxyl radical (OH) scavengers are commonly used in sonochemistry to probe the site and nature of reaction in aqueous cavitational systems. Using pulsed wave (PW) ultrasound with comparative sonochemistry we evaluated the performance of OH scavengers (i.e., formic acid, carbonic acid, terephthalic acid/terephthalate, iodide, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, and acetic acid/acetate) in a sonochemical system to determine which OH scavengers react only in bulk solution and which OH scavengers interact with cavitation bubbles. The ability of each scavenger to interact with cavitation bubbles was assessed by comparing the pulse enhancement (PE) of 10 μM of a probe compound, carbamazepine (CBZ), in the presence and absence of a scavenger. Based on PE results, acetic acid/acetate appears to scavenge OH in bulk solution, and not interact with cavitation bubbles. Methanesulfonate acts as reaction promoter, increasing rather than inhibiting the degradation of CBZ. For formic acid, carbonic acid, terephthalic acid/terephthalate, benzenesulfonate, and iodide, the PE was significantly decreased compared to in the absence of the scavenger. These scavengers not only quench OH in bulk solution but also affect the cavity interface. The robustness of acetic acid/acetate as a bulk OH scavenger was validated for pH values between 3.5 and 8.9 and acetic acid/acetate concentrations from 0.5 to 0.1 M.     

Relative thermoluminescence effects of alpha‐ and beta‐ radiation

Abstract

A study has been made of the relative thermoluminescence response to α- and β-radiation of six phosphors (two types of natural fluorite, CaF₂: Mn, CaF₂: Tb, CaSO₄: Mn and quartz) using samples which are thin compared to the range of the α-particles. The α- and β-radiations induce the same glow peaks, but at low doses (<100 rads) the TL response per rad of α-radiation (3.7 MeV) is less than that per rad of β-radiation in all the glow peaks studied. The α-efficiency ranges from 53 per cent for CaF₂: Mn to 2 per cent for quartz (110°C peak) at 3.7 MeV and decreases with decreasing α-particle energy. At higher doses (10⁶?10⁷ rads) the TL responses to α- and β-radiation become equal within 15 per cent; most of the glow peaks are in or near saturation at these doses. The higher the β-dose at which a peak saturates, the higher is the α-efficiency (at low doses) of that peak. The results support the interpretation that the α-efficiency is low because the phosphor is near or in saturation in the localized region near the α-path. This interpretation is given quantitative support by a theoretical calculation of the localized energy-density.     

Thin layer dye laser amplifier

A simple method to amplify laser radiation is proposed: the divergence is nearly diffraction limited and the intensity distribution profile is gaussian (independent of the spatial parameters of the input signal). The amplification of the laser radiation is achieved using the quasi-waveguide laser of a solution of rhodamin 6G with a concentration of 10^-2 mol/$\text{l}$. A hundred fold intensity amplification with a divergence of 6 × 10^-4 rad is achieved, the latter being only 1.4 times more than the diffraction limited divergence of the system.     

The innovative method of high accuracy interferometric calibration of the Precision Laser Inclinometer

In this report a high accuracy method for an interferometric calibration of the Precision Laser Inclinometer (PLI) is proposed. The method is based on the simultaneous measurement of: (a) the PLI base calibration slope (angle), set by a piezoelectric positioner, via laser interferometry and (b) the PLI response signal. A calibration coefficient of 322.5 ± 1.9 μrad/V has been determined experimentally in an interval [4 × 10^–7, 4 × 10^–6] rad in which there is a linear dependence between the PLI-signal and the calibration angle.     

Mechanism of sonochemical reduction of permanganate to manganese dioxide in aqueous alcohol solutions: Reactivities of reducing species formed by alcohol sonolysis

The sonochemical reduction of MnO₄⁻ to MnO₂ in aqueous solutions was investigated as a function of alcohol concentration under Ar. The rate of MnO₄⁻ reduction initially decreased with increasing alcohol concentration, and then increased when the alcohol concentration was increased further. The concentrations at which the reduction rates were minimum depended on the hydrophobic properties of the added alcohols under ultrasonic irradiation. At low concentrations, the alcohols acted as OH radical scavengers; at high concentrations, they acted as reductant precursors: R_ab, formed by abstraction reactions of the alcohols with sonochemically formed OH radicals or H atoms, and R_py, formed by alcohol pyrolysis under ultrasonic irradiation. The results suggest that the reactivity order of the sonochemically formed reducing species with MnO₄⁻ at pH 7–9 is the sum of H₂O₂ and H > R_py > R_ab. The peak wavelengths of MnO₂ colloidal solutions formed at high 1-butanol concentrations shifted to shorter wavelengths, suggesting the formation of small particles at high 1-butanol concentrations. The rates of sonochemical reduction of MnO₂ to Mn²⁺ in the presence of 1-butanol were slower than that in the absence of 1-butanol, because the sonochemical formation of H₂O₂ and H, which act as reductants, was suppressed by 1-butanol in aqueous solutions.     

Effects of a magnetic field on the optical properties of dielectric mirrors

We have measured the changes in the polarization state of a monochromatic (λ=514.5 nm) light beam on reflection at normal incidence by a multilayer dielectric mirror placed in a time-modulated magnetic field. The dominant effect is a Faraday rotationΦ?3.7×10^?10 rad/G. The sensitivity (around 40Hz) obtained is \( \simeq 6 \times 10^{ - 9} {\text{ rad/}}\sqrt {{\text{Hz}}} \) which is dominated by the shot-noise limit (100 mW of light power).