Optical waveguide sensors in analytical chemistry: today’s instrumentation, applications and trends for future development

Current concepts for chemical and biochemical sensing based on detection with optical waveguides are reviewed. The goals are to provide a framework for classifying such sensors and to assist a designer in selecting the most suitable detection techniques and waveguide arrangements. Sensor designs are categorized on the basis of the five parameters that completely describe a light wave: its amplitude, wavelength, phase, polarization state and time-dependent waveform. In the fabrication of a successful sensor, the physical or chemical property of the determined species and the particular light wave parameter to detect it should be selected with care since they jointly dictate the sensitivity, stability, selectivity and accuracy of the eventual measurement. The principle of operation, the nature or the detected optical signal, instrumental requirements for practical applications, and associated problems are analyzed for each category of sensors. Two sorts of sensors are considered: those based on direct spectroscopic detection of the analyte, and those in which the analyte is determined indirectly through use of an analyte-sensitive reagent. Key areas of recent study, useful practical applications, and trends in future development of optical waveguide chemical and biochemical sensors are considered.     

Automated measurement of dye coverage in photographic negatives by flow-injection analysis

A system was designed to automate the determination of three image dyes in an instant photographic material. The method involves extracting negative samples with dimethylsulfoxide and filtering the extract, followed by quantitating the dye coverage (dye per unit area of negative) through a spectrophotometric flow-injection procedure. Significant spectral overlap exists among the dyes, and as a result calculation of coverage requires solving three simultaneous equations. A microcomputer and data acquisition system were employed for controlling the detector and flow-injection system, acquiring and integrating the detector response, calculating coverage, producing and displaying control charts, and automatically transferring results to a VAX based corporate database. In addition to automating sample preparation and measurement steps as much as possible, the goal of this project was to automate the data manipulation and transfer steps.     

Stereochemical assignments of the 7-phenyl-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes

A method for making stereochemical assignments based on nmr data for the 7-phenyl-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-heptanes is described.     

The first pulsar discovered by FAST

<正>To assist with the commissioning [1] of the Five-hundredmeter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), we performed a pulsar search, with the primary goal of developing and testing the pulsar data acquisition and processing pipelines. We tested and used three pipelines, two (P1 and P2 hereafter) searched for the periodic signature of pulsars     

Trace elemental analysis of automotive paints by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS)

Paints and coatings are frequently encountered as types of materials that are submitted to forensic science laboratories as a result of trace evidence transfers. The aim of this study was to develop a method to complement the commonly used techniques in a forensic laboratory in order to better characterize these samples for forensic purposes. A laser ablation method has been used to simultaneously sample several layers directly prior to introduction into an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer for the detection and quantification of the trace metals present in the layer(s). Time-resolved analysis plots displaying the elemental response and quantification of selected metals are compared to associate/discriminate paint samples. Matrix-matched standards were successfully incorporated into the analysis scheme for quantification of lead in the solid paint samples. Preparation of new matrix-matched standards for quantification of additional elements developed for this study are also presented. A sample set of eighteen (18) survey automotive paint samples have been analyzed with the developed method in order to determine the utility of LA-ICP-MS for trace element analysis of paints.     

A class of Hamiltonian regular graphs

In this paper, we show that n ? 4 and if G is a 2-connected graph with 2n or 2n?1 vertices which is regular of degree n?2, then G is Hamiltonian if and only if G is not the Petersen graph.     

Electronic structure of excimer molecular lasers

The electronic structure, potential energy curves, and radiative transition probabilities of excimer systems have been examined using quantum mechanical methods. These molecules are characterized by repulsive or weakly bound ground state potential curves and by bound, strongly ionic, or Rydberg, excited states. They constitute a very interesting class of molecules which offer the possibility for high power, high efficiency UV laser operation. Calculations have been carried out using the density functional SCF -X_α method, modified extensively to correct for well known errors arising from approximations to the potential and exchange terms. A limited number of ab initio calculations were also carried out for comparison purposes. For the ArF system we find that the lowest excited ionic state has symmetry ²∑${}_{\text{½}}^{\text{+}}$ , and that the dominant laser transition observed at 1933 Å should be assigned to B ²∑${}_{\text{½}}^{\text{+}}$ → X ²∑${}_{\text{½}}^{\text{+}}$ . The C ²Π_3/2 → X ²∑${}_{\text{½}}^{\text{+}}$ transition is calculated to be two orders of magnitude smaller in emission intensity than the dominant transition, thus ruling out this assignment for the observed laser line in ArF. Preliminary calculations carried out for Ar₂F indicate that the bound upper ionic state has ²B₂ symmetry and that the most probable ground state also has ²B₂ symmetry. This polyatomic system is predicted to exhibit a broadband emission spectrum with a relatively long radiative lifetime.     

Bond breaking coupled with translation in rolling of covalently bound molecules

The response of a C60 molecule to manipulation across a surface displays a long range periodicity which corresponds to a rolling motion. A period of three or four lattice constants is observed and is accompanied by complex subharmonic structure due to molecular hops through a regular, repeating sequence of adsorption states. Combining experimental data and ab initio calculations, we show that this response corresponds to a rolling motion in which two of the four Si-C60 covalent bonds act as a pivot over which the molecule rotates while moving through one lattice constant and identify a sequence of C60 bonding configurations that accounts for the periodic structure.