An experimental test of exchange degeneracy in the hyperchange exchange reactions π+p→K+Σ+and K−→π−Σ+

For the first time, the line reversed reactions π⁺p→K⁺Σ⁺and K^?p→π^?Σ⁺ have been studied in the same apparatus. We present the differential cross sections and polarizations over a large t range and at two momenta, 7.0 and 10.1 GeV/c. The differential cross sections as a function of t are shown for the first time to cross over. Going from the lower to the higher momentum, the differences in cross section between the two reactions diminish at low |t| by about a factor 2. We find large polarizations of opposite sign for the two reactions. The momentum dependence, presented in the form of α_eff(t) for the t range 0 to ?2 (GeV/c)², is compared with the expectations from the K¹?K⁷ trajectory.     

Accommodation of oxygen loss in WO3 equilibrated with CO + CO2 buffers

Tungsten trioxide reduced at about 1270 K by means of controlled atmospheres (P₀₂ = 3.7 · 10^?8 to 1.7 · 10^?13 atm) was studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and X-ray powder diffraction. The accommodation of oxygen loss in the parent WO₃ lattice in the range WO₃ to WO_2.72 was clarified. The results indicate a solid state mechanism. Intergrowth has been found to take place between several of the structural types that occur in this composition range. The intergrowth features include directional changes in shear plane arrays (“swinging shear planes”). Details of the structural variation with the oxygen content are reported. Ordered shear planes on {102} directions were found to stabilize the orthorhombic WO₃ parent lattice at room temperature. W₂₄O₆₈ has been prepared in a fairly well-defined state.     

Uniform molecular analysis using femtosecond laser mass spectrometry

The potential of femtosecond laser time-of-flight mass spectrometry (FLMS) for uniform quantitative analysis of molecules has been investigated. Various samples of molecular gases and vapours have been studied, using ultra-fast ( approximately 50 fs) laser pulses with very high intensity (up to 1.6 x 10(16) Wcm(-2)) for non-resonant multiphoton ionisation/tunnel ionisation. Some of these molecules have high ionisation potentials, requiring up to ten photons for non-resonant ionisation. The relative sensitivity factors (RSF) have been determined as a function of the laser intensity and it has been demonstrated that for molecules with very different masses and ionisation potentials, uniform ionisation has been achieved at the highest laser intensities. Quantitative laser mass spectrometry of molecules is therefore a distinct possibility. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical Measurements of Optogenetically Stimulated Quantal Amine Release from Single Nerve Cell Varicosities in Drosophila Larvae

The nerve terminals found in the body wall of Drosophila melanogaster larvae are readily accessible to experimental manipulation. We used the light‐activated ion channel, channelrhodopsin‐2, which is expressed by genetic manipulation in Type II varicosities to study octopamine release in Drosophila. We report the development of a method to measure neurotransmitter release from exocytosis events at individual varicosities in the Drosophila larval system by amperometry. A microelectrode was placed in a region of the muscle containing a varicosity and held at a potential sufficient to oxidize octopamine and the terminal stimulated by blue light. Optical stimulation of Type II boutons evokes exocytosis of octopamine, which is detected through oxidization at the electrode surface. We observe 22700±4200 molecules of octopamine released per vesicle. This system provides a genetically accessible platform to study the regulation of amine release at an intact synapse.     

A study of the reactions π+p→ K+∑+ and K−p→π−∑+ at 10 GeV/c

For the first time, the reactions π⁺p→K⁺∑⁺ and K^?p→π^?∑⁺ have been studied in the same apparatus. This has been done at an adequately high momentum (10.1 GeV/c) to allow a check of the prediction of exchange degeneracy, that the differential cross sections should be converging at high energy. We have measured the cross section for momentum transfers t between t_min and t = ?0.3 (GeV/c)². We find that for both reactions the differential cross section shows an exponential fall, with no deviations right in to t =t_min (where some other experiments have shown a dip in the cross section). Furthermore, we find the magnitude of the differential cross sections to be closely similar at t = 0, with a ratio

$\text{R=}\text{(}\text{d}\text{σ}\text{d}\text{t)}{}_{\mathrm{t=0}}\text{(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→π}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{∑}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}\text{(}\text{d}\text{σ}\text{d}\text{t)}{}_{\mathrm{t=0}}\text{(π}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{p}\text{→}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{∑}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$

However, the slope for the positive reaction is about 19% steeper than that for the negative reaction.