H<Superscript>+</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">and He</Emphasis><Superscript>2+</Superscript> impact single and double ionization of lead

H⁺ and He²⁺ impact single and double ionization cross sections of ground state lead atoms have been calculated in the binary encounter approximation. Calculations of direct double ionization cross sections have been performed in the modified double binary encounter model. The accurate expressions of σ_ΔE (cross-section for energy transfer ΔE) and Hartree-Fock velocity distributions for the target electrons have been used throughout the calculations. Contributions to double ionization from Auger effect following ionization of inner shells have been considered in the present work. Our H⁺ impact single and double ionization cross sections are in good agreement with the experimental observations. In calculations of He²⁺ impact cross sections, the present theoretical approach shows limited success in the experimentally investigated region (50–350 keV amu^-1).     

Determination of the amplitude and the phase of the elements of electric cross-spectral density matrix by spectral measurements

The amplitudes and the phases of the elements of electric cross-spectral density matrix are determined experimentally for a pair of points in the cross-section of an expanded laser beam. A modified version of the Young’s interferometer is used as an experimental tool, which separates the beams emerging from the double-slit widely and provides ease in insertion of polarizers and half wave rotators in individual beams. To determine these complex elements of the cross-spectral density matrix, the experimentally obtained values of the spectral densities at an off-axis point are put in the mathematical expressions derived by us using the spectral interference law. The four complex generalized Stokes parameters are also determined using the linear combinations of the matrix elements. This unique but simple experimental approach for determining both the two-point parameters might provide a means to investigate the polarization and the coherence properties of the random electromagnetic beams on propagation.     

Physical properties of polycrystalline Ni52Mn26Al22 around martensitic transformation

Electrical resistivity and magnetic properties on Ni₅₂Mn₂₆Al₂₂ polycrystalline Heusler alloy are investigated in detail. The progress of transformation of this alloy was also followed by heat flux measurements. The transformations were found to be broad and hysteretic. Using Deng & Ansell’s phenomenological theory, the energy consumed for phase boundary motion in this polycrystalline alloy was found to be (31.5 J/mol). The broad transition as compared to Ni–Mn–Ga observed in this polycrystalline alloy, is discussed in light of a phenomenological model.     

The enhancement effect in K-shell radiative recombination of \mbox{\sffamily\bfseries U}^{\hbox{\sffamily\bfseries\fontsize{10}{12}\selectfont 92+}} ions with cooling electrons

We report the results of the x-ray radiative recombination (RR) experiment at the electron cooler of the ESR storage ring performed, for the first time, for detuned (off-cooling) electron energies. In this experiment the recombination of stored, decelerated bare uranium ions with electrons in the energy range 0–1000 meV was studied by observing K-RR x-ray photons emitted from direct radiative recombination to the lowest n=1 state. In this way the RR process was studied in a state selective manner for several off-cooling electron energies. The measured dependency of the recombination rate on the relative electron energies for K-shell RR x-ray photons are compared with the predictions of both nonrelativistic and fully relativistic calculations for the radiative recombination. A role of the relativistic effects, which contribute substantially for higher relative electron energies, are discussed. Strong enhancement of the recombination rate is observed for the the zero relative electron energy (cooling condition) for the K-shell.     

The dehydratase activity of lacticin 481 synthetase is highly processive

Lacticin 481 synthetase (LctM) is a bifunctional enzyme that undertakes dehydration and cyclization in the structural region of the pre-lacticin peptide (LctA) to introduce three thioether rings and one dehydrobutyrine residue. The order and timing of these events has been investigated employing high-resolution ESI-FTMS-based tandem MS/MS techniques and chemical derivatization. LctM demonstrates highly processive behavior as seen by MS analysis of the reaction course of dehydration. Furthermore, cyclization is not tightly coupled to dehydration and follows at a later stage of the enzymatic reaction.     

Structurally integrated organic light emitting device-based sensors for gas phase and dissolved oxygen

A compact photoluminescence (PL)-based O2 sensor utilizing an organic light emitting device (OLED) as the light source is described. The sensor device is structurally integrated. That is, the sensing element and the light source, both typically thin films that are fabricated on separate glass substrates, are attached back-to-back. The sensing elements are based on the oxygen-sensitive dyes Pt- or Pd-octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP or PdOEP, respectively), which are embedded in a polystyrene (PS) matrix, or dissolved in solution. Their performance is compared to that of a sensing element based on tris(4,7-diphenyl-l,10-phenanthroline) Ru II (Ru(dpp)) embedded in a sol-gel film. A green OLED light source, based on tris(8-hydroxy quinoline Al (Alq3), was used to excite the porphyrin dyes; a blue OLED, based on 4,4'-bis(2,2'-diphenylviny1)-1,1'-biphenyl, was used to excite the Ru(dpp)-based sensing element. The O2 level was monitored in the gas phase and in water, ethanol, and toluene solutions by measuring changes in the PL lifetime tau of the O2-sensitive dyes. The sensor performance was evaluated in terms of the detection sensitivity, dynamic range, gas flow rate, and temperature effect, including the temperature dependence of tau in pure Ar and O2 atmospheres. The dependence of the sensitivity on the preparation procedure of the sensing film and on the PS and dye concentrations in the sensing element, whether a solid matrix or solution, were also evaluated. Typical values of the detection sensitivity in the gas phase, S(g) identical with tau(0% O2)/tau(100% O2), at 23 degrees C, were approximately 35 to approximately 50 for the [Alq3 OLED[/[PtOEP dye] pair; S(g) exceeded 200 for the Alq3/PdOEP sensor. For dissolved oxygen (DO) in water and ethanol, S(DO) (defined as the ratio of tau in de-oxygenated and oxygen-saturated solutions) was approximately 9.5 and approximately 11, respectively, using the PtOEP-based film sensor. The oxygen level in toluene was measured with PtOEP dissolved directly in the solution. That sensor exhibited a high sensitivity, but a limited dynamic range. Effects of aggregation of dye molecules, sensing film porosity, and the use of the OLED-based sensor arrays for O2 and multianalyte detection are also discussed.     

Scaled particle theory for hard sphere pairs. I. Mathematical structure

We develop an extension of the original Reiss-Frisch-Lebowitz scaled particle theory that can serve as a predictive method for the hard sphere pair correlation function g(r). The reversible cavity creation work is analyzed both for a single spherical cavity of arbitrary size, as well as for a pair of identical such spherical cavities with variable center-to-center separation. These quantities lead directly to a prediction of g(r). Smooth connection conditions have been identified between the small-cavity situation where the work can be exactly and completely expressed in terms of g(r), and the large-cavity regime where macroscopic properties become relevant. Closure conditions emerge which produce a nonlinear integral equation that must be satisfied by the pair correlation function. This integral equation has a structure which straightforwardly generates a solution that is a power series in density. The results of this series replicate the exact second and third virial coefficients for the hard sphere system via the contact value of the pair correlation function. The predicted fourth virial coefficient is approximately 0.6% lower than the known exact value. Detailed numerical analysis of the nonlinear integral equation has been deferred to the subsequent paper.     

Effect of Sn doping on the martensitic and premartensitic transitions in Ni2MnGa

The effect of Sn doping at the Ga site of Ni₂MnGa is investigated through magnetic and magneto-transport measurements. Clear signatures of martensitic and premartensitic transitions are observed in the pure as well as in 5% Sn doped alloy. For 10% Sn doping, the martensitic transition vanishes, while the premartensitic transition remains visible at low temperature. All the samples are found to have a ferromagnetic ground state with saturation moment decreasing with increasing Sn concentration. The magnetocaloric effect near the martensitic transition in the pure and 5% Sn doped samples is found to be positive. However, the entropy change is found to decrease with increasing magnetic field, which is particularly prominent in the undoped sample. The samples also show negative magnetoresistance with anomalies at the martensitic and premartensitic transition points.     

Disorder induced phase transition in kinetic models of opinion dynamics

We propose a model of continuous opinion dynamics, where mutual interactions can be both positive and negative. Different types of distributions for the interactions, all characterized by a single parameter p$p$ denoting the fraction of negative interactions, are considered. Results from exact calculation of a discrete version and numerical simulations of the continuous version of the model indicate the existence of a universal continuous phase transition at p=_pc$p=p_c$ below which a consensus is reached. Although the order–disorder transition is analogous to a ferromagnetic–paramagnetic phase transition with comparable critical exponents, the model is characterized by some distinctive features relevant to a social system.