Interaction of Two Charges in a Uniform Magnetic Field: II. Spatial Problem

The interaction of two charges moving in ℝ³ in a magnetic field B can be formulated as a Hamiltonian system with six degrees of freedom. Assuming that the magnetic field is uniform and the interaction potential has rotation symmetry, we reduce this system to one with three degrees of freedom. For special values of the conserved quantities, choices of parameters or restriction to the coplanar case, we obtain systems with two degrees of freedom. Specialising to the case of Coulomb interaction, these reductions enable us to obtain many qualitative features of the dynamics. For charges of the same sign, the gyrohelices either “bounce-back”, “pass-through”, or exceptionally converge to coplanar solutions. For charges of opposite signs, we decompose the state space into “free” and “trapped” parts with transitions only when the particles are coplanar. A scattering map is defined for those trajectories that come from and go to infinite separation along the field direction. It determines the asymptotic parallel velocities, guiding centre field lines, magnetic moments and gyrophases for large positive time from those for large negative time. In regimes where gyrophase averaging is appropriate, the scattering map has a simple form, conserving the magnetic moments and parallel kinetic energies (in a frame moving along the field with the centre of mass) and rotating or translating the guiding centre field lines. When the gyrofrequencies are in low-order resonance, however, gyrophase averaging is not justified and transfer of perpendicular kinetic energy is shown to occur. In the extreme case of equal gyrofrequencies, an additional integral helps us to analyse further and prove that there is typically also transfer between perpendicular and parallel kinetic energy.      

Inverse photoinduced electron transfer in large betaine molecules

We have used ab initio methods to confirm the existence of an inversion in the photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer in large conjugated pyridinium betaines, by examining compounds where an imidazole ring and a pyridinic group are connected by polyenic chains of increasing size. As these intermediary conjugated bridges get longer, an unusual net charge transfer is observed. The conjugated chain becomes a channel for the photoinduced electronic density flow, and the amount of charge at the donor and acceptor groups is reduced, while an inversion in the spatial localization of the frontier orbitals occurs. We discuss the corresponding implications on the nonlinear optical, photochemical and solvatochromic properties of these molecules.     

Alkaline metal oxoantimonates(III), A3[SbO3] (A = K or Cs)

The two title trialkaline trioxoantimonates(III), tripotassium trioxoantimonate(III), K₃[SbO₃], (I), and tricaesium trioxo­antimonate(III), Cs₃[SbO₃], (II), crystallize in the cubic Na₃[AsS₃] structure type in space group P2₁3. The structures show discrete Ψ-tetrahedral [SbO₃]³⁻ anions with C_3v point-group symmetry. The Sb—O distances are 1.923 (4) Å in (I) and 1.928 (2) Å in (II), and the O—Sb—O bond angles are 99.5 (2)° in (I) and 100.4 (1)° in (II).     

Synthesis of a mitochondria-targeted spin trap using a novel Parham-type cyclization

A new cyclic nitrone spin trap, [4-(3′,3′-dibutyl-2′-oxy-3′H-isoindol-5′-yloxy)butyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide (MitoSpin), bearing a lipophilic cation has been prepared by a route that involves a novel Parham-type lithiation-cyclization of an isocyanate to give the isoindolinone core. MitoSpin accumulates in a membrane potential dependent way in energized mitochondria and its oxidation could potentially be used in the study of oxidative stress resulting from reactive oxygen species generated in mitochondria.     

Thionicotinamide SAM on Gold: Adsorption Studies and Electroactivity

STM and impedance results of the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) formed with thionicotinamide (TNA) on gold indicate the presence of defects that increase with the immersion time of the electrode in the TNA solution affecting the SAM electroactivity toward the electron transfer reaction of the cytochrome c metalloprotein and [Fe(CN)₆]^4? and [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ complexes. It was observed that this electroactivity was also affected by the pH of the electrolyte solution. SERS and STM data indicate sulfur coordination to the surface with contribution of the NH₂ group. From the dependence of the TNA surface coverage on the temperature and concentration in solution, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were determined.     

Barium oxoaluminate hydride

The crystal structure of Ba₃(AlO₄)H is isotypic with Ba₃SiS₅ and contains AlO₄^5? and H^? anions. The hydride and oxide anions are coordinated by six Ba and five Ba/one Al atoms in an octahedral geometry. The hydrogen content was ex­amined by MAS–NMR experiments of the deuterated compound.     

Kinetic 12C/13C isotope fractionation by invertase: evidence for a small in vitro isotope effect and comparison of two techniques for the isotopic analysis of carbohydrates

The natural ¹³C/¹²C isotope composition (δ¹³C) of plants and organic compounds within plant organs is a powerful tool to understand carbon allocation patterns and the regulation of photosynthetic or respiratory metabolism. However, many enzymatic fractionations are currently unknown, thus impeding our understanding of carbon trafficking pathways within plant cells. One of them is the ¹²C/¹³C isotope effect associated with invertases (EC 3.2.1.26) that are cornerstone enzymes for Suc metabolism and translocation in plants. Another conundrum of isotopic plant biology is the need to measure accurately the specific δ¹³C of individual carbohydrates. Here, we examined two complementary methods for measuring the δ¹³C value of sucrose, glucose and fructose, that is, off‐line high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification followed by elemental analysis and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA‐IRMS) analysis, and gas chromatography‐combustion (GC‐C)‐IRMS. We also used these methods to determine the in vitro ¹²C/¹³C isotope effect associated with the yeast invertase. Our results show that, although providing more variable values than HPLC～EA‐IRMS, and being sensitive to derivatization conditions, the GC‐C‐IRMS method gives reliable results. When applied to the invertase reaction, both methods indicate that the ¹²C/¹³C isotope effect is rather small and it is not affected by the use of heavy water (D₂O). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum electronic transport: Linear and nonlinear conductance from the Keldysh approach

This is a review of the derivation of the Landauer conductance using the Keldysh non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism and the equations-of-motion (EOM) method. We consider the elastic quantum electronic transport through a multi-lead device and treat the conductor in the mean-field approximation. This is suitable for open quantum dots as well as for several molecular systems where charging effects are negligible. The focus of the presentation is to unveil the technical issues involved in the formalism. We show how the Landauer conductance emerges as a linear term in the current-voltage I-V characteristics and indicate how to go beyond this regime. We address the connection of the NEGF approach to recent developments in molecular transport and discuss the problems that arise when one tries to include interaction effects beyond the mean field.