Mössbauer study of a novel series of ternary rare-earth iron-rich intermetallics: ND(Fe1-xTi x )6+y(x ∼ 0.1 and 0≤y≤5)

A study of the Nd-Fe-Ti phases at the Fe-rich end of the phase diagram has been carried out using⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). In particular,⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used to characterize the phases present in these samples. In addition to the two well-known 217 and 112 phases, twonovel phases have been identified, with compositions denoted by3–29 and9–94, which are closely linked to the orthorhombic ScFe₆Ga₆-type and the hexagonal TbCu₇-type structures, respectively. The possible crystal structures of these new phases will be discussed in terms of the dumbbell substitution sequence in the CaCu₅ structure.     

Global energy spectra of bands and density of states in a class of two-tile systems

Electronic properties of a general class of one-dimensional two-tile systems are calculated exactly. The systems containing periodic crystals, generalized Fibonacci quasicrystals, generalized Thue-Morse aperiodic lattices and even other two-tile aperiodic lattices, can be divided into two different families which are constructed by the inflation rules: {A, B}{A ^m11 B ^m12,A ^m21 B ^m22} and {A, B}{A ⁿ¹¹ B ⁿ¹²,B ⁿ²¹ A ⁿ²²}, respectively. As typical examples, global spectra of bands and density of states in some two-tile aperiodic systems are numerically calculated. Some interesting properties are obtained.     

Mechanism transition of self-pumped phase conjugation in KTa1 −xNbxO3:Fe crystals

Mechanism transitions of Self-Pumped Phase Conjugation (SPPC) with wavelength and doping concentration are observed in KTN:Fe (KTa_{1 –x} Nb _x O₃:Fe with _x = 0.48) crystals. The SPPC mechanism in KTN: Fe (0.4 wt. %) crystal transforms from Stimulated Photorefractive Backscattering and Four-Wave Mixing (SPB-FWM) to cat (or total internal reflection) as the wavelength increases from 514.5 nm to 620 nm. SPPC at 514.5 nm is formed with the cat mechanism in a 0.2 wt. % doped KTN:Fe crystal, while with the SPB-FWM mechanism in a 0.4 wt. % doped one. These mechanism transitions are discussed with respect to the dependence of the backscattering gain coefficient of the crystals on wavelength and doping concentration.     

Origin and manifestation of the anharmonic potential felt by an ion-cloud in an actual Paul trap

The anharmonic potential felt by a single-species ions confined in a rf quadrupole trap which results from a non-ideal trap configuration and the charge distribution of the ion cloud is studied. The rf resonance-absorption spectra are explained by a Duffing oscillator and a representation of the line-shape parameter is derived. For > 0.77, the electric signals will exhibit hysteresis. The relation with the anharmonic potential is discussed.     

Full wave electromagnetic simulation of electrooptic high-speed probes

This paper outlines the process of modelling external electrooptic probes mounted on coplanar waveguides (CPW). The techniques used to describe the electromagnetic properties of the external probes are the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and the finite difference transmission line method (FDTLM). These full wave techniques are time domain in nature that must be Fourier transformed to describe important frequency domain characteristics such as scattering parameters. The optical retardation of the probe is related to the full wave analysis through a commonly used grid size that results in a generalized basis for a complete electrooptic system analysis including a unique definition of an electrooptic transfer function,H(). Following the field simulation, the properties of the probe (invasiveness, retardation, signal distortion and group delay) are presented. Procedures for optimizing models for probe tips are discussed and related to a first-order model that has been developed. The results indicate that these probes can be simulated successfully on moderately sized Unix work stations and that the optimization of probe models must include the full wave simulation in the definition of the necessary gradients for the optimization process.     

Separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with aqueous short-chain alcohol solvent

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with aqueous organic solvent has been developed to separate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Methanol, ethanol or propanol as an organic modifier was added to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar solution in order to increase the solubility of very hydrophobic solutes in mobile phase. Both methanol and ethanol can be used as co-solvents for the separation of PAHs. Use of ethanol resulted in a shorter analysis time than use of methanol. The separations of some PAHs were unsatisfactory using propanol although the analysis time was much shorter than with ethanol. The influence of ethanol content, SDS concentration and temperature on the separations was studied. Benzene and nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were successfully separated using 50 mM SDS-20 mM phosphate-5 mM borate, containing 40% (v/v) ethanol at 35 degrees C. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of t(R) ranged from 0.5 to 1.5% for six repeat injections.     

TheΛ b →Λ c decay form factors

The recently measured cross-sections for diffractive dissociation of nuclei in high-energy proton nucleus (pA) collisions show a strikingA ^1/3 dependence on the target massA. Such a dependence emerges from an optical model which incorporates a simple mechanism to produce the absorption fluctuations required for inelastic diffraction. The observed momentum transfer (t) dependence of the differential cross-section, dσ/dt∝ exp(?B|t|), is described in terms of a correlation length \(R_F = \sqrt {2B} \) of the absorption fluctuations which turns out to be of the size of a nucleon. The excitation massM dependence, dσ/dM ²∝M ^?2, is explained by a bremsstrahlung mechanism.     

Study of occupational health impact of atmospheric pollution on exposed workers at an iron and steel complex by using neutron activation analysis of scalp hair

The occupational health impact of atmospheric pollution on exposed workers at one iron and steel complex was studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis of workers' hair samples and medical examination. The experimental results indicate that there is a positive correlation between the high inhalation amounts of iron and other trace elements by the exposed workers and the symptom of their high blood pressure and hypoglycemia, which implies that the atmospheric environment polluted by iron and steel industry has an adverse health impact on the exposed workers. The measures to relieve and abate the occupational diseases caused by air-borne particulate matter should be taken     

NMR determination of absolute site-specific natural isotope ratios of hydrogen in organic molecules. Analytical and mechanistic applications

It has been shown that the “internal” isotope distribution within a given molecular species at the natural abundance level is accessible by a new method, SNIF-NMR, which is based on deuterium NMR. Relative internal factors, R_i/j,have been defined which enable the isotope content of a given site, i, to be compared to that of another molecular site, j, taken as the reference. Several referencing methods intended to provide direct access to relative $\text{externals}$, T_i , and $\text{absolute}$, (D/H)_i , site-specific parameters, are now discussed from both the theoretical and the experimental points of view. In the $\text{intramolecular referencing method}$, which involves a time-consuming chemical transformation of the sample, the risk exists of more or leas systematic errors resulting from discriminating fractionation effects. However this technique offers, conversely, an interesting way of investigating kinetic isotope effects without the need for specific labelling. In spite of its lower spectral precision the $\text{external referencing method}$ has the advantage of being fast and less sensitive to systematic errois and may be used for direct rough routine determinations of the site-specific isotope contents. More precise results can be obtained, at the price of contaminating the sample, when an $\text{intermolecular reference}$ is added and signal heights are used, remembering however that the intensity parameters then have no strict physical meaning in terms of absolute isotope contents. The site-specific parameters, T_i and (D/H)_i thus accessible, provide new information on the mechanisms of the fractionation effects occurring in natural conditions and examples are considered.     

Tandem mass spectrum of a farnesyl transferase inhibitor--gas-phase rearrangements involving imidazole

Compound 1 (1-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-[1-(4-cyanobenzyl)imidazolylmethyl]-2-piperazinone hydrochloride) is a farnesyl transferase inhibitor intended for treatment of cancer. A detailed analysis of the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry data of protonated 1 shows that in the gas phase, upon collision-induced dissociation, this ion undergoes complicated rearrangement and fragmentation. These processes include a novel two-step rearrangement. The first step involves a gas-phase intramolecular S(N)2 reaction that forms an intermediate. The second step consists of three competitive rearrangement/fragmentation pathways of the intermediate, giving rise to protonated 2, protonated methylene-imidazole, and a distonic methylimidazole radical cation. Deuterated 1 was studied under the same experimental conditions, and the results strongly support the proposed two-step rearrangement process. It is noted that the unique structure of 1, especially the imidazole ring of 1, plays a critical role in the rearrangement of protonated 1.