Influence of charge carriers on magnetic order in lightly doped manganites, detected by μSR: Evidence for a superparamagnetic transition to the antiferromagnetic state

We detected two spontaneous precession frequencies in antiferromagnetic pure LaMnO₃, the end member of different families of charge-doped manganites. The muon site and local field orientation are identified for one frequency, which provides a measure of the staggered magnetization. We present additional zero and longitudinal field muon relaxation data on an LaMnO_3.045 sample in which a new regime appears above an intermediate temperatureT*, where regions of magnetic order coexist with domains of fluctuating moments. These results are discussed in terms of nucleation of the ordered phase in a superparamagnetic matrix.     

Order and dynamics of molecular reorientations in norbornene: What μSR,NMR and neutrons can say

We present results from μSR and NMR on norbornene single crystals. The first two techniques provide a measure of the only non-zero rank-2 molecular order parameter in the plastic phase. Its non-vanishing value proves that molecular reorientations are not isotropic, its uniqueness indicates negligible biaxiality and its temperature dependence suggests anisotropic rotational diffusion. Preliminary analysis of single crystal IQNS supports this picture.     

Evaluation of hematoma by MRI in follow-up of aorto-femoral bypass

We selected a population of 20 patients with atherosclerotic disease, submitted to implantation of aorto-femoral bypass graft. These patients were studied by MRI with T1- and T2-weighted sequences (w.s.) using a 0.5 T superconductive magnet. Investigation was performed at 1 wk, 1, 3, and 6 mo after dacron implantation, to evaluate the normal evolution of hematoma and the potential development of complications. At the first week examination, hematoma presented medium signal intensity on T1 w.s. and high signal intensity on T2 w.s.; at 1 mo control the amount of hematoma was slightly reduced and we found persistence of high signal intensity on T2 w.s.; progressive reduction of size and signal intensity on T2 w.s. was noted at 3 mo control, in patients operated for peripheral vascular disease; on the other hand we found persistence of high signal intensity in T2 w.s. in patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysms; only after 6 mo it was evident in all patients fibrotic evolution of the collection and low signal intensity in both T1 and T2 w.s. Thus, MRI study was useful in the evaluation of patency, morphology, and in detection of intraluminal thrombosis, but also in the characterization of periprosthetic hematoma.     

Production of pulsed ultraslow muons and first μSR experiments on thin metallic and magnetic films

Standard muon spin rotation (μSR) spectroscopy implants 4 MeV spin-polarized positive muons to investigate the bulk properties of matter. Success in producing epithermal muons opens interesting possibilities for studying ultrathin films, interfaces, and even surfaces. At the ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Chilton, UK), we have produced a pulsed ultraslow muon beam (E< 20 eV) and have performed the first μSR experiments. Due to the pulsed feature, the implantation time is automatically determined and, by adjusting the final muon energy between about 8 and 20 eV, depth slicing experiments are possible down to monolayers distances. We describe slicing experiments across a 20 nm copper film on quartz substrate with evidence for a 2 nm copper oxide surface layer. A preliminary experiment on a hexagonal cobalt film suggests the existence of muon precession in the local magnetic field. The results are discussed in relation to the morphological features of the film.     

Self-assembling of Mn12 molecular nanomagnets on FIB-patterned Au dot matrix

We have developed a novel strategy to build arrays of magnetic nanodots on the 100 nm scale, which exploits the potentialities of both bottom-up and top-down approaches, by self-assembling sulfur-functionalized Mn12 single molecule magnets (SMMs) on patterned Au dot matrices nanofabricated by FIB (focus ion beam). In this way, we demonstrate the capability to assemble SMMs in ordered arrays, where the magnetic information can be easily addressed, being the single bit represented by a 2D distribution of few hundred Mn12 clusters, grafted on top of each 100 × 100 nm² Au dot. Moreover, the chosen Mn12 functionalization is expected to favour a preferential orientation of the grafted molecule with the easy magnetization axis normal to the surface.     

Hydration properties and potentials of mean force of nonpolar amino acid residues in water: a pertubation theoretic approach

We use a perturbation approach to calculate the solute-solvent and solute-solute pair correlations for infinitely dilute solutions of nonpolar amino acid side chains in water. In particular, from the solute-solute correlations we derive potentials of mean force for all the distances between different residues of amino acids. Comparison with molecular dynamics simulations performed using GROMOS package shows that the goodness of the approximation varies with the amino acid considered. We discuss in terms of hydrophobicity the different effect that the inclusion of the attractions causes on the solute-water and solute-solute correlations.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm evaluation: comparison of US, CT, MRI, and angiography

We studied 26 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US), and angiography. Data acquired were compared to those obtained at surgery. Diameter of the aneurysm was correctly defined in all cases by CT and MRI, while angiography underestimated the diameter of lesions without peripheral calcifications. Involvement of renal arteries was present in four cases and correctly diagnosed with MRI and angiography in all of them. CT did provide this information in three cases and US were not useful. Also, iliac arteries involvement was depicted by CT, MRI, and angiography in 10 out of 10 patients. Coronal sections of MRI provided comparable images to those of angiography. By comparing these different techniques we verified the good reliability of MRI as investigation tool for an accurate evaluation of aneurysms; its only limit lying in the poor capability of detecting calcifications.     

An INAA study of trace elements in hair samples from two children on different sampling dates

A study of trace elements in hair samples from two children of different sex on different sampling dates has been carried out using INAA. Using several combinations of irradiation, cooling and counting times, about thirty elements were quantitatively determined. Some conclusions could be drawn from the data obtained.Visiting scientist in ENEA C.R.E. Casaccia, Rome, Italy during 1989.