Similarities in electronic properties of organic charge-transfer solids and layered cobaltates

The apparently counterintuitive carrier concentration-dependent electronic properties of layered cobaltates have attracted wide interest. Here we point out that very similar carrier-concentration dependence has previously been noted in strongly correlated quasi-one dimensional (quasi-1D) organic charge-transfer solids. The normal states of both families can be understood, over the entire range of carrier concentration of interest, within the extended Hubbard Hamiltonian with significant intersite Coulomb interaction. As with the charge-transfer solids, superconductivity in the cobaltates appears to be limited to bandfilling of one-quarter. We point out further that there exist other families of correlated superconductors, such as spinels, where too strong correlations, geometric lattice frustration and bandfilling of one-quarter seem to be the essential features of the unconventional superconductors.     

79Br NMR spectroscopy as a practical tool for kinetic analysis

⁷⁹Br NMR spectroscopy has been used to monitor a series of reactions in which the bromide ion is produced, including the Menschutkin reaction of pyridine with a range of substituted benzyl bromides and a Heck coupling process. In cases where the process could also be monitored using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, the kinetic analyses using heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were shown to be completely consistent. Both the utility of the process in following reactions which may be difficult to analyse using other techniques and the practical limitations associated with solvent choice are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measurement of the flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays from monocular observations by the High Resolution Fly's Eye experiment

We have measured the cosmic ray spectrum above 10(17.2) eV using the two air-fluorescence detectors of the High Resolution Fly's Eye observatory operating in monocular mode. We describe the detector, phototube, and atmospheric calibrations, as well as the analysis techniques for the two detectors. We fit the spectrum to a model consisting of galactic and extragalactic sources.     

The empirical harmonic potential function of diborane

A total of 114 spectroscopic data accumulated from 6 isotopic species of diborane have been used to permit a precise determination of the empirical harmonic potential function to be made for the first time. Of the 33 independent force constants, 30 can be determined with numerical significance. The physical significance of the values is probably best demonstrated by the rather close correspondence throughout with scaled ab initio force constants from two sources, only one rather large disagreement in magnitude being found. The potential function reproduces all known frequency, isotopic frequency shift, Coriolis ζ, and centrifugal distortion Δ data to high accuracy. It is used to calculate parameters which will be of value to further spectroscopic and structural studies, to enable accurate analyses to be made of a number of major Fermi resonance interactions present in the spectra, and to explain the anomalously small Coriolis interaction between the infrared active rocking and wagging fundamentals. The advantages of alternative symmetry coordinate definitions are considered, particularly in relation to making comparisons between diborane and ethylene.