Book reviews

Please forward books for review to the book review editor: Magdolna Hargittai, Structural Chemistry Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös University, H-1431 Budapest, Pf. 117, Hungary     

Differentiation and electron ionization-induced isomerization of 4,5-Bis(alkylthio)-1,3-dithiole-2-thiones and 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones

The electron impact ionization mass spectra of 4,5-bis(alkylthio)-1,3-dithiole-2-thiones and their 1,2-dithiole-3-thione isomers were studied by accurate mass measurements and linked scans. The relative abundance of ions formed following the extrusion of S₂, CS or CS₂ allows an unambiguous isomer differentiation. Isomerization of molecular ions was studied by means of metastable ion analysis and collision-induced dissociation. The order of reactivity was analogous to that observed in isomerization under photochemical conditions.     

Proximity effects in mass spectrometry. Electron impact ionization-induced cyclization of 1,2-bis(1,4-dithiafulven-6-yl)benzenes

The electron impact ionization mass spectra of o-, m- and p-bis(1,4-dithiafulven-6-yl)benzenes were studied by means of accurate mass measurements, metastable analysis and collision-induced dissociation. Differences observed in the spectra of the ortho isomers are due to a cyclization reaction leading to molecular ions with the same structure as those generated from certain cyclic compounds, as confirmed by comparison of linked scans at constant B/E of metastable and collisionally activated molecular ions. Parallels of this cyclization of molecular ions with their electrochemical or acid-induced isomerization are also discussed.     

Electrochemical characterization of composite membranes based on crown-ethers intercalated into montmorillonite

Oxyethylene macrocyclic compounds (crown-ethers) act as ligands of intracrystalline cations of certain layered silicates as montmorillonites. Stable intercalation materials are formed which are used to prepare organic-inorganic membranes by encapsulating these intercalation compounds with a poly-butadiene thin coating. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is used to study the resulting composite membranes in contact with aqueous electrolytes. From the impedance plots, the ionic resistance of the membranes is obtained. The thickness of the polybutadiene coating is an important factor determining the ability of ions to pass across the membrane. Marked differences in the ionic resistance are observed as a function of the nature of the interlayer macrocyclic compound. For non-intercalated montmorillonite membranes, the ionic resistance is strongly reduced, whereas for some crown-ether intercalated materials such as 18-crown-6 and dibenzo 24-crown-8, iono-selective membranes are obtained. Concerning the nature of the electrolyte, cations exhibiting greater hydration energies show higher difficulties to pass through the membrane and, consequently, the ionic resistance increases.     

A Characterization of Cosmological Time Functions

A characterization of time functions on a spacetime is made by using theMöbius equation. It is shown that a time function characterized in this wayyields past timelike geodesic incompleteness and local Lorentzian warpedproduct decomposition of spacetime, provided that the stress-energy tensoris a fluid. Also, by imposing additional assumptions on the stress-energytensor and global analytic structure of the spacetime, more restrictivedecompositions closer to Robertson–Walker spacetimes are obtained.     

Characterization of high-order harmonic radiation on femtosecond and attosecond time scales

We characterize the temporal structure of high-order harmonic radiation on both the femtosecond and attosecond time scales. The harmonic emission is characterized by mixed-color two-photon ionization with an infrared femtosecond laser using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer where both pump and probe arms travel completely separate paths. In a first experiment, we measure the duration and chirp of individual harmonics. In a second experiment, we resolve, for the first time with this type of setup, the attosecond beating of several harmonics generated under conditions similar to the first experiment. We suggest that the results of both measurements can be combined to determine the full attosecond time structure of the harmonic emission. PACS 32.80.Rm; 42.65.Ky     

A note about the Gaussian property of the Brownian bridge

The Gaussian property of the Brownian bridge is characterized as an application of Ramachandran's theorem in terms of the independence of the random variables that appear in the Karhunen-Loéve expansion of the process. A reference about the construction of the Brownian bridge by means of functional transformations is also included.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis

Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) we have studied thermal degradation for a system containing a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,3-bisaminomethylcylohexane (1,3-BAC). The changes of dynamic mechanical properties during thermal degradation indicated a shift of the glass transition temperature (T _g) to higher temperatures and a decrease in the peak value of the dynamic loss factor (tan δ) with an increasing of aging time. The value of dynamic storage modulus (E′) at the rubbery state showed an increase with aging time, whiteE′ at the glassy state only underwent a moderate change with increased thermal degradation. From these results it can be argued that thermal degradation during the stage prior to the onset of the severe degradation involves structural changes in the epoxy system, as further crosslinking and loss of dangling chains in the crosslinked network.     

Physical content of preparation-question structures and Brouwer-Zadeh lattices

We give a criterion to compare the physical content of different mathematical structures derived from a preparation-question structure. Then this criterion is used in order to compare the physical content of the (Jauch-Piron's) property lattice with the physical content of the poset of testable properties. We prove that for complete preparation-question structures these two structures carry the same physical content; moreover the set of testable properties has the algebraic structure of the Brouwer-Zadeh lattice. For more general preparation-question structures the physical content of the poset of testable property can be larger than that of the property lattice. Physically relevant examples of the possible cases are given.