Development of a beam of very slow polarized muons

During the last few decades, a variety of methods has been developed which makes use of polarized positive muons as a microscopic probe of the magnetic properties of condensed matter (muon spin rotation, relaxation, resonance,SR). Until now, available beams for SR studies have delivered 100% polarized muons with energies in the MeV range, resulting in a deep penetration of the muons into the sample material under investigation. This presently limits the applications of theSR technique to the study of the bulk characteristics of matter. To be able to control the implantation depth, a very low energy beam of polarized muons is being developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute. Very slow polarized muons (kinetic energy 10 eV, polarization 90%) are obtained from the moderation of a high energy muon beam in a thin film of an appropriate condensed gas. These muons can be used as a source for a beam of tunable energy between a few tens of eV and some tens of keV. Implantation depths in the range of few to a few hundreds of nanometers can thus be achieved by varying the energy.     

Electrical and infrared dielectrical properties of silica aerogels and of silica-aerogel-based composites

In this contribution we have studied the key electrical parameters of silica aerogels and of silica-aerogel-based composites, namely the dielectric constants , the dielectric losses tan (at 1 kHz), and the breakdown fields E _b (at 50 Hz). For low-density bulk silica aerogels we find =1.25 and tan =0.0005. E _b is about 500 kV/cm in quasi-homogeneous fields, and of the order of MV/cm in strongly inhomogeneous fields. The dielectric constants of partially densified aerogels increase linearly with density; their dielectric losses are relatively large and their breakdown fields are comparativiely low. The same results are found for aerogels in the form of settled materials, i.e. aerogel granules and powders in air. Acrylate-based aerogel composites with volume fractions larger than 70% have low dielectric constants but their losses are at least 10 times higher than those of low-density aerogels. These materials sustain high local fields in the MV/cm region, while in quasihomogeneous fields, breakdown occurs at about 100 kV/cm. Based on the present results and the interplay with other physical properties (low mechanical resistance, low thermal conductivity, adsorption of water, etc.), silica aerogels and silica aerogel-acrylate-based composites are predicted to have a low potential for electrical insulation.     

O(N) vector model with twisted boundary conditions

Prompted by a recent article of Chakravarty, we reexamine theO(N) vector model with twisted boundary conditions ind dimensions in the various frameworks of the =d–2 expansion, the =4–d expansion, and the large-N expansion. These continuum models describe the physics below the critical temperatureT _c and nearT _c of a latticeO(N) spin model. We determine the effect of the twisting on finite-size scaling functions, for various geometries.On leave from G. Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria.     

Synthesen von Heterocyclen, 72. Mitt.: 4-Phenyl-3,4-dihydro-carbostyrile aus α-Cyanzimtsäureamiden

Zusammenfassung Bei der Reaktion vonSchiffschen Basen mit Cyanacetylchlorid entstehen über labile Addukte -Cyanzimtsäure-anilide, die in Gegenwart von AlCl₃ zu Derivaten des 3-Cyan-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrocarbostyrils reagieren. Aus diesen kann durch Verseifung die Cyangruppe eliminiert werden.

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The reaction of azomethines with cyanoacetyl chloride leads via instable adducts to -cyanocinnamic anilides, which with AlCl₃ undergo cyclisation to derivatives of 3-cyano-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrocarbostyrils. The cyano group in these compounds can be removed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation.

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Herrn KollegenO. Hromatka, Wien, mit den besten Wünschen zum 60. Geburtstag.     

A simple method for the characterization of OHO-hydrogen bonds by H-solid state NMR spectroscopy

A set of OHO hydrogen bonded systems with known neutron diffraction structure has been studied by fast ¹H-MAS echo spectroscopy. It is shown that the application of a simple rotor synchronized echo sequence combined with fast MAS allows a faithful determination of the chemical shift of the proton in the hydrogen bond. Employing the empirical valence bond order model, the experimental ¹H chemical shifts of the hydrogen bonded protons are correlated to the hydrogen bond geometries. The resulting correlation between the proton chemical shift and the deviation of the proton from the center of the hydrogen bond covers a broad range of substances. Deviations from the correlation curve, which are observed in certain systems with strong hydrogen bonds, are explained in terms of proton tautomerism or delocalization in low-barrier hydrogen bonds. These deviations are a highly diagnostic tool to select potential candidates for further experimental and theoretical studies. Thus, the combination of the ¹H-MAS echo sequence with the correlation curve yields a simple and versatile tool for the structural analysis of OHO hydrogen bonds.     

C-Nitroso compounds—XXXV : Reaction of organometallic compounds with 1-chloro-1-nitroso-2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexane

Reaction of Grignard reagents and organolithium compounds (RM) with the congested 1-chloro-1-nitroso-2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexane 1 leads to the formation of significant amounts of the reduction product 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexanone oxime 3 (61–90%) together with the corresponding oxime O-R ether 4 (0–11%). Attack on nitrogen is unimportant as shown by very low yields of nitrone. Formation of the products is rationalised with a pathway involving transfer of an electron from RM to 1. This leads—after separation of MCI—to a radical pair consisting of R and the relatively stable iminoxy radical 2 (Schemes 1 and 2). Combination of these radicals explains formation of oxime ether 4 and nitrone 5, while reaction of iminoxy radical 2 with excess of RM can give oxime 3. Reactive radicals R (i.e. Me, Ph, and to a minor extent n-Bu) are furthermore capable of abstracting hydrogen from the solvent (diethyl ether, toluene, or cumene), and the solvent derived radicals can also combine with 2 on oxygen, under formation of oxime ether (26% of 6a). The corresponding benzyl- and cumyl ethers 6b and 6c are only formed in trace amounts because dimerisation of benzyl radicals (7%) and cumyl radicals (22%) is favoured.     

Electron impact dissociation of H2O: emission cross sections for OH*, OH+*, H*, and H2O+* fragments

The optical emission spectrum in the near ultraviolet and visible following electron impact on H₂O was studied in a crossed-beam and a static gas-target experiment. Emissions of H*, OH*, OH⁺*, and H₂O⁺* fragments were detected and absolute emission cross sections for the different fragments were determined. A nonthermal rotational population was observed for the diatomic fragments which gives insight into the dissociation process. Further conclusions on the dissociation mechanism are possible based on appearance potentials and the shape of the emission cross sections as a function of impact energy.     

Die spezifische Wärme des Polyvinylchlorids

Zusammenfassung Die spezifische Wärme verschiedener handelsüblicher Polyvinylchlorid-Sorten (Suspensions- und Emulsions-PVC, schlagfestes PVC und ein Vinylchlorid-Vinylacetat-Copolymerisat) wurde im Temperaturbereich 20 (bzw. –50) bis 140 °C mit einem adiabatischen Kalorimeter gemessen. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wurde dem Einfluß der thermischen Vorgeschichte gewidmet. Messungen an getemperten Proben ergaben — in Übereinstimmung mit den Ergebnissen anderer Autoren —einfache Kurvenzüge mit einem Steilanstieg der spezifischen Wärme im Einfriergebiet. Untersuchungen an abgeschreckten Proben ließen zu Beginn des Einfrierbereiches Minima der spezifischen Wärme infolge Enthalpierelaxation erkennen. Oberhalb des Einfrierbereichs zeigten sich Kristallisationserscheinungen mit Wärmetönungen von etwa –1,3 cal/g (exotherm). Hieraus wurde der kristalline Anteil des Polyvinylchlorids zu rund 3% abgeschätzt. Der Schmelzpunkt der PVC-Kristallite wurde differentialthermoanalytisch zu 156 bzw. 170 °C gefunden. Das schlagfeste PVC ließ das Schmelzen einer Spur Polyäthylen zwischen 102 und 125 °C erkennen. Die kalorimetrisch bestimmten Einfriertemperaturen stimmen mit dilatometrisch gemessenen — gleiche thermische Vorbehandlung vorausgesetzt — überein.

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Summary The specific heat of some commercially available samples of polyvinyl chloride (suspension PVC, emulsion PVC, high impact PVC, and a copolymerisate of vinylchloride and vinylacetate) was measured in the temperature range from 20 (or –50) to 140 °C, using an adiabatic calorimeter. Special attention was paid to the influence of thermal history of the samples. Investigations of annealed samples gave simple curves with a steep slope in the glass transition range, in agreement with the results of other authors. Measurements with samples quenched in ice water showed specific heat curves with a minimum at the beginning of the glass transition range caused by enthalpy relaxation. Above the glass transition range crystallization occurred accompanied by heat effects of about –1,3 cal/g (exothermal). From this the fraction of crystalline PVC was estimated to be about 3%. The melting point of the PVC crystallites as determined by differential thermal analysis was 156 or 170 °C. With high impact PVC the melting of traces of polyethylene was observed between 102 and 125 °C. The glass transition temperatures as determined by calorimetry agreed with those determined by dilatometric measurements, provided thermal pretreatment being equal in both cases.

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Mit 14 Abbildungen und 5 Tabellen