A general search game

The minimax solution is found for a game in which player I chooses a real number and player II seeks it by choosing a trajectory represented by a positive function. This work was supported by the Israel Council for Research and Development.     

Finite-range effects in pionic atoms

Pionic atom data are refitted in terms of conventional π^? nuclear optical potentials, modified to allow for finite range in the underlying p-wave πN interaction. We find that level shifts and widths in light and medium-weight nuclei cannot distinguish between the various ranges tested. In heavy nuclei, and for reasonable choices of neutron radii, the data tend to exclude ranges of order 0.5 fm and larger.     

Spectroscopic study of the N = 27 nuclei by means of the (τ, α) reaction

The (τ, α) reaction on ⁴⁸Ca, ⁵⁰Ti, ⁵²Cr and ⁵⁴Fe target nuclei has been studied at 25 MeV incident energy. Angular distributions have been measured from 5° to 40° with a split-pole spectrometer in a large range of excitation energy. A local zero-range DWBA analysis has been carried out, using an isospin-dependent potential for the calculation of the neutron form factor, in order to get a coherent set of spectroscopic factors for both T_> and T_< levels in different nuclei. Assignments of l-values have been done for a large number of levels, most of them previously unknown, and energy centroids of hole states have been determined. Spectroscopic factors in ³⁹Ca, ⁴⁷Ti, ^{49, 52, 53}Cr have also been obtained for strongly excited states. A sum rule analysis has been carried out for the N = 27 nuclei: the $\text{1}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{2}\text{s}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<}}$ hole strengths are generally fully exhausted by the observed levels, whereas only a fraction of the $\text{1}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ strength has been evidenced. The $\text{1}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{, 1}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{2}\text{s}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ analog states have been observed in all nuclei; in ⁵³Fe, the $\text{1}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{2}\text{s}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ analog states appear to be split in several components. In addition, a CRC analysis has been carried out for some levels with angular distributions not accounted for by a direct pick-up process. These levels are tentatively identified with states resulting from the coupling of one $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron hole with excited states of the target nucleus. In particular, the $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{and}\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ members of the $\text{[2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{?}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{]}$ configuration have been identified in each final nucleus. Unambiguous J^π assignments are made; and the two-step (τ, α) reaction therefo e appears as a useful spectroscopic tool, especially for investigating high spin states.     

Comparison Study of Phenylquinoline-based Iridium(III) Complexes for Solution Processable Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes by PEDOT:PSS and Graphene Oxide as a Hole Transport Layer

Electroluminescent (EL) properties of Ir(III) complex, [(2,4-diphenylquinoli-ne)]₂Iridium picolinic acid N-oxide [(DPQ)₂Ir(pic-N-O)] were investigated using PEDOT:PSS and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a hole transport layer for solution processable phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). High performance solution-processable PhOLED with PEDOT:PSS and (DPQ)₂Ir(pic-N-O) (8 wt%) doped CBP:TPD:PBD (8:56:12) host emission layer were fabricated to give a high luminance efficiency (LE) of 26.9 cd/A, equivelent to an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 14.2%. The corresponding PhOLED with rGO as a hole transport layer exhibited the maximum brightness and LE of 13540 cd/m² and 16.8 cd/A, respectively. The utilization of the solution processable rGO thin films as the hole transport layer offered the great potential to the fabrication of solution processable PhOLEDs.     

Comparison of membrane assisted liquid–liquid microextraction devices applied to a series of volatile organic compounds in aqueous environmental matrices

An extraction device has been investigated for the separation and preconcentration of a series of volatile organic compounds (CHCl₃, CHCl₂Br, CHClBr₂ and CHBr₃) in aqueous matrices. The device consisted of a microporous membrane system utilising a hollow fibre tube filled with organic solvent directly immersed into the sample solution. The hollow fibre containing 160 µL organic solvent was immersed in a glass vial with 10 mL capacity, and the extraction took place through diffusive transport between the aqueous sample and the small amount of solvent. For validation of the method, some operational conditions, such as extraction solvent, temperature, stirring rate and separation time, were optimised. Limit of detection was at low ppb levels, with GC-MS analysis under selected ion monitoring (SIM), whereas enrichment factors between 22 and 35 were obtained. Good reproducibility with RSDs between 7.2% and 9.8% and large linear dynamic ranges with R ² between 0.996 and 0.998 were also achieved. In addition, the performance of the membrane assisted solvent extraction (MASE) system was compared with two existing configurations: a non-porous membrane separation device, as well as with a comparable microporous configuration. The comparison considered the extraction mechanism and the underlying transport processes. The application to real samples showed a good concordance with classical analytical methods.     

Application of ultra-low level liquid scintillation to the determination of 222Rn in groundwater

A procedure for the determination of ²²²Rn in environmental water samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) was applied. The extractive scintillator RADONS^Ò and an ultra-low background 1220 QuantulusÔ were used. A minimum detectable activity of 0.1 Bq·l^?1 in 20 ml was found with low-diffusion polyethylene vials and 200 minute measurement time. Quenching effects and possible interferences due to the existence of other radionuclides in the extraction process were studied. The procedure was controlled by gamma-ray spectrometry of the ²²²Rn daughters. Applications to environmental samples collected from spas, wells, and public springs in Extremadura (Spain) are presented.