Sliding spark spectroscopy

Summary A new analytical radiation source combined with fiber optics linked to a diode array detection device with modified software is described. The direct-reading spectrometer simultaneously covers the wavelength range 185–510 nm with a spectral resolution of <1.5 nm. Intense optical emission is observed when positionally stable high-current surface sparks supplied by a pulse-generator with definite discharge parameters (max. 800 Ampere/pulse) are sliding over compact non-conductive materials such as plastics, glasses, quartz filters or powder pellets. Substrate vaporization, ionization and excitation processes in the surface discharge plasma channel generate emission corresponding to neutral and ionic states. The spectra are essentially composed of lines emitted by the electrode material (e.g. copper, silver), from the substrate under investigation, radiation continuum as well as structured background from the surrounding air atmosphere. Due to the occurrence of emission lines of reactive fillers, inorganic pigments and stabilizers, a rapid multi-element screening method is demonstrated. A rapid identification system (mix-up test) of PVC or fire-retardant thermoplastics within one second has been realized from the atomic emission line intensity originating from the sputtered copper electrode material according to its increased volatility in the presence of chlorine (modified Beilstein test).Puls-Plasma-Technik GmbH, Dortmund     

Cyclic and telechelic ladder polymers derived from tetrahydroxytetramethylspirobisindane and 1,4‐dicyanotetrafluorobenzene

5,5′,6,6′‐Tetrahydroxy‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylspirobisindane was polycondensed with 1,4‐dicyanotetrafluorobenzene in four different solvents at 70 °C. In dimethylformamide, N‐methylpyrrolidone, and sulfolane exclusively, cyclic polymers were detectable by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry up to masses around 13,000 Da. In dimethyl sulfoxide, linear byproducts were also found. Higher temperatures caused degradation reactions catalyzed by potassium carbonate. Polycondensations performed with the addition of 4‐tert‐butyl catechol or 2,2′‐dihydroxy binaphthyl yielded linear telechelic oligomers. Equimolar mixtures of linear and cyclic ladder polymers were examined by MALDI‐TOF mass spectra to determine how the end groups and the cyclic structure influenced the signal‐to‐noise ratio. The results suggested a preferential detection of the linear chains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5344–5352, 2006     

Deep trench etching in macroporous silicon

We present a method to create at the same time trenches and ordered macropore arrays during photo-electrochemical etching of n-type silicon. This novel method allows in situ separation of single devices with a submicrometer precision. It also enables new device structures in macroporous silicon in the areas of photonics, sensing and electronics. The limits of this new process are simulated using electrostatic models and are verified experimentally. PACS 82.45.Yz; 81.16.-c     

Electron transfer at lanthanum endohedral fullerenes

The aim of this contribution is to study lanthanum containing fullerenes produced and treated under different conditions. The work was done using solid soot extract giving poorly resolved ESR spectra or separated lanthanofullerenes in solution showing well resolved ESR spectra. ESR experiments in connection with the mass spectrometry give information on the electronic states due to the electron transfer from the endohedral metal to the fullerene cage and the influence of oxygen on endohedral lanthanofullerene. The analysis of ESR spectra indicates the presence of up to nine octets of lanthanum containing fullerenes. These species have different stabilities. Furthermore, a very narrow single ESR line in the lanthanofullerene spectrum was detected having a linewidth ΔB=0.008 mT and ag-factor 2.0025. The electron transfer to the endohedral La@C₈₂ molecule studied by voltammetry and electrochemicalin situ ESR experiments is described. The interaction of the lanthanofullerene with oxygen in solution is also studied. In different solvents the influence of oxygen on line broadening in the ESR spectra of La@C₈₂ was observed.     

Ions and atoms in superfluid helium (4He)

We review the previous conclusion [J.Y. Ryu, Y.C. Chung and S.D. Choi, Phys. Rev. B 32, 7769 (1984)] that the trace property Tr(ABC) = Tr(CAB) leads to two different cyclotron transition absorption formulae in the electron-phonon systems in the lowest order approximation. The pictorial expression and the calculated linewidths in Ge and Si show that the socalled EWC scheme is more seeming than the socalled MWC scheme. The difference is expected to disappear if we take into account all the higher order perturbation terms or start with the many body formalism in the complete scheme.     

Spectral expansions of some representations of Lie groups

We investigate representations of classical noncompact Lie groups induced by representations of the maximal parabolic subgroup. Formulas are obtained for 5O₀(2p, 2q)/U(p, q) and U(2p, 2q) Sp(p, q).Translated from Ukrainskii Mathematicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 128–131, January, 1990.     

Phytoecdysteroids of Rhaponticum carthamoides III. Rhapisterone C

A new ecdysteroid, rhapisterone C, has been isolated from seeds of the plantRhaponticum carthamoides (Willd) Iljin (family Compositae). It has been shown that rhapisterone C is 23-ethylecdysterone.Institute of Chemistry of Plant Substances, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 231–233, March–April, 1992.