A direct synthesis of 1,3-bis(bromomagnesio)propane

Careful addition of 1,3-dibromopropane

to magnesium in Et₂O yields 1,3-bis(bromomagnesio)propane

which is purified via “magnesacyclobutane”

. Reactions of

with H₂O, CO₂, HgBr₂ and Me₃SnCl are reported. MgBr₂ catalyses the decomposition of

to allylmagnesium bromide

.     

Determination of boron in magnesium oxide by charged particle activation analysis

The determination of boron in magnesium oxide using the¹⁰B/p, /⁷Be,¹⁰B/d, n/⁷Be, and¹⁰B/d, n/¹¹C reactions is described. Lithium interferes the nuclear reactions leading to beryllium-7. Combination of a proton and deuteron irradiation, each followed by measurement of the induced beryllium-7 activity, allows a simultaneous determination of boron and lithium. The¹⁰B/d, n/¹¹C reaction is free from nuclear interferences. The boron concentration ranges from 1.5 to 850 g g^–1. The results obtained by the two methods are in good agreement.Senior Research Associate of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research.     

Momentum transport from nonlinear mode coupling of magnetic fluctuations

A cause of observed anomalous plasma momentum transport in a reversed-field pinch is determined experimentally. Magnetohydrodynamic theory predicts that nonlinear interactions involving triplets of tearing modes produce internal torques that redistribute momentum. Evidence for the nonlinear torque is acquired by detecting the correlation of momentum redistribution with the mode triplets, with the elimination of one of the modes in the triplet, and with the external driving of one of the modes.     

Subpicosecond electro-optic measurement of relativistic electron pulses

Time-resolved measurements of the transverse electric field associated with relativistic electron bunches are presented. Using an ultrafast electro-optic sensor close to the electron beam, the longitudinal profile of the electric field was measured with subpicosecond time resolution and without time-reversal ambiguity. Results are shown for two cases: inside the vacuum beam line in the presence of wake fields, and in air behind a beryllium window, effectively probing the near-field transition radiation. Especially in the latter case, reconstruction of the longitudinal electron bunch shape is straightforward.     

Control of density fluctuations and electron transport in the reversed-field pinch

Contrary to what has been observed thus far collision-induced light scattering (CILS) can be completely polarized. This exceptional behavior characterizes the very far wing of the binary CILS spectrum by gaseous helium. This conclusion is drawn from an experimental study of the depolarization ratio of He (2) in a much extended, previously unexplored, spectral domain. Our analysis shows that this property, unique thus far, is mainly due to an almost perfect cancellation between polarization and exchange pair polarizability contributions to the depolarized spectrum, taking place at internuclear distances shorter than the atomic diameter.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed CC Bond Cleavage in Lignin Model Substrates

Ruthenium–triphos complexes exhibited unprecedented catalytic activity and selectivity in the redox‐neutral C? C bond cleavage of the β‐O‐4 lignin linkage of 1,3‐dilignol model compounds. A mechanistic pathway involving a dehydrogenation‐initiated retro‐aldol reaction for the C? C bond cleavage was proposed in line with experimental data and DFT calculations.     

Thermoluminescence of Sr1–xEuxF2 + x Solid Electrolytes

Thermoluminescence (TL) studies have been carried out in different compositions of Sr_1–xEuxF_{2 + x} mixed crystals as a function of X-irradiation time. Three groups of TL glow peaks in the temperature ranges (340, 360 ∼ 370 K), (460 ∼ 475, 540 ∼ 575 K) and (615 ∼ 635, 680 ∼ 720 K) are identified. The growth rates of different glow peaks have been compared with each other to estimate the growth kinetics. The three groups of TL glow peaks are attributed to thermal ionization of radiative impurity centers, different stages of F-centers and other kinds of defect centers such as F-interstitials. The shift in the glow peak maxima is perhaps due to unassociated impurities surrounding F-centers causing a change in configuration. The concentration quenching of TL output due to increased europium is pertinent in Sr_1–xEuxF_{2 + x} mixed system.     

Protocol for TL dating with zircon: Computer simulation of temperature and dose rate effects

Natural zircon is irradiated internally by U and Th impurities. After exposure to ionizing irradiation zircon exhibits thermoluminescence (TL), which can be used to calculate the irradiation dose and the sample age. A kinetic model for TL of zircon developed earlier is used to model the processes relevant for dating. The response of zircon to irradiation at different dose rates is simulated for different temperatures. Several scenarios for the dating procedure are considered, including laboratory added irradiation, fading and preheat. It is shown that by irradiating the sample at elevated temperatures one can imitate natural irradiation, i.e. it is possible to reproduce the structural state of the trap system (distribution functions of filled electron and hole traps), which is responsible for the TL behavior. This implies that the dose dependence of the TL signal from samples, which had been irradiated under natural conditions, can be produced by irradiation at an elevated temperature.