Thermal analytical investigation of ancient mortars from gothic churches

The use of thermal analysis in studying ancient mortars in English cathedrals is explained. Thermal analysis can be used to investigate both mortar and stone in dated structures. Analysis of ancient mortars show that though recarbonated, they remain soft, yielding to structural deformations. The use of hard (cement mortar) in modern renovation can result in micro-cracking in the stone and subsequent chemical attack from the atmosphere. Contrary to the literature, data developed in the present study suggests that most medieval mortars have reached a near total state of recarbonation.     

Coherence and anticoherence resonance in high-concentration erbium-doped fiber laser

We report an experimental study of low-frequency (~10 kHz) self-pulsing of the output intensity in a high-concentration erbium-doped fiber laser. We suggest that the fast intensity fluctuations caused by multimode and polarization instabilities play the role of an external noise source, leading to low-frequency auto-oscillations through a coherence resonance scenario.     

Raman study of the O2F2 + VF5 reaction: Isolation and identification of an unstable reaction intermediate

The reaction of O₂F₂ with polymeric VF₅ in the temperature range -119 to -78°C leads first to the reaction intermediates

. On increasing the temperature of this intermediate, a new compound O⁺₂V₂F^-₁₁ is formed which in turn decomposes rapidly at room temperature. Raman studies of these species as well as of O₂F₂(solid), VF₅, KVF₆, KV₂F₁₁, CsVF₆ and CsV₂F₁₁ are reported and discussed.     

In situ measurement of the thermal and photo-assisted MOVPE of ZnTe using laser reflectometry

In situ laser reflectometry has been used to study the growth kinetics of ZnTe under pyrolytic and photo-assisted conditions from diisopropyltellurium (DIPTe) and dimethylzinc.triethylamine (DMZn.TEN). The growth rate of ZnTe was monitored as a function of VI:II ratio, temperature and laser power density. From the results a model for the growth involving the surface decomposition of DIPTe via a bimolecular reaction with methyl radicals homolytically released from the decomposition of DMZn.TEN is proposed. The activation energy under pyrolytic conditions in the low temperature regime for a 1:1 VI:II ratio was found to be 27.6 kcal/mol and under photo-assisted conditions this activation energy was seen to be lowered to 21.9 kcal/mol. The growth kinetics are explained in terms of two competitive processes. The decomposition of DMZn on the surface will be enhanced with increasing substrate temperature; however, the desorption rate of DIPTe will also be enhanced. The competitive nature of these two processes is seen to be particularly pronounced under laser illumination at high power densities, where a growth rate of 13 a.u./s was observed at 360°C, laser power density 67 mW/cm², whereas at 380°C for a similar power density the growth rate was seen to be reduced to 10.5 a.u./s.     

Tin(II) aminoalkoxides and heterobimetallic derivatives: the structures of Sn6(O)4(dmae)4, Sn6(O)4(OEt)4 and [Sn(dmae)2Cd(acac)2]2

Tin(II) methoxide reacts with N,N′‐dimethylaminoethanol (dmaeH) to yield Sn(dmae)₂ ( 1 ) along with small amounts of the hydrolysis product Sn₆(O)₄(dmae)₄ ( 2 ). The geometrically more regular iso‐structural cage Sn₆(O)₄(OEt)₄ ( 3 ) was obtained as the only tractable product isolated from reaction of 2 and Sb(OEt)₃, while 1 reacted with CdX₂ (X = acac, I) to afford Sn(dmae)₂Cd(acac)₂ ( 4 ) and Sn(dmae)₂CdI₂ ( 5 ). The X‐ray structures of 2, 3 and 4 are reported. Decomposition of 4 under aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition conditions leads to amorphous tin oxide films with no detectable cadmium (i.e. ca < 2% cadmium), rather than a stoichiometric Sn:Cd oxide. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structure of hexahydro-cis-(1-H,4a-H)-1-p-bromophenyl-1H,3H-pyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine

The crystal and molecular structure of hexahydro-cis-(1-H,4_a-H)-1-p-bromophenyl-1H,3H-pyrido[1,2-c][1,3]thiazine, (C₁₄H₁₈BrNS), has been determined from three-dimensional diffractometer data. The space group isI4₁/cd and the unit cell has dimensionsa = 22·906(4),b = 22·906(4),c = 10·646(2) Å withZ = 16. The structure has been refined to a residual of 0·065 using least-squares methods on 1235 independent non-zero reflexions.The molecular geometry and conformation of the bicyclic ring is discussed and compared with the related oxazine compound.     

Optical-model analysis of 7Li + 25Mg and 7Li + 27Al elastic scattering at 89 MeV

The elastic scattering angular distributions for ⁷Li + ²⁵Mg and ⁷Li + ²⁷Al were measured at $\text{E(}{}^7\text{Li}\text{) = 89}\text{MeV}$ over angular ranges of 8–55° c.m. and 8–64° c.m. Previously published measurements for ^{24, 26}Mg at 89 MeV and ²⁴Mg at 34 MeV are reanalyzed. The cross sections were analysed using a 6-parameter phenomenological Saxon-Woods potential. No discrete ambiguities were found but the usual continuous ambiguities exist. The data were also analysed with double folded real potentials generated using the M3Y effective interaction. The folded potential must be multiplied by about 0.6 to fit the data. The extent to which ⁷Li optical-model potentials are determined and suggestions for further work on the normalization of the folded potential are discussed.     

Interaction of O2 with Pt(100): I. Equilibrium measurements

Two newly discovered phases on the Pt(100) surface produced by the adsorption of oxygen have been investigated using Rutherford baekscattering (RBS), nuclear microanalysis (NMA), work function changes (Δφ) and LEED. One phase is associated with the oxygensaturated surface (0.63 ± 0.03 monolayers0.81 × 10¹⁵ O atoms cm^?2), where a very complex LEED pattern is observed; the other is observed at an average coverage of 0.44 ± 0.05 monolayers and gives rise to a (3 × 1) LEED pattern (when observed at room temperature). For both surfaces, RBS measurements indicate large (? 0.025 nm) Pt atom displacements. Also discussed is a new method for preparing the “clean” (1 × 1)-Pt(100) surface without the need for NO adsorption/decomposition.