Laser-based photoacoustic ammonia sensors for industrial applications

An industrial trace-ammonia sensor based on photoacoustic spectroscopy and CO₂ lasers has been developed for measuring ammonia with a 1σ detection limit of 220 parts-per-trillion (ppt) in an integration time of 30 s. The instrument response time for measuring ammonia was 200 s, limited by adsorption effects due to the polar nature of ammonia. The minimum detectable fractional absorbance was 2.0×10^-7, and the minimum normalized detectable absorption coefficient for this system was 2.4×10^-7 W cm^-1/z. The 9R(30) transition of the CO₂ laser at 9.22 μm with 2 W of output power was used to probe the strong sR(5,K) multiplet of ammonia at the same wavelength. This sensor was demonstrated with an optically multiplexed configuration for simultaneous measurement in four cells. Received: 3 April 2002 / Revised version: 31 May 2002 / Published online: 21 August 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +1-310/458-0171, E-mail: webber@pranalytica.com     

Simulation of spray combustion in a lean-direct injection combustor

Large-eddy simulation (LES) of a liquid-fueled lean-direct injection (LDI) combustor is carried out by resolving the entire inlet flow path through the swirl vanes and the combustor. A localized dynamic subgrid closure is combined with a subgrid mixing and combustion model so that no adjustable parameters are required for both non-reacting and reacting LES. Time-averaged velocity predictions compare well with the measured data. The unsteady flow features that play a major role in spray dispersion, fuel–air mixing and flame stabilization are identified from the simulation data. It is shown that the vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) is smaller with more intense reverse flow when there is heat release. The swirling shear layer plays a major role in spray dispersion and the VBB provides an efficient flameholding mechanism to stabilize the flame.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance, optical and electrical properties of vanadyl doped alkali germanoborate glasses

Glasses with composition xGeO₂.(0.30−x)M₂O.0.70B₂O₃ (M=Li, K) containing 2.0 mol% of V₂O₅ have been prepared in the range 0.00≤x≤0.15 by normal melt quenching method. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical transmission and absorption spectra and dc conductivity of these glasses have been studied. Spin Hamiltonian parameters (SHPs) of VO²⁺ ions, dipolar hyperfine coupling parameter, P, Fermi contact interaction parameter, K and molecular orbital coefficients (α² and γ²) have been calculated. In GeO₂·Li₂O·B₂O₃ glasses there is no change in the tetragonality of the V⁴⁺O₆ complex and the size of 3d_xy orbit also remains unchanged with increase in GeO₂ content. In GeO₂·K₂O·B₂O₃ glasses, there is an increase in the tetragonality of the V⁴⁺O₆ complex and the 3d_xy orbit expands with increase in GeO₂ content. Values of the theoretical optical basicity, Λ_th, have also been reported. Optical band gap decreases with increase in GeO₂ content. The dc conductivity of these glasses decreases and the activation energy increases with increase in GeO₂:M₂O ratio.     

Dielectron widths of the Gamma(1S,2S,3S) resonances

We determine the dielectron widths of the Gamma(1S), Gamma(2S), and Gamma(3S) resonances with better than 2% precision by integrating the cross section of e+e- -->Gamma over the e+e- center-of-mass energy. Using e+e- energy scans of the Gamma resonances at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring and measuring Gamma production with the CLEO detector, we find dielectron widths of 1.252+/-0.004(sigma(stat))+/-0.019(sigma(syst)) keV, 0.581+/-0.004+/-0.009 keV, and 0.413+/-0.004+/-0.006 keV for the Gamma(1S), Gamma(2S), and Gamma(3S), respectively.     

Changes in the vibrational modes of carbon nanotubes induced by electron‐beam irradiation: resonance Raman spectroscopy

Influence of electron‐beam (e‐beam) irradiation on multi‐walled (MW) and single‐walled (SW) carbon nanotube films grown by microwave chemical vapor deposition technique is investigated. These films were subjected to an e‐beam energy of 50 keV from a scanning electron microscope for 2.5, 5.5, 8.0, and 15 h, and to 100 and 200 keV from a transmission electron microscope for a few minutes to ∼2 h continuously. Such conditions resemble an increased temperature and pressure regime enabling a degree of structural fluidity. To assess structural modifications, they were analyzed prior to and after irradiation using resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) in addition to in situ monitoring by electron microscopy. The experiments showed that with extended exposures, both types of nanotubes displayed various local structural instabilities including pinching, graphitization/amorphization, and formation of an intramolecular junction (IMJ) within the area of electron beam focus possibly through amorphous carbon aggregates. RRS revealed that irradiation generated defects in the lattice as quantified through (1) variation of the intensity of radial breathing mode (RBM), (2) intensity ratio of D to G band (I_D/I_G), and (3) positions of the D and G bands and their harmonics (D* and G*) and combination bands (D + G). The increase in the defect‐induced D band intensity, quenching of RBM intensity, and only a slight increase in G band intensity are some of the implications. The MW nanotubes tend to reach a state of saturation for prolonged exposures, while the SW ones transform from a semiconducting to a quasi‐metallic character. Softening of the q = 0 selection rule is suggested as a possible reason to explain these results. Furthermore, these studies provide a contrasting comparison between MW and SW nanotubes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrical characterization of strontium tartrate single crystals

The a.c. and d.c. conductivity of SrC₄H₄O₆·3H₂O are measured and are found to lie between usual conductivities of semiconductor and insulator. Temperature dependence of d.c. conductivity shows intrinsic conduction, which is confirmed by the slope of versus data. Due to application of thermal energy, noticeable conductivity peaks imply liberation of water molecules during dehydration and the formation of strontium oxalate. The conductivity plot has a nature similar to the intrinsic-to-extrinsic transition found in normal semiconductors. There occurs Efros hopping conduction in our samples.