Theodor Schmidt and Hans Kopfermann – Pioneers in Hyperfine Physics

Systematic optical hyperfine interaction studies in various isotope series gave first indications to the possibility of single-particle and collective motions of nucleons in atomic nuclei and the variation of the nuclear radius with the mass number and deformation (isotope shift). Indeed, the careful studies by Schmidt (1908–1986), which he performed together with Schüler in Potsdam, revealed the existence of both nuclear quadrupole deformation and single-particle magnetic moments (Schmidt lines). These findings were essential as a basis for the nuclear vibrational and rotational models and the single particle shell model, respectively. The talk reviews some of the achievements of Schmidt and Kopfermann (1895–1963) and sheds some light on their working conditions before, during and after World War II. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mathematics Anxiety and Learning Styles: What Is the Relationship in Elementary Preservice Teachers?

The study investigated the relationship between elementary preservice teachers' mathematics anxiety levels and learning style preferences. Subjects included 72 preservice teachers at a midsized southeastern U.S. university who were at the end of their third year of study. The subjects completed the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale and the Style Analysis Survey (SAS). Scores obtained on the two instruments were analyzed using Pearson product‐moment correlations. Eleven of the SAS subscales were examined. The global subscale was the only one related to mathematics anxiety at the p < .05 level of significance. Findings revealed a low (r= .28) but significant (p < .05) positive correlation between mathematics anxiety and a global (right‐brain dominant) learning style. As global orientation scores increased, mathematics anxiety scores increased as well. This study indicated that there is tendency for global learners to possess higher levels of mathematics anxiety.     

Compression of a suspension of helical Yukawa rods

ABSTRACT

We present a Monte Carlo simulation study of the compression of helical Yukawa rods under isobaric conditions. The model is a chiral liquid crystal mesogen, which mimics, for instance, cellulose nanocrystals. It has several parameters (e.g. surface charge and internal pitch), which influence the compression route and the final structure. The strongest dependence of the structure of the condensed phase is found for the internal pitch of the charge helix: decreasing the internal pitch reduces the maximum density under otherwise equal conditions.     

Heterocycles [<Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>]-fused to 4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid. Part VII: synthesis of some 6-oxoimidazo[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>]quinoline-7-carboxylic acids and esters

Abstract  A series of ethyl 2-(substituted)-9-cyclopropyl-4-fluoro-6-oxo-1H-imidazo[4,5-h]quinoline-7-carboxylates has been prepared from ethyl 7,8-diamino-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate via thermally induced reactions with model alkanoic acids or via microwave-assisted cyclocondensation with some arene carboxaldehydes. Acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the resulting ester derivatives furnished the corresponding imidazoquinoline-7-carboxylic acids. The structures of these new acid and ester derivatives are based on microanalytical and spectral (IR, MS, and NMR) data. Graphical abstract        

Structural,thermal, and spectral characterization of the different crystalline forms of Alq3, tris(quinolin-8-olato)aluminum(III), an electroluminescent material in OLED technology

The interest in organic materials for use in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) began with the pioneering report of efficient green electroluminescence from Alq₃, tris(quinolin-8-olato)aluminum(III), by Tang and Van Slyke [C.W. Tang, S.A. Van Slyke, Appl. Phys. Lett. 51 (1987) 913]. After more than 20 years of intense research and development in OLEDs, Alq₃ continues to be a widely used electroluminescent material in OLED technology. Alq₃ is used in the electron-transport and/or electron-injecting layer in multilayer device structures and also as an effective host material for various dyes. Much is known about the properties of this metal chelate complex, yet much remains unknown despite numerous studies. In recent years, five crystalline phases (α, β, γ, δ, and ε) of Alq₃ have been identified. In the present report, a combined structural, thermal, and spectroscopic (Raman, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance) analysis of different crystalline phases of Alq₃ is presented.     

Concept of neutral gain modules for power scaling of thin-disk lasers

We present a concept for power scaling of high brightness solid state lasers, which introduces so called gain modules containing the laser active media. These modules can be inserted as relay imaging optical systems in any type of laser resonators. The gain modules are optically neutral; hence, power scaling can be provided inserting several modules. Here, we provide the basic functional units of gain modules as well as an exemplary experimental implementation in thin-disk lasers with dynamically stable resonators. On the basis of these studies, more than 1 kW output power with an averaged M ²=2.6 could be demonstrated using two disks. Experiments with four disks are in preparation.     

Oxoketene-oxoketene, imidoylketene-imidoylketene and oxoketenimine-imidoylketene rearrangements. 1,3-Shifts of phenyl groups

Dibenzoylketene 5 undergoes degenerate 1,3-shifts of the phenyl group between acyl and ketene carbon atoms, thus interconverting it with 6 and 7. This 1,3-shift takes place in the gas phase under flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) conditions, but not in solution at 110-145 degrees C. Imidoyl(benzoyl)ketene 13 undergoes degenerate 1,3-shift of the phenyl group on FVT, thus interconverting it with 14, but the ketenimine isomer 15 is not formed, and none of these shifts take place in the solid state at 250 degrees C. Imidoyl(p-toluoyl)ketene 21 undergoes a 1,3-p-tolyl shift, interconverting it with ketene 22 but not with ketenimine 23. The imidoyl(p-toluoyl)ketene rotamer 25 cyclizes to 4-toluoyloxyquinoline 28 and 4-quinolone 29. The cyclization of imidoyl(benzoyl)ketene 13 to 4-benzoyloxyquinoline 18, and of 25 to 28 involves 1,3-C-to-O shifts of benzoyl (toluoyl) groups. Calculations of the transition states for the transformations at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory are in agreement with the observed reaction preferences.