Steady-state and dynamic rheology of poly(1-olefin) melts

The steady-state and dynamic melt rheology for a series of poly(1-olefins) has been investigated. The series includes poly(1-butene), poly(1-hexene), poly(1-heptene), poly(1-octene), Poly(1-undecene), poly(1-tridecene), poly(1-hexadecene), and poly(1-octadecene). The flow behavior was investigated by use of a Weissenberg rheogoniometer. Measurements on poly(1-butene) were also made using an Instron capillary rheometer. The empirical relationship developed by Cox and Merz was obeyed for the entire series of poly(1-olefins) at all temperatures investigated. Graessley's theory was used to calculate the flow curves for the poly(1-olefins) from the measured molecular weight distributions. The purpose was to investigate the effect of polymer composition on the shear rate dependence of viscosity. It was found that all experimental flow curves except those for poly(1-hexene) can be fitted with the calculated curves from the individual molecular weight distributions. The conclusion is made that flow curves of poly(1-olefins) depend predominately on molecular weight distribution and are essentially independent of side-chain length even for poly(1-olefins) with pendant groups as long as 16 carbon atoms. The low-shear limiting Newtonian viscosity η₀ for all poly(1-olefins) was expressed by, η₀ = KM? or by η₀ = K′P? where M?_w is the weight-average molecular weight and P?_w is the weight-average degree of polymerization. The K and K′ values obtained decrease systematically as the side chain is increased.     

Evidence for assignment of 14.0 MeV state in 11B from 10B(n,n)10B

The differential cross section and polarization for neutrons scattered from ¹⁰B have been measured at E_n = 2.63 MeV (E_x = 13.85 MeV). The results of this experiment and other available neutron scattering data in the range 1 < E_n < 4 MeV are interpreted through a single-level R-matrix calculation over the region 12 < E_x < 15 MeV. Based on this analysis the most probable J^π assignment for the 14.0 MeV level in ¹¹B is $\text{11}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$. The anomaly near E_x = 13.1 MeV can only be explained in terms of two overlapping levels having assignments of ($\text{5}\text{2}$, $\text{7}\text{2}$)^? and ($\text{3}\text{2}$, $\text{5}\text{2}$, $\text{7}\text{2}$)⁺.     

The rate of addition of hydrogen atoms to olefins: Isobutane and ethylene

The title reactions have been investigated in a fast flow system at pressures of about 2 torr and temperatures between 12 and 132°C. The following Arrhenius equations are derived for reaction (2) where the units of k₂ are l/mole sec and of E₂, cal/mole, and the limits are the 95% confidence limits assuming random errors. These equations are in good agreement with those which can be derived from previous investigations.     

Dispersion measurements for femtosecond-pulse generation and applications

Dispersive phenomena provide limits in the generation, measurement and applications of femtosecond optical pulses. Optical elements such as prisms, gratings, air, mirrors, filters, and laser crystals all contribute to the total dispersion in optical systems. Interferometric techniques enable measurements of dispersion of individual elements, and new techniques allow dispersion measurement inside the cavity of operating modelocked femtosecond tunable lasers. These techniques provide access to detailed information about dispersion errors which can distort pulses and produce undesirable effects in modelocked lasers. In this article, we review techniques for the measurement of dispersion in optical components and systems. In several cases, we compare measurements made with intracavity dispersion techniques with extracavity measurements and point out common features.     

A simple jitter-free picosecond streak camera

Using a DC-biased room-temperature photoconductive switching element, a picosecond resolution optical streak camera is operated at sweep rates up to 7 ps/mm. Single-shot jitter is 2 ps with complete absence of short and long-term drift characteristic of all other sweep drivers. This high accuracy allows the streak camera to be used in a single-shot averaging mode which leads to a sub-picosecond absolute timing accuracy. When operated in this manner, the streak camera becomes a highly reliable and accurate device for measuring transient events on a time scale of single picoseconds. The simplicity of this method makes it highly attractive for many applications in laser fusion and picosecond chemistry and photophysics studies where reliable no-drift operation is highly desirable.