Role of Al or Eu on thermoluminescence of Al- and/or Eu-doped SiO2 crystals

Although SiO₂ crystals have been used in electroluminescence devices and thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeters, the emission mechanism of TL has not yet been clearly explained. Recently, as we could get amorphous and highly pure SiO₂ prepared by the sol-gel method, we have investigated the TL emission mechanism using Al³⁺- and/or Eu³⁺-doped SiO₂ crystalline samples prepared by the heat-treatment under much lower temperature that the melting point of SiO₂. The TL spectrum of the Eu³⁺-doped sample displayed several peaks, including two main peaks due to the electron transitions from ⁵D₂ to ⁷F₅ (ca. 570 nm) and from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂ (ca. 610 nm). As doping concentration increased, all the peak intensities reduced from maximum values except that due to the electron transition from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂. These observations are thought to result from a cross-relaxation process due to the lack of inversion symmetry at the Eu³⁺ site.     

Preconcentration of trace silver with yeast for river water analysis

A new preconcentration method with yeast is presented. The method was evaluated for the determination of trace silver in river waters by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). A suitable cultivation bed for preconcentration of silver was 1.75 mg ml-1 2-ammonium hydrogen phosphate. The optimal cultivation time and temperature were 2 h and 25 degrees C. Under optimal conditions, silver in aqueous sample was concentrated to 6.9-fold by yeast. The detection limit was 4.6 pg ml-1 (3S/N) for silver in river water. The yeast preconcentration method was applied to the determination of silver in river waters. The recovery of spiked silver was in the range of 89 to 110%. By the preconcentration, it was found that ultra trace silver in river waters could be determined without interferences of matrix elements, after only the cultivation and with no chemical treatment.     

Preparation and characterization of silica-pillared derivatives from kanemite

The silica-pillared derivatives from kanemite (NaHSi(2)O(5).3H(2)O) were prepared by intercalation of dialkyldimethylammonium (DADMA) ion and pillaring with tetraethylorthosilicate. The formation of silica pillars between the silicate sheets was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, (29)Si CP/MAS NMR, and TEM observation. The basal spacing depended on the chain length of DADMA. Nitrogen adsorption study showed that the specific surface area was enlarged over 1000 m(2) g(-1) by the pillaring and that the pore size was in the micropore region. Water and benzene adsorption isotherms revealed that the surface properties of the pillared derivatives show hydrophobic character.     

Quantum phase transitions to charge-ordered and Wigner-crystal states under the interplay of lattice commensurability and long-range Coulomb interactions

The relationship among the Wigner crystal, charge ordering, and the Mott insulator is studied by the path-integral renormalization group method in two-dimensional systems with long-range Coulomb interaction. In contrast to the insensitivity of the Hartree-Fock results, the stability of the solid drastically decreases with the decrease in the lattice commensurability. The transition to liquid occurs at the electron gas parameter r(s) approximately 2 for the filling n=1/2, showing a large reduction from r(s) approximately 35 in the continuum limit. A correct account of quantum fluctuations is crucial to understanding the charge-order stability generally observed only at simple fractional fillings and the nature of quantum liquids away from them.     

q-Painlevé Systems Arising from q-KP Hierarchy

A system of q-Painlevé type equations with multi-time variables t ₁,...,t _M is obtained as a similarity reduction of the N-reduced q-KP hierarchy. This system has affine Weyl group symmetry of type . Its rational solutions are constructed in terms of q-Schur functions.     

Achievement of a 920-MHz high resolution NMR

We have developed a 920-MHz NMR system and performed the proton NMR measurement of H(2)O and ethylbenzene using the superconducting magnet operating at 21.6 T (920 MHz for proton), which is the highest field produced by a superconducting NMR magnet in the persistent mode. From the NMR measurements, it is verified that both homogeneity and stability of the magnet have a specification sufficient for a high resolution NMR.     

Determination of strontium in biological samples by atomic emission spectrometry with electrothermal atomization

Summary Strontium showed a high atomic emission in a molybdenum microtube. The addition of hydrogen in the argon gas atmosphere served to increase the atomic emission. No interferences from less than 5 ng of potassium, calcium and magnesium were found. Other elements also had no interferences at the concentration levels usually found in biological samples. Samples were digested with nitric acid in a Uni-Seal decomposition vessel. The results obtained showed good agreement with the certified values. Atomic emission spectrometry with a molybdenum microtube atomizer permits a simple and sensitive determination of strontium in biological samples (coefficient of variation 2.5% for 10 pg Sr).

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Strontiumbestimmung in biologischem Material durch Atomemissions-Spektrometrie mit elektrothermischer Atomisierung

Zusammenfassung Eine hohe Atomemission wurde für Strontium bei Verwendung einer Molybdän-Mikroröhre beobachtet. Durch Wasserstoffzusatz zum Argon konnte sie noch weiter erhöht werden. Weniger als 5 ng K, Ca und Mg verursachen keine Störung. Andere Elemente stören nicht in den Konzentrationsbereichen, wie sie üblicherweise in biologischen Materialien vorkommen. Der Aufschluß der Proben wurde mit Salpetersäure in Uni-Seal-Gefäßen vorgenommen. Die erhaltenen Werte stimmten gut mit zertifizierten Daten überein. Die vorgeschlagene Methode ermöglicht eine einfache und empfindliche Strontiumbestimmung in biologischen Proben (Variationskoeffizient 2,5% bei 10 pg Sr).

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This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan through a Grant-in-Aid for Special Project Research.