Investigations into beam monitors at the AEg ̄ IS experiment

Detailed diagnostic of antiproton beams at low energies is required for essentially all experiments at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD), but will be particularly important for the future Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA) and its keV beam lines to the different experiments. Many monitors have been successfully developed and operated at the AD, but in particular beam profile monitoring remains a challenge. A dedicated beam instrumentation and detector test stand has recently been setup at the AE \(\bar {g}\) IS experiment (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy). Located behind the actual experiment, it allows for parasitic use of the antiproton beam at different energies for testing and calibration. With the aim to explore and validate different candidate technologies for future low energy beam lines, as well as the downstream antihydrogen detector in AE \(\bar {g}\) IS, measurements have been carried out using Silicon strip and pixel detectors, a purpose-built secondary emission monitor and emulsions. Here, results from measurements and characterization of the different detector types with regard to their future use at the AD complex are presented.     

Can we trust the experiment? Anisotropic displacement parameters in 1‐(halomethyl)‐3‐nitrobenzene (halogen = Cl or Br)

1‐(Chloromethyl)‐3‐nitrobenzene, C₇H₆NClO₂, and 1‐(bromomethyl)‐3‐nitrobenzene, C₇H₆NBrO₂, were chosen as test compounds for benchmarking anisotropic displacement parameters (ADPs) calculated from first principles in the harmonic approximation. Crystals of these compounds are isomorphous, and theory predicted similar ADPs for both. In‐house diffraction experiments with Mo Kα radiation were in apparent contradiction to this theoretical result, with experimentally observed ADPs significantly larger for the bromo derivative. In contrast, the experimental and theoretical ADPs for the lighter congener matched reasonably well. As all usual quality indicators for both sets of experimental data were satisfactory, complementary diffraction experiments were performed at a synchrotron beamline with shorter wavelength. Refinements based on these intensity data gave very similar ADPs for both compounds and were thus in agreement with the earlier in‐house results for the chloro derivative and the predictions of theory. We speculate that strong absorption by the heavy halogen may be the reason for the observed discrepancy.     

Identification of a metastable uranium metal–organic framework isomer through non-equilibrium synthesis

Since the structure of supramolecular isomers determines their performance, rational synthesis of a specific isomer hinges on understanding the energetic relationships between isomeric possibilities. To this end, we have systematically interrogated a pair of uranium-based metal–organic framework topological isomers both synthetically and through density functional theory (DFT) energetic calculations. Although synthetic and energetic data initially appeared to mismatch, we assigned this phenomenon to the appearance of a metastable isomer, driven by levers defined by Le Châtelier''s principle. Identifying the relationship between structure and energetics in this study reveals how non-equilibrium synthetic conditions can be used as a strategy to target metastable MOFs. Additionally, this study demonstrates how defined MOF design rules may enable access to products within the energetic phase space which are more complex than conventional binary (e.g., kinetic vs. thermodynamic) products.

Identifying the relationship between structure and energetics in a uranium MOF isomer system reveals how non-equilibrium synthetic conditions can be used as a strategy to target metastable MOFs.     

An electric field-based approach for quantifying effective volumes and radii of chemically affected space

Chemical shape and size play a critical role in chemistry. The van der Waals (vdW) radius, a familiar manifold used to quantify size by assuming overlapping spheres, provides rapid estimates of size in atoms, molecules, and materials. However, the vdW method may be too rigid to describe highly polarized systems and chemical species that stray from spherical atomistic environments. To deal with these exotic chemistries, numerous alternate methods based on electron density have been presented. While each boasts inherent generality, all define the size of a chemical system, in one way or another, by its electron density. Herein, we revisit the longstanding problem of assessing sizes of atoms and molecules, instead through examination of the local electric field produced by them. While conceptually different than nuclei-centered methods like that of van der Waals, the field assesses chemically affected volumes. This approach implicitly accounts for long-range fields in highly polar systems and predicts that cations should affect more space than neutral counterparts.

Computing atomic and molecular volumes from DFT and ab initio-based electric fields.     

Thermal conductivity of Tb2(MoO4)3 crystals at low temperatures

Thermal conductivity of the improper ferroic Tb₂(MoO₄)₃ was measured in the range 0.3 K–100 K by the method of the stationary heat flow. An additional maximum in thermal conductivity observed at 0.45 K is due to the anomaly of specific heat corresponding to the antiferromagnetic phase transition. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Elastic properties of zinc tris(thiourea) sulphate in a wide temperature range studied by Brillouin spectroscopy

The elastic properties of the zinc tris (thiourea) sulphate crystal were studied by Brillouin spectroscopy in the range 80 – 300 K. The measurements were made on single crystals obtained by the isothermal method. The temperature dependences of the Brillouin shift were determined for the crystal in the principal directions and in a few mixed directions on a tandem type spectrometer. The results revealed anomalies in the bulk wave propagation rate and in a few elastic constants at about 138 K. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Ferroelastic phase transition in crystalline K<Subscript>3</Subscript>Na(CrO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>: Acoustic studies

Ultrasonic studies of the temperature behavior of the velocity and damping of sound for the xx and zz longitudinal and yx and zx transverse waves in K₃Na(CrO₄)₂ have been carried out in the temperature interval 185–295 K, which includes the region of the ferroelastic phase transition. The acoustic parameters for both shear and longitudinal waves were found to have anomalies in the region of the phase transition with a Curie temperature of 235.5 K. A theoretical analysis of the softening of the elastic moduli c₄₄ and c₆₆ was performed on the basis of the Landau expansion in terms of the strain tensor components ?₄ and (?₂-?₁)/2 considered as the linearly coupled primary and secondary order parameter, respectively. The absolute values of the elastic moduli c₁₁, c₃₃, c₄₄, c₆₆, c₁₂, and c₁₄ at 295 K were calculated.     

A viscoplastic model combined smedamage and smeared crack for softening of concrete

A viscoplastic model accounting for developing damage in concrete is proposed by assuming the rate of damage to be dependent on viscous strain and stress rates. The damage is measured by a scalar parameter affecting both the yield stress and the material viscosity. For a post-critical range of deformation, the localized mode occurs for which additional constitutive equations are specified. The model is applied to simulate uniaxial strain rate controlled and creep response for the concrete.     

Metal-ion-complexing properties of 2-(pyrid-2'-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline, a more preorganized analogue of terpyridyl. A crystallographic, fluorescence, and thermodynamic study

Some metal-ion-complexing properties of the ligand 2-(pyrid-2'-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (MPP) are reported. MPP is of interest in that it is a more preorganized version of 2,2';6,2'-terpyridine (tpy). Protonation constants (pK(1) = 4.60; pK(2) = 3.35) for MPP were determined by monitoring the intense π-π* transitions of 2 × 10(-5) M solutions of the ligand as a function of the pH at an ionic strength of 0 and 25 °C. Formation constants (log K(1)) at an ionic strength of 0 and 25 °C were obtained by monitoring the π-π* transitions of MPP titrated with solutions of the metal ion, or 1:1 solutions of MPP and the metal ion were titrated with acid. Large metal ions such as Ca(II) or La(III) showed increases of log K(1) of about 1.5 log units compared to that of tpy. Small metal ions such as Zn(II) and Ni(II) showed little increase in log K(1) for MPP compared to the tpy complexes, which is attributed to the presence of five-membered chelate rings in the MPP complexes, which favor large metal ions. The structure of [Cd(MPP)(H(2)O)(NO(3))(2)] (1) is reported: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.4940(13) ?, b = 12.165(2) ?, c = 20.557(4) ?, β = 96.271(7)°, V = 1864.67(9) ?(3), Z = 4, and final R = 0.0786. The Cd in 1 is seven-coordinate, comprising the three donor atoms of MPP, a coordinated water, a monodentate, and a bidentate NO(3)(-). Cd(II) is a fairly large metal ion, with r(+) = 0.96 ?, slightly too small for coordination with MPP. The effect of this size matching in terms of the structure is discussed. Fluorescence spectra of 2 × 10(-7) M MPP in aqueous solution are reported. The nonprotonated MPP ligand fluoresces only weakly, which is attributed to a photoinduced-electron-transfer effect. The chelation-enhanced-fluorescence (CHEF) effect induced by some metal ions is presented, and the trend of the CHEF effect, which is Ca(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) ~ La(III) > Hg(II), is discussed in terms of factors that control the CHEF effect, such as the heavy-atom effect.