Neutron depolarization study on the magnetic correlation length of nickel ferrite with different packing densities

The magnetic correlation length of a mixed nickel ferrite powder was studied by a newly commissioned depolarized neutron beamline at the W3 port of Tsing Hua Open Pool Reactor (THOR). In this work, Ni ferrite powder samples with different packing densities were studied. The magnetic correlation lengths of the sample were observed to be 2 μm at virgin state and about 3.1 μm at remanent state from the packing density of 20–60%. This magnetic domain size is smaller than particle size. No significant change of domain size at this packing density implies the domain wall motion is hindered by the porosity effectively up to at least 60% of packing density.     

Femtosecond optical frequency combs

A laser frequency comb allows the conversion of the very rapid oscillations of visible light of some 100’s of THz down to frequencies that can be handled with conventional electronics. This capability has enabled the most precise laser spectroscopy experiments yet that allowed to test quantum electrodynamics, to determine fundamental constants and to search for possible slow changes of these constants. Using an optical frequency reference in combination with a laser frequency comb has made it possible to construct all optical atomic clocks, that are now outperforming even the best cesium atomic clocks. In future direct frequency comb spectroscopy might enable high resolution laser spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet for the first time. Frequency combs are also used to calibrate astronomical spectrographs and might reach an accuracy that is sufficient to observe the expansion of the universe in real time.     

Combined use of Overhauser spectroscopy and NMR diffusion experiments for mapping the hydration structure of nucleosides: structure and dynamics of uridine in water

Complementary results from 13C intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE), 1H-13C heteronuclear Overhauser spectroscopy (HOSEY) and 1H-NMR diffusion measurements were used for probing the structure of the first solvation shell of uridine in water. It is demonstrated that a cyclic dihydrate is formed. The two water molecules produce two hydrogen bonds with the two oxygen atoms from the pyrimidine ring and accept only one hydrogen bond from the amide proton. The dihydrate has only a short lifetime as compared with the rotational correlation time of the free nucleoside. The chemical exchange constant of the amide proton with water is then estimated by diffusion experiments. The results are consistent with previous data obtained for uracil in water and provide interesting information about water accessibility in nucleic acid bases.     

U(SMes*)n, (n = 3, 4) and Ln(SMes*)3 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd): lanthanide(III)/actinide(III) differentiation in agostic interactions and an unprecedented eta3 ligation mode of the arylthiolate ligand, from X-ray diffraction and DFT analysis

Reaction of U(NEt(2))(4) with HS-2,4,6-(t)Bu(3)C(6)H(2) (HSMes) gave U(SMes)(3)(NEt(2))(py) (1), whereas similar treatment of U[N(SiMe(3))SiMe(2)CH(2)][N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) afforded U(SMes)[N(SiMe(3))(2)](3) (2) and U(SMes)(3)[N(SiMe(3))(2)]. The first neutral homoleptic uranium(IV) thiolate to have been crystallographically characterized, U(SMes)(4) (4), was isolated from the reaction of U(BH(4))(4) and KSMes. The first homoleptic thiolate complex of uranium(III), U(SMes)(3) (5), was synthesized by protonolysis of U[N(SiMe(3))(2)](3) with HSMes in cyclohexane. The crystal structure of 5 exhibits the novel eta(3) ligation mode for the arylthiolate ligand. Comparison of the crystal structure of 5 with those of the isomorphous lanthanide congeners Ln(SMes)(3) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) indicates that the U-S, U-C(ipso)(), and U-C(ortho)() bond lengths are shorter than the corresponding ones in the 4f-element analogues, when taking into account the variation in the ionic radii of the metals. The distance between the uranium and the carbon atoms involved in the U...H-C epsilon agostic interaction of each thiolate ligand is shorter, by approximately 0.05 A, than that expected from a purely ionic bonding model. The lanthanide(III)/actinide(III) differentiation was analyzed by density functional theory (DFT). The nature of the M-S bond is shown to be ionic strongly polarized at the sulfur for M = U and iono-covalent (i.e. strongly ionic with low orbital interaction), for M = Ln. The strength of the U...H-C epsilon agostic interaction is proposed to be controlled by the maximization of the interaction between U(+) and S(-) under steric constraints. The eta(3) ligation mode of the arylthiolate ligand is also obtained from DFT.     

High-resolution inner-shell excitation spectroscopy of H2-phthalocyanine

We report on a combined experimental and theoretical carbon and nitrogen K-edge near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure investigation on condensed metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc). Based on the results from improved virtual orbital calculations, all resonances in the experimental high-resolution data can be assigned to various electronic transitions. The comparison between experiments and calculations further shows that a significant influence of the core hole, which affects both the transition energies and the cross sections, is present and must be considered in theoretical approaches. Moreover, additional fine structure is clearly resolved for the first N 1s-->pi* transition, which can be interpreted as vibronic coupling to the electronic core excitation.     

Probing the Critical Point of the Jaynes–Cummings Second-Order Dissipative Quantum Phase Transition

We highlight the importance of quantum fluctuations in organizing a dissipative quantum phase transition for the driven Jaynes–Cummings interaction with variable qubit-cavity detuning. The system response presents a substantial difference from the predictions of the semiclassical theory, the extent of which is revealed in the properties of quantum bistability, and visualized with the help of quasi-distribution functions for the cavity field, subject to an appropriate scale parameter. States anticipated by the neoclassical theory of radiation coexist in the quantum picture, following the occurrence of spontaneous dressed-state polarization and phase bistability at resonance.     

Single‐crystal growth and characterization of mullite‐type orthorhombic Bi2M4O9 (M = Al3+, Ga3+, Fe3+)

Pure and homogeneous single crystals of orthorhombic mullite‐type Bi₂M₄O₉ (M = Al³⁺, Ga³⁺, Fe³⁺), and a mixed Bi₂Fe_1.7Ga_2.3O₉ crystal from an equimolar Ga/Fe composition were grown by the top seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. All these compounds melt incongruently in the range of about 800 and 1100 °C. In case of bismuth gallate and ferrate inclusion‐free crystals with dimensions up to several cubic centimeters can be grown. Limited solubility in Bi₂O₃ and the high steepness of the liquidus curve are the reasons for getting only small imperfect bismuth aluminate crystals. In contrast to ceramic materials preparation reported in literature, divalent calcium and strontium could not be incorporated into the mullite‐type structure during the melt growth process. Several fundamental physical properties like heat capacity, thermal expansion, heat conductivity, elastic constants, high‐pressure behavior and oxygen diffusivity were determined by different research groups using single‐crystalline samples from the as‐grown materials. Furthermore, the refractive indices of Bi₂Ga₄O₉ were measured in the range of 0.430 and 0.700 μm. Such as many other bismuth containing compounds the refractive indices of Bi₂Ga₄O₉ are larger than 2, and Bi₂Ga₄O₉ is an optic biaxial positive crystal. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Mechanical behavior of 2024 Al alloy specimen subjected to paint stripping by laser radiation and plasma etching

Paint removal is required in a series of aeronautical procedures such as maintenance and repair. Today's paint stripping processes which are based on application of chemicals and abrasion are inadequate for modern aircraft structures in addition to environmental contamination. several alternative techniques are in progress. However, the aspect of material property degradation when developing novel, alternative paint stripping techniques has not been properly faced up to present. The influence of two novel paint stripping processes on the mechanical properties of the substrate 2024 7351 aluminium alloy has been investigated. The paint stripping processes included laser radiation with excimer, CO₂, TEA-C0₂ and YAG laser sources as well as plasma etching. These processes have been applied for the removal of polyurethane coating which is a typical aeronautical paint system. The results indicated no significant degradation in yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. However a significant degradation in tensile ductility and toughness is observed with the application of all paint stripping processes, the highest degradation being associated with the ultraviolet excimer laser and plasma etching. On the other hand there is a considerable extension in fatigue life, which depends on the paint stripping process and the applied stress amplitude. At high stress there is no appreciable effect while at low stress there is an order of magnitude life extension associated with CO₂ laser paint stripping. At moderate stresses, there is an up to sixfold life extension associated with the excimer laser processing.     

Ultra‐Precision Surface Machining with Reactive Plasma Jets

Atmospheric Plasma Jet Machining (PJM) is a technology for non‐mechanical ultra‐precision surface shape generation, shape error correction and smoothing based on atmospheric plasma jets. PJM is favorably applied to generate optical surfaces like aspheres, acylinders, or free‐forms but also to improve the surface shape accuracy in a very fast and cost‐efficient way. For that purpose a mainly fluorine containing plasma jet is brought into contact with a surface to locally remove material by a chemical reaction forming volatile products. Hence, the technology is limited to materials like silicon, fused silica and similar, or silicon carbide. Furthermore, the etch profile results from a convolution of the radical and the temperature distribution at the surface. Since the temperature distribution is also influenced by the plasma jet this leads to a non‐linear dependence of the removal function of the plasma tool on its velocity. Using the dwell‐time algorithm for deterministic surface machining by superposition of the local removal function of the plasma tool an advanced process simulation is necessary. In a first local approximation the velocity dependence of the removal function, which has to be determined previously, must be incorporated. Second order thermal effects due to inhomogeneous heating caused by the part geometry and the tool path can be managed by a sophisticated calculation of the surface temperature evolution during machining based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). With the help of this procedure the accuracy and convergence of the machining process can be significantly improved. In the article several examples of surface processing using plasma jet machining are presented. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A novel method for quantification of sulfolane (a metabolite of busulfan) in plasma by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The role of busulfan (Bu) metabolites in the adverse events seen during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and in drug interactions is not explored. Lack of availability of established analytical methods limits our understanding in this area. The present work describes a novel gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for the analysis of sulfolane (Su) in plasma of patients receiving high-dose Bu. Su and Bu were extracted from a single 100 μL plasma sample by liquid-liquid extraction. Bu was separately derivatized with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorothiophenolfluorinated agent. Mass spectrometric detection of the analytes was performed in the selected reaction monitoring mode on a triple quadrupole instrument after electronic impact ionization. Bu and Su were analyzed with separate chromatographic programs, lasting 5?min each. The assay for Su was found to be linear in the concentration range of 20-400?ng/mL. The method has satisfactory sensitivity (lower limit of quantification, 20?ng/mL) and precision (relative standard deviation less than 15?%) for all the concentrations tested with a good trueness (100?±?5?%). This method was applied to measure Su from pediatric patients with samples collected 4?h after dose 1 (n?=?46), before dose 7 (n?=?56), and after dose 9 (n?=?54) infusions of Bu. Su (mean?±?SD) was detectable in plasma of patients 4?h after dose 1, and higher levels were observed after dose 9 (249.9?±?123.4?ng/mL). This method may be used in clinical studies investigating the role of Su on adverse events and drug interactions associated with Bu therapy.