Gas-discharge XeF* (B→X) laser with high specific output energy

The discharge characteristics of the XeF* (BX) laser are investigated. The NF₃ and Xe partial pressure of the laser gas mixture and the total gas pressure have been varied. A highest specific output energy of 4.7 J/l with an efficiency of 0.5% was obtained from a X-ray preionized Ne/Xe/NF₃ gas mixture at 6 bar with single-pulse excitation through a multichannel spark gap.     

Laser action below threshold inversion due to coherent population trapping

The possibility of lasing without inversion on the 1079.8 nm line of a HeNe laser is investigated. It is shown that a modified double- scheme can be realized by use of the 877.9 nm line for introducing Zeeman coherence. It is shown experimentally that Zeeman coherence can enforce laser action, even if the inversion is below threshold. A different choice of the polarization of the driving beam can result in suppression of laser action above threshold. The underlying mechanisms are examined. On the 611.8 nm line, laser action below threshold inversion is obtained with the driving beam tuned to 824.9 nm (up-conversion).     

Spectral investigation of cw rf-pumped atomic Xe laser with a slab geometry

A radiofrequency excited atomic Xe slab laser with an active volume of 2 × 10 × 300 mm³ using a quartz envelope containing the laser-gas mixture shows a stable cw performance with an output power of almost 1 W. The free-running system oscillates, depending on gas composition and density, on several lines between 1.73 and 3.51 m. Line competition phenomena are observed. Single-line oscillation yields more than 500 mW.     

Fundamentals of lead acid cells: Part IV. The reduction of porous PbO2 electrodes in sulphuric acid

The reduction behaviour of porous lead dioxide electrodes is shown to be independent of rotation speed in a large excess of 5 M H₂SO₄. The reduction peak is broadened by the porosity. This porosity broadening is interpreted in terms of the reaction being driven more deeply into the pore structure as the front of the electrode becomes progressively more ressstive. The effect of different potential sweep rates on the current response and the effects of progressive redox cycles can be fully explained on this model.     

A new intramolecular cyclisation reaction—I : Novel synthesis of benzo(k,1)thioxanthene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride and derived dyestuffs

A new direct synthesis of benzo(k,1)thioxanthene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride from 4-nitro-naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic anhydride and 2-aminobenzenethiol is reported; 4-(2-aminophenylthio) naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic anhydride and 4-phenylthionaphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic anhydride are also formed. Similar reaction in presence of amyl nitrite or sodium nitrite results in formation of larger amounts of 4-phenylthionaphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic anhydride, together with other products arising from the oxidation of 2-aminobenzenethiol; one such product is the new heterocycle 9,10-dithiaphenanthrene. 4-(2-Aminophenylthio)-naphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic anhydride is rapidly converted by amyl nitrite or sodium nitrite in dimethylformamide into benzo(k,1)thioxanthene-3,4-dicarboxylic anhydride, constituting a novel one-stage intramolecular cyclisation reaction of greater convenience than the conventional two stage Pschorr cyclisation.     

Nanoscale borromeates

[Structure: See text] In addition to a parent zinc(II) Borromean ring (BR) complex, the preparation and characterization of two hexasubstituted BR complexes with either 4-acetoxymethylphenyl or 4-methylthiophenyl substituents associated in turn with all six pyridyl rings has been achieved convergently in good yields by appealing to the dynamic features of the reactions between primary amino groups in a preformed acyclic ligand and 2,6-diformylpyridine. Two molecules of the acyclic ligands react with two molecules of 2,6-diformylpyridine to form a cyclic [2 + 2] tetraimine in the presence of Zn(II) ions as templates in 2-propanol at 70 degrees C. The successful preparation of the two derivatives by convergent template-directed syntheses opens up opportunities to self-assemble, under equilibrium control, numerous nanoscale metallo-organic particles with potentially useful properties.