Application of a one-dimensional classical model of atom-oscillator scattering to atom-surface accommodation coefficient theory

A simplified model is presented for classical-mechanical calculation of the energy accommodation coefficient in gas-surface scattering: conservation of the tangential component of momentum of a gas atom is assumed, allowing restriction to a consideration of the changes in only the normal component of momentum, and the solid is represented by a single atom joined by a harmonic spring to a rigid wall; the gas atom-solid atom interaction is modelled by a (different) harmonic spring, the force-constant of which depends on the gas temperature. The model was devised to help point a way to solving some of the outstanding problems in more realistic (lattice) models: one major problem is the existence or non-existence of thermal equilibrium of a gas and a surface if their temperatures are equal, and another is the handling of the phenomenon of trapping, or sticking, of a gas atom at a surface. Some light is shed on both of these (and on some other) problems. Wherever possible, comparison is made with the best available experimental data.     

Helium cosmic ray flux measurements at Mars

The helium energy spectrum in Martian orbit has been observed by the MARIE charged particle spectrometer aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. The orbital data were taken from March 13, 2002 to October 28, 2003, at which time a very intense Solar Particle Event caused a loss of communication between the instrument and the spacecraft. The silicon detector stack in MARIE is optimized for the detection of protons and helium in the energy range below , which typically includes almost all of the flux during SPEs. This also makes MARIE an efficient detector for GCR helium in the energy range of 50–. We will present the first fully normalized flux results from MARIE, using helium ions in this energy range.     

Periodic solutions to Hamiltonian inclusions

We prove the existence of periodic trajectories of Hamiltonian inclusions, which reduce to the usual Hamiltonian equations in the presence of smoothness. This is accomplished via a direct variational principle involving a new action integral in an extended sense.     

Quantum hair and quantum gravity

A black hole may carry quantum numbers that arenot associated with massless gauge fields, contrary to the spirit of the no-hair theorems. The quantum hair is invisible in the classical limit, but measurable via quantum interference experiments. Quantum hair alters the temperature of the radiation emitted by a black hole. It also induces non-zero expectation values for fields outside the event horizon; these expectation values are non-perturbative in , and decay exponentially far from the hole. The existence of quantum hair demonstrates that a black hole can have an intricate quantum-mechanical structure that is completely missed by standard semiclassical theory.Based on an essay which received second award from the Gravity Research Foundation, 1991     

High-Sensitivity Immunofluorescence Staining: A Comparison of the Liposome Procedure and the FASER Technique on mGR Detection

Flow cytometry has become a widely-used and powerful tool for the characterization of cells according to their expression of specific proteins. However, sensitivity of this method is still limited since conventionally labeled antibodies can be conjugated with at maximum 1–10 dye molecules. This fact resulted in the need to develop new techniques in order to identify molecules which are expressed in very low but functionally relevant amounts. In the past, we have successfully used a liposome-based high-sensitivity immunofluorescence technique to measure the expression of low abundant membrane bound glucocorticoid receptors (mGR) on different cell types. The use of this technique allows the detection of as few as 50–100 antigen molecules per cell which is due to a 100-fold to 1000-fold increase in fluorescence signal intensity compared with conventional methods. The higher sensitivity is achieved since thousands of dye molecules can be enclosed in liposomes. Another modern high-sensitivity immunofluorescence staining method is the purchasable Fluorescence Amplification by Sequential Employment of Reagents (FASER) procedure. Here, we aimed at comparing sensitivity and specificity of these two techniques for the detection of the mGR. Our data demonstrate the FASER technique to be more sensitive and also more specific for the detection of mGR as compared to the liposome technique. However, both methods have advantages and disadvantages which are discussed in detail.     

A quantum time lens for ultracold neutrons

The possibility of creating a time lens, an analogue of the zone plate in X-ray optics, for ultracold neutrons is experimentally demonstrated. The neutron energy was changed by means of a purely quantum effect: the phase modulation of a neutron wave at a variable modulation frequency. The modulator was a phase grating with variable spatial period moving across the neutron beam.     

Wet-etch optimization of free-standing terahertz frequency-selective structures

Free-standing frequency-selective surfaces consisting of approximately 10-microm-thick copper films with cross-aperture arrays are found to be tunable toward lower frequencies by means of wet chemical etching. Center frequencies were tuned from 1.57 to 1.53 THz while maintaining high transmittance. Wet etching also adjusts bandwidth, peak transmittance, and sidelobe transmittance. The advantage of the wet-etch technique is demonstrated by employment of these devices as bandpass filters for difluoromethane-based terahertz lasers. Adjustment in aperture dimensions because of etching results in suppression of a competing laser line (133.93 microm) by 15 dB while maintaining high transmittance at the operating wavelength of 192.06 microm.     

Expression of Hepatoma-derived growth factor family members in the adult central nervous system

Background  

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) belongs to a polypeptide family containing five additional members called HDGF related proteins 1–4 (HRP-1 to -4) and Lens epithelial derived growth factor. Whereas some family members such as HDGF and HRP-2 are expressed in a wide range of tissues, the expression of others is very restricted. HRP-1 and -4 are only expressed in testis, HRP-3 only in the nervous system. Here we investigated the expression of HDGF, HRP-2 and HRP-3 in the central nervous system of adult mice on the cellular level by immunohistochemistry. In addition we performed Western blot analysis of various brain regions as well as neuronal and glial cell cultures.     

SERS signal response and SERS/SERDS spectra of fluoranthene in water on naturally grown Ag nanoparticle ensembles

We present experimental results of the time‐dependent Raman signal response of fluoranthene adsorbed on a naturally grown Ag nanoparticle ensemble, which serves as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. In addition, SERS characteristics such as the concentration‐dependent calibration curves and the limit of detection (LOD) for fluoranthene in distilled water will be shown. The SERS substrate was prepared by Volmer–Weber growth under ultrahigh vacuum condition and exhibits a plasmon resonance wavelength at 491 nm. For the measurement of SERS signal response and SERS/shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy spectra of fluoranthene in water, experimental Raman setup containing a microsystem light source with two emission wavelengths (487.61 nm and 487.91 nm) was used. We experimentally demonstrate that the maximum SERS intensity is achieved 9 min after changing the analyte concentration from 0 nmol/l to 600 nmol/l. This response time is explained by a time‐dependent adsorption of the probe molecules onto the nanoparticles. The LOD for fluoranthene in water was evaluated applying shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) at different molecule concentrations. For SERDS, two emission wavelengths of a prototype microsystem light source have been used for Raman excitation. The experimental results reveal that the LOD for the probe molecules is very low. Experimentally, we have detected a fluoranthene concentration of only 4 nmol/l, which is very close to our estimated LOD of 2 nmol/l. Thus, the presented Raman setup, with a SERS substrate, whose plasmon resonance coincides with the excitation wavelength for SERS measurements, is well suited for in‐situ trace detection of pollutant chemicals in water. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Action variables for Toda Lattices

This Letter contains constructions of complex action variables for both the full Kostant-Toda Lattice in sl(n, ) and the generalized nonperiodic tridiagonal Toda lattice associated to an arbitrary complex semisimple Lie algebra g. The main tool is the explicit factorization solution for certain Hamiltonian flows. The Letter also contains a generalization of the standard factorization solution theorem necessary for the analysis of the full Kostant-Toda lattice.