Operational characteristics and power scaling of a transverse flow transversely excited CW CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser

Transverse flow transversely excited (TFTE) CO₂ lasers are easily scalable to multikilowatt level. The laser power can be scaled up by increasing the volumetric gas flow and discharge volume. It was observed in a TFTE CW CO₂ laser having single row of pins as an anode and tubular cathode that the laser power was not increasing when the discharge volume and the gas volumetric flow were increased by increasing the electrode separation keeping the gas flow velocity constant. The discharge voltage too remained almost constant with the change of electrode separation at the same gas flow velocity. This necessitated revision of the scaling laws for designing this type of high power CO₂ laser. Experimental results of laser performance for different electrode separations are discussed and the modifications in the scaling laws are presented.     

The phase diagram of a single polymer chain: New insights from a new simulation method

We present simulation results for the phase behavior of a single chain for a flexible lattice polymer model using the Wang-Landau sampling idea. Applying this new algorithm to the problem of the homopolymer collapse allows us to investigate not only the high temperature coil–globule transition but also an ensuing crystallization at lower temperature. Performing a finite size scaling analysis on the two transitions, we show that they coincide for our model in the thermodynamic limit corresponding to a direct collapse of the random coil into the crystal without intermediate coil–globule transition. As a consequence, also the many chain phase diagram of this model can be predicted to consist only of gas and crystal phase in the limit of infinite chain length. This behavior is in agreement with findings on the phase behavior of hard-sphere systems with a relatively short-ranged attractive square well. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2542–2555, 2006     

Practical syntheses of [1,3,5]‐triazine dendritic molecules on solid supports

A practical and divergent synthesis of supported [1,3,5]‐triazine dendritic molecules on Wang resin, PEGA resin, SynPhase? Lanterns, and silica gel is described. The alkylamine linkers used allow derivatization with functionality for both synthetic (e.g., supported reagent and scavenger activity) and chemical biology applications. The use of supported intermediates allows differentiation of symmetric linkers without the need for protecting group chemistry. The synthetic route uses inexpensive, readily available starting materials in a straightforward and scaleable strategy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2248–2259, 2006     

When maths really is rocket science

Two problems in projectiles are discussed which generate interestingloci.     

Morphologies of microporous polyethylene and polypropylene crystallized from solution in supercritical propane

The morphologies of solvent-free, microporous, mechanically self-supporting cylinders of linear polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene, crystallized from solution in supercritical propane, were examined by an SEM technique. The morphology of gels (or foams), obtained with little or no shrinkage from 2% to 35% solutions by weight of polyethylene (99% to 85% porosities), is shown in some detail. Lamellae with very little or considerable mutual organization occur, often in the form of stacks with straight or coiled axes (axialites). Further growth of these can lead to particles with a roughly spherical overall shape and a predominantly radial orientation of the lamellae at the particle surface. Subcooled isotactic polypropylene, on the other hand, crystallizes in the form of perfectly shaped birefringent microspheres of very uniform size. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On characterizing collections arising from N-gons in the plane

Consider a labeled convex n-gon in the plane and a point x in general position in the interior. We associate with this a collection (x) of 3-element sets, namely those 3-element subsets of the vertices which contain x in their interior. We investigate the problem of characterizing those collections of subsets which can be represented in this matter. We give a complete characterization of this and a related problem.School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. This work was supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8700995.Department of Mathematics, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, England. Work done while Hill Visiting Professor at the University of Minnesota.     

Jacobi elliptic functions and change of variable in a convolution

We solve the functional equation

Radical concentration measurements in hydrocarbon diffusion flames

Absolute OH· concentrations and relative H-atom and O-atom profiles have been measured in a laminar, co-flowing methane/air diffusion flame burning at atmospheric pressure. Laser absorption and laser-induced fluorescence methods were used to probe the A ² X ²II_itransition in OH·. The maximum OH· concentration is found to be 1.8±0.2 ×10¹⁶ cm^–3 (mole fraction =5.0×10^–3) at a temperature of 2080 K, which is twice the value calculated assuming local total equilibrium but less than half that predicted from partial equilibrium (O₂+H₂ 2OH·). Multiphoton ionization (2+1 process at 243 nm) has been used to detect H atoms, while laser-induced fluorescence at 845 nm excited by two-photon absorption at 226 nm was employed to observe O atoms. In both cases it was found that low photon intensities (2×10⁸W/cm²) and a retroreflected beam, Doppler-free geometry was required in order to avoid the photolytic production of the species of interest. For all of the concentration profile data it is necessary to correct the raw signals for variations in collisional quenching. In the case of the multiphoton ionization measurements the variation in electron detection sensitivity as a function of flame position must be accounted for as well. Establishing absolute H-atom and O-atom concentrations is discussed in terms of partial equilibrium considerations and detailed flame structure calculations.Formerly the National Bureau of Standards