Time- and space-resolved spectroscopy of dynamic hohlraum interiors

A dynamic hohlraum is created when an annular z-pinch plasma implodes onto a cylindrical 0.014 g/cc 6-mm-diameter CH₂ foam. The impact launches a radiating shock that propagates toward the axis at 350 μm/ns. The radiation trapped by the tungsten z-pinch plasma forms a 200 eV hohlraum that provides X-rays for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion capsule implosion experiments. We are developing the ability to diagnose the hohlraum interior using emission and absorption spectroscopy of Si atoms added as a tracer to the central portion of the foam. Time- and space-resolved Si spectra are recorded with an elliptical crystal spectrometer viewing the cylindrical hohlraum end-on. A rectangular aperture at the end of the hohlraum restricts the field of view so that the 1D spectrometer resolution corresponds approximately to the hohlraum radial direction. This enables distinguishing between spectra from the unshocked radiation-heated foam and from the shocked foam. Typical spectral lines observed include the Si Lyα with its He-like satellites and the He-like resonance sequence including Heα, Heβ, and Heγ, along with some of their associated Li-like satellites. Work is in progress to infer the hohlraum conditions using collisional–radiative modeling that accounts for the radiation environment and includes both opacity effects and detailed Stark broadening calculations. These 6-mm-scale radiation-heated plasmas might eventually also prove suitable for testing Stark broadening line profile calculations or for opacity measurements.     

New approach to the synthesis of 6-ketosteroids via organoiron complexes.

New Methodology is described for the synthesis 6-ketosteroids, of potential value for the synthesis of β-ecdysone, $\text{via}$ tricarbonyl (4-methoxy-1-methylcyclohexadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate $\text{1}$.     

Aqueous suspension polymerization of isobutene initiated by 1,2-C6F4[B(C6F5)2]2

Lewis acidic, chelating diborane 1 forms stable oxonium acids 2 in the presence of excess MeOH or water. Diborane 1 is shown to be an effective co-initiator for the suspension polymerization of isobutene in aqueous media at sufficiently low temperatures. Poly(isobutene) or butyl rubber is obtained at moderate to high conversion and with Mw < 200 K and PDI approximately 2 under these conditions.     

Incidence modules for symplectic spaces in characteristic two

We study the permutation action of a finite symplectic group of characteristic 2 on the set of subspaces of its standard module which are either totally isotropic or else complementary to totally isotropic subspaces with respect to the alternating form. A general formula is obtained for the 2-rank of the incidence matrix for the inclusion of one-dimensional subspaces in the distinguished subspaces of a fixed dimension.     

Catalytic, asymmetric transannular aldolizations: total synthesis of (+)-hirsutene

We report an asymmetric, catalytic transannular aldolization that provides polycyclic products useful for natural product synthesis. We found that a proline-derivative catalyzes the transannular aldol reaction of 1,4-cyclooctanediones to the corresponding cyclic beta-hydroxy ketones in good yields and with high enantioselectivities. The utility of our reaction has been demonstrated in a total synthesis of (+)-hirustene.