Pure nuclear quadrupole resonance determination of the electric field gradient asymmetry for broad lines

We present an angle dependent nuclear quadrupole resonance (ADNQR) method to determine the electric field gradient asymmetry parameter eta in systems where the resonance line is so broad that the radio frequency field can excite only a portion of the nuclear spins. In this situation, the recently developed spectroscopic methods are not applicable. ADNQR is useful for single crystals and oriented powders, and, for small eta determines eta4. Therefore, it can be used to evaluate fluctuations in eta due to inhomogeneities. We demonstrate the application of ADNQR experimentally to oriented superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 powder.     

Dynamic properties of a diluted pyrochlore cooperative paramagnet (Tb(p)Y(1-p))2Ti2O7

Investigations of the spin dynamics of the geometrically frustrated pyrochlore (Tb(p)Y(1-p))2Ti2O7, using muon spin relaxation and neutron spin echo, as a function of magnetic coverage p, have been carried out. Our major finding is that paramagnetic fluctuations prevail as T-->0 for all values of p, and that they are sensitive to dilution, indicating a cooperative spin motion. However, the percolation threshold pc is not a critical point for the fluctuations. We also find that the low temperature spectral density has a 1/f behavior, and that dilution slows down the spin fluctuations.     

On the rigidity of Hardy submodules

In contrast with the one-variable case, there is a large number of distinct submodules of the Hardy module over the polydisk algebra in the multi-variable use. We show that under hypotheses on the zero sets, two submodules which are equivalent in any reasonable sense must be equal. This is the rigidity referred to in the title.The research of the first author was partially supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.     

Muon spin relaxation and susceptibility studies of the pure and diluted spin 1/2 kagomé-like lattice system (CuxZn(1-x))3V2O7(OH2) 2H2O

Muon spin relaxation and magnetic susceptibility measurements have been performed on the pure and diluted spin 1/2 kagomé system (CuxZn(1-x))3V2O7(OH)2 2H2O. In the pure x=1 system we found a slowing down of Cu spin fluctuations with decreasing temperature towards T approximately 1 K, followed by slow and nearly temperature-independent spin fluctuations persisting down to T=50 mK, indicative of quantum fluctuations. No indication of static spin freezing was detected in either of the pure (x=1.0) or diluted samples. The observed magnitude of fluctuating fields indicates that the slow spin fluctuations represent an intrinsic property of kagomé network rather than impurity spins.     

Local magnetic susceptibility of the positive muon in the quasi-one-dimensional S=1/2 antiferromagnet dichlorobis (pyridine) copper (II)

We report muon spin rotation measurements of the local magnetic susceptibility around a positive muon in the paramagnetic state of the quasi-one-dimensional spin 1/2 antiferromagnet dichlorobis (pyridine) copper (II). Signals from three distinct sites are resolved and have a temperature dependent frequency shift which is significantly different than the magnetic susceptibility. This difference is attributed to a muon induced perturbation of the spin 1/2 chain. The obtained frequency shifts are compared with transfer matrix density-matrix renormalization-group numerical simulations.     

Space charge effects in a gyrotron employing a solid electron beam

The influence of space charge forces on the performance of a single cacity gyrotron oscillator which uses a solid electron beam was investigated. It was found that space charge effects cause a large efficiency degradation as the beam current is increased, if the other experimental parameters are unchanged. A small increase in the magnetic field, however, can restore the efficiency to higher values.This research was supported by the U.S. Office of Naval Research.     

Transmission of high-data-rate optical signals through a micrometer-scale silicon ring resonator

The effects of a micrometer-scale silicon ring resonator with a FWHM of 0.078 nm (9.6 GHz) on a nonreturn to zero amplitude-modulated optical signal with a modulation rate of 10 Gbps are experimentally investigated. By transmitting the optical signal through the device, significant spectral distortion and side band attenuation is introduced, as characterized by amplitude Bode plots, and a power penalty of 0.8 dB is observed. Carrier wavelengths within the transmission resonance, but detuned from the center wavelength, are investigated as well. Numerical simulations further support the experimental results.     

The protonated Schiff base of halorhodopsin from Natronobacterium pharaonis is hydrolyzed at elevated temperatures

Halorhodopsin from Natronobacterium pharaonis (pHR) is a light-driven chloride pump in which photoisomerzation of a retinal chromophore triggers a photocycle which leads to a chloride anion transport across the plasma membrane. Similarly to other retinal proteins the protonated Schiff base (PSB), which covalently links the retinal to the protein, does not experience hydrolysis reaction at room temperature even though several water molecules are located in the protonated Schiff base (PSB) vicinity. In the present studies we have revealed that in contrast to other studied archaeal rhodopsins, temperature increase to about 70 degrees C hydrolyses the PSB linkage of pHR. The rate of the reaction is affected by Cl-concentration and reveals an anion binding site (in addition to the Cl- in the SB vicinity) with a binding constant of 100mM (measured at 70 degrees C). We suggest that this binding site is located on the extracellular side and its possible role in the Cl-pumping mechanism is discussed. The rate of the hydrolysis reaction is affected by the nature of the anion bound to pHR. Substitution of the Cl- anion by Br-, I- and SCN- exhibits similar behavior to that of CI- in the region of 100mM but higher concentrations are needed for N3-, HCOO- and NO2-to achieve similar behavior. Steady state pigment illumination accelerates the reaction and reduces the energy of activation and the frequency factor. Adjusting the sample temperature to 25 degrees C following the hydrolysis reaction led to about 80% pigment recovery. However, the newly reformed pigment is different from the mother pigment and has different characteristics. It is concluded that the apo-membrane adopts a modified conformation and/or aggregated state which rebinds the retinal to give a new conformation of the pHR pigment.     

Synthesis of cobalt-based magnetic nanoporous carbon core-shell molecularly imprinted polymers for the solid-phase extraction of phthalate plasticizers in edible oil

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - In this work, cobalt magnetic nanoporous carbon (Co-MNPC) is employed as an alternative to intensively used Fe3O4 cores for the preparation of magnetic...     

Explaining μ+ spin-lattice relaxation in MnF2, belowT N,by scattering function

A relation between the spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T ₁) of positive muons and the scattering functionS ^T (q,) is derived for the antiferromagnet MnF₂. We find good agreement between previousSR measurements of 1/T ₁ and our calculation using neutron scattering measurements ofS ^T (q,).