Dynamics and post-collision interaction effects in two electron decay from the Xenon 4d hole

Two Auger electrons, one very slow, one fast, have been detected in coincidence following near threshold 4d photoionization of the Xe atom. The distribution in the energy the two electrons share has been measured for the first time revealing the presence of post-collision interaction effects that provide unique information on the decay dynamics of the 4d hole. Analysis of the distorted line shapes indicates that the dominant process is decay of Xe+(4d(-1)) to Xe3+ through cascade emission of a zero kinetic energy Auger electron followed by a fast Auger electron. The widths of the intermediate Xe2+* states are estimated to be about 60 meV.     

Nanoscopic study of second-harmonic generation in organic crystals with collection-mode near-field scanning optical microscopy

Collection-mode near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is used to map nanoscopic second-harmonic generation (SHG) in N -(4-nitrophenyl)- (L) -prolinol crystals. A spatial resolution of 98 nm is achieved. Near-field polarization-dependent SHG measurement is performed, and a local effective SHG susceptibility of 224+/-18 pm/V is obtained.     

On the Populations of Neon Levels in the Low Temperature Plasma of a Hollow Cathode Discharge

Atomic levels population measurements constitute an essential contribution to various aspects of plasma research: balance and cross-section of inelastic processes, admixtures effects on level excitation mechanism, purposeful optimisation of plasma parameters etc. Atomic level populations in the negative glow of a hollow cathode discharge are of utmost interest in view of the peculiarities of the spectral source: a rich spectrum consisting of gas lines, lines of the cathode material and also lines of the substances introduced in the discharge; intensive atomic and ionic lines of high excitation potentials; small spectral linewidth, convenient for analytical purposes.     

Vibrational Frequencies of 1,4-Dithiane-1-oxide (DTMSO)

Abstract

The Raman and infrared spectra of 1,4-dithiane-1-oxide are reported in the frequency region from 4000 to 130 cm^?1, for polycrystall ine samples. The observed bands are assigned on the assumption of a Cs chair form with axial conformation. The fundamental frequencies are discussed and compared with those of 1,4-dithiane, pentanethylene sulfoxide and 1,4-oxathiane-4-oxide, The vibrational coupling among skeletal and S=0 deformations is discussed.     

Observation of Optical Second Harmonic Generation in Wet-Spun Films of Na-DNA

The observation of optical second harmonic generation (SHG) from wetspun films of Na-DNA is reported. The SHG signal is stronger at a relative humidity of 92% (corresponding to the B conformation of Na-DNA) than at low humidity of -33% (corresponding to a disordered conformation of Na-DNA). The strength of the SHG signal is also dependent on the orientation of the incident laser beam polarization with respect to the DNA helical axes.     

Orientation relationship in Eurofer martensitic steels

Both TEM and SEM/EBSD orientation measurements are carried out on a Eurofer97 martensitic steel. The influence of the prior austenitic grain size is studied using dedicated heat treatments. The intra laths misorientation is estimated by TEM. SEM/EBSD orientation mapping enable to study the actual orientation relationship (OR) between the parent austenitic phase and the martensitic phase. Neither the Nishiyama–Wasserman nor the Kurdjumov–Sachs OR is able to account for both the misorientation angle distributions, the pole figure and the misorientation axes measured. The mixed OR recently proposed by Gourgues et al. (Electron backscattering diffraction study of acicular ferrite, bainite, and martensite steel microstructures, Mater. Sci. Tech. 16 (2000), pp. 26–40.) and Sonderegger et al. (Martensite laths in creep resistant martensitic 9–12%Cr steels – Calculation and measurement of misorientations, Mater. Characterization (2006), in Press.) seems to be able to account for most of these results. Based on this OR, a new angular criterion is proposed to detect blocks of laths.     

Chemical synthesis and magnetic properties of HCP and FCC nickel nanoparticles

In this study, we successfully synthesized single-phase hexagonal closed packed (HCP) and face-centered cubic (FCC) nickel nanoparticles via reduction of nickel nitrate hexahydrate and nickel acetate tetrahydrate, respectively, in polyethylene glycol-200. Structural information of the as-synthesized nickel nanoparticles are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) as a function of the molar concentration of the nickel precursor. XRD results reveal that low concentrations of nickel precursor (0.005?M and below) favor the HCP, while high concentrations favor the mixture of HCP and FCC crystal structures. Particle size of HCP structure is found in the range of ～15?nm via transmission electron microscope analysis. Vibratory sample magnetometer is employed to study its magnetic behavior and the results reveal that FCC crystalline phase shows ferromagnetic nature with high saturation magnetization (M _s?～?39.6?emu?gm^?1) as compared to metastable HCP crystalline structure (M _s?～?2?emu?gm^?1). The surfactants bonding on the surface of nickel nanoparticles are studied.     

High oxygen pressures and the stabilization of six-coordinated Ir(VI) in an oxygen lattice

Abstract

During these last twenty five years a great efforts have been made in the Laboratoire de Chimie du Solide du CNRS in order to develop high oxygen pressure for the stabilization of unusual oxidation state of transition elements.

The aims of such research works was to correlate the increase of the Mⁿ⁺-O bond covalency versus the increase of the oxidation state n+ to the physicochemical properties of resulting oxides [1].

Iridium was an interesting element due to its position (5d) in the Periodic Table. In 1980 Ir(V) (d⁴) was stabilized in La₂LiIrO₆ in the perovskite structure [2]. Such a study had underlined the strong value of the spin-orbit coupling associated to Ir(V) [3].

The stabilization of Ir(VI) is interesting from two points of view : (i) its isotropic electronic configuration (d³), (ii) such a high oxidation state could lead to the strongest M-O bond in an oxygen lattice.

Selecting, through a specific methodology, the most appropriate local structural and chemical factors and with the help of high oxygen pressure, Ir(V1) was stabilized in the perovskite Ba₂CaIrO₆. Structural, magnetic and Mössbauer studies have been carried out in order to characterize the physicochemical properties induced by this unusual oxidation state.     

Spectral Studies On Some 2-Quinolones

Spectral properties of some 2-Quinolones were investigate-ed. IR and ¹H NMR were applied to characterize the ligands. The hydrogen bond property is of important parameter for controlling the behaviour of the compounds. The N[sbnd]H, O[sbnd]H, C[dbnd]O, C[sbnd]H, and C[sbnd]N fundamental functional groups are characterized. The electronic transitions are assigned. The data are explained on the basis of molecular structure and substituents effects. The acid-base equilibria and the phenomena of tautomerism for these compounds are explained and discussed. The acid exponents (pK_OH, and pK_NH) are evaluated.     

Collective Modes and Elastic Constants of Liquid Al83Cu17 Binary Alloy

The collective dynamics （longitudinal and transverse phonon modes） are studied for aluminum-copper （Al-Cu） binary alloy in terms of the eigen-frequencies of the localized collective excitations. The model pseudopotential formalism is employed using a self-consistent phonon scheme by involving multiple scattering and phonon eigen- frequencies. These frequencies are expressed in terms of many-body correlation functions of atoms as well as of interatomic potential. The important ingredients in the present study are the pair-potential and pair-correlation functions. The most recent and sparingly used local field correlation functions are employed to investigate the influence of the screening effects on the vibrational dynamics of non-crystalline Al83Cu17 binary alloy. The results for the elastic constants like bulk modulus BT, rigidity modulus C, Poisson＇s ratio ξ, Young＇s modulus Y, Debye temperature 8D, propagation velocity of elastic waves and dispersion curves are reported based on the collective modes of this binary alloys. The present results are consistent and confirm the applicability of model potential and self-consistent phonon theory for such studies.