Limits on neutrino oscillations from a study of νe charged current interactions

We have fully analysed all events with a single electron obtained in an exposure of BEBC to the 350 GeV wide-band neutrino beam at CERN. The data agrees well with expectations based on the calculated ν_e flux and assuming μ?e universality. Using both the rate and the kinematic distributions, improved limits are set on ν_e → ν_X, ν_μ → ν_e, ν_μ → ν_τ mixing.     

Electron spin resonance studies of spin-labeled polymers. IV. Slow-motional effects in solid polystyrene

Shape changes in the electron spin resonance spectrum of spin-labeled polystyrene have been studied as a function of temperature in the range 77–340°K. Rotational correlation times have been calculated by using recent theories of slow-motional effects on ESR spectra. Three models were used, namely, Brownian, moderate jump diffusion, and large jump diffusion. The moderate jump model gave correlation times in good accord with those found by other techniques for the δ relaxation in polystyrene. The relaxation was found to be independent of molecular weight.     

Fast passage dispersion signals in inhomogeneously broadened electron spin resonance spectra: Application to the measurement of the spin-lattice relaxation times of free radicals derived from esters and salts of poly(methacrylic acid)

The shape of the first derivative of the dispersion mode of an inhomogeneously broadened electron spin resonance spectrum changes markedly on saturation. This behavior provides a convenient and rapid technique for estimating the spin latice relaxation time of the paramagnetic species involved. The technique is described together with the relevant theory. Values for the relaxation times of free radicals derived from poly(methyl methacrylate) and from poly(sodium methacrylate) have been obtained by this method and are found to be in good agreement with those obtained by the progressive saturation technique. A series of salts of polymethacrylic acid have been γ-irradiated, and the spin lattice relaxation times of the resulting trapped radicals were determined at 77 and 299°K. For a given polymer the relaxation times show little variation with temperature. This is attributed to a broad distribution of correlation times.     

Passivation of aluminium–n+ silicon contacts for solar cells by ultrathin Al2O3 and SiO2 dielectric layers

Ultra‐thin thermally grown SiO₂ and atomic‐layer‐deposited (ALD) Al₂O₃ films are trialled as passivating dielectrics for metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) type contacts on top of phosphorus diffused regions applicable to high efficiency silicon solar cells. An investigation of the optimum insulator thickness in terms of contact recombination factor J_{0_cont} and contact resistivity ρ_c is undertaken on 85 Ω/□ and 103 Ω/□ diffusions. An optimum ALD Al₂O₃ thickness of ～22 Å produces a J_{0_cont} of ～300 fAcm^–2 whilst maintaining a ρ_c lower than 1 mΩ cm² for the 103 Ω/□ diffusion. This has the potential to improve the open‐circuit voltage by a maximum 15 mV. The thermally grown SiO₂ fails to achieve equivalently low J_{0_cont} values but exhibits greater thermal stability, resulting in slight improvements in ρ_c when annealed for 10 minutes at 300 °C without significant changes in J_{0_cont}. The after‐anneal J_{0_cont} reaches ～600 fAcm^–2 with a ρ_c of ～2.5 mΩ cm² for the 85 Ω/□ diffusion amounting to a maximum gain in open‐circuit voltage of 6 mV. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Tunable short-pulse beat-wave laser source operating at 1 microm

We have demonstrated a chirped-pulse-amplification system utilizing an air-spaced etalon inside a regenerative amplifier to produce two simultaneous 2.0-ps pulses, one centered at the gain peak of Nd:phosphate glass (1052 nm) and the other centered at the gain peak of Nd:silicate (1061 nm). Autocorrelations of the resulting beat wave demonstrate a beat frequency of 2.3 THz. We achieved wavelength tunability over a 10-nm range by electronically adjusting the etalon spacing and variable pulse width by changing the etalon rotation.     

The binaural performance of a cross-talk cancellation system with matched or mismatched setup and playback acoustics

Cross-talk cancellation is a method for synthesizing virtual auditory space using loudspeakers. One implementation is the "Optimal Source Distribution" technique [T. Takeuchi and P. Nelson, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 112, 2786-2797 (2002)], in which the audio bandwidth is split across three pairs of loudspeakers, placed at azimuths of +/-90 degrees, +/-15 degrees, and +/-3 degrees, conveying low, mid, and high frequencies, respectively. A computational simulation of this system was developed and verified against measurements made on an acoustic system using a manikin. Both the acoustic system and the simulation gave a wideband average cancellation of almost 25 dB. The simulation showed that when there was a mismatch between the head-related transfer functions used to set up the system and those of the final listener, the cancellation was reduced to an average of 13 dB. Moreover, in this case the binaural interaural time differences and interaural level differences delivered by the simulation of the optimal source distribution (OSD) system often differed from the target values. It is concluded that only when the OSD system is set up with "matched" head-related transfer functions can it deliver accurate binaural cues.     

The role of pendant amines in the breaking and forming of molecular hydrogen catalyzed by nickel complexes

We present the results of a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the role of pendant amine ligands in the oxidation of H(2) and formation of H(2) by [Ni(P(R)(2)N(R')(2))(2)](2+) electrocatalysts (P(R)(2)N(R')(2) is the 1,5-R'-3,7-R derivative of 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane, in which R and R' are aryl or alkyl groups). We focus our analysis on the thermal steps of the catalytic cycle, as they are known to be rate-determining for both H(2) oxidation and production. We find that the presence of pendant amine functional groups greatly facilitates the heterolytic H(2) bond cleavage, resulting in a protonated amine and a Ni hydride. Only one single positioned pendant amine is required to serve this function. The pendant amine can also effectively shuttle protons to the active site, making the redistribution of protons and the H(2) evolution a very facile process. An important requirement for the overall catalytic process is the positioning of at least one amine in close proximity to the metal center. Indeed, only protonation of the pendant amines on the metal center side (endo position) leads to catalytically active intermediates, whereas protonation on the opposite side of the metal center (exo position) leads to a variety of isomers, which are detrimental to catalysis.     

The association constant of the first chloro-copper(II) complex in water to 100°C

The equilibrium constant, K₁, for the reaction Cu²⁺ Cl^? ? [CuCl]⁺ has been determined in the range 15–100°C from spectrophotometric data. The method of analysis, which is widely used, requires both slope and intercept from a reciprocal plot of absorbance against total metal ion concentration. The calculated values of K₁, particularly at low temperature, are very sensitive to the chosen method of data treatment such that the application of weighting factors to the absorbance data for a given photometric accuracy can halve the values. The large variations in K₁ found in the literature are likely to be caused by underestimation of the instability inherent in the method as much as by the neglect of chemical effects such as the formation of higher complexes. By appropriate weighting of the absorbance data an increase in K₁ is apparent above 30°C and the method may have limited usefulness at high temperatures.     

Indole derivatives. 1. Synthesis of tetracyclic mesoionic pyrimido[3,2:2′,3′]-as-triazino[5′,6′-b]indole-2,4-diones

The synthesis of the title compounds 5 has been accomplished by the thermal cyclocondensation of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) malonates with the appropriately substituted alkyl er arylalkylaminotriazinoindole.