Structural characterization of epitaxial Cr(x)Mo(1-x) alloy thin films

To develop a model system containing regularly spaced misfit dislocations for studies of the radiation resistance of nanoscale defects, epitaxial thin films of Cr, Mo, and Cr(x)Mo(1-x) alloys were deposited on MgO(001) by molecular beam epitaxy. Film compositions were chosen to vary the lattice mismatch with MgO. The film structure was investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Epitaxial films with reasonably high crystalline quality and abrupt interfaces were achieved at a relatively low deposition temperature, as confirmed by STEM. However, it was found by XRD and RBS in the channeling geometry that increasing the Mo content of the CrMo alloy films degraded the crystalline quality, despite the improved lattice match with MgO. XRD rocking curve data indicated that regions of different crystalline order may be present within the films with higher Mo content. This is tentatively ascribed to spinodal decomposition into Cr-rich and Mo-rich regions, as predicted by the Cr(x)Mo(1-x) phase diagram.     

Acoustic timescale characterisation of symmetric and asymmetric multidimensional hot spots

In this work, two-dimensional hot spots are modelled by combining a linear temperature gradient with a constant temperature plateau. This approach retains the simplicity of a linear temperature gradient, but captures the effects of a local temperature maximum of finite size. Symmetric and asymmetric plateau regions are modelled using both rectangular and elliptical geometries. A one-step Arrhenius reaction for H₂–air is used to model the reactive mixture. Plateaus with different ratios of excitation to acoustic timescales, spanning two orders of magnitude, are simulated. Even with clear differences in behaviour between one and two dimensions, the a priori prescribed hot spot timescale ratio is shown to characterise the 2-D gasdynamic response. The relationship between one and two dimensions is explored using asymmetric plateau regions. It is shown that 1-D behaviour is recovered over a finite time. Furthermore, the duration of this 1-D behaviour is directly related to the asymmetry of the plateau.     

Line Shift Investigations for Different Isotopomers of Carbon Monoxide

Line shift coefficients for five lines of five different isotopomers in the fundamental band of CO in the spectral region near 2058 cm⁻¹were measured using a three channel lead salt diode laser spectrometer. The study includes the linesP(3) of¹³C¹⁷O,R(3) of¹³C¹⁸O,P(9) of¹²C¹⁸O,P(10) of¹³C¹⁶O, andP(21) of¹²C¹⁶O, and covers collisions with N₂, O₂, H₂, D₂, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. Line shifts of the isotopomers¹³C¹⁶O,¹²C¹⁸O,¹³C¹⁸O, and¹³C¹⁷O were determined for the first time. Within the experimental uncertainty no significant dependence of the shift effect on the isotopomer was found. TheR-branch line under study shows a smaller line shift coefficient than aP-branch line with a similar rotational quantum number. With increasing mass of the noble gas perturber the absolute size of the shift coefficient increases. Moreover self- and nitrogen-broadening coefficients for the isotopomer lines were determined. Compared to previous measurements no significant deviations between different isotopomers were observed.     

Theoretical study of [F−; e+] and [CN−; e+]

Ab initio calculations are presented for the [F^?; e⁺] and [CN^?; e⁺] complexes. Positron affinities of 4.99 and 3.79 eV are obtained for F^? and CN^?, respectively. The excitation energies to the low-lying excited states of the positron complexes are also calculated.     

A copper-catalyzed C-N bond formation involving sp-hybridized carbons. A direct entry to chiral ynamides via N-alkynylation of amides

A copper-catalyzed new C-N bond formation involving a sp-hybridized carbon is described here leading to a facile entry for syntheses of chiral ynamides. This direct N-alkynylation of amides should have a significant impact on the future development of synthetic methodologies employing ynamides.     

Bulk and single-molecule characterization of an improved molecular beacon utilizing H-dimer excitonic behavior

Pairs of fluorophores in close proximity often show self-quenching of fluorescence by the well-known H-dimer mechanism. We use a pair of fluorophores in the new dicyanomethylenedihydrofuran (DCDHF) dye family in the design and characterization of a new fluorescent probe for nucleic acid detection, which we refer to as a self-quenched intramolecular dimer (SQuID) molecular beacon (MB). We obtain a quenching efficiency of 97.2%, higher than the only other reported value for a MB employing fluorophore self-quenching by H-dimer formation. Furthermore, the excellent single-molecule (SM) emitter characteristics of the DCDHF dyes allow observation of individual SQuID MB-target complexes immobilized on a surface, where the doubled SM emission intensity of our target-bound beacon ensures a higher signal-to-background ratio than conventional fluorophore-quencher MBs. Additional advantages of the SQuID MB are single-pot labeling, visible colorimetric detection of the target, and intrinsic single-molecule two-step photobleaching behavior, which offers a specific means of discriminating between functional MBs and spurious fluorescence.     

A search for charmed particles originating from the interactions of 300 GeV/c protons in emulsion nuclei

The associated production of charmed particles by the interactions of 300 GeV/c protons with complex nuclei has been sought using nuclear emulsions. The failure to observe any candidates for this process among some 60,000 interactions investigated implies, provided charmed particles lifetimes are in the range 10^?12 to 10^?14 s, a cross section for their associated production by the interactions of 300 GeV/c protons with nucleons of less than 1.5 microbarns at a 90% confidence level.