Numerical and experimental investigation of laser propulsion

Aiming at the application of laser propulsion to stratospheric flight, we propose here a repetitive propulsion system, friction-less environment and metal-free ablation in a water cannon target. A special reservoir of water is proposed to supply a definite amount of water only at the time of laser irradiation. This system is tested for the object levitated on the airflow, which is called air-slider in order to simulate friction-less environment. In order to avoid the evaporation and freezing of water in lower atmospheric pressures, we propose here an air curtain system. We have performed simulations and experiments and confirmed that a small amount of air flow can sustain the high pressure inside the water reservoir. PACS 42.62.Cf; 52.38.Mf; 07.87.+v     

The First Structure Determination of Nanosized Colloidal Particles of Pd3P by High-Resolution Electron Microscopy

The exact three-dimensional structure of a nanosized colloidal particle of Pd₃P was determined directly from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images that were recorded in several crystallographic directions. An HRTEM image recorded along [011] is shown on the right. The cores of the particles were excluded from the analysis because of severe multiple diffraction.     

Formation and Structure of Cluster-Included Carbon Nanocapsules Prepared by Polymer Pyrolysis

Abstract

Formation of carbon nanocapsules with various clusters (SiC, Au, Fe. Co. Ge. and GeO₂) by polymer pyrolysis was investigated, and nanocapsules with SiC and Au nanoparticles were produced by thermal decomposition of polyvinyl alcohol at ?500°C in Ar gas atmosphere. The formation mechanism of nanocapsules and a structural model for the nanocapsule/SiC interface were proposed. In addition, carbon clusters were formed at the surface of carbon nanocapsules, and carbon onions were produced by electron irradiation of amorphous carbon produced from polyvinyl alcohol. The present work indicates that the pyrolysis of polymer materials with clusters is a useful fabrication method for the mass-production of carbon nanocapsules and onions at low temperatures compared to the ordinaly are discharge method.     

STATIC QUENCHING OF EXCITED STATE OF TRIS(BIPYRIDINE)RUTHENIUM(II) COMPLEX-CONTAINING POLYMER BY SODIUM ANTHRAQUINONE-2-SULFONATE

Abstract— Quenching of excited state of Ru(bpy)₂(poly-4-methyl-4'-vinyl-2,2'-bipyridine)Cl₂ by sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate was found to be a static process. The quenching was interpreted by application of a modified Perrin model. Radius of the quenching sphere was estimated to correspond to 6.65 monomer units and was unchanged on varying the Ru²+ content of the polymer. Energy migration along the polymer chain was denied.     

Synthesis and Photochemical Properties of Covalently-Linked Dimers of Ruthenium(II) Tris (Bipyridine) Complex: Comparison with Ru(II)(bpy)2 (Poly-4-Methyl-4′-Vinylbipyridine)

Covalently linked dimers of Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ (3 and 4) connected by two or three carbon atoms were synthesized as models for Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺-containing vinyl polymer (1). The luminescence properties of 3 and 4 were compared with those of its component monomer, 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine-bis(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex (2). In excited 3 and 4, intramolecular interaction leading to enhanced quenching was not observed. Electron-transfer quenching of the excited dimer with methylviologen (MV²⁺) and the zwitterionic viologen, 1,1′-bis(3-sulfopropyl)4,4′-bipyridinium (SPV), was studied and compared with that of 1 and 2. The low quenching efficiency in 1, 3, and 4 systems can be ascribed to the steric hindrance of unexcited ruthenium complex. Energy migration between ruthenium complexes in the excited 1, 3, and 4 can be ruled out from the kinetic evidence.     

Development of modulating permanent magnet sextupole lens for focusing of pulsed cold neutrons

Modulating permanent magnet sextupole lens (PMSx) for focusing pulsed cold neutrons is under development. The synchronized modulation of its field gradient suppresses the chromatic aberration which arises from the Time Of Flight method. The strength of the magnetic field, the torque, and the rise of temperature during its operation are studied on a fabricated prototype. Experiments on focusing pulsed very cold neutrons (VCN) at ILL (Institute of Laue Langevin, France) were carried out and VCN with around λ=40 Å were focused by the PMSx at a focal length of about 0.5 m. The experimental results are presented in conjunction with the principle of the neutron focusing and the modulating method of the focal strength of permanent magnet lens with the double ring structure.     

Design of a neutron polarizer using polarizing super mirrors for the TOF-SANS instrument at the J-PARC

Small-angle neutron scattering technique using polarized neutrons is powerful for studying structures in the range between nm and μm of magnetic materials. In addition, they have been used for the incident beam of focusing-geometry SANS instruments using a magnetic neutron lens, where a high polarization degree of about 99.9% is necessary because the imperfectness of the neutron polarization increases the background level. We are going to install such a magnetic focusing system on the new time-of-flight SANS (TOF-SANS) instrument at the J-PARC so as to make q_min smaller than 10⁻³ Å⁻¹ and improve the resolution of the conventional TOF-SANS at low q. As a polarizing device of the instrument, two V-shaped polarizing super mirrors arranged in crossed geometry to enhance the polarization degree has been considered. In this paper, we present the concept and the detailed design of this device and its performance estimated by Monte Carlo simulations.     

Liposomalization of hydroxyphenyl fluorescein as a reagent for detecting highly reactive oxygen species

It has been shown that lifestyle-related diseases and aging are related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and many studies have reported on the direct detection of ROS. The topical fluorescence reagent 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCDHF) is used to measure oxidation. However, there are problems regarding its stability, and its similar sensitivity to ROS cannot be easily distinguished. In this study, we used hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF), which is a novel fluorescence probe with high stability against light that undergoes specific reactions with highly ROS (hROS). We examined the specificity for hROS of HPF solution and liposomal HPF in different reactions. HPF containing high cholesterol liposomes (HC-H-lipo) maintained its ability to tolerate light scattering energy, dependent on the turbidity of this solution, but DCDHF did not. In the reaction with hydroxyl radicals, the fluorescein concentration in HC-H-lipo was increased compared with that in HPF solution. In contrast, in the reaction with peroxynitrite, HC-H-lipo was inhibited. It was confirmed that HC-H-lipo that reacted specifically with hydroxyl radicals was able to distinguishably detect hydroxyl radicals. It was regarded to be useful as an examination kit. Tissue disorder induced by sodium valproate (SV) was one of the prepared murine disease models. The reactivity ratio of HC-H-lipo with serum to that of HPF solution was markedly different between the normal group (30%) and SV group (70%). In conclusion, HC-H-lipo cannot only simply and directly detect ROS but can also selectively detect ROS type. This nanocarrier is expected to be used as a novel diagnosis method.     

Cationic cyclocodimerization. 2. Syntheses of [3.3](1,4)naphthalenophane and [3.3]paracyclo(1,4)naphthalenophane derivatives

1,3-bis(4-vinylnaphthyl)propane and 1-(4-vinylnaphthyl)-3-($\text{p}$-vinylphenyl)propane, were cyclocodimerized with indene to afford indenyl-substituted [3.3](1,4)naphthalenophanes and [3.3]paracyclo(1,4)naphthalenophanes.