Precise Size‐Selective Sieving of Nanoparticles Using a Highly Oriented Two‐Dimensional Supramolecular Polymer

The development of size‐selective membranes with well‐defined nanopores towards the precise separation of nanometer‐sized substances is a challenging task to achieve. Here a supramolecular membrane is presented that comprises a highly oriented, honeycomb‐like, 2D supramolecular polymer on a polycarbonate filter support. It enables precise size‐selective sieving of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs). Owing to the uniform parallel‐aligned nanocavities within the 2D supramolecular polymers, the composite membrane shows a high size‐selectivity with a sub‐nanometer accuracy in the cutoff size of about 4.0 nm. In principle, the species of size‐separable particles are unlimited, as demonstrated by quantum dots, noble metal, and metal oxide NPs. This supramolecular membrane combined with filtration advances the potential of NPs in terms of their monochromatic emission and size monodispersity, and also enables rapid removal of small magnetic NP adsorbents that are otherwise difficult to capture.     

Experimental determination of chlorine isotope separation factor by anion-exchange chromatography

Chlorine isotope fractionation factor was determined by strongly basic anion-exchange chromatography with 0.1 mol/l HCl at 25 °C. The magnitude of the factor was calculated as a single-stage separation factor of 1.00030 with analytical precision of 0.00006 (1σ). The results showed that the lighter isotope () was preferentially fractionated into the resin phase, while the heavier one () enriched into the aqueous phase. This trend suggested that the hydrated Cl⁻ ions in the aqueous phase were slightly more stable than the hydrated Cl⁻ ions electrostatically interacting with the ion-exchange groups of the resin.     

Nanosatellites for quantum science and technology

Bringing quantum science and technology to the space frontier offers exciting prospects for both fundamental physics and applications such as long-range secure communication and space-borne quantum probes for inertial sensing with enhanced accuracy and sensitivity. But despite important terrestrial pathfinding precursors on common microgravity platforms and promising proposals to exploit the significant advantages of space quantum missions, large-scale quantum test beds in space are yet to be realised due to the high costs and lead times of traditional ‘Big Space’ satellite development. But the ‘small space’ revolution, spearheaded by the rise of nanosatellites such as CubeSats, is an opportunity to greatly accelerate the progress of quantum space missions by providing easy and affordable access to space and encouraging agile development. We review space quantum science and technology, CubeSats and their rapidly developing capabilities and how they can be used to advance quantum satellite systems.     

A determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa parameter |V us| using KL decays

We present a determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa parameter |V(us)| based on new measurements of the six largest K(L) branching fractions and semileptonic form factors by the KTeV (E832) experiment at Fermilab. We find |V(us)|=0.2252+/-0.0008(KTeV)+/-0.0021(ext), where the errors are from KTeV measurements and from external sources. We also use the measured branching fractions to determine the CP violation parameter |eta(+-)|=(2.228+/-0.005(KTeV)+/-0.009(ext))x10(-3).     

Measurements of the Decay KL-->e+ e- mu+ mu-

The KTeV experiment at Fermilab has isolated a total of 132 events from the rare decay K(L)-->e+ e- mu+ mu-, with an estimated background of 0.8 events. The branching ratio of this mode is determined to be [2.69+/-0.24(stat)+/-0.12(syst)]x10(-9), with a radiative cutoff of M(2)(ee mu mu)/M(2)(K)>0.95. The first measurement using this mode of the parameter alpha from the D'Ambrosio-Isidori-Portolès (DIP) model of the K(L)gamma*gamma* vertex yields a result of -1.59+/-0.37, consistent with values obtained from other decay modes. Because of the limited statistics, no sensitivity is found to the DIP parameter beta. We use this decay mode to set limits on CP and lepton violation.     

Observation of geometric phases for mixed states using NMR interferometry

Examples of geometric phases abound in many areas of physics. They offer both fundamental insights into many physical phenomena and lead to interesting practical implementations. One of them, as indicated recently, might be an inherently fault-tolerant quantum computation. This, however, requires one to deal with geometric phases in the presence of noise and interactions between different physical subsystems. Despite the wealth of literature on the subject of geometric phases very little is known about this very important case. Here we report the first experimental study of geometric phases for mixed quantum states. We show how different they are from the well-understood, noiseless, pure-state case.     

Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial properties of Schiff bases and Schiff base metal complexes derived from 2,3-diamino- pyridine

New copper(II), zinc(II) and nickel(II) Schiff base complexes derived from 2,3-diaminopyridine (DAPY) and selected aldehydes, namely salicylaldehyde (SalH), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4-OHBenz) and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (4-NO₂Benz), and one mixed Schiff base, DAPY-{4-OHBenz}{SalH} were prepared and characterized by a combination of elemental analyses, i.r. and n.m.r. spectra, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The Schiff bases and some of the metal complexes display antibacterial properties.     

Thermal Stresses in Elastic: Plates*

A method is proposed for the solution of elastic quadrilateral plates under thermal loads. The procedure employs eigenfunctions for angular regions, together with a least squares technique. An electronic computer is a necessary adjunct to the proposed method of solution. Numerical results are given