Monodisperse DNA restriction fragments II. Sedimentation velocity and equilibrium experiments

We report sedimentation velocity and equilibrium measurements performed with an analytical ultracentrifuge to elucidate the effects of limited flexibility on the transport properties of semiflexible, monodisperse, double-stranded, blunt-ended DNA restriction fragments. We study a homologous series of fragments with 400, 800, and 1600 base pairs (3 to 11 persistence lengths), which are specifically designed and synthesized for this purpose (Part I). The molecular weights following from the sedimentation measurements agree well with the values expected on the basis of the number of base pairs. The sedimentation coefficients at infinite dilution are in good agreement with theoretical predictions for wormlike cylinders. The first order in volume fraction (varphi) coefficient K of the varphi-dependent sedimentation coefficient s(varphi)=1-Kvarphi decreases from 1178 for the shortest fragment to 882 for the longest fragment. These values are much larger than predicted for uncharged rigid rods, indicating the presence of associates with an enhanced aspect ratio and excluded volume. The precise match of the molecular weights obtained from exponential sedimentation-diffusion equilibrium distributions with weights calculated from the number of base pairs shows that any association is reversible and disappears at sufficiently low DNA concentration.     

Towards time-resolved THz imaging

We describe a setup that allows for the measurement of high-quality images at frequencies in the far-infrared (THz) regime of the spectrum. By using water-cooled THz emitters that are biased with a 50-kHz, ±400-V square wave, rapid delay scanning, and differential lock-in detection at 50 kHz, we attain shot-noise-limited detection of THz transients. As a result, THz transients with a large dynamic range of 5000 can be measured in 20 ms. We show that the THz imaging setup enables the time-resolved detection of the diffusion of gases. PACS 07.57.-c; 42.30.-d; 95.85.Gn; 36.20.Ng     

Generation of mid-infrared pulses by X(3) difference frequency generation in CaF(2) and BaF(2)

Tunable mid-IR pulses in the range 1300-4200 cm(-1) (7.7-2.4 microm) are generated through a phase-matched four-wave mixing process in ordinary mid-IR window materials such as CaF(2) and BaF(2) . In this process the difference frequency v(3)=2v(2)-v(1) is generated from pump fields v(1) and v(2) . The process can be phase matched to different frequencies by adjustment of the angle between the pump fields.     

Study of DyFe12−xMx compounds by57Fe and161Dy Mössbauer spectroscopy

DyFe_12?xM_x (M=Si,Ti,Cr) were studied with⁵⁷Fe and¹⁶¹Dy Mössbauer spectroscopy. The deduced coupling constants J_RFe of these compounds are about equal. It is found that Si is substituting one particular Fe-site, while Cr is substituting Fe randomly. In DyFe₁₀Si₂ two Fe-sites favour a c-axis anisotropy, while the third one favours the basal plane.