Density Measurements from the Asymmetry of the Lyman ζ Line in a Vacuum Spark Lithium Discharge

A lithium spectrum is obtained form vacuum spark discharges using a grazing-incidence flat-field spectrometer. Hydrogen-like lines up to Lyman η are identified in the spectrum. The spectrum is analyzed, and it is found that the experimental line widths increase along the Lyman series. An asymmetry between the blue and red wings appears in the profile of the Lyman ζ line, and becomes significant in the profile of the Lyman ? line. A relatively new method is used to estimate an electron density of 1 ± 0.4 × 10¹⁸cm^?3 from the experimental degree of asymmetry between the blue and the red wings of the Lyman ζ line. This result is compared with an analysis of the experimental widths of two optically thin lines, namely, Lyman δ and Lyman ζ. In this analysis an electron density of 1.2±0.5 × 10¹⁸cm^?3 is deduced. The principal quantum number of Lyman η (n=8) is used in the Inglis-Teller formula for the last line seen before the merging of the lines with the continuum, and the estimated electron density is found to be 2.0 × 10¹⁸cm^?3 for the lithium plasma. Thus, it is demonstrated that the new method employing the asymmetry of the lineshapes in dense plasmas yields results consistent with the analysis of the widths of the lines. However, it requires obtaining the profile of just one spectral line, which is a great advantage. The reference data on the Stark broadening of the Lyman ζ line is also tabulated, which was previously unavailable in the literature.     

Pyridinderivate als Komplexbildner. XI. Die Thermodynamik der Metallkomplexbildung mit Bis-, Tris- und Tetrakis[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-aminen

Pyridine Derivatives as Complexing Agents XI. Thermodynamics of Metal Complex Formation with Bis-, Tris- and Tetrakis[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-amines. The equilibria between H⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺, and the ligands bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (=DPA), tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (=TPA), tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (=TLA) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-ethylenediamine (=TPEN) have been studied. Only the stability constants of DPA and TLA with almost all these cations were obtained using the pH method. For the other ligands, the complexes are already formed in acid solutions and only the use of different ligand-ligand or metal-metal exchanges as well as of pM methods were successful. The protonation constants indicate that for DPA the protonation occurs firstly at the aliphatic nitrogen atom whereas in all other cases only the pyridine groups can be protonated. The thermodynamic functions of protonation are in agreement with this interpretation. The stability constants of the complexes are often similar in magnitude to those of the analogous aliphatic amines, in spite of the much lower basicities of the pyridine derivatives. The Fe(II)N₆ species of DPA and TPEN are appreciably more stable than those of the corresponding aliphatic ligands. This is due to the formation of low-spin complexes with an unexpected ΔH value. Comparison of the thermodynamic data of formation of the complexes with TPA and TLA shows the effect of the three bulky methyl groups of the second ligand. As a consequence of steric hindrance and of the major dehydration, ΔH and less ΔS are more positive for M(TLA)²⁺ than for M(TPA)²⁺. Therefore M(TLA)²⁺ is normally much less stable than M(TPA)²⁺. The data for MnTPA²⁺ and ZnTPA²⁺ appear to indicate that in these complexes the coordination number of the metal ion is seven and four respectively. In addition to the complexes ML²⁺, with these two ligands hydroxo complexes ML(OH)⁺ are formed at remarkably low pH. Further TPEN seems to be sexidentate in the 1:1 complexes with Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ but quinquedentate in those with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, also in agreement with the spectra in solution and of the solid complex salts. The reaction: M(DPA)₂²⁺ + TPEN → M(TPEN)²⁺ + 2DPA is for all metal ions favoured by ΔH and ΔS, whereas in the case of the corresponding aliphatic ligands only by the second term. This result is explained in terms of a different magnitude of hydration of the two sexidentate ligands as a consequence of the presence of the hydrophobic aromatic rings in TPEN.     

On the Multiplication Tuples Related to Certain Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces

We consider a class of subnormal operator tuples \(M_z\) consisting of multiplications by coordinate functions on a class of reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces associated with certain bounded domains \(\Omega \) in \({\mathbb {C}}^m\), with the closure \({{\bar{\Omega }}}\) of \(\Omega \) being the Taylor spectrum of \(M_z\) and the topological boundary \(\partial \Omega \) of \(\Omega \) being the Taylor essential spectrum of \(M_z\). If T is a subnormal operator tuple quasisimilar to \(M_z\), then we show that the Taylor spectrum of T is \({{\bar{\Omega }}}\) provided \({{\bar{\Omega }}}\) is polynomially convex and provided \(\Omega \) is either strictly pseudoconvex with \(C^2\) boundary or is starlike, and that the Taylor essential spectrum of T is \(\partial \Omega \) provided \(\Omega \) satisfies the Gleason property as well. This generalizes some previous work of the first-named author in the context of the unit ball and the unit polydisk. The relevant theory is then applied to the multiplication tuples on the Hardy and Bergman spaces of complex ellipsoids.     

Preparation and characterization of a bis thiourea sodium iodide (BTSI)

A semi-organic nonlinear optical single crystal of bis thiourea sodium iodide (BTSI) has been successfully grown from aqueous solution using the slow evaporation solvent technique (SEST) at room temperature. Obtained crystals using the SEST method were characterized by using different characterization techniques. Structural studies of the grown crystals have been carried out by single-crystal XRD to confirm the crystal system and functional groups by FT-IR spectroscopy. Single-crystal XRD reveals orthorhombic structure of semi-organic BTSI single crystals and its unit cell parameters. Metal complex coordination of the single crystal is studied by FT-IR spectroscopy. The optical absorption study revealed excellent optical transparency of BTSI crystal in the entire visible region with a sharp lower cutoff wavelength 298 nm. The energy band gap of BTSI is found to be 4.16 eV. Thermal stability and thermal decomposition of BTSI single crystals were investigated by TGA–DTA and DSC analysis. The surface appearance of BTSI crystals by scanning electron microscopy reveals the formation of layer growth pattern. The structural perfection and growth features of the grown crystal were analyzed by wet chemical etching studies. The above studies reveal the effect of incorporation of sodium iodide into the lattice of thiourea crystals. The as-grown BTSI single crystals can be used as a potential candidate for NLO material as well as in electronic and optoelectronic devices.     

Random tree recursions: Which fixed points correspond to tangible sets of trees?

Let be the set of rooted trees containing an infinite binary subtree starting at the root. This set satisfies the metaproperty that a tree belongs to it if and only if its root has children u and v such that the subtrees rooted at u and v belong to it. Let p be the probability that a Galton‐Watson tree falls in . The metaproperty makes p satisfy a fixed‐point equation, which can have multiple solutions. One of these solutions is p, but what is the meaning of the others? In particular, are they probabilities of the Galton‐Watson tree falling into other sets satisfying the same metaproperty? We create a framework for posing questions of this sort, and we classify solutions to fixed‐point equations according to whether they admit probabilistic interpretations. Our proofs use spine decompositions of Galton‐Watson trees and the analysis of Boolean functions.     

Virus particles and receptor interaction monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy

Native fluorescence spectroscopy (NFS), primarily from tryptophan (trp), was used for in situ investigation of the virus-receptor attachment process in phi6, a lipid-containing bacteriophage from the Cystoviridae family. NFS allowed us to monitor the viral attachment directly to its receptor, which was isolated from the pseudomonad host. Immediately upon mixing, an increase in tryptophan emission intensity was observed followed by a subsequent decrease in emission intensity. The initial increase in emission intensity reflects changes in trp quantum efficiency as the phi6 surface proteins change their conformation as a result of virus attachment to the pilus. The cystovirus spike protein P3 is responsible for receptor recognition and the fluorescence changes observed are likely to be the consequence of its conformational transition at this initial infection stage, providing a kinetic view of this process. The subsequent decrease in trp emission intensity could be due to changes in viral proteins as a result of disassembly of the pili. The technique may have important applications for the dynamic monitoring of additional stages of the virus replication cycle such as assembly, interaction with nucleic acids and maturation. This work expands on a previous demonstration that fluorescence offered a novel tool to detect virus particle interaction with its host cell.     

Investigations on growth, thermal, electrical, and etching studies of KCl-doped triglycine sulfate single crystals

Single crystals of pure triglycine sulfate (TGS) and potassium chloride (KCl)-doped TGS with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 1?mol%) were grown from aqueous solutions by natural evaporation process at room temperature. Thermal stability of the grown crystals was investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric (TG) studies. DTA curve shows a lower decomposition temperature for KCl-doped TGS crystal than that of pure TGS crystal. The dielectric properties of pure TGS and KCl-doped TGS crystals were performed in the frequency range of 1?C500?kHz at 30?°C and this study showed that the dielectric constant was increased due to KCl concentration. DC electrical conductivity measurements were made in the temperature range from 35 to 100?°C and showed that the DC conductivity was increased with the increase of temperature as well as doping concentrations of KCl. The etching feature of the surface of the grown crystals was studied in water etchant.