Investigation of gain and hyperfine splitting in the niobium X-ray laser

Neon-like niobium X-ray lasers have been studied using both slab and thin-foil target geometries. Niobium foils of various lengths were irradiated from both sides with two beams of the frequency-doubled Nova laser system using a line focus. We looked for gain by measuring spectrally integrated line intensities at different plasma lengths. Gain was observed in four neon-like niobium lines corresponding to 3s–3p transitions. The line profile of theJ = 0–1 line ( = 145.9 ) shows splitting due to the hyperfine effect. Improved contrast in the hyperfine structure is observed as the plasma length is increased. Hyperfine splitting may be relevant to other 3s–3p transitions in neon-like niobium as well as other neon-like X-ray laser systems.     

Interdiffusion studies in Bi-based layered systems with nanosecond laser pulses

Interdiffusion processes are induced by nanosecond laser pulses from an excimer laser. The Bi-based systems studied are formed by a Bi layer and a Sb or Ge layer. Configurations with Bi at the surface layer or at the innermost layer are both studied. Real-time reflectivity measurements are performed during the irradiation to determine the process kinetics and times and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry is used to obtain the concentration depth profiles. It will be shown that there is an interfacially initiated diffusion process in the Bi-Sb system and that the diffusion coefficients of this system within the liquid phase are in the 10^–5–10^–6 cm²/s range. The Bi-Ge system shows instead little mixing, the diffusion coefficients of the system within the liquid phase being at least two orders of magnitude lower. The differences observed when Bi is the surface layer or the innermost one are related to the different thermal responses of the system.     

An Efficient and Simple Entry to N-Substituted beta-Enamino Acid Derivatives from 2-Alkyl-2-oxazolines and 2-Alkyl-2-thiazolines

Reaction of azaenolates of 2-alkyl-oxa(thia)zolines 6 with imidoyl chlorides 7 as electrophiles to furnish masked N-substituted beta-enamino acid derivatives 1-2 in 70-90% yield is described. Alternative routes are discussed. Compounds 1-2 generally appear in one tautomeric form, imino or enamino, depending on the nature of the imidoyl chloride. The configuration of the enamino moiety (Z) and the conformation (s-cis) of compounds 1-2 obtained were established by an NMR study and unequivocally set by nuclear Overhauser effect difference experiments. An X-ray structure of compound 1e is also reported, showing a strong intramolecular NH.N hydrogen bond. Ab initio calculations (HF/3-21G and HF/3-21+G) have been carried out on several representative examples (1e, 1p, and 1l) in an attempt to support and provide the correct geometry of these derivatives. Structural considerations among the possible isomers of compounds 1 are discussed. From these studies it was concluded that the theoretical calculations agree with the experimental results. In addition, a very simple one-pot procedure for the preparation of masked N-substituted alpha-alkylated beta-enamino acid derivatives 2 from 6, 7, and different alkyl halides (R(3)Y) is described.     

Selective determination of cobalt using polyurethane foam and 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-2-p-cresol as a spectrophotometric reagent

The present work describes a selective, rapid and economical method for the determination of cobalt using the 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-p-cresol (BTAC) as a spectrophotometric reagent associated with a solid extraction on polyurethane foam. The BTAC reacts with Co(II) in the presence of Triton-X100 surfactant forming a green complex with maximum absorption at 615 nm. The reaction is used for cobalt determination within a pH range of 6.50-7.50, with an apparent molar absorptivity of 1.62 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1). Beer's Law is obeyed for a concentration of at least 1.60 microg ml(-1). A selective procedure is proposed for cobalt determination in the presence of Fe(II), Hg(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) up to milligram levels using masking agents. Polyurethane foam is used for the preconcentration and separation of cobalt from thiocyanate media and this procedure is applied to its determination in nickel salts and steel alloys.