First steps in tropical intersection theory

We establish first parts of a tropical intersection theory. Namely, we define cycles, Cartier divisors and intersection products between these two (without passing to rational equivalence) and discuss push-forward and pull-back. We do this first for fans in \mathbbRⁿ{\mathbb{R}^{n}} and then for “abstract” cycles that are fans locally. With regard to applications in enumerative geometry, we finally have a look at rational equivalence and intersection products of cycles and cycle classes in \mathbbRⁿ{\mathbb{R}^{n}} .     

Analysis of formulas for calculating the main characteristics of backscattered electrons and how they compare to experimental results

Semiempirical relations for the following basic parameters of backscattered electrons in a scanning electron microscope are derived: reflection coefficient; average and most probable energies; energy spectra; and energy of backscattered electrons, depending on the angle of exit. The energy dependence is shown to have a maximum in the angular region of backscattered electrons Θ = 65°–75°.     

The epitaxial growth of the chromium bcc (111) layers

Cr/Tb/Cr thin films have been obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on sapphire substrates. The crystal structure of the films was characterised in-situ by means of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and Auger spectroscopy (AS) and ex-situ by X-ray grazing incidence diffraction (GID) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The deposition of chromium on the Tb(0001) layers at 300 °C was found to lead to the formation of three Cr(110) crystalline domains. Chromium deposited on Tb(0001) initially (first 50 Å) at room temperature and then at 300 °C grew epitaxially in the [111] direction and formed two Cr(111) crystalline domains shifted by 30°. Due to the lower density of the atoms in Cr(111) plane, compared to the Cr(110) and Cr(001) ones, this orientation is interesting for magnetic studies.     

Recent advances with electro-optic polymers

Abstract

In recent years the electro-optic polymers emerged as an important branch of material science. This growth and interest is fundamentally motivated by practical application of these materials in second-order nonlinear optics and in waveguiding configuration. Indeed, these materials marry excellent optical quality of amorphous σ bonded polymers with enhanced first hyperpolarizability of imbedded organic nonlinear optical molecules. Although a big progress was achieved with them, concerning particularly the science, understanding and applications, some problems remain still incompletely solved, particularly the stability of induced polar order by the application of external electric field and the molecule aggregation. In this review paper we recall techniques of thin film fabrication, poling, characterization of NLO properties and discuss more precisely problems of molecule aggregation as well as the temporal decay of polar order. A novel 3D second-order NLO chromophores, namely the [2] paracyclophanes, which may help to limit the aggregation, are proposed. We show, in particular, that this molecule can be poled in doped PMMA thin films. Practical applications of electro-optic polymers are also reviewed and discussed.     

Atomic fluorine in cobalt trifluoride thermolysis

The thermal decomposition of cobalt trifluoride was studied by High Temperature Mass Spectrometry (HTMS). It was ascertained that the rate of atomic fluorine evolution in the gas phase might be increased by adding small amounts of Ni(s) or CoF₂(s) to cobalt trifluoride. Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was used to determine the morphology and composition of the solid product surface layer formed under different rates of CoF₃(s) thermolysis.     

Synthesis and structure of novel sugar-substituted bipyridine complexes of rhenium and 99m-technetium

Novel ligands have been obtained from the reaction of 4,4'-dibromomethyl-2,2'-bipyridine with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylthiol, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosylthiol or 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-thioacetylmannopyranoside in which the sugar residues are thioglycosidically linked to the bipyridine in the 4,4'-position. Cleavage of the acetyl groups affords hydrophilic symmetric ligands with free hydroxyl groups. Reaction of the new glycoconjugated ligands (L) with [Re(CO)(5)Cl] yields fluorescent complexes of general formula [Re(L)(CO)(3)Cl], which were characterised by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and (1)H and (13)C NMR, IR, UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. These complexes exhibit excellent solubility and stability in organic solvents or water, depending on the residues of the sugar. One complex, namely tricarbonyl-4,4'-bis[(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glycopyranosyl)thiomethyl]-2,2'-bipyridinerheniumtricarbonylo chloride, has been characterised by X-ray crystallography. A non-symmetric structure of the complexes could be assigned. Radiolabelling of the unprotected ligands with [(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+) affords the corresponding water-soluble technetium complexes (in quantitative yields), which were characterised by their HPLC radiation traces. The formed complexes are stable for several hours in the presence of histidine but show partial ligand-exchange after one day.     

Photo‐Induced Electron Transfer from Excited Tris[2,2′‐bipyridine‐κN1,κN1′]ruthenium(2+) Ions to Dyadic Electron Acceptors That Can Be Protected by Host‐Guest Interaction against Fast Back Electron Transfer,Characterization of the Guest Molecules

Anthraquinone and viologen moieties were combined to dyadic molecules with two redox centers. These dyades and their constituents were used as acceptors in photo‐induced electron‐transfer reactions. The experiments show that a caveat is necessary if one tries to derive the properties and the reactions of the dyades from those of their constituents: the spectral properties appear to be independent superpositions of those of the constituents. However, the redox potentials of the two redox centres in the dyades deviate from that of their constituents, the methylene bridge can not suppress a considerable interaction between the two redox centres. This is especially true when the redox potentials of the constituents are close to one another. From the quenching experiments, it can be concluded that electrolyte cations like Na⁺ are engaged in the transition states of the electron‐transfer reactions. In this way, they can control the fate of the transferred electron.