Comment on: “Lorentz violation in high-energy ions” by Santosh Devasia

In an article “Lorentz violation in high-energy ions” by S. Devasia published in this Journal [EPJ C 69, 343 (2010)], our recent Doppler shift experiments on fast ion beams are reanalyzed. Contrary to our analysis, Devasia concludes that our results provide an “indication of Lorentz violation”. We argue that this conclusion is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of our experimental scheme and reiterate that our results are in excellent agreement with Special Relativity.     

Evidence of an isomeric pair in furan...HCl: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

For the first time the coexistence of a sigma- and a pi-complex in the C(4)H(4)O:HCl system has been observed, in the same supersonic expansion of a molecular jet seeded with argon (or helium) or in a flow-cooled cell at 240 K. This is an exception to the third of the Legon-Miller rules which claims the sigma-structure to be the only one to exist. On the grounds of energetic considerations and band contour simulations, two observed bands at 2787.7 and 2795.5 cm(-1) of the nu(s) HCl stretching frequency are assigned to the two complexes, recorded as Fourier transform infrared spectra with a resolution between 0.2 and 0.5 cm(-1). Complementary calculations show that the use of the standard second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory may be erroneous for such a complex, due of the overestimation of the dispersion contribution with respect to the electrostatic term. It is finally established that only a balanced version of the second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation method, spin-component scaled-MP2, or a higher level of theory like a coupled-cluster approach, can provide a reliable energetic analysis for this complex.     

Hyperfine structure of the resonance lines of53Cr and lifetimes of some excited states of the Cr I spectrum

The hyperfine structure of the⁵³Cr resonance linesa ⁷ S ₃ ?z ⁷ P _2,3,4 has been investigated by means of laser saturation spectroscopy. By comparison of the experimental signal curves with theoretically computed spectra the hitherto unknown sign of the magnetic hyperfine coupling constant in thea ⁷ S ₃ ground state of⁵³Cr could be determined unambigiously to be negative. Further the signs of the hfs coupling constants in thez ⁷ P states — so far only evaluated by theoretical reasoning — could be confirmed. Additionally the lifetimes of the statesz ⁷ P,z ⁵ P,f ⁷ D,z ⁵ F,e ⁷ D ₅ andy ⁵ P ₃ in the Cr I spectrum have been determined from the fluorescence decay after pulsed laser excitation.     

Simulation of the Solid State Vibrational Spectra of Aminodichloroborane and Ammonia Boron Trichloride

This is the second part of a quantum chemical investigation on the reaction between boron trichloride and ammonia. In part I [9] we focused on the energetic course of successive chlorine substitutions which are relevant for the chemical vapor deposition of BN. In this work we analyze in detail the vibrational spectra of reaction products accessible at room temperature. Regarding an experimental IR spectrum of the condensation product of the reaction between BCl₃ and NH₃ [10], there are more signals than expected for monomeric aminodichloroborane. Since this molecule shows the tendency to oligomerize, we have studied whether the presence of aminodichloroborane dimers or trimers or an impurity of the ammonia boron trichloride complex – an intermediate from which aminodichloroborane is formed – can explain the shape of the measured spectrum. To this end we have calculated the vibrational frequencies of monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric BCl₂NH₂, H₃N · BCl₃, and several van der Waals complexes at the level of a Møller‐Plesset second order perturbation theory. For the verification of the methodology, the vibrational frequencies of the dimethylaminodichloroborane molecule have been determined, in good accord with experimental gas phase spectra. Also the solid state spectrum of H₃N · BCl₃ is well reproduced by the computed vibrational spectrum of the monomeric adduct and a hydrogen‐bonded aggregate. Our studies concerning the spectrum of the condensation product of the reaction of boron trichloride with ammonia indicate that the substance investigated by Kwon and McGee had contained, besides monomeric aminodichloroborane, also its trimer and ammonia boron trichloride.     

Alkyl-Bridged Nitropyrazoles – Adjustment of Performance and Sensitivity Parameters

Starting from 3,5-dinitro-4-methylaminopyrazole ( 2 ), six different energetic salts and three new derivatives of methylene bridged nitropyrazoles were synthesized. The derivatives bear a methylamino ( 4 ), methylnitramino ( 5 ), and azido group ( 7 ). All compounds were intensively characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and DTA/TGA measurements. The sensitivities were determined according to BAM standard methods and the energetic properties calculated using the EXPLO5 code. The energetic salts were compared with each other and with ANTA in terms of their energetic properties. On the basis of the methyl- and ethyl bridged derivatives, it was shown how the introduction of methylamino ( 4 ) and methylnitramino ( 5 ) groups in an alkyl-bridged nitropyrazole system modify its properties (performance & sensitivities). In addition, azido compound 7 was contrasted with its literature-known constitutional isomer and investigated for its suitability as a potential metal-free primary explosive.     

195Pt NMR of organoplatinum compounds

The ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shifts of several organoplatinum compounds in solution have been determined. The δ(¹⁹⁵Pt) values of the phosphine-Pt^II and -Pt⁰ compounds lie in separate ranges, and allow the metal-diene systems to be characterized either as metallacyclopentene or as η²-bonded diene. Although the two isomers of bis(η³-allyl)Pt (VIII) formally should be regarded as Pt^II compounds their ¹⁹⁵Pt shifts clearly lie in the region for Pt⁰ compounds. The large separation between the ¹⁹⁵Pt signals and the difference in ¹⁹⁵Pt-T₁ values for the two isomers of VIII are in accord with their having different geometries around the metal.