Ettore Majorana’s Course on Theoretical Physics: A Recent Discovery

We analyze in some detail the course that Ettore Majorana gave on theoretical physics at the University of Naples between January and March 1938, just prior to his mysterious disappearance. We discuss, in particular, the recently discovered Moreno Lecture Notes, in which all of Majorana’s lectures are recorded, six of which are not present in those that are preserved in the Domus Galilaeana in Pisa, Italy. Antonino Drago is a retired professor of history of physics at the University of Naples “Federico II.” Salvatore Esposito is a researcher on theoretical physics and history of physics at the University of Naples “Federico II.”     

Nuclear Physics in Norway, 1933–1955

In the late 1940s and the 1950s, Norwegian nuclear scientists, engineers, and administrators were deeply split over their nation’s goals, organization, politics, and tools for research in nuclear physics. One faction was determined to build a nuclear reactor in Norway, while another fiercely opposed the reactor plans and focused on particle accelerators. The first faction comprised scientific entrepreneurs and research technologists, the second academic scientists, most of whom began their research careers in nuclear physics in the 1930s. To understand this conflict, I trace the development of nuclear research in Norway from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s, placing it within an international context. Roland Wittje is working on his habilitation thesis in the History of Science Unit at the University of Regensburg, Germany.     

Laser two-photon ionization of organic molecules in dielectric liquids

The ionization threshold of fluoranthene and of TMPD in n-pentane was determined by laser two-photon ionization (TPI) and found to be 4.50 ± 0.05 and 3.88 ± 0.05 eV respectively. For both molecules the TPI spectra show distinct structure due to autoionization. For fluoranthene the TPI spectrum suggests that the molecule dissociates via the first excited singlet state.     

Another class of balanced graph designs: balanced circuit designs

A block considered as a set of elements together with its adjacency matrix A is called a C-block if A is the adjacency matrix of a circuit. A balanced circuit design with parameters v, b, r, k, λ (briefly, BCD(v, k, λ)) is an arrangement of v elements into bC-blocks such that each C-block contains k elements, each element occurs in exactly rC-blocks and any two distinct elements are linked in exactly λ C-blocks.We investigate conditions for the existence of BCD and show, in particular, that if the block-size k ? 6 and the trivial necessary conditions are satisfied, then the corresponding BCD exists.     

A theoretical approach to substituent effects: Interaction between directly bonded groups in the isoelectronic series XNH3+, XCH3, and XBH3−

Ab initio molecular orbital theory including full geometry optimization at the 4-31G level is used to examine the interactions between substitutents X(X = Li, BeH, BH₂, CH₃, NH₂, OH and F) and substrates Y(Y = NH₃⁺, CH₃, BH₃^?) in the isoelectronic series XNH₃⁺, XCH₃ and XBH₃^?. The results indicate that the interaction energies are dominated by σ-effects. NH₃⁺ is found to interact favorably with the σ-donors (e.g. Li, BeH and BH₂) and unfavorably with the σ-acceptors (e.g. F, OH, NH₂). The reverse pattern a observed for XBH₃^?. The range of interaction energies for XCH₃ is considerably smaller than for XNH₃⁺ and XBH₃^?.     

德国有机化学实验项目式教学实践与启示*——以康斯坦茨大学为例

对德国康斯坦茨大学的本科有机化学实验初级阶段和高级阶段的教学方式,从实验前准备、实验内容、实验教学模式、实验考核方式、实验室安全管理等方面进行了综合阐述,可为我国高校相关专业有机化学实验教学与改革提供参考,提高教学质量。     

Iodine-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of o-alkylazoarenes to 2H-indazoles

An iodine-catalyzed aerobic-oxidative C-H functionalization of o-alkylazoarenes to afford 2H-indazoles has been developed. CuI was found to be an effective additive to accelerate the regeneration of iodine in the catalytic cycle. This catalytic system is suitable for both electron-rich and electron-deficient azoarenes and tolerates a variety of functional groups with high yields. A gram-scale reaction was successfully conducted, proving the scalability of this reaction.     

Generalized Persistence of Entropy Weak Solutions for System of Hyperbolic Conservation Laws

Let u(t, x) be the solution to the Cauchy problem of a scalar conservation law in one space dimension. It is well known that even for smooth initial data the solution can become discontinuous in finite time and global entropy weak solution can best lie in the space of bounded total variations. It is impossible that the solutions belong to, for example, H¹ because by Sobolev embedding theorem H¹ functions are H¨older continuous. However, the author notes that from any point (t, x), he can draw a generalized characteristic downward which meets the initial axis at y = α(t, x). If he regards u as a function of (t, y), it indeed belongs to H¹ as a function of y if the initial data belongs to H¹ . He may call this generalized persistence (of high regularity) of the entropy weak solutions.The main purpose of this paper is to prove some kinds of generalized persistence (of high regularity) for the scalar and 2 × 2 Temple system of hyperbolic conservation laws in one space dimension.     

The interaction of an osmium-carbon triple bond with copper(I), silver(I) and gold(I) to give mixed dimetallocyclopropene species and the structures of Os(AgCl) (CR) Cl(CO) (PPh3)2

The osmium carbyne complex, Os(CR)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂, (R  p-tolyl) reacts with Group I halides to form the mixed dimetallocyclopropene species, $\text{Os(Cul)(C}$R)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂, $\text{Os(AgCl)(C}$R)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂, $\text{Os(AuCl)(C}$R)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂, and [$\text{Os[Ag(OClO}{}_3\text{)](C}$R)Cl(CO)(MeCN)(PPh₃)₂] ClO₄ X-ray crystal structure determination of $\text{Os(AgCl)(C}$R)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ confirms the presence of a three-membered ring and the structure can be viewed as the “acetylene-like” interaction of an osmium—carbon triple bond with AgCl. In acid solution AgCl is precipitated and an alkylidene complex results from proton addition to the carbyne ligand.     

Spectroscopy of large molecules in inert gas clusters

Aromatic hydrocarbons provide nucleation centers for the formation of clusters of inert gases in high-flow supersonic beams. Large clusters of Ar, each containing a single tetracene (T) molecule, were prepared by supersonic expansion of the seeded gas at pressures p = 3000–13000 Torr and interrogated by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy Evidence is reported for homogeneous line broadening of large TAr_n clusters prepared at p? 8000 Torr.