Laser systems specialized for laser spectroscopy at storage rings

Laser spectroscopy at storage rings often suffers from a limited resolution due to Doppler-broadened resonances. Broadening is caused by the velocity spread of the ions stored in the beam. In the following, the present status of our work on laser systems specialized on the specific needs of laser spectroscopy at storage rings is reported. Two pulsed laser systems were developed. One is a dye laser whose spectral bandwidth can be switched by inserting different Littrow-prisms into the resonator. An increase in bandwidth up to a factor of 45 was achieved. This laser was used for fast qualitative scans and high resolution measurements. The other laser system is a Nd : YAG laser pumped optical parametric oscillator. It is a tunable laser system covering the spectral range from 410 to 4000 nm. Furthermore, a continuous wave laser with a frequency shifted feedback cavity is described. It shows broadband emission with an adjustable bandwidth of up to 4.5 GHz. This laser can be advantageous for laser cooling of ion beams. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A new high-spin isomer in 39 97 Y58

An isomeric state at 3,523 keV excitation energy in⁹⁷Y with a half-life of 144(10) ms has been discovered with the fission-product separator JOSEF. This isomer is depopulated through aγ transition of 162 keV. AnE3 multipolarity for this transition is consistent with the measured conversion coefficients ofα _K =0.98(20) andα _T =1.00(19). Subsequent electromagnetic transitions populate several new⁹⁷Y levels which have high spins. For the isomer the three-quasiparticle configuration [πg _9/2?ν(h _11/2,g _7/2)]27/2^? is proposed. TheE3 transition with a strength about 2 single-particle units is supposed to be of the typeh ₁₁ ^2/+1 →d ₅ ^2/?1 . These findings provide evidence for the rapid shape transition atA?100 since they indicate shell-model character of ₃₉ ⁹⁷ Y₅₈ even at high excitation energies while the immediate neighbour ₃₉ ⁹⁸ Y₅₉ contains a rotational band based on a level at 495 keV.     

Rapid determination of ethylene glycol at toxic levels in serum and urine

The rapid gas chromatographic detection and determination of ethylene glycol in biological fluids is described. Phenylboronic acid in acetone was used for the esterification of glycol. The phenylboronates of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol are not separated on a packed column of medium polarity (OV-17), but they can be separated on a non-polar column (OV-101). In both instances, 1,3-propylene glycol can be used as an internal standard. The method requires only 100 microliters of serum or urine and is suitable for trace analysis in an emergency toxicological laboratory. The utility of the method is demonstrated on two cases of human intoxication with ethylene glycol.     

Study of perrhenate reduction by capillary electrophoresis

The influence of perrhenate concentration, the concentration of the reducing agent and pH of the reaction mixture on the yield of perrhenate reduction were studied to find a possibility to decrease the stannous chloride concentration in the reaction mixture without negative changes on the yield of perrhenate reduction. Britton-Robinson buffer solutions were selected as the background electrolytes because of their buffering capacity in a wide pH interval. The highest degree of perrhenate reduction was obtained at pH 2 at perrhenate concentrations ranging from 10(-4) to 10(-3) mol/L. The stability of reduced rhenium against pH change from 2 to 5.5 and against dilution of rhenium in the reaction mixture to the concentration suitable for the application in radiotherapy were studied as well. The results obtained by capillary electrophoresis and by thin-layer chromatography with radiometric detection were compared.     

Ein Beitrag zur Mn5Si3-Struktur (D 88-Typ)

Zusammenfassung Die Parameter des D 8₈-Struktur werden mit Hilfe gut ausgebildeter Einkristalle von Ti₅Si₃ neu bestimmt. Die dazu isotype Kristallart Zr₅Al₃ wird im System: Zr–Al nachgewiesen. Im Schnitt: Ti₅Sn₃–Zr₅Sn₃ bzw. Zr₅Pb₃–Ti (5) Pb (3) tritt ein lückenloser bzw. sehr ausgedehnter Bereich von Mischkristallen mit D8₈-Typ auf.Mit 1 Abbildung     

Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of chemical force microscopy

Chemical force microscopy and related force measurement techniques have emerged as powerful tools for studying fundamental interactions central to understanding adhesion and tribology at the molecular scale. However, detailed interpretation of these interactions requires knowledge of chemical and physical processes occurring in the region of the tip-sample junction that experiments cannot provide, such as atomic-scale motions and distribution of forces. In an effort to address some of these open issues, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were performed modeling a chemical force microscope stylus covered with a planar C12 alkylthiolate self-assembled monolayer (SAM) interacting with a solid wall. A complete loading-unloading sequence was simulated under conditions of near-constant equilibrium, approximating the case of infinitely slow tip motion. In the absence of the solid wall, the stylus film existed in a fluid state with structural and dynamic properties similar to those of the analogous planar SAM at an elevated temperature. When the wall was brought into contact with the stylus and pressed against it, a series of reversible changes occurred culminating with solidification of the SAM film at the largest compressive force. During loading, the chemical composition of the contact changed, as much of the film's interior was exposed to the wall. At all tip heights, the distribution of forces within the contact zone was uneven and subject to large local fluctuations. Analysis using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts, Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov, and Hertz contacts mechanics models revealed significant deviations from the simulation results, with the JKR model providing best overall agreement. Some of the discrepancies found would be overlooked in an actual experiment, where, unlike the simulations, contact area is not separately known, possibly producing a misleading or incorrect interpretation of experimental results. These shortcomings may be improved upon by using a model that correctly accounts for the finite thickness of the compliant components and nonlinear elastic effects.     

Cation electrochemical stability in chloroaluminate ionic liquids

The electrochemical stability of 10 organic cations, which can be used in ionic liquids (IL), was investigated as solutes in acetonitrile (ACN). The stability of three of the salts, BenMe2EtNCl (salt III), 1-butyl-2-methyl pyrrolidium chloride (salt VI), and its structural isomer, BuMe2ProNCl (salt VII), were also compared in chloroaluminate ILs. The chloroaluminate ILs of salts VI and VII are investigated for the first time. The NaCl-neutralized ILs of salts VI and VII have melting points of 43.2 and 3.7 degrees C, respectively. The benzyl-substituted cation, salt III, was more easily reduced in ACN or as the neutral chloroaluminate IL than the alkyl-substituted cation, salt VII, due to the better leaving ability of the benzyl group. Mass spectroscopy measurements before and after electrolysis on the benzyl-substituted solutions confirmed that reduction involves the loss of an alkyl group. In ACN, salt VI was found to be the most difficult to reduce (1 mA/cm2 at -2.09 V) due to its cyclic structure. However, in the chloroaluminate IL, the pyrrolidinium cation was more easily reduced than salt III or its isomer, salt VII, resulting in an insoluble black deposit. This is consistent with the mass spectrometry data, which do not show formation of low-molecular-weight products, as in the reduction of salts III and VII. The IL of salt VII was the most stable in the presence of sodium. Sodium ions could be reduced and reoxidized with a maximum Coulombic efficiency of 94.1% versus 87.2% for salt VI. Reduction of the pyrrolidinium cation produces insoluble products, most likely through opening of the cyclic ring, and an inferior medium for sodium ion reduction compared to the benzyl- and butyl-substituted cations, even though reduction of the cation occurs at a more negative potential in acetonitrile.     

Elastic electron scattering from state-selected molecules

Electronically elastic, electron scattering cross sections are calculated for molecules in particular rotational states in order to establish the sensitivity of the scattering pattern to the quantum state. For the examples of diatomic molecules and symmetric tops considered here, the scattering pattern provides a unique fingerprint of the quantum state if one measures the scattered intensity for different orientations of the scattering vectors. The structure in the scattered intensity reflects the anisotropy of the square of the rotational wavefunction. Even for low angular momentum states which have diffuse rotational wavefunctions, very large differences in intensity are the result at certain scattering angles for states whose quantum numbers differ even by only one unit.