Vortex ring generation due to the coalescence of a water drop at a free surface

 Results are presented of an experimental investigation of vortex ring formation by a fluid drop contacting a free surface with negligible velocity. The pool fluid is mixed with fluorescein dye, and a laser sheet is used to illuminate a plane of the flow. A series of representative images is recorded by a CCD camera and speculation is made regarding specific sources of vorticity flux through the free surface. Two scaling analyses previously presented by other investigators are demonstrated to be equivalent under the assumptions of this experiment, and they provide the motivation for a series of test runs in which the duration of the coalescence process, τ_*, is related to variations in drop diameter L and fluid surface tension σ. Experimental results are in agreement with the analyses, showing τ_*∼σ^-1/2 and τ_*∼L ^3/2. Received: 22 December 1995 / Accepted: 15 October 1996     

The mass spectra of 2-alkyl N-methyl pyrrolidines

The mass spectra of a series of 2-alkyl N-methyl pyrrolidines have been examined and fragments which may be pyrrole type structures are apparent. These ions are most prominent in the spectra of the long chain alkyl derivatives.     

Synthesis of periphery-functionalized dendritic molecules using polylithiated dendrimers as starting material

A general method for the functionalization of Si-Cl terminated carbosilane dendritic molecules via organolithium or organomagnesium reagents is described. Quantitative exchange of the bromine atoms of 4-bromophenyl-functionalized dendrimers affords polylithiated species that are valuable starting materials for further functionalization, e.g., into pyridyl alcohols. The latter were successfully applied as catalyst precursors in a ruthenium-mediated ring-closure metathesis reaction.     

A model of the chemical composition and pyrolysis kinetics of lignin

This study presents a novel approach for the chemical representation of lignin for modelling the reaction kinetics of lignin in lignocellulosic biomass. This methodology relies on the definition of dimeric pseudo-components containing phenolic functionalities, i.e., p-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl and syringyl groups, as measured in real biomass and native lignin through wet chemistry and spectroscopic techniques. The reactivities of the lignin pseudo-components are modelled through a series of lumped unidirectional reactions, whose product formation and reaction rate constants are optimised to replicate a comprehensive experimental dataset gathered from several works available in the literature. The new kinetic model contributes to the state-of-the-art by providing a more accurate depiction of the conversion rates, selectivity of char vs. volatiles, and aromatic composition in condensable products in line with the inherent reactivity of lignin functionalities and the empirical observations of lignin depolymerisation and thermal degradation at low (<1?K/s) and high heating rates (>50?K/s).     

Molecular Fluorescence Imaging Spectroscopy for Mapping Low Concentrations of Red Lake Pigments: Van Gogh's Painting The Olive Orchard

Vincent van Gogh used fugitive red lake pigments that have faded in some paintings. Mapping their distribution is key to understanding how his paintings have changed with time. While red lake pigments can be identified from microsamples, in situ identification and mapping remain challenging. This paper explores the ability of molecular fluorescence imaging spectroscopy to identify and, more importantly, map residual non‐degraded red lakes. The high sensitivity of this method enabled identification of the emission spectra of eosin (tetrabromine fluorescein) lake mixed with lead or zinc white at lower concentrations than elemental X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy used on account of bromine. The molecular fluorescence mapping of residual eosin and two carmine red lakes in van Gogh's The Olive Orchard is demonstrated and compared with XRF imaging spectroscopy. The red lakes are consistent with the composition of paint tubes known to have been used by van Gogh.     

Spherical functions on harmonic extensions ofH-type groups

We consider the harmonic extension AN of an H-type group N with Lie algebra n = v + z, and [v, v] = z. We characterize the positive definite spherical functions on AN.