Hypernuclear fine structure in (9)(lambda)Be

With a germanium detector array (Hyperball), we observed two gamma-ray peaks corresponding to the two transitions (5/2(+)-->1/2(+) and 3/2(+)-->1/2(+)) in the (9)(Lambda)Be hypernucleus which was produced by the 9Be(K-,pi(-)) reaction. The energies of the gamma rays are 3029 +/- 2 +/- 1 keV and 3060 +/- 2 +/- 1 keV. The energy difference was measured to be 31.4(+2.5)(-3.6) keV, which indicates a very small Lambda-spin-dependent spin-orbit force between a Lambda and a nucleon. This is the smallest level splitting by far ever measured in a hypernucleus.     

Reduction of ion thermal diffusivity associated with the transition of the radial electric field in neutral-beam-heated plasmas in the large helical device

Recent large helical device experiments revealed that the transition from ion root to electron root occurred for the first time in neutral-beam-heated discharges, where no nonthermal electrons exist. The measured values of the radial electric field were found to be in qualitative agreement with those estimated by neoclassical theory. A clear reduction of ion thermal diffusivity was observed after the mode transition from ion root to electron root as predicted by neoclassical theory when the neoclassical ion loss is more dominant than the anomalous ion loss.     

Observation of the "self-healing" of an error field island in the large helical device

It was observed that the vacuum magnetic island produced by an external error magnetic field in the large helical device shrank in the presence of plasma. This was evidenced by the disappearance of flat regions in the electron temperature profile obtained by Thomson scattering. This island behavior depended on the magnetic configuration in which the plasmas were produced.     

Proton acceleration to 40 MeV using a high intensity, high contrast optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification/Ti:sapphire hybrid laser system

Using a high-contrast (10(10):1) and high-intensity (10(21) W/cm(2)) laser pulse with the duration of 40 fs from an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification/Ti:sapphire laser, a 40 MeV proton bunch is obtained, which is a record for laser pulse with energy less than 10 J. The efficiency for generation of protons with kinetic energy above 15 MeV is 0.1%.     

Two-dimensional observation of copper vapor in vacuum arcs bylaser-induced fluorescence

The density distribution and the velocity of copper neutral atoms emitted from a single cathode spot in 40 A vacuum arc were measured by the two-dimensional (2-D) laser-induced fluorescence method. The density was calibrated from the two-dimensional fluorescence image observed by a CCD camera. The gap space was almost filled with the copper atoms, and the density reached 5×10¹⁹/m³. We varied the wavelength of the laser light and measured the velocity of the copper atoms emitted from the cathode spot using the effect of Doppler shift. The velocity of the copper atoms was about 10 km/s     

Microparticles of poly(methacrylic acid)–gadolinium ion complex and their magnetic force microscopic images

Modified poly(methacrylic acid) microparticles complexed with gadolinium(III) (Gd³⁺) ions were prepared in 100 nm. The emulsion terpolymerization of methacrylic acid, ethyl acrylate, and allyl methacrylate and the following complexation with Gd³⁺ ions yielded the polymer particles with different Gd³⁺ ion contents. Potentiometric titration of the complexation of the particle with Gd³⁺ ions indicated the formation of a very stable tris‐carboxylate coordinate complex with the Gd³⁺ ion. Electron spin resonance and IR spectra of the complexed particles were dependent on the Gd³⁺ ion content and the coordination environment in each particle. The microparticles dispersed on a mica substrate were subjected to atomic force microscopy (AFM), followed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). AFM showed 100‐nm‐sized and monodispersed spherical images. The following MFM clearly provided strong magnetic responses exactly on the same particle positions, of which the images were also dependent on the Gd³⁺ ion content in the particle. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1912–1918, 2004     

Two-photon fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide based on a red-emitting benzocoumarin dye

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter and plays intriguing biological roles. To study the biological role of H₂S, efficient fluorescent probes are in great demand. For imaging of H₂S in deep-tissue, a two-photon probe that emits in the red wavelength region is of choice to avoid the autofluorescence from intrinsic biomolecules. Here, we disclose such a probe, which, developed based on an acetyl benzocoumarin fluorophore, can be excited at 900?nm under two-photon excitation and emit in the red region. The probe shows high reactivity, selectivity, and sensitivity in in vitro assays. Two-photon microscopic imaging of H₂S in HeLa cells aided by the probe demonstrates that it is potentially useful to study H₂S level changes in cells and tissues influenced by external stimuli.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of chemical reactions of dissolution of selenium in strongly basic amines

When elemental selenium was added to a strongly basic amine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), the selenium started to dissolve and the solution turned dark brown. We investigated the chemical reaction of this selenium dissolution process by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The study reveals for the first time that cleavage of Se-Se bonds by the amine initiates the reaction to form molecular Se2, which then abstracts hydrogen from the amine molecule. ESI-MS with the use of a nanospray technique was shown to be a useful tool for studying the dissolution of elements in strongly basic or acidic solvents.