Iterative reconstruction of in-line electron holograms

In low energy electron point source (LEEPS) microscopy, electrons emerge from a point source, propagate as spherical waves, and arrive at a screen. Some electrons scatter off an object, i.e. a cluster of atoms, placed between the source and the screen; others arrive at the screen without scattering. The interference pattern on the screen, an electron hologram, is used to reconstruct the object by calculating and analyzing a function K(r) in the region occupied by the object. We present an iterative method that uses the original reconstruction K(o)(r) to determine the atomic configuration of the object. No knowledge of the object, except for the vicinity in which the object is located, is used in the iterative scheme. In particular, no knowledge of the atomic structure is used. The method uses K(o)(r) to make a test object that in turn gives another reconstruction K(1)(r); K(1)(r) and K(o)(r) are used to modify the test object and obtain K(2)(r). The iteration is repeated until it converges on a final object that gives a reconstruction K(f)(r) that is very similar to K(o)(r). The final object gives an atomic structure that is close to the atomic structure of the original object. Results for several idealized objects are presented and discussed.     

The 'apparent' hydrolysis of alkyl esters during electrospray ionization

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry was employed to obtain both molecular weight confirmation and structural information for a series of novel alkenyldiarylmethane (ADAM) analogs. The mass spectral data were intended for use during the structure elucidation of ester hydrolysis products formed during an in vitro metabolism study of a series of novel ADAM analogs. The data on the precursor molecules show the presence of the molecular ion peak, [M+H](+), as well as a peak consistent with the hydrolysis product of the original ester ([MH-ROH+H(2)O](+)). However, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and (1)H NMR data indicated the presence of only the intact diester compounds, suggesting that the formation of the hydrolysis product was an instrumental artifact, i.e., in-beam hydrolysis during ESI or a result of longer ion residence times of the ion trap mass analyzer.     

Simple all-microwave entangling gate for fixed-frequency superconducting qubits

We demonstrate an all-microwave two-qubit gate on superconducting qubits which are fixed in frequency at optimal bias points. The gate requires no additional subcircuitry and is tunable via the amplitude of microwave irradiation on one qubit at the transition frequency of the other. We use the gate to generate entangled states with a maximal extracted concurrence of 0.88, and quantum process tomography reveals a gate fidelity of 81%.     

Effects of applied potential on the mass of non-conducting poly(ortho-phenylenediamine) electro-deposited on EQCM electrodes: comparison with biosensor selectivity parameters

An electrochemical quartz-crystal microbalance (EQCM) was used to determine the mass of poly-(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) layers electro-deposited at different applied potentials in neutral buffered monomer solution, conditions that produce the insulating form of the polymer used as a permselective membrane in biosensor applications. There was a systematic increase in the total, steady state PoPD mass deposited for fixed applied potentials from 0.05 to 0.6 V vs. SCE, followed by a plateau up to 0.8 V. Comparison of PoPD mass and permselectivity parameters indicates that the ability of the passivating form of PoPD to block interference species in biosensor applications is not related in a simple way to the mass of material deposited on the surface. Instead, effects of the applied electropolymerisation potential in driving the electro-oxidation of oPD dimers and oligomers formed during the electro-deposition process are likely to have a more direct impact on the selectivity characteristics of the PoPD layer. The results highlight the usefulness of apparent permeabilities, especially of ascorbic acid, in revealing differences between PoPD layers electro-deposited under different conditions.     

A new model for auroral breakup during substorms

A model for substorm breakup is developed, based on (1) the relaxation of stretched (closed) dipolar field lines, and (2) the formation of an incipient current wedge within a single arc structure. It is argued that the establishment of a coupled current structure within a single arc leads to a quasistable system, i.e. the prebreakup regime. Perturbation of the prebreakup structure leads to an instability criterion. It is found, consistent with observations, that the narrower auroral arcs at lower L shells undergo the most explosive poleward expansion. According to this model, the precise location at which breakup occurs depends on the O⁺ density in the plasma sheet, the level of magnetic activity (K_p), and the intensity of the substorm westward electrojet in the ionosphere. An enhancement of any of these features will cause breakup to occur at lower L shells. Comparison of the proposed model with the Heppner-Maynard polar-cap potential model indicates that breakup is restricted to the west of the Harang discontinuity, consistent with observations from the Viking satellite