Ion trap mass spectrometry on a comet nucleus: the Ptolemy instrument and the Rosetta space mission

In May 2014, the Rosetta spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous with the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko ('67P'). One of the instruments on board the 'Lander' which will descend on to the surface of the comet is a miniaturised GC/MS system that incorporates an ion trap mass spectrometer, specially developed for isotope ratio analysis. This article describes the development and optimisation of the ion trap for this unique application, and presents a summary of the range of pre-programmed experiments that will contribute to the characterisation of the solid and volatile cometary materials.     

Vibrational behavior of a soundbox in an atmosphere with a variable speed of sound

This paper describes a semi-quantitative method, suitable for a student laboratory exercise that shows that the acoustic properties of the soundbox of a musical instrument depend on the sound speed of the atmosphere surrounding and filling the instrument. A gas tent was constructed and used to enclose instruments in helium, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof, allowing the sound speed to be varied from 250 to 1000 m/s. Soundboard admittance data were taken using a guitar and a violin as examples. The data, expressed as contour plots, show clearly the qualitative relationship between air and wood modes, and the guitar data are compared with a simple mechanical model. Experimental details of the construction and operation of gas tent are given, with attention paid to safety issues.     

The branching ratio for K−p → Λγ at rest

The reaction K^?p → Λγ, produced by K^? stopping in a liquid hydrogen target, has been studied using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. The branching ratio is

$\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→Λγ}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{p}\text{→}\text{anything}\text{=(2.8±0.8)×10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}$

based on 1355 events assigned to this branch. This is in conflict with a previous experiment, but agrees with one of the two published calculations, when recent values for the coupling constants and scattering amplitudes are used.     

New lipophilic 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonate iron(III) complexes: synthesis and EXAFS structural characterisation

New tris-iron(III) chelates of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone ligands derived from maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) or ethylmaltol (2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyrone), including a variety of N-aryl (phenyl, 4'-tolyl, 4'-(n-butyl)phenyl, 4'-(n-hexyl)phenyl) and N-benzyl (4'-methylbenzyl, 4'-fluorobenzyl and 4'-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine) substituents on the nitrogen atom of the pyridinone ring, have been prepared. Characterization by C,H,N elemental analysis and thermogravimetric measurements indicates that most of the complexes are obtained as hydrates of general formula ML3.xH2O. Structural characterization of these difficult to crystallize lipophilic complexes has been achieved by EXAFS spectroscopy. Solutions of iron(III) complexes of maltol, ethylmaltol, 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone and 1-phenyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone in methanol-water mixtures were also examined by EXAFS. Distances from the central atom to ligand atoms, within 6 A of the metal, have been determined in the solid and solution samples and the results show that the structure observed in the powder is maintained in solution. The local structure around the metal centre, bond distances and bond angles, does not change significantly with variable lipophilicity, thus indicating that ligands may be tailored according to specific needs without altering their chelation properties. EXAFS data analysis for this set of tris-iron(III) compounds illustrates the important contribution of both intra-ligand and inter-ligand multiple scattering pathways through the metal centre to a peak observed in the FT spectrum at twice the metal ligand distance (approximately 4 A). The present results demonstrate that EXAFS features at twice the metal-ligand distance are valuable in the assignment of molecular geometry and that location of hydration water molecules, by EXAFS analysis, is limited by the geometry of the complexes, in particular for those in which ligands containing phenyl rings are present.     

A study of 3He capture in light nuclei

Excitation functions at θ = 90° have been measured for ${}^{16}\text{O}\text{(}{}^3\text{He}\text{, γ}{}_{\mathrm{0?2,\; 3?5,\; 6}}\text{)}{}^{19}\text{Ne}$, ${}^{15}\text{N}\text{(}{}^3\text{He}\text{, γ}{}_{\mathrm{0,\; 1?4}}\text{)}{}^{18}\text{F}\text{,}{}^{14}\text{N}\text{(}{}^3\text{He}\text{, γ}{}_{\mathrm{0,\; 1,2,3}}\text{)}{}^{17}\text{F}$, and ${}^{20}\text{Ne}\text{(}{}^3\text{He}\text{, γ}{}_{\mathrm{0\; +\; 1}}\text{)}{}^{23}\text{Mg}$, in the range E_{3He = 3–19 MeV}. The first reaction has also been studied at θ = 40°. Excitation functions at 90° have also been measured for and ${}^4\text{He}\text{(}{}^3\text{He}\text{, γ}{}_{\mathrm{0\; +\; 1}}\text{)}{}^7\text{Be}$ for E_3He = 19–26 MeV. Angular distributions have been measured for the first four reactions.For the most excitation functions, a broad peak is observed, several MeV wide, centred at about E_x≈ 20 MeV. Superimposed on this, in some cases, are narrower peaks, with width ≈ 1 MeV. Energies and widths have been extracted for all resonances.Cluster-model calculations have been carried out, using methods similar to those which have proved successful for low-lying states in A= 18–19 nuclei. No satisfactory correspondence with the present results was found. The shell model has been used to calculate Γ_3He and Γ_γ for 1?ω excitations in the final nuclei. These generally show good agreement with the trends of the experimental data. The results are consistent with the excitation of the giant dipole resonance in ³He capture, but much more weakly than in proton capture.     

Vibroacoustic characteristics of a gothic harp

The "gothic" style of harp was popular across most of Europe from the late medieval period to the Renaissance. These harps have a one-piece, longitudinally oriented hardwood soundboard, as opposed to the transverse-oriented bonded softwood structure on a modern instrument. In addition, the one-piece back is flexible, whereas the back of a modern instrument is a rigid molded shell. To study the gothic harp, one was constructed from plans created by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts from a late German model in their collection. The vibrational behaviors of the soundboard and soundbox were measured at various stages of construction. The completed instrument was subjected to modal analysis and radiativity measurements. The sound radiation is dominated by two breathing modes at 188 and 273 Hz, each with strong motion of the back, and modes around 350 Hz. Taken together, these modes function like the A0/T1 resonance pairs seen in the soundboxes of other instruments, and a comparison is made with the guitar. Also observed is that as the frequency increases, radiation is emitted from higher up the soundboard, and from higher soundholes. This feature has been observed in other harps, and is a consequence of the harp family's unique geometry.     

Ruthenium complexes of 3-hydroxy-4-pyranones and of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones

Reactions of hydrated ruthenium chloride with 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyranone, ethylmaltol (etmaltH) and with 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone (dmppH) are described. The former results in the formation of Ru(etmalt)₃, but the course of the latter depends on conditions, producing the earlier-characterised Ru(dmmp)₃Cl in ethanol–water solution, Ru(dmmp)₃ in aqueous solution under mild conditions, and Ru(dmpp)₂(H₂O)₂ after extended refluxing. EXAFS studies established ruthenium-oxygen distances in Ru(etmalt)₃ and in Ru(dmmp)₃ · 6H₂O. Solubilities of Ru(dmmp)₃ in methanol–water mixtures reveal greater solubility in methanol than in water, and indications of a modest solubility maximum, and thus synergic solvation, in methanol-rich mixtures.