Magnetic rotation observation of the C2b3Σg− ← a3Πu transition using a color center laser

The magnetic rotation observation of the C₂b³Σ_g^? ← a³Π_u Ballik-Ramsay system using a color center laser is reported. This is the first detection of this system in absorption. Three bands, 0 ← 1, 1 ← 2, and 2 ← 3, were identified in the spectral range 3650–4030 cm^?1. The last two bands were observed for the first time. In magnetic rotation many satellite lines (ΔN ≠ ΔJ) which would be very weak in normal absorption have been observed with intensity comparable to the main branch lines. This permits a slight improvement in the accuracy of some of the fine structure constants. A variety of lineshapes are observed for the various branches by magnetic rotation. Because the b³Σ_g^? fine structure is small, giving a partial overlap, the peak frequency of a magnetic rotation signal usually does not correspond to the center frequency of the normal absorption signal of that transition. A computer program has been written to predict magnetic rotation lineshapes and obtain the peak frequency displacements. Various observed and calculated lineshapes are displayed and compared.     

Formaldehyde sensor using interband cascade laser based quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy

A novel continuous-wave mid-infrared distributed feedback interband cascade laser was utilized to detect and quantify formaldehyde (H₂CO) using quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. The laser was operated at liquid-nitrogen temperatures and provided single-mode output powers of up to 12 mW at 3.53 m (2832.5 cm^-1). The noise equivalent (1) detection sensitivity of the sensor was measured to be 2.2×10^-8 cm^-1W(Hz)^-1/2 for H₂CO in ambient air, which corresponds to a detection limit of 0.6 parts in 10⁶ by volume (ppmv) for a 10 s sensor time constant and 3.4 mW laser power delivered to the sensor module. PACS 42.62.Fi; 72.50.+b     

Peroxidase Activity May Play a Role in the Cytotoxic Effect of Indole Acetic Acid*

Peroxidase activity in neutrophils is higher than in thioglycollate macrophages, while in lymphocytes this enzyme activity is very low. Indole-3-acetic acid is oxidized by peroxidase and the role of this enzyme in the cytotoxic effect of the compound was evaluated by measuring oxygen consumption, light emission and cell death in neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes. The increase in light emission, oxygen consumption and rate of cell death in cells cultured in the presence of indole-3-acetic acid presented a direct correlation with the peroxidase activity of the cells as follows: neutrophils > thioglycollate macrophages > resident macrophages > lymphocytes. Indeed, in lymphocytes that possess very low peroxidase activity, indole-3-acetic acid did not result in an increase in light emission or oxygen consumption and it was not cytotoxic.     

Microwave spectrum of silyl methyl ether

The microwave spectra of silyl methyl ether, SiH₃OCH₃, and its isotopic modifications, SiH₃OCD₃, SiD₃OCH₃, and SiD₃OCD₃, have been observed and assigned. Large splittings arising from the internal rotation of the methyl top and somewhat smaller splittings arising from the internal rotation of the silyl top are observed. The “effective barrier” to internal rotation of the methyl top is approximately 550 cal/mole. The effective barrier to internal rotation of the silyl top is approximately 1100 cal/mole. The internal rotation of the two tops is strongly coupled, but no values for the potential coupling constants have been obtained. The dipole moment has been determined to be 1.15 ± 0.02 D (|μ_a| = 0.647 ± 0.01 and |μ_b| = 0.95 ± 0.02 D) from measurements of the Stark effect.     

Hyperfine structure in the à state of PH2 arising from the fermi interaction of 31P

The photoluminescence spectrum of PH₂ excited by a cw dye laser shows resolved ¹³P hyperfine structure for the 0₀₀ level even in the presence of Doppler broadening. The observed splittings give a Femi contact constant for the (0,0,0) òA₁ state of PH₂ of 1.8 ± 0.1 GHz.     

Detection of methane in air using diode-laser pumped difference-frequency generation near 3.2 μm

Spectroscopic detection of the methane in natural air using an 800 nm diode laser and a diode-pumped 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser to produce tunable light near 3.2 µm is reported. The lasers were pump sources for ring-cavity-enhanced tunable difference-frequency mixing in AgGaS₂. IR frequency tuning between 3076 and 3183 cm^–1 was performed by crystal rotation and tuning of the extended-cavity diode laser. Feedback stabilization of the IR power reduced intensity noise below the detector noise level. Direct absorption and wavelength-modulation (2f) spectroscopy of the methane in natural air at 10.7 kPa (80 torr) were performed in a 1 m single-pass cell with 1 µW probe power. Methane has also been detected using a 3.2 µm confocal build-up cavity in conjunction with an intracavity absorption cell. The best methane detection limit observed was 12 ppb m (Hz.)^–1/2.     

Compact mid-infrared trace gas sensor based on difference-frequency generation of two diode lasers in periodically poled LiNbO3

3 (PPLN) crystal pumped by two single-frequency diode lasers. A maximum DFG power of 1.6 μW at 3.6 μm was generated with a pump power of 61.4 mW at 832 nm and a signal power of 41.5 mW at 1083 nm incident on a 19-mm-long PPLN crystal, which corresponds to a conversion efficiency of 335 μW W^-2 cm^-1. Received: 16 June 1998     

Compact laser difference-frequency spectrometer for multicomponent trace gas detection

2 O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Real-time detection of CO, N₂O, and CO₂ was performed in open air over a path length of 5 to 18 m. The feasibility of DFG spectroscopic measurement of the ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁸O/¹⁷O/¹⁶O isotopic ratios in atmospheric carbon dioxide was also investigated. We report what to our knowledge is the first simultaneous spectroscopic measurement of all three isotopes of oxygen in ambient CO₂. Received: 14 August 1997/Revised version: 3 November 1997     

Real-time measurements of trace gases using a compact difference-frequency-based sensor operating at 3.5 μm

3 for on-line absorption measurements of H₂CO, CH₄, and H₂O near 3.5 μm is reported. Formaldehyde levels of 30 ppb, corresponding to absorptions of 2×10^-4 have been measured using absorption spectroscopy. In this paper we report specifically the performance of this sensor as part of the 1997 Lunar–Mars Life Support Test program at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Received: 1 April 1998