Neutron contribution to the charge density of208Pb

The usually neglected contribution of neutrons to the charge density of²⁰⁸Pb is investigated by means of the relativistic mean field approach. It is shown that at the centre of the nucleus the neutrons lower the charge density by about 1%. In addition the modifications of the standard procedure which follow from the use of the Dirac equation to describe nuclear motion are also shown.     

Vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of polymers

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in the vacuum ultraviolet range (VUV, λ < 200 nm) is employed for the detection of trace elements in polyethylene (PE) that are difficult to detect in the UV/VIS range. For effective laser ablation of PE, we use a F₂ laser (wavelength λ = 157 nm) with a laser pulse length of 20 ns, a pulse energy up to 50 mJ, and pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz. The optical radiation of the laser-induced plasma is measured by a VUV spectrometer with detection range down to λ = 115 nm. A gated photon-counting system is used to acquire time-resolved spectra. From LIBS measurements of certified polymer reference materials, we obtained a limit of detection (LOD) of 50 µg/g for sulphur and 215 µg/g for zinc, respectively.The VUV LIBS spectra of PE are dominated by strong emission lines of neutral and ionized carbon atoms. From time-resolved measurements of the carbon line intensities, we determine the temporal evolution of the electronic plasma temperature, T_e. For this, we use Saha–Boltzmann plots with the electron density in the plasma, N_e, derived from the broadening of the hydrogen H-α line. With the parameters T_e and N_e, we calculate the intensity ratio of the atomic sulphur and carbon lines at 180.7 nm and at 175.2 nm, respectively. The calculated intensity ratios are in good agreement with the experimentally measured results.     

Band gap and type of optical transitions at the interband absorption edge in solid solutions based on bismuth telluride

The spectra of optical absorption in multicomponent n- and p-type solid solutions based on bismuth and antimony chalcogenides with substitutions in both sublattices of Bi₂Te₃ have been investigated. It has been found that, in all the solid solutions studied, just as in the parent compound Bi₂Te₃, direct allowed transitions occur at the interband absorption edge at T = 300 K. The band gap E _g in the n-Bi_{2 ? x} Sb _x Te_{3 ? y ? z} Se _y S _z solid solutions weakly increases with increasing number of substituted atoms in the Bi and Te sublattices. These atomic substitutions do not leads to an increase in E _g as compared to that of the n-Bi₂Te_2.7Se_0.3 composition. An analysis of the optical absorption spectra suggests that the solid solutions under consideration are weakly degenerate, a conclusion supported by the earlier studies of the thermoelectric and galvanomagnetic properties. It has been established that, in the conduction band of the Bi_1.8Sb_0.2Te_2.7Se_0.15S_0.15 solid solution, there is an additional extremum lying above the main extremum at a distance no more than 0.1 eV.     

Photoluminescence Spectra and Crystallization of θ-Al2O3 and α-Al2O3 from AlOOH-Fe(NO3)3 Gels

Diphasic boehmite derived unseeded and seeded (by either -Al₂O₃, -Fe₂O₃, or Fe(NO₃)₃) alumina gel planar monoliths were examined by DTA, XRD and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Luminescence spectra enable sensitive monitoring of the - and -Al₂O₃ crystallization in heat-treated gels due to Cr³⁺ impurity traces. Fe(NO₃)₃ unlike other seeds effectively influences crystallization of both - and -Al₂O₃. The present results are interpreted as prevailing solution or Fe³⁺ ion effect on the crystallization process.     

The effect of the magnetic field on the positive corona discharge

Experimental results concerning the influence of the homogeneous magnetic field on the positive corona discharge between coaxial cylinders are presented. The change of the corona current due to axial magnetic field 0·6 T was observable at pressures below 4000 Pa in dry air. The influence on the initial and spark voltages has been investigated as well.     

Vibrational population of the O2(b1Σ g + ) state in a low-Pressure oxygen pulsed discharge

The study of the vibrational state population of the O₂(b¹ _g ⁺ ) metastable state in a pure oxygen DC pulsed discharge is presented. The vibrational temperature is evaluated from the relative populations of v = 0, 1 and 2 states. The populations are determined from the intensities of (0-0), (1-1), (1-0) and (2-1) transitions of the atmospheric system. The most intensive (0-0) and (1-1) bands are used in the time-resolved measurements in order to determine the time evolution of the vibrational temperature during the discharge pulse.     

On-line preconcentration of weak electrolytes by electrokinetic accumulation in CE: experiment and simulation

A new on-line preconcentration technique was developed that makes possible to determine nanomolar concentrations of weak acidic analytes in CE. The method consists of long-running electrokinetic sample injection and stacking (electrokinetic immobilization) of the analytes at a boundary of two electrolytes with different pH values (pH 9.5 and 2.5) and consequent mobilization of the stacked uncharged analytes in a micellar system (containing SDS micelles). Several factors including buffer concentration, pH, applied voltage, time of preconcentration, and SDS concentration were tested to optimize the analysis method. An about 4600-fold increase of the sample concentration (in comparison with the standard CZE) can be achieved during the preconcentration step. Two preservatives applied in food industry -- benzoic acid and sorbic acid were used as model samples. The applicability of the proposed method in food analysis was demonstrated by determination of nanomolar concentrations of benzoic acid in sunflower oil. An extended version of the computer program Simul was used for modeling both the preconcentration and mobilization processes taking place in the capillary.