Muon spin resonance and repolarization in amorphous silicon monoxide (a-SiO)

Studies of the muonium fractions in the amorphous oxide a-SiO have been carried out by RF resonance at TRIUMF, Canada and LF repolarization techniques at RAL, U.K. The resonance measurements confirm the presence of the interstitial Mu centre in this intermediate oxide of silicon. Analysis of the data gathered at RAL, using a recently-developed fitting technique, reveals that the Mu^* state is present here as well, but with lower relative fractions than in a-Si. However, as in the latter material, but in contrast to c-Si, this bond-centre species appears to be stable up to room temperature.     

Longitudinal relaxation of muonium in Ge and GaAs

Longitudinal-field muon-spin depolarization rates in high-purityGe and semiinsulatingGaAs are reported and compared to similar data for intrinsicSi. Depolarization onset temperatures provide a comparison of charge carrier concentrations leading to rapid charge exchange and a shift in the onset, for n-typeGaAs verifies anelectron process. The temperature dependence of the low-field rate constants imply more complicated dynamics inGe than observed earlier inSi. Features near 750K inGaAsTe appear consistent with dissociation of aMu-Te pair.This work was supported by the US National Science Foundation (DMR-8917639 [TLE, BH]), the Science and Engineering Research Council of the UK (EAD, AS, SFJC), the Robert A. Welch Foundation (D-1053 [RLL], and C-1048 [TLE]), and a NATO Collaborative Research Grant (RLL, SFJC, RCD, CS). We wish to thank D.A. Vanderwater of Hewlett Packard for providing theGaAsTe sample.     

The effects of sample preparation methods on the variability of the electrospray ionization response for model drug compounds

A post-column infusion system was developed in order to analyze suppression of electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry response in the presence of endogenous plasma interferences. By enabling direct detection of these interfering components, this experimental system was used to analyze the ability of several common extraction procedures to remove endogenous plasma components that cause changes in the ESI response of model drug substances. Methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) liquid-liquid, Oasis and Empore solid-phase, and acetonitrile (ACN) protein precipitation sample preparation methods were tested using the post-column infusion system. In all cases, ACN protein precipitation samples showed the greatest amount of ESI response suppression while liquid-liquid extracts demonstrated the least. In addition, the three test compounds, phenacetin, caffeine, and a representative Merck compound, demonstrated that ESI response suppression is compound dependent. Suppression was greatest with caffeine, the most polar analyte, and the smallest for the Merck compound, the least polar analyte. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy with relativistic exotic heavy-ions

Feasibility of gamma-ray spectroscopy at relativistic energies with exotic heavy-ions and new generation of germanium detectors (segmented Clover) is discussed. An experiment with such detector array and radioactive is discussed.     

Percolative transport in the vicinity of charge-order ferromagnetic transition in a hole-doped manganite

We report measurements of non-linear charge transport in epitaxial (La_1−x Pr _x )_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ thin films fabricated on (100) oriented SrTiO₃ single crystals by pulsed laser deposition. The end members of this series, namely Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ are canonical charge-ordered (CO) and ferromagnetic manganites, respectively. The onset of the CO state in Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ is manifested by a pronounced insulating behavior below ∼ 200 K. The CO state remains stable even when a large (∼ 2×10⁵ V/cm) electric field is applied across the thin film samples. However, on substitution of Pr with La, a crossover from the highly resistive CO state to a state of metallic character is observed at relatively low electric fields. The current-voltage characteristics of the samples at low temperatures show hysteretic and history dependent effects. The electric field driven charge transport in the system is modelled on the basis of an inhomogeneous medium consisting of ferromagnetic metallic clusters dispersed in a CO background.     

Muonium dynamics in doped Si above room temperature studied by longitudinal field — μSR

We report longitudinal fieldSR 1/T ₁ measurements in Si from room temperature to 850 K. The data in pure Si and SiB (p-type) can be explained in a two-state model where muonium cycles between its positive and neutral charge states. Within this model, the average muon-electron hyperfine parameter in the neutral state is consistent with muonium at the tetrahedral interstitial site, indicating that at the highest temperatures measured, neutral muonium spends a significant amount of time away from the bond centered site, the calculated potential minimum. Although this is also true for SiP (n-type) at high temperatures, the data in the region between 300–450 K indicates that at least one other state is involved in the dynamics.This work is partially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Welch Foundation (C-1048 [TLE], D-1053 [RLL] and the U.S. National Science Foundation (DMR-8917639 [TLE,BH]).     

Self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc

The self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc is examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. Electron impact of diethylzinc neutral produces the radical cation, C(4)H(15)Zn(+) (m/z x 122), which reacts further with the neutral (C(2)H(5))(2)Zn to give the following product ions: Zn(+) (m/z x 64), C(2)H(5)Zn(+) (m/z x 93), C(4)H(9)Zn(+) (m/z x 121), C(4)H(11)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 187), and C(6)H(15)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 215). To determine the structure and pathways for production of these ions, monoisotopic (12)C(4)H(15)(64)Zn(+), (64)Zn(+) and (12)C(2)H(5)(64)Zn(+) were individually isolated and reacted with the neutral background. We also performed semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (ZINDO/1). The molecular orbital calculations and experimental data are consistent in predicting that the ethyl group on the diethylzinc cation carries the positive charge. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.