Nature of hyperthermal surface ionization

A model of electron-stimulated desorption is used as the basis to propose a simple theory of hyperthermal surface relaxation of atoms at metal and semiconducting substrates. The dependence of the ion flux on the kinetic energy of the scattered atoms is obtained near the ionization threshold. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 25, 6–11 (August 26, 1999)     

Laser desorption combined with hyperthermal surface ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A setup combining laser desorption of nonvolatile molecules and their aerodynamic acceleration in a supersonic molecular beam followed by hyperthermal surface ionization in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer is described. While laser desorption performs the intact transfer of the analyte molecules into the gas phase, hyperthermal surface ionization opens up the possibility to efficiently ionize even larger molecules with a small and potentially controlled degree of fragmentation. Being an ionization technique, which is particularly effective for aromatic and heterocyclic compounds, the selectivity can further be increased by tuning the kinetic energy to which the molecules are accelerated in the supersonic beam. The results obtained for several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biochemical substances show that sufficient acceleration can be achieved even for molecules with a molecular weight above 5000 amu and that HSI preserves its advantageous features even for thermally labile large molecules such as insulin.     

Laser-enhanced ionization of mercury atoms in an inert atmosphere with avalanche amplification of the signal

A new method for laser-enhanced ionization detection of mercury atoms in an inert gas atmosphere is described. The method, which is based on the avalanche amplification of the signal resulting from the ionization from a selected Rydberg level reached by a three-step laser excitation of mercury vapor in a simple quartz cell, can be applied to the determination of this element in various matrices by the use of conventional cold atomization techniques. The overall (collisional + photo) ionization efficiency is investigated at different temperatures, and the avalanche amplification effect is reported for Ar and P-10 gases at atmospheric pressure. It is shown that the amplified signal is related to the number of charges produced in the laser-irradiated volume. Under amplifier noise-limited conditions, a detection limit of ～15 Hg atoms/laser pulse in the interaction region is estimated.     

Characterization of localized surface elastic defects by nonspecular reflection at the Rayleigh angle

The relationships between characteristics of elastic defects and nonspecular features of bounded ultrasonic beams reflected at the Rayleigh angle from a liquid-solid interface are investigated. The results can serve as a theoretical basis for interpretation of Rayleigh angle nonspecularly reflected beam profiles as characterization of localized surface elastic defects.     

Elastic reflection of4He atoms from the surface of liquid4He

The reflection of incident⁴He atoms from the surface of liquid⁴He can yield information on the microscopic features of the liquid at the surface. Edwards et al. have measured this reflectivity and have developed a theoretical model which successfully described the measurements. However, the density profile of the liquid⁴He surface has recently been determined experimentally, and this can now be used to model the reflectivity without any freely adjustable parameters. We use this density profile and the experimentally-determined interatomic pair potential to derive an effective potential for the incoming atom, and then solve the single-particle Schroedinger equation to find the reflectivity as a function of wavevector perpendicular to the surface. Within the uncertainty in the density profile and interatomic potential, we have chosen values that give good agreement between the measured and calculated reflectivities.     

On the theory of elastic scattering of electromagnetic waves by atoms

A Hamiltonian describing the elastic interaction of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with an atom is obtained using the invariant theory of perturbations in the limit of EMR wavelengths λ significantly exceeding the atom size a₀. An exact expression for the interaction amplitude is obtained, and the probability of EMR scattering on the atom is calculated. It is established that the scattering probability at large λ is proportional to the squared frequency of monochromatic EMR. It is shown that, in the limit of large wavelengths, the formula h∼(ω/c)⁴ v ₀ for the extinction coefficient is inapplicable and the relation h=Aω² becomes valid, where A is a definite coefficient.     

Possible influence of the self diffusion of the atoms on mass displacement in a solid undergoing a surface reaction

The possible influence of a diffusive flow of atoms (vacancies) on mass displacement in a solid undergoing a surface reaction is examined analytically.     

Some experiments on the elastic stability of some highly elastic bodies

Uniaxial compression experiments on solid circular bars, rectangular bars, and thick-walled circular tubes made of rubber materials are described, and the data are compared with known theoretical results derived for neo-Hookean materials. It is found in all cases that the general nature of certain global analytical estimates are in good qualitative agreement with existence of a transition slenderness ratio that separates buckling characteristic of long bars from axisymmetrie bulging characteristic of short bars. The data agrees qualitatively also with other more precise analytical results for circular and rectangular bars, but only as regards Euler type buckling. Specific analytical results for axisymmetrie deformation of circular tubes are found to be without experimental foundation.     

Possible mercury speciation in urine samples using potentiometric methods

The strong dependence of heavy metal toxicity on metal physical–chemical structure has directed the interest in the qualitative and quantitative measurement of metal species in different environments. Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment, and occurs in three oxidation states in several physical and chemical forms. Among these, Hg(II) can severely damage the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract, and is generally a serious hazard to human health. Potentiometric sensors based on ion-selective electrodes provide a simple, highly selective, precise, and economical method for online Hg(II) concentration monitoring in a variety of environments. Due to their selectivity, neutral carrier-based potentiometric sensors are routinely used for measuring ions directly in complex biological and environmental samples, and therein, several Hg(II)-selective electrodes have been studied in literature. This work presents a Hg(II) ion-selective electrode that uses a 1,4,8,11-tetrathiacyclotetradecane derivative entrapped inside a membrane for the measurement of Hg(II) in urine samples. Alumina modified dimethyl sulfoxide (AMDMSO) was used to separate Hg(II) from matrices, a mechanism already suggested in literature explaining the unique uptake of Hg(II) ions by binding as neutral at pH values < 3.     

Micowave plasma-assisted ionization of sputtered aluminum atoms in DC magnetron sputtering

DC magnetron sputtering was carried out using a microwave plasma to enhance the ionization of sputtered aluminum atoms at a low gas pressure. The ionization fraction of sputtered aluminum atoms measured using a gridded thickness monitor was 40% at a low gas pressure of 0.05 Pa. The collision frequency for the ionization of sputtered aluminum atoms calculated theoretically under the assumption of electron-impact ionization was in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Estimates of protein surface areas in solution by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The extent of multiple charging of protein ions in electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra depends on the solvent-exposed surface area, but it may also be influenced by a variety of other extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Gas-phase ion chemistry (charge-transfer and charge-partitioning reactions) appears to be the major extrinsic factor influencing the extent of protonation as detected by ESI MS. In this work, we demonstrate that under carefully controlled conditions, which limit the occurrence of the charge-transfer reactions in the gas phase, charge-state distributions of protein ions can be used to assess the solvent-exposed surface area in solution. A set of proteins ranging from 5-kDa insulin to 500-kDa ferritin shows a clear correlation between the average charge in ESI mass spectra acquired under native conditions and their surface areas calculated based on the available crystal structures. An increase of the extent of charge-transfer reactions in the ESI interface results in a noticeable decrease of the average charge of protein ions across the entire range of tested proteins, while the charge-surface correlation is maintained. On the other hand, the intrinsic factors (e.g., a limited number of basic residues) do not appear to play a significant role in determining the protein ion charge. Based on these results, it is now possible to obtain estimates of the surface areas of proteins and protein complexes, for which crystal structures are not available. We also demonstrate how the ESI MS measurements can be used to characterize protein-protein interaction in solution by providing quantitative information on the subunit interfaces formed in protein associations.     

Effect of surface stresses on surface waves in elastic solids

This paper deals with the propagation of surface waves in homogeneous, elastic solid media whose free surfaces or interfaces of separation are capable of supporting their own stress fields. The general theory for the propagation of surface waves in a medium which supports surface stresses is first deduced, and then this theory is employed to investigate the particular cases of surface waves, viz. (a) Rayleigh waves, (b) Love waves and (c) Stoneley waves. It is seen that the Rayleigh waves become dispersive in nature; and, in case of low frequency with residual surface tension, a critical wavelength exists, below which the propagation of Rayleigh waves is not possible. This critical wave length is directly proportional to the surface tension. Some numerical calculations have been made in the case of Love waves and conclusions have been drawn.     

Polarization of specular reflection and near-specular scattering by a rough surface

Polarization of specular reflection and near-specular scattering (NSS) by a randomly rough surface is investigated by the use of a Mueller matrix formulation. The collective effect by a rough surface on the average specular field results in reflectance loss and polarization, which can be explained by an effective medium theory. Effects of random NSS can be represented by a scattering matrix that is partially coherent and polarized. The incoherent and unpolarized part of scattering causes depolarization, and the coherent and polarized parts of scattering change the apparent polarization properties of specular reflection. Results of a simulation and least-squares fit of ellipsometric data to the models including the NSS effect, for a black anodized aluminum sample, are presented. Simultaneous least-squares fits for both ellipsometric data and reflectance data at multiple angles of incidence at three different wavelengths gave approximately the same rms roughness, which agrees with the profilometric values reported previously.     

Nearly backward reflection of elastic waves in an acousto-optic crystal of paratellurite

Some features of the propagation and reflection of acoustic waves in the XY plane of a paratellurite crystal have been studied. It is established that the acoustic waves exhibit an unusual backward reflection from the side crystal facet in the case of glancing incidence onto the crystal-vacuum interface. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Ultrasensitive determination of phencyclidine in body fluids by surface ionization organic mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography (GC)/surface ionization organic mass spectrometry (SIOMS) has been found to give much higher sensitivity for measurements of phencyclidine (PCP) than the conventional GC/electron impact (EI)-mass spectrometry (MS). Thus, we have established a detailed procedure for measurements of PCP in body fluids by both mass chromatography and selected-ion monitoring (SIM) of SIOMS using pethidine as an internal standard (IS). Good linearity was found in the range of 0.25-10 ng/mL of whole blood or urine, when measured by mass chromatography, and in the range of 0.025-1.0 ng/mL of whole blood by SIM. The recoveries of PCP and IS spiked to whole blood were 106 +/- 17% at 1 ng/mL and 113 +/- 11% at 5 ng/mL; that of IS was 97.8 +/- 10.4% at 5 ng/mL. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) were estimated to be 0.05 ng/mL of whole blood or urine by mass chromatography and 0.01 ng/mL of whole blood by SIM. The coefficients of intraday and interday variations were not greater than 10.3%. We could detect PCP from rat whole blood 2 h after subcutaneous injection of PCP (1 mg/kg) by mass chromatography. The mean PCP concentration in rat blood was 47.7 +/- 6.2 ng/mL (mean +/- SD, n = 4).     

消声水池中弹性球回声的测量与标定

在消声水池中对直径范围为2cm～5cm的钢球进行了回声测量。对长脉冲和短脉冲入射声信号的回声信号进行了分析比较。研究了目标的弹性作用在这两种情况下对回声的影响。通过对标准钢球回声测量结果与解析计算结果的比较,检验了消声水池目标回声测量的精度,并为其他非标准目标回声测量提供对比标定的依据。     

Characterization of infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization samples by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection (FT-IR ATR) spectroscopy was used to characterize thin films of succinic acid, a matrix compound commonly used with infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (IR-MALDI) mass spectrometry. IR spectra of succinic acid thin films deposited alone and in combination with the analyte biomolecules insulin and cytochrome c were obtained by FT-IR ATR spectroscopy. Spectra of analyte and matrix alone were similar to those obtained previously from KBr pellets, Nujol mull, or thin-film absorption, although the ATR spectra have significantly lower background interferences. Thin films deposited from mixtures of water and methanol have additional peaks compared to films deposited from a methanol solution. These additional peaks are attributed to carboxylate groups stabilized by residual water molecules. No evidence was found to suggest that residual water absorption contributes to absorption at wavelengths typically used for IR-MALDI. Absorption of energy by analyte vibrational modes with rapid energy transfer to the matrix is suggested as a contributor to desorption and ionization consistent with the FT-IR ATR results.     

Semiclassical description of high harmonic generation during the above-threshold ionization of atoms

Technical Physics Letters - A simple analytical formula for evaluating the intensity of high-frequency emission from an atom is obtained proceeding from the classical notions about the motion of an...     

Higher order surface couplings in elastic ferromagnets

The “classical” theory of elastic ferromagnetic materials is extended to the case of media able to support hyperstresses (double stresses, couple stresses), so as to take account of surface effects (curvature, role played by the magnetic anisotropy on the surface, boundary layer effect and to offer a larger choice of boundary conditions as far as magnetic spins are concerned (pinning, nonzero exchange torque,…). The field equations and the associated boundary conditions are obtained by using the generalized formulation of the principle of virtual power based on the requirement of objectivity for internal forces. Constitutive equations for nonlinear thermoelastic, magnetically saturated insulators and equations linearized with respect to small deformations are established. The set of equations obtained will permit a finer study of coupled magnetoelastic surface waves and of the resulting resonance phenomena in thin ferromagnetic deformable layers.