Gas-phase spin relaxation of 129Xe

Journal ArticleWe have completed an extensive study of 129Xe longitudinal spin relaxation in the gas phase, involving both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. The dominant intrinsic relaxation is mediated by the formation of persistent Xe2 van der Waals dimers. The dependence of this relaxation on applied magnetic field yields the relative contributions of the spin-rotation and chemical-shift-anisotropy interactions; the former dominates at magnetic fields below a few tesla. This relaxation also shows an inverse quadratic dependence on temperature T; the maximum low-field intrinsic relaxation for pure xenon at room temperature (measured here to be 4.6 h, in agreement with previous work) increases by ~60% for T=100 °C. The dominant extrinsic relaxation is mediated by collisions with the walls of the glass container. Wall relaxation was studied in silicone-coated alkali-metal-free cells, which showed long (many hours or more) and robust relaxation times, even at the low magnetic fields typical for spin-exchange optical pumping (~3 mT). The further suppression of wall relaxation for magnetic fields above a few tesla is consistent with the interaction of 129Xe with paramagnetic spins on or inside the surface coating. At 14.1 T and sufficiently low xenon density, we measured a relaxation time T1 =99 h, with an inferred wall-relaxation time of 174 h. A prototype large storage cell (12 cm diameter) was constructed to take advantage of the apparent increase in wall-relaxation time for cells with a smaller surfaceto- volume ratio. The measured relaxation time in this cell at 3 mT and 100 °C was 5.75 h. Such a cell (or one even larger) could be used to store many liters of hyperpolarized 129Xe produced by a flow-through polarizer and accumulator for up to three times longer than currently implemented schemes involving freezing xenon in liquid nitrogen

THI safety system

International audienceFor several years, GANIL has been allowed to reach a maximum beam power of six kilowatts (400W in normal mode) thanks to the THI system (High Intensity Transport System). Three modes of running are necessary to accelerate a THI beam ("Injector" mode, "tuning" mode and "surveillance" mode). The "surveillance" mode requires a safety system to protect equipment against beam losses. Inside cyclotrons, diagnostics measure beam-loss currents at the injection and extraction devices. Along beam lines, diaphragms measure beam-loss currents at the input and output of dipoles. Current transformers are used for beam transmission measurements through beam lines and the cyclotrons. The safety system controls beam losses and quickly cuts the beam with a chopper if losses exceed thresholds. These thresholds can be seen and changed by software

Recent developments for beam intensity increase operation

International audienceThe aim of the beam intensity increase operation (THI project) is to multiply the present intensities for lightest ions by a factor of fifteen in order to reach maximum power of six kilowatts [1]. The main objective is the production of large amounts of rare isotopes, either with SISSI (device intended for producing radioactive beams), or with SPIRAL (production and acceleration of radioactive ion beams). As part of this THI project, new developments have been required such as spiral scanners, for beanl profile measurements, and safety system to protect equipments against beam losses. Other developments are being carried on to improve the high intensity beam operation

Resolution and enhancement in nanoantenna-based fluorescence microscopy

Single gold nanoparticles can act as nanoantennas for enhancing the fluorescence of emitters in their near-fields. Here we present experimental and theoretical studies of scanning antenna-based fluorescence microscopy as a function of the diameter of the gold nanoparticle. We examine the interplay between fluorescence enhancement and spatial resolution and discuss the requirements for deciphering single molecules in a dense sample. Resolutions better than 20 nm and fluorescence enhancement up to 30 times are demonstrated experimentally. By accounting for the tip shaft and the sample interface in finite-difference time-domain calculations, we explain why the measured fluorescence enhancements are higher in the presence of an interface than the values predicted for a homogeneous environment.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. accepted for publication in Nano Letter

Neurologic Symptoms in Licensed Private Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Exposure to high levels of many pesticides has both acute and long-term neurologic consequences, but little is known about the neurotoxicity of chronic exposure to moderate levels of pesticides. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 18,782 white male licensed private pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study in 1993–1997. Applicators provided information on lifetime pesticide use and 23 neurologic symptoms typically associated with pesticide intoxication. An indicator of more symptoms (≥10 vs. < 10) during the year before enrollment was associated with cumulative lifetime days of insecticide use: odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.64 (1.36–1.97) for 1–50 days, 1.89 (1.58–2.25) for 51–500 days, and 2.50 (2.00–3.13) for > 500 days, compared with never users. A modest association for fumigants [> 50 days, 1.50 (1.24–1.81)] and weaker relationships for herbicides [> 500 days, 1.32 (0.99–1.75)] and fungicides [> 50 days, 1.23 (1.00–1.50)] were observed. Pesticide use within the year before enrollment was not associated with symptom count. Only associations with insecticides and fumigants persisted when all four pesticide groups were examined simultaneously. Among chemical classes of insecticides, associations were strongest for organophosphates and organochlorines. Associations with cumulative exposure persisted after excluding individuals who had a history of pesticide poisoning or had experienced an event involving high personal pesticide exposure. These results suggest that self-reported neurologic symptoms are associated with cumulative exposure to moderate levels of fumigants and organophosphate and organochlorine insecticides, regardless of recent exposure or history of poisoning

Larval dispersal in a changing ocean with an emphasis on upwelling regions

Dispersal of benthic species in the sea is mediated primarily through small, vulnerable larvae that must survive minutes to months as members of the plankton community while being transported by strong, dynamic currents. As climate change alters ocean conditions, the dispersal of these larvae will be affected, with pervasive ecological and evolutionary consequences. We review the impacts of oceanic changes on larval transport, physiology, and behavior. We then discuss the implications for population connectivity and recruitment and evaluate life history strategies that will affect susceptibility to the effects of climate change on their dispersal patterns, with implications for understanding selective regimes in a future ocean. We find that physical oceanographic changes will impact dispersal by transporting larvae in different directions or inhibiting their movements while changing environmental factors, such as temperature, pH, salinity, oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, and turbidity, will affect the survival of larvae and alter their behavior. Reduced dispersal distance may make local adaptation more likely in well-connected populations with high genetic variation while reduced dispersal success will lower recruitment with implications for fishery stocks. Increased dispersal may spur adaptation by increasing genetic diversity among previously disconnected populations as well as increasing the likelihood of range expansions. We hypothesize that species with planktotrophic (feeding), calcifying, or weakly swimming larvae with specialized adult habitats will be most affected by climate change. We also propose that the adaptive value of retentive larval behaviors may decrease where transport trajectories follow changing climate envelopes and increase where transport trajectories drive larvae toward increasingly unsuitable conditions. Our holistic framework, combined with knowledge of regional ocean conditions and larval traits, can be used to produce powerful predictions of expected impacts on larval dispersal as well as the consequences for connectivity, range expansion, or recruitment. Based on our findings, we recommend that future studies take a holistic view of dispersal incorporating biological and oceanographic impacts of climate change rather than solely focusing on oceanography or physiology. Genetic and paleontological techniques can be used to examine evolutionary impacts of altered dispersal in a future ocean, while museum collections and expedition records can inform modern-day range shifts

Laser-controlled fluorescence in two-level systems

The ability to modify the character of fluorescent emission by a laser-controlled, optically nonlinear process has recently been shown theoretically feasible, and several possible applications have already been identified. In operation, a pulse of off-resonant probe laser beam, of sufficient intensity, is applied to a system exhibiting fluorescence, during the interval of excited- state decay following the initial excitation. The result is a rate of decay that can be controllably modified, the associated changes in fluorescence behavior affording new, chemically specific information. In this paper, a two-level emission model is employed in the further analysis of this all-optical process; the results should prove especially relevant to the analysis and imaging of physical systems employing fluorescent markers, these ranging from quantum dots to green fluorescence protein. Expressions are presented for the laser-controlled fluorescence anisotropy exhibited by samples in which the fluorophores are randomly oriented. It is also shown that, in systems with suitably configured electronic levels and symmetry properties, fluorescence emission can be produced from energy levels that would normally decay nonradiatively. © 2010 American Chemical Society