ISO-LWS observations of IRAS16293-2422

We obtained LWS grating spectra toward IRAS 16293-2422 and the surrounding region, which covers the entire extent of the molecular outflow. The LWS spectra show that the region is relatively uncontaminated by PhotoDissociationRegion (PDR)-like emission, showing only a weak diffuse CII emission. The on-source spectrum revealed the presence of the OI(63μm) line and several lines from CO, H2O and OH molecules. In this work we derive the macroscopic quantities associated with the UV-illuminated emitting gas which surrounds IRAS16293-2422 and compare it with previous studies. We show that the molecular lines originate in a hot (~1600 K), dense (~ 3·104cm-3) and extended (~ 8·1016cm) region, that we interprete as the shock of the wind impacting obliquely with the walls of the cavity created by the wind itself. The OI(63μm) line observed by the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO: Ceccarelli et al. 1997a) at ~ 1.2·1017cm west from the central source is hence interpreted as the head of the shock where the wind strikes the ambient gas. Finally we speculate that the OI(63μm) line emission seen on-source originates in the collapsing envelope that surrounds the central object(s

Spin dynamics of heterometallic Cr7M wheels (M = Mn, Zn, Ni) probed by inelastic neutron scattering

Inelastic neutron scattering has been applied to the study of the spin dynamics of Cr-based antiferromagnetic octanuclear rings where a finite total spin of the ground state is obtained by substituting one Cr(III) ion (s = 3/2) with Zn (s = 0), Mn (s = 5/2) or Ni (s = 1) di-cations. Energy and intensity measurements for several intra-multiplet and inter-multiplet magnetic excitations allow us to determine the spin wavefunctions of the investigated clusters. Effects due to the mixing of different spin multiplets have been considered. Such effects proved to be important to correctly reproduce the energy and intensity of magnetic excitations in the neutron spectra. On the contrary to what is observed for the parent homonuclear Cr8 ring, the symmetry of the first excited spin states is such that anticrossing conditions with the ground state can be realized in the presence of an external magnetic field. Heterometallic Cr7M wheels are therefore good candidates for macroscopic observations of quantum effects.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B, corrected typos and added references, one sentence change

Thermal H₂O emission from the Herbig-Haro flow HH 54

The first detection of thermal water emission from a Herbig-Haro object is presented. The observations were performed with the LWS (Long Wavelength Spectrograph) aboard ISO (Infrared Space Observatory). Besides H2O, rotational lines of CO are present in the spectrum of HH 54. These high-J CO lines are used to derive the physical model parameters of the FIR (far-infrared) molecular line emitting regions. This model fits simultaneously the observed OH and H2O spectra for an OH abundance X(OH)=10-6 and a water vapour abundance X(H2O)=10-5. At a distance of 250pc, the total CO, OH and H2O rotational line cooling rate is estimated to be 1.3x10-2 L⊙, which is comparable to the mechanical luminosity generated by the 10km s-1 shocks, suggesting that practically all of the cooling of the weak-shock regions is done by these three molecular species alone

Patient and public involvement in patient safety research: a workshop to review patient information, minimise psychological risk and inform research

Background Patient safety has attracted increasing attention in recent years. This paper explores patients’ contributions to informing patient safety research at an early stage, within a project on intravenous infusion errors. Currently, there is little or no guidance on how best to involve patients and the wider public in shaping patient safety research, and indeed, whether such efforts are worthwhile. Method We ran a 3-hour workshop involving nine patients with experience of intravenous therapy in the hospital setting. The first part explored patients’ experiences of intravenous therapy. We derived research questions from the resulting discussion through qualitative analysis. In the second part, patients were asked for feedback on patient information sheets considering both content and clarity, and on two potential approaches to framing our patient information: one that focused on research on safety and error, the other on quality improvement. Results The workshop led to a thorough review of how we should engage with patients. Importantly, there was a clear steer away from terms such as ‘error’ and ‘safety’ that could worry patients. The experiences that patients revealed were also richer than we had anticipated, revealing different conceptions of how patients related to their treatment and care, their role in safety and use of medical devices, the different levels of information they preferred, and broader factors impacting perceptions of their care. Conclusion Involving patients at an early stage in patient safety research can be of great value. Our workshop highlighted sensitivities around potentially worrying patients about risks that they might not have considered previously, and how to address these. Patient representatives also emphasised a need to expand the focus of patient safety research beyond clinicians and error, to include factors affecting perceptions of quality and safety for patients more broadly

Numerical modelling of Tb3+ doped selenide-chalcogenide multimode fibre based spontaneous emission sources

A model is developed of a terbium (III) ion doped selenide chalcogenide glass fibre source that provides spontaneous emission within the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range. Three numerical algorithms are used to calculate the solution and compare their properties

LWS observations of the protostar IRAS16293-2422

We report ISO-LWS observations toward the low mass star IRAS16293-2422 between 43µm - 197µm. The CO, H2O and OH rotational lines and the OI(63µm) fine-structure line dominate the spectrum. Combining the CO Jup=14 to 25 observations with previous Jup=6 measurements, we derive stringent limits on the density (~3 · 104cm-3), temperature (~1500 K), and column density (~1.5 · 1020cm-2) of the emitting gas. We show that this warm gas is associated with the outflow and that a low velocity, C-type shock can account for the characteristics of the CO spectrum. The H2O and OH abundances derived from the observed line fluxes are [H2O] / [H2] ~2 · 10-5 and [OH] / [H2] ~5 · 10-6 respectively. Finally, we speculate that the OI(63µm) line emission originates in the collapsing envelope that surrounds the central object

Detection of [O I] 63 <i>μ</i>m in absorption toward Sgr B2

A high signal-to-noise 52-90 μm spectrum is presented for the central part of the Sagittarius B2 complex. The data were obtained with the Long Wavelength Spectrometer on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). The [O I] 63 μm line is detected in absorption even at the grating spectral resolution of 0.29 μm. A lower limit for the column density of atomic oxygen of the order of 1019 cm-2 is derived. This implies that more than 40% of the interstellar oxygen must be in atomic form along the line of sight toward the Sgr B2 molecular cloud

Modelling of multimode selenide-chalcogenide glass fibre based MIR spontaneous emission sources

Chalcogenide glass fibres have been demonstrated as a suitable medium for the realisation of spontaneous emission sources for mid-infrared photonics applications with a particular emphasis on sensor technology. Such sources give a viable alternative to other solutions due to their potentially low cost, high reliability and robustness when pumped using commercially available semiconductor lasers. We present a comprehensive analysis of the properties of selenide-chalcogenide glass fibres applied as spontaneous emission sources. We extract the modelling parameters from measurements using in house fabricated bulk glass and fibre samples. We apply the well-established rate equations approach to determine the level populations, the distribution of the photon intensity within the fibre and the output power levels. We compare the modelling results with experiment