Advances In Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

The use of rare gas matrices for the detection of a variety of low-energy metastable species, particularly those from atoms with an np4 outer electron configuration, is discussed in detail. The historical development of the detector is outlined and its performance as a function of rare gas, matrix temperature, and metastable species is discussed. Examples of its use are given for electron impact dissociation of a wide variety of oxygen and sulfur containing targets

Selective detection of singlet gerade metastable states of N-2

Metastable N-2 molecules produced by electron impact on N2 are detected using a unique solid nitrogen matrix detector. The time-of-flight system is shown to be selectively sensitive to a(1)Pi(g) and (1)Sigma(+)(g) or (1)Gamma(g) metastable species. The latter species had been identified theoretically previously but was detected experimentally for the first time in the present investigation. Their identification and excitation as a function of electron energy from threshold to 300 eV are presented. Comparison is made with the data obtained by other techniques. Published by AIP Publishing

Use of solid N2 surfaces in metastable particle detection

A novel detector is described in which solid nitrogen at 17 K is used as the most significant element. Metastable particles impinge on this element and immediately transfer their internal energy to the solid nitrogen producing photons, via excimer formation or otherwise, whose wavelength depends on the metastable being detected and the energy transfer process. The performance of the instrument for the detection of atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen metastables is discussed

N (2P) production in electron-N2 collisions

A unique detector which is selectively sensitive to low energy metastable atoms, has been used to study the production of ground state N (2P) atoms following collisions of low energy (0-200 eV) electrons with molecular nitrogen. TOF techniques have revealed the existence of at least two distinct mechanisms yielding this dissociation product. Released kinetic energies in the dissociation have allowed positioning of the parent molecular states in the Franck-Condon region. This has allowed probable parent states, such as B\u27 3Σu¯, b\u27 1Σu+ and C\u27 3Πu, to be identified making use of recent theoretical calculations. Both direct and predissociation processes are shown to be involved

Electron impact dissociation of N2O and CO2 with single particle detection of O(1D2)

Production of metastable O(1D2) atoms following controlled electron impact on N2O and CO2 targets has been studied using a neon rare gas matrix detector operating at a temperature of \u3c20 K. A 100 eV pulsed electron beam was used in conjunction with time-of-flight (TOF) techniques to establish O-atom fragment kinetic energies. Probable dissociation channels are discussed

Metastable oxygen atom detection using rare gas matrices

The use of solid rare gas matrices as detectors of metastable oxygen atoms is investigated. A 100 eV electron beam colliding with N2O target gas is used as the source of O(1S). The parameters considered are surface temperature, time delay of excimer emission and spectral response to O(1S). In all cases, detector sensitivity maximized at temperatures ≤20 K. Krypton was found to provide the most sensitive surface and neon the least

VUV Study of Electron Impact Dissociative Excitation of Thymine

Dissociative excitation of thymine following electron impact was studied in the energy range up to 430 eV. Emissions in the vacuum ultra-violet spectral region below 150 nm were studied and found to be dominated by the hydrogen Lyman series. Emission cross section data reveal that Lyman-α excitation displays a broad maximum at an electron impact energy of 160 eV. The probability of extracting other excited atoms from the parent molecule is found to be insignificant. Possible excitation and dissociation mechanisms in the parent molecule are discussed

Production of O(1D) following electron impact on CO2

We have studied the excitation of metastable O(1D) following dissociative excitation of CO2 in the electron impact energy range from threshold to 400 eV. A solid Ne matrix at ∼20 K forms the heart of the detector. This is sensitive to the metastable species through the formation of excited excimers (NeO*), The resultant excimer radiation is readily detected, providing a means of measuring the production of the metastables. Using a pulsed electron beam and time-of-flight techniques, we have measured the O(1D) kinetic energy spectrum and its relative production cross sections as a function of electron impact energy. Threshold energy data are used to gain information about the excitation channels involved. In addition, an emission excitation function for the red photons, emitted in coincidence with the exciting electron pulse, has been measured in the 0–400 eV energy range

Horizontal gene transfer contributed to the evolution of extracellular surface structures

The single-cell layered ectoderm of the fresh water polyp Hydra fulfills the function of an epidermis by protecting the animals from the surrounding medium. Its outer surface is covered by a fibrous structure termed the cuticle layer, with similarity to the extracellular surface coats of mammalian epithelia. In this paper we have identified molecular components of the cuticle. We show that its outermost layer contains glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans and we have identified chondroitin and chondroitin-6-sulfate chains. In a search for proteins that could be involved in organising this structure we found PPOD proteins and several members of a protein family containing only SWT (sweet tooth) domains. Structural analyses indicate that PPODs consist of two tandem β-trefoil domains with similarity to carbohydrate-binding sites found in lectins. Experimental evidence confirmed that PPODs can bind sulfated glycans and are secreted into the cuticle layer from granules localized under the apical surface of the ectodermal epithelial cells. PPODs are taxon-specific proteins which appear to have entered the Hydra genome by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. Their acquisition at the time Hydra evolved from a marine ancestor may have been critical for the transition to the freshwater environment