How Water Interacts with the NOH Group: The Rotational Spectrum of the 1:1 N,N-diethylhydroxylamine·Water Complex

The rotational spectrum of the 1:1 N,N-diethylhydroxylamine-water complex has been investigated using pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the 6.5–18.5 GHz frequency region. The most stable conformer has been detected as well as the (Formula presented.) C monosubstituted isotopologues in natural abundance and the (Formula presented.) O enriched water species, allowing to determine the nitrogen nuclear quadrupole coupling constants and the molecular structure in the vibrational ground state. The molecule has a (Formula presented.) symmetry and the water lies in the (Formula presented.) symmetry plane forming two hydrogen bonds with the NOH frame with length: (Formula presented.) = 1.974 Å and (Formula presented.) = 2.096 Å. From symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations coupled to atoms in molecule approach, the corresponding interaction energy values are estimated to be 24 and 13 kJ·mol (Formula presented.), respectively. The great strength of the intermolecular interaction involving the nitrogen atom is in agreement with the high reactivity of hydroxylamine compounds at the nitrogen site

UPS, XPS, NEXAFS and Computational Investigation of Acrylamide Monomer

Acrylamide is a small conjugated organic compound widely used in industrial processes and agriculture, generally in the form of a polymer. It can also be formed from food and tobacco as a result of Maillard reaction from reducing sugars and asparagine during heat treatment. Due to its toxicity and possible carcinogenicity, there is a risk in its release into the environment or human intake. In order to provide molecular and energetic information, we use synchrotron radiation to record the UV and X-ray photoelectron and photoabsorption spectra of acrylamide. The data are rationalized with the support of density functional theory and ab initio calculations, providing precise assignment of the observed features

The obscured hyper-energetic GRB 120624B hosted by a luminous compact galaxy at z = 2.20

Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous explosions that we can witness in the Universe. Studying the most extreme cases of these phenomena allows us to constrain the limits for the progenitor models. In this Letter, we study the prompt emission, afterglow, and host galaxy of GRB 120624B, one of the brightest GRBs detected by Fermi, to derive the energetics of the event and characterise the host galaxy in which it was produced. Following the high-energy detection we conducted a multi-wavelength follow-up campaign, including near-infrared imaging from HAWKI/VLT, optical from OSIRIS/GTC, X-ray observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and at sub-millimetre/millimetre wavelengths from SMA. Optical/nIR spectroscopy was performed with X-shooter/VLT. We detect the X-ray and nIR afterglow of the burst and determine a redshift of z = 2.1974 +/- 0.0002 through the identification of emission lines of [OII], [OIII] and H-alpha from the host galaxy of the GRB. This implies an energy release of Eiso = (3.0+/-0.2)x10^54 erg, amongst the most luminous ever detected. The observations of the afterglow indicate high obscuration with AV > 1.5. The host galaxy is compact, with R1/2 < 1.6 kpc, but luminous, at L ~ 1.5 L* and has a star formation rate of 91 +/- 6 Msol/yr as derived from H-alpha. As other highly obscured GRBs, GRB 120624B is hosted by a luminous galaxy, which we also proof to be compact, with a very intense star formation. It is one of the most luminous host galaxies associated with a GRB, showing that the host galaxies of long GRBs are not always blue dwarf galaxies, as previously thought.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables; accepted for publication in A&

Toughening of complete solid solution cermets by graphite addition

(Ti0.95Ta0.05)(C0.5N0.5)-Co complete solid solution cermets (CSCs) were developed by a mechanochemical synthesis process and a pressureless sintering method. The effect of different percentages of graphite used as a sintering additive on the nature of the binder phase and the mechanical properties of the cermets was investigated. Microstructural and mechanical characterisations were carried out by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Vickers hardness, indentation fracture toughness and nanoindentation. The addition of graphite modified the carbon activity during sintering, reducing the dissolution of carbonitride ceramic particles into the molten binder. The amount of Ti and Ta remaining in the binder after sintering gradually decreased as the amount of graphite added increased, which induced a change in the nature of the binder phase. When no graphite was added, the binder consisted of the brittle TixTa1-xCo2 intermetallic phase. With the increase in the amount of graphite added, the formation of more ductile phases, such as TixTa1-xCo3 and α-Co, was observed, causing a significant improvement in the toughness of the cermets.Peer reviewe

The circumburst environment of a FRED GRB: study of the prompt emission and X-ray/optical afterglow of GRB 051111

We report a multi-wavelength analysis of the prompt emission and early afterglow of GRB051111 and discuss its properties in the context of current fireball models. The detection of GRB051111 by the Burst Alert Telescope on-board Swift triggered early BVRi' observations with the 2-m robotic Faulkes Telescope North in Hawaii, as well as X-ray observations with the Swift X-Ray Telescope. The prompt gamma-ray emission shows a classical FRED profile. The optical afterglow light curves are fitted with a broken power law, with alpha_1=0.35 to alpha_2=1.35 and a break time around 12 minutes after the GRB. Although contemporaneous X-ray observations were not taken, a power law connection between the gamma-ray tail of the FRED temporal profile and the late XRT flux decay is feasible. Alternatively, if the X-ray afterglow tracks the optical decay, this would represent one of the first GRBs for which the canonical steep-shallow-normal decay typical of early X-ray afterglows has been monitored optically. We present a detailed analysis of the intrinsic extinction, elemental abundances and spectral energy distribution. From the absorption measured in the low X-ray band we find possible evidence for an overabundance of some alpha elements such as oxygen, [O/Zn]=0.7+/-0.3, or, alternatively, for a significant presence of molecular gas. The IR-to-X-ray Spectral Energy Distribution measured at 80 minutes after the burst is consistent with the cooling break lying between the optical and X-ray bands. Extensive modelling of the intrinsic extinction suggests dust with big grains or grey extinction profiles. The early optical break is due either to an energy injection episode or, less probably, to a stratified wind environment for the circumburst medium.Comment: accepted to A&A on Nov. 10 (14 pages, 8 figures

New method to measure thermal shock resistance in ceramics using a piezo-spectroscopic technique

A new method for assessing the critical temperature in thermally shocked ceramics is proposed. It is based on the measurement of stress relaxation of residual stresses as a consequence of thermal shock. The change in the stress-field is determined by piezo-spectroscopic technique. The technique is described and the results analyzed. The values obtained are compared with those obtained by the conventional method based on strength degradation measured on test pieces quenched at different temperatures. The agreement among the data is very good

The influence of microstructure on the performance of white porcelain stoneware

In the last years polished white porcelain stoneware tiles, coupling the smooth and glossy surface with the increased body whiteness, get a prominent role on the market. The bright white colour is obtained by adding noteworthy quantity of opacifiers, such as zircon, corundum and spinel. To better understand the complex relationships among the microstructure and the mechanical, tribological and functional behaviour of this class of products, four polished white porcelain stoneware tiles were selected and thoroughly characterized by a wide spectrum of chemico-physical and microstructural analyses. Products exhibit excellent mechanical properties (flexural strength, Young modulus, fracture toughness) with a clear dependence of these properties on porosity and phase composition. Mullite and zircon tend to increase the mechanical performances, through a predominant mechanism of matrix reinforcement, while quartz plays an opposite role