1,530 research outputs found
Mechanism of mRNA capping by vaccinia virus guanylyltransferase: characterization of an enzyme--guanylate intermediate.
Laser radiation pressure slowing of a molecular beam
There is substantial interest in producing samples of ultracold molecules for
possible applications in quantum computation, quantum simulation of condensed
matter systems, precision measurements, controlled chemistry, and high
precision spectroscopy. A crucial step to obtaining large samples of ultracold,
trapped molecules is developing a means to bridge the gap between typical
molecular source velocities (~150-600 m/s) and velocities for which trap
loading or confinement is possible (~5-20 m/s). Here we show deceleration of a
beam of neutral strontium monofluoride (SrF) molecules using radiative force.
Under certain conditions, the deceleration results in a substantial flux of
molecules with velocities <50 m/s. The observed slowing, from ~140 m/s,
corresponds to scattering ~10000 photons. We also observe longitudinal velocity
compression under different conditions. Combined with molecular laser cooling
techniques, this lays the groundwork to create slow and cold molecular beams
suitable for trap loading.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures. Supplementary material updated
Seasonal variations of glaciochemical, isotopic and stratigraphic properties in Siple Dome (Antarctica) surface snow
Six snow-pit records recovered from Siple Dome, West Antarctica, during 1994 are used to study seasonal variations in chemical (major ion and H202), isotopic (deuterium) and physical stratigraphic properties during the 1988-94 period. Comparison of δD measurements and satellite-derived brightness temperature for the Siple Dome area suggests that most seasonal SD maxima occur within ±4 weeks of each 1 January. Several other chemical species (H2O2, non-sea-salt (nss) SO4 2-, methanesulfonic acid and NO3-) show coeval peaks with SD, together providing an accurate method for identifying summer accumulation. Sea-salt-derived species generally peak during winter/spring, but episodic input is noted throughout some years. No reliable seasonal signal is identified in species with continental sources (nssCa2+ nss Mg2+), NH4 + or nssCl-. Visible strata such as large depth-hoar layers (\u3e5 cm) are associated with summer accumulation and its metamorphosis, but smaller hoar layers and crusts are more difficult to interpret. A multi-parameter approach is found to provide the most accurate dating of these snow-pit records, and is used to determine annual layer thicknesses at each site Significant spatial accumulation variability exists on an annual basis, but mean accumulation in the sampled 10 km2 grid for the 1988-94 period is fairly uniform
Franck-Condon Factors and Radiative Lifetime of the A^{2}\Pi_{1/2} - X^{2}\Sigma^{+} Transition of Ytterbium Monoflouride, YbF
The fluorescence spectrum resulting from laser excitation of the
A^{2}\Pi_{1/2} - X^{2}\Sigma^{+} (0,0) band of ytterbium monofluoride, YbF, has
been recorded and analyzed to determine the Franck-Condon factors. The measured
values are compared with those predicted from Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR)
potential energy curves. From the fluorescence decay curve the radiative
lifetime of the A^{2}\Pi_{1/2} state is measured to be 28\pm2 ns, and the
corresponding transition dipole moment is 4.39\pm0.16 D. The implications for
laser cooling YbF are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Radiative force from optical cycling on a diatomic molecule
We demonstrate a scheme for optical cycling in the polar, diatomic molecule
strontium monofluoride (SrF) using the X ^2\Sigma^+\toA^2\Pi_{1/2} electronic
transition. SrF's highly diagonal Franck-Condon factors suppress vibrational
branching. We eliminate rotational branching by employing a quasi-cycling
type transition in conjunction with magnetic field remixing
of dark Zeeman sublevels. We observe cycling fluorescence and deflection
through radiative force of an SrF molecular beam using this scheme. With
straightforward improvements our scheme promises to allow more than
photon scatters, possibly enabling the direct laser cooling of SrF
Laser cooling of a diatomic molecule
It has been roughly three decades since laser cooling techniques produced
ultracold atoms, leading to rapid advances in a vast array of fields.
Unfortunately laser cooling has not yet been extended to molecules because of
their complex internal structure. However, this complexity makes molecules
potentially useful for many applications. For example, heteronuclear molecules
possess permanent electric dipole moments which lead to long-range, tunable,
anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions. The combination of the dipole-dipole
interaction and the precise control over molecular degrees of freedom possible
at ultracold temperatures make ultracold molecules attractive candidates for
use in quantum simulation of condensed matter systems and quantum computation.
Also ultracold molecules may provide unique opportunities for studying chemical
dynamics and for tests of fundamental symmetries. Here we experimentally
demonstrate laser cooling of the molecule strontium monofluoride (SrF). Using
an optical cycling scheme requiring only three lasers, we have observed both
Sisyphus and Doppler cooling forces which have substantially reduced the
transverse temperature of a SrF molecular beam. Currently the only technique
for producing ultracold molecules is by binding together ultracold alkali atoms
through Feshbach resonance or photoassociation. By contrast, different proposed
applications for ultracold molecules require a variety of molecular
energy-level structures. Our method provides a new route to ultracold
temperatures for molecules. In particular it bridges the gap between ultracold
temperatures and the ~1 K temperatures attainable with directly cooled
molecules (e.g. cryogenic buffer gas cooling or decelerated supersonic beams).
Ultimately our technique should enable the production of large samples of
molecules at ultracold temperatures for species that are chemically distinct
from bialkalis.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
Validation of the MODIS "Clear-Sky" Surface Temperature of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Surface temperatures on the Greenland Ice Sheet have been studied on the ground, using automatic weather station (AWS) data from the Greenland-Climate Network (GC-Net), and from analysis of satellite sensor data. Using Advanced Very High Frequency Radiometer (AVHRR) weekly surface temperature maps, warming of the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet has been documented from 1981 to present. We extend and refine this record using higher-resolution Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from March 2000 to the present. To permit changes to be observed over time, we are developing a well-characterized monthly climate-data record (CDR) of the "clear-sky" surface temperature of the Greenland Ice Sheet using data from both the Terra and Aqua satellites. We use the MODIS ice-surface temperature (IST) algorithm. Validation of the CDR consists of several facets: 1) comparisons between the Terra and Aqua IST maps; 2) comparisons between ISTs and in-situ measurements; 3) comparisons between ISTs and AWS data; and 4) comparisons of ISTs with surface temperatures derived from other satellite instruments such as the Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer. In this work, we focus on 1) and 2) above. Surface temperatures on the Greenland Ice Sheet have been studied on the ground, using automatic weather station (AWS) data from the Greenland-Climate Network (GC-Net), and from analysis of satellite sensor data. Using Advanced Very High Frequency Radiometer (AVHRR) weekly surface temperature maps, warming of the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet has been documented from 1981 to present. We extend and refine this record using higher-resolution Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from March 2000 to the present. To permit changes to be observed over time, we are developing a well-characterized monthly climate-data record (CDR) of the "clear-sky" surface temperature of the Greenland Ice Sheet using data from both the Terra and Aqua satellites. We use the MODIS ice-surface temperature (IST) algorithm. Validation of the CDR consists of several facets: 1) comparisons between the Terra and Aqua IST maps; 2) comparisons between ISTs and in-situ measurements; 3) comparisons between ISTs and AWS data; and 4) comparisons of ISTs with surface temperatures derived from other satellite instruments such as the Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer. In this work, we focus on 1) and 2) above. First we provide comparisons between Terra and Aqua swath-based ISTs at approximately 14:00 Local Solar Time, reprojected to 12.5 km polar stereographic cells. Results show good correspondence when Terra and Aqua data were acquired within 2 hrs of each other. For example, for a cell centered over Summit Camp (72.58 N, 38.5 W), the average agreement between Terra and Aqua ISTs is 0.74 K (February 2003), 0.47 K (April 2003), 0.7 K (August 2003) and 0.96 K (October 2003) with the Terra ISTs being generally lower than the Aqua ISTs. More precise comparisons will be calculated using pixel data at the swath level, and correspondence between Terra and Aqua IST is expected to be closer. (Because of cloud cover and other considerations, only a few common cloud-free swaths are typically available for each month for comparison.) Additionally, previous work comparing land-surface temperatures (LSTs) from the standard MODIS LST product and in-situ surface-temperature data at Summit Camp on the Greenland Ice Sheet show that Terra MODIS LSTs are about 3 K lower than in-situ temperatures at Summit Camp, during the winter of 2008-09. This work will be repeated using both Terra and Aqua IST pixel data (in place of LST data). In conclusion, we demonstrate that the uncertainties in the CDR will be well characterized as we work through the various facets of its validation
A Bright, Slow Cryogenic Molecular Beam Source for Free Radicals
We demonstrate and characterize a cryogenic buffer gas-cooled molecular beam
source capable of producing bright beams of free radicals and refractory
species. Details of the beam properties (brightness, forward velocity
distribution, transverse velocity spread, rotational and vibrational
temperatures) are measured under varying conditions for the molecular species
SrF. Under typical conditions we produce a beam of brightness 1.2 x 10^11
molecules/sr/pulse in the rovibrational ground state, with 140 m/s forward
velocity and a rotational temperature of approximately 1 K. This source
compares favorably to other methods for producing beams of free radicals and
refractory species for many types of experiments. We provide details of
construction that may be helpful for others attempting to use this method.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure
Seasonal Variations of Glaciochemical, Isotopic and Stratigraphic Properties in Siple Dome (Antarctica) Surface Snow
Six snow-pit records recovered from Siple Dome, West Antarctica, during 1994 are used to study seasonal variations in chemical (major ion and H2O2), isotopic (deuterium) and physical stratigraphic properties during the 1988-94 period. Comparison of dD measurements and satellite-derived brightness temperature for the Siple Dome area suggests that most seasonal dD maxima occur within ±4 weeks of each 1 January. Several other chemical species (H2O2, non-sea-salt (nss) SO42-, methanesulfonic acid and NO3-) show coeval peaks with dD, together providing an accurate method for identifying summer accumulation. Sea-salt-derived species generally peak during winter/spring, but episodic input is noted throughout some years. No reliable seasonal signal is identified in species with continental sources (nssCa2+, nssMg2+), NH4+ or nssCl-. Visible strata such as large depth-hoar layers (\u3e5 cm) are associated with summer accumulation and its metamorphosis, but smaller hoar layers and crusts are more difficult to interpret. A multi-parameter approach is found to provide the most accurate dating of these snow-pit records, and is used to determine annual layer thicknesses at each site. Significant spatial accumulation variability exists on an annual basis, but mean accumulation in the sampled 10 km2 grid for the 1988-94 period is fairly uniform
Deceleration and trapping of heavy diatomic molecules using a ring-decelerator
We present an analysis of the deceleration and trapping of heavy diatomic
molecules in low-field seeking states by a moving electric potential. This
moving potential is created by a 'ring-decelerator', which consists of a series
of ring-shaped electrodes to which oscillating high voltages are applied.
Particle trajectory simulations have been used to analyze the deceleration and
trapping efficiency for a group of molecules that is of special interest for
precision measurements of fundamental discrete symmetries. For the typical case
of the SrF molecule in the (N,M) = (2, 0) state, the ring-decelerator is shown
to outperform traditional and alternate-gradient Stark decelerators by at least
an order of magnitude. If further cooled by a stage of laser cooling, the
decelerated molecules allow for a sensitivity gain in a parity violation
measurement, compared to a cryogenic molecular beam experiment, of almost two
orders of magnitude
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