Phase Space Tomography of Matter-Wave Diffraction in the Talbot Regime

We report on the theoretical investigation of Wigner distribution function (WDF) reconstruction of the motional quantum state of large molecules in de Broglie interference. De Broglie interference of fullerenes and as the like already proves the wavelike behaviour of these heavy particles, while we aim to extract more quantitative information about the superposition quantum state in motion. We simulate the reconstruction of the WDF numerically based on an analytic probability distribution and investigate its properties by variation of parameters, which are relevant for the experiment. Even though the WDF described in the near-field experiment cannot be reconstructed completely, we observe negativity even in the partially reconstructed WDF. We further consider incoherent factors to simulate the experimental situation such as a finite number of slits, collimation, and particle-slit van der Waals interaction. From this we find experimental conditions to reconstruct the WDF from Talbot interference fringes in molecule Talbot-Lau interferometry.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, accepted at New Journal of Physic

Giant Liquid Argon Observatory for Proton Decay, Neutrino Astrophysics and CP-violation in the Lepton Sector (GLACIER)

GLACIER (Giant Liquid Argon Charge Imaging ExpeRiment) is a large underground observatory for proton decay search, neutrino astrophysics and CP-violation studies in the lepton sector. Possible underground sites are studied within the FP7 LAGUNA project (Europe) and along the JPARC neutrino beam in collaboration with KEK (Japan). The concept is scalable to very large masses.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Contribution to the Workshop "European Strategy for Future Neutrino Physics", CERN, Oct. 200

Определение эффективности нейтронного детектора из пластического сцинтиллятора o100?200 мм

Рассчитывается и экспериментально проверяется эффективность детектора. к нейтронам сверхвысоких (десятки и сотни МэВ) энергий

The interlayer cohesive energy of graphite from thermal desorption of polyaromatic hydrocarbons

We have studied the interaction of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the basal plane of graphite using thermal desorption spectroscopy. Desorption kinetics of benzene, naphthalene, coronene and ovalene at sub-monolayer coverages yield activation energies of 0.50 eV, 0.85 eV, 1.40 eV and 2.1 eV, respectively. Benzene and naphthalene follow simple first order desorption kinetics while coronene and ovalene exhibit fractional order kinetics owing to the stability of 2-D adsorbate islands up to the desorption temperature. Pre-exponential frequency factors are found to be in the range $10^{14}$-$10^{21} s^{-1}$ as obtained from both Falconer--Madix (isothermal desorption) analysis and Antoine's fit to vapour pressure data. The resulting binding energy per carbon atom of the PAH is $52\pm$5 meV and can be identified with the interlayer cohesive energy of graphite. The resulting cleavage energy of graphite is $61\pm5$~meV/atom which is considerably larger than previously reported experimental values.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

Development of molecularly imprinted polymer membranes with specificity to triazine herbicides, prepared by the "surface photografting" technique

«Surface photografting» of polypropylene (PPy) microporous membranes by molecularly imprinted polymers selective to triazine herbicides has been carried out by the UV irradiation-initiated co-polymerization of the functional monomer (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulphonic acid) and a cross-linker (N,N?-methylene-bis-acrylamide) in the presence of the template (terbumeton) onto photoinitiator (benzophenone)-coated samples. The grafting reaction occurs in a thin liquid layer on the membrane substrate, which is pre-soaked in a dimethyl formamide solution containing template, functional monomer and cross-linker. After irradiation with a 500 W mercury lamp for 10 min at room temperature, the membranes covered with the layer of imprinted polymer were obtained. The recognition sites complementary to terbumeton were formed in the membranes after extraction of the template molecules with methanol. Alternatively, reference polymeric membranes were prepared with the same monomer composition, but without the template. The membranes' recognition properties were estimated by their capability to herbicide adsorption from its aqueous solution. The membranes modified by the mixture of monomers containing terbumeton showed significantly higher adsorption capability to this herbicide than to analogous compounds (terbuthylazine, atrazine, desmetryn, metribuzine). The effect of the polymer composition on the binding properties of the membranes has been investigated. High affinity of these membranes to triazine herbicides together with their inexpensive preparation, provide a good basis for applications of molecularly imprinted polymer membranes in separation and solid-phase extraction.Синтезовано новий тип матричних полімерних мембран шля­хом поверхневої модифікації мікрофільтраційних поліпропі­ ленових мембран, яка полягала в нанесенні на поверхню тонкого шару матричного полімеру, селективного до триазинового гербіциду тербуметону. Матричну полімеризацію здійснювали в диметилформаміді, використовуючи гербіцид тербуметон як матрицю, 2-акриламідо-2-метил-1-пропан-сульфонову І метакрилову І акрилову кислоту як функціональний мономер і N ,N' -метилен-бісакриламід як зшивальний агент на поверхні мікрофільтраційної мембрани, покритої тонким ша­ром фотоініціитора бензофенону. Екстракція матричних мо­лекул спричинювала формування в структурі мембрани сай­тів, які за формою та проепюровим розташуванням функ­ціональних груп були комплементарними тербуметону. Конт­рольні мембрани модифікували з використанням подібної су­міші мономерів, що не містила тербуметону. Здатність мембран до селективної адсорбції тербуметону досліджено в залежності від типу та концентрації функціонального моно­мера, а також від концентрації зшивального агента в мономерній суміші. Показано, що тербуметон-імпринтовані мат­ричні полімерні мембрани характеризуються високою селек­тивністю стосовно тербуметону та здатністю до незначної адсорбції його структурних аналогів — тертбутилазину, атразину, десметрину і метрибузину. Такі властивості синтезо­ваних мембран забезпечують їхнє ефективне використання у твердофазовій екстракції.Синтезирован новый тип матричных полимерных мембран методом поверхностной модификации микрофильтрационных полипропиленовых мембран, заключающемся в нанесении на поверхность тонкого слоя матричного полимера, селективно­го к триазиновому гербициду тербуметону. Матричную поли­меризацию проводили в диметилформамиде с использованием триазинового гербицида тербуметона в качестве матрицы, 2-акриламидо-2-метил-1-пропан-сульфоновойї метакриловой акриловой кислоты как функционального мономера и N,N'-метилен-би сак рилам ида как сшивающего агенпш на поверхности микрофильтрационной мембраны, покрытой тонким слоем фотоинииштюра бензофенона. Экстракция матричных моле­кул приводила к формированию в структуре мембраны сай­тов, комплементарных тербуметону по форме и простран­ственному расположению функциональных групп. Контроль­ ные мембраны синтезоровали с использованием той же моно­мерной смеси в отсутствие тербуметона. Способность мем­ бран к селективной адсорбции тербуметона исследовали в зависимости от типа и концентрации функционального моно­мера, а также концентрации сшивающего агента, в мономер­ной смеси. Показано, что тербуметон-импринтированные матричные полимерные мембраны характеризуются высокой селективностью к тербуметону и демонстрируют незначительную адсорбцию его структурних аналогов — тертбутилазина, атразина, десметрина и метрибузина. Такие свойства синтезованных мембран обеспечивают возможность их эф­фективного использования в твердофазной экстракции

Collision Dynamics and Solvation of Water Molecules in a Liquid Methanol Film

Environmental molecular beam experiments are used to examine water interactions with liquid methanol films at temperatures from 170 K to 190 K. We find that water molecules with 0.32 eV incident kinetic energy are efficiently trapped by the liquid methanol. The scattering process is characterized by an efficient loss of energy to surface modes with a minor component of the incident beam that is inelastically scattered. Thermal desorption of water molecules has a well characterized Arrhenius form with an activation energy of 0.47{\pm}0.11 eV and pre-exponential factor of 4.6 {\times} 10^(15{\pm}3) s^(-1). We also observe a temperature dependent incorporation of incident water into the methanol layer. The implication for fundamental studies and environmental applications is that even an alcohol as simple as methanol can exhibit complex and temperature dependent surfactant behavior.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Application to the Analysis of Germinal Center Reactions In Vivo

Simultaneous detection of multiple cellular and molecular players in their native environment, one of the keys to a full understanding of immune processes, remains challenging for in vivo microscopy. Here, we present a synergistic strategy for spectrally multiplexed in vivo imaging composed of (i) triple two-photon excitation using spatiotemporal synchronization of two femtosecond lasers, (ii) a broad set of fluorophores with emission ranging from blue to near infrared, (iii) an effective spectral unmixing algorithm. Using our approach, we simultaneously excite and detect seven fluorophores expressed in distinct cellular and tissue compartments, plus second harmonics generation from collagen fibers in lymph nodes. This enables us to visualize the dynamic interplay of all the central cellular players during germinal center reactions. While current in vivo imaging typically enables recording the dynamics of 4 tissue components at a time, our strategy allows a more comprehensive analysis of cellular dynamics involving 8 single-labeled compartments. It enables to investigate the orchestration of multiple cellular subsets determining tissue function, thus, opening the way for a mechanistic understanding of complex pathophysiologic processes in vivo. In the future, the design of transgenic mice combining a larger spectrum of fluorescent proteins will reveal the full potential of our method

The ArDM experiment

The aim of the ArDM project is the development and operation of a one ton double-phase liquid argon detector for direct Dark Matter searches. The detector measures both the scintillation light and the ionization charge from ionizing radiation using two independent readout systems. This paper briefly describes the detector concept and presents preliminary results from the ArDM R&D program, including a 3 l prototype developed to test the charge readout system.Comment: Proceedings of the Epiphany 2010 Conference, to be published in Acta Physica Polonica