Separation of n-hexane - ethyl acetate mixture by azeotropic batch distillation with heterogeneous entrainers

In this article, a systematic study of the separation of the n-hexane - ethyl acetate mixture with an entrainer by heterogeneous azeotropic batch distillation is performed. Based upon the thermodynamic behaviour of the ternary mixtures, potential entrainers partially miscible with one or two original azeotropic components are chosen. In all cases, the entrainer adds a heterogeneous binary or ternary azeotrope that is the lowest boiling point in the ternary diagram. Therefore, it leaves the column by the overhead stream which is subcooled to get two liquid phases in the decanter. The phase with the highest amount of the original component is removed as distillate product whereas the entrainer – rich phase is continuously refluxed to the column. Considering methanol, acetonitrile, water and nitromethane as heterogeneous entrainers, screening was performed based on the composition of the unstable heteroazeotropic mixture, the ratio of both liquid phases in the condensed top vapour and the purity of the distillate product determined by the liquid – liquid envelope at the decanter temperature. The process feasibility analysis is validated by using rigorous simulation with the batch process simulator ProSimBatch. Simulation results are then corroborated in a bench experimental column for the selected entrainer, showing several advantages of heterogeneous batch distillation compared to homogeneous systems

An L0 dwarf companion in the brown dwarf desert, at 30 AU

We present the discovery of an L0 companion to the nearby M1.5 dwarf G 239-25, at a projected distance of 31 AU. It is the faintest companion discovered so far in our adaptive optics survey of all known M dwarfs within 12 pc, and it lies at the stellar/substellar limit. Given the assumed age of the primary star, the companion is likely an extremely low mass star. The long orbital period of G 239-25 AB ($\approx 100$ years) precludes a direct mass determination, but the relatively wide angular separation will allow detailed analyses of its near infrared and visible spectra.Comment: accepted by AA Letter

Observation and spectroscopy of new proton-unbound isotopes 30ar and 29cl: an interplay of prompt two-proton and sequential decay

Previously unknown isotopes 30Ar and 29Cl have been identified by measurement of the trajectories of their in-flight decay products 28S+p+p and 28S+p, respectively. The analysis of angular correlations of the fragments provided information on decay energies and the structure of the parent states. The ground states of 30Ar and 29Cl were found at 2.25+0.15−0.10 and 1.8±0.1  MeV above the two- and one-proton thresholds, respectively. The lowest states in 30Ar and 29Cl point to a violation of isobaric symmetry in the structure of these unbound nuclei. The two-proton decay has been identified in a transition region between simultaneous two-proton and sequential proton emissions from the 30Ar ground state, which is characterized by an interplay of three-body and two-body decay mechanisms. The first hint of a fine structure of the two-proton decay of 30Ar∗(2+) has been obtained by detecting two decay branches into the ground and first-excited states of the 28S fragment.Polish National Science Center UMO-2011/01/B/ST2/0194

Spectroscopy of excited states of unbound nuclei 30 Ar and 29 Cl

Several states of proton-unbound isotopes 30 Ar and 29 Cl were investigated by measuring their in-flight decay products, 28 S + proton + proton and 28 S + proton, respectively. A refined analysis of 28 S -proton angular correlations indicates that the ground state of 30 Ar is located at 2 . 45 + 0.05 − 0.10 MeV above the two-proton emission threshold. The investigation of the decay mechanism of the 30 Ar ground state demonstrates that it has the transition dynamics. In the “transitional” region, the correlation patterns of the decay products present a surprisingly strong sensitivity to the two-proton decay energy of the 30 Ar ground state and the one-proton decay energy as well as the one-proton decay width of the 29 Cl ground state. The comparison of the experimental 28 S -proton angular correlations with those resulting from Monte Carlo simulations of the detector response illustrates that other observed 30 Ar excited states decay by sequential emission of protons via intermediate resonances in 29 Cl . Based on the findings, the decay schemes of the observed states in 30 Ar and 29 Cl were constructed. For calibration purposes and for checking the performance of the experimental setup, decays of the previously known states of a two-proton emitter 19 Mg were remeasured. Evidences for one new excited state in 19 Mg and two unknown states in 18 Na were found.Helmholtz International Center for FAIR de Alemania (HIC for FAIR) IK-RU-002Russian Ministry of Education and Science. NSh-932.2014.2Russian Science Foundation. 17-12-01367Polish National Science Center. UMO-2011/01/B/ST2/01943Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. 0079/DIA/2014/43HelmholtzCAS Joint Research Group de Alemania. HCJRG-108Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades de España (MICINN). FPA2009-0884

A high-entropy manganite in an ordered nanocomposite for long-term application in solid oxide cells.

The implementation of nano-engineered composite oxides opens up the way towards the development of a novel class of functional materials with enhanced electrochemical properties. Here we report on the realization of vertically aligned nanocomposites of lanthanum strontium manganite and doped ceria with straight applicability as functional layers in high-temperature energy conversion devices. By a detailed analysis using complementary state-of-the-art techniques, which include atom-probe tomography combined with oxygen isotopic exchange, we assess the local structural and electrochemical functionalities and we allow direct observation of local fast oxygen diffusion pathways. The resulting ordered mesostructure, which is characterized by a coherent, dense array of vertical interfaces, shows high electrochemically activity and suppressed dopant segregation. The latter is ascribed to spontaneous cationic intermixing enabling lattice stabilization, according to density functional theory calculations. This work highlights the relevance of local disorder and long-range arrangements for functional oxides nano-engineering and introduces an advanced method for the local analysis of mass transport phenomena

Strangeness, Charm and Beauty in Quark Matter: SQM 2007 Experimental Overview

This paper aims at providing an experimental overview of the Strangeness in Quark Matter 2007 ConferenceComment: Proceedings of Strangeness in Quark Matter 2007, submitted to Journal of Physics

Emission Features and Source Counts of Galaxies in Mid-Infrared

In this work we incorporate the newest ISO results on the mid-infrared spectral-energy-distributions (MIR SEDs) of galaxies into models for the number counts and redshift distributions of MIR surveys. A three-component model, with empirically determined MIR SED templates of (1) a cirrus/PDR component (2) a starburst component and (3) an AGN component, is developed for infrared (3--120\micron) SEDs of galaxies. The model includes a complete IRAS 25\micron selected sample of 1406 local galaxies ($z \leq 0.1$; Shupe et al. 1998a). Results based on these 1406 spectra show that the MIR emission features cause significant effects on the redshift dependence of the K-corrections for fluxes in the WIRE 25\micron band and ISOCAM 15\micron band. This in turn will affect deep counts and redshift distributions in these two bands, as shown by the predictions of two evolution models (a luminosity evolution model with $L\propto (1+z)^3$ and a density evolution model with $\rho\propto (1+z)^4$). The dips-and-bumps on curves of MIR number counts, caused by the emission features, should be useful indicators of evolution mode. The strong emission features at $\sim 6$--8\micron will help the detections of relatively high redshift ($z\sim 2$) galaxies in MIR surveys. On the other hand, determinations of the evolutionary rate based on the slope of source counts, and studies on the large scale structures using the redshift distribution of MIR sources, will have to treat the effects of the MIR emission features carefully. We have also estimated a 15\micron local luminosity function from the predicted 15\micron fluxes of the 1406 galaxies using the bivariate (15\micron vs. 25\micron luminosities) method. This luminosity function will improve our understanding of the ISOCAM 15\micron surveys.Comment: 24 pages, 14 EPS figures. Accepted by Ap

Precision measurements of the top quark mass from the Tevatron in the pre-LHC era

The top quark is the heaviest of the six quarks of the Standard Model. Precise knowledge of its mass is important for imposing constraints on a number of physics processes, including interactions of the as yet unobserved Higgs boson. The Higgs boson is the only missing particle of the Standard Model, central to the electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism and generation of particle masses. In this Review, experimental measurements of the top quark mass accomplished at the Tevatron, a proton-antiproton collider located at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, are described. Topologies of top quark events and methods used to separate signal events from background sources are discussed. Data analysis techniques used to extract information about the top mass value are reviewed. The combination of several most precise measurements performed with the two Tevatron particle detectors, CDF and \D0, yields a value of \Mt = 173.2 \pm 0.9 GeV/$c^2$.Comment: This version contains the most up-to-date top quark mass averag