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Static second-order polarizabilities of aminobenzophenones and nitrobenzophenones

Static-field theoretical studies on molecular second-order polarizabilities (beta) of benzophenone derivatives were performed. Calculations were based on the use of shaped electric fields and semiempirical Hamiltonians. Either an electron-donating (amine) or an electron-withdrawing (nitro) substituent was incorporated into a phenyl ring of benzophenone; the phenyl rings of benzophenone were oriented either coplanar or perpendicular to the carbonyl. The change in charge transfer with respect to the electrophilic character of the carbonyl group was monitored to determine its effect on the molecular second-order polarizability. Calculations were performed for all constitutional isomers of the two benzophenone derivatives.

Moore, Craig E.↗

Circumnuclear molecular gas in starburst and Seyfert galaxies

In order to investigate circumnuclear molecular gaseous contents and their relation to the nuclear activity, researchers made a search for circumnuclear (12)CO (J=1-0) emission from 28 starburst-nucleus galaxies (SBNs) and 12 Seyfert galaxies with the recession velocities less than 5000 km/s, using the Nobeyama Radio Observatory 45-m telescope. The full half-power beam width of 17 arcsec covers a region of less than about 5 kpc in diameter for the sample galaxies. The circumnuclear CO emission was detected from twelve SBNs (one is marginal) and four Seyfert galaxies. The main results and conclusions are summarized. Researchers derived the circumnuclear surface density of molecular gas which is corrected for inclination of the galaxies. This analysis shows that the surface density spans a wide range over two orders of magnitude. Further, there is no significant difference in the surface densities between types 1 and 2 Seyfert galaxies. Thus, we may conclude that the circumnuclear molecular content is not a key parameter producing the dichotomy of the Seyfert galaxies. It is also shown that there is no significant difference in the circumnuclear surface densities of molecular gas among the Seyfert, starburst, and normal galaxies. This implies that the circumnuclear gaseous content is not a key parameter determining which activity occurs in nuclei. We may conclude that more centrally condensed (i.e., less than 10 - 100 pc in diameter) gas components play an essential role on the occurrence of nuclear activities. Comparing results with the previous ones, researchers deduced radial distribution of surface density of molecular gases. They cannot obtain evidence for strong central concentration of molecular gas in the sample Seyfert galaxies except for NGC 3227. This is consistent with the previous result by Blitz, Mathieu, and Bally (1986). Comparing the CO emission line profiles with the previous ones taken with the larger beams, researchers discovered circumnuclear components of molecular gases. In particular, they found that molecular gas clouds may be absent in the SE of the nucleus of NGC 7469 where the high-excitation emitting region is discovered by Heckman et al. (1986). It is suggested that the nuclear activity (strong radiation and/or wind) may destruct the molecular clouds in that region.

Taniguchi, Yoshiaki↗

Second-Order Moller-Plesset Perturbation Theory for Molecular Dirac-Hartree-Fock Wave Functions

Moller-Plesset perturbation theory is developed to second order for a selection of Kramers restricted Dirac-Hartree-Fock closed and open-shell reference wave functions. The open-shell wave functions considered are limited to those with no more than two electrons in open shells, but include the case of a two-configuration SCF reference. Denominator shifts are included in the style of Davidson's OPT2 method. An implementation which uses unordered integrals with labels is presented, and results are given for a few test cases.

Dyall, Kenneth G.↗

Directional molecular flow analysis and leak detection with a rotatable gas analyzer in a large space simulation chamber

A system was developed and applied at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center for measuring and analyzing directional molecular flows in a large thermal vacuum chamber in order to verify molecular environment and identify characteristic and abnormal test article and chamber conditions. The system is described, and some results obtained in over 1200 hours of operation are given.

Ehlers, H. K. F.↗

Dielectric Properties of Poly(ethylene oxide) from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The order, conformations and dynamics of poly(oxyethylene) (POE) melts have been investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. The potential energy functions were determined from detailed ab initio electronic structure calculations of the conformational energies of the model molecules 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) and diethylether. The x-ray structure factor for POE from simulation will be compared to experiment. In terms of conformation, simulations reveal that chains are extended in the melt relative to isolated chains due to the presence of strong intermolecular O...H interactions, which occur at the expense of intramolecular O...H interactions. Conformational dynamics about the C-C bond were found to be significantly faster than in polymethylene, while conformational dynamics about the C-O bond even faster than the C-C dynamics. The faster local dynamics in POE relative to polymethylene is consistent with C-13 NMR spin-lattice relaxation experiments. Conformational transitions showed significant second-neighbor correlation, as was found for polymethylene. This correlation of transitions with C-C neighbors was found to be reduced relative to C-O neighbors. Dielectric relaxation from simulation will also be compared with experiment.

Smith, Grant D.↗

To-date spacecraft applications and demonstration testing results, and future product development for new molecular adsorber technologies

The use of molecular adsorbers, in order to aid in the reduction of the spacecraft contamination levels, is discussed. Molecular adsorbers are characterized by an extremely large surface area, molecularly-porous substructure, and processing charged sites capable of retaining molecular contaminant species. Molecular adsorbers were applied on two Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions, as well as on the tropical rainfall measuring mission. The use of molecular adsorbers carries the potential for low cost, easy fabrication and integration of reliable means for reducing the contamination level around spacecraft.

Thomson, Shaun↗

Friction and morphology of magnetic tapes in sliding contact with nickel-zinc ferrite

Friction and morphological studies were conducted with magnetic tapes containing a Ni-Zn ferrite hemispherical pin in laboratory air at a relative humidity of 40 percent and at 23 C. The results indicate that the binder plays a significant role in the friction properties, morphology, and microstructure of the tape. Comparisons were made with four binders: nitrocellulose; poly (vinyledene) chloride; cellulose acetate; and hydroxyl-terminated, low molecular weight polyester added to the base polymer, polyester-polyurethane. The coefficient of friction was lowest for the tape with the nitrocellulose binder and increased in the order hydroxylterminated, low molecular weight polyester resin; poly (vinyledene) chloride; and cellulose acetate. The degree of enclosure of the oxide particles by the binder was highest for hydroxyl-terminated, low molecular weight polyester and decreased in the order cellulose acetate, poly (vinyledene) chloride, and nitrocellulose. The nature of deformation of the tape was a factor in controlling friction. The coefficient of friction under elastic contact conditions was considerably lower than under conditions that produced plastic contacts.

Miyoshi, K.↗

A wide-latitude CO survey of molecular clouds in the northern Milky Way

A wide-latitude, low angular resolution survey of CO along most of the first Galactic quadrant and part of the second was undertaken in order to investigate molecular clouds associated with the Great Rift and the diffuse component of Galactic gamma rays. The main nearby clouds have masses between a few times 10,000 and a few times 100,000 solar masses, versus a few times a million solar masses for the largest complexes elsewhere. The CO emission in the survey comes nearly equally from local clouds associated with the Great Rift and from distant clouds in the inner arms of the Galaxy 4-7 kpc from the Galactic center. The half-thickness at half-intensity of the local molecular cloud layer is greater than 50 pc and is estimated to be 75 + or - 25 pc. The results strongly support the notion that all dark nebulae are molecular clouds, and vice-versa.

Dame, T. M.↗

The possible presence of interstellar PAHs in meteorites and interplanetary dust particles

The Raman spectra of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected in the stratosphere show two bands at about 1350 and 1600 delta cm(-1) and a broader feature between 2200 and 3300 delta cm(-1) that are characteristic of aromatic molecular units with ordered domains smaller than 25A in diameter. This suggests that the carbonaceous material in IDPs may be similar to the polymeric component seen in meteorites, where this material is thought to consist of aromatic molecular units that are randomly inter-linked by short aliphatic bridges. The features in the Raman spectra of IDPs are similar in position and relative strength to interstellar infrared emission features that have been attributed to vibrational transitions in free molecular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The Raman spectra of some IDPs also showed photoluminescence that is similar to the excess red emission from some astronomical objects and that has also been attributed to PAHs and PAH-related materials. Moreover, a part of the carbonaceous phase in IDPs contains deuterium to hydrogen ratios that are far greater than those found in terrestrial samples. Deuterium enrichment is expected in small free PAHs that are exposed to ultraviolet radiation in the interstellar medium. Taken together, these observations suggest that some fraction of the carbonaceous material in IDPs may have been produced in circumstellar dust shells and only slightly modified in interstellar space. Since many, if not most, IDPs come from comets, this supports the view that cometary material contains primitive components which can provide clues about early solar system (and perhaps even interstellar and circumstellar) processes.

Allamandola, L. J.↗

Aromatic components in cometary materials

The Raman spectra of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected in the stratosphere show that two bands at about 1350 and 1600 delta/cm and a broader feature between 2200 and 3300 delta/cm that are characteristic of aromatic molecular units with ordered domains smaller than 25 A in diameter. This suggests that the carbonaceous material in IDPs may be similar to the polymeric component seen in meteorites, where this material is thought to consist of aromatic molecular units that are randomly interlinked by short aliphatic bridges. The features in the Raman spectra of IDPs are similar in position, and relative strength to interstellar infrared emission features that have been attributed to vibrational transitions in free molecular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Taken together, these observations suggest that some fraction of the carbonaceous materials in IDPs may have been produced in circumstellar dust shells and only slightly modified in interstellar space.

Allamandola, Louis J.↗

Theoretical and empirical low perigee aerodynamic heating during orbital flight of an atmosphere explorer

This document presents the results of an extensive, low perigee, orbital aerodynamic heating study undertaken in support of the Atmosphere Explorer-C Temperature Alarm. Based upon in-flight orbital temperature data from the Temperature Alarm tungsten resistance wire thermometer, aerodynamic heating rates have been determined for eight selected orbits by means of a reduced thermal analytical model verified by both ground test and flight data. These heating rates are compared with the classical free molecular and first order collision regime values. It has been concluded that, for engineering purposes, the aerodynamic heating rate of atmospheric gases at perigee altitudes between 170 and 135 km on pure tungsten wire is 30 to 60% of the value set by the classical free molecular limit. Relative to the more usual orbital thermal input attributable to direct solar radiation, the aerodynamic heating rate at the lowest altitude attempted with the spacecraft despun (135 km) is the equivalent of about 1.2 solar constants incident on a tungsten wire with a solar absorptivity of 0.85.

Caruso, P. S., Jr.↗

Viscosity Relaxation in Molten HgZnTe

Rotating cup measurements of the viscosity of the pseudo-binary melt, HgZnTe have shown that the isothermal liquid with zinc mole fraction 0.16 requires tens of hours of equilibration time before a steady viscous state can be achieved. Over this relaxation period, the viscosity at 790 C increases by a factor of two, while the viscosity at 810 C increases by 40%. Noting that the Group VI elements tend to polymerize when molten, we suggest that the viscosity of the melt is enhanced by the slow formation of Te atom chains. To explain the build-up of linear Te n-mers, we propose a scheme, which contains formation reactions with second order kinetics that increase the molecular weight, and decomposition reactions with first order kinetics that inactivate the chains. The resulting rate equations can be solved for the time dependence of each molecular weight fraction. Using these molecular weight fractions, we calculate the time dependence of the average molecular weight. Using the standard semi-empirical relation between polymer average molecular weight and viscosity, we then calculate the viscosity relaxation curve. By curve fitting, we find that the data imply that the rate constant for n-mer formation is much smaller than the rate constant for n-mer deactivation, suggesting that Te atoms only weakly polymerize in molten HgZnTe. The steady state toward which the melt relaxes occurs as the rate of formation of an n-mer becomes exactly balanced by the sum of the rate for its deactivation and the rate for its polymerization to form an (n+1)-mer.

Su, Ching-Hua↗

Phase transition in solid molecular hydrogen at ultrahigh pressures

Solid normal hydrogen was compressed in a diamond-anvil cell to pressures above 200 GPa. Spontaneous Raman spectra demonstrate that the solid undergoes a structural phase transformation beginning at 145 GPa at 77 K, as evidenced by an abrupt discontinuity in the intramolecular vibron frequency as a function of pressure. The magnitude of the vibron-frequency shift and the pressure-temperature conditions of the phase transformation are consistent with its identification as the theoretically predicted pressure-induced orientational ordering of the molecular solid.

Hemley, R. J.↗

A Deep X-ray Survey of Low-Mass PMS Stars in NGC 2264

Two X-ray images were obtained with the XMM-Newton spacecraft of more than 300 members of the NGC 2264 Open Cluster and its associated molecular cloud in order to investigate their magnetic activity. The X-ray fluxes extracted from those observations were used to study the dependence of stellar dynamo activity upon age and rotation for the optically revealed T Tauri stars and to place empirical constraints on theoretical models of angular momentum/dynamo evolution. The observations were also used to study the role of magnetic fields in the formation of low mass stars through the observation of very young protostars that are deeply embedded in the molecular cloud located behind the visible open cluster.

Simon, Theodore↗