As reações entre o ligante N,N,N\',N\'-tetrametiluréia (TMU) e sais de isotiocianatos, nitratos, percloratos, brometos e cloretos de lantanídeos (Ln = Nd3+ e Eu3+) conduziram a compostos de fórmulas gerais: Nd(NCS)3.4TMU; Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU, Ln(NO3)3.3TMU, Ln(ClO4)3.6TMU, LnBr3.3TMU.6H2O, LnCl3.3TMU (Ln = Nd e Eu). As estequiometrias desses complexos foram propostas com base nos resultados dos teores de lantanídeos, obtidos através de análises complexométricas com EDTA, enquanto que os teores de carbono, nitrogênio e hidrogênio foram determinados por microanálise. As medidas de condutância eletrolítica em solução de acetonitrila mostram que os compostos se comportam como não eletrólitos, exceto os derivados do ânion perclorato (eletrólito 1: 3). Os difratogramas de raios-X permitiram identificar que os compostos de neodímio e európio são isomorfos entre si para os ânions perclorato, brometo e nitrato. Os compostos derivados dos ânions cloreto e isotiocianato não apresentam isomorfismo. Os espectros de absorção na região do infravermelho mostram deslocamentos das bandas vC=O para regiões de frequências mais baixas e vC-N para regiões de frequências mais altas, o que evidencia a coordenação pelo átomo de oxigênio da carbonila. A ausência de bandas fortes indicativas da presença de água mostra que os compostos de nitratos, cloretos e percloratos obtidos são todos anidros. A presença da banda na região 3560-3520 cm-1> e 1630-1600 cm-1> para os complexos de brometos obtidos evidencia os modos de estiramentos característicos da água. Os espectros eletrônicos de fluorescência na região do visível dos compostos de európio, obtidos à temperatura ambiente e a 77 K, permitiram sugerir as seguintes simetrias: Eu(NO3)3.3TMU - D3h Eu(ClO4)3.6TMU - Oh EuCl3.3TMU - D3 EuBr3.3TMU.6H2O - D3h Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU - C3v Eu(F3C-SO3)3.6TMU - Oh A partir destas simetrias, foram calculados os parâmetros de campo cristalino B20, B40, B44, B43 (método dos operadores tensoriais) e também os parâmetros B02, B04, B44, B34 (método dos operadores equivalentes). Os espectros eletrônicos de absorção na região do visível dos compostos de neodímio à temperatura ambiente e a 77 K foram registrados. Os parâmetros espectroscópicos &#946;, b1/2 e &#948; indicam que nas ligacões de todos os comoostos predomina o caráter eletrostático. A partir dos espectros dos compostos Nd(ClO4)3.6TMU e Nd(F3C-SO3)3.5TMU com simetria cúbica, foram calculados os parâmetros B04, B06, B44, e B64 (Bqk) e por correlação encontramos os parâmetros B40, B60, B44, e B46 (Bkq). Através dos espectros de absorção em solução dos compostos de neodímio foram calculadas as forças do oscilador (P) e a seguinte ordem relativa ao aumento de intensidade das transições hipersensitivas foi observada: Cl-4 < Cl- < Br- < NCS- < NO-3. / Compounds of general formula: Nd(NCS)3.4TMU, Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU, Ln(NO3)3.3TMU, Ln(ClO4)3.6TMU, LnBr3.3TMU.6H2O and LnCl3.3TMU (Ln = Nd, Eu) were prepared by the reaction of the correspondinq hydrated salts and N,N,N\',N\'-tetramethylurea (TMU). The lanthanide ions were determined by complexometric titration with EDTA; carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen were determined by microanalytical procedures. Eleetrolytic conductance measurements in acetonitrile indicate a behaviour of non-electrolytes, except for the perchlorates that behave as 1:3 electrolytes. X-ray powder patterns show that the neodymium and europium perchlorates, bromides and nitrates are isomorphous. The chlorides and isothiocyanates do not show isomorphism. The vC=O shifts to lower frequencies and vC-N to higher frequencies qive evidences of coordination of the ligand through the carbonyl oxygen. Water bands were not observed in the nitrates, chlorides and perchlorates. The bands at 3560-3520 cm-1 and 1630-1600 cm-1 in the bromides are indicative of the presence of water. The fluorescence spectra, in the visible region at room temperature and at 77 K were interpreted in terms of the following symmetries for the compounds investigated: Eu(NO3)3.3TMU - D3h Eu(ClO4)3.6TMU - Oh EuCl3.3TMU - D3 EuBr3.3TMU.6H2O - D3h Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU - C3v Eu(F3C-SO3)3.6TMU - Oh. The crystal field parameters B20, B40, B44, B33 were calculated by the tensorial operator and B02, B04, B44, B34 by the equivalent operator methods. Electronic absorption spectra of neodymium compounds are registered in the visible region at room temperatureand 77 K. The spectroscopic parameters (&#946;, b 1/2 and &#948;) show that the interaction between Ln:L is essentially electrostatic. From the spectra of the cubic Nd(ClO4)3.6TMU and Nd(F3C-SO3)3.5TMU compounds the parameters B04, B06, B44, and B64 (Bqk) were calculated and by correlation the parameters B40, B60, B44, and B46 (Bkq). The oscillator strengths from the hypersensitive transitions in the neodymium absorption spectrum in acetonitrile solution were determined and related to the basicity of the anions following the order: NO-3 > NCS- > Br- > Cl- > ClO-4.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho é mostrar que é possível buscar por estrelas pobres em metais a partir da premissa de que uma grande fração destas será rica em carbono. Essa hipótese ainda não havia sido verificada pois muitas das chamadas estrelas CEMP (Carbon Enhanced Metal-Poor) foram negligenciadas em estudos anteriores devido à forma como foram executadas as buscas por estas estrelas. Estes objetos são importantes pois assumem o papel de registros fósseis das primeiras gerações estelares, uma vez que retêm em suas atmosferas informações vitais acerca da composição química do meio em que foram geradas. Por não apresentarem bandas moleculares intensas de carbono em seus espectros, muitas dessas estrelas não foram selecionadas para estudos em média/alta resolução. Este trabalho fornece, a partir do estudo da parte estelar do projeto HES (Hamburg/ESO Survey), que contém 4.404.908 objetos, dois novos índices de linha para a região da banda G do CH, em 4304 Å. Estes, pelo fato de possuírem uma largura de banda de 200 Å, conseguem superar falhas dos índices anteriormente definidos e representam com fidelidade as principais características desta região. Após uma análise detalhada da base de dados, e do cálculo dos novos índices de linha para todos os objetos disponíveis, foram identificadas com o telescópio SOAR 132 estrelas pobres em metais inéditas na literatura, sendo que 51% destas possuem metalicidades abaixo de [Fe/H] < -1.0 e apresentam consideráveis enriquecimentos em carbono ([C/Fe] > +0.5). Já para as estrelas encontradas com [Fe/H] < -2.5, a fração de estrelas com abundâncias de carbono [C/Fe] > +1.0 chega a 80%. Estimativas de abundâncias de elementos químicos tais como bário e estrôncio revelam que, mesmo com parâmetros atmosféricos e abundâncias de carbono semelhantes, as estrelas analisadas por este trabalho possuem mais de um tipo de cenário possível para sua formação. Neste ínterim, os objetos adicionados à literatura contribuem tanto para o aumento da estatística de estrelas pobres em metais quanto para testes de modelos teóricos de enriquecimento químico da Via Láctea. Finalmente, este trabalho também gerou uma lista de 6123 candidatas a estrelas CEMP inéditas na literatura. / The main goal of this work is to show that is possible to search for metal-poor stars based on the premise that a large fraction of these will be carbon-rich. This hypothesis had not yet been verified because many of the so-called CEMP (Carbon Enhanced Metal-Poor) stars were neglected in previous studies due to the design of the search for metal-poor stars with carbon enhancements. Those objects play a major role as fossil records of the very first generation of stars, since they carry in their atmospheres vital informations concerning the chemical composition of the medium where they were formed. By not showing strong carbon molecular bands in their spectra, many of those stars were not selected for follow-up studies in medium/high resolution. This work provides, based on the study of the stellar part of the HES (Hamburg/ESO Survey), two new line indices for the G band (4304 Å) that, by having a line band of 200 Å, can overcome the flaws of the previously defined indices and also truly represent the main features of this region. After an extensive analysis of the database and the calculation of the line indices for all the available objects, 132 new metal-poor stars were identified with the SOAR telescope, being that 51% of those stars with [Fe/H] < 1.0 present considerable carbon enhancements ([C/Fe]> +0.5). For the observed stars with [Fe/H] < 2.5, the fraction of objects with [C/Fe] > +1.0 rises up to 80%. Abundance estimates for barium and strontium show that, even with similar atmospheric parameters and carbon abundances, the stars analysed in this work have more than one possible formation scenario. Finally, this work also contributes with a 6123 CEMP star candidate list of unpublished objects.

Submitted by Maria Aparecida (cidazen@gmail.com) on 2017-05-16T15:07:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Edson Carvalho Paz.pdf: 1589088 bytes, checksum: 37f9b2d6613e1ce560c6a50e8dbf458f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-16T15:07:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edson Carvalho Paz.pdf: 1589088 bytes, checksum: 37f9b2d6613e1ce560c6a50e8dbf458f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-30 / CAPES, CNPQ / In this work glass formation of CaF2-CaO-B2O3-TeO2 system (CBTx), with tellurium oxide concentrations varing from 20 to 50 wt%, was studied. In order to evaluate the glass forming ability of that system, six glass matrix were prepared and characterized to understand the behavior of their physical, thermal, structural, optical and spectroscopic properties. As far we know, this is the first report in the literature about this glass system. The preparation of glasses CBTx system was carried out keeping the Ca/B2O3. The prepared glass samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), volumetric density (ρ), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential thermal analysis (DTA), specific heat (cp), refractive index (n), electronic polarizability (α), theoretical optical basicity (Λth), optical absorption coefficient (Ae) and band gap optical (Eopt). The results are discussed in terms of tellurium oxide content and structural properties of the glass samples. Density, thermal stability, refractive index, electronic polarizability and theoretical optical basicity values increase with TeO2 content, while transition temperature (Tg), specific heat, optical window and the band gap optical decrease; Raman and FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the network structure of studied glass is formed by BO3, BO4, TeO3, TeO3+1 and TeO4 units. The CBTx system showed a good ability to glass formation, especially the glass matrix of most TeO2 content (CBT50), which proved to be the most suitable for future work doping with rare earth ions and tests as optical amplifier in communication fibers or other photonic devices. / Neste trabalho apresentamos o estudo da formação de vidros no sistema [10CaF2-(30-0,4x)CaO-(60-0,6x)B2O3-xTeO2], em que 20 ≤ x ≥ 50 % em massa, denominado CBTx, com o objetivo de avaliar a habilidade de formação vítrea do referido sistema visando obter matrizes vítreas estáveis. Até onde sabemos, este é o primeiro relato na literatura de pesquisas sobre esse sistema. O preparo dos vidros no sistema CBTx foi realizado mantendo constante a razão Ca/B2O3. Neste trabalho sintetizamos seis amostras vítreas, as quais foram submetidas ao processo de caracterização por meio das seguintes análises: difração de raios-X (DRX), densidade de massa volumétrica (ρ), espectroscopia Raman, espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), análise térmica diferencial (DTA), calor específico (cp), índice de refração (n), polarizabilidade eletrônica (α), basicidade óptica teórica (Λth), coeficiente de absorção óptica (Ae) e band gap óptico (Eopt). Os resultados foram discutidos em função do conteúdo de óxido de telúrio e de suas alterações nas propriedades estruturais, térmicas, ópticas e espectroscópicas das amostras vítreas. Com o aumento da concentração de TeO2 nas amostras, houve aumento dos valores da densidade, da estabilidade térmica, do índice de refração, da polarizabilidade eletrônica e da basicidade óptica teórica; redução da temperatura de transição vítrea (Tg), do calor específico e da janela óptica e deslocamento do band gap óptico para menor energia; as espectroscopias Raman e FTIR indicaram que a estrutura da rede dos vidros sob investigação é formada por unidades BO3, BO4, TeO3, TeO3+1 e TeO4. O sistema CBTx apresentou uma boa habilidade de formação vítrea, com destaque para a matriz vítrea de maior teor estudado de TeO2 (CBT50), que se mostrou a mais indicada para trabalhos futuros de dopagem com íons terras raras e testes como amplificador óptico em fibras de comunicação ou outros dispositivos fotônicos.

As reações entre o ligante N,N,N\',N\'-tetrametiluréia (TMU) e sais de isotiocianatos, nitratos, percloratos, brometos e cloretos de lantanídeos (Ln = Nd3+ e Eu3+) conduziram a compostos de fórmulas gerais: Nd(NCS)3.4TMU; Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU, Ln(NO3)3.3TMU, Ln(ClO4)3.6TMU, LnBr3.3TMU.6H2O, LnCl3.3TMU (Ln = Nd e Eu). As estequiometrias desses complexos foram propostas com base nos resultados dos teores de lantanídeos, obtidos através de análises complexométricas com EDTA, enquanto que os teores de carbono, nitrogênio e hidrogênio foram determinados por microanálise. As medidas de condutância eletrolítica em solução de acetonitrila mostram que os compostos se comportam como não eletrólitos, exceto os derivados do ânion perclorato (eletrólito 1: 3). Os difratogramas de raios-X permitiram identificar que os compostos de neodímio e európio são isomorfos entre si para os ânions perclorato, brometo e nitrato. Os compostos derivados dos ânions cloreto e isotiocianato não apresentam isomorfismo. Os espectros de absorção na região do infravermelho mostram deslocamentos das bandas vC=O para regiões de frequências mais baixas e vC-N para regiões de frequências mais altas, o que evidencia a coordenação pelo átomo de oxigênio da carbonila. A ausência de bandas fortes indicativas da presença de água mostra que os compostos de nitratos, cloretos e percloratos obtidos são todos anidros. A presença da banda na região 3560-3520 cm-1> e 1630-1600 cm-1> para os complexos de brometos obtidos evidencia os modos de estiramentos característicos da água. Os espectros eletrônicos de fluorescência na região do visível dos compostos de európio, obtidos à temperatura ambiente e a 77 K, permitiram sugerir as seguintes simetrias: Eu(NO3)3.3TMU - D3h Eu(ClO4)3.6TMU - Oh EuCl3.3TMU - D3 EuBr3.3TMU.6H2O - D3h Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU - C3v Eu(F3C-SO3)3.6TMU - Oh A partir destas simetrias, foram calculados os parâmetros de campo cristalino B20, B40, B44, B43 (método dos operadores tensoriais) e também os parâmetros B02, B04, B44, B34 (método dos operadores equivalentes). Os espectros eletrônicos de absorção na região do visível dos compostos de neodímio à temperatura ambiente e a 77 K foram registrados. Os parâmetros espectroscópicos &#946;, b1/2 e &#948; indicam que nas ligacões de todos os comoostos predomina o caráter eletrostático. A partir dos espectros dos compostos Nd(ClO4)3.6TMU e Nd(F3C-SO3)3.5TMU com simetria cúbica, foram calculados os parâmetros B04, B06, B44, e B64 (Bqk) e por correlação encontramos os parâmetros B40, B60, B44, e B46 (Bkq). Através dos espectros de absorção em solução dos compostos de neodímio foram calculadas as forças do oscilador (P) e a seguinte ordem relativa ao aumento de intensidade das transições hipersensitivas foi observada: Cl-4 < Cl- < Br- < NCS- < NO-3. / Compounds of general formula: Nd(NCS)3.4TMU, Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU, Ln(NO3)3.3TMU, Ln(ClO4)3.6TMU, LnBr3.3TMU.6H2O and LnCl3.3TMU (Ln = Nd, Eu) were prepared by the reaction of the correspondinq hydrated salts and N,N,N\',N\'-tetramethylurea (TMU). The lanthanide ions were determined by complexometric titration with EDTA; carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen were determined by microanalytical procedures. Eleetrolytic conductance measurements in acetonitrile indicate a behaviour of non-electrolytes, except for the perchlorates that behave as 1:3 electrolytes. X-ray powder patterns show that the neodymium and europium perchlorates, bromides and nitrates are isomorphous. The chlorides and isothiocyanates do not show isomorphism. The vC=O shifts to lower frequencies and vC-N to higher frequencies qive evidences of coordination of the ligand through the carbonyl oxygen. Water bands were not observed in the nitrates, chlorides and perchlorates. The bands at 3560-3520 cm-1 and 1630-1600 cm-1 in the bromides are indicative of the presence of water. The fluorescence spectra, in the visible region at room temperature and at 77 K were interpreted in terms of the following symmetries for the compounds investigated: Eu(NO3)3.3TMU - D3h Eu(ClO4)3.6TMU - Oh EuCl3.3TMU - D3 EuBr3.3TMU.6H2O - D3h Eu(NCS)3.3,5TMU - C3v Eu(F3C-SO3)3.6TMU - Oh. The crystal field parameters B20, B40, B44, B33 were calculated by the tensorial operator and B02, B04, B44, B34 by the equivalent operator methods. Electronic absorption spectra of neodymium compounds are registered in the visible region at room temperatureand 77 K. The spectroscopic parameters (&#946;, b 1/2 and &#948;) show that the interaction between Ln:L is essentially electrostatic. From the spectra of the cubic Nd(ClO4)3.6TMU and Nd(F3C-SO3)3.5TMU compounds the parameters B04, B06, B44, and B64 (Bqk) were calculated and by correlation the parameters B40, B60, B44, and B46 (Bkq). The oscillator strengths from the hypersensitive transitions in the neodymium absorption spectrum in acetonitrile solution were determined and related to the basicity of the anions following the order: NO-3 > NCS- > Br- > Cl- > ClO-4.

Ameaças na sustentabilidade do desenvolvimento mundial em consideração ao aquecimento global, a dependência energética e a demanda exponencial pela produção de alimentos têm levado ao crescente interesse por fontes alternativas renováveis de energia como a biomassa vegetal. Neste cenário, a viabilização do etanol sem competição por terra cultivável a partir do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (BC) pela rota enzimática é peça chave para a produção integrada e sustentável dos biocombustíveis visando otimização de recursos, redução de resíduos e minimização de impactos ambientais negativos. Entretanto, a sua comercialização precisa ser ainda consolidada através da economicidade nos insumos de hidrólise (enzimas celulases) e de uma maior eficiência na etapa de pré-tratamento da lignocelulose. Dessa forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo contribuir na redução dos custos de produção celulases utilizando um resíduo característico da indústria brasileira, o BC, para produção de celulases específicas através da tecnologia de fermentação em estado sólido com o microorganismo Aspergillus niger. A proposta desenvolvida consiste em bioprocesso com pré-tratamento hidrotérmico do BC condizente a seu uso como substrato fermentativo, complementação deste substrato com 35% de farelo de soja e meio de suplementação com acréscimo de protéicas, umidade de fermentação de 80% e uso de circulação forçada em bioreator de coluna instrumentado visando o balanço hídrico e térmico do processo. As celulases específicas assim produzidas exibiram atividades de FPase: 0,045; CMCase: 1,10; xilanase: 9,17 e \'beta\'-glicosidase:0,33 UI/mL, e sua ação sinérgica sobre o BC explodido resultou na conversão em açúcares redutores de 15% após 22 horas de hidrólise. A direta aplicabilidade e especificidade do coquetel enzimático produzido mostram a proposta do bioprocesso como uma tecnologia de elevado potencial de integração no modelo de produção de etanol celulósico, anexo a uma usina convencional. Esta alternativa de desenvolvimento a maior escala indica uma oportunidade nacional para o crescimento sustentável na produção de bioetanol e a expansão das vantagens associadas com o uso de biocombustíveis no âmbito mundial. / Threats to sustainability of world development in regards to global warming, energy dependence and the exponential demand for food production have led to growing interest in alternative renewable sources of energy such as biomass. In this context, the viability of ethanol from sugar cane bagasse cane (SCB) by enzymatic pathway, without competition for farmland, is the key for sustainable and integrated biofuels production aiming to optimize resources, waste reduction and negative environmental impacts minimization. However, its commercialization needs to be further consolidated through the economy of hydrolysis enzymes (cellulases) and efficiency improvements in lignocellulosic pre-treatment. Thus, this study aimed to contribute for the reduction of costs in cellulases production using a traditional brazilian industrial waste, the SCB, in order to obtain specific cellulases with the microorganism Aspergillus niger by solid state fermentation. The proposal of bioprocess developed consists of SCB hydrothermal pre-treatment towards to its use as fermentation substrate, complementation of this substrate with 35% of soybean bran and supplementation medium with protein sources addition, moisture fermentation of 80% and use of a column bioreactor instrumented with forced aeration aiming suitable control of water and thermal balance of the process. Thus, specific cellulases produced exhibited activities of FPase = 0.045; CMCase = 1.10; xylanase = 9.17 and -glucosidase = 0.33 IU/mL, and their synergy action over exploded SCB resulted in 15% of reducing sugar conversion after 22 hours of hydrolysis. The direct applicability and specificity of the enzymatic cocktail produced shows the proposed bioprocess as a high potential technology for integration into the production model of cellulosic ethanol, joint to a conventional power plant. This development alternative to larger scale indicates a national opportunity for sustainable growth in bioethanol production and associated benefits expansion with the worldwide use of biofuels.

The objective of the research was to investigate proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions involving antioxidants to gain insight into the detailed mechanisms of glutathione (GSH), Trolox, and α-tocopherol (α-TOH). PCET reactions are complex redox reactions that transfer electrons and protons sequentially or in concert. These reactions are ubiquitous in natural or artificial processes that produce electrochemical energy that is extractable as electricity or as chemical fuels of high energy content. Examples of processes based on PCET are photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen fixation, carbon dioxide reduction, redox fuel cells, and artificial photosynthesis. Antioxidants were selected as a PCET model to understand the coupling between proton transfer (PT) and electron transfer (ET) in order to elucidate structure-reactivity relationships under different experimental conditions. PCET reactions were studied with a set of electrochemical techniques to propose a preliminary mechanism that could be validated with digital simulations matching the electrochemical response. In some cases, other analytical techniques were used to aid in the system characterization. This thesis presents the results and discussion of the effects of oxidant-base pairs on the mediated oxidation of GSH, the -2e-/-H+ process of Trolox in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents with various pH values, and the particle collision electrolysis of α-tocopherol in oil-in-water emulsion droplets on an ultramicroelectrode. Ultimately our goal was to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic factors that control PCET reactions so that they can be applied in designing artificial systems for the production of energy using more abundant reagents with lower cost and better yields.

[Special characters cannot be displayed. Please see the pdf version of the Abstract for an accurate reproduction.] We studied the circumstellar discs, the initial mass function (IMF), mass distribution, binarity and the fundamental properties of the [special character] 9 Myr-old pre-main sequence (PMS) [special character] Chamaeleontis cluster. Using JHKL colour-colour and colour-excess diagrams, we found the circumstellar disc fraction to be [special character] 0.60 among the late-type members. Four stars with [special character] (K - L) > 0.4 were identified as experiencing ongoing accretion which was later confirmed by high-resolution spectroscopic study. Quantitative analysis of the H[special character] profiles found accretion in these four stars at rates comparable to that of two members of the similarly-aged TW Hydrae Association (TWA); rates 1 - 3 orders of magnitude lower than in younger classical T Tauri stars. Together these results suggest that, while the mass accretion rate decreases with age, PMS stars can retain their inner discs for [special character] 10 Myr. An optical photometric survey spanning 1.3 ?? 1.3 pc added two low-mass stars to the cluster inventory. Together with other recent surveys the population is likely to be significantly complete for primaries with masses M > 0.15M[special character]. The cluster now consists of 18 primaries and 9 confirmed and candidate secondaries, with [special character] 2-4 times higher multiplicity than seen in field dwarfs. The cluster IMF is consistent with that of rich young clusters and field stars. By extending the IMF to lower masses, we predict 20-29 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs may remain undiscovered. From study of the cluster???s spatial and mass distribution, we find the [special character] Cha cluster has significant mass segregation, with > 50 per cent of the stellar mass residing within the central 0.17 pc. Lastly we classified members of the cluster with low-resolution spectra, providing information about the fundamental properties of the PMS stars by comparison to standard dwarfs. Broadband VRI colours and pseudocontinuum indices derived for the cluster stars are indistinguishable from dwarfs at visual and red wavelengths. This suggests the temperature sequence for the PMS [special character] Cha cluster is similar to that of the dwarf sequence. Narrow-band spectral indices for the [special character] Cha cluster possibly indicate higher metallicity and strongly indicate lower surface gravity than the dwarf indices.

<p>The Auroral Large Imaging System (ALIS) was proposed in 1989 by Åke Steen as a joint Scandinavian ground-based nework of automated auroral imaging stations. The primary scientic objective was in the field of auroral physics, but it was soon realised that ALIS could be used in other fields, for example, studies of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC), meteors, as well as other atmospheric phenomena.</p><p>This report describes the design, operation and scientic results from a Swedish prototype of ALIS consisting of six unmanned remote-controlled stations located in a grid of about 50 km in northern Sweden. Each station is equipped with a sensitive high-resolution (1024 x 1024 pixels) unintensified monochromatic CCDimager. A six-position filter-wheel for narrow-band interference filters facilitates absolute spectroscopic measurements of, for example, auroral and airglow emissions. Overlapping fields-of-view resulting from the station baseline of about 50 km combined with the station field-of-view of 50° to 60°, enable triangulation as well as tomographic methods to be employed for obtaining altitude information of the observed phenomena.</p><p>ALIS was probably one of the first instruments to take advantage of unintensi- fied (i.e. no image-intensifier) scientific-grade CCDs as detectors for spectroscopic imaging studies with multiple stations of faint phenomena such as aurora, airglow, etc. This makes absolute calibration a task that is as important as it is dificult.</p><p>Although ALIS was primarily designed for auroral studies, the majority of the scientific results so far have, quite unexpectedly, been obtained from observations of HF pump-enhanced airglow (recently renamed Radio-Induced Aurora). ALIS made the first unambiguous observation of this phenomena at high-latitudes and the first tomography-like inversion of height profiles of the airglow regions. The scientific results so far include tomographic estimates of the auroral electron spectra, coordinated observations with satellite and radar, as well as studies of polar stratospheric clouds. An ALIS imager also participated in a joint project that produced the first ground-based daytime auroral images. Recently ALIS made spectroscopic observations of a Leonid meteor-trail and preliminary analysis indicates the possible detection of water in the Leonid.</p>

The Auroral Large Imaging System (ALIS) was proposed in 1989 by Åke Steen as a joint Scandinavian ground-based nework of automated auroral imaging stations. The primary scientic objective was in the field of auroral physics, but it was soon realised that ALIS could be used in other fields, for example, studies of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC), meteors, as well as other atmospheric phenomena. This report describes the design, operation and scientic results from a Swedish prototype of ALIS consisting of six unmanned remote-controlled stations located in a grid of about 50 km in northern Sweden. Each station is equipped with a sensitive high-resolution (1024 x 1024 pixels) unintensified monochromatic CCDimager. A six-position filter-wheel for narrow-band interference filters facilitates absolute spectroscopic measurements of, for example, auroral and airglow emissions. Overlapping fields-of-view resulting from the station baseline of about 50 km combined with the station field-of-view of 50° to 60°, enable triangulation as well as tomographic methods to be employed for obtaining altitude information of the observed phenomena. ALIS was probably one of the first instruments to take advantage of unintensi- fied (i.e. no image-intensifier) scientific-grade CCDs as detectors for spectroscopic imaging studies with multiple stations of faint phenomena such as aurora, airglow, etc. This makes absolute calibration a task that is as important as it is dificult. Although ALIS was primarily designed for auroral studies, the majority of the scientific results so far have, quite unexpectedly, been obtained from observations of HF pump-enhanced airglow (recently renamed Radio-Induced Aurora). ALIS made the first unambiguous observation of this phenomena at high-latitudes and the first tomography-like inversion of height profiles of the airglow regions. The scientific results so far include tomographic estimates of the auroral electron spectra, coordinated observations with satellite and radar, as well as studies of polar stratospheric clouds. An ALIS imager also participated in a joint project that produced the first ground-based daytime auroral images. Recently ALIS made spectroscopic observations of a Leonid meteor-trail and preliminary analysis indicates the possible detection of water in the Leonid.

Nous avons montré que l'irradiation aux ions d'argon d'énergie comprise entre 1 et 15 MeV cause des dommages en surface du titane et du zirconium, qui prennent la forme d'une oxydation accélérée et/ou d'une cratérisation dont les effets évoluent en fonction de l'énergie du projectile et de l'atmosphère de recuit (température et pression), simulant les conditions environnementales représentatives de l'interface gaine/combustible d'un réacteur REP. Par AFM, nous avons montré que la surface du titane et du zirconium était attaquée par bombardement aux ions d'argon, à haute température (jusqu'à 500°C) en milieu faiblement oxydant (sous pression d'air sec raréfié comprise entre 5,7 10-5 Pa et 5 10-3 Pa) et à une dose moyenne fixée à environ 5 1014 ions.cm-2. On observe ainsi la formation de cratères nanométriques sur toute la surface du titane irradié entre 2 et 9 MeV et celle du zirconium irradié à 4 MeV, dont les caractéristiques varient en fonction de la température et de la pression. Dans le cas du couple Ar/Ti, l'efficacité d'endommagement superficiel augmente lorsque l'énergie du projectile diminue de 9 à 2 MeV. Par ailleurs, alors que la surface du titane apparaît transparente au faisceau d'ions à 15 MeV, celle du zirconium révèle de nombreux cratères micrométriques entourés d'un large halo sombre. Les caractéristiques des cratères (taille et densité superficielle) diffèrent de façon significative de celles observées à la fois dans le domaine des basses énergies (keV) où le dépôt d'énergie est contrôlé par les collisions balistiques (Sn) et dans le domaine des hautes énergies (MeV - GeV) où le dépôt d'énergie est contrôlé par les excitations électroniques (Se), ce qui n'était pas complètement inattendu dans le domaine d'énergie intermédiaire étudié, dans lequel des effets de pouvoir d'arrêt combiné Sn - Se sont envisageables. Par XPS couplé au décapage ionique, nous avons montré qu'il existe un effet d'irradiation sur l'oxydation thermique du titane, exacerbée sous faisceau d'ions d'argon entre 2 et 9 MeV, et qu'il existe aussi un effet d'énergie sur l'épaisseur et la stœchiométrie de l'oxyde. L'étude menée par Ellipsométrie Spectroscopique sur les films d'oxyde formés entre 1 et 9 MeV a corroboré ces résultats et montré précisément qu'il existe un pic d'oxydation en fonction de l'énergie d'ions d'argon, qui présente un maximum à 3 MeV, dans les conditions de l'expérience. Les mesures de gain d'oxygène effectuées par NBS confirment l'existence de ce pic d'oxydation. Les résultats acquis à ce jour par NBS concernant l'oxydation thermique du zirconium sous irradiation à l'argon de 4 et 9 MeV confirment les travaux antérieurs du groupe Aval du Cycle Electronucléaire de l'Institut de Physique Nucléaire de Lyon, et suggèrent fortement l'existence d'un pic d'oxydation dans la même plage d'énergie de projectile que pour le titane.