Very-high-frequency oscillations in the main peak of a magnetar giant flare.

Magnetars are strongly magnetized, isolated neutron stars1-3 with magnetic fields up to around 1015 gauss, luminosities of approximately 1031-1036 ergs per second and rotation periods of about 0.3-12.0 s. Very energetic giant flares from galactic magnetars (peak luminosities of 1044-1047 ergs per second, lasting approximately 0.1 s) have been detected in hard X-rays and soft γ-rays4, and only one has been detected from outside our galaxy5. During such giant flares, quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with low (less than 150 hertz) and high (greater than 500 hertz) frequencies have been observed6-9, but their statistical significance has been questioned10. High-frequency QPOs have been seen only during the tail phase of the flare9. Here we report the observation of two broad QPOs at approximately 2,132 hertz and 4,250 hertz in the main peak of a giant γ-ray flare11 in the direction of the NGC 253 galaxy12-17, disappearing after 3.5 milliseconds. The flare was detected on 15 April 2020 by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor instrument18,19 aboard the International Space Station, which was the only instrument that recorded the main burst phase (0.8-3.2 milliseconds) in the full energy range (50 × 103 to 40 × 106 electronvolts) without suffering from saturation effects such as deadtime and pile-up. Along with sudden spectral variations, these extremely high-frequency oscillations in the burst peak are a crucial component that will aid our understanding of magnetar giant flares.

The North Wyke Farm Platform: effect of temperate grassland farming systems on soil moisture contents, runoff and associated water quality dynamics.

The North Wyke Farm Platform was established as a United Kingdom national capability for collaborative research, training and knowledge exchange in agro-environmental sciences. Its remit is to research agricultural productivity and ecosystem responses to different management practices for beef and sheep production in lowland grasslands. A system based on permanent pasture was implemented on three 21-ha farmlets to obtain baseline data on hydrology, nutrient cycling and productivity for 2 years. Since then two farmlets have been modified by either (i) planned reseeding with grasses that have been bred for enhanced sugar content or deep-rooting traits or (ii) sowing grass and legume mixtures to reduce nitrogen fertilizer inputs. The quantities of nutrients that enter, cycle within and leave the farmlets were evaluated with data recorded from sensor technologies coupled with more traditional field study methods. We demonstrate the potential of the farm platform approach with a case study in which we investigate the effects of the weather, field topography and farm management activity on surface runoff and associated pollutant or nutrient loss from soil. We have the opportunity to do a full nutrient cycling analysis, taking account of nutrient transformations in soil, and flows to water and losses to air. The NWFP monitoring system is unique in both scale and scope for a managed land-based capability that brings together several technologies that allow the effect of temperate grassland farming systems on soil moisture levels, runoff and associated water quality dynamics to be studied in detail. HIGHLIGHTS: Can meat production systems be developed that are productive yet minimize losses to the environment?The data are from an intensively instrumented capability, which is globally unique and topical.We use sensing technologies and surveys to show the effect of pasture renewal on nutrient losses.Platforms provide evidence of the effect of meteorology, topography and farm activity on nutrient loss.

Atom-diatom scattering dynamics of spinning molecules.

We present full quantum mechanical scattering calculations using spinning molecules as target states for nuclear spin selective atom-diatom scattering of reactive D+H2 and F+H2 collisions. Molecules can be forced to rotate uni-directionally by chiral trains of short, non-resonant laser pulses, with different nuclear spin isomers rotating in opposite directions. The calculations we present are based on rotational wavepackets that can be created in this manner. As our simulations show, target molecules with opposite sense of rotation are predominantly scattered in opposite directions, opening routes for spatially and quantum state selective scattering of close chemical species. Moreover, two-dimensional state resolved differential cross sections reveal detailed information about the scattering mechanisms, which can be explained to a large degree by a classical vector model for scattering with spinning molecules.

Steric effects and quantum interference in the inelastic scattering of NO(X) + Ar.

Rotationally inelastic collisions of NO(X) with Ar are investigated in unprecedented detail using state-to-state, crossed molecular beam experiments. The NO(X) molecules are selected in the Ω = 0.5, j = 0.5, f state and then oriented such that either the 'N' or 'O' end of the molecule is directed towards the incoming Ar atom. Velocity map ion imaging is then used to probe the scattered NO molecules in well-defined quantum states. We show that the fully quantum state-resolved differential steric asymmetry, which quantifies how the relative efficiency for scattering off the 'O' and the 'N' ends of the molecule varies with scattering angle, is strongly affected by quantum interference. Significant changes in both integral and differential cross sections are found depending on whether collisions occur with the N or O ends of the molecule. The results are well accounted for by rigorous quantum mechanical calculations, in contrast to both classical trajectory calculations and more simplistic models that provide, at best, an incomplete picture of the dynamics.

The collisional depolarization of OH(A (2)Σ(+)) and NO(A (2)Σ(+)) with Kr.

Quantum beat spectroscopy has been used to measure rate coefficients at 300 K for collisional depolarization for NO(A (2)Σ(+)) and OH(A (2)Σ(+)) with krypton. Elastic depolarization rate coefficients have also been determined for OH(A) + Kr, and shown to make a much more significant contribution to the total depolarization rate than for NO(A) + Kr. While the experimental data for NO(A) + Kr are in excellent agreement with single surface quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations carried out on the upper 2A(') potential energy surface, the equivalent QCT and quantum mechanical calculations cannot account for the experimental results for OH(A) + Kr collisions, particularly at low N. This disagreement is due to the presence of competing electronic quenching at low N, which requires a multi-surface, non-adiabatic treatment. Somewhat improved agreement with experiment is obtained by means of trajectory surface hopping calculations that include non-adiabatic coupling between the ground 1A(') and excited 2A(') states of OH(X/A) + Kr, although the theoretical depolarization cross sections still significantly overestimate those obtained experimentally.

Reactive scattering dynamics of rotational wavepackets: a case study using the model H+H2 and F+H2 reactions with aligned and anti-aligned H2.

We propose a method to steer the outcome of reactive atom-diatom scattering, using rotational wavepackets excited by strong non-resonant laser pulses. Full close-coupled quantum mechanical scattering calculations of the D+H2 and F+H2 reactions are presented, where the H2 molecule exists as a coherent superposition of rotational states. The nuclear spin selective control over the molecular bond axis alignment afforded by the creation of rotational wavepackets is applied to reactive scattering systems, enabling a nuclear spin selective influence to be exerted over the reactive dynamics. The extension of the conventional eigenstate-to-eigenstate scattering problem to the case in which the initial state is composed of a coherent superposition of rotational states is detailed, and a selection of example calculations are discussed, along with their mechanistic implications. The feasibility of the corresponding experiments is considered, and a suitable simple two pulse laser scheme is shown to strongly differentiate the reactivities of o-H2 and p-H2.

Rotational alignment effects in NO(X) + Ar inelastic collisions: a theoretical study.

Rotational angular momentum alignment effects in the rotational inelastic scattering of NO(X) with Ar have been investigated by means of close-coupled quantum mechanical, quasi-classical trajectory, and Monte Carlo hard shell scattering calculations. It has been shown that the hard shell nature of the interaction potential at a collision energy of Ecoll = 66 meV is primarily responsible for the rotational alignment of the NO(X) molecule after collision. By contrast, the alternating trend in the quantum mechanical parity resolved alignment parameters with change in rotational state Δj reflects differences in the differential cross sections for NO(X) parity conserving and changing collisions, rather than an underlying difference in the collision induced rotational alignment. This suggests that the rotational alignment and the differential cross sections are sensitive to rather different aspects of the scattering dynamics. The applicability of the kinematic apse model has also been tested and found to be in excellent agreement with exact quantum mechanical scattering theory provided the collision energy is in reasonable excess of the well depth of the NO(X)-Ar potential energy surface.

Rotational alignment effects in NO(X) + Ar inelastic collisions: an experimental study.

Rotational angular momentum alignment effects in the rotationally inelastic collisions of NO(X) with Ar have been investigated at a collision energy of 66 meV by means of hexapole electric field initial state selection coupled with velocity-map ion imaging final state detection. The fully quantum state resolved second rank renormalized polarization dependent differential cross sections determined experimentally are reported for a selection of spin-orbit conserving and changing transitions for the first time. The results are compared with the findings of previous theoretical investigations, and in particular with the results of exact quantum mechanical scattering calculations. The agreement between experiment and theory is generally found to be good throughout the entire scattering angle range. The results reveal that the hard shell nature of the interaction potential is predominantly responsible for the rotational alignment of the NO(X) upon collision with Ar.

A new potential energy surface for OH(A 2Σ+)-Kr: the van der Waals complex and inelastic scattering.

New ab initio studies of the OH(A(2)Σ(+))-Kr system reveal significantly deeper potential energy wells than previously believed, particularly for the linear configuration in which Kr is bound to the oxygen atom side of OH(A(2)Σ(+)). In spite of this difference with previous work, bound state calculations based on a new RCCSD(T) potential energy surface yield an energy level structure in reasonable accord with previous studies. However, the new calculations suggest the need for a reassignment of the vibrational levels of the electronically excited complex. Quantum mechanical and quasi-classical trajectory scattering calculations are also performed on the new potential energy surface. New experimental measurements of rotational inelastic scattering cross sections are reported, obtained using Zeeman quantum beat spectroscopy. The values of the rotational energy transfer cross sections measured experimentally are in good agreement with those derived from the dynamical calculations on the new adiabatic potential energy surface.

Ab initio studies of the interaction potential for the Xe-NO(X2Π) van der Waals complex: bound states and fully quantum and quasi-classical scattering.

Adiabatic potential energy surfaces for the ground electronic state of the Xe⋅⋅⋅NO(X(2)Π) van der Waals complex have been calculated using the spin-restricted coupled cluster method with single, double, and non-iterative triple excitations (RCCSD(T)). The scalar relativistic effects present in the Xe atom were included by an effective core potential and we extended the basis with bond functions to improve the description of the dispersion interaction. It has been found that the global minimum on the A(') adiabatic surface occurs at a T-shaped geometry with γ(e) = 94° and R(e) = 7.46 a(0), and with well depth of D(e) = 148.68 cm(-1). There is also an additional local minimum for the collinear geometry Xe-NO with a well depth of 104.5 cm(-1). The adiabat of A('') symmetry exhibits a single minimum at a distance R(e) = 7.68 a(0) and has a skewed geometry with γ(e) = 64° and a well depth of 148.23 cm(-1). Several C(nl) van der Waals dispersion coefficients are also estimated, of which C(6, 0) and C(6, 2) are in a reasonable agreement with previous theoretical results obtained by Nielson et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 64, 2055 (1976)]. The new potential energy surfaces were used to calculate bound states of the complex for total angular momentum quantum numbers up to J = 7/2. The ground state energy of Xe⋅⋅⋅NO(X(2)Π) is D(0) = 117 cm(-1), which matches the experimental value very accurately (within 3.3%). Scattering calculations of integral and differential cross sections have also been performed using fully quantum close coupling calculations and quasi-classical trajectory method at a collision energy of 63 meV. These calculations reveal the important role played by L-type rainbows in the scattering dynamics of the heavier Rg-NO(X) systems.

Fully Λ-doublet resolved state-to-state differential cross-sections for the inelastic scattering of NO(X) with Ar.

Fully Λ-doublet resolved state-to-state differential cross-sections (DCSs) for the collisions of the open-shell NO(X, (2)Π(1/2), ν = 0, j = 0.5) molecule with Ar at a collision energy of 530 cm(-1) are presented. Initial state selection of NO(X, (2)Π(1/2), j = 0.5, f) was performed using a hexapole so that the (low field seeking) parity of ε = -1, corresponding to the f component of the Λ-doublet, could be selected uniquely. Although the Λ-doublet levels lie very close in energy to one another and differ only in their relative parities, they exhibit strikingly different DCSs. Both spin-orbit conserving and spin-orbit changing collisions have been studied, and the previously unobserved structures in the fully quantum state-to-state resolved DCSs are shown to depend sensitively on the change in parity of the wavefunction of the NO molecule on collision. In all cases, the experimental data are shown to be in excellent agreement with rigorous quantum mechanical scattering calculations.

The effect of parity conservation on the spin-orbit conserving and spin-orbit changing differential cross sections for the inelastic scattering of NO(X) by Ar.

The fully Λ-doublet resolved state-to-state differential cross sections (DCSs) for the collisions of NO(X, (2)Π, v = 0, j = 0.5) with Ar have been shown to depend sensitively on the conservation of the total parity of the NO molecular wavefunction. Parity changing collisions exhibit a single maximum only in the DCS, while parity conserving transitions exhibit multiple rainbow peaks. This behaviour is shown to arise directly from the constructive or destructive interference of collisions impacting on the two pointed ends and on the flatter middle of the NO molecule. A simple hard shell, four path model has been employed to determine the relative phase shifts of the paths contributing to the scattering amplitude. The model calculations using the V(sum) potential, together with the results of a quasi-quantum treatment, provide good qualitative agreement with the experimental spin-orbit conserving (ΔΩ = 0) DCSs, suggesting that the dynamics for all but the lowest Δj transitions are determined largely by the repulsive part of the potential. The collisions leading to spin-orbit changing transitions (ΔΩ = 1) have been also found to be dominated by repulsive forces, even for the lowest Δj values. However, they are less well reproduced by hard shell calculations, because of the crucial participation of the V(diff) potential in determining the outcome of these collisions.

The k-j-j' vector correlation in inelastic and reactive scattering.

Quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) methods are presented which allow characterization of the angular momentum depolarization of the products of inelastic and reactive scattering. The particular emphasis of the theory is on three-vector correlations, and on the connection with the two-vector correlation between the initial and final angular momenta, j and j', which is amenable to experimental measurement. The formal classical theory is presented, and computational results for NO(A) + He are used to illustrate the type of mechanistic information provided by analysis of the two- and three-vector correlations. The classical j-j' two-vector correlation results are compared with quantum mechanical calculations, and are shown to be in good agreement. The data for NO(A) + He support previous conclusions [M. Brouard, H. Chadwick, Y.-P. Chang, R. Cireasa, C. J. Eyles, A. O. L. Via, N. Screen, F. J. Aoiz, and J. Klos, J. Chem. Phys. 131, 104307 (2009)] that this system is only weakly depolarizing. Furthermore, it is shown that the projection of j along the kinematic apse is nearly conserved for this system under thermal collision energy conditions.

Collisional angular momentum depolarization of OH(A) and NO(A) by Ar: a comparison of mechanisms.

This paper discusses the contrasting mechanisms of collisional angular momentum depolarization of OH(A(2)Σ(+)) and NO(A(2)Σ(+)) by Ar. New experimental results are presented for the collisional depolarization of OH(A) + Ar under both thermal and superthermal collision conditions, including cross sections for loss of both angular momentum orientation and alignment. Previous work on the two systems is summarized. It is shown that NO(A) + Ar depolarization is dominated by impulsive events in which the projection of the angular momentum, j, along the kinematic apse, a, is nearly conserved, and in which the majority of the trajectories can be described as "nearside." By contrast, at the relatively low collision energies sampled at 300 K, OH(A) + Ar depolarization is dominated by attractive collisions, which show a preponderance of "farside" trajectories. There is also evidence for very long-lived, complex type trajectories in which OH(A) and Ar orbit each other for several rotational periods prior to separation. Nevertheless, there is still a clear preference for conservation of the projection of j along the kinematic apse for both elastic and inelastic collisions. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that, as the collision energy is raised, the depolarization of OH(A) by Ar becomes more impulsive-like in nature.

Interference structures in the differential cross-sections for inelastic scattering of NO by Ar.

Inelastic scattering is a fundamental collisional process that plays an important role in many areas of chemistry, and its detailed study can provide valuable insight into more complex chemical systems. Here, we report the measurement of differential cross-sections for the rotationally inelastic scattering of NO(X2Π1/2, v=0, j=0.5, f) by Ar at a collision energy of 530 cm(-1) in unprecedented detail, with full Λ-doublet (hence total NO parity) resolution in both the initial and final rotational quantum states. The observed differential cross-sections depend sensitively on the change in total NO parity on collision. Differential cross-sections for total parity-conserving and changing collisions have distinct, novel quantum-mechanical interference structures, reflecting different sensitivities to specific homonuclear and heteronuclear terms in the interaction potential. The experimental data agree remarkably well with rigorous quantum-mechanical scattering calculations, and reveal the role played by total parity in acting as a potential energy landscape filter.

Elastic depolarization of OH(A) by He and Ar: a comparative study.

Two color polarization spectroscopy has been employed to measure the collisional depolarization of OH(A(2)Sigma(+), v = 1) by He and Ar. Complementary experiments using Zeeman quantum beat spectroscopy have also been performed to determine separately the cross sections for rotational energy transfer (RET) out of selected rotational levels of OH(A, v = 0) + Ar, as well as those for elastic depolarization. This has been achieved by dispersing the emission, so as to observe a single fluorescence transition. Elastic depolarization of OH(A) by Ar is found to be significant with that for loss of rotational alignment exceeding that for loss of orientation. In the case of OH(A) + He, the polarization spectroscopy measurements suggest that elastic depolarization plays a relatively minor role in the loss of the polarization signal compared with RET. The experimental data for OH(A) + Ar are compared in detail with the results of quasi-classical trajectory calculations that accommodate the effects of electron spin. These classical calculations are assessed against the results obtained using full close-coupled open shell quantum mechanical scattering methods. Overall the level of agreement between the two experiments, and between experiment and theory, is very reasonable. Surprisingly, at low N the elastic depolarization cross sections for OH(A) + Ar are found to be quite similar in magnitude to those observed for OH(X) + Ar despite the fact that the well depth in the latter system is considerably smaller than that for OH(A)-Ar. However, for OH(A) + Ar the depolarization cross sections are insensitive to N in the range 1-14. It is proposed that this behavior partly reflects the relatively anisotropic nature of the potential energy surface, which exhibits deep wells of different depths at the two linear configurations OH(A)-Ar and Ar-OH(A), and partly the nature of elastic depolarizing collisions, which must occur with a velocity component perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the diatomic molecule.

Cumulative reaction probabilities and transition state properties: a study of the H+ + H2 and H+ + D2 proton exchange reactions.

Cumulative reaction probabilities (CRPs) have been calculated by accurate (converged, close coupling) quantum mechanical (QM), quasiclassical trajectory (QCT), and statistical QCT (SQCT) methods for the H(+) + H(2) and H(+) + D(2) reactions at collision energies up to 1.2 eV and total angular momentum J = 0-4. A marked resonance structure is found in the QM CRP, most especially for the H(3)(+) system and J = 0. When the CRPs are resolved in their ortho and para contributions, a clear steplike structure is found associated with the opening of internal states of reactants and products. The comparison of the QCT results with those of the other methods evinces the occurrence of two transition states, one at the entrance and one at the exit. At low J values, except for the quantal resonance structure and the lack of quantization in the product channel, the agreement between QM and QCT is very good. The SQCT model, that reflects the steplike structure associated with the opening of initial and final states accurately, clearly tends to overestimate the value of the CRP as the collision energy increases. This effect seems more marked for the H(+) + D(2) isotopic variant. For sufficiently high J values, the growth of the centrifugal barrier leads to an increase in the threshold of the CRP. At these high J values the discrepancy between SQCT and QCT becomes larger and is magnified with growing collision energy. The total CRPs calculated with the QCT and SQCT methods allowed the determination of the rate constant for the H(+) + D(2) reaction. It was found that the rate, in agreement with experiment, decreases with temperature as expected for an endothermic reaction. In the range of temperatures between 200 and 500 K the differences between SQCT and QCT rate results are relatively minor. Although exact QM calculations are formidable for an exact determination of the k(T), it can be reliably expected that their value will lie between those given by the dynamical and statistical trajectory methods.

The collisional depolarization of (2S+1)Sigma radicals by closed shell atoms: Theory and application to OH(A (2)Sigma(+))+Ar.

Classical and quantum mechanical expressions for the j-j(') vector correlation (also referred to as the rotational tilt) are presented for the situation in which the initial and final relative velocity directions are unresolved. The quantum mechanical expressions are compared with previous descriptions in the literature. It is shown that in the case of (2S+1)Sigma radicals in collision with closed shell species, a tensor opacity formalism can be employed in quasiclassical trajectory calculations to provide classical estimates of both open shell spin-rotation state and nuclear hyperfine state changing (or conserving) cross sections. Polarization parameters are also obtained from the same formalism. The method is applied to calculations on the OH(A (2)Sigma(+))-Ar system using a recently developed potential energy surface. The results of both the closed and open shell quasiclassical trajectory calculations are found to compare favorably with those from close-coupled closed and open shell quantum mechanical scattering calculations. The accompanying paper provides an experimental test of these calculations and of the potential energy surface they employ.

Collisional depolarization of OH(A) with Ar: Experiment and theory.

Zeeman quantum beat spectroscopy has been used to measure the 300 K rate constants for the angular momentum depolarization of OH(A (2)Sigma(+)) in the presence of Ar. We show that the beat amplitude at short times, in the absence of collisions, is well described by previously developed line strength theory for (1+1) laser induced fluorescence. The subsequent pressure dependent decay of the beat amplitude is used to extract depolarization rate constants and estimates of collisional depolarization cross sections. Depolarization accompanies both inelastic collisions, giving rise to rotational energy transfer, and elastic collisions, which change m(j) but conserve j. Previous experimental studies, as well as classical theory, suggest that elastic scattering contributes around 20% to the observed total depolarization rate at low j. Simulation of the experimental beat amplitudes, using theoretical calculations presented in the preceding paper, reveals that depolarization of OH(A) by Ar has a rate constant comparable to, if not larger than, that for energy transfer. This is consistent with a significant tilting or realignment of j(') away from j on collision. The experimental data are used to provide a detailed test of quantum mechanical and quasiclassical trajectory scattering calculations performed on a recently developed ab initio potential energy surface of Klos et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 129, 054301 (2008)]. The calculations and simulations account well for the observed cross sections at high N, but underestimate the experimental results by between 10% and 20% at low N, possibly due to remaining inaccuracies in the potential energy surface or perhaps to limitations in the dynamical approximations made, particularly the freezing of the OH(A) bond.

A new potential energy surface for OH(A 2Sigma(+))-Ar: the van der Waals complex and scattering dynamics.

New ab initio studies of the OH(A (2)Sigma(+))-Ar system reveal significantly deeper potential energy wells than previously believed, particularly for the linear configuration in which Ar is bound to the oxygen atom side of OH(A (2)Sigma(+)). In spite of this difference with previous ab initio work, bound state calculations based on a new RCCSD(T) potential energy surface yield an energy level structure in reasonable accord with previous theoretical and experimental studies. Preliminary open and closed shell quantum mechanical and quasiclassical trajectory scattering calculations are also performed on the new potential energy surface surface. The findings are discussed in the light of previous theoretical and experimental results for rotational energy transfer in collisions of OH(A (2)Sigma(+)) with Ar.