The high time-resolution radio sky represents unexplored astronomical territory. This thesis presents a study of the transient radio sky, focussing on millisecond scales. As such, the work is concerned primarily with neutron stars. In particular this research concentrates on a recently identified group of neutron stars, known as RRATs, which exhibit radio bursts every few minutes to every few hours. After analysing neutron star birthrates, a re-analysis of the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey is described which has resulted in the discovery of 19 new transient radio sources. Of these, 12 have been seen to repeat and a follow-up campaign of observations has been undertaken. These studies have greatly increased our knowledge of the rotational properties of RRATs and enable us to conclude that they are pulsars with extreme nulling and/or pulse-to-pulse modulation. Although the evolution of neutron stars post-supernova is not yet understood, it seems that RRATs fit into the emerging picture in which pulsar magnetospheres switch between stable configurations.

This book comprises the proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference (APMC12) focusing on emerging opportunities and challenges in the field of materials sciences, life sciences and microscopy techniques. The contents of this volume include papers on aberration corrected TEM & STEM, SEM - FIB, ion beam microscopy, electron diffraction & crystallography, microscopy and imaging associated with bio-nanotechnology, medical applications, host-pathogen interaction, etc. This book will be beneficial to researchers, educators, and practitioners alike.

EPR spectroscopy is a versatile, nondestructive technique widely used in chemistry, biology, and physics. It detects molecules and materials with unpaired electrons making it a very selective technique that produces a wealth of information on such systems. Its high sensitivity makes it suitable in analyzing very small samples, single crystals, or reaction intermediates like radicals. This textbook takes a practical approach that introduces the basic concepts of EPR to suffi cient detail to allow the reader to gain a basic knowledge of EPR and understand how experiments are carried out and how spectra are analyzed and interpreted. Many illustrative examples are included drawn from solid-state physics and bioinorganic chemistry. It is suitable as a short introduction for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students taking their fi rst steps into EPR research.

This thesis presents significant advances in the imaging and theory of the ultrafast dynamics of surface plasmon polariton fields. The author details construction of a sub-10 femtosecond and sub-10 nanometer spatiotemporal resolution ultrafast photoemission microscope which is subsequently used for the discovery of topological meron and skyrmion-like plasmonic quasiparticles. In particular, this enabled the creation of movies of the surface plasmon polariton fields evolving on sub-optical wavelength scales at around 0.1 femtosecond per image frame undergoing vortex phase evolution. The key insight that the transverse spin of surface plasmon polaritons undergoes a texturing into meron or skyrmion-like topological quasiparticles (defined by the geometric charge of the preparation) follows. In addition, this thesis develops an analytical theory of these new topological quasiparticles, opening new avenues of research, while the ultrafast microscopy techniques established within will also be broadly applicable to studies of nanoscale optical excitations in electronic materials.

A unique look at some of the hottest topics in photophysics and photochemistry today

The study of molecules in excited states has exploded over the past decade, providing new insights into conformational changes in organic molecules and opening up research opportunities for scientists and professionals in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine, and materials engineering.

Using conformational analysis as a unifying concept, this important new work provides readers with a cohesive and cutting–edge overview of this fascinating and challenging field. From conformational changes accompanying photoinduced electron transfer to elementary photophysical and photochemical processes in living systems, the most representative and challenging topics are carefully gleaned from the vast literature, highlighting major conceptual problems along with the relevant experimental techniques. Authoritative, detailed contributions from both experimentalists and theoreticians include coverage of:

• Conformational changes in intramolecular excited state electron transfer
• Conformational aspects of excited state proton transfer
• The novel topic of solute–solvent friction in chemical reactions
• Mechanisms and structural aspects of exciplex formations
• Conformational aspects of organic photochemistry
• Calculations of excited state conformational properties

The book covers in particular state-of-the-art scientific research about product quality control and related health and environmental safety topics, including human, animal and plant safety assurance issues. These conference proceedings provide contemporary information on the general theoretical, metrological and practical issues of the production and application of reference materials. Reference materials play an integral role in physical, chemical and related type of measurements, ensuring their uniformity, comparability and the validity of quantitative analysis as well as, as a result, the objectivity of decisions concerning the elimination of technical barriers in commercial and economic, scientific and technical and other spheres of cooperation. The book is intended for researchers and practitioners in the field of chemistry, metrologists, technical physics, as well as for specialists in analytical laboratories, or working for companies and organizations involved in the production, distribution and use of reference materials.

This book discusses the spectral properties of solid-state laser materials, including emission and absorption of light, the law of radiative and nonradiative transitions, the selection rule for optical transitions, and different calculation methods of the spectral parameters. The book includes a systematic presentation of the authors' own research works in this field, specifically addressing the stimulated nonradiative transition theory and the apparent crystal field model. This volume is helpful resource for researchers and graduate students in the fields of solid spectroscopy and solid-state laser material physics, while also serving as a valuable reference guide for instructors and advanced students of physics.

This book highlights the latest advances in bioMEMS for biosensing applications. It comprehensively reviews different detection methods, including colorimetric, fluorescence, luminescence, bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, biochemiluminescence, and electrochemiluminescence, and presents various bioMEMS for each, together with recent examples. The book also offers an overview of the history of BioMEMS and the design and manufacture of the first bioMEMS-based devices.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most important tools in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research. The number of MRI scanners operating around the world is estimated to be approximately 20,000, and the development of contrast agents, currently used in about a third of the 50 million clinical MRI examinations performed every year, has largely contributed to this significant achievement.

This completely revised and extended second edition: " "Includes new chapters on targeted, responsive, PARACEST and nanoparticle MRI contrast agents.Covers the basic chemistries, MR physics and the most important techniques used by chemists in the characterization of MRI agents from every angle from synthesis to safety considerations.Is written for all of those involved in the development and application of contrast agents in MRI.Presented in colour, it provides readers with true representation and easy interpretation of the images.

A word from the Authors:

"Twelve years after the first edition published, we are convinced that the chemistry of MRI agents has a bright future. By assembling all important information on the design principles and functioning of magnetic resonance imaging probes, this book intends to be a useful tool for both experts and newcomers in the field. We hope that it helps inspire further work in order to create more efficient and specific imaging probes that will allow materializing the dream of seeing even deeper and better inside the living organisms."

"Reviews of the First Edition: "

..".attempts, for the first time, to review the whole spectrum of involved chemical disciplines in this technique..."--Journal of the American Chemical Society..".well balanced in its scope and attention to detail...a valuable addition to the library of MR scientists..."--NMR in Biomedicine

This book is devoted to the synthetic and physical chemistry of aromatic thiols and their closest derivatives, sulfides, sulfoxides, sulfones, including those substituted by various functional groups such as acyl and thioacyl, alkoxide, ester, hydroxyl and halogens. In some cases, for comparison, selenium and oxygen analogues are also detailed. The main focus of the book is on synthetic methods, both traditional and new, based on the use of transition metals as catalysts, as well as the reactivity of the compounds obtained. Its addition to the influence of conformational and electronic factors on spectral (NMR, IR, UV, NQR) and electrochemical characteristics of the compounds is presented. Finally, the book describes the application of aromatic thiols and their derivatives as drug precursors, high-tech materials, building blocks for organic synthesis, analytical reagents and additives for oils and fuels. It is a useful handbook for all those interested in organosulfur chemistry.

This book is intended for beginning students, both chemistry majors and other students who require it for their program. The material is presented in a concise and student-friendly way, without the inclusion of topics unnecessary at that level. A complete section is designed to lead students through the naming of organic compounds in a self-taught manner. Reactions are grouped by mechanistic type and stereochemistry is emphasized throughout. An introduction to the spectroscopic methods used for structure determination is included. Problems are included at each stage and new in this edition are complete answers to the problems as well as an introduction to the molecules of nature.

This book reveals unique transport phenomena and functionalities in topological insulators coupled with magnetism and superconductivity. Topological insulators are a recently discovered class of materials that possess a spin-momentum-locked surface state. Their exotic spin texture makes them an exciting platform for investigating emergent phenomena, especially when coupled with magnetism or superconductivity. Focusing on the strong correlation between electricity and magnetism in magnetic topological insulators, the author presents original findings on current-direction-dependent nonreciprocal resistance, current-induced magnetization reversal and chiral edge conduction at the domain wall. In addition, he demonstrates how the coupling between superconductivity and topological surface state leads to substantial nonreciprocal resistance. The author also elucidates the origins of these phenomena and deepens readers' understanding of the topologically nontrivial electronic state. The book includes several works which are published in top journals and were selected for the President's Award by the University of Tokyo and for the Ikushi Prize, awarded to distinguished Ph.D. students in Japan.

THE PRINCIPLES, APPLICATIONS, AND TRENDS OF A KEY TOOL IN FOOD SCIENCE

Maximizing food potential has become one of the priorities of the food industry and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is fast becoming a key "ingredient" in achieving that goal. Taking its place among other proven spectroscopic tools, near-infrared spectroscopy facilitates, for example, quality measurements made early in the production when fresh products are still edible, helping to determine whether the product goes to fresh market or to processing and thereby minimizing waste.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Food Science and Technology is one of the few available resources that applies this valuable technique specifically to the food science and technology industries. Written by authors with extensive expertise in NIRS and food science, this comprehensive resource provides an introduction to and overview of the technical aspects of NIRS, including: Basic principles of near-infrared spectroscopy Characteristics of the NIR spectra Instrumentation Sampling techniques Chemometrics

Stressing the practical application of near-infrared technology, the book details the method's use in four key areas of food science and technology: agricultural and marine products, foodstuffs and processed foods, engineering and process monitoring, and food safety and disease diagnosis. Nearly encyclopedic in its coverage, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Food Science and Technology will prove a valuable guide for food science professionals as well as scientists and engineers in a wide range of related fields.

This thesis demonstrates that an ultralow temperature refrigeration technique called "demagnetisation refrigeration" can be miniaturised and incorporated onto millimeter-sized chips to cool nanoelectronic circuits, devices and materials. Until recently, the lowest temperature ever reached in such systems was around 4 millikelvin. Here, a temperature of 1.2mK is reported in a nanoelectronic device. The thesis introduces the idea that on-chip demagnetization refrigeration can be used to cool a wide variety of nanostructures and devices to microkelvin temperatures. This brings the exciting possibility of discovering new physics, such as exotic electronic phases, in an unexplored regime and the potential to improve the performance of existing applications, including solid-state quantum technologies. Since the first demonstration of on-chip demagnetization refrigeration, described here, the technique has been taken up by other research groups around the world. The lowest on-chip temperature is currently 0.4mK. Work is now underway to adapt the technique to cool other materials and devices, ultimately leading to a platform to study nanoscale materials, devices and circuits at microkelvin temperatures.

This detailed volume covers conventional MS-based "shotgun lipidomics" by which samples are introduced by infusion or loop injection, as well as LC-MS-based lipidomics, which are becoming increasingly important due to the ever-increasing demand for a complete and precise lipid analysis of the complex and diversified lipids in nature. The volume features protocols applying chemical reactions, the on-line photochemical reactions combined with various MS methods for comprehensive characterization of various lipid classes, and quantification of specific and rare lipids. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Mass Spectrometry-Based Lipidomics: Methods and Protocols serves as an invaluable guide for biochemists and mass spectroscopists who are interested in lipid studies.

This book addresses the nature of the chemical bond in inorganic and coordination compounds. In particular, it explains how general symmetry rules can describe chemical bond of simple inorganic molecules. Since the complexity of studying even simple molecules requires approximate methods, this book introduces a quantum mechanical treatment taking into account the geometric peculiarities of the chemical compound. In the case of inorganic molecules, a convenient approximation comes from symmetry, which constrains both the electronic energies and the chemical bonds. The book also gives special emphasis on symmetry rules and compares the use of symmetry operators with that of Hamiltonian operators. Where possible, the reactivity of molecules is also rationalized in terms of these symmetry properties. As practical examples, electronic spectroscopy and magnetism give experimental confirmation of the predicted electronic energy levels. Adapted from university lecture course notes, this book is the ideal companion for any inorganic chemistry course dealing with group theory.

This book describes the physical basis of polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy and its application in electrochemical studies. It provides a concise yet comprehensive review of the research done in this field in the last 20 years. Electrochemical methods are used to determine the rate and mechanism of charge transfer reactions between an electrode and species adsorbed or diffusing to its surface. In the past two decades PM-IRRAS has grown to be one of the most important vibrational spectroscopy techniques applied to investigate structural changes taking place at the electrochemical interface. The monograph presents foundations of this technique and reviews in situ studies of redox-inactive and redox-active films adsorbed on electrode surfaces. It also discusses experimental conditions required in electrochemical and spectroscopic studies and presents practical solutions to perform efficient experiments. As such, it offers an invaluable resource for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as for all researchers in academic and industrial laboratories.

This book focuses on the topological fermion condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT), a phenomenon that reveals the complex behavior of all strongly correlated Fermi systems, such as heavy fermion metals, quantum spin liquids, quasicrystals, and two-dimensional systems, considering these as a new state of matter. The book combines theoretical evaluations with arguments based on experimental grounds demonstrating that the entirety of very different strongly correlated Fermi systems demonstrates a universal behavior induced by FCQPT. In contrast to the conventional quantum phase transition, whose physics in the quantum critical region are dominated by thermal or quantum fluctuations and characterized by the absence of quasiparticles, the physics of a Fermi system near FCQPT are controlled by a system of quasiparticles resembling the Landau quasiparticles. The book discusses the modification of strongly correlated systems under the action of FCQPT, representing the "missing" instability, which paves the way for developing an entirely new approach to condensed matter theory; and presents this physics as a new method for studying many-body objects. Based on the authors' own theoretical investigations, as well as salient theoretical and experimental studies conducted by others, the book is well suited for both students and researchers in the field of condensed matter physics.

This book provides easy-to-understand explanations to systematically and comprehensively describe the X-ray CT technologies, techniques, and skills used for industrial and scientific purposes. Included are many references along with photographs, figures, and equations prepared by the author. These features all facilitate the reader's gaining a deeper understanding of the topics being discussed. The book presents expertise not only on fundamentals but also about hardware, software, and analytical methods for the benefit of technical users. The book targets engineers, researchers, and students who are involved in research, development, design, and quality assurance in industry and academia.

"Comprehensively covers the design, construction, and operation of gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography detectors--all in one convenient, up-to-date source. Emphasizes the essential use of common specifications to describe all detectors, allowing easy comparison of their attributes."

This volume is intended to show beginners in modern Fourier Transform-Infrared analysis which technique of infrared analysis should be selected and how to use it to obtain certain information from the most common samples brought into research and analytical laboratories in production industries.

The present edited book is the presentation of 18 in-depth national and international contributions from eminent professors, scientists and instrumental chemists from educational institutes, research organizations and industries providing their views on their experience, handling, observation and research outputs on HPTLC, a multi-dimensional instrumentation. The book describes the recent advancements made on TLC which have revolutionized and transformed it into a modern instrumental technique HPTLC. The book addresses different chapters on HPTLC fundamentals: principle, theory, understanding; instrumentation: implementation, optimization, validation, automation and qualitative and quantitative analysis; applications: phytochemical analysis, biomedical analysis, herbal drug quantification, analytical analysis, finger print analysis and potential for hyphenation: HPTLC future to combinatorial approach, HPTLC-MS, HPTLC-FTIR and HPTLC-Scanning Diode Laser. The chapters in the book have been designed in such away that the reader follows each step of the HPTLC in logical order.

This work elucidates the power of modern nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to solve a wide range of practical problems that arise in both academic and industrial settings. This edition provides current information regarding the implementation and interpretation of NMR experiments, and contains material on: three- and four-dimensional NMR; the NMR analysis of peptides, proteins, carbohydrates and oligonucleotides; and more.

In this important book, the author summarizes and generalizes the results of 25 years of work in this exciting field, which has been developing extensively within the last few decades. The reader will find discussions of many crystals that were investigated in the microwave region, including low-dimensional and ferroelectric semiconductors, protonic conductors, quasi-one-dimensional H-bonded. and other order-disorder ferroelectrics. This volume is an essential reference for all scientists and graduate students whose interests are connected to the physics of ferroelectrics and related materials; the physics of structural phase transitions; and superionic conductors. It will also be of value to those interested in developing or exploiting microwave measurement techniques.

Applications of Time-of-Flight and Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry in Environmental, Food, Doping, and Forensic Analysis deals with the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) in the analysis of small organic molecules. Over the past few years, time-of-flight (ToF) and Orbitrap MS have both experienced tremendous growth in a great number of analytical sectors and are now well established in many laboratories where high requirements are placed on analytical performance. This book gives a head-to-head comparison of these two technologies that compete directly with each other. As users with hands-on experience in both techniques, the authors provide a balanced description of the strengths and weaknesses of both techniques. In the vast majority of cases, ToF-MS and Orbitrap-MS have been used for qualitative purposes, mainly identification of discrete molecular entities such as drug metabolites or transformation products of environmental contaminants. This paradigm is now changing as quantitative capabilities are increasingly being explored, as are non-target approaches for unbiased broad-scope screening. In view of the continuous innovation of high-resolution MS instrument manufacturers in designing and developing more powerful machines, technological advances in both hardware and software are considerable, with many novel applications. This book summarizes and analyzes these trends. The compilation of selected examples from diverse analytical fields will allow the readers to discover not only the potential of high-resolution MS in their sector, but also shows advances in other fields that rely on hi-res MS.