Free water molecules and hydrogen bonding form the basis of variation in homeopathic potencies as revealed by vibrational spectroscopy

Objective: Using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) we have demonstrated that homeopathic potencies of Natrum mur, Cantharis, Nux vomica and Sulphur show differences with respect to the number of free water molecules and strength of hydrogen bonding. The purpose of the present study is to confirm this phenomenon in three potencies of two more drugs Calcarea carb and Silicea. Design: The potencies used for each of the two drugs were 30cH, 200cH and 1000cH. The control was 90% ethanol as also the potentized drugs. The control, as well as the potencies, were diluted with distilled water to reduce the level of ethanol to 0.03 molar fraction in each of them. FTIR spectra of all the potentized drugs, control and sterile distilled water (reference water) were taken in the wave number region of 4000-2800 cm-1. The full width at half maximum (fwhm) of OH band was measured for each spectrum. The width was divided into two in the middle. The difference spectrum (absorbance of drug solution - absorbance of reference water) for each potency and the control was obtained after normalization of the spectrum at 3410 cm-1. One difference spectrum so obtained for a potency was subtracted from another to find out if there is a difference between two different potencies. Results: The half width half maximum (hwhm) in both the high and low-frequency sides of the OH band is far less narrow in potencies than in the control as compared to that in water. The difference spectra for different potencies show different levels of fall in intensity at the wave number region of dip at 3630 cm-1. The level of dip at 3630 cm-1 and subsequent rise in intensity in the lower frequency region represent the quantity of free water molecules and strong alcoholic OH bond around 3250 cm-1, respectively. The results of subtraction between two different potencies are not zero but have marked positive or negative values. Conclusion (i) Potencies have stronger intermolecular interactions and a higher number of chemical environments than the control, as revealed by the data on hwhm. (ii) The three potencies of each of the two drugs show distinct variation in the number of free water molecules and strength of hydrogen bonding. (iii) There exists both inter-drug and inter-potency variation as revealed by the difference spectra and results of subtraction between two difference spectra.

Local Structures and Decomposed Phases of Laser-Melted ZrSiO4

Behaviors of CO2 and pulsed YAG laser melting of ZrSiO4 have been investigated using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The laser-melted ZrSiO4 decomposed into binary oxides (ZrO2 and SiO2), while other phases or complex ZrSiO4 tetrahedron networks are also observed. The local structures and the phases of the quenched melts depend strongly on the quenching rate and melting conditions. Monoclinic ZrO2 are found to be the main ZrO2 phase in the samples treated by CO2 laser, although tetragonal ZrO2 was found near boundaries between the untreated and melted regions. High concentrations of tetragonal ZrO2 were detected in the samples treated by pulsed YAG lasers. Observations indicate that the formation of tetragonal ZrO2 is related to relatively high quench rates. Micro-IR data from areas near the boundaries between the quenched melts and untreated zircon show systematic variations of local structures and compositions. A small region with relatively low density between the untreated and melted boundaries was observed, which consists of tetragonal ZrO2 or glassy ZrO2, and SiO2. Broad vibrational bands occur in the wave number region where the characteristic frequencies of zircon are located. This observation could indicate the possible existence of small amounts of glassy ZrSiO4 in the melt state of zircon, although zircon tends to decompose above the melting point.

IR SPECTRAL INVESTIGATION OF THE xCuO(100 - x)[2B2O3 · As2O3] GLASS SYSTEM

The infrared (FT–IR) absorption spectra for the glasses of the x CuO (100 - x)[ 2B 2 O 3 · As 2 O 3] system with 0 ≤ x ≤ 30 mol% CuO were measured in the wave number region 500–4000 cm -1 at room temperature following the KBr pellet techniques. The aim was to obtain information about the influence of CuO on the local order of the 2B 2 O 3 · As 2 O 3 glass matrix. The interpretation of the obtained vibrational spectra revealed the presence of BO 3, BO 4 units, boroxol rings and the monoclinic form of vitreous As 2 O 3 in the structure of investigated glasses.

Raman and resonance-Raman spectra of polypyrrole with application to sensor – gas probe interactions

Raman spectra of the oxidized and neutral forms of polypyrrole show a relative intensity shift from the high wave number region to the low wave number region as the source wavelength is increased from 514.5 to 1064 nm. Variations in band positions are also observed with changes in excitation source; particularly, two C=C stretches at 1500 and 1605 cm−1 can be observed with the neutral polymer but only a single band is observed at 1575 cm−1 when sources of higher energy are used. These changes arise from differences in the electronic states of the two forms that can greatly alter the intensities of the numerous bands. The oxidized and neutral forms of the polymer both act as electron acceptors towards the gas phase species tested here (toluene, water, methanol, and ammonia). The increased electron density induces an upward shift of the peaks at 915 and 1035 cm−1 of the neutral polymer and increases the relative intensity of the 1575 cm−1 peak of the oxidized polymer using 1064 and 514.5 nm sources, respectively. Keywords: polypyrrole, Raman spectroscopy, gas probe interactions.

TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ACOUSTIC RAY PROPAGATION THROUGH "INFINITE" AND "BOX MODEL" TURBULENCE

In this work, we investigate the temporal characteristics of acoustic ray propagation through simulated, weakly turbulent temperature fields. In a first set of experiments, we generate ensembles of random scalar fields from randomly oriented Fourier temperature modes. Then, by integrating the ray trace equations, we estimate the distribution of arrival times for rays propagating a distance R through them. We demonstrate that these arrival time distributions are Gaussian for both axial and 3-D propagation and are primarily determined by the lower wave numbers of the 1-D fluctuation spectrum. In a second set of experiments, we generate random fields comprised of Fourier modes prescribed on a lattice, as in "box model" turbulence. In these simulations, we find that acoustic travel times are significantly affected both by the periodicity of the fields and by the direction of acoustic propagation with respect to the orientation of the box. Both effects can ultimately be attributable to an inadequate representation of the low wave number region of the 1-D spectrum. We suggest that these artifacts of simulated periodic fields may preclude their use for acoustic propagation studies.