University of Mons

About: University of Mons is a education organization based out in Mons, Belgium. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Large Hadron Collider & Standard Model. The organization has 3073 authors who have published 9465 publications receiving 294776 citations.

Molecular Insight into the Adsorption of H2S in the Flexible MIL-53(Cr) and Rigid MIL-47(V) MOFs: Infrared Spectroscopy Combined to Molecular Simulations

Abstract: The adsorption of the acid gas H2S has been explored in both MIL-47(V) and MIL-53(Cr) porous metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) by combining infrared measurements and molecular simulations. It is shown that while the MIL-47(V) structure remains rigid upon H2S adsorption up to a pressure of 1.8 MPa, the MIL-53(Cr) solid initially present in the large pore form (LP) switches to its narrow pore version (NP) at very low pressure before undergoing a second structural transition from the NP to the LP versions at higher pressure. Such structural transitions further explain the different shape of the adsorption isotherms for both MILs. A further step consists of providing some insights into the microscopic arrangements of the adsorbate molecules within the pores of the MILs. At the initial stage of adsorption, the H2S molecules mainly form hydrogen bonded species, either as hydrogen donor (in MIL-47 V) or hydrogen-acceptor (in MIL-53Cr) with the μ2-O and μ2-OH groups, respectively, present at the MOF surfaces. At hi...

Electrostatic phenomena in organic semiconductors: fundamentals and implications for photovoltaics

Abstract: This review summarizes the current understanding of electrostatic phenomena in ordered and disordered organic semiconductors, outlines numerical schemes developed for quantitative evaluation of electrostatic and induction contributions to ionization potentials and electron affinities of organic molecules in a solid state, and illustrates two applications of these techniques: interpretation of photoelectron spectroscopy of thin films and energetics of heterointerfaces in organic solar cells.

Observation of anisotropy in the arrival directions of galactic cosmic rays at multiple angular scales with IceCube

Abstract: Between 2009 May and 2010 May, the IceCube neutrino detector at the South Pole recorded 32 billion muons generated in air showers produced by cosmic rays with a median energy of 20 TeV. With a data set of this size, it is possible to probe the southern sky for per-mil anisotropy on all angular scales in the arrival direction distribution of cosmic rays. Applying a power spectrum analysis to the relative intensity map of the cosmic ray flux in the southern hemisphere, we show that the arrival direction distribution is not isotropic, but shows significant structure on several angular scales. In addition to previously reported large-scale structure in the form of a strong dipole and quadrupole, the data show small-scale structure on scales between 15 degrees and 30 degrees. The skymap exhibits several localized regions of significant excess and deficit in cosmic ray intensity. The relative intensity of the smaller-scale structures is about a factor of five weaker than that of the dipole and quadrupole structure. The most significant structure, an excess localized at (right ascension alpha = 122 degrees.4 and declination d = -47 degrees.4), extends over at least 20 degrees in right ascension and has a post-trials significance of 5.3 sigma. The origin of this anisotropy is still unknown.

Geophysics From Terrestrial Time-Variable Gravity Measurements

Abstract: In a context of global change and increasing anthropic pressure on the environment, monitoring the Earth system and its evolution has become one of the key missions of geosciences. Geodesy is the geoscience that measures the geometric shape of the Earth, its orientation in space, and gravity field. Time-variable gravity, because of its high accuracy, can be used to build an enhanced picture and understanding of the changing Earth. Ground-based gravimetry can determine the change in gravity related to the Earth rotation fluctuation, to celestial body and Earth attractions, to the mass in the direct vicinity of the instruments, and to vertical displacement of the instrument itself on the ground. In this paper, we review the geophysical questions that can be addressed by ground gravimeters used to monitor time-variable gravity. This is done in relation to the instrumental characteristics, noise sources, and good practices. We also discuss the next challenges to be met by ground gravimetry, the place that terrestrial gravimetry should hold in the Earth observation system, and perspectives and recommendations about the future of ground gravity instrumentation. Plain Language Summary: In a context of global change and increased human vulnerability to terrestrial hazard, monitoring the Earth system is one of the key challenges of geoscience. In particular, terrestrial gravimetry, with its precision at the level of one part of a billion, allows the monitoring of many phenomena, from water resource availability to volcanic activity. This paper reviews the technique, its advantages and limitations, how it has been used in the Earth monitoring, and the next challenges to be met by ground gravimetry.