Excess Width Research Articles

Solid-state 27Al MRI and NMR thermometry for catalytic applications with conventional (liquids) MRI instrumentation and techniques

Multidimensional images of Al 2O 3 pellets, cordierite monolith, glass tube, polycrystalline V 2O 5 and other materials have been detected by 27Al, 51V, and 23Na NMR imaging using techniques and instrumentation conventionally employed for imaging of liquids. These results demonstrate that, contrary to the widely accepted opinion, imaging of “rigid” solids does not necessarily require utilization of solid state NMR imaging approaches, pulse sequences and hardware even for quadrupolar nuclei which exhibit line widths in excess of 100 kHz, such as 51V in polycrystalline V 2O 5. It is further demonstrated that both 27Al NMR signal intensity and spin-lattice relaxation time decrease with increasing temperature and thus can potentially serve as temperature sensitive parameters for spatially resolved NMR thermometry.

A survey of Martian dust devil activity using Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera images

A survey of dust devils using the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) wide‐ and narrow‐angle (WA and NA) images has been undertaken. The survey comprises two parts: (1) sampling of nine broad regions from September 1997 to July 2001 and (2) a focused seasonal monitoring of variability in the Amazonis region, an active dust devil site, from March 2001 to April 2004. For part 1, dust devils were identified in NA and WA images, and dust devil tracks were identified in NA images. Great spatial variability in dust devil occurrence is highlighted, with Amazonis Planitia being the most active region examined. Other active regions included Cimmerium, Sinai, and Solis. Numerous dust devil tracks, but very few dust devils, were observed in Casius. This may suggest dust devils here occur at local times other than that of the MGS orbit (∼2 pm). Alternatively, variations in surface properties may affect the ability of dust devils to leave visible tracks. The seasonal campaign within Amazonis shows a relatively smooth variation of dust devil activity with season, peaking in mid northern summer and falling to zero in southern spring and summer. This pattern of activity correlates well with the boundary layer maximum depth and hence the vigor of convection. Global maps of boundary layer depth and surface temperature do not predict that Amazonis should be especially active, potentially suggesting a role for mesoscale circulations. Measurement of observed dust devils yields heights of up to 8 km and widths in excess of 0.5 km.

Interval Arithmetic, Affine Arithmetic, Taylor Series Methods: Why, What Next?

In interval computations, the range of each intermediate result r is described by an interval r. To decrease excess interval width, we can keep some information on how r depends on the input x=(x 1,...,x n ). There are several successful methods of approximating this dependence; in these methods, the dependence is approximated by linear functions (affine arithmetic) or by general polynomials (Taylor series methods). Why linear functions and polynomials? What other classes can we try? These questions are answered in this paper.

African-American rhinoplasty

Dr. Guyuron: The first patient is a 25-year-old woman who would like to correct the imperfections in her nose (Figure 1). Dr. Griffin, what flaws do you see in this nose? Bahman Guyuron, MD Figure 1 This 25-year-old woman has voiced no specific complaint but is seeking improvement in the appearance of her nose. Dr. Griffin: Her radix is a little high, but she may be happy with it. She has a very strong dorsum. She has poor tip projection, and I would certainly address that problem. Her columella-labial angle is less than 90 degrees; with more tip projection, she would also improve this already relatively good angle. From the basal view, I can see that she needs alar base resections to bring the base of her nose into balance. Her nasal tip needs a columella strut as well as tip grafting. I am glad to see that, overall, her skin is not oily and appears to be in very good condition. Steven M. Hoefflin, MD Dr. Guyuron: Dr. Hoefflin, what aesthetic problems do you see? Dr. Hoefflin: She has a full nasion and a lengthy, strong bridge. She has an acute nasolabial angle and I would probably graft this area. She has some excessive alar widths and I would perform an alar reduction. She would benefit from a projecting conchal peapod tip graft.1 I would also consider talking to her about a chin implant. Anthony C. Griffin, MD Dr. Guyuron: Dr. Stal, how would you approach this patient? Dr. Stal: I agree with everything that has been said. She has lower lateral cartilages that tend to diverge. If you resect too much of her cephalic lower lateral cartilages or cause them to diverge at an inappropriate angle, you may precipitate external valve collapse. She has a high radix and a …

Fast Multiplication of Interval Matrices (Interval Version of Strassen's Algorithm)

Strassen's algorithm multiplies two numerical matrices fast, but when applied to interval matrices, leads to excess width. We use Rump's interval arithmetic to propose an interval version of Strassen's algorithm whose only excess width is in second order terms.

Properties of the Lower Transition Region: The Widths of Optically Allowed and Intersystem Spectral Lines

The widths of spectral lines in the ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral regions that are formed in the solar transition region and corona are usually greater than the optically thin widths due to thermal Doppler broadening calculated under the assumption of ionization equilibrium. Although opacity can explain the widths of some lines, there are a host of optically thin lines for which the excess widths are attributed to nonthermal motions. Interest in these motions for coronal heating theories has led to the measurement and comparison of spectral line profiles/widths throughout the solar UV and EUV spectrum. We find that for the quiet Sun the widths of some optically allowed lower transition region lines, deduced from spectra obtained by the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Ultraviolet Radiation (SUMER) spectrometer on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft, are considerably larger than predicted from simply scaling previously measured wavelengths of other lines from the same ion. For example, the O III lines of the multiplet near 834 A are considerably wider than predicted from the previously measured (from Skylab) width of the optically thin O III 1666.15 A intersystem line. The excess widths are not due to nonthermal motions, as these are already included in the width of the 1666.15 A line. In this paper, we analyze the widths of some prominent optically allowed lines and discuss possible causes for discrepancies with previous measurements of intersystem lines.

"Tear-drop augmentation mastopexy": a technique to augment superior pole hollow.

Breast ptosis classification systems focus on the inferior descent of the nipple, as well as the descent and distribution of the breast parenchyma below the inframammary fold. Common problems, such as development of a superior pole hollow and an excessive width of the superior pole, extending into the axilla, are not addressed. Few procedures specifically address these deficiencies, and even less information is available in terms of preventative maneuvers when augmentation is desired as an adjunct. Round implants worsen the problem by creating a superior pole shelf, and anatomic implants are unreliable alternatives. Here, we present a technique-"tear-drop" augmentation mastopexy-that addresses superior pole hollow, excess superior pole width, as well as breast ptosis and hypomastia. Patients with moderate to severe breast ptosis (Regnault's classification), tubular breast deformity, and deformities secondary to previous breast surgery are included in the study. Skin is deepithelialized through a circumareolar incision, and a skin-fat flap is elevated completely encircling the breast. A 2-cm area of parenchyma is left attached to the skin in the lower half of the breast. Breast parenchyma in the superior half of the breast is then advanced and plicated in a superiomedial direction to move the nipple areolar complex to the desired new position. Care is taken to redefine the pectoralis major muscle at its axillary border. A 3-cm incision is then placed in the inferior part of the parenchyma at the 6 o'clock position to create a subpectoral pocket for placement of the implant. The tunnel is then closed to separate the implant pocket from the subcutaneous dissection. Residual dermal flap is used to define, and add durability to the parenchyma reshaping procedure. A 3-0 mersiline (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) blocking suture is used for a uniform circumareolar skin closure. Patients (n:35), ages 17-48, underwent "tear-drop" augmentation mastopexy between January 1999 and September 2002 for correction of the breast ptosis, tubular breast deformity, and deformities secondary to previous aesthetic breast surgery. The average follow-up was 2 years. All patients displayed type 1 or 2 (Baker classification) capsules. One subcutaneous hematoma and one subcutaneous seroma were seen, which were both treated by percutaneous aspiration. No submuscular hematomas, infections, skin or nipple losses, or hypertrophic scars were noted. Patient satisfaction was high. A more natural "tear-drop" breast shape was created with an improvement in the superior pole hollow and narrowing of the superior breast. The smallest breasts did not benefit from this technique for elimination of the superior pole shelf, as correction was proportional to the amount of breast tissue available for superior advancement. The "tear-drop" augmentation mastopexy is a novel technique for correction of the breast ptosis with augmentation, avoiding problematic development of superior pole hollow and excess superior width. This technique is also well applied to tubular breast deformity as well as to secondary breast procedures. Long-term follow-up demonstrates a safe and reproducible result with high patient satisfaction. This technique may solve several problems associated with breast ptosis surgery, which before were not specifically addressed, and the technique warrants further investigation.

Labiocolumellar graft combined with tip graft in the management of inadequate tip projection.

The short distance of the nasal tip from the alar crease indicates inadequate projection. Tip grafts are commonly used for the management of this problem. In addition to tip grafts, labiocolumellar augmentation by cartilage grafts also provides further elevation of the tip complex for patients with poor tip definition, excessive alar base width, inadequate tip projection, or plunging nasal tip. In addition to standard rhinoplasty procedure and tip grafting for nasal tip augmentation, a linear cartilage graft was inserted centrally just behind the labiocolumellar angle for further tip elevation. The graft was placed in the subdermal plane just anterior to the orbicularis oris muscle to prevent graft displacement and clicking during muscle motion. This procedure was performed for 45 rhinoplasty patients, only three of whom underwent tip plasty procedures alone. During 1 year, 43 patients were followed up. Most of the patients (75%) were satisfied with the results of the procedure. Tip graft combined with labiocolumellar graft is an effective technique for obtaining satisfactory tip projection and correcting the acute labiocolumellar angle.

The Physics of Supernova Blast Waves. I. Kinematics of DEM L71 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present the results from Fabry-Perot imaging spectroscopy of the Balmer-dominated supernova remnant DEM L71 (0505-67.9) in the LMC. Spectra extracted from the entire circumference of the blast wave reveal the broad- and narrow-component Hα line emission characteristic of nonradiative shocks in partially neutral gas. The new spectra of DEM L71 include portions of the rim that have not been previously observed. We find that the broad-component width varies azimuthally along the edge of DEM L71, ranging from 450 ± 60 km s-1 along the eastern edge to values as high as 985 km s-1 along the faint western edge. The latter width is nearly 60% larger than the value determined by earlier spectroscopy of the brightest Balmer-dominated filaments. In part of the faint northern rim the broad component is not detected, possibly indicating a lower density in these regions and/or a broad-component width in excess of 1000 km s-1. Between the limits of zero and full electron-ion temperature equilibration at the shock front, the allowed range of shock velocities is 430-560 km s-1 along the east rim and 700-1250 km s-1 along other parts of the blast wave. The Hα broad-to-narrow flux ratios vary considerably around the remnant, ranging from 0.4 to 0.8. These ratios lie below the values predicted by our shock models. We find that narrow-component Hα emission from a cosmic-ray precursor may be the cause of the discrepancy. The least decelerated portions of the blast wave (i.e., regions excluding the brightest filaments) are well characterized by Sedov models with a kinetic energy E51 = (0.37 ± 0.06)D, where D50 is the LMC distance in units of 50 kpc. The corresponding age for DEM L71 is (4360 ± 290)D50 yr. This is the first time that velocity information from the entire blast wave has been utilized to study the global kinematics of a nonradiative supernova remnants at a known distance.

Methods to measure and predict the transfer function size dependence of individual DMAs

In this study of the transfer function of copies of the Vienna-type differential mobility analyser (DMA) it was found that three, supposedly identical, DMAs exhibited distinct differences with respect to the width of the transfer function. This means that the transfer function of a DMA needs to be determined on an individual basis in order to obtain accurate results from DMA measurements. The size dependence of the transfer function width and the penetration of three DMAs were investigated experimentally in a broad range of Peclet numbers (400–400000). Two of the three DMAs exhibited transfer function widths in excess of the broadening induced by diffusion. The size dependence of the width of all three DMAs could be explained within a few percents by assuming an instrument-specific, size-independent broadening in addition to diffusion broadening. The penetration was evaluated by relating to deposition in a circular tube. Excellent agreement between the experimental data and the simple model was obtained. The penetration study was extended to include literature data, showing that the simple model could be applied and that there are distinct differences between different DMA types. The results of this study indicate that the size dependence of the width of the transfer function and the penetration can be estimated by measuring the transfer function for a single particle size, thus greatly reducing the amount of work required by DMA users to characterise their instruments.

Optimal Bicentered Form

In this paper, a new interval extension—optimal bicentered form and its excess width are presented. A comparison is made between the excess width of the optimal bicentered form and that of the centered form which takes the midpoint of the interval as its center.

Differing characteristics in 100 consecutive secondary rhinoplasty patients following closed versus open surgical approaches.

Open rhinoplasty has unquestionably become more popular during the past two decades because of the putative diagnostic and technical advantages that direct transcolumellar access offers. To test the hypothesis that patients initially treated by the opened or closed approaches differed in the secondary deformities that developed, a retrospective study was conducted of 100 consecutive secondary rhinoplasty patients (66 women and 34 men) operated on by the author before February of 1998. Sixty-four percent had previously undergone closed rhinoplasties and 36 had undergone open rhinoplasties; the incidence of prior open rhinoplasty had increased steadily over the survey years, from 21 percent in 1996 to more than 50 percent in 1998, 1999, and 2000 (p < 0.05). The data generated indicate the following. First, the open rhinoplasty patients had undergone more operations (3.1 versus 1.2) and had more presenting complaints (5.8 versus 2.6) than the closed rhinoplasty patients. Second, although the most common presenting complaint among prior closed rhinoplasty patients was an overresected dorsum (50 percent) or tip (33 percent) or internal valvular obstruction (42 percent), prior open rhinoplasty patients complained more frequently than the closed rhinoplasty patients of these problems and also external valvular obstruction (50 percent, p < 0.0001), short nose (39 percent, p < 0.001), wide columella (36 percent, p < 0.001), narrow nose (31 percent, p < 0.001), columellar scar (25 percent, p < 0.001), and symptomatic columellar struts (19 percent, p < 0.001). Only excessive nasal length was more prevalent among closed rhinoplasty patients (20 percent, p < 0.01). Third, ranking of deformities differed significantly (p < 0.0001) between the two groups, so that complaints related to the nostrils, nasal tip, nasal length, or columella were more common among the open rhinoplasty patients than among those previously treated endonasally. Fourth, the relative frequencies of surgical complaints also differed: whereas patients previously treated endonasally were 6.7 times more likely to complain of long noses, patients previously treated by open rhinoplasty complained more frequently of the following: excessive columellar width (open approach, 36 percent of patients; closed approach, none), hard columellar struts (open approach, 19 percent of patients; closed approach, none), external valvular obstruction (4.5 times as frequent with the open approach as it was with the closed approach), alar/nostril distortion (four times as frequent), and narrow nose (3.9 times). Although the most common complaints among all postrhinoplasty patients remain the overresected dorsum, tip, or (internal valvular) airway obstruction, the author's data suggest that patients previously treated by the open approach are more likely to have postsurgical deformities and complaints referable to those anatomic structures most easily reached by transcolumellar exposure and to techniques that can be performed more readily or aggressively through that access route.

Obtaining confidence intervals for Cpk using percentiles of the distribution of Ĉp

AbstractĈpk is used as an estimate of process capability and can reflect performance degradation due to both shifts in the process mean and variability. Exact upper and lower confidence limits for the actual parameter value are elusive. Objections to existing estimators focus on two areas: the difficulty of executing the needed computations and the excessive widths of those confidence bounds. The CPE estimator (so called since it relies on Ĉp ) which we derive in this paper is formed by simply multiplying Ĉpk by a value from the inverse chi‐square distribution. A PASCAL computer program is supplied which generates those percentiles. Our CPE is compared via simulation to other estimators and is shown to be the preferred selection in most cases by providing the requisite probability coverage and narrow interval widths. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Interdomal fat pad: an important anatomical structure in rhinoplasty.

To describe the interdomal fat pad, an important anatomical structure that, to our knowledge, has not been reported in the rhinoplasty literature. Anatomical observations were made during a consecutive series of external rhinoplasties, and the existence of the interdomal fat pad was documented in patients with noses of varying nasal skin thicknesses. Private facial plastic surgery practice. One hundred consecutive white patients undergoing external rhinoplasty were analyzed. Thirty-seven patients were undergoing secondary rhinoplasty and were excluded. Sixty-three patients undergoing primary rhinoplasty were enrolled into the study. None. The nasal skin type of each patient was subjectively determined preoperatively to be thin, average, or thick. The presence or absence of a distinct fat pad between the domes of the lower lateral cartilages was observed and recorded in each group of patients. Among the 63 patients studied, 22 had thick skin; 31, average skin; and 10, thin skin. Well-defined interdomal fat pads were noted in 12 patients with thick skin, 13 patients with average skin, and 2 patients with thin skin. There is a distinct anatomical structure that we refer to as the interdomal fat pad that exists in noses of all skin types. The awareness of this structure should encourage a careful and direct examination of the undersurface of nasal tip skin. An unrecognized, extensive fat pad may interfere with tip narrowing and refinement. It may be the cause of persistent postrhinoplasty supratip fullness and excessive tip width. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2000;2:260-263

Dissociative process in Auger-electron spectra of alloys

The dissociative-decay broadening of the final two-hole bound state of the Auger-transition, arising from its mixing with delocalized band states with one hole in ‘A’ band and one hole in ‘B’ band in ‘AB’ alloy, was proposed by Bennett et al. to explain the excessive width of the two-hole bound state [Phys. Rev. B, 27 (1983) 2194]. The many-body effect of the dissociative process is discussed in detail, using a simple model band and Green’s function method. The hole–hole interaction U empirically determined from the Auger-electron spectrum, could be affected by the energy shift of the two-hole bound state by the virtual dissociative process. The interplay between the localization and delocalization of the two-hole state by two different mechanisms is discussed.

Young Stellar Populations around SN 1987A

We present the first results of a study of the stellar population in a region of 30 pc radius around SN 1987A, based on an analysis of multiband Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFPC2 images. The effective temperature, radius and, possibly, reddening of each star were determined by fitting the measured broadband magnitudes to the ones calculated with model atmospheres. In particular, we have determined effective temperatures and bolometric luminosities for 21,995 stars, and for a subsample of 2510 stars we also determined individual reddening corrections. In addition, we have identified all stars with H? equivalent widths in excess of 8 ?, a total of 492 stars. An inspection of the H-R diagram reveals the presence of several generations of young stars, with ages between 1 and 150 Myr, superposed on a much older field population (0.6-6 Gyr). A substantial fraction of young stars with ages around 12 Myr make up the stellar generation coeval to SN 1987A progenitor. The youngest stars in the field appear to be strong-line T Tauri stars, identified on the basis of their conspicuous (Weq > 8 ?) H? excesses. This constitute the first positive detection of low-mass (about 1-2 M?) pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars outside the Milky Way. Their positions in the H-R diagram appear to require that star formation in the LMC occurs with accretion rates about 10 times higher than in the Milky Way, i.e., ~10-4 M? yr-1. SN 1987A appears to belong to a loose, young cluster 12 ? 2 Myr old, in which the slope of the present mass function is almost identical to Salpeter's, i.e., ? = d log N/d log M -1.25 for masses above 3 M?, but becomes much flatter for lower masses, i.e., ? -0.5. On a large scale, we find that the spatial distributions of massive stars and low-mass PMS stars are conclusively different, indicating that different star formation processes operate for high- and low-mass stars. This results casts doubts on the validity of an initial mass function (IMF) concept on a small scale (say, less than 10 pc). Moreover, it appears that a determination of the low-mass end IMF in the LMC requires an explicit identification of PMS stars. A preliminary analysis, done for the whole field as a single entity, shows that the IMF slope for the young population present over the entire region is steeper than ? -1.7.

Role of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay region ring in modulating DNA adduct structure: the non-bay region (8S,9R,10S, 11R)-N(6)-[11-(8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-8,9, 10-trihydroxybenz[a]anthracenyl)]-2'-deoxyadenosyl adduct in codon 61 of the human N-ras protooncogene.

The structure of the non-bay region (8S,9R,10S,11R)-N(6)-[11-(8,9,10, 11-tetrahydro-8,9,10-trihydroxybenz[a]anthracenyl)]-2'-de oxyadenosyl adduct at X(6) of 5'-d(CGGACXAGAAG)-3'.5'-d(CTTCTTGTCCG)-3', incorporating codons 60, 61 (underlined), and 62 of the human N-ras protooncogene, was determined. Molecular dynamics simulations were restrained by 475 NOEs from (1)H NMR. The benz[a]anthracene moiety intercalated above the 5'-face of the modified base pair and from the major groove. The duplex suffered distortion at and immediately adjacent to the adduct site. This was evidenced by the disruption of the Watson-Crick base pairing for X(6) x T(17) and A(7) x T(16) and the increased rise of 7.7 A between base pairs C(5) x G(18) and X(6) x T(17). Increased disorder was observed as excess line width of proton resonances near the lesion site. Comparison with the bay region benzo[a]pyrene [Zegar, I. S., Kim, S. J., Johansen, T. N., Horton, P. J., Harris, C. M., Harris, T. M., and Stone, M. P. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 6212-6224] and bay region benz[a]anthracene [Li, Z., Mao, H., Kim, H.-Y., Tamura, P. J., Harris, C. M., Harris, T. M., and Stone, M. P. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 2969-2981] adducts with the corresponding stereochemistry and at the same site shows that this non-bay region benz[a]anthracene lesion assumes different base pair geometry, in addition to exhibiting greater disorder. These differences are attributed to the loss of the bay region ring. The results suggest the bay region ring contributes to base stacking interactions at the lesion site. These structural differences between the non-bay and bay region lesions are correlated with site-specific mutagenesis data. The bay region benzo[a]pyrene and bay region benz[a]anthracene adducts were poorly replicated in vivo, and induced A --> G mutations. In contrast, the non-bay region benz[a]anthracene adduct was easily bypassed in vivo and was nonmutagenic.

Quantification of interfacial parameters in spatially resolved analysis involving ELNES separation

This paper describes the quantitative aspects of the spatially resolved EELS analysis involved with the ELNES separation method [H. Gu, Ultramicroscopy 76 (1999) 159] in the “spatial difference” technique. A chemical thickness and a concentration of an interested boundary or interface can be obtained. Such quantification can be made either in the analyses using frame scans or the “spectrum-line” profiling technique. These parameters, only available after the spectrum separation, are useful information to describe the interfacial properties in addition to an interfacial ELNES. Examples of a grain boundary and an interface are shown from a well-characterized Si 3N 4 material. The quantification precision is related to the uncertainty in the separation procedure, and it can be estimated. In the case of the EELS profiling, additional information about the effective probe size can also be obtained. An equivalent probe size, which is defined as virtual probe with a uniform brightness, can be calculated from the separated partial profiles. Similar quantification can be applied to EDS analysis of grain boundaries even when the weak signal from segregated elements overlaps with the large matrix signal. In this case, spectrum subtraction to remove the matrix signal would result in an excess spectrum. The excess of segregation will be quantified together with an excess width and a depletion width. This provides an alternative way to quantify the segregation at the interested interface.

Diffusion amorphization and interface properties of FeB multilayers

The interface of Fe-B multilayers was studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The interface region is amorphous and consumes 2n mfrom the iron layer. The same hyperfine field distribution is observed within the amorphous interface when the individual layer thicknesses exceed the width of the inter- face. The width of this distribution is much larger than those measured in amorphous Fe-B alloys and the excess width is attributed to concentration distribution along the interface. On the contrary, the amorphous component in samples with smaller layer thicknesses is more homogeneous as deduced from the hyperfine field distributions, and the hyperfine pa- rameters depend on the ratio of the iron and boron layer thicknesses. Solid state amorphization during the sample de- position is assumed to account for this behavior. Diffusion amorphization is also detected when low-temperature heat treatment of the large layer thickness samples is performed. Single-phase amorphous alloy is formed in both cases in a limited concentration range around 40 at% boron in agree- ment with the predictions of free-energy diagrams.

Resonant Laser Ablation of Lanthanides: Eu and Lu Resonances in the 450−470 nm Region

Resonant laser ablation (RLA) of solids with a pulsed dye laser achieves wavelength-specific enhancements in yields of particular metal ions (M+) by resonant photoionization or photoexcitation of atoms in the ablation plume. In the present study, RLA was performed for λ = 450−470 nm on solids comprising selected lanthanide elements. Enhancements in yields of Eu+ and Lu+ occurred at wavelengths corresponding to one-photon resonant absorptions for the neutral atoms: Ln + hν → Ln*. The excited Ln* were subsequently preferentially ionized by the quasi-thermal collisional processes normally operative in the ablation plume: Ln* + kT → Ln+ + e-. The excessive atomic absorption line widths of up to 40 cm-1 (fwhm) were attributed primarily to collisional and Stark broadening in the dense plume. The strongest Eu+ resonances correspond to transitions from ground Eu (4f76s2 8S7/20) to 4f76s6p 8PJ levels at 21 445 (J = 5/2), 21 605 (J = 7/2), and 21 761 cm-1 (J = 9/2). Primary Lu+ resonances were for excitation from...