Unequally spaced multiple mid-infrared wavelength generation using an engineered quasi-phase-matching device

We propose a novel quasi-phase-matched (QPM) device that can generate unequally spaced multiple wavelengths. Unequally spaced multiple QPM peaks can be obtained by employing the optimized phase modulation of a periodic domain structure. We fabricated a LiNbO3 waveguide device for 3.2-3.4 microm band difference frequency generation based on the design. Using the multiple mid-infrared outputs, we demonstrate the detection of multiple hydrocarbon gases, namely, methane, ethylene, and ethane.     

Enhanced collective optical response of vast numbers of silver nanoparticles assembled on a microbead

We investigated the optical response of a huge number of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) densely assembled on an organic microsphere, i.e., AgNP-fixed bead, under the collective phenomena of localized surface plasmons. For this purpose, various optical properties of such a AgNP-fixed bead were analyzed in aqueous solution by dark-field optical microscopy and laser Raman microscopy. In particular, in comparison with the optical spectrum of single AgNPs, significant spectral broadening and redshift were observed due to plasmonic superradiance with decreasing interparticle distance to the subnanoscale when using small binder molecules in the AgNP-fixed bead. Furthermore, we observed surface-enhanced Raman scattering and clarified the sensitivity of the signal intensity to the size of the binder molecules between the AgNPs, which can be explained based on optical response theory using a discrete integral with spherical cells. These results and discussion provide a guiding principle for broadband plasmonic light absorbers and for highly sensitive detection of small molecules and nanoscale biomaterials based on vast numbers of nanogaps produced by a bottom-up self-assembly process.     

Terahertz radiation generation by beating of two spatial-Gaussian lasers

Terahertz radiation generation is proposed based on beating of two spatial-Gaussian lasers in a periodic density plasma, where a transverse component of current is realized that resonantly excites the radiation with efficiency ∼10⁻³. Importance of laser-beam-width, amplitude and periodicity of density structure is discussed for the efficient THz generation.     

Mössbauer study of the fraction of non-bridging oxygens in potassium borate glasses

A Mössbauer study was performed to find the fraction of non-bridging oxygens in potassium borate glasses containing a small amount of iron. The borate glasses with alkali contents of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 mol% were irradiated with ⁶⁰Co-γ rays at room temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere. The Mössbauer absorption area for the irradiation-induced Fe²⁺ increased with the total γ-ray dose in the range of 1 × 10⁶ ?2 × 10⁸ R, and became constant after irradiation ranging from 2 × 10⁸ R ? 1 × 10⁹ R. The absorption area for the Fe²⁺ at the saturated region was correlated with the difference in the glass structure, i.e., the fraction of the non-bridging oxygens was estimated from the increased absorption area for the Fe²⁺ as a function of the alkali content of the glasses. The fraction of the non-bridging oxygen increased with the alkali content of the glasses in the alkali region above 20 mol%, and about 14% of the fraction was obtained for an alkali content of 40 mol%.     

Stereospecific photocyclization of α-bisulfenylated keto compounds. Cis-dihydrobenzothiophenes

Irradiation of α-bisulfenylated keto compounds in acetonitrile affords the cis-fused dihydrobenzothiophenes which are dehydrated to benzothiophenes in high yields.     

Calculation of collisional and radiative transition probabilities between excited argon levels

Average radiative transition probabilities for argon atoms have been calculated for transitions between 24 levels in two groups characterized by the atomic core terms ²P_1/2 and ²P_3/2 by using the method of Bates and Damgaard. The results are compared with data in the NBS tables (Wiese et al.) and with those of Katsonis and Drawin. We find satisfactory agreement for the order of magnitude, even for transitions between lower lying levels. Parameters, which appear in Drawin's semiempirical cross-section expressions for electronic excitation of optically allowed and parity-forbidden transitions, are determined with the multipole expansion method proposed by Sobel'man for transitions between the specified levels. Most of these are easily obtained, but the method must be improved for transitions between levels having the same azimuthal quantum number because the summation over the constituent terms does not converge.