Pulse synthesis in the single-cycle regime from independent mode-locked lasers using attosecond-precision feedback

We report the synthesis of a nearly single-cycle (3.7?fs), ultrafast optical pulse train at 78?MHz from the coherent combination of a passively mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser (6?fs pulses) and a fiber supercontinuum (1-1.4?μm, with 8?fs pulses). The coherent combination is achieved via orthogonal, attosecond-precision synchronization of both pulse envelope timing and carrier envelope phase using balanced optical cross-correlation and balanced homodyne detection, respectively. The resulting pulse envelope, which is only 1.1 optical cycles in duration, is retrieved with two-dimensional spectral shearing interferometry (2DSI). To our knowledge, this work represents the first stable synthesis of few-cycle pulses from independent laser sources.     

On splice quotients of the form {zn = f(x,y)}

The splice quotients, defined by W. D. Neumann and J. Wahl, are an interesting class of normal surface singularities with rational homology sphere links. In general, it is difficult to determine whether or not a singularity is analytically isomorphic to a splice quotient, although there are certain necessary topological conditions. Let {zⁿ = f(x, y)} define a surface X_{f, n} with an isolated singularity at the origin in $\mathbb {C}^3$. We show that for irreducible f, if (X_{f, n}, 0) satisfies the necessary topological conditions, then there exists a splice quotient of the form (X_{g, n}, 0), where the plane curve singularity defined by g = 0 has the same topological type as the one defined by f = 0. We also present an example of an (X_{f, n}, 0) that is not a splice quotient, but for which the universal abelian cover is a complete intersection of splice type together with a non‐diagonal action of the discriminant group. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim     

Photochemical electron transfer mediated addition of naphthylamine derivatives to electron-deficient alkenes

Using photochemical electron transfer, N,N-dimethylnaphthylamine derivatives are added to α,β-unsaturated carboxylates. The addition takes place exclusively in the α-position of electron-deficient alkenes and mainly in the 4-position of N,N-dimethylnaphthalen-1-amine. A minor regioisomer results from the addition in the 5-position of this naphthylamine. A physicochemical study reveals that the fluorescence quenching of N,N-dimethylnaphthalen-1-amine is diffusion-controlled and that the back electron transfer is highly efficient. Therefore no transformation is observed at lower concentrations. To overcome this limitation and to induce an efficient transformation, minor amounts of water or another proton donor as well as an excess of the naphthylamine derivative are necessary. A mechanism involving a contact radical ion pair is discussed. Isotopic labeling experiments reveal that no hydrogen is directly transferred between the substrates. The hydrogen transfer to the furanone moiety observed in the overall reaction therefore results from an exchange with the reaction medium. An electrophilic oxoallyl radical generated from the furanone reacts with the naphthylamine used in excess. Concerning some mechanistic details, the reaction is compared with radical and electrophilic aromatic substitutions. The transformation was carried out with a variety of electron-deficient alkenes. Sterically hindered furanone derivatives are less reactive under standard conditions. In a first experiment, such a compound was transformed using heterogeneous electron transfer photocatalysis with TiO(2).     

Structural analysis of oxygen segregated Nb(110) surface by photoelectron diffraction

The atomic structure of the Nb(110) surface with oxygen segregated from bulk by annealing at 1500K in UHV has been analyzed by electron and photoelectron diffraction techniques. The observed LEED patterns indicate the modulation of topmost Nb layer in [11ˉ0] direction. Relation of unit cells of substrate and overlayer was determined. The surface component in the Nb 3d photoelectron spectra has a chemical shift of 1.6eV corresponding to that of NbO. The thickness of Nb oxide overlayer is estimated to be about one or two atomic layers. The Nb 3d spectra collected at 4945 different directions are fitted with bulk and surface components. Photoelectron diffraction patterns from Nb atoms within overlayer as well as bulk are successfully extracted. Topmost oxygen atoms are found to be located at about 1.2 Å above the Nb plane. Presented at the X-th Symposium on Suface Physics, Prague, Czech Republic, July 11–15, 2005.     

Plane Sources of Waves in the Presence of Magnetic Field

In this paper the generation of harmonic waves in an elastic magneticmaterial, which is a perfect conductor of electricity, isconsidered. It has been assumed that an infinite body is subjected tothe action of an initially constant magnetic fieldH = (H,0,0) and in the plane ax+by=0 acts a source ofdistortion. It has been shown that this source may produce bothtransverse and longitudinal waves and each of them consists of two parts,which propagate with different speeds. The amplitudes and speeds in dependence on theangle between the direction of wave propagation and the magnetic fieldintensity H have been discussed.     

Intramolecular capture of pummerer rearrangement intermediates. I. Synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzothiazines

Treatment of 1-(2-alkylsulfinylphenyl)pyrroles with trifluoroacetic acid in refluxing toluene gives 4-substituted pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzothiazines in good yield when the alkyl group bears an electron withdrawing substituent on the α-carbon. In the absence of such a group, starting material is recovered. The sulfoxides are prepared by oxidation (mCBPA) of the corresponding sulfide. The sulfides are prepared from 2-aminobenzenethiol either by S-alkylation followed by conversion to the pyrrole using 1,4-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran in glacial acetic acid or by S-alkylation of 1-(2-phenylmercapto)pyrrole followed by oxidation to the sulfoxide.