Generation of the determined vectorial vortex beams by use of an achromatic axially symmetric waveplate

Optical Review - We review the generation of the determined vectorial vortex beams in the terahertz (THz) beams at frequencies of 0.16 and 0.36 THz, and intense middle infrared pulsed beam at...     

Liquid Pressure Varifocus Lens

A liquid pressure varifocus lens that consists of a thin polymer film and liquid is described. The lens can be continuously changed from a concave to a convex shape by driving the liquid pressure in the lens. The dynamic range of the focal length of the convex lens is from 50 to 250 mm. A beam spot verifies the variable focal function on a photographic film exposed by a He-Ne laser. In addition, the application of the laser for processing is demonstrated to manufacture Fe compressed powder sheets by normal pulse YAG laser. Its melting marks along a focus change are formed with a minimum width of 0.1 mm.     

Phonon dispersion of monolayer graphite on Pt(111) and NbC surfaces: bond softening and interface structures

The phonon dispersion relations of monolayer graphite on Pt(111), NbC(111) and NbC(001) were measured by electron energy loss spectroscopy. The monolayer graphite on Ni surfaces has been reported to show large softening, while that on Pt(111) was found to indicate little softening and rather resembled pristine graphite. Similarly, the monolayer graphite on NbC(111) indicated fairly large softening but that on NbC(001) did not. This difference is discussed in relation with the interface structure.     

Mechanical degradation of filter polymer materials: Polyphenylene sulfide

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is known as a material resistant to high temperature and chemicals; however, there are arguments on the durability of PPS non-woven fabrics to chemicals, such as nitric acid (HNO₃), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and hydrochloric acid (HCl). Therefore, this work aims at investigating the degradation of PPS non-woven fabrics in HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and HCl, and at confirming acid durability of PPS non-woven fabrics. In addition, this paper also studies the interaction among these three acids by measuring the retention of strength in binary or tertiary mixtures of these three acids. A discussion has been made on the acceleration/retardation of PPS degradation by the interactive effects, and also on the chemistry related to the degradation by these acids. Furthermore, there is a linear relationship between the nitric acid concentration and the proportion of carbon in the remaining PPS structures after 100 h of acid exposure. Also, this proportion of carbon is a good indicator of the retained strength in PPS fabrics.     

Theoretical study of the stability of lithium atoms in alpha-rhombohedral boron

The stability of lithium atoms in alpha-rhombohedral boron was investigated by first-principles calculations of total energies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the case of a low concentration (1.03 at. %), Li at the center of the icosahedral B12 site (the I-site) had a negative binding energy, which suggests Li at the I-site is unstable. However, MD simulations at temperatures below 750 K indicated that Li is still confined in the B12 cage under these conditions, which means Li at the I-site is metastable. Over 800 K, Li began to move away from the B12 site and settled at the tetrahedral site (the T-site) or at the octahedral site (the O-site). Li at the T-site also had a negative binding energy, but MD simulations indicated it was metastable up to 1400 K and did not move to other sites. Li at the O-site was energetically the most favorable, having a positive binding energy. In the case of a high concentration (7.69 at. %), the I-site changed to an unstable saddle point. At this concentration, the T-site was metastable and the O-site became the most stable. In MD simulations at 1400 K, Li atoms at the O-site never jumped to other sites regardless of concentration. Considering these facts, the diffusion coefficient of Li in alpha-rhombohedral boron would have to be very small below 1400 K.     

Low-energy impact of X-(H2O)n (X = Cl,I) onto solid surface

We investigated dissociation of X-(H2O)n (X = Cl, I, n = 13-31) by the impact onto a (La0.7Ce0.3)B6(100) surface at a collision energy Ecol of 1-5 eV per water molecule in a tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer equipped with a translation-energy analyzer. The mechanism of the dissociation was elucidated on the basis of the measurements of the mass spectrum and the translational energies of the product anions, X-(H2O)m (m = 0-4), scattered from the surface. It was concluded that (1) the parent cluster anion impacted on the surface undergoes dissociation on the surface under quasiequilibrium with its characteristic time varying with Ecol and n, and (2) the total collision energy introduced is partitioned preferentially to the translational motions of the products on the surface and to the rotational, the vibrational, and the lattice vibrational motions (surface) in this order. The quasiequilibrium model is applicable, even at the collision energy as low as 1 eV, because the translational modes are found to be statistically distributed while the other modes are not much populated by dynamical and energetics limitation.