Two crystallographic sites in erbium-doped fluoride glass by frequency-resolved and site-selective spectroscopies

Erbium-doped PZG fluoride glass (lead-zinc-gallium) has been studied using site-selective spectroscopy associated to frequency-resolved spectroscopy. Possibilities of site-selective emission using frequency-resolved spectroscopy are discussed. The existence of two crystallographic sites is demonstrated and the spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺ in each site is analyzed. The minority site distribution peaks at high energy at 6575 cm⁻¹, its ⁴I_13/2 lifetime is non-exponential and lower than 5 ms and its ground state spreads over 302 cm⁻¹. The majority site distribution peaks at 6530 cm⁻¹, its ⁴I_13/2 lifetime is 11 ms and its ground state spreads over 333 cm⁻¹. The structural origin of these two sites is discussed.     

Initial excited‐state relaxation of locked retinal protonated schiff base chromophore. An insight from coupled cluster and multireference perturbation theory calculations

The initial S₁ excited‐state relaxation of retinal protonated Schiff base (RPSB) analog with central C11C12 double bond locked by eight‐membered ring (locked‐11.8) was investigated by means of multireference perturbation theory methods (XMCQDPT2, XMS‐CASPT2, MS‐CASPT2) as well as single‐reference coupled‐cluster CC2 method. The analysis of XMCQDPT2‐based geometries reveals rather weak coupling between in‐plane and out‐of‐plane structural evolution and minor energetical relaxation of three locked‐11.8 conformers. Therefore, a strong coupling between bonds length inversion and backbone out‐of‐plane deformation resulting in a very steep S₁ energy profile predicted by CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations is in clear contradiction with the reference XMCQDPT2 results. Even though CC2 method predicts good quality ground‐state structures, the excited‐state structures display more advanced torsional deformation leading to ca. 0.2 eV exaggerated energy relaxation and significantly red shifted (0.4–0.7 eV) emission maxima. According to our findings, the initial photoisomerization process in locked‐11.8, and possibly in other RPSB analogs, studied fully (both geometries and energies) by multireference perturbation theory may be somewhat slower than predicted by CASSCF/CASPT2 or CC2 methods. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Bimolecular annihilation reactions: Immobile reactants and multipolar interactions

We study the A + B 0 annihilation reaction via multipolar interactions wr^–s (r distance) in one and two dimensions. For equal numbers of immobile A and B particles we present computer simulations and numerical calculations of the decay. We find at large times that ind dimensions the particle concentration follows nt^–d/(2s–d)This work is dedicated to Prof. George H. Weiss.     

Femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoemission studies of electron dynamics in metals

Electron-hole excitation and relaxation in the bulk, at interfaces, and surfaces of solid state materials play a key role in a variety of physical and chemical phenomena that are important for surface photochemistry, particle-surface interactions, and device physics. Information on charge carrier relaxation in metals can be obtained through analysis of linewidths measured by photoemission and related techniques, which give an estimate of the upper limit for electron and hole relaxation; however, many factors can contribute to spectral broadening, thus it is difficult to extract specific information on electronic relaxation processes. With femtosecond lasers it is possible to probe directly in a time-resolved fashion the charge carrier dynamics in metals by a variety of linear and nonlinear optical techniques. Femtosecond time-resolved two-photon photoemission has attracted particularly strong interest because it incorporates many of the surface analytical capabilities of photoemission and inverse photoemission — the traditional probes for surface and bulk band structures of solid state materials — with time-resolution that is approaching the fundamental response of electrons to optical excitation. Advances in the direct measurements of electron-hole excitation, charge carrier relaxation, and dynamics of intrinsic and adsorbate induced surface states are reviewed. With femtosecond lasers it also is possible to probe a variety of coherent phenomena, and even to control the charge carrier dynamics in metals through the optical phase of the excitation light. Pioneering experiments in this new field also are discussed.     

Insight into the relationship between the Fourier's law of heat conduction and Fick's law over a Riga device: Fourth grade analysis

Mixed convective flow of fourth grade (Non-Newtonian) fluid model by a Riga stretchable plate is addressed. The aim of the current research work is therefore to explain the role of the fourth grade (Non-Newtonian) fluid model in the field of fluid dynamics. Energy and concentration equations are modeled subject to both Fourier's law of heat conduction and Fick's law. Radiation aspects and heat source/sink phenomenon are also accounted. Entropy analysis is discussed through second thermodynamics law. The (OHAM) approach is used to achieve a meaningful solution. Finally, the emerging variables behavior on the velocity, temperature, concentration and entropy rate are discussed graphically. Here, velocity enhances for increasing range of fourth grade variable. Temperature boosts against rising radiation and thermal relaxation variables, but opposite trend is noted for solutal relaxation parameter on concentration.     

超快微光分子光谱探测技术研究

按照超快极微弱分子吸收光谱学,荧光光谱学,时间分辨光谱学以及偏振荧光光谱学探测特性,设计、集成组建了能够探测紫外－可见－红外快到飞秒时间分辨的单分子光学事件的激光瞬态光谱仪.其光源有从300 nm到3000 nm连续可调的飞秒激光器、纳秒氢灯及连续氙灯.光谱分辨率达0.05 nm,在泵浦探测差异吸收下有小于150 fs的时间分辨率.谱仪能够实时给出光谱曲线及生物分子组分寿命.利用该谱仪探测了PSⅡCC,PSⅡRC的能量传递动力学.在83 K温度下PSⅡCC中的β-Car分子接收507 nm光能,以单步跃迁和随机转移的方式通过Chl a641.5637/638分子传递光能到反应中心Chl a683.2680/681,平均传能时间为77 ps,有59.94％的组分用355 ps时间电荷重组.在PSⅡRC中的β-Car分子接收507 nm光能,由Chl a641.5637/638分子传递光能通过Chl a678.2675.5到反应中心,平均传能时间为88.5 ps.在83 K温度下,反应中心复合物离子对;P680+·pheo-］平均再复合寿命为19.35 ns.     

Homogeneity of a ZrF4-based glass at the nano-scale

A glass of composition 53ZrF₄–20BaF₂–4LaF₃–3AlF₃–20NaF (T_g=260°C) was prepared by careful crucible melting. High-resolution atomic force microscopy of fracture surfaces displayed the presence of nano-pores with diameters of 20–50 nm, being 4–10 nm deep, in all glasses. It was further found that only glasses without annealing and glasses with an annealing step considerably below T_g showed a distinct pattern, i.e. ripples of ≈20 nm in diameter and an rms roughness of ≈0.6 nm. Glasses annealed either near T_g or at the temperatures of maximum nucleation or maximum crystal growth rates showed both regions with the ripple pattern and regions with nano-hillocks, growing in size with increasing annealing temperature and time. Thus these hillocks nearly reach micro-dimensions of ≈270 nm in diameter and ≈65 nm in height following a 90 min annealing step at 343°C, the temperature of maximum crystal growth. These findings give evidence that the glass system, which is thought to be one of the most suitable for fiber drawing, is much less stable against nucleation and crystallization than anticipated.     

C2(a 3Πu)+NO的反应机理研究

The reaction mechanism of C2（a 3Πu）+ NO is investigated at the level of G2（CC,MP2）. The equilibrium geometries,harmonic frequencies and energy of various stationary points on the potential energy surfaces have been calculated in the lowest doublet states. It is found that there are two reaction mechanisms:one is CCON mechanism that begins from O atom of NO attacks C2 and the intermediate is CCON;the other is called CCNO mechanism for its intermediate is CCNO formed by N atom of NO attacks C2 . In the same time,the five possible ground product pathways corresponding to these two mechanisms for this reaction are analysed and concluded that the pathway that O atom of NO attacks C2 to produce the major products CN+CO via CCNO mechanism is the most favorable pathway.     

A Comprehensive Computational Screening of Phytochemicals Derived from Saudi Medicinal Plants against Human CC Chemokine Receptor 7 to Identify Potential Anti-Cancer Therapeutics

Homeostatic trafficking of immune cells by CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) keeps immune responses and tolerance in a balance. The involvement of this protein in lymph node metastasis in cancer marks CCR7 as a penitential drug target. Using the crystal structure of CCR7, herein, a comprehensive virtual screening study is presented to filter novel strong CCR7 binding phytochemicals from Saudi medicinal plants that have a higher binding affinity for the intracellular allosteric binding pocket. By doing so, three small natural molecules named as Hit-1 (1,8,10-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylanthracen-9(4H)-one), Hit-2 (4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one), and Hit-3 (10-methyl-12,13-dihydro-[1,2]dioxolo[3,4,5-de]furo[3,2-g]isochromeno[4,3-b]chromen-8-ol) are predicted showing strong binding potential for the CC chemokine receptor 7 allosteric pocket. During molecular dynamics simulations, the compounds were observed in the formation of several chemical bonding of short bond distances. Additionally, the molecules remained in strong contact with the active pocket residues and experienced small conformation changes that seemed to be mediated by the CCR7 loops to properly engage the ligands. Two types of binding energy methods (MM/GBPBSA and WaterSwap) were additionally applied to further validate docking and simulation findings. Both analyses complement the good affinity of compounds for CCR7, the electrostatic and van der Waals energies being the most dominant in intermolecular interactions. The active pocket residue’s role in compounds binding was further evaluated via alanine scanning, which highlighted their importance in natural compounds binding. Additionally, the compounds fulfilled all drug-like rules: Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge passed many safety parameters, making them excellent anti-cancer candidates for experimental testing.