Exciton energy broadening due to interface fluctuations in ZnSe/ZnSxSe1−x strained quantum wells

The excitonic properties of a ZnSe/ZnS_xSe_1−x strained quantum well (QW) are calculated taking into account interface effects. Numerical results obtained with ZnS_0.18Se_0.82/ZnSe QWs show that graded interfaces can be responsible for a strong broadening of excitonic spectra.     

An admissible minimax estimator of a bounded scale-parameter in a subclass of the exponential family under scale-invariant squared-error loss

A subclass of the scale-parameter exponential family is considered and for the rth power of the scale parameter, which is lower bounded, an admissible minimax estimator under scale-invariant squared-error loss is presented. Also, an admissible minimax estimator of a lower-bounded parameter in the family of transformed chi-square distributions is given. These estimators are the pointwise limits of a sequence of Bayes estimators. Some examples are given.     

Single-mode rib polymer waveguides and electro-optic polymer waveguide switches

Mode-matching and effective index methods are used to analyze single-mode operation of optical rib polymer waveguides. Their single-mode waveguiding conditions are determined. Single-mode rib waveguides fabricated from guest–host polyetherketone are presented. The estimated propagation loss of straight rib-waveguides is 0.7 dB/cm at 1.55 μm. Furthermore, by using the mode field-transfer matrix method, 2×2 and 4×4 polymer Mach–Zehnder interference switch operating at 1.55 μm wavelength has been designed based on optical multi-mode interference.     

Combined effect of PMD and PDL on four-wave-mixing-induced crosstalk in WDM system

We derive an explicit autocorrelation function (ACF) formula of state of polarization for a fiber transmission system with polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and polarization dependent loss (PDL), which is found to agree well with Monte Carlo simulation. Then we use the new ACF to investigate the combined effect of PMD and PDL on the polarization multiplexed scheme. We find the performance of the polarization multiplexed scheme can be deteriorated more severely than the case without PDL.     

Generalized lattice model of liquid state and its relation to Ginzburg–Landau theory

Basic principles of the generalized lattice model of multicomponent condensed systems are formulated. Short-range parts of interatomic interactions are taken into account by means of the geometric constraints method. Long-range parts of the interactions are taken into account in mean field approximation. The expression for Helmholtz free energy is obtained. A system of integral equations for the equilibrium distributions of components is derived. The asymptotic properties of its solutions are investigated. Moment expansion of interatomic interactions and localization of integral terms in free energy is obtained. A Ginzburg–Landau-like functional of free energy is derived.     

An investigation on planar dielectric light collectors for illumination and solar energy applications

In this paper the performances of inhomogeneous dielectric slabs as solar light collectors for both illumination and solar energy applications are analysed.     

Enhancing the Bolzon–Schrefler–Zienkiewicz Constitutive Model for Partially Saturated Soil

This paper presents an enhanced version of the elasto-plastic model for partially saturated soil first proposed by Bolzon, Schrefler and Zienkiewicz in 1996, “BSZ” model, which uses the effective stress tensor and suction as independent stress variables. It is recalled that the effective stress tensor proposed by Lewis and Schrefler in 1982 is thermodynamically consistent and, compared with other choices of stress tensors, results particularly suitable for partially saturated soil mechanics. A hydraulic constitutive relationship and a hydraulic hysteresis are introduced in the model, to take into account the irreversible deformation during cyclic drying and wetting until structural collapse. For this reason the plastic rate of strain is split into the sum of two components: one depending on the effective stress tensor and the other one on suction. This is the new feature of the BSZ model. This enhanced model is then cast into a thermodynamical framework at macroscopic level and it is shown that it is possible to derive the constitutive law from the Helmholtz free energy and a dissipation function, both for associative and non- associative plasticity. Finally the model predictions have been compared with experimental data for Sion slime, with particular emphasis on the deviatoric part, and model predictions of hysteretic behaviour have been investigated in case of a wetting and drying cycle on compacted betonite–kaolin.     

Energy Spectrum Width and Nonequilibrium Energy of Rayleigh Waves Scattered on a Two-Dimensional Near-Surface Electron Layer

We obtain expressions for the energy spectrum widths of Rayleigh waves corresponding to their deformational coupling to Fermi and Boltzmann electrons in a two-dimensional layer near the surface of a semibounded solid. We evaluate the nonequilibrium energy of Rayleigh waves that depends on these widths and is caused by the same coupling to the corresponding hot electrons. We show that this energy is independent of the degeneracy degree of the electrons and is given by the mean energy of free Rayleigh waves heated up to temperature of the electrons. We find conditions under which the thermodynamics is determined by this nonequilibrium energy of Rayleigh waves in films of a certain thickness with Fermi electrons near the surface and by the equilibrium energy of bulk phonons in thicker samples. All the results are obtained using the Keldysh diagram technique applied to the case of semibounded media.     

A novel tridentate nitrogen donor as ligand in copper catalyzed ATRP of methyl methacrylate

A tridentate ligand, BPIEP: 2,6‐bis[1‐(2,6‐diisopropyl phenylimino) ethyl] pyridine, having central pyridine unit and two peripheral imine coordination sites was effectively employed in controlled/“living” radical polymerization of MMA at 90°C in toluene as solvent, Cu^IBr as catalyst, and ethyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as initiator resulting in well‐defined polymers with polydispersities M_w/M_n ≤ 1.23. The rate of polymerization follows first‐order kinetics, k_app = 3.4 × 10^?5 s^?1, indicating the presence of low radical concentration ([P*] ≤ 10^?8) throughout the reaction. The polymerization rate attains a maximum at a ligand‐to‐metal ratio of 2:1 in toluene at 90°C. The solvent concentration (v/v, with respect to monomer) has a significant effect on the polymerization kinetics. The polymerization is faster in polar solvents like, diphenylether, and anisole, as compared to toluene. Increasing the monomer concentration in toluene resulted in a better control of polymerization. The molecular weights (M_n,SEC) increased linearly with conversion and were found to be higher than predicted molecular (M_n,Cal). However, the polydispersity remained narrow, i.e., ≤1.23. The initiator efficiency at lower monomer concentration approaches a value of 0.7 in 110 min as compared to 0.5 in 330 min at higher monomer concentration. The aging of the copper salt complexed with BPIEP had a beneficial effect and resulted in polymers with narrow polydispersitities and higher conversion. PMMA obtained at room temperature in toluene (33%, v/v) gave PDI of 1.22 (M_n = 8500) in 48 h whereas, at 50°C the PDI is 1.18 (M_n = 10,300), which is achieved in 23 h. The plot of lnk_app versus 1/T gave an apparent activation energy of polymerization as (ΔE^≠_app) 58.29 KJ/mol and enthalpy of equilibrium (ΔH⁰_eq) to 28.8 KJ/mol. Reverse ATRP of MMA was successfully performed using AIBN in bulk as well as solution. The controlled nature of the polymerization reaction was established through kinetic studies and chain extension experiments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4996–5008, 2005