Complex refractive index of turbid liquids

We present a multifunction spectrophotometer for the measurement of light reflection from thick and transmission from very thin turbid liquid samples. Moreover, we present a method to get the complex refractive index of such turbid liquids. As an example of the high performance of the device and the method, we present data on inks that are used in offset printing.     

Terahertz absorption spectra of commonly used antimalarial drugs

Optical Review - Terahertz (THz) spectra from the pure forms [i.e. the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)] of four commonly used antimalarial drugs are reported. The well-defined spectral...     

On all-optical laser cleaning and inspection of contaminated concave metal surfaces

A technique for all-optical laser cleaning and surface quality monitoring of concave metal surfaces is suggested. Contaminated pharmaceutical punches from a tablet compression machine were cleaned using high-energy laser pulses. Image information obtained from a diffractive-optical-element-based sensor was used in inspection of the surface quality change of the concave punches due to laser cleaning. Alternative method for mechanical cleaning of punches is introduced, which is based on simultaneous laser cleaning and surface quality inspection of the punches.     

Dispersion Theory for Two-phase Layered-Geometry Nanocomposites

A dispersion theory for linear optical properties of two-phase layered-geometry nanocomposites is presented. Generalized dispersion relations and sum rules are stated using the results from complex analysis. The concept of Lorentzian linear susceptibility is exploited in theoretical treatment of the effective linear susceptibility of the nanocomposite. The meromorphism of total reflectance in the case of effective meromorphic nonlinear susceptibility was observed.     

Far infrared (THz) absorption spectra for the quantitative differentiation of calcium carbonate crystal structures: Exemplified in mixtures and in paper coatings

In this paper, far-infrared (FIR) spectroscopic techniques have been employed to detect different calcium carbonate crystal concentrations in powder mixtures. We have compared absorption spectral features of both pure and mixtures of natural ground calcium carbonate (GCC) and synthetic precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). It is evident that the absorbance data differentiate clearly and unequivocally between calcite and aragonite in the spectral range of 2–18 THz. Also, from the absorbance measurement of two sets of mixtures, we have revealed a linear relationship between the ratio of some selected absorbance peaks of the mixtures and concentration of a particular pigment within the mixture. This innovative technique could be a novel, practicable technique for quality control or for analyzing coating and/or filler pigments and extenders in the paper making and printing industries. Finally, we have proven in the case of paper that, surface roughness and print color play no role as far as the locations and magnitudes of the absorbance spectral features are concerned.     

Detection of Refractive Index Change of Liquids by Diffractive Element talrd Sensor

Refractive index change of liquids was detected using a temperature compensated prism cavity together with a diffractive optical element fabricated by electron beam lithography. Small changes of refractive index could be detected from image data of the sensor.     

Scanning of skin gloss by a diffractive optical element-based handheld glossmeter

Skin specular gloss (referred to as “gloss’’) determination is important in dermatology and cosmetic industry as it gives an indication of the skin health and beauty. Its accurate determination is, therefore, necessary. Commercially available glossmeters typically employ large incidence angle geometry, large illumination area, and fixed point measurements making them impractical regarding measurement of curved and complex non-planar objects or surfaces as well as low gloss regime such as the skin. In this study, we have demonstrated the novel application of a diffractive optical element-based handheld glossmeter with scanning capability, overcoming the disadvantages of conventional glossmeters, in the accurate determination of skin gloss and gloss profile for different skin types under different measurement conditions. Different parts of the body (back of the hands, the inner part of the arm and the forehead) of four volunteers with light, dark and intermediate skin types were scanned (also in different directions) to obtain the skin gloss profile and the statistical average skin gloss. Additionally, the skin surface was modified by arm extension and scanned as well. Our preliminary results showed that the statistical average skin gloss reading increased with the increasing lightness of skin. Areas with higher sebaceous glands (forehead) showed higher gloss reading than the other body parts (inner arm and back of the hand). However, the roughness of the skin surface decreased the statistical average skin gloss reading. The handheld scanning skin glossmeter allows for the accurate determination of skin gloss with sensitivity to small variation in the skin surface roughness with high repeatability.     

On Tailoring of Nonlinear Spectral Properties of Nanocomposites Having Maxwell Garnett or Bruggeman Structure

Nonlinear spectral properties of two different types of conjugated polymers (polythiophene PT10 and polysilane PDHS) with nanoscale TiO₂ particles forming a Maxwell Garnett or a Bruggeman composite are studied. According to the present simulations, it is possible both to enhance and to tailor the magnitude and the spectral properties, respectively, of the effective degenerate third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the composite. This is done simply by tuning the volume fraction of TiO₂ inclusions and by changing the topology of the composite.     

Materials cohesion and interaction forces

The most important methods to determine the cohesive interactions of materials and adhesive interactions between different substances are reviewed. The term cohesion is generalized as representing the unifying interaction forces of a single material and adhesion forces between different substances due to attraction. The aim is to interlink a number of frequently used interaction parameters in order to promote the understanding of materials research executed within different scientific (Material, Colloid, Sol-Gel and Nano) communities. The modern interdisciplinary research requires a removal of the historical obstacles represented by widely differing nomenclature used for the same material properties. The interaction parameters of different models are reviewed and representative numerical values computed from tabulated thermodynamic and spectroscopic material constants. The results are compared with published values. The models are grouped to represent single and two component systems, respectively. The latter group includes models for films on substrates and work of adhesion between liquids and solids. In most cases rather rough approximations have been employed, mostly relating to van der Waals substances for which the gas state is common reference state. In order to improve the predictability of the key Hamaker constant, a novel model for interpreting the dielectric spectrum is presented. The interrelation between thermodynamic, electronic, spectroscopic and dielectric parameters is illustrated by model calculations on typical inorganic materials of current interest as model compounds. The ionic solids are represented by NaCl and KCl, while ZnO, FeO, Fe(2)O(3), Fe(3)O(4), Al(2)O(3), SiO(2), TiO(2), ZrO(2), SnO, SnO(2) represent ceramic oxides and semiconductors. The model compounds thus illustrate the effect of bond type (covalent or ionic) and valence (charge number and sign) of the constituent elements. However, since the focus is placed on a phenomenological analysis, the number of examples remains self-evidently incomplete.     

A terahertz time-domain study on the estimation of opto-mechanical properties of pharmaceutical tablets using the Hashin–Shtrikman bounds for refractive index: a case study of microcrystalline cellulose and starch acetate compacts

This work highlights the use of Hashin–Shtrikman (H–S) bounds in the prediction and verification of the effective refractive index, the height and the Young’s modulus of given training sets of pharmaceutical compacts using the measured time delay of a THz pulse traversing the compacts. Set A consisted of 13 microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) compacts whereas set B was made up of 5 starch acetate (SA) compacts. MCC is a typical ingredient of many pharmaceutical tablets. In the case of the MCC compacts, tight and closely matched bounds were obtained between the experimental, the calculated upper, lower bound values for the effective refractive index, and the height values. This promising outcome has shown the high possibility of utilizing H–S bounds in the verification and prediction of the decision level of useful parameters, which can serve as a quality check for pharmaceutical tablets. For the SA compacts, although less tight bounds were observed, the experimental values for the effective refractive index and the Young’s modulus were closely matched with the upper and the lower bounds, respectively. We therefore speculate based on the above observations that the MCC tablets contain an almost evenly distributed spherically shaped air voids whereas in the SA compacts, this assumption might not necessary be true.