Multichromophoric Förster resonance energy transfer

The theory of F?rster resonance energy transfer is generalized for multichromophoric (MC) and nonequilibrium situations. For the first time, it is clarified that the far-field linear spectroscopic information is insufficient for the determination of the reaction rate and that distance dependence of the rate can vary with the disorder and temperature. Application to a light harvesting complex LH2 reveals the important consequences of a MC structure.     

Effect of photoions on the line shape of the Förster resonance lines and microwave transitions in cold rubidium Rydberg atoms

Experiments are carried out on the spectroscopy of the Förster resonance lines Rb(37P) + Rb(37P) → Rb(37S) + Rb(38S) and microwave transitions nP → n′S, n′D between Rydberg states of cold rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Under ordinary conditions, all spectra exhibit a linewidth of 2–3 MHz irrespective of the interaction time between atoms or between atoms and microwave radiation, although the limit resonance width should be determined by the inverse interaction time. The analysis of experimental conditions has shown that the main source of line broadening is the inhomogeneous electric field of cold photoions that are generated under the excitation of initial nP Rydberg states by broadband pulsed laser radiation. The application of an additional electric-field pulse that rapidly extracts photoions produced by a laser pulse leads to a considerable narrowing of lines of microwave resonances and the Förster resonance. Various sources of line broadening in cold Rydberg atoms are analyzed.     

Highly resolved measurements of Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms

We report on experiments exploring Stark-tuned F?rster resonances between Rydberg atoms with high resolution in the F?rster defect. The individual resonances are expected to exhibit different angular dependencies, opening the possibility to tune not only the interaction strength but also the angular dependence of the pair state potentials by an external electric field. We achieve a high resolution by optical Ramsey interferometry for Rydberg atoms combined with electric field pulses. The resonances are detected by a loss of visibility in the Ramsey fringes due to resonances in the interaction. We present measurements of the density dependence as well as of the coherence time at and close to F?rster resonances.     

Dipole blockade at Förster resonances in high resolution laser excitation of Rydberg states of cesium atoms

High resolution laser excitation of np Rydberg states of cesium atoms shows a dipole blockade at F?rster resonances corresponding to the resonant dipole-dipole energy transfer of the np+np --> ns+(n+1)s reaction. The dipole-dipole interaction can be tuned on and off by the Stark effect, and such a process, observed for relatively low n(25-41), is promising for quantum gate devices. Both Penning ionization and saturation in the laser excitation can limit the range of observation of the dipole blockade.     

Saturated Förster resonance energy transfer microscopy with a stimulated emission depletion beam: a pathway toward single-molecule resolution in far-field bioimaging

We theoretically demonstrate that the spatial resolution of stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy can be substantially enhanced without increasing the intensity of the STED beam. In our scheme, tiny nanobeads codoped with donor and acceptor molecules are used as fluorescent probes, in which F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) can occur with an ~100% efficiency between the donors and acceptors. Enhancement of the depletion of acceptors in the nanobeads with the doughnut-shaped depletion beam can lead to an increase of FRET efficiency in the outer area of the excitation spot, which itself is used for deexciting donor molecules and, consequently, enhancing the optical resolution.     

Influence of the net gain on characteristic of stochastic resonance in a single-mode laser system

The phenomenon of stochastic resonance (SR) is found in a single-mode laser system driven by the colored pump noise with signal modulation and the quantum noise with cross-correlation between the real and imaginary parts. When the net gain a0 changes, it is found that, 1) the shape of the curve of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) versus the pump noise self-correlation time τ exhibits a changing process of multiform SR, from single-peak SR, to simultaneous existence of resonances and suppressions; 2) the curve of SNR. versus signal frequency Ω experiences a complicated changing process from the monotonous descending to the simultaneous appearances of a maximum and a minimum, and finally to monotonous descending; 3) the curve of SNR versus cross-correlation coefficient between the real and imaginary parts of the quantum noise λq appears an acute single-peak SR. Therefore, the net gain ao greatly influences the characteristic of SR of laser system.     

The phenomenon of stochastic resonance in a single-mode laser system with an input periodical signal

Using the linear approximation method, we study a single-mode laser system driven by colored pump noise and quantum noise with coupling between the real and imaginary parts when the laser is operated well above threshold. The steady state mean intensity fluctuation C(0) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are calculated. It is found that there is a maximum in SNR when there is a minimum in the fluctuation of laser system if the coupling coefficient between real and imaginary parts of the quantum noise equals zero.     

Fluorescence Spectroscopic Properties Analysed within the Extended Förster Theory with Application to Biomacromolecular Systems

The extended Förster theory (EFT) of electronic energy transport accounts for translational and rotational dynamics, which are neglected by the classical Förster theory (FT). EFT has been developed for electronic energy transfer within donor-acceptor pairs [Isaksson, et al, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 9, 1941(2007)] and donor-donor pairs [Johansson, et al, J. Chem. Phys., 105, 10896 (1996); Norlin, et al, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 10, 6962(2008)]. For donors that exhibit different or identical non-exponential fluorescence relaxation within a donor-donor pair, the process of reverberating energy migration is reversible to a higher or lower degree. Here the impact of the EFT has been studied with respect to its influence on fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence lifetimes as well as depolarisation experiments. The FT predicts relative fluorescence quantum yields which usually agree with the EFT within experimental accuracy, however, substantial deviations occurs in the steady-state and in particular the time-resolved depolarisation data.     

Analysis of inverse stochastic resonance and the long-term firing of Hodgkin–Huxley neurons with Gaussian white noise

In order to explain the occurrence of a minimum in firing rate which occurs for certain mean input levels μ$\mu$ as noise level σ$\sigma$ increases (inverse stochastic resonance, ISR) in Hodgkin–Huxley (HH) systems, we analyze the underlying transitions from a stable equilibrium point to limit cycle and vice-versa. For a value of μ$\mu$ at which ISR is pronounced, properties of the corresponding stable equilibrium point are found. A linearized approximation around this point has oscillatory solutions from whose maxima spikes tend to occur. A one dimensional diffusion is also constructed for small noise. Properties of the basin of attraction of the limit cycle (spike) are investigated heuristically. Long term trials of duration 500000 ms are carried out for values of σ$\sigma$ from 0 to 2.0. The graph of mean spike count versus σ$\sigma$ is divided into 4 regions _R1,…,_R4$R_1,\dots ,R_4$, where _R3$R_3$ contains the minimum associated with ISR. In _R1$R_1$ transitions to the basin of attraction of the rest point are not observed until a small critical value of σ=_σc1$\sigma ={\sigma }_{c_1}$ is reached, at the beginning of _R2$R_2$. The sudden decline in firing rate when σ$\sigma$ is just greater than _σc1${\sigma }_{c_1}$ implies that there is only a small range of noise levels 0<σ<_σc1$0<\sigma <{\sigma }_{c_1}$ where repetitive spiking is safe from annihilation by noise. The firing rate remains small throughout _R3$R_3$. At a larger critical value σ=_σc2$\sigma ={\sigma }_{c_2}$ which signals the beginning of _R4$R_4$, the probability of transitions from the basin of attraction of the equilibrium point to that of the limit cycle apparently becomes greater than zero and the spike rate thereafter increases with increasing σ$\sigma$. The quantitative scheme underlying the ISR curve is outlined in terms of the properties of exit time random variables. In the final subsection, several statistical properties of the main random variables associated with long term spiking activity are given, including distributions of exit times from the two relevant basins of attraction and the interspike interval.     

Förster resonance energy transfer in hybrid associates of colloidal Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>S quantum dots with thionine molecules

Nonradiative resonance energy transfer in hydrophilic hybrid associates of thionine molecules (TH⁺) with colloidal Ag₂S quantum dots (QDs) with average diameter of 3.5 nm was studied. Photoluminescence spectra and its decay shown that for these systems the supplemental photosensitization of recombination luminescence of Ag₂S QDs (1200 nm) from the region of TH⁺ fluorescence (618 nm) is possible. It was found that the average lifetime of TH⁺ molecules luminescence is shortened during their association with Ag₂S QDs. Approximation of luminescence decay by stretched exponent with value of parameter β =?0.5 indicates on the inductive-resonance dipole-dipole (Förster) mechanism of nonradiative energy transfer (FRET). The efficiency of FRET was 0.29–0.41.     

Double-hump resonance structure of the cross sections for electron impact ionization of Ar5+

Configuration-average distorted-wave calculations are carried out for electron-impact ionization of Ar5+. Both direct ionization and the indirect excitation autoionization processes are included in our calculations. Our theoretical values are in quite reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The indirect processes contribute up to 50% to the total ionization cross sections. The possible origin of double-hump resonance structure of the cross sections is demonstrated and the contributions of metastable states are also taken into account.     

Microspectroscopic Study of Liposome-to-cell Interaction Revealed by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer

We report the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-labeling of liposomal vesicles as an effective approach to study in dynamics the interaction of liposomes with living cells of different types (rat hepatocytes, rat bone marrow, mouse fibroblast-like cells and human breast cancer cells) and cell organelles (hepatocyte nuclei). The in vitro experiments were performed using fluorescent microspectroscopic technique. Two fluorescent dyes (DiO as the energy donor and DiI as an acceptor) were preloaded in lipid bilayers of phosphatidylcholine liposomes that ensures the necessary distance between the dyes for effective FRET. The change in time of the donor and acceptor relative fluorescence intensities was used to visualize and trace the liposome-to-cell interaction. We show that FRET-labeling of liposome vesicles allows one to reveal the differences in efficiency and dynamics of these interactions, which are associated with composition, fluidity, and metabolic activity of cell plasma membranes.     

Double-hump resonance structure of the cross sections for electron impact ionization of Ar^5 ＋

Configuration-average distorted-wave calculations are carried out for electron-impact ionization of Ar^5 ＋ .Both direct ionization and the indirect excitation autoionization processes are included in our calculations. Our theoretical values are in quite reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The indirect processes contribute upto 50% to the total ionization cross sections. The possible origin of double-hump resonance structure of the crcessections is demonstrated and the contributions of metastable states are also taken into account.     

Förster energy transfer from a semiconductor quantum well to an organic material overlayer

We predict an efficient electronic energy transfer from an excited semiconductor quantum well to optically active organic molecules of the nearby medium (substrate and/or overlayer). The energy transfer mechanism is of the F?rster type and, at semiconductor-organic distances of about 50 ?, can easily be as fast as 10-100 ps, which is about an order of magnitude shorter than the effective exciton lifetime in an isolated quantum well. In such conditions, the Wannier-Mott exciton luminescence is quenched and the organic luminescence is efficiently turned on. We consider both free as well as localized quantum well excitons discussing the dependence of the energy transfer rate on temperature and localization length. A similar mechanism for the non-radiative energy transfer to the organic overlayer molecules from unbound electron-hole pairs excited in the 2D continuum is shown to be much less competitive with respect to other relaxation channels inside the inorganic quantum well (in particular, 2D exciton formation). Received 20 July 1998     

Stochastic resonance of a tri-stable system with α stable noise

A tri-stable system excited by weak periodic signal is taken as a model and the stochastic resonance phenomenon is investigated by additive α stable noise in this paper. The laws for the resonance system parameters q, p, skewness parameter r and intensity amplification factor Q of α stable noise to act on the resonant output are explored under different stability indicies α and asymmetric skewness β of α stable noise. The results indicate that a weak signal can be realized by tuning the system parameters q, p and r under the joint action of additive α stable noise, and the interval of q and p which can induce stochastic resonance does not change with α or β. Moreover, a certain rule is found in which adjusting the intensity amplification factor Q of α stable noise can also realize a synergistic effect when studying the noise-induced stochastic resonance, and the interval of Q does not change with α or β; the best value of the characteristic index is $\alpha =1$ under any system parameter, and the best value of the symmetry parameter is $\beta =1$ under any system parameter. So, the system performance is best when $\alpha =1$ and $\beta =1$. The results will contribute to a reasonable selection of parameter-induced stochastic resonance system parameters and noise intensity of noise-induced stochastic resonance under α stable noise.     

On the spectrum of Schrödinger operators with a random potential

We investigate the spectrum of Schrödinger operatorsH of the type:H =–+q _i ()f(x–x _i + _i ())(q _i () and _i () independent identically distributed random variables,i ^d ). We establish a strong connection between the spectrum ofH and the spectra of deterministic periodic Schrödinger operators. From this we derive a condition for the existence of forbidden zones in the spectrum ofH . For random one- and three-dimensional Kronig-Penney potentials the spectrum is given explicitly.     

Products of distributions and collision of a δ-wave with a δ′-wave in a turbulent model

We study the possibility of collision of a δ-wave with a stationary δ′-wave in a model ruled by equation f (t)u _t+[u²?β(x?γ(t))u]_x = 0, where f, β and γ are given real functions and u = u(x, t) is the state variable. We adopt a solution concept which is a consistent extension of the classical solution concept. This concept is defined in the setting of a distributional product, which is not constructed by approximation processes. By a convenient choice of f, β and γ, we are able to distinguish three distinct dynamics for that collision, to which correspond phenomena of solitonic behaviour, scattering, and merging. Also, as a particular case, taking f = 2 and β = 0 we prove that the referred collision is impossible to arise in the setting of the inviscid Burgers equation. To show how this framework can be applied to other physical models, we included several results already obtained.     

Spectroscopic factors of resonance states with the Gamow shell model

We provide an investigation of the spectroscopic factor of resonance states in A=5-8 nuclei, utilizing the Gamow shell model(GSM). Within the GSM, the configuration mixing is taken into account exactly with the shell model framework, and the continuum coupling is addressed via the complex-energy Berggren ensemble, which treats bound, resonance, and non-resonant continuum single-particle states on an equal footing. As a result, both the configuration mixing and continuum coupling are meticulously...     

Modeling and design of a magnetic resonance mass spectrometer with a resolution of ∼ 106

The equations of motion for a charged particle in crossed magnetic and electric fields are used to make a numerical simulation of the operation of a magnetic resonance mass spectrometer for which the ion trajectory in the analyzer is divided into various sections. The calculations take into account the real structural dimensions and the parameters of the main components and systems and also allow for its operating characteristics in various regimes, as obtained by investigating a prototype. The calculation s yield the optimum geometric, electrical, frequency, phase, and magnetic parameters of the device, for which one can achieve a resolution R ₅₀₉₆≈1.35×10⁶ and a current efficiency K _I ≈0.006. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 89–96 (April 1999)