Practical issues in ultra-short-pulse measurements with ‘GRENOUILLE’

We examine the characteristics and limitations of GRENOUILLE, a simple and compact implementation of the second-harmonic-generation (SHG) frequency-resolved-optical-gating (FROG) technique. We show that it can be made to operate effectively over a relatively wide range of pulse lengths and wavelengths. We also describe procedures for its design and calibration, and we discuss the use of arbitrary nonlinear SHG crystals. PACS 42.65.-k; 42.65.ReAn erratum to this article can be found at     

High-energy strong interactions: from ‘hard’ to ‘soft’

We discuss the qualitative features of the recent data on multiparticle production observed at the LHC. The tolerable agreement with Monte Carlos based on LO DGLAP evolution indicates that there is no qualitative difference between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ interactions; and that a perturbative QCD approach may be extended into the soft domain. However, in order to describe the data, these Monte Carlos need an additional infrared cutoff k _min with a value k _min∼2–3 GeV which is not small, and which increases with collider energy. Here we explain the physical origin of the large k _min. Using an alternative model which matches the ‘soft’ high-energy hadron interactions smoothly on to perturbative QCD at small x, we demonstrate that this effective cutoff k _min is actually due to the strong absorption of low k _t partons. The model embodies the main features of the BFKL approach, including the diffusion in transverse momenta, ln k _t , and an intercept consistent with resummed next-to-leading log corrections. Moreover, the model uses a two-channel eikonal framework, and includes the contributions from the multi-Pomeron exchange diagrams, both non-enhanced and enhanced. The values of a small number of physically-motivated parameters are chosen to reproduce the available total, elastic and proton dissociation cross section (pre-LHC) data. Predictions are made for the LHC, and the relevance to ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is briefly discussed. The low x inclusive integrated gluon PDF, and the diffractive gluon PDF, are calculated in this framework, using the parameters which describe the high-energy pp and p[`(p)]p\bar{p} ‘soft’ data. Comparison with the PDFs obtained from the global parton analyses of deep inelastic and related hard scattering data and from diffractive deep inelastic data looks encouraging.     

Theoretical insights into the formation of thiolate-protected nanoparticles from gold(Ⅲ) chloride

Reaction pathways for the formation of thiolate-gold nanoparticles are investigated by density functional theory(DFT) and a new mechanism upon solvent polarity and tetraalkylammonium is obtained. In solvents with high polarities, [Au(I)SR]n polymers can be formed as the precursor of metal ions prior to the addition of a reducing agent; while a product of [Cl···AuCl(HSR)] is identified as the precursor in solvents with low polarities, such as toluene and chloroform.In addition, tetraalkylammonium also has an obvious effect on the reactions when it is used as a phase transfer agent in the two-phase synthesis. These findings offer a systematic analysis on the pathways to thiolate-stabilized nanoparticles and give a favorable explanation by comparison with those in an experimental system.     

‘Operational health’ monitoring for confidence in long term electric field measurements

The paper describes practical aspects of electrostatic fieldmeter instrumentation for long term monitoring of electric fields in adverse environmental conditions. Examples of applications have been in studies of tank washing on large crude oil tankers and measurement of atmospheric electric fields. Particular attention is drawn to the technique developed for continuous monitoring of operational health to justify confidence in observations.     

Out-of-roundness and thermal energy effects on ‘ideally soft ferromagnets’

Infinite initial susceptibility is predicted in certain micro-magnetic computations of sufficiently small spheres and circular discs made of isotropic magnetic material. In this letter, it is argued that this result pertains only to perfectly round samples in the absence of thermal energy. It is expected, therefore, that much lower values of the initial susceptibility will be found on experimentally realizable samples at room temperature.     

The model oxidation catalyst α-V2O5: insights from contactless in situ microwave permittivity and conductivity measurements

The in situ microwave cavity perturbation technique was used to study the complex permittivity and conductivity of polycrystalline α-V₂O₅ in a tubular reactor under reactive high-temperature conditions with a TM₁₁₀ cavity resonating at 9.2 GHz. The sample was investigated at 400 °C in flowing air and air/n-butane mixtures while simultaneously measuring the total oxidation products CO and CO₂ by gas chromatography. The V₂O₅ powder was identified as an n-type semiconductor and the dynamic microwave conductivity correlated well with the near-infrared (NIR) absorption assigned to V3d¹ band gap states. Correlations between catalytic performance, real and imaginary parts of the permittivity, and NIR absorption allowed the differentiation between bulk and surface contributions to the charge transport in reactive atmospheres. The stability of the crystalline bulk phase was proven by in situ powder X-ray diffractometry for all applied testing conditions.     

Quasi-integrable and superintegrable systems from a ‘deformed-mass’ two-photon algebra

A quantum deformation of the two-photon (or Schrödinger) Lie algebra is introduced in order to construct newn-dimensional classical Hamiltonian systems which have (n?2) functionally independent integrals of motion in involution; we say that such Hamiltonians define quasi-integrable systems. Furthermore, Hopf subalgebras of this quantum two-photon algebra (quantum extended Galilei and harmonic oscillator algebras) provide another set of (n?1) integrals of motion for Hamiltonians defined on these Hopf subalgebras, so that they lead to superintegrable systems.     

Comment on ‘X-ray scattering from a randomly rough surface’

Abstract

Recently, in this journal, Leskova and Maradudin published a new method for calculating x-ray scattering from a rough surface. In this comment their results will be compared with those obtained by other methods, especially the distorted-wave Born approximation. It is concluded that their results are useful in the limit of small transverse correlation length of the surface roughness. For intermediate values of the correlation length the results of both approximations are equivalent, being valid for small root-mean-square roughness and/or large incident perpendicular wavevector. In the case of large correlation length, neither approximation is correct. It is noted that the new method includes cross-polarization effects.     

Ethylene and ammonia traces measurements from the patients’ breath with renal failure via LPAS method

The application of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) for fast and precise measurements of breath biomarkers has opened up new promises for monitoring and diagnostics in recent years, especially because breath test is a non-invasive method, safe, rapid and acceptable to patients. Our study involved assessment of breath ethylene and breath ammonia levels in patients with renal failure receiving haemodialysis (HD) treatment. Breath samples from healthy subjects and from patients with renal failure were collected using chemically inert aluminized bags and were subsequently analyzed using the LPAS technique. We have found out that the composition of exhaled breath in patients with renal failure contains not only ethylene, but also ammonia and gives valuable information for determining efficacy and endpoint of HD.     

Towards sustainable micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewaters: caffeine solubility,self-diffusion and adsorption studies from aqueous solutions into hydrochars

ABSTRACT

Hydrochars obtained via hydrothermal carbonisation of pistachio shells are both a sustainable and an efficient alternative to commercial activated carbons for the removal of micro-pollutants from wastewaters that are difficult to handle by conventional treatments. Here a combined experimental and molecular simulation approach is adopted for the study of the caffeine/hydrochars aqueous systems. This case study serves to tune a general framework for the rational customisation of surface functional groups on hydrochars for the selective adsorption of micro-pollutants from wastewaters. Caffeine’s solubility, self-diffusion and adsorption results from aqueous solutions at relevant conditions are presented. Insights about the role of surface functional groups over the caffeine adsorption mechanism into hydrochars are gained and discussed.     

Effective embedment of activated carbons into the traditional Korean paper ‘Hanji’ and its application to flexible supercapacitors

Demands for flexible electronic equipment such as wearable devices and wrap-round displays have motivated the development of flexible energy storage devices. Although cellulose paper is one of the most promising substrates for flexible devices, its intrinsic limitations, such as poor mechanical durability, hamper its practical use. In this study, we adopted the traditional Korean paper, Hanji, with superior mechanical robustness as a substrate for supercapacitor electrodes. The effective infiltration of activated carbons (ACs) as an electrode material into the dense network of Hanji cellulose fibers was performed by a simultaneous one-pot process of network formation and AC embedment. The fabricated symmetric supercapacitors based on the AC-embedded Hanji electrode exhibited a specific capacitance (C_sp) of 16.0 F/g measured at a scan rate of 10 mV/s with excellent cycle stability, the C_sp retention of 94.5%, over 1000 charge-discharge cycles.     

Optimal wavelengths obtained from laws analogous to the Wien’s law for monospectral and bispectral methods,and general methodology for multispectral temperature measurements taking into account global transfer function including non-uniform emissivity of surfaces

In this paper, it is shown how to select the optimal wavelengths minimizing the relative error and the standard deviation of the temperature. Furthermore, it is shown that the optimal wavelengths in mono-spectral and bi-spectral methods (for a Planck’s law) can be determined by laws analogous to the displacement Wien’s law. The simplicity of these laws can thus allow real-time selection of optimal wavelengths for a control/optimization of industrial processes, for example. A more general methodology to obtain the optimal wavelengths selection in a multi-spectral method (taking into account the spectral variations of the global transfer function including the emissivity variations) for temperature measurement of surfaces exhibiting non-uniform emissivity, is also presented. This latter can then find an interest in glass furnaces temperature measurement with spatiotemporal non-uniformities of emissivity, the control of biomass pyrolysis, the surface temperature measurement of buildings or heating devices, for example. The goal consists of minimizing the standard deviation of the estimated temperature (optimal design experiment). For the multi-spectral method, two cases will be treated: optimal global and optimal constrained wavelengths selection (to the spectral range of the detector, for example). The estimated temperature results obtained by different models and for different number of parameters and wavelengths are compared. These different points are treated from theoretical, numerical and experimental points of view.     

Observability of the effects of curl-free magnetic vector potential on the macroscale and the nature of the ‘transition amplitude wave’

We discuss here the prediction, based on a formalism by the author, on the observable effects of a curl-free magnetic vector potential on the macroscale as against the microscale of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. A new quantum concept — the ‘transition amplitude wave’ — postulated in the formalism has already been shown to exhibit matter wave manifestations in the form of one-dimensional interference effects on the macroscale. It was predicted by the formalism that the same entity would lead to the detection of a curl-free magnetic vector potential on the macroscale. We describe here the manner of generation of this quantum entity in an inelastic scattering episode and work out an algorithm to observe this radically new phenomenon, the detection of a curl-free magnetic vector potential on the macroscale. We determine the various characteristic features of such an observation which can then be looked for experimentally so as to verify the predicted effect, establishing thereby the physical reality of the new quantum entity, and to fully validate the formalism predicting it. It is also shown that this ‘transition amplitude wave’ can be regarded as a novel kind of ‘quasiparticle’ excited in the charged particle trajectory as a consequence of the scattering episode.