Coherent phase contrast imaging of THz phonon–polariton tunneling

We report on coherent spatiotemporal imaging of single-cycle THz waves in frustrated total internal reflection geometry. Our technique yields images of the spatiotemporal electric field distribution before and after tunneling through an air gap in between two LiNbO₃ crystals. Measurements of the reflected and the transmitted THz waveforms for different tunnel distances allow for a direct comparison with results from a causal linear dispersion theory and excellent agreement is found.     

Control of near-field radiative heat transfer via surface phonon–polariton coupling in thin films

The possibility of controlling near-field radiative heat transfer with the use of silicon carbide thin films supporting surface phonon–polaritons in the infrared spectrum is explored. For this purpose, the local density of electromagnetic states is calculated and analyzed within the nanometric gap formed between two SiC films as well as the radiative heat flux exchanged between the thin layers.     

Damping of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance of gold nanoparticles

We report on a strong damping of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance of gold nanoparticles. The ultra-fast dephasing time of localized surface plasmon polariton resonances in gold nanoparticles was systematically studied as a function of the particle size at a fixed photon energy of h ν=1.85 eV. Dephasing times ranging from T₂^expT_{2}^{\mathrm{exp}} = 5.5 fs to 15.0 fs were extracted and an influence of the reduced dimensions was detected. We have identified two dominant damping mechanisms: the well-known surface scattering and, for the first time, band structure changes. We have quantified the influence of these band structure changes on the optical properties by determining the essential damping parameter A to be A ^exp=0.32 nm/fs.     

Discrete quantum breathers: what do we know about them?

The knowledge about discrete quantum breathers, accumulated during the last two decades, is reviewed. "Prehistory" of the problem is described and some important properties differentiating localized and extended vibrational modes are outlined. The state of art of our understanding of the principal features of the quantum discrete breathers is presented.     

Stick-slip motion in spite of a slippery contact: do we get what we see in atomic friction?

Atomic force microscopy provides direct atomic-scale access to friction. In this paper, unexpected and potentially dramatic consequences of the tip elasticity are discussed. Under certain natural conditions an essentially new, nontrivial regime can be entered. Although the tip appears to perform typical stick-slip motion, the tip-surface contact is fully "lubricated" by fast thermal motion of the tip apex. The interpretation of the observations needs to be changed completely in this case.     

Whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging vs. FDG-PET for the detection of non-small-cell lung cancer. How do they measure up?

Objective

To compare the diagnostic efficacy of whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI) and [18F] fluoro-2-D-glucose PET/CT(FDG-PET/CT)for assessment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Materials and Methods

A group of 56 patients (21 female, 35 male; 35–76 years) with NSCLC proved by pathologic examination or follow-up imaging findings was set as reference standards, and all patients underwent both WB-DWI at 1.5T (MAGNETOM Avanto) and PET/CT (Biograph 16). For WB-DWI, a free breathing diffusion-weighted single-shot spin-echo epi-sequence in five-stations (head-neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis-thigh) was used. Each station-series contained 30 contiguous axial slices. Imaging parameters: FOV 360×360 mm, matrix size 128×80. B-values: 0 and 1000 s/mm² applied along x, y and z, 5 averages, acquisition time: 2.23 min/series, total: 11.55 min. The efficacy of WB-DWI and PET/CT were determined in a blinded reading by two radiologists and two nuclear medicine physicians using pathology and size change during follow up exams as the reference standard.

Results

Primary tumors (n=56 patients) were correctly detected in 56 (100%) patients by both PET/CT and WB-DWI. Ninety-six lymph nodes metastases were determined with pathologic and follow-up examinations. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) being for lymph node metastases: 91%, 90%, 90%, 96%, 80% with WB-DWI and 98%, 97%, 97%, 99%, 93% with PET-CT, other metastases: 90%, 95%, 92%, 97%, 83% with WB-DWI and 98%, 100%, 98%, 100%, 95% with PET-CT). Differences in the accuracy of lymph node metastasis detection between PET/CT and WB-DWI (P=.031) were significant. The differences were not statistically significant for detection of other metastases.

Conclusions

WB-DWI is a feasible clinical technique for the assessment of NSCLC, lymph nodes and metastastic spread with high sensitivity and accuracy, but it was limited in the evaluation of neck lymph node metastases and small metastastic lung nodules.     

How well do we know the electromagnetic form factors of the proton?

Recent measurements of recoil polarization in elastic scattering have been used to extract the ratio of the electric to the magnetic proton form factors. These results disagree with Rosenbluth extractions from cross-section measurements, indicating either an inconsistency between the two techniques, or a problem with either the polarization transfer or cross-section measurements. To obtain precise knowledge of the proton form factors, we must first understand the source of this discrepancy.Received: 1 November 2002, Published online: 15 July 2003PACS: 25.30.Bf Elastic electron scattering - 13.40.Gp Electromagnetic form factors - 14.20.Dh Protons and neutrons     

Scattering of decimetric acoustic waves from the sea’s surface

The influence of the sea’s surface slopes caused by wind waves whose wavelength exceeds that of the Bragg components on the backscattering of acoustic radiation is discussed. The analysis is performed for long waves whose wavelengths are greater than 1.5 m. The study is based on the data of full-scale measurements of the sea’s surface slopes. Expressions relating the backscattering coefficient to the statistical characteristics of the sea’s surface slopes caused by long waves are presented.     

Sauna,sweat and science II – do we sweat what we drink?

ABSTRACT

Inspired by a previous ‘Sauna, sweat and science’ study [Zech et al. Isot Environ Health Stud. 2015;51(3):439–447] and out of curiosity and enthusiasm for stable isotope and sauna research we aimed at answering the question ‘do we sweat (isotopically) what we drink’? We, therefore, pulse-labelled five test persons in a sauna experiment with beverages that were ²H-enriched at about +25,600?‰. Sweat samples were collected during six sauna rounds and the hydrogen isotope composition δ²H_sweat was determined using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Before pulse labelling, δ²H_sweat – reflecting by approximation body water – ranged from –32 to –22?‰. This is ～35?‰ enriched compared to usual mid-European drinking water and can be explained with hydrogen-bearing food as well as with the respiratory loss of ²H-depleted vapour. The absence of a clearly detectable ²H pulse in sweat after pulse labelling and δ²H_sweat results of ≤+250?‰ due to a fast ²H equilibration with body water are moreover a clearly negative answer to our research question also in a short-term consideration. Given that the recovery of the tracer based on an isotope mass balance calculation is clearly below 100?%, we finally answer the question ‘where did the rest of the tracer go?’     

What do we learn from the local geometry of glass-forming liquids?

We examine the local geometry of a simulated glass-forming polymer melt. Using the Voronoi construction, we find that the distributions of Voronoi volume P(v(V)) and asphericity P(a) appear to be universal properties of dense liquids, supporting the use of packing approaches to understand liquid properties. We also calculate the average free volume along a path of constant density and find that extrapolates to zero at the same temperature T0 that the extrapolated relaxation time diverges. We relate to the Debye-Waller factor, which is measurable by neutron scattering.     

Desktop supercomputer: what can it do?

The paper addresses the issues of solving complex problems that require using supercomputers or multiprocessor clusters available for most researchers nowadays. Efficient distribution of high performance computing resources according to actual application needs has been a major research topic since high-performance computing (HPC) technologies became widely introduced. At the same time, comfortable and transparent access to these resources was a key user requirement. In this paper we discuss approaches to build a virtual private supercomputer available at user’s desktop: a virtual computing environment tailored specifically for a target user with a particular target application. We describe and evaluate possibilities to create the virtual supercomputer based on light-weight virtualization technologies, and analyze the efficiency of our approach compared to traditional methods of HPC resource management.     

Dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton properties of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure

Surface plasmons(SPs) in ultraviolet(UV) have attracted a great deal of attention because of their emerging applications in energy resources, environmental protection, and biotechnology. In this article, the dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton(DLSPP) properties of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure are investigated theoretically. Sharp SP responses can be obtained in deep UV by setting an insulator grating on the aluminum film. It is found that the height of the grating element,the lattice parameter, and the filling factor can all modulate the DLSPPs of the Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure. We further find that this structure is sensitive to the embedding medium and can serve as a refractive index sensor in the UV region. The corresponding sensitivity increases with the decrease of the filling factor. The Al_2O_3–Al nanostructure may be useful for medical diagnostics and biotechnology in deep UV.     

Direct laser-writing of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon–polariton waveguides for the visible and near infrared

We demonstrate flexible and low-cost fabrication of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon–polariton waveguides. The waveguide structures are fabricated by two-photon polymerization of commercially available, spin-coatable epoxy-based UV-lithographic resist on a metal covered glass slide. The excitation and guiding properties of the plasmonic waveguides are investigated in the far-field at a wavelength of 632.8 nm by imaging the leakage radiation from the waveguide modes. The optimum bending radius for right angle bends is measured to 6 μm providing a transmission of up to 70%. The functionality of more complex Y-splitters is demonstrated.     

How do mosquito eggs self-assemble on the water surface?

This work reports a detailed numerical study of the behavior of ellipsoid-shaped particles adsorbed at fluid interfaces. Former experiments have shown that micrometer-sized prolate ellipsoids aggregate under the action of strong and long-ranged capillary interactions. The latter are due to nonplanar contact lines and to the resulting deformations of the interface in the vicinity of the trapped objects. We first consider the case of a single ellipsoid and examine in detail the influence of contact angle and ellipsoid aspect ratio on interfacial distortions. We then focus on two contacting ellipsoids and study the optimum packing configuration depending on their size and/or aspect ratio mismatch. We thoroughly explore the variety of contact configurations between both ellipsoids and provide corresponding energy maps. Whereas the side-by-side configuration is the most stable state for identical ellipsoids, we find that the mismatched pair adopts an “arrow” configuration in which a finite angle exists between the particles long axes. Such arrows are actually seen in experiments with micron-sized ellipsoids and similarly with millimeter-sized mosquito eggs. These results complement our previous work (J.C. Loudet, B. Pouligny, EPL 85, 28003 (2009)) and highlight the importance of geometrical factors to explain the morphology of aggregated structures at fluid interfaces.     

What do we learn from the CMB observations?

We give an account, at nonexpert and quantitative level, of physics behind the CMB temperature anisotropy and polarization and their peculiar features. We discuss, in particular, how cosmological parameters are determined from the CMB measurements and their combinations with other observations. We emphasize that CMB is the major source of information on the primordial density perturbations and, possibly, gravitational waves, and discuss the implication for our understanding of the extremely early Universe.     

Effects of the piezoelectric field on the modulation of exciton–polaritons by surface acoustic waves

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) provide a powerful tool for the modulation of polaritons in GaAs-based microcavities. In this contribution, we compare the modulation introduced by SAWs propagating along piezoelectric and non-piezoelectric crystal directions of the sample surface. Strain calculations reveal that the type-I band-gap modulation induced by the strain field is comparable for both SAW types. Piezoelectric SAWs have, however, an intrinsic longitudinal electric field, which can dissociate quantum well (QW) excitons and, thus, degrade the modulation. Images of the polariton far-field photoluminescence reveal this behavior for different excitation conditions.