Phase separation between phospholipids and grafted polymer chains onto a fluctuating membrane

We re-examine here the theoretical study of the phase separation between phospholipids and grafted long polymer chains onto a fluid membrane. The polymer chains are assumed to be anchored to the membrane by one extremity (anchor). The anchors are big amphiphile lipid molecules. The anchors and phospholipids forming the bilayer phase separate under the variation of a suitable parameter (temperature, pressure, membrane environment, ...). To investigate the demixtion transition, we elaborate a new approach that takes into account the membrane undulations. We show that these undulations have the tendency to induce additional attractive forces between anchors, and consequently, the separation transition is accentuated and occurs at high temperature. Quantitatively, we show that the membrane undulations contribute with an extra positive segregation parameter χ_m > 0 , which scales as χ_m κ^-2 , where κ is the bending rigidity constant. Therefore, the attraction phenomenon between species of the same kind is significant only for those membranes of small bending rigidity constant. Finally, the study is extended to the case where the lengths of the anchored polymer chains are randomly distributed. To achieve calculations, we choose a length distribution of fractal form. The essential conclusion is that the polydispersity increases the size of domains alternatively rich in phospholipids and anchors.     

Electrical and optical properties of amorphous Te40As38Ge10Si12 thin films

Electrical, optical and structural, properties, of Te₄₀As₃₈Ge₁₀Si₁₀ thin films were studied. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that these films are in an amorphous state. The dark electrical resistivity of Te₄₀As₃₈Ge₁₀Si₁₂ films was measured at room temperature and at elevated temperature. The thermal activation energy E was determined. The optical constants (refractive index n and absorption index k) of such films were determined in the spectral range of 0.5–2.0 m. The absorption coefficient () of this system was also determined using the known equation =4k/. The refractive index n has anomalous behaviour near the absorption edge. Analysis of the absorption spectrum reveals indirect optical transitions. The corresponding forbidden-band width was determined. Its value is approximately twice the thermal activation energy.     

Large near resonance third order nonlinearity in GaN

We have studied third order nonlinearities, including two-photon absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index n ₂, of GaN in below bandgap ultraviolet (UV) wavelength regime by using UV femtosecond pulses. Two-photon absorption was investigated by demonstrating femtosecond UV pulsewidth autocorrelation in a GaN thin film while femtosecond Z-scan measurements revealed information for both n ₂ and . The distribution of n ₂ versus wavelength was found to be consistent with a model described by the quadratic Stark effect, which is the dominant factor contributed to the nonlinear refractive index near the bandgap. Large on the order of 10 cm/GW and large negative n ₂ with a magnitude on the order of several 10^–12 cm²/W were obtained. The at near mid-gap infrared (IR) wavelength was also found to be on the order of several cm/GW by using two-photon-type autocorrelations in a GaN thin film. Taking advantage of the large two-photon absorption at mid-gap wavelengths, we have demonstrated excellent image quality on two-photon confocal microscopy, including two-photon-scanning-photoluminescence imaging and two-photon optical-beam-induced current microscopy, on a GaN Hall measurement sample and an InGaN green light emitting diode.     

The Peierls transition of Perylene radical cation salts with 2:1 stoichiometry containing tetrahydrofuran

Crystal structure, microwave conductivity and static magnetic susceptibility were analyzed for the conducting perylene (PE) radical cation salts of nominal composition (PE)₂(PF₆)_1–x (AsF₆) _x ·2/3 THF for 0x1. Crystallographic phase transitions in the high-temperature metal phase were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and electron spin resonance. The Peierls transition occuring at 100–120 K (depending onx) and the opening of the energy gap in the semiconductor phase were determined from the magnetic data. The dependence of these properties on the size of the complex anions and the packing of the PE molecules is discussed.     

Dynamics of nonspecific adsorption of insulin to erythrocyte membranes

Molecules may arrive at targets (receptors, enzymes, etc.) localized on a membrane surface by first adsorbing onto the surface and then surface diffusing to the targets. The flux rate of molecules arriving at targets via this mechanism depends on the surface diffusion coefficient of the molecules and, in some circumstances, on the adsorption/desorption kinetics. The technique of total internal reflection with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (TIR-FRAP) was used here to study these rate parameters of fluorescein-labeled insulin (f-insulin) interacting with erythrocyte ghosts. Ghosts were adhered to polylysine coated slides for TIR illumination. Some ghosts became flattened and unsealed on the polylysine so that both extracellular and cytoplasmic sides of the membrane were openly exposed to the solution. An aluminum thin film between the polylysine and the fused silica of a slide quenched background fluorescence from f-insulin adsorbed directly onto the polylysine. An interference fringe pattern from two intersecting and totally internally reflecting laser beams provided surface-selective excitation with a spatial variation of illumination intensity across a ghost for surface diffusion measurements. Measured characteristic values of desorption rate constants ranged from 0.043 to 270 s^–1. According to a preexisting theoretical model, the largest desorption rate constant in this range would result in some increase in the total flux rate to a perfect sink target due to capture from the surface, provided that the surface diffusion coefficient was about 10^–8 cm²/s. However, based on TIR-FRAP measurements on our system, we estimate that the surface diffusion coefficient is less than about 5×10^–10 cm²/s. The combination of novel techniques presented here may prove valuable to other workers seeking to make diffusive and chemical kinetic rate parameter measurements of biomolecules at biological cell membranes.     

Quenching of perylene fluorescence by Co2+ ions in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles

We report the fluorescence quenching of perylene by CoCl₂·6H₂O in small unilamellar DPPC vesicles via energy transfer. At the probe-to-lipid ratio of 1200 and quencher to lipid ratios of 12.51, donor-donor energy transfer between clustered perylene molecules was observed as well as energy transfer from the perylene molecules to cobalt ions bothabove andbelow the main phase transition temperature of the lipid. The fluorescence quenching of perylene by CoCl₂·6H₂O in the lipid gel state is shown to be well described by Förster long-range energy transfer when both donor-donor and donor-acceptor energy transfer are considered. In the liquid crystalline phase diffusion of the molecules is described as well as energy transfer. The interaction radiusR ₀ for energy transfer from perylene to Co²⁺ is found to be 13.4±1.1 Å in the gel phase at 303 K, in good agreement with the theoretical value forR ₀ of 13.9 Å. In the liquid crystalline phase at 323 K the lower value obtained forR ₀, 11.3±1.6 Å, is attributed to saturation of the Co²⁺ ions at the interfacial region of the bilayer. A diffusion coefficient of (1.06±0.15)×10^–6 cm² s^–1 is obtained for perylene-cobalt diffusion in the liquid crystalline phase at 323K.     

Effects of thickness on the infrared optical properties of Ba<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ferroelectric thin films

Using infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE), the optical properties of the Ba_0.9Sr_0.1TiO₃ (BST) ferroelectric thin films with different film thicknesses on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates prepared by a modified sol-gel method have been investigated in the 2.5–12.6 m wavelength range. By fitting the measured ellipsometric parameter ( and ) data with a three-phase model (Air/BST/Pt) and the classical dispersion relation for the BST thin films, the optical constants and thicknesses of the thin films have been obtained. The average thickness of the single layer decreases with increasing film thickness. The refractive index of the BST films decreases with increasing thickness in the wavelength range 2.5–11 m, and increases with increasing thickness in the wavelength range 11–12.6 m. However, the extinction coefficient of the BST films monotonously decreases with increasing thickness. It is closely associated with the crystallinity of the thin films, the crystalline size effect and the influence of the interface layer. The absorption coefficient of the BST films with different thicknesses decreases with increasing thickness. PACS 77.55.+f; 78.20.Ci; 78.30.Am; 81.70.Fy; 81.40.Tv     

Examples of optimal orthogonal systems of functions for the microwave absorption coefficient and refractive index

Systems of orthogonal vectors are determined, providing an optimal (in the statistical sense) approximation of the vertical distributions of the molecular absorption coefficient at characteristic microwave wavelengths associated with atmospheric windows and the absorption resonances of O₂ and H₂O, as well as the distribution of the refractive index of the atmosphere in the range 1 mm. Certain properties of the orthogonal vectors are analyzed.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 21, No. 12, pp. 1742–1749, December, 1978.The authors are indebted to M. B. Zinicheva for running the computer calculations of the correlation matrices.     

Laser desorption jet-cooling of organic molecules

Laser desorption followed by jet-cooling allows wavelength-selective as well as mass-selective detection of molecules desorbed from a surface without fragmentation. The cooling characteristics and detection sensitivity of laser desorption jet-cooling of organic molecules are investigated. From the rotational contour of the electronic origin of the S ₁ S ₀ transition of laser-desorbed anthracene, rotational cooling to 5–10 K is demonstrated. Vibrational cooling is studied for laser-desorbed diphenylamine, a molecule with low-energy vibrations, and a vibrational temperature below 15 K is found. The absolute detection sensitivity is determined for the perylene molecule. Using two-color (1+1) resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (with a measured ionization efficiency of 0.25) for detection, it is found that one ion is produced in the detection region for every 2×10⁵ perylene molecules evaporated from the desorption laser spot. A two-color (1+1) REMPI spectrum (400 points) of perylene is recorded using only 30 picogram of material.     

Hidden symmetry breaking and the Haldane phase inS=1 quantum spin chains

We study the phase diagram ofS=1 antiferromagnetic chains with particular emphasis on the Haldane phase. The hidden symmetry breaking measured by the string order parameter of den Nijs and Rommelse can be transformed into an explicit breaking of aZ ₂×Z ₂ symmetry by a nonlocal unitary transformation of the chain. For a particular class of Hamiltonians which includes the usual Heisenberg Hamiltonian, we prove that the usual Néel order parameter is always less than or equal to the string order parameter. We give a general treatment of rigorous perturbation theory for the ground state of quantum spin systems which are small perturbations of diagonal Hamiltonians. We then extend this rigorous perturbation theory to a class of diagonally dominant Hamiltonians. Using this theory we prove the existence of the Haldane phase in an open subset of the parameter space of a particular class of Hamiltonians by showing that the string order parameter does not vanish and the hiddenZ ₂×Z ₂ symmetry is completely broken. While this open subset does not include the usual Heisenberg Hamiltonian, it does include models other than VBS models.     

Optical properties of cuprous telluride films

The structure of vacuum-deposited cuprous telluride Cu₂Te films deposited on carbon substrates was observed by means of an electron microscope. Films on glass substrates were also investigated by X-ray diffraction. The optical constants (the refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k) of Cu₂Te thin films were determined from the measured transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence of light in the wavelength range 0.4 m to 2.5 m. The variation of the optical constants with thickness for different evaporated films have been determined.     

Anomalies of the refractive index and the optical energy gap of ferroelectric Pb1−x Ge x Te

The refractive index and the optical energy gap of Pb_1–x Ge _x Te (0x0.11) have been determined from transmission- and reflectivity measurements in the temperature range from 4.2 K to 300 K. At the ferroelectric phase transition a change of the temperature coefficient of both quantities is observed. A two bandk·p model calculation demonstrates a correlation of the optical energy gap with the high frequency dielectric constant. For higher values ofx (x=0.09) a splitting of absorption edge and birefringence have been observed.     

Anisotropy of the refractive index and electro-optical effect in Tl<Subscript>1–x</Subscript>Ag<Subscript>x</Subscript>GaSe<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystals (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 0.025)

Anisotropy of the refractive index and electro-optical effect in Tl_1–xAg_xGaSe₂ crystals (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.025) is studied. It is shown that the refractive indices increase as they approach the intrinsic absorption band. It is established that when light and an external electric field are directed along a selected c crystallographic axis, the electro-optical effect is quadratic; if the field is oriented perpendicular to the c axis and light propagates along the latter, the electro-optical effect is linear.     

Bent waveguide with a high index reflector on LiNbO3

An abrupt bend structure with a corner reflector on LiNbO₃ is proposed. In the proposed structure, a region whose refractive index is higher than that of the substrate is placed at the corner of the bend. The interface between the substrate and the high index region is used as a reflector for the guided wave. The calculated normalized transmission power is about 94% even when the bend angle is 10.     

The temperature dependence of the refractive index of an aqueous suspension of polystyrene microspheres

We report an experimental measurement, based on an interferometric technique, for the determination of the temperature dependence of the refractive index n _L of a liquid suspension of dielectric spheres in the thermal range 20–52° C. In this range we have measured values of n _L /T of order of magnitude 10^–4° C^–1. The observed values are compared with those obtained for water.     

Ratio of aerosol backscatter to extinction coefficients as determined from angular scattering measurements for use in atmospheric lidar applications

Wavelength dependence as well as relative humidity dependence of aerosol extinction to backscatter ratio was examined. The extinction to backscatter ratio is essential in solving lidar signal and was estimated from aerosol size distribution and refractive index (which were derived from angular light scattering measurements) using the Mie scattering theory. The extinction to backscatter ratios were calculated for wavelengths of 355 nm, 532 nm, 694 nm and 1064 nm, the major laser wavelengths used for lidars, where the refractive indices were assumed to be constant with wavelength. p ]When relating the aerosol extinction ₁ to the backscatter ₁ with a functional form of _{1 1} k ₁, the exponentk ₁ was evaluated by the least square method and tabulated for the four wavelengths. The extinction to backscatter ratio defined asS ₁= ₁/ ₁ was calculated and their dependence on the wavelength and relative humidity was examined. Their dependence on the relative humidity is small whileS ₁ in the average takes the value of 66 (±17), 60 (±13), 52 (±13) and 42 (±11) for the wavelengths 355 nm, 532 nm, 694 nm and 1064 nm, respectively     

Thermodynamic properties of the spin-Peierls transition in CuGeO3

We present an investigation of the spin-Peierls transition atT _SP=14.5 K in polycrystalline CuGeO₃ through specific-heat and thermal-expansion measurements. Clear second-order phase-transition anomalies are found in both properties atT _SP, although only a small entropy of S0.1 Rn2 is released at the transition. Most of the entropy is released atT _SP<T<150 K, where the temperature dependence of the magnetic contribution to the specific heat as well as the thermal expansion exhibit extrema atT ^*40 K. These are caused by one-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuations along the Cu chains, possibly accompanied by structural fluctuations. Using Ehrenfest's relation, a hydrostatic pressure coefficient (T _SP/_p)_p0 (0.45±0.06) K/kbar is derived.     

Cd13P4S22I2 — a new holographic recording material

Holographic recording and erasure experiments in Cd₁₃P₄S₂₂I₂ crystals are reported. The refractive index change of the volume phase hologram is larger than n=1.5×10^–4, whereas the static dielectric constant of this reversible storage medium is only about 10. These are rather unusual properties if compared with electrooptic KNbO₃.     

Mo6S6 nanowires: structural, mechanical and electronic properties

The properties of nanowires were investigated with ab initio calculations based on the density-functional theory. The molecules build weakly coupled one-dimensional chains, like and Mo₆S_9-xI_x, and the crystals are strongly uniaxial in their mechanical and electronic properties. The calculated moduli of elasticity and resilience along the chain axis are c₁₁ = 320 GPa and E_R = 0.53 GPa, respectively. The electronic band structure and optical conductivity indicate that the crystals are good quasi-one-dimensional conductors. The frequency-dependent complex dielectric tensor ε, calculated in the random-phase approximation, shows a strong Drude peak in ε_∥, i.e., for the electric field polarised parallel to the chain axis, and several peaks related to interband transitions. The electron energy loss spectrum is weakly anisotropic and has a strong peak at the plasma frequency ħω_p ≈20 eV. The stability analysis shows that is metastable against the formation of the layered .     

Effect of pressure on intersubband optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes in a V-groove quantum wire

In this paper, the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the intersubband optical absorption and the refractive index changes in a GaAs/Ga_1−xAl_xAs ridge quantum wire are studied. We use analytical expressions for the linear and third-order nonlinear intersubband absorption coefficients and refractive index changes obtained by the compact-density matrix formalism. The linear, third-order nonlinear, and total intersubband absorption coefficients and refractive index changes are investigated at different pressures as a function of photon energy with known values of width wire (b$b$), the incident optical intensity (I$I$), and the angle θ$\theta$. According to the results obtained from the present work, we have found that the pressure plays an important role in the intersubband optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes in a V-groove quantum wire.