EXCITED STATES OF DNA AND ITS COMPONENTS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE—III. SPECTRA, POLARISATION AND QUANTUM YIELDS OF EMISSIONS FROM ApA AND poly rA*

Abstract— Corrected normalised emission spectra from 300 to 480 nm and their polarisation are reported for neutral and poly rA at room temperature. Yields are 4 times (ApA) and 6 times (poly rA) greater than the monomer. Comparison of emission spectra and polarisation spectra demonstrates heterogeneity of emission and, following attempts at spectral synthesis, comparison with experimental reference spectra allows the observed total emission spectra to be resolved into four components assigned as I monomer-like emission, II excimer fluorescence, HI monomer phosphorescence, IV excimer phosphorescence; the polarisation of the excimer fluorescences of ApA and poly rA are deduced. The observations can be understood quantitatively using a simple stacking model with excimer emissions originating in the stacked components. Quantitative differences between ApA and poly rA are due to their different hypochromism and extent of stacking. Differences of polarisation are attributed to different stacking geometries, and the directional properties of the transition moment suggest that the excimer fluorescence is largely charge-resonance in nature.     

Die Electronenzustände von Perimeter-π-Systemen: III. Das Elektronenspektrum des 1,6-Methano-[11] annulenium-Kations

The electronic spectra and the polarisation of the transitions have been determined for the 1,6-methano-[11] annulenium cation III and the 4,6-dimethyl-1,2-benzotropylium cation IV. The observed sequence of polarisation of the prominent bands corresponding to the lowest electronically excited states is in agreement with the predictions derived from molecular orbital models of the PARISER -PARR -POPLE type. The influence of partial conjugation between the bridged centre and of the inductive effect of the methylene group in III has been investigated.     

Vibronic spectra of charge transfer excitons and of mixed charge transfer and Frenkel excitons

The linear absorption spectra in the excitonic and vibronic regions in the case of mixing of Frenkel excitons (FEs) and charge-transfer excitons (CTEs) have been theoretically studied for the exciton parameters of the crystals of MePTCDI and PTCDA. Two coupling parameters for the exciton–phonon coupling are introduced: the FE–phonon coupling and the CTE–phonon coupling. The main features of the vibronics in the absorption spectra are the following: (a) the existence of a doublet structure in the vibronic spectra of CTEs; (b) the vibronic levels of the FE at intermediate values of both coupling parameters are located in the continuum of the many-particle exciton–phonon states which makes its absorption line wide and flat; (c) in the case of strong coupling (coupling constants larger than 1) a doublet of bound states appears above this continuum; (d) in the case of vanishing CTE–phonon coupling the vibronics of the charge transfer excitons practically disappear in the absorption spectra.     

Photoluminescence quenching effect on porous silicon films for gas sensors application

Porous silicon (PS) films were investigated by Raman, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies using different laser excitations: 488.0, 514.5, 632.8, and 782.0 nm. The analysis of the first-order and second-order Raman spectra have shown that the band gaps of the PS films are indirect as in the bulk c-Si. The Raman phonon and the PL spectra as well as the spectral distribution of the linear polarisation degree (LPD) of PS layers have shown to be dependent on the laser excitation energy. This dependence cannot be explained within the quantum confinement model. A mechanism for the PL emission in PS layers is presented in which the radiative recombination of electron-hole pairs occurs in localised centres (the Si-O-SiR moieties) at the pore/crystallite interface. These quasi-molecular centres are Jahn-Teller active, i.e. the radiative recombination is a phonon-assisted phenomena. The adsorption of gas molecules on the porous silicon surface was studied throughout photoluminescence quenching effect. The adsorption experiments were performed at 10(-6) bar of pressure using gas molecules of organic solvents. In all these cases, the PL intensity was recovered after gas desorption. The PL quenching effect was explained in the sense of electron transfer mechanism (ET).     

Structural and up-conversion luminescence properties in Tm3+/Yb3+-codoped heavy metal oxide-halide glasses

Tm3+/Yb3+-codoped heavy metal oxide-halide glasses have been synthesized by conventional melting and quenching method. Structural properties were obtained based on the Raman spectra, indicating that halide ion has an important influence on the phonon density and maximum phonon energy of host glasses. Intense blue and weak red emissions centered at 477 and 650 nm, corresponding to the transitions 1G4-->3H6 and 1G4-->3H4, respectively, were observed at room temperature. The possible up-conversion mechanisms are discussed and estimated. With increasing halide content, the up-conversion luminescence intensity and blue luminescence lifetimes of Tm3+ ion increase notably. Our results show that with the substitution of halide ion for oxygen ion, the decrease of phonon density and maximum phonon energy of host glasses both contribute to the enhanced up-conversion emissions.     

Green luminescence band in ZnO: fine structures, electron-phonon coupling, and temperature effect

The green emission band of ZnO has been investigated by both experimental and theoretical means. Two sets of equally separated fine structures with the same periodicity (close to the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon energy of ZnO) are well resolved in the low-temperature broad green emission spectra. As the temperature increases, the fine structures gradually fade out and the whole green emission band becomes smooth at room temperature. An attempt to quantitatively reproduce the variable-temperature green emission spectra using the underdamped multimode Brownian oscillator model taking into account the quantum dissipation effect of the phonon bath is done. Results show that the two electronic transitions strongly coupled to lattice vibrations of ZnO lead to the observed broad emission band with fine structures. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment for the entire temperature range enables us to determine the dimensionless Huang-Rhys factor characterizing the strength of electron-LO phonon coupling and the coupling coefficient of the LO and bath modes.     

Spectroscopic characterization of ambers and amber-like materials

Longitudinal acoustic (LA) phonon of Baltic, Dominican and Kuji ambers, amber-like rosin and synthetic acrylic resin has been investigated by means of Brillouin light scattering (BLS) at room temperature. We observed a pair of LA phonon peaks and a broad quasi-elastic scattering peak in backscattering spectra from ambers. The LA phonon frequencies were found to be 16.97–17.11 GHz for Baltic ambers, 17.23–17.68 GHz for Dominican ambers and 17.70–17.97 GHz for Kuji ambers, respectively. We would like to point out that the LA phonon frequency can be a good physical quantity to specify the amber-producing district. We also present a correlation between the BLS spectrum and infrared absorption spectrum of ambers and amber-like materials.     

Fine structure of the (S(1)<--S(0)) band origins of phthalocyanine molecules in helium droplets

The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectra of free base phthalocyanine (Pc), Mg-Pc, and Zn-Pc molecules in superfluid helium droplets at T=0.38 K have been studied. The spectra reveal the rich vibronic structure of the S(1)<--S(0) electronic transitions. The band origins of the transitions consist of zero phonon lines accompanied by phonon wings, which originate from simultaneous electronic excitation of the molecule and excitation of the collective modes of the helium surrounding it. The phonon wings have discrete structures suggesting localization of some helium atoms in the neighborhood of the molecules. Zero phonon lines of Mg-Pc and Zn-Pc molecules are split into three components, which are separated by 0.2-0.4 cm(-1). Possible mechanism of splitting involves static or dynamic Jahn-Teller interaction of metal-phthalocyanine molecules in the twofold degenerate S(1)((1)E(u)) state with the helium shell.     

Electron spin emission phenomena

A brief review of a method that has been used to observe transient ESR signals from short-lived radicals generated photolytically is presented. At short intervals emission spectra are observed, which in the cases studied (aromatic carbonyls in paraffins) show virtually no multiplet effect. One application of this observation is to the direct determination of electron spinlattice relaxation times in liquids. Some of the theoretical problems connected with the polarisation process are described, with particular reference to the role of radical re-encounters. Some simple analytical expressions for the polarisation are presented.     

Fluorescence-resolved hole burning of squaraine dyes in polymer matrices at low temperature

A new technique that combines nonphotochemical hole burning with multichannel detected fluorescence line narrowing has been used to obtain vibrationally resolved fluorescence spectra of squaraine chromophores in polymer matrices at 1.4 K. At a fixed excitation frequency, the intensities of the zero-phonon lines decay with time due to nonphotochemical hole burning, leaving behind a broader background attributed to emission from molecules excited into phonon sidebands. Subtracting the spectrum of the hole-burned sample from the initial one leaves predominantly a zero-phonon line excited spectrum exhibiting enhanced vibrational structure. Spectra of the same squaraine in polystyrene and polyethylene matrices show differences in the frequencies and intensities of the phonon sidebands, indicating differences in the frequencies and strengths of the matrix modes coupled to the electronic transition of the chromophore. The phonon densities of states inferred through different measurement techniques are compared and related to electronic dephasing rates.     

Enhanced and normal Raman scattering from pyridine adsorbed on rough and smooth silver electrodes

A multiplex spectrograph has been used to record potential difference and modulation Raman spectra of pyridine adsorbed on silver electrodes in an electrochemical cell. Spectra have been obtained from rough silver surfaces which give SERS and from surfaces where SERS has been diminished by prolonged cathodic polarisation (DSERS). Raman scattering from pyridine at smooth silver surfaces in potassium perchlorate and fluoride solutions has been distinguished from solution scatter by a potential modulation technique. The results show that the enhanced scattering caused by silver atom or cluster sites is respresentative of the surface as a whole as similar Raman spectra are obtained on smooth surfaces at a count rate as low as ?1.4 photons s^?1 (incident laser power 500 mW).Correlation of simultaneous differential capacitance data and “snapshot” SER spectra indicate that pyridine molecules in aqueous chloride ion solutions adsorb on silver in a flat π-bonded configuration at potentials markedly positive to the point of zero charge and exhibit specific reorientation at ?0.3 V and ?0.45 V (vs. SCE) to become N-bonded, perpendicular to the surface. Results also show that the adsorption behaviour of pyridine in chloride and fluoride ion solutions is largely similar.     

High pressure study on the phonon spectra and thermal properties in hafnium nitride and zirconium nitride

We report ab initio calculations of the thermal properties for transition metal nitrides, hafnium and zirconium nitride at ambient and high pressures. The assessment of thermodynamical properties like lattice specific heat, vibrational energy, internal energy and entropy for two nitrides has been carried out. The basic calculations of ingredient phonon density of states for the determination of thermal properties have been done using density functional perturbation theory including external perturbations like strains and electric fields in periodic systems. The ground state properties such as equilibrium lattice constants and bulk modulus obtained for two nitrides are in good agreement with the available experimental value. The calculated pressure variation of the phonon density of states shows trend similar to the experimental pressure dependent Raman spectra. The lattice specific heat, internal energy, entropy and Helmholtz energy increases with pressure.     

Hyperfine structure in low-lying levels of PtII,AuII and BiII

Far UV lines in the spectra of PtII, AuII and BiII emitted by a hollow-cathode lamp exhibit Fabry-Perot patterns, which are used for determining the hyperfine structure of the low-lying levels of these three spectra and the isotopic shifts in five lines of PtII. The experimental data are compared with those computed through the relativistic Dirac-Fock method. The effect of spin polarisation is discussed. In the case ofd electrons the Hartree-Fock method with spin polarisation is used for explaining the large ratio between the spin polarisation and relativistic effects.     

A Raman study of multiferroic LuMnO3

Magnetic and dielectric measurements confirm the multiferroic nature of LuMnO₃. Raman spectra of LuMnO₃ have been recorded in the 77–800 K range covering both the antiferromagnetic transition at 90 K and the ferroelectric–paraelectric transition at 750 K. The changes in the phonon modes frequencies and band-widths indicate the presence of phonon–spin coupling in the antiferromagnetically ordered phase. The ferroelectric–paraelectric transition is accompanied by the broadening and disappearance of many of the phonon modes. Some of the phonon modes also show anomalies at the ferroelectric transition.     

Terahertz absorption of DNA decamer duplex

This work combines experimental and theoretical approaches to investigate terahertz absorption spectra of the DNA formed by the sequence oligomer 5'-CCGGCGCCGG-3'. The three-dimensional structure of this self-complimentary DNA decamer has been well-studied, permitting us to perform direct identification of the low-frequency phonon modes associated with specific conformation and to conduct comprehensive computer simulations. Two modeling techniques, normal-mode analysis and nanosecond molecular dynamics with explicit solvent molecules, were employed to extract the low-frequency vibrational modes based on which the absorption spectra were calculated. The absorption spectra of the DNA decamer in aqueous solution were measured in the frequency range 10-25 cm(-1) using the terahertz Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Multiple well-resolved and reproducible resonance modes were observed. When calculated and experimental spectra were compared, the spectrum based on molecular dynamics simulations showed a better correlation with the experimental spectra than the one based on normal-mode analysis. These results demonstrate that there exist a considerable number of active low-frequency phonon modes in this short DNA duplex.     

Correction of the influence of baseline artefacts and electrode polarisation on dielectric spectra

The deconvolution of biological dielectric spectra can be difficult enough with artefact-free spectra but is more problematic when machine baseline artefacts and electrode polarisation are present as well. In addition, these two sources of anomalies can be responsible for significant interference with dielectric biomass measurements made using one- or two-spot frequencies. The aim of this paper is to develop mathematical models of baseline artefacts and electrode polarisation which can be used to remove these anomalies from dielectric spectra in a way that can be easily implemented on-line and in real-time on the Biomass Monitor (BM). We show that both artefacts can be successfully removed in solutions of organic and inorganic ions; in animal cell and microbial culture media; and in yeast suspensions of varying biomass. The high quality of the compensations achieved were independent of whether gold and platinum electrodes were used; the electrode geometry; electrode fouling; current density; the type of BM; and of whether electrolytic cleaning pulses had been applied. In addition, the calibration experiments required could be done off-line using a simple aqueous KCl dilution series with the calibration constants being automatically calculated by a computer without the need for user intervention. The calibration values remained valid for a minimum of 3 months for the baseline model and indefinitely for the electrode polarisation one. Importantly, application of baseline correction prior to polarisation correction allowed the latter's application to the whole conductance range of the BM. These techniques are therefore exceptionally convenient to use under practical conditions.     

Optical studies of the electronphonon interaction in the pyrene-PMDA complex

Low temperature phosphorescence spectra of pyrene-PMDA (pyromellitic acid dianhydride) imbedded in a naphthalene-PMDA host crystal are reported. The spectra exhibit resolved zero-phonon and multi-phonon structure which is significant since the phosphorescent state is characterized by ≈36% charge-transfer character. Several different phonons contribute to the structure with the dominant phonon having ground and excited state (from hot band analysis) frequencies of 25 and 15 cm^?1. The linear electronphonon coupling strength for the 25cm^?1 phonon is computed. This phonon is tentatively assigned to rotational motion of the rigid complex. Linewidth data yield a relaxation time of 0.4 ps at 2 K for the 25 cm^?1 phonon which is believed to be a pseudolocalized or resonant mode.     

Site-selective fluorescence and hole-burning spectroscopy of MTHF glasses doped with tetracene or pentacene

Site-selective fluorescence spectra of tetracene (TC) doped in a MTHF glass have been recorded as a function of excitation energy. Based upon the true inhomogeneous absorption profile of the TC S₁ ← S₀ origin determined via vibrational ZP emission intensities the true phonon wing has been evaluated employing an iterative numerical spectral convolution procedure. It is found that both phonon spectra and Debye-Waller factor are virtually constant (α = 0.55 ± 0.08) across the inhomogeneous absorption band as are hole-burning yields in MTHF:TC glasses if probed in the zero-phonon line fluorescence excitation mode. It is concluded that the distributions of both the rate constant for NPHB and the strength of electron-phonon coupling are uncorrelated with the electronic site excitation energies.     

Charge transfer interaction and terahertz studies of a nonlinear optical material L-glutamine picrate: A DFT study

Charge transfer interaction, vibrational spectra, and DFT computation of l-glutamine picrate has been analyzed. The equilibrium geometry, bonding features, and harmonic vibrational wavenumbers have been investigated with the help of B3LYP density functional theory method. The natural bond orbital analysis confirms the occurrence of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the molecule. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy was used to detect the absorption spectra in the frequency range from 0.025 to 2.8 THz. The vibrational modes found in molecular crystalline materials should be described as phonon modes with strong coupling to the intramolecular vibrations.     

Electrically tunable photo-aligned two-dimensional liquid crystal polarisation grating

Two-dimensional liquid crystal polarisation grating based on twist liquid crystal has been demonstrated and fabricated by polarisation holography in this paper. The maximal diffraction efficiency of the second order is up to 90%. And the two-dimensional liquid crystal polarisation grating has the properties of electrically tenability and polarisation tenability. The two-dimensional polarisation grating diffracts light into a spot array. Different direction diffraction light is with different polarisation states. The intensity of the different orders diffraction light is optically controlled.