Fourth-order perturbation theory for the half-filled Hubbard model in infinite dimensions

We calculate the zero-temperature self-energy to fourth-order perturbation theory in the Hubbard interaction U for the half-filled Hubbard model in infinite dimensions. For the Bethe lattice with bare bandwidth W, we compare our perturbative results for the self-energy, the single-particle density of states, and the momentum distribution to those from approximate analytical and numerical studies of the model. Results for the density of states from perturbation theory at U/W = 0.4 agree very well with those from the Dynamical Mean-Field Theory treated with the Fixed-Energy Exact Diagonalization and with the Dynamical Density-Matrix Renormalization Group. In contrast, our results reveal the limited resolution of the Numerical Renormalization Group approach in treating the Hubbard bands. The momentum distributions from all approximate studies of the model are very similar in the regime where perturbation theory is applicable, . Iterated Perturbation Theory overestimates the quasiparticle weight above such moderate interaction strengths.Received: 9 September 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 71.10.Fd Lattice fermion models (Hubbard model, etc.) - 71.27. + a Strongly correlated electron systems; heavy fermions - 71.30. + h Metal-insulator transitions and other electronic transitions     

High-speed wavelength-division multiplexing quantum key distribution system

A high-speed quantum key distribution system was developed with the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technique and dedicated key distillation hardware engines. Two interferometers for encoding and decoding are shared over eight wavelengths to reduce the system's size, cost, and control complexity. The key distillation engines can process a huge amount of data from the WDM channels by using a 1 Mbit block in real time. We demonstrated a three-channel WDM system that simultaneously uses avalanche photodiodes and superconducting single-photon detectors. We achieved 12 h continuous key generation with a secure key rate of 208 kilobits per second through a 45 km field fiber with 14.5 dB loss.     

Microcrystalline composite particles of carbon nanotubes and calcium carbonate

Coprecipitation of urea-melt modified carbon nanotubes and calcium carbonate from an aqueous solution by two methods yielded microcrystalline composite particles. Powders obtained by colloidal crystallization from a supersaturated solution that were isolated and dried soon after precipitation were a mixture of raspberry-shaped and rhombohedral particles. These were shown by infrared and X-ray diffraction analyses to be mainly calcite. Particles that were kept wet for 1 day or longer before being isolated were typically entirely rhombohedral with edge lengths in the range of 5-30 microm. Scanning electron microscopy investigations revealed that the nanotubes were adsorbed on the particle surface and also incorporated into the interior matrix. Removal of the calcium carbonate component by treating the particles with acid yielded nanotube shells whose size and shape reflected those of the original particles.     

One-electron photooxidation and site-selective strand cleavage at 5-methylcytosine in DNA by sensitization with 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone-tethered oligonucleotides

Photosensitized one-electron oxidation was applied to discriminate a specific base site of 5-methylcytosine (mC) generated in DNA possessing a partial sequence of naturally occurring p53 gene, using a sensitizing 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) chromophore tethered to an interior of oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) strands. Photoirradiation and subsequent hot piperidine treatment of the duplex consisting of mC-containing DNA and NQ-tethered complementary ODN led to oxidative strand cleavage selectively at the mC site, when the NQ chromophore was arranged so as to be in close contact with the target mC. The target mC is most likely to be one-electron oxidized into the radical cation intermediate by the sensitization of NQ. The resulting mC radical cation may undergo rapid deprotonation and subsequent addition of molecular oxygen, thereby leading to its degradation followed by strand cleavage at the target mC site. In contrast to mC-containing ODN, ODN analogs with replacement of normal cytosine, thymine, adenine, or guanine at the mC site underwent less amount of such an oxidative strand cleavage at the target base site, presumably due to occurrence of charge transfer and charge recombination processes between the base radical cation and the NQ radical anion. Furthermore, well designed incorporation of the NQ chromophore into an interior of ODN could suppress a competitive strand cleavage at consecutive guanines, which occurred as a result of positive charge transfer. Thus, photosensitization by an NQ-tethered ODN led to one-electron oxidative strand cleavage exclusively at the target mC site, providing a convenient method of discriminating mC in naturally occurring DNA such as human p53 gene as a positive band on a sequencing gel.     

Cage-shaped borate esters with tris(2-oxyphenyl)methane or -silane system frameworks bearing multiple tuning factors: geometric and substituent effects on their Lewis acid properties

Boron complexes that contain new tridentate ligands, tris(o‐oxyaryl)methanes and ‐silanes, were prepared. These complexes had a cage‐shaped structure around a boron center and showed higher Lewis acidity and catalytic activity than open‐shaped boron compounds. The cage‐shaped ligands determined the properties of the borates by altering the geometry and were consistently bound to the metal center by chelation. The synthesized compounds were L?B(OC₆H₄)₃CH, L?B(OC₆H₄)₃SiMe, and its derivatives (L=THF or pyridine as an external ligand). Theoretical calculations suggested that the cage‐shaped borates had a large dihedral angle (C_ipso‐O‐B‐O) compared with open‐shaped borates. The geometric effect due to the dihedral angle means that compared with open‐shaped, the cage‐shaped borates have a greater Lewis acidity. The introduction of electron‐withdrawing groups on the aryl moieties in the cage‐shaped framework increased the Lewis acidity. Substitution of a bridgehead Si for a bridgehead C decreased the Lewis acidity of the boron complexes because the large silicon atom reduces the dihedral angle of C_ipso‐O‐B‐O. The ligand‐exchange rates of the para‐fluoro‐substituted compound B(OC₆H₃F)₃CH and the ortho‐phenyl‐substituted compound B(OC₆H₃Ph)₃CH were less than that of the unsubstituted borate B(OC₆H₄)₃CH. The ligand‐exchange rate of B(OC₆H₄)₃SiMe was much faster than that of B(OC₆H₄)₃CH. A hetero Diels–Alder reaction and Mukaiyama‐type aldol reactions were more effectively catalyzed by cage‐shaped borates than by the open‐shaped borate B(OPh)₃ or by the strong Lewis acid BF₃?OEt₂. The cage‐shaped borates with the bulky substituents at the ortho‐positions selectively catalyzed the reaction with less sterically hindered substrates, while the unsubstituted borate showed no selectivity.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Biodegradable Copolymer,Poly(aspartic acid‐co‐lactic acid)

An amphiphilic biodegradable polymer, poly(aspartic acid‐co‐lactic acid) (PAL), was synthesized by simply heating a mixture of aspartic acid (Asp) and L ‐lactide without additional catalysts or solvents. The unique branched architecture comprising succinimide units and lactic acid units was confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy. A copolymer of sodium aspartate and lactic acid (PALNa) was prepared by reacting PAL with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The PAL was soluble in many organic solvents, while the PALNa was soluble in methanol and water. The hydrolytic degradation behavior of PAL varied with the copolymer composition. A higher Asp content resulted in a faster molecular weight decrease, and introducing glycolic acid units accelerated the degradation rate.

Microphotograph of microsphere of PAL‐1/5.     

TYROSINE-SENSITIZED PHOTODIMERIZATION OF THYMINE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract. Photodimerization of thymine in aqueous solution in the presence of tyrosine was studied with monochromatic UV irradiation. The total dimer formation was sensitized in the presence of tyrosine. The action spectrum of sensitized total dimer formation has a peak near 280 nm corresponding to the absorption maximum of tyrosine. Triplet quenchers reduced the sensitization substantially. It seems probable that tyrosine-sensitized photodimerization of thymine occurred via triplet-triplet energy transfer from tyrosine to thymine.     

Simultaneous ultramicrodetermination of heterogeneous halogens in organic compounds

The simultaneous ultramicrodetermination of heterogeneous halogens in organic compounds was carried out by the potentiometric titration with 0.002 M silver nitrate after the sample was decomposed by the flask combustion method. In examination of the titration, it was found that clear potential break at the end point was obtained by controlling the delivery speed of the titrant at 0.2 ml/min or slower and the temperature of the solution to be titrated at ca. 10 °C when chloride ion is present. The error due to coprecipitation during the titration and the effect of the mole ratio of heterogeneous halide ions in the sample solution was examined and discussed. The analysis of organic halogen compounds resulted in an error of within 0.4% and standard deviation of less than 0.25%.