Frequency-dependent linear and non-linear response properties of single carrier quantum dots: Role of effective mass and anharmonicity in the confinement potential

We explore the pattern of frequency-dependent linear and non-linear optical (NLO) response of one electron quantum dots harmonically confined in two dimensions. For some fixed values of transverse magnetic field strength (ω_c), and harmonic confinement potential (ω₀), the influence of effective mass (m^*) of the system and the symmetry breaking anharmonic interaction on the frequency-dependent linear (α), and the first (β), and second (γ) NLO responses of the dot is computed through linear variational route. The investigation reveals interesting roles played by the anharmonic interaction and effective mass in modulating the response properties.     

Localization and Environment of Tryptophans in Different Structural States of Concanavalin A

We have investigated the localization and environment of tryptophan residues in different quaternary and conformational states (tetrameric, dimeric, monomeric and unfolded) of metallized and demetallized concanavalin A (ConA) by selective chemical modification, fluorescence, and phosphorescence. ConA has four tryptophan residues (Trp 40, Trp 88, Trp 109 and Trp 182) per subunit. The pattern of oxidation by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) shows that NBS modifies, in dimer, only Trp 182 which remains inaccessible in tetramer, two (Trp 88 along with Trp 182) in monomer, all four in unfolded form in presence of EDTA, and three (possibly Trp 40 along with Trp 88 and Trp 182) in unfolded form from native or remetallized ConA. Utilizing wavelength-selective fluorescence approach, we have observed a red edge excitation shift (REES) of 6–8 nm for tetramer and dimer. A more pronounced REES (11 nm) is observed for oxidized monomer compared to REES (3 nm) for unoxidized species. Acrylamide quenching shows the Stern-Volmer constant (K_SV) for dimer, monomer, unfolded ConA and unfolded apo-ConA being 3.8, 5.2, 12.8, 14.0 M⁻¹, respectively. Phosphorescence studies at 77 K give more structured spectra, with two (0,0) bands at 406.2 (weak) and 413.2 nm for tetramer. However, a single (0,0) band appears at 413.2 for dimer and 412.6 nm for monomer, while the (0,0) band of the oxidized monomer is red shifted to 414.4 nm. These results may provide important insight into subtlety of organization and environment of tryptophans in the context of folding and structural studies of oligomeric proteins including lectins.     

Regeneration of Dioscorea floribunda plants from cryopreserved encapsulated shoot tips: effect of plant growth regulators

The encapsulation-dehydration protocol for the cryopreservation of in vitro shoot tips of Dioscorea floribunda was optimized. Maximum survival of 87% was obtained when overnight pretreatment with 0.3 M sucrose was followed by encapsulation, preculture in 0.75 M sucrose for 4 d, dehydration in a laminar air flow for 5.5 h, quenching in liquid nitrogen and thawing at 40 degrees C. During recovery growth, 29% shoot formation was obtained when cryopreserved shoot tips were initially cultured for 25 d on a medium with 1.5 mg per liter (-1) BAP, 0.2 mg per liter(-1) NAA and 0.2 mg per liter(-1) GA3 followed by culturing for 15 d on a medium with reduced BAP (1 mg per liter(-1)) but increased NAA (0.5 mg per liter(-1)) and GA3 (0.3 mg per liter(-1)). Finally, transfer on to a medium with further reduced doses of BAP (0.05 mg per liter(-1)) and NAA (0.15 mg per liter(-1)) but without GA3 stimulated production of fully grown plantlets. All plants regenerated without callus formation. Modification of post-thaw culture media with plant growth regulators was essential for regrowth of shoot tips to plantlets.     

Polychromatic intensity point spread function of a birefringent lens

We study the intensity point spread function (IPSF) of a uniaxial birefringent lens sandwiched between two linear polarizers under broadband illumination having flat-top spectral profile. The optic axis of the birefringent crystal is perpendicular to the lens axis. For monochromatic input illumination, a low-power birefringent lens offers enhanced resolution under parallel-polarizers configuration and apodization under crossed-polarizers configuration with a single focus as well. At a relatively high value of birefringence parameter, the proposed system behaves as a double-focus lens. The present communication uses a novel technique to study the effect of polychromatic illumination on the imaging characteristics of birefringent lenses. The studies reveal that the imaging characteristics of the low-power birefrigent lens does not deteriorate considerably under polychromatic illumination. However, for a polychromatic beam with large bandwidth, the imaging behavior of the system having high birefringence parameter deviates appreciably from that under strictly monochromatic illumination. The said system even loses its inherent bi-focal nature due to depolarization of polarized polychromatic light upon passage through the birefringent crystal.     

Studies on binary mixtures of 4-pentyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl with three 4, 4′-di(alkoxy)azoxybenzenes

Eighteen binary mixtures of 4-pentyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5OCB) and 4, 4′-di(alkoxy)azoxybenzenes (nOAB) with n = 5, 6, and 7 at different concentrations have been studied in detail. Over a wide concentration range, induced SmA phase was observed in all the mixtures except in one. In most of the mixtures, the refractive indices no, ne, and Δn lie between the values of pure components. The optical birefringence of the mixtures is found to decrease non-additively with concentration. The molecular polarizability anisotropy and the orientational order parameter <P₂> of the mixtures were calculated. Nature of variation of polarizability anisotropy with concentration is similar to that of Δn. In allmixtures <P₂> is more in smectic phase than in nematic phase and it also shows non-additive behaviour. Observed <P₂> values of the mixtures were compared with McMillan’s and Maier-Saupe theoretical values and good agreement is found in some mixtures. The transition temperatures obtained by fitting <P₂> data to McMillan’s theory agree with the observed values within a few degrees. Ratio of elastic constants K₃₃ and K₁₁ is determined for mixtures having nematic phase and found to diverge at T_NA transition point.     

An ellipsometric investigation of Ag/SiO$\mathsf{_2}$ nanocomposite thin films

Dielectric properties of silver/SiO₂ nanocomposite thin films grown by high-pressure d.c. sputtering technique were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry (300-800 nm). The dielectric behavior of the nanocomposite thin films largely depended on the particle size, its number density and the surrounding environments. The films showed semiconductor-like behavior up to a critical particle size and concentration, beyond which the films exhibited the typical surface plasmon resonance characteristics in their optical properties. The refractive index was also found to have a strong dependence on the particle size and its dispersion in the matrix. The results were found to be consistent with those obtained from UV-VIS optical absorbance data. Bruggeman effective medium theory was used to explain the experimental results.Received: 3 April 2002, Published online: 23 July 2003PACS:   78.67.-n Optical properties of nanoscale materials and structures - 78.67.Bf Nanocrystals and nanoparticles     

Mean Amplitudes of Vibration for Some Linear Gold(I) Complexes

Recently, Braunstein and Clark¹ described the synthesis and vibrational spectra of complexes containing the AuCl₂, AuBr² and AuI₂ ions. In order to obtain a deeper insight into the vibrational properties of these anions it seems interesting to calculate, using the available spectroscopic data, values for the mean amplitudes of vibration and some related quantities.