Ergodicity of a Single Particle Confined in a Nanopore

We analyze the dynamics of a gas particle moving through a nanopore of adjustable width with particular emphasis on ergodicity. We give a measure of the portion of phase space that is characterized by quasiperiodic trajectories which break ergodicity. The interactions between particle and wall atoms are mediated by a Lennard-Jones potential, so that an analytical treatment of the dynamics is not feasible, but making the system more physically realistic. In view of recent studies, which proved non-ergodicity for systems with scatterers interacting via smooth potentials, we find that the non-ergodic component of the phase space for energy levels typical of experiments, is surprisingly small, i.e. we conclude that the ergodic hypothesis is a reasonable approximation even for a single particle trapped in a nanopore. Due to the numerical scope of this work, our focus will be the onset of ergodic behavior which is evident on time scales accessible to simulations and experimental observations rather than ergodicity in the infinite time limit.     

Low-loss chalcogenide waveguides on lithium niobate for the mid-infrared

We demonstrate low-loss chalcogenide (As(2)S(3)) waveguides on a LiNbO(3) substrate for the mid-IR wavelength (4.8 μm). Designed for single-mode propagation, they are fabricated through photolithography and dry-etching technology and characterized on a mid-IR measurement setup with a quantum cascade laser. For straight waveguides, propagation loss as low as 0.33 dB/cm is measured and low-loss bends on the order of 100 μm are simulated, with measurement results showing <3 dB for a 250 μm bend radius. The coupling efficiency is estimated to be 81%. In addition, the influences of variations in width and bend radius are also investigated.     

Nuclear ground state spins of short-lived strontium isotopes

Nuclear ground state spins of the odd-mass strontium isotopes between A=79 and 97 were determined by measurements of the hyperfine structure in the ionic transition 5s²S_1/2?5p²P_3/2. The spins of⁹³Sr and⁹⁷Sr are revised to I=5/2 and I=1/2, respectively, while assignments for the remaining isotopes are confirmed.     

The quadrupole moment of the neutron-halo nucleus11Li

The quadrupole moment ratio of⁹Li and¹¹Li was measured by a combination of in-beam laser induced nuclear polarization and Β-NMR in LiNbO₃. The result ¦Q(¹¹Li)/Q(⁹Li)¦=1.14(16) is consistent with cluster models describing¹¹Li as composed of a⁹Li core and a far extended halo of two loosely bound neutrons.     

BEC transition temperature of a dilute homogeneous imperfect Bose gas

The leading-order effect of interactions on a homogeneous Bose gas is theoretically predicted to shift the critical temperature by an amount DeltaT(c) approximately equal to ca(sc)n(1/3)T(0) from the ideal gas result T(0), where a(sc) is the scattering length, n is the density, and c is a pure number. There have been several different theoretical estimates for c. We claim to settle the issue by measuring the numerical coefficient in a lattice simulation of O(2) straight phi(4) field theory in three dimensions-an effective theory which, as observed previously in the literature, can be systematically matched to the dilute Bose gas problem to reproduce nonuniversal quantities such as the critical temperature. We find c = 1.32+/-0.02.     

Vibro-acoustic noise control treatments for payload bays of launch vehicles: Discrete to fuzzy solutions

Sound transmitted through an enclosing structure into a cavity has been minimised by optimising the locations, numbers and properties of tuned mass dampers placed on the structure and Helmholtz resonators placed in the cavity. Most of the results presented in the literature show the effect of a few well selected acoustic or vibration absorbers on simple vibro-acoustic systems, whereas the results presented here indicate the trends that occur when a few absorbers are replaced by a large number. The results indicate that for low numbers of absorbers, the result of the optimal configuration is to reduce the response of discrete modes, and for a large number of absorbers the result of the optimal configuration is a tendency for the vibro-acoustic energy to be smeared over a range of frequencies, which is similar to the results seen in fuzzy structures. The enormous computational task was achieved using a distributed computing network and an asynchronous parallel genetic algorithm.     

Quasi phase matching in GaAs--AlAs superlattice waveguides through bandgap tuning by use of quantum-well intermixing

We report the observation of second-harmonic generation by type I quasi phase matching in a GaAs-AlAs superlattice waveguide. Quasi phase matching was achieved through modulation of the nonlinear coefficient chi((2))(zxy), which we realized by periodically tuning the superlattice bandgap. Second-harmonic generation was demonstrated for fundamental wavelengths from 1480 to 1520 nm, from the third-order gratings with periods from 10.5 to 12.4microm . The second-harmonic signal spectra demonstrated narrowing owing to the finite bandwidth of the quasi-phase-matching grating. An average power of ~110 nW was obtained for the second harmonic by use of an average launched pump power of ?2.3mW .     

Macrolide antibiotics—VIII The absolute configuration of certain centers in neomethymycin, erythromycin and related antibiotics

Neomethymycin (I) has been transformed into “anhydrocycloneomethynolide” (V) which could be degraded via (−)--methyllevulinic acid to (−)--methylsuccinic acid, thus establishing the absolute configuration of positions 4 and 6 in the lactonic acid (XIII). This acid is a common degradation product of methymycin, neomethymycin, pikromycin and narbomycin and there is thus available a standard of absolute configuration for these macrolide antibiotics. By a different sequence of reactions, erythromycin (XXIII) has been converted into (+)--methyllevulinic acid and (+)--methylsuccinic acid. Coupled with earlier results reported in the literature, it is now possible to assign absolute configurations to positions 10 (R) and 8 (R) of erythromycin and this applies most likely also to positions 4 (R) and 2 (S). Attention is called to the biogenetic significance of these observations.     

Anionic Graft Copolymers. ll. Styrene Grafts on EPT Rubbers

Rubbers containing a low level of unsaturation such as EPT may be metalated with a chelate made from s-butyllithium and N,N,N′- N′ -tetramethylethylethylenediamine. The lithiated polymers, reacted with styrene, result in polystyrene graft copolymers. The physical properties are affected by graft level and polystyrene content.