High-order harmonic generation enhanced by XUV light

The combination of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with resonant XUV excitation of a core electron into the transient valence vacancy that is created in the course of the HHG process is investigated theoretically. In this setup, the first electron performs a HHG three-step process, whereas the second electron Rabi flops between the core and the valence vacancy. The modified HHG spectrum due to recombination with the valence and the core is determined and analyzed for krypton on the 3d→4p resonance in the ion. We assume an 800?nm laser with an intensity of about 10(14)?W/cm2 and XUV radiation from the Free Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH) with an intensity in the range 10(13)-10(16)W cm2. Our prediction opens perspectives for nonlinear XUV physics, attosecond x rays, and HHG-based spectroscopy involving core orbitals.     

Nonlinear ultrasonic standing waves: two-dimensional simulations in bubbly liquids

We present the results of numerical predictions for analyzing the behavior of nonlinear ultrasonic standing waves in two-dimensional cavities filled with bubbly liquids. The model we solve accounts for nonlinearity, dissipation, and dispersion of the two-dimensional media due to the bubbles. The numerical simulations are based on a finite-difference scheme. They consider the bubbles evenly distributed in the liquid. Results are shown for high-amplitude signals. They make it possible to observe how the linear modes turn into multi-frequency nonlinear fields.     

Low-frequency noise from large wind turbines

As wind turbines get larger, worries have emerged that the turbine noise would move down in frequency and that the low-frequency noise would cause annoyance for the neighbors. The noise emission from 48 wind turbines with nominal electric power up to 3.6 MW is analyzed and discussed. The relative amount of low-frequency noise is higher for large turbines (2.3-3.6 MW) than for small turbines (≤ 2 MW), and the difference is statistically significant. The difference can also be expressed as a downward shift of the spectrum of approximately one-third of an octave. A further shift of similar size is suggested for future turbines in the 10-MW range. Due to the air absorption, the higher low-frequency content becomes even more pronounced, when sound pressure levels in relevant neighbor distances are considered. Even when A-weighted levels are considered, a substantial part of the noise is at low frequencies, and for several of the investigated large turbines, the one-third-octave band with the highest level is at or below 250 Hz. It is thus beyond any doubt that the low-frequency part of the spectrum plays an important role in the noise at the neighbors.     

Psychophysical tuning curves for frequencies below 100 Hz

Psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs) were measured for sinusoidal signals with frequency f(s)?= 31.5, 40, 50, 63, and 80 Hz, using sinusoidal and narrowband-noise maskers. For the former, conditions were included where a pair of beating tones was added to reduce the use of cues related to beats. Estimates of each subject's middle-ear transfer function (METF) were obtained from equal-loudness contours measured from 20 to 160 Hz. With decreasing f(s), the PTCs became progressively broadened and markedly asymmetrical, with shallow upper skirts and steep lower skirts. For the sinusoidal maskers, the tips were more irregular than for narrowband-noise maskers or when beating tones were added. For f(s)?= 31.5 and 40 Hz, the tips of the PTCs always fell above f(s). Allowing for the METF so as to infer underlying filter shapes resulted in flatter lower skirts, especially below 40 Hz, and reduced the frequency at the tips for f(s) between 31.5 and 50 Hz; however, the tips did not fall below 40 to 50 Hz. The bandwidths of the PTCs increased with decreasing f(s) below 80 Hz. However, bandwidths remained roughly constant if the METF was included as part of auditory filtering for frequencies below 40 Hz.     

Membranous and cartilaginous vocal fold adduction in singing

While vocal fold adduction is an important parameter in speech, relatively little has been known on the adjustment of the vocal fold adduction in singing. This study investigates the possibility of separate adjustments of cartilaginous and membranous vocal fold adduction in singing. Six female and seven male subjects, singers and non-singers, were asked to imitate an instructor in producing four phonation types: "aBducted falsetto" (FaB), "aDducted falsetto" (FaD), "aBducted Chest" (CaB), and "aDducted Chest" (CaD). The phonations were evaluated using videostroboscopy, videokymography (VKG), electroglottography (EGG), and audio recordings. All the subjects showed less posterior (cartilaginous) vocal fold adduction in phonation types FaB and CaB than in FaD and CaD, and less membranous vocal fold adduction (smaller closed quotient) in FaB and FaD than in CaB and CaD. The findings indicate that the exercises enabled the singers to separately manipulate (a) cartilaginous adduction and (b) membranous medialization of the glottis though vocal fold bulging. Membranous adduction (monitored via videokymographic closed quotient) was influenced by both membranous medialization and cartilaginous adduction. Individual control over these types of vocal fold adjustments allows singers to create different vocal timbres.     

Hippocampal activity during the transverse patterning task declines with cognitive competence but not with age

Background  

The hippocampus is a brain region that is particularly affected by age-related morphological changes. It is generally assumed that a loss in hippocampal volume results in functional deficits that contribute to age-related cognitive decline. In a combined cross-sectional behavioural and magnetoencephalography (MEG) study we investigated whether hippocampal-associated neural current flow during a transverse patterning task - which requires learning relational associations between stimuli - correlates with age and whether it is modulated by cognitive competence.     

The computed force constants and vibrational spectra of cubane

The geometry, complete harmonic force field, and dipole moment derivatives of cubane, C₈H₈, have been calculated at the Hartree-Fock level using a 4–21 Gaussian basis set. The infrared and Raman spectra of cubane and four deuterated derivatives were calculated and compared with previously observed spectra. A set of five scale factors for the calculated force constants was then derived by least-squares fitting of the fundamental vibrational frequencies calculated from the scaled force field to the frequencies obtained by direct experimental measurement. The resulting scaled quantum-mechanical (SQM) force field, containing 73 unique elements, is believed to give an accurate representation of the harmonic vibrational potential of cubane. In most cases, the spectral assignments previously made from purely empirical considerations were confirmed, but a few corrections are proposed. The only major alteration is for an A_2u mode revised to appear at 1030 cm^?1 in the undeuterated molecule. Coriolis constants and approximate infrared intensities are also calculated.