Free vibration characteristics of double-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in an elastic medium

In this Letter, a theoretical analysis of the resonant vibration of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and the DWCNTs embedded in an elastic medium is presented based on Euler-Bernoulli beam model and Winkler spring model. The vibration modes of DWCNTs are quite different from those of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The resonant vibrations of DWCNTs are found to have in-phase and anti-phase modes, in which the deflections of the inner and outer nanotubes occur in the same and opposite directions, respectively. For the vibration of DWCNTs with the same harmonic numbers, the resonant frequencies of anti-phase mode are larger than the ones of in-phase mode. Moreover, influence of the surrounding medium on the resonant vibrations is investigated using the Winkler spring model. The results show that surrounding medium makes a strong impact on the vibration frequencies of in-phase mode, but little on those of anti-phase mode.     

Interaction of highly charged ions with carbon-based materials using Kobe EBIS

Interaction of highly charged ions (HCIs) with surfaces produce various specific phenomena as a consequence of the potential energy that HCI possesses. In the present study, we have observed photon emission, structural, magnetic, and electronic modification on various carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotube by the impact of HCIs using an electron beam ion source named Kobe EBIS installed at the Kobe University. In order to study the potential effect, HCIs of Ar^q+ (q = 6–16) with the intensity of 0.1–1 nA are projected on the surface with a constant kinetic energy (16 keV). For photon emission measurements, we observed spatial and spectral distribution of visible light emission from the surface during irradiation with HCIs. On the other hand, the structural modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) irradiated with HCIs has been analyzed using a transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Irradiation effects on the resistivity of single MWCNT supported on micrometer scale bridge pattern were also measured. We have also measured magnetic structure of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite irradiated with HCIs using electron spin resonance at low temperature. At the present paper, we will review our recent experimental results on the interaction of HCI with various carbon-based materials.     

Quantum interference of Rashba-type spin-split surface state electrons

We studied the quantum interference of electrons in the Bi (p(x), p(y)) orbital-derived j = 1/2 spin-split surface states at Bi/Ag(111)√3 × √3 surfaces of 10 monolayer thick Ag(111) films on Si(111) substrates. Surface electron standing waves were observed clearly at the energy (E) below the intersection of the two spin-split downward dispersing parabola bands (E(x)). The E dependence of the standing wave pattern reveals the dispersion as the average of the two spin-split surface bands due to the interference between |(k + Δ), ↑> and |-(k - Δ), ↑> [or (|(k - Δ), ↓>) and |-(k + Δ), ↓>] states. In contrast, it was impossible to deduce the dispersion from the standing wave pattern at E ≥ E(x) because the surface electron cannot find its backscattered state with the same spin polarization.     

Visual Acuity Depends on Perceived Size

Increasing (or decreasing) the convergence angle can shrink (or expand) the perceived size of an object without changing its retinal size. The present report deals with the question of whether such a change in perceived size affects visual acuity. We investigated the effects of perceived size on the legibility of letters, using a telestereoscope which can control the observer’s convergence angle while keeping the size of the retinal image constant. We demonstrated that letters do become more legible (illegible) as perceived size expands (shrinks), although their retinal size stays constant. Then, we measured the ‘threshold’ size of the convergence angle, at which letters became legible from illegible, for several retinal sizes (0.1 to 0.2 deg) of letters. The result shows that the threshold decreases as the retinal size of letters decreases, so that the minimum retinal size of legible letters depends on the convergence angle. This implicates contributions from the size perception at higher levels of the visual system to the determination of visual acuity.     

Pulsed EPR Analysis of the Photo-Induced Triplet Radical Pair in the BLUF Protein SyPixD: Determination of the Protein–Protein Distance and Orientation in the Oligomeric Protein

A photo-induced radical pair of FADH^· and Y8^· and in BLUF protein SyPixD was studied by pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Blue light illumination at 150 K for 30 min followed by cooling to 50 K during illumination induced the stable radical pair. The EPR signal has been characterized by a Pake doublet signal with complete S = 1 spin state. The radical pair was utilized as a probe to analyze the oligomer of SyPixD. The relative arrangement of PixD proteins in the complex was investigated by pulsed electron–electron double resonance (PELDOR) with the orientation selection. Based on the decameric structure in the crystal, the possible structure for the PELDOR results was discussed.     

On the miscibility gap in liquid bismuth-bismuth tribromide system

We have determined the location of the miscibility gap in liquid Bi-BiBr₃ system in the concentration-temperature, x?T, plane from the measurement of the electrical conductivity. The measurements have been done in the concentration range between 30.5 and 92.5 mol.% Bi and in the temperature range between 300 and 600°C. It is found that the temperature dependence of the conductivity of the mixture changes near the retrograde solubility region.     

Studies of phase characteristics of various photon echoes with a phase sensitive detection method

Various optical coherent transient signals in ruby have been examined by using an optical phase sensitive detection (PSD) technique. The PSD is performed by comparing the phase of the heterodyne beat signals obtained by the Stark switching technique with that of a local oscillator whose frequency is equal to the heterodyne beat frequency. The optical FID, two-pulse photon echoes, radiation locked echoes and notched echoes have been detected as υ-mode signals with small u-mode signals probably due to the asymmetry of the inhomogeneous broadening. The dependence of the phase of the radiation locked and notched echoes upon the driving pulses is also examined. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions based on Bloch equations.     

Microwave spectroscopic study of the SiF radical

The microwave spectrum of the SiF radical was observed in both ${}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and ${}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ of the ground vibronic state. The SiF radical was produced by a dc discharge either in a $\text{SiF}{}_4\text{SiH}{}_4$ mixture or in a transient molecule SiF₂ generated by the reaction of SiF₄ with heated solid silicon. The latter gave twice as intense a spectrum. A least-squares fit to the observed spectrum showed the rotational constant and the centrifugal distortion constant to be 17 350.2752(63) and 0.03188(13) MHz, respectively, with three standard errors in parentheses applying to the last digits of the constants. The lambda-doubling parameter p₀ was found to be negative, ?87.67 MHz, indicating that the ²Σ⁺ excited state contributions dominate over those of ²Σ^?. All four hyperfine coupling constants a, b, c, and d were determined and were employed to discuss the unpaired-electron spin and orbital distributions in the SiF radical.