Influence of Fano interference and incoherent processes on optical bistability in a four-level quantum dot nanostructure

Role of Fano interference and incoherent pumping field on optical bistability in a four-level designed In Ga N/Ga N quantum dot nanostructure embedded in a unidirectional ring cavity are analyzed. It is found that intensity threshold of optical bistability can be manipulated by Fano interference. It is shown that incoherent pumping fields make the threshold of optical bistability behave differently by Fano interference. Moreover, in the presence of Fano interference the medium becomes phase-dependent. Therefore, the relative phase of applied fields can affect the behaviors of optical bistability and intensity threshold can be controlled easily.     

Enhanced Kerr nonlinearity in a quantized four-level graphene nanostructure

In this paper, a new model is proposed for manipulating the Kerr nonlinearity of right-hand circular probe light in a monolayer of graphene nanostructure. By using the density matrix equations and quantum optical approach, the third-order susceptibility of probe light is explored numerically. It is realized that the enhanced Kerr nonlinearity with zero linear absorption can be provided by selecting the appropriate quantities of controllable parameters, such as Rabi frequency and elliptical parameter of elliptical polarized coupling field. Our results may be useful applications in future all-optical system devices in nanostructures.     

Preparation and characterization of polyphosphotungstate/ZrO2 nanocomposite and their sonocatalytic and photocatalytic activity under UV light illumination

Polyoxometalates (POM) supported on zirconia, H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/ZrO_2, were prepared by incorporating polyphosphotungstate into a zirconia matrix via sol-gel technique that involving the hydrolysis of zirconium (IV) n-butoxide, Zr (n-OBu)₄, as the ZrO₂ source. This insoluble and readily separable catalyst was characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), indicating that the polyphosphotungstate was chemically attached to the zirconia supports, and primary Keggin structure remained intact. The photocatalytic and sonocatalytic activity of the supported polyphosphotungstate was tested via degradation of different dyes in aqueous solutions. The POM-ZrO₂ nanocomposite showed higher photocatalytic and sonocatalytic activity than pure polyoxometalate or pure ZrO₂.     

Stochastic optimization of an urban rail timetable under time‐dependent and uncertain demand

Urban rail planning is extremely complex, mainly because it is a decision problem under different uncertainties. In practice, travel demand is generally uncertain, and therefore, the timetabling decisions must be based on accurate estimation. This research addresses the optimization of train timetable at public transit terminals of an urban rail in a stochastic setting. To cope with stochastic fluctuation of arrival rates, a two‐stage stochastic programming model is developed. The objective is to construct a daily train schedule that minimizes the expected waiting time of passengers. Due to the high computational cost of evaluating the expected value objective, the sample average approximation method is applied. The method provided statistical estimations of the optimality gap as well as lower and upper bounds and the associated confidence intervals. Numerical experiments are performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed model and the solution method.     

Excess Molar Enthalpies of Monoethanolamine (MEA) + Primary Alkan-1-ols (C3–C6) and their Fitting with Wilson,NRTL and UNIQUAC Models at 298.15 K

Journal of Solution Chemistry - Excess molar enthalpies, $${H}_{text{m}}^{text{E}}$$ of binary mixtures of monoethanolamine (MEA) with propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol, pentan-1-ol and hexan-1-ol were...     

Stick-slip of the three-phase line in measurements of dynamic contact angles

Contact angles of a series of n-alkanes (i.e., n-heptane to n-hexadecane) are studied on two functionalized maleimide copolymers (i.e., poly(ethene-alt-N-(4-(perfluoroheptylcarbonyl)aminobutyl)maleimide) (ETMF) and poly(octadecene-alt-N-(4-(perfluoroheptylcarbonyl)aminobutyl)maleimide) (ODMF)). On the homogeneous ETMF films, all liquids show a smooth motion of the three-phase line. In contrast, on ODMF surfaces that are found to consist of mainly fluorocarbons and small patches of hydrocarbons, short-chain n-alkanes show a stick-slip pattern. By increasing the chain length of the probe liquids, stick-slip is reduced significantly. The phenomenon is discussed in the framework of the Cassie equation. It is found that the upper limit of contact angles in the stick-slip pattern is given by the advancing angle that would be obtained on the pure fluorocarbon surface, whereas the lower limit of the stick-slip pattern is given by the Cassie angle.     

Conductometric study of complex formation between benzylbisthiosemicarbazone and metal cations in acetonitrile,dimethylformamide, and their binary mixtures

We report on conductometric study of complexation between benzylbisthiosemicarbazone [(2E,2′E)-2,2′-(1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(hydrazine-1-carbothioamide)] with Zn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺ cations at different temperatures in acetonitrile-dimethylformamide binary solvents of varied composition. The equilibrium constant and standard thermodynamic parameters (Δ_c H ⁰ and Δ_c S ⁰) of the complexes formation have been determined and found to be dependent on the binary solvent composition, the metal ion nature, and temperature.     

Electrochemical study of Cu2O/CuO composite coating produced by annealing and electrochemical methods

The electrochemical behavior of a copper oxide electrode produced by annealing and electrochemical methods was studied in an acetonitrile solvent by means of the cyclic voltammetry method. The presence of different peaks of oxidation and reduction produced by repeating the potential scans, numerous variations in the current, and shifts of peak potentials in consecutive cycles have been justified. Voltammograms proved that various oxidation species can be produced in solid-deposited forms of Cu₂O_s and CuO_s and dissolved forms of Cu(II)_sol and Cu(I)_sol ions. The experimental results indicated that higher amounts of Cu₂O_s than CuO_s can be produced in the process of copper electrode annealing. Also, the nature of copper species is responsible for different peak currents in the cyclic voltammograms, characterized by UV–Vis and XRD spectrometric methods.

     

Effect of the thermal treatment conditions on the formation of zinc ferrite nanocomposite, ZnFe2O4, by sol–gel method

Zinc ferrite nanocomposite was synthesized via thermal decomposition of zinc acetate and iron nitrate at three different temperatures (350, 450, and 550 °C). The influence of the thermal decomposition of precursors on the formation zinc ferrites was studied by differential thermal gravimetry and thermogravimetry (TG). The TG curve shows two steps for the thermal decomposition with mass loss of 17.3 % at 78 °C and 63.3 % at 315 °C. The prepared zinc ferrites nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffractograms of ZnFe₂O₄ shows that a crystalline phase, spinel system is formed. SEM micrograph of the zinc ferrite nanocomposite indicates the formation of uniformly spherical 48-nm nanograins. The properties of the zinc ferrite phase were strongly dependent on their calcinations temperature and molar ratio of precursors.