A comparison between optically active CdZnSe/ZnSe and CdZnSe/ZnBeSe self-assembled quantum dots: effect of beryllium

The composition and size of optically active Cd_xZn_1−xSe/ZnSe quantum dots are estimated with a previously developed method. The results are then compared with those obtained for Cd_xZn_1−xSe/Zn_0.97Be_0.03Se QDs. We show that introducing Be into the barrier material enhances both Cd composition and quantum size effect of optically active quantum dots.     

Dual Homogeneous Forms and Varieties of Power Sums

We review the classical definition of the dual homogeneous form of arbitrary even degree which generalizes the well-known notion of the dual quadratic form. Following the ideas of S. Mukai we apply this construction to the study of the varieties parametrizing representations of a homogeneous polynomial as a sum of powers of linear forms.Research supported in part by NSF Grant DMS 0245203.Lecture held in the Seminario Matematico e Fisico on October 15, 2003Received: April, 2004     

Microwave frequency shifting using photon acceleration

Using a Bostick Gun as a plasma source, we have been investigating the effects of a moving plasma front on the frequency of an incident R.F. signal. We have been able to measure frequency shifts of 10 MHz frequency with a 2.6 GHz signal. The density is such that the plasma frequency is well above the transmitter frequency 1.3 meters from the plasma source. No magnetic field is used.     

Graft polymerization of vinyl monomers inside macroporous polyacrylamide gel,cryogel, in aqueous and aqueous‐organic media initiated by diperiodatocuprate(III) complexes

Graft polymerization initiated by diperiodatocuprate(III) complex (Cu(III)) initiator was found to be an effective and convenient method for graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto macroporous polyacrylamide gels, the so‐called cryogels (pAAm‐cryogels). The effect of time, temperature, monomer and initiator concentration during the graft polymerization in aqueous and aqueous‐organic media was studied. The graft polymerization of water‐soluble monomers as [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]‐trimethylammonium chloride, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N‐isopropylacrylamide, and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide proceeds with higher grafting yield in aqueous medium, as compared with that in aqueous‐organic media. Graft polymerization in aqueous‐organic media such as water–DMSO solutions allows grafting of water‐insoluble monomers such as glycidyl methacrylate and N‐tert‐butylacrylamide with high grafting degrees of 100 and 410%, respectively. It was found that the deposition of initiator on the pore surface of cryogels promoted graft polymerization by facilitating the formation of the redox couple Cu(III)‐acrylamide group. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1952–1963, 2006     

Variation of geometric invariant theory quotients

Geometric Invariant Theory gives a method for constructing quotients for group actions on algebraic varieties which in many cases appear as moduli spaces parameterizing isomorphism classes of geometric objects (vector bundles, polarized varieties, etc.). The quotient depends on a choice of an ample linearized line bundle. Two choices are equivalent if they give rise to identical quotients. A priori, there are infinitely many choices since there are infinitely many isomorphism classes of linearized ample line bundles. Hence several natural questions arise. Is the set of equivalence classes, and hence the set of non-isomorphic quotients, finite? How does the quotient vary under change of the equivalence class? In this paper we give partial answers to these questions in the case of actions of reductive algebraic groups on nonsingular projective algebraic varieties. We shall show that among ample line bundles which give projective geometric quotients there are only finitely many equivalence classes. These classes span certain convex subsets (chambers) in a certain convex cone in Euclidean space, and when we cross a wall separating one chamber from another, the corresponding quotient undergoes a birational transformation which is similar to a Mori flip.     

Comparative analysis of (p,d), (d,t) and (3He, α) reactions on13C nucleus

The angular distributions of the (p, d), (d, t) and(³He, ) reactions on¹³C have been analysed within the framework of DWBA in which additional information on nuclear vertex constants was introduced. Although all these reactions seem to be similar single nucleon transfer, their mechanism is shown to be quite different and so is the information extracted thereof. While from the (p, d) reactions spectroscopic factors may be extracted unambiguously, from the (d, t) reactions it is possible to obtain directly the values of vertex constants only, which in turn are consistent with those determined by extrapolation of the experimental cross sections of the (p, d) reactions to the pole.In the case of (³He, ) reactions, however, the analysis indicates inadequacy of the DWBA concerning the calculations of central partial amplitudes. For a more reliable extraction of structural information, besides the correct normalization of peripheral amplitudes, a contribution of more complex mechanisms must be taken into account.     

Nitroxides with two pK values--useful spin probes for pH monitoring within a broad range

A series of 4-dialkylamino-2,5-dihydroimidazole nitroxides with pyridine-4-yl, 4-dimethylaminophenyl or 4-hydroxyphenyl groups in position 2 of the imidazole ring were prepared using the reaction of RMgBr with corresponding 5-dialkylamino-4,4-dimethyl-4H-imidazole 3-oxides. The EPR spectra of the nitroxides were shown to be pH-sensitive due to consecutive protonation of the amidino moiety and the basic group(s) at position 2 of the imidazole ring. The 5,5-dimethyl-4-(dimethylamino)-2-ethyl-2-pyridine-4-yl-2,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-1-oxyl showed a monotonic increase in the isotropic nitrogen hyperfine (hfi) coupling constant alpha(N) of 1 .4 G over a pH range from 2 to 6.5. Such a broad range of pH-sensitivity could be useful for many biophysical and biomedical applications, including pH-monitoring in the stomach.