10-GHz Optical Comb in L-Band Region With Brillouin/Erbium-Doped Fibre Laser

A multiwavelength Brillouin/erbium fibre laser (BEFL) which operates in the long wavelength (L-band) region is demonstrated for potential applications in an L-band wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communication system. The laser configuration consists of a long erbium-doped fibre to enable L-band amplification where two 3-dB couplers take a portion of the generated BEFL signal and re-inject it into the single mode fibre to seed a cascaded BEFL line in the same direction as the first BEFL line. A stable and strong laser comb of up to five lines with 10-GHz spacing has been obtained with a Brillouin pump (BP) of 9.2 mW and a 980 nm pump of 92 mW. The BEFL has shown a broad tuning range with a tuning characteristic for line #1 which is flat over a range greater than 9.9 nm.     

AUTOMATED WIND TUNNEL MEASUREMENTS

It is common practice in power transmission to use bundled overhead electrical conductors because the lower rate of corona discharge, compared with single conductors, makes the bundle attractive for high voltages. However, secondary problems may arise from the vibrations induced by the aerodynamic forces which act on the leeward conductors as a result of their immersion in the wake of a windward conductor. Thus, in addition to possible aeolian and galloping oscillations observed for a single conductor, bundle conductors may also be subjected to wake-induced oscillations. ^1,2 Although extensive research has been done on the aeroelastic behavior of single and bundled conductors which are bare, little is known about the galloping or wake oscillation characteristics of given bundle conductors which, depending upon the environmental conditions during the formation of ice, may have five or so representative shaped cross-sections. One important task involves the aerodynamic quasi-static force and moment measurements in a wind tunnel using full scale conductor cross-sections each of which must be rotated through many angles at different spacings. Such measurements are repetitive as well as tediously time consuming and, hence, are beneficially automated. A reliable, accurate and inexpensive automated apparatus is described in this paper which permits the aerodynamic measurements to be performed efficiently and without intervention. Most importantly, it relieves the operator of the usual responsibility for manually controlling the separation and orientation of the sections as well as the need to manually compensate fluctuations in the free stream air speed. For simplicity, the apparatus is detailed in the context of a twin bundle conductor.     

Phase Transitions in the Early Universe with Negatively Induced Supergravity Cosmological Constant

We consider that the observable cosmological constant is the sum of the vacuum （Avac） and the induced term （Aind - 3m^2/4） with m being the ultra-llght masses （≈ Hubble parameter） implemented in the theory from supergravities arguments and non-minimal coupling. In the absence of a scalar buildup of matter fields, we study its effects on spontaneous symmetry breaking with a Higgs potential and show how the presence of the ultra-light masses yields some important consequences for the early universe and new constraints on the Higgs and electroweak gauge bosons masses.     

Superconductivity and normal state resistivity of Ba0.6K0.4BiO3: an optical phonon approach

We discuss the nature of the pairing mechanism and the physical properties associated with the normal as well as the superconducting state of cubic perovskites Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃using the strong coupling theory. An interaction potential which includes the Coulomb, electron–optical phonon and electron–plasmon interactions is developed to elucidate the superconducting state. A model dielectric function is constructed with these interactions fulfilling thef-sum rule. The screening parameter (μ^* = 0.26) infers the poor screening of charge carriers. The electron–optical phonon strength (λ) estimated as 0.98 is consistent with an attractive electron–electron interaction and supports the moderate to strong coupling theory. The superconducting transition temperature of Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃is then estimated as 32 K. Ziman's formula of resistivity is employed to analyse and compare this with the temperature-dependent resistivity of a single crystal. The estimated contribution from the electron–optical phonon together with the residual resistivity clearly infers a difference when a comparison is made with experimental data. The subtracted data infer a quadratic temperature dependence in the temperature domain (30 ≤ T ≤ 200 K). The quadratic temperature dependence of ρ [ = ρ_exp − (ρ₀ + ρ_e–ph)] is understood in terms of 3D electron–electron inelastic scattering. The presence of these el–el and el–ph interactions allows a coherent interpretation of the physical properties. Analysis reveals that a moderate to strong coupling exists in the Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃system and the coupling of electrons with the high-energy optical phonons of the oxygen breathing mode will be a reason for superconductivity. The implications of the above analysis are discussed.     

Observation and analysis ofE mesons in\bar p p annihilation at rest in H2 gas

Antiproton-proton annihilation at rest in a gaseous H₂ target at NTP into the final state π⁺ π^? K ^± π^? (K ⁰) with an undetectedK ⁰ or \(\bar K^0 \) has been investigated. We observe theE(1420) resonance in the invariant mass spectrum (K ⁰)_miss K ^± π^? with massM _E =1413±8 MeV/c² and widthГ ^E =62 ± 16MeV/c² and find evidence for the production of thef ₁(1285). The absolute branching ratio of \(\bar p\) p → π⁺ π^? E ⁰,E ⁰ →K ₀ ^L K ^± π ^? at (61±6)%P wave annihilation is (3.0±0.9)·10^?4 of all annihilations. The observed suppression of theE production fromP wave with respect to theS wave together with some simple selection rules suggest that the quantum numbers of theE(1420) areJ ^pc=0^?+ and not I⁺⁺.     

Trace element concentration in head hair of the inhabitans of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad area

Instrumental neutron activation analysis technique has been used to determine the concentration levels of 12 trace elements in human head hair samples collected from 105 individuals living in various areas of Rawalpindi-Islamabad. The data show that the average concentrations of Mn, Co, Ag and Au are higher in the female group as compared to the male group. Four individuals were found to have elevated levels of Se due to the use of anti-dandruff shampoos, whereas two individials had elevated levels of Hg.     

Investigating the interface of superhydrophobic surfaces in contact with water

Neutron reflectivity (NR) is used to probe the solid, liquid, vapor interface of a porous superhydrophobic (SH) surface submerged in water. A low-temperature, low-pressure technique was used to prepare a rough, highly porous organosilica aerogel-like film. UV/ozone treatments were used to control the surface coverage of hydrophobic organic ligands on the silica framework, allowing the contact angle with water to be continuously varied over the range of 160 degrees (superhydrophobic) to <10 degrees (hydrophilic). NR shows that the superhydrophobic nature of the surface prevents infiltration of water into the porous film. Atomic force microscopy and density functional theory simulations are used in combination to interpret the NR results and help establish the location, width, and nature of the SH film-water interface.     

Synthesis and characterization of new thermally stable copoly(ester–amide)s from diester–dicarboxylic acids

Three new aromatic diester–dicarboxylic acids containing furan rings, namely, benzofuro[2,3-b]benzofuran-2,9-dicarboxyl-bis-phenyl ester-4,4^′-dicarboxylic acid, benzofuro[2,3-b]benzofuran-2,9-dicarboxyl-bis-phenyl ester-3,3^′-dicarboxylic acid and benzofuro[2,3-b]benzofuran-2,9-dicarboxyl-bis-naphthyl ester-2,2^′-dicarboxylic acid were synthesized by the reaction of benzofuro[2,3-b]benzofuran-2,9-dicarbonyl chloride with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and 3-hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid, respectively. Diester–dicarboxylic acids were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Then, these monomers were converted to aromatic copoly(ester–amide)s by their reaction with various aromatic diamines via the direct polycondensation. These polymers were characterized by viscosity measurements, solubility tests, FT-IR, Ultraviolet and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The polymers with inherent viscosities in the range of 0.16–0.37 dl/g in dimethyl sulfoxide at 30 °C were obtained in high yield. Most of them dissolved readily at room temperature in polar solvents. The synthesized copoly(ester–amide)s possessed glass-transition temperatures from 210–255 °C. The copoly(ester–amide)s exhibited excellent thermal stabilities and had 10% weight loss at temperature above 295 °C under nitrogen atmosphere.     

Stability-Indicating HPTLC Assay for Leuprolide Acetate

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A new stability-indicating HPTLC assay has been established for leuprolide acetate. Silica gel 60F254 was used as stationary phase....