Picosecond study of an electron transfer in the first excited state of dodci

Electron transfer from the first excited singlet state of a polymethine cyanine dye. DODCI, to various electron acceptors (p-benzoquinone,p-dinitrobenzene and methylviologen) was investigated using picosecond fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. The electron transfer to methylviologen was confirmed by conventional nanosecond laser spectroscopy. Its efficiency, as expressed by the ratio k₅/(k₄ + k₅) = 0.07. can be explained by coulombic repulsion in the initial radical pair. On the other hand, although fluorescence quenching by p-BQ and p-DNB is very efficient, no electron transfer was observed.     

Does water condense in carbon pores?

Using grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations of molecular models, we investigate the nature of water adsorption and desorption in slit pores with graphitelike surfaces. Special emphasis is placed on the question of whether water exhibits capillary condensation (i.e., condensation when the external pressure is below the bulk vapor pressure). Three models of water have been considered. These are the SPC and SPC/E models and a model where the hydrogen bonding is described by tetrahedrally coordinated square-well association sites. The water-carbon interaction was described by the Steele 10-4-3 potential. In addition to determining adsorption/desorption isotherms, we also locate the states where vapor-liquid equilibrium occurs for both the bulk and confined states of the models. We find that for wider pores (widths >1 nm), condensation does not occur in the GCMC simulations until the pressure is higher than the bulk vapor pressure, P0. This is consistent with a physical picture where a lack of hydrogen bonding with the graphite surface destabilizes dense water phases relative to the bulk. For narrow pores where the slit width is comparable to the molecular diameter, strong dispersion interactions with both carbon surfaces can stabilize dense water phases relative to the bulk so that pore condensation can occur for P < P0 in some cases. For the narrowest pores studied--a pore width of 0.6 nm--pore condensation is again shifted to P > P0. The phase-equilibrium calculations indicate vapor-liquid coexistence in the slit pores for P < P0 for all but the narrowest pores. We discuss the implications of our results for interpreting water adsorption/desorption isotherms in porous carbons.     

A study of the spectral emissions in laser-irradiated microdot targets at 0.53 and 0.27 μm wavelengths with micron resolution

Using a knife-edge technique, we have determined the spatial extension of H-like and He-like emissions and the time-integrated axial electron density profile in laser-irradiated aluminium microdot targets at 0.53 and 0.25 μm wavelengths with about 3 μm resolution.     

Ultralow emittance, multi-MeV proton beams from a laser virtual-cathode plasma accelerator

The laminarity of high-current multi-MeV proton beams produced by irradiating thin metallic foils with ultraintense lasers has been measured. For proton energies >10 MeV, the transverse and longitudinal emittance are, respectively, <0.004 mm mrad and <10(-4) eV s, i.e., at least 100-fold and may be as much as 10(4)-fold better than conventional accelerator beams. The fast acceleration being electrostatic from an initially cold surface, only collisions with the accelerating fast electrons appear to limit the beam laminarity. The ion beam source size is measured to be <15 microm (FWHM) for proton energies >10 MeV.     

Internal granular dynamics,shear-induced crystallization,and compaction steps

Internal imaging using index matching, and sensitive volume measurement, are used to investigate the spatial order and dynamics of a deep disordered layer of spheres sheared under a fixed load. Shearing triggers a crystallization transition accompanied by a step compaction event. The delay preceding the transition depends strongly on the layer thickness and can require a translation of about 10(5) particle diameters. The mean velocity varies with depth by more than five decades, and its profile is qualitatively altered by the transition.     

On a Degenerate Zakharov System

We establish a local well-posedness result for an initial value problem associated to a Zakharov system arising in the study of laser-plasma interactions. We called this system degenerate due to the lack of dispersion presented in one of the spatial variables. One of the key tools to obtain our results is the presence of appropriate global versions of the so called local smoothing effects inherent to the dispersive character of the model.*Partially supported by CNPq-Brazil.**Partially supported by NSF grant DMS-0140023.     

Picosecond spectroscopy of pinacyanol (1,1′-diethyl2,2′-monocarbocyanine chloride)

Photobleaching and absorption recovery of the fundamental state of pinacyanol have been investigated in different solvents, using a single picosecond pulse. In a viscous solvent, glycerol, the recovery time constant is τ = (330 ± 30) ps which may be compared with the fluorescence lifetime τ = (302 ± 29) ps, as measured using a steak camera. In the lighter alcohols, methanol or isopropanol, the shorter recovery time constant τ < 10 ps indicates a very efficient non-radiative process, internal conversion between the two singlet states involved.     

Determination of mixing time by colourimetric diagnosis—Application to a new mixing system

A method for determining mixing times in a transparent stirred vessel for highly viscous fluids has been developed. The method involves a chemical decolourization with two acid-base indicators and a colourimetric diagnosis of digital images, deduced from a video captured during the mixing process. The advantages of the method developed are:(1) there is no disturbance of the fluid flow, and (2) measuring and determination of the degree of homogeneity is relatively effortless and cheap since it requires only a standard colour camera and commercial software for digital image analysis. This paper describes protocols for carrying this method out. In addition, examples of experimental results obtained for a standard impeller (of the helical ribbon agitator type) and a new piece of mixing equipment are given and discussed.     

Anomalous proximity effect in an inhomogeneous disordered superconductor

By combining very low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy on a TiN film we have observed a nonuniform state comprising of superconducting (S) and normal (N) areas. The local density of states displays a spatial dependence between S and N different from the usual proximity effect. We conclude that mesoscopic fluctuations might play a major role in accordance with recent theories describing superconductor-normal-metal quantum transition.     

Neutron-detected tomography of impurity-seeded superfluid helium

We describe a neutron radiography technique that can be used to map the distribution of 3He impurities in liquid 4He, providing direct and quantitative access to underlying transport processes. Images reflecting finite normal- and superfluid-component 4He velocity fields are presented.