Field optimized initial state based control of photodissociation

A new scheme for controlling photodissociation through preparation of a variationally optimized linear superposition of field free vibrational eigenstates is applied for selective control of IBr and HI dissociation. The dependence of photodissociation on various field parameters and initial conditions is examined to investigate the mechanistic basis of selective control. The parametric equations of motion approach for determining vibrational dynamics as a function of field parameters without having to solve the time dependent Schrödinger equation explicitly for each field parameter separately is outlined and its use to identify field characteristics which will provide the requisite population mix represented by the optimal linear superposition of vibrational states is advocated.     

Comparative study of holographic recording in cholesteric and nematic azo-containing side-chain polymers

For the first time a comparative study of holographic recording in planarly oriented films of nematic and cholesteric azobenzene-containing polymers was performed. The influence of temperature and light intensity on the values of diffraction efficiencies of holographic gratings was investigated. The kinetics of grating relaxation at different temperatures was studied. It was shown that the helical supramolecular structure of cholesteric copolymer causes a significant decrease of the diffraction efficiency in comparison with the one observed for the nematic state of the homopolymer.     

Positive scalar curvature in dim⩾8

We announce a first series of new results and techniques extending the scope of applications of minimal hypersurfaces in scalar curvature geometry. For instance, the restriction to dimensions ?7 which arises from subtle analytic problems in higher dimensions is entirely removed. To cite this article: J. Lohkamp, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 343 (2006).     

Synthesis and antibody conjugation of magnetic nanoparticles with improved specific power absorption rates for alternating magnetic field cancer therapy

Bionized nanoferrite (BNF) particles with high specific power absorption rates were synthesized in the size range of 20–100 nm by high-pressure homogenization for targeted cancer therapy with alternating magnetic fields. Several strategies were used to conjugate antibodies to the BNF particles. These strategies were compared using an immunoassay to find optimal conditions to reach a high immunoreactivity of the final antibody–particle conjugate.     

Molecular addressing? Studies on light-induced reorientation in liquid-crystalline side chain polymers

Polarized light leads to an effective reorientation of the optic axis in the glassy state of liquid-crystalline side chain polymers containing azobenzene mesogenic groups, via a trans-cis and cis-trans isomerization. Using a combination of U V and IR dichroitic studies it is shown for copolymers consisting of chromophores (azobenzene) and non-chromophores (phenylbenzoate) that only the chromophores are reoriented by light as far as the glassy state is concerned. Individual chromophores are thus addressed by photoselection. Photoselection in the fluid nematic state, on the other hand, leads also to a reorientation of the non-chromophores.     

Numerical propagation of partially coherent laser beams through optical systems

The propagation of partially coherent beams through optical systems is computed numerically in one transverse dimension. The optical system is divided into different elementary segments, through which the propagation of light can be calculated by appropriate operators, working on the coherence function or the Wigner distribution function respectively. For the necessary changes between these two functions describing the partially coherent beams, the use of the remarkable z-transform seems to be an advantage. With this algorithm the grid and the resolution in the spatial frequency domain can be arbitrarily chosen in contrast to the usual Fourier transform, the influence of phase aberrations on the focusability of Gauss-Schell model beams is discussed as an application example of the numerical model. With the help of this tool, practical beam guiding systems can be simulated for use with multimode laser radiation.