Photochromism of a diarylethene having an azulene ring

Diarylethene derivatives incorporating an azulene ring at the ethene moiety were synthesized. One derivative having thiazole rings showed the expected coloration reaction by excitation at 313 nm (to a higher singlet state) but not when excited at 635 nm (S(0) to S(1) excitation). The system demonstrates that the cyclization reaction can be controlled by selective excitation at different wavelengths of the absorption spectrum. On the other hand, another derivative having thiophene rings did not show any photochromism. The results clearly show the importance of the coplanarity of the system for the photoisomerization.     

Analysis of vertical coupling between a 2D photonic crystal cavity and a hydrogenated-amorphous-silicon-wire waveguide

We present an efficient means of light extraction from two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D PC) cavities with SiO₂ cladding. We propose a vertically coupled system consisting of a 2D PC cavity and a hydrogenated-amorphous-silicon (a-Si:H)-wire waveguide, which we theoretically investigate using the 3D finite-difference time-domain method. Light can be extracted with an efficiency of greater than 95% to both output ports of the a-Si:H-wire waveguide or extracted with an efficiency of greater than 90% to a single output port of the a-Si:H-wire waveguide with a reflector.     

Steam gasification characteristics of coal with rapid heating

Time profiles of weight change of coal samples and the evolution of low molecular weight gases (H₂, CH₄, CO and CO₂) in both steam gasification and pyrolysis of Yallourn brown coal and Taiheiyo subbituminous coal were measured using a thermobalance reactor with a micro GC and a mass spectrometer, in order to examine the reaction mechanism of steam gasification with rapid heating (100 K s⁻¹). It was found that, in the case of slow heating, steam reacted with metaplast and promoted the evolution of tar above 623 K and that a water shift reaction took place above 873 K. Steam gasification of produced char occurred above 1023 K, increasing the evolution of CO, CO₂ and H₂. When the heating rate was high, steam reforming of volatile matter and steam gasification of metaplast took place parallel to metaplast formation and condensation. The char produced by pyrolysis was almost completely gasified and converted into H₂ and CO₂ by steam. The chemical energy of coal was mainly converted into hydrogen energy and the gasification efficiency was slightly increased by rapid heating (i.e. 100 K s⁻¹).     

Recent advances in the biosynthesis and accumulation of anthocyanins

This review describes biochemistry, molecular biology and regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis, with particular emphasis on mechanistic features and late steps of anthocyanin biosynthesis including glycosylation and vacuolar sequestration. The literature from 1997 to the beginning of 2002 is reviewed, and 163 references are cited.     

Field-Like spin-transfer torque in a chiral helimagnet

Based on the microscopic model of sd coupling between free electrons and local moments, we present a quantum calculation of a nonadiabatic spin-transfer torque in a chiral helimagnet.