Quantum interference effect of resonant transport in nano-scale systems

We propose a new method of analyzing the quantum interference effect of the resonant transport in ballistic open systems. The new method is to obtain the resonant eigenvalues by computing the norm of the retarded and advanced Green's functions. Using the method, we illustrate for a fullerene and an AB-ring the relation between each resonant state and each asymmetric conductance peak, namely the Fano peak. We show that the combination of resonant states determines the symmetry of a conductance peak and that the Fano peak is caused by the asymmetry of the numerator of the conductance around a resonance. The Fano peak appears not only due to the quantum interference effect as often claimed, but more generally due to the resonant transport.     

Structural characterization of single-wall carbon nanohorn aggregates hybridized with carbon nanocapsules and their formation mechanism

Three types of single-wall carbon nanohorn (SWNH) aggregates hybridized with carbon nanocapsules (CNCs) containing Fe₃C, Co, or Ag were produced by laser vaporization of graphite mixed with Fe, Co, or Ag in Ar gas. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy revealed that although the three hybrid structures had different diameter distributions with average diameters of 96, 90, and 85 nm, respectively, their SWNH layers had similar thicknesses (17-18 nm on average). The diameter difference is explained by the sizes (16-24 nm on average) of the encapsulated CNCs, the formation of which depended on the carbon solubility of the three metals and the precipitation of the graphitic layers. In addition, there was a stronger correlation between the diameters of the hybrids and the thicknesses of the SWNH layers for the three types. We suggest that the formation mechanism of the three structures is based on the assembly of SWNHs around a molten metal-carbon particle with certain ranges of lengths and diameters, respectively.     

Density functional theory and ab initio study of electronic and electrochemistry properties of the tetranuclear sandwich complex [FeIII4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2]6-

Quantum chemistry calculations have been performed to unravel the electronic and electrochemical properties of a FeIII-sandwich polyoxometalate. Using a combination of methods, it is shown that in these clusters the first reduction occurs in the so-called external Fe, which is bonded to a water ligand. Calculations also show that the electron reductions are coupled with protonation processes, in full agreement with existing experimental results.     

Concentrations of 137Cs and 40K in wild mushrooms collected in a forest on Noto Peninsula,Japan

A variety of wild mushrooms were collected in a forest on the Noto Peninsula, Japan, to determine the concentration of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K. The wild mushroom species belong to the orders Agaricales and Aphyllophorales. The concentration of ¹³⁷Cs varied widely (1.4–4,100 Bq/kg dry weight) in mushrooms growing in soil. On the contrary, ¹³⁷Cs concentration levels were relatively low (1.9–20 Bq/kg-dry weight) in mushrooms growing on wood. The concentration of ⁴⁰K varied widely (12–2,400 Bq/kg-dry weight) in contrast with several previous reports that suggest relatively constant ⁴⁰K levels in mushrooms. Unusually low concentrations of ⁴⁰K were observed in a few mushroom species that had very hard fruiting bodies with peculiar shapes. The mean and median of ¹³⁷Cs concentration in the present study were similar to those previously reported for Japanese mushrooms. Among the Agaricales mushrooms, Entolomataceae and Tricholomataceae families growing in soil had the highest concentration of ¹³⁷Cs. Among the Aphyllophorales mushrooms, Gomphaceae and Ramariaceae families growing in soil also had the highest ¹³⁷Cs concentrations. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs and stable Cs in mushroom samples were positively correlated. The concentration ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/Cs differed between Agaricales and Aphyllophorales mushrooms. The average ¹³⁷Cs/Cs ratio in mushrooms growing in soil was similar to that calculated for the top soil (<5 cm deep) alone because the mycelia of the mushrooms were mainly distributed near the surface of the soil.     

Facile synthetic protocols for perfluoroalkyl-substituted diazapentaphenes

Novel syntheses of 13,14-bis(perfluoroalkyl)-substituted 5,8-diazapentaphene derivatives were realized by such a facile two-step protocol as consecutive benzyne insertion into C(O)–NH bonds of p-phenylene-bis(perfluoroalkanamides), followed by Friedel–Crafts type cyclization reaction, yielding the corresponding title compounds especially for the case of Rf=CF₃ or C₂F₅. Additionally, an alternative approach based on condensation of cyclohexane-1,4-dione with (o-aminophenyl) perfluoroalkyl ketones, followed by dehydrogenation enabled us to effectively access to the same final products in better yields.     

Synthesis of 2,9-dialkylated phenanthro[1,2-b:8,7-b′]dithiophenes via cross-coupling reactions and sequential Lewis acid-catalyzed regioselective cycloaromatization of epoxide

Phenanthro[1,2-b:8,7-b′]dithiophene (PDT) was prepared via Suzuki–Miyaura or Negishi cross-coupling of a 2-thienylboron or -zinc compound with 1,4-dibromobenzene, followed by Lewis acid-catalyzed regioselective cycloaromatization of the epoxide. A series of 2,9-dialkylated phenanthro[1,2-b:8,7-b′]dithiophene (PDT) derivatives could also be synthesized in good yields by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of the brominated PDT with alkylboranes by introducing linear alkyl substituents.     

Complex analysis in subsystems of second order arithmetic

This research is motivated by the program of Reverse Mathematics. We investigate basic part of complex analysis within some weak subsystems of second order arithmetic, in order to determine what kind of set existence axioms are needed to prove theorems of basic analysis. We are especially concerned with Cauchy’s integral theorem. We show that a weak version of Cauchy’s integral theorem is proved in RCAo. Using this, we can prove that holomorphic functions are analytic in RCAo. On the other hand, we show that a full version of Cauchy’s integral theorem cannot be proved in RCAo but is equivalent to weak König’s lemma over RCAo.