Ultrasensitive UV-tunable grating in all-solid photonic bandgap fibers

We study the shift of a long period grating’s resonance wavelength with UV induced refractive index changes in an all-solid photonic bandgap fiber. A long period grating is mechanically imprinted in an all-solid photonic bandgap fiber with Germanium doped silica high-index rods in a lower-index silica background. The index of the high-index rods is modified through UV exposure, and we observe that the long period grating’s resonance shifts with the bandgaps. With a sensitivity of 21,000 nanometers per refractive index unit and a 8.8 nm resonance width changes of refractive index of 3 × 10⁻⁶ are in principle detectable     

Polarization modulation instability in photonic crystal fibers

Polarization modulation instability (PMI) in birefringent photonic crystal fibers has been observed in the normal dispersion regime with a frequency shift of 64 THz between the generated frequencies and the pump frequency. The generated sidebands are orthogonally polarized to the pump. From the observed PMI frequency shift and the measured dispersion, we determined the phase birefringence to be 5.3 x 10(-5) at a pump wavelength of 647.1 nm. This birefringence was used to estimate the PMI gain as a function of pump wavelength. Four-wave mixing experiments in both the normal and the anomalous dispersion regimes generated PMI frequency shifts that show good agreement with the predicted values over a 70 THz range. These results could lead to amplifiers and oscillators based on PMI.     

Phase-sensitive scattering of a continuous wave on a soliton

Using cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating, we observe the phase-sensitive resonance in the interaction of a soliton with a continuous wave in a photonic crystal fiber. This interaction strongly depends on the difference in the phase velocities of the orthogonally polarized fiber modes and leads to generation of a new spectral peak. The spectral and temporal structure of this signal is revealed in our measurements, which are supported by analytical theory and numerical simulations.     

Co-ordination behaviour of a novel bisthiourea tripodal ligand: structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of a series of transition metal complexes

The synthesis of a thiourea substituted derivative of tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine (TPA) is reported. Two of the three pyridine rings are substituted in the 6-position with benzoylthiourea groups. These thiourea groups undergo intramolecular hydrogen bonding to form six-membered rings which leaves one N-H group available to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules. This reports details how the complexation of this new ligand with transition metal ions yields complexes with differing geometries. Seven co-ordinate Mn(II) and Cd(II), six co-ordinate Ni(II) and five co-ordinate Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been isolated.     

Novel methods for synthesizing halide-free alane without the formation of adducts

Many of the current synthesis methods for aluminum hydride (alane—AlH₃) involve reacting AlCl₃ and LiAlH₄ in solvents. The reaction requires the formation of an alane adduct such as AlH₃⋅[(C₂H₅)₂O] prior to obtaining crystallized stable α-AlH₃. This process requires several hours of pumping in a vacuum system to remove the ether and convert the alane etherate into stable α-alane. This crystallization process is both costly and hazardous because a large amount of highly flammable material (e.g. ether) is removed by vacuum pumps over several hours. Conversely, the work presented herein describes novel methods to synthesize adduct-free alane. It is demonstrated here that AlH₃ can form by mixing AlCl₃ and LiAlH₄ in the solid state and heating to 75^∘C; only α-AlH₃ was obtained. The α-AlH₃ product can be washed with minimal solvents leading to zero formation of alane adducts. In addition, the unwanted LiCl by-product is also removed during the solvent wash, resulting in halide-free α-alane. Although simply mixing and heating the reactants led to a 40% yield of alane, having the reactants compacted and mechanically pressed while heating increases the yield to 60% crystalline α-AlH₃.     

Accelerating the initial rate of hydrolysis of methyl parathion with laser excitation using monolayer protected 10 nm Au nanoparticles capped with a Cu(bpy) catalyst

Using a low power green laser, we have demonstrated a rate acceleration of ~2-fold for the hydrolysis of methyl parathion by irradiating the plasmon absorption band of Au nanoparticles capped with a Cu(bpy) catalyst.     

Limiting Distributions of Linear Programming Estimators

Smith (1994) proposes estimation in linear regression models with non-negative errors by maximizing the sum of fitted values subject to the constraint that the fitted values can be no larger than the corresponding response value. In this paper, we consider the limiting distribution of these estimators under very general conditions. Some extensions to local polynomial estimation are also considered.     

Equilibria in complexes ofN-heterocyclic molecules,part XXXI. an explanation for rates of dissociation of iron(II) complexes of diimine ligands

Summary [Fe(3,3'-bipyridazine)₃]²⁺ has a negligible rate of dissociation in water at pH 7, and in 0.05 mol dm^–3 HO^– at ionic strength 1.00 mol dm^–3 (NaNO₃) at 298.2 K, the second-order rate constant involving HO_– is only 3.3 x 10^–5 dm³ mol^–1 s^–1. Examination of kinetic and other data and results for it wide variety oftris-diimine complexes of Fe^II related compounds, indicates that dissociation takes placevia attack at the ligand. The significance of the various possible intermediates is assessed and it is evident that a previously postulated intramolecular transfer of HO^– from the ligand to the metal atom, with associated metal-nitrogen bond fission, is important in the reaction. A general scheme for dissociation of these kinds of compounds is set out.Part XXX: R. D. Gillard, R. P. Houghton and J. N. Tucker,J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., submitted for publication.Present address: Department of Chemistry. University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD U.K.