Dual-wavelength 92.5 GHz self-mode-locked InP-based quantum dot laser

We report on the generation of dual-wavelength self-mode-locking pulses from an InP-based quantum dot laser. The demonstrated device operates simultaneously at both 1543.7 and 1571.7 nm and has a repetition rate of 92.5 GHz. The pulse width is below 960 fs, and the average power coupled to a cleaved single-mode fiber is nearly 9 mW at a current bias of 60 mA.     

Preparation and structure of three solvatomorphs of the polymer [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n: spin canting depending on the supramolecular organization

The syntheses and X-ray structures of three isomeric 1D coordination polymers are reported. The complex [Co(dbm)2(MeOH)2] (1) was used as a precursor in these reactions. The preparation and structure of 1 is also presented; this mononuclear complex is in the cis configuration because this allows the formation of a network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the solid state. Reaction of 1 with 2,4,6-tris-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (4ptz) yields the polymers [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n.nTHF (2a), [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n.0.75nTHF.0.5nEt2O (2b), and [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n.3nDMF (2c) in the form of zigzag chains, instead of the expected honeycomb architectures. This is because of the establishment of extended pi-pi stacking throughout these solids, which could not have occurred otherwise. Compounds 2a, 2b, and 2c are solvatomorphs, and formation of either one of them depends on the exact conditions of crystallization, which lead to significant differences in the supramolecular organization of the chains. Bulk magnetic measurements on 2a reveal weak antiferromagnetic exchange within the chains and small ordering throughout the solid that results in the manifestation of the phenomenon of spin canting, whereas for 2c the different supramolecular organization causes the antiferromagnetic exchange not to result in spin canting.     

Immobilization of hexokinase onto chitosan decorated particles

Chitosan (CH) decorated polystyrene (PS) particles were synthesized within complexes of CH, a polycation under acid conditions, and tiny amounts of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Particle characterization was performed by means of dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. All dispersions were stable in the ionic strength of 2.0 mol L-1 NaCl during 2 months. The outstanding colloidal stability was attributed to the presence of a hydrated CH layer around the particles. CH decorated PS particles were attached to atomic force microscopy cantilevers and probed against Si wafers in water and in NaCl 0.01 mol/L. The mean thickness of CH layer amounted to 35 +/- 11 and 16 +/- 6 nm, when the medium was water and NaCl 0.01 mol/L, respectively. Adsorption isotherm of hexokinase (HK) onto PS/CH particles studied by means of spectrophotometry showed three regions: an initial step; adsorption plateau and multilayer formation. Enzymatic activity of free HK and immobilized HK was monitored by means of spectrophotometry as a function of storing time and reuse. After 3 days, storing HK free in solution dramatically lost its catalytic properties. On the contrary, HK-covered PS/CH particles retained enzymatic activity over 1 month. Moreover, HK-covered PS/CH particles could be reused in the determination of glucose two times consecutively, without losing activity. These interesting findings were discussed in light of the role of water in enzyme conformation.     

The Moment Problem for a Sobolev Inner Product

The concepts of definite and determinate Sobolev moment problem are introduced. The study of these questions is reduced to the definiteness or determinacy, respectively, of a system of classical moment problems by means of a canonical decomposition of the moment matrix associated with a Sobolev inner product in terms of Hankel matrices.     

High Solid Acrylic–Melamine Latexes with Tunable Crosslinking Capability

Miniemulsion polymerization is employed to produce high solid content (50%) acrylic/melamine latexes with varied crosslinking capability, for their potential application as waterborne crosslinkable coatings. This synthesis strategy allows the efficient incorporation of a hydrophobic crosslinker, iso‐butylated melamine (iBMF), into polymer particles, and to obtain latexes with different iBMF concentrations and acrylic polymer with varied content of hydroxylic groups (OH–). The involved crosslinking mechanisms and the physical transformations during film thermosetting of acrylic/iBMF nanocomposite are exhaustively investigated by combining thermal, spectroscopic, and thermo‐mechanical analyses. The influence of reactive groups concentration (iBMF and OH– content in the acrylic polymer) on the rate of curing, the crosslinking degree, and consequently onto the sensitive properties of cured films are discussed here.     

Designed Topology and Site‐Selective Metal Composition in Tetranuclear [MM′⋅⋅⋅M′M] Linear Complexes

The ligand 1,3‐bis[3‐oxo‐3‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)propionyl]benzene (H₄L), designed to align transition metals into tetranuclear linear molecules, reacts with M^II salts (M=Ni, Co, Cu) to yield complexes with the expected [MM???MM] topology. The novel complexes [Co₄L₂(py)₆] ( 2 ; py=pyridine) and [Na(py)₂][Cu₄L₂(py)₄](ClO₄) ( 3 ) have been crystallographically characterised. The metal sites in complexes 2 and 3 , together with previously characterised [Ni₄L₂(py)₆] ( 1 ), favour different coordination geometries. These have been exploited for the deliberate synthesis of the heterometallic complex [Cu₂Ni₂L₂(py)₆] ( 4 ). Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between pairs of metals within each cluster, leading to S=0 spin ground states, except for the latter cluster, which features two quasi‐independent S=1/2 moieties within the molecule. Complex 4 gathers the structural and physical conditions, thus allowing it to be considered as prototype of a two‐qbit quantum gate.     

Backlighter development at the National Ignition Facility (NIF): Zinc to zirconium

K-shell X-ray emission from laser-irradiated planar Zn, Ge, Br, and Zr foils was measured at the National Ignition Facility for laser irradiances in the range of 0.6–9.5 × 10¹⁵ W/cm². The incident laser power had a pre-pulse to enhance the laser-to-X-ray conversion efficiency (CE) of a 2–5 ns constant-intensity pulse used as the main laser drive. The measured CE into the 8–16 keV energy band ranged from 0.43% to 2%, while the measured CE into the He-like resonance 1s2–1s2p(1P) and intercombination 1s2–1s2p(3P) transitions, as well as from their 1s2(2s,2p)l–1s2p(2s,2p)l satellite transitions for l = 1, 2, 3, corresponding to the Li-, Be-, and B-like resonances, respectively, ranged from 0.3% to 1.5%. Absolute and relative CE measurements are consistent with X-ray energy scaling of (hν)^?3 to (hν)^?5, where hν is the X-ray energy. The temporal evolution of the broadband X-ray power was similar to the main laser drive for ablation plasmas having a critical density surface.     

Ultrawide-bandwidth, superluminescent light-emitting diodes using InAs quantum dots of tuned height

An ultrawide-bandwidth, superluminescent light-emitting diode (SLED) utilizing multiple layers of dots of tuned height is reported. Due to thermal effect, the superluminescent phenomenon is observed only under pulse-mode operation. The device exhibits a 3 dB bandwidth of 190 nm with central wavelength of 1020 nm under continuous-wave (cw) conditions. The maximum corresponding output power achieved in this device under cw and pulsed operation conditions are 0.54 mW and 17 mW, respectively.     

THz optical pulses from a coupled-cavity quantum-dot laser

Optical pulses are generated from a coupled-cavity quantum-dot (QD) laser consisting of a short QD-waveguide Fabry–Perot (F–P) cavity and three long external fiber Bragg grating (FBG) cavities. When the laser is biased at low operation current, the feedback from the external cavities dominates and laser pulses have a 1.01 THz repetition rate, determined by the equal frequency difference of the three FBGs. We are thus able to decouple the repetition rate of a mode-locked laser from the cavity length. With much higher bias current, the QD F–P cavity dominates and the repetition rate is switched to 43.8 GHz, defined by the length of the F–P cavity.