Non-phase-matched enhancement of second-harmonic generation in multilayer nonlinear structures with internal reflections

Traditional notions of second-harmonic generation rely on phase matching or quasi phase matching to achieve good conversion efficiencies. We present an entirely new concept for efficient second-harmonic generation that is based on the interference of counterpropagating waves in multilayer structures. Conversion efficiencies are an order of magnitude larger than with phase-matched second-harmonic generation in similar multilayer structures.     

On the True Nature of Renormalizability in Horava-Lifshitz Gravity

We argue that the true nature of the renormalizability of Horava-Lifshitz gravity lies in the presence of higher order spatial derivatives and not in the anisotropic Lifshitz scaling of space and time. We discuss the possibility of constructing a higher order spatial derivatives model that has the same renormalization properties of Horava-Lifshitz gravity but that does not make use of the Lifshitz scaling. In addition, the state-of-the-art of the Lorentz symmetry restoration in Horava-Lifshitz-type theories of gravitation is reviewed.     

Dipolar and quadrupolar detection using an FT-ICR MS setup at the MPIK Heidelberg

Dipolar and single-phase two-electrode quadrupolar detection schemes have been investigated at a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) setup built for the KATRIN experiment at the Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) in Heidelberg. We present first experimental results of ⁷Li^?+? signals from a cylindrical Penning trap configuration for both detection schemes. While the prominent signal of the conventional dipolar detection scheme marks the reduced cyclotron frequency, the main signal for the quadrupolar detection appears at the sum of the reduced cyclotron frequency and the magnetron frequency. For ideal trapping fields, this sum frequency equals the ion cyclotron frequency ?? _c ?=?qB/(2??m). Sidebands due to the combined motions of the cyclotron mode and magnetron mode are observed by quadrupolar detection which allows the determination of the respective combinations of eigenfrequencies.     

Nano organic carbon and soot in turbulent non-premixed ethylene flames

Spectral optical techniques are combined to characterise the distribution of large-molecule soot precursors, nanoparticles of organic carbon, and soot in two turbulent non-premixed ethylene flames with differing residence times. Laser-induced fluorescence, laser-induced incandescence and light scattering are used to define distributions across the particle size distribution. From the scattering and laser-induced emission measurements it appears that two classes of particles are formed. The first ones are preferentially formed in the fuel-rich region of the flame closer to the nozzle, have sizes of the order of few nanometers but are not fully solid particles, because the constituent molecules still maintain their individual identity exhibiting strong broadband fluorescence in the UV. The second class of particles constituted by solid particles, with sizes of the order of tens of nanometers are able to absorb a sufficient number of photons to be heated to incandescent temperatures. These larger particles are formed at larger residence times in the flame since they are the result of slow growth processes such as coagulation or carbonization. The flames are also modeled in order to produce mixture fraction maps. A new discovery is that nanoparticles of organic carbon concentration, unlike soot, does correlate well with mixture fraction, independent of position in the flame. This is likely to be a significant benefit to future modelling of soot inception processes in turbulent non-premixed flames.     

Niche-dependent development of functional neuronal networks from embryonic stem cell-derived neural populations

Background  

The present work was performed to investigate the ability of two different embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived neural precursor populations to generate functional neuronal networks in vitro. The first ES cell-derived neural precursor population was cultivated as free-floating neural aggregates which are known to form a developmental niche comprising different types of neural cells, including neural precursor cells (NPCs), progenitor cells and even further matured cells. This niche provides by itself a variety of different growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins that influence the proliferation and differentiation of neural precursor and progenitor cells. The second population was cultivated adherently in monolayer cultures to control most stringently the extracellular environment. This population comprises highly homogeneous NPCs which are supposed to represent an attractive way to provide well-defined neuronal progeny. However, the ability of these different ES cell-derived immature neural cell populations to generate functional neuronal networks has not been assessed so far.     

YbNi2: A heavy fermion ferromagnet

Measurements of the magnetization and specific heat of YbNi₂ binary alloy are reported. The DC magnetic susceptibility displays a ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie temperature T_C=10.5 K, one of the highest found in Yb compounds. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the specific heat exhibits a lambda anomaly with a peak of 5.12 J/mol K at 9.4 K. The analysis also shows an additional magnetic contribution around 32 K stemming from the crystalline electric field of a quartet at ${\Delta }_1=72\mathrm{K}$ and a doublet at ${\Delta }_2=126\mathrm{K}$, according to the splitting of the Yb³⁺ ion in cubic symmetry. From the magnetic contribution to the specific heat, a relatively high Kondo temperature $T_K=27\mathrm{K}$ is estimated. Below the magnetic transition, the specific heat shows a huge value of the electronic coefficient ${\gamma }_{\mathit{LT}}=573\mathrm{mJ}/\mathrm{mol}\mathrm{K}$, which is a signature of a heavy fermion behavior. Therefore, this alloy is a fine example of enhanced ferromagnetism and heavy fermion behavior among Yb compounds.     

颗粒-颗粒接触力的热力学模型

以颗粒二体接触力模型为基础和出发点的软球离散元模拟是当前颗粒物理和力学领域广泛应用的研究手段.但文献上经常使用的、包括著名的Hertz-Mindlin和Luding在内的力模型并没有完全明确弹性势能或耗散热的计算方法,故从热力学层面看它们还需要完善.考虑到机械能的耗散行为是这类材料的重要物理内容,本文借鉴近年来提出的颗粒固体流体动力学(GSH)思路,提出一种具有明确势能和热功率的接触力建模方法.该理论除明确给出了机械能和热能的计算公式外,还能具体描述能量守恒、热力学平衡态和熵增加等基本原理,解决了传统接触力模型在这些方面的欠缺问题.初步计算显示本文模型的恢复系数可以随碰撞速率的增加而减弱,这比现有的其他模型更符合实验观测.虽然为简单起见这些公式仅局限于二维和忽略颗粒转动运动情况,文中讨论了如何推广到三维含转动情形,以及所涉及的滚动和扭转接触力的热力学处理问题.鉴于是否在Onsager非平衡热力学基础上建模是本文给出的接触力公式有别于当前其他模型的关键所在,文中强调了这里的主要建模对象应该是热力学特征函数和Onsager迁移系数,而接触力是它们的推导结果.这是一个与目前直接针对接触力进行建模的不同思路.文中对颗粒物质特有的、反映样品几何变形与弹应变之间联络的一个非对角迁移系数做了详细介绍,并且认为它与打滑等复杂力学现象关系密切,无论宏观GSH尺度上,还是细观接触力尺度上都不可忽略.     

Experimental measurement of wall shear stress in strongly disrupted flows

Mean and fluctuating wall shear stress is measured in strongly disrupted cases generated by various low-porosity wall-mounted single- and multi-scale fences. These grids generate a highly turbulent wake which interacts with the wall-bounded flow modifying the wall shear stress properties. Measurement methods are validated first against a naturally growing zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer showing accuracies of 1% and 4% for extrapolation and direct measurement of the mean shear stress respectively. Uncertainty associated with the root mean square level of the fluctuations is better than 2% making it possible to measure small variations originating from the different fences. Additionally, probability density functions and spectra are also measured providing further insight into the flow physics. Measurement of shear stress in the disrupted cases (grid+TBL) suggest that the flow characteristics and turbulence mechanisms remain unaltered far from the grid even in the most disrupted cases. However, a different root mean square level of the fluctuations is found for different grids. Study of the probability density functions seem to imply that there are different degrees of interaction between the inner and outer regions of the flow.