Direct laser written waveguide-Bragg gratings in bulk fused silica

Optical waveguides that incorporate Bragg gratings have been written in bulk fused silica by using the femtosecond laser direct-write method and without the need for lithography or ion-beam techniques. A single manufacturing process is used to create waveguide-Bragg grating reflectors for operation in the C band.     

Variable temperature system using vortex tube cooling and fiber optic temperature measurement for low temperature magic angle spinning NMR

We describe the construction and operation of a variable temperature (VT) system for a high field fast magic angle spinning (MAS) probe. The probe is used in NMR investigations of biological macromolecules, where stable setting and continuous measurement of the temperature over periods of several days are required in order to prevent sample overheating and degradation. The VT system described is used at and below room temperature. A vortex tube is used to provide cooling in the temperature range of -20 to 20 degrees C, while a liquid nitrogen-cooled heat exchanger is used below -20 degrees C. Using this arrangement, the lowest temperature that is practically achievable is -140 degrees C. Measurement of the air temperature near the spinning rotor is accomplished using a fiber optic thermometer that utilizes the temperature dependence of the absorption edge of GaAs. The absorption edge of GaAs also has a magnetic field dependence that we have measured and corrected for. This dependence was calibrated at several field strengths using the well-known temperature dependence of the (1)H chemical shift difference of the protons in methanol.     

Microwave cavity perturbation technique: Part III: Applications

The resonant cavity perturbation method as described in the preceding two parts of this series is applied to study the electrodynamical properties of different materials in the microwave and millimeter wave spectral range. We briefly discuss the relevant uncertainties which are asociated with the different measurement techniques and we find that employing the amplitude technique it is possible to measure both the width and frequency to nearly the same precision. We then demonstrate the broad range of applicability of this technique by showing results obtained on several different materials, ranging from an insulator to a superconductor. The performance limitations of this technique are discussed in detail.     

Optical and photocatalytic properties of nanocrystalline TiO2 synthesised by solid-state chemical reaction

Nanoparticulate TiO₂ is of interest for a variety of technological applications, including optically transparent UV-filters and photocatalysts for the destruction of chemical waste. The successful use of nanoparticulate TiO₂ in such applications requires an understanding of how the synthesis conditions effect the optical and photocatalytic properties. In this study, we have investigated the effect of heat treatment temperature on the properties of nanoparticulate TiO₂ powders that were synthesised by solid-state chemical reaction of anhydrous TiOSO₄ with Na₂CO₃. It was found that the photocatalytic activity increased with the heat treatment temperature up to a maximum at 600 °C and thereafter declined. In contrast, the optical transparency decreased monotonically with the heat treatment temperature. These results indicate that solid-state chemical reaction can be used to prepare powders of nanoparticulate TiO₂ with properties that are optimised for use as either optically transparent UV-filters or photocatalysts.     

The Munich Compact Light Source: initial performance measures

While large‐scale synchrotron sources provide a highly brilliant monochromatic X‐ray beam, these X‐ray sources are expensive in terms of installation and maintenance, and require large amounts of space due to the size of storage rings for GeV electrons. On the other hand, laboratory X‐ray tube sources can easily be implemented in laboratories or hospitals with comparatively little cost, but their performance features a lower brilliance and a polychromatic spectrum creates problems with beam hardening artifacts for imaging experiments. Over the last decade, compact synchrotron sources based on inverse Compton scattering have evolved as one of the most promising types of laboratory‐scale X‐ray sources: they provide a performance and brilliance that lie in between those of large‐scale synchrotron sources and X‐ray tube sources, with significantly reduced financial and spatial requirements. These sources produce X‐rays through the collision of relativistic electrons with infrared laser photons. In this study, an analysis of the performance, such as X‐ray flux, source size and spectra, of the first commercially sold compact light source, the Munich Compact Light Source, is presented.     

Rainfalls during great Forbush decreases

Summary The changes of rainfall values during great Forbush decreases recorded by the low-latitudinal neutron monitor of Huancayo (47 events from 1956 through 1992) were examined. The data on precipitations were taken from the State of S?o Paulo and from the Amazonian region, Brazil. As a rule, the data from more than 50 meteorological stations were used for each events. The main result is the following: during strong decreases of cosmic-ray flux in the atmosphere (great Forbush decreases) the precipitation value is decreased. The effect of rainfall changes is seen more distinctly if wet seasons are considered.     

No evidence for spontaneous orbital currents in numerical studies of three-band models for the CuO planes of high temperature superconductors

We have numerically evaluated the current-current correlations for three-band models of the CuO planes in high-T(c) superconductors at hole doping x = 1/8. The results show no evidence for the orbital current patterns proposed by Varma. If such patterns exist, the associated energy is estimated to be smaller than 5 meV per link even if [formula: see text]. Assuming that the three-band models are adequate, quantum critical fluctuations of such patterns hence cannot be responsible for phenomena occurring at significantly higher energies, such as superconductivity or the anomalous properties of the strange metal phase.