Mode-locked 2 μm fiber laser with a multi-walled carbon nanotube as a saturable absorber

We propose and demonstrate a passively mode-locked fiber laser operating at 1951.8 nm using a commercial thulium-doped fiber(TDF) laser, a homemade double-clad thulium–ytterbium co-doped fiber(TYDF)as the gain media, and a multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWCNT) based saturable absorber(SA). We prepare the MWCNT composite by mixing a homogeneous solution of MWCNTs with a diluted polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) polymer solution and then drying it at room temperature to form a film. The film is placed between two fiber connectors as a SA before it is integrated into a laser ring cavity. The cavity consists of a 2 m long TDF pumped by a 800 nm laser diode and a 15 m long homemade TYDF pumped by a 905 nm multimode laser diode. A stable mode-locking pulse with a repetition rate of 34.6 MHz and a pulse width of 10.79 ps is obtained when the 905 nm multimode pump power reaches 1.8–2.2 W, while the single-mode 800 nm pump power is fixed at 141.5 m W at all times. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported mode-locked fiber laser using a MWCNT-based SA.     

SURFACE PROPERTIES OF SOME LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT PROTEINS

Surface properties of four proteins having molecular weights less than 5,000 are reported at air/water and alumina/water interface at pH 7.0. Reversibility in the adsorption of these proteins at the alumina/water interface is tested. The adsorption on alumina/water interface has been found to be controlled by electrostatic interaction. Positive adsorption was obtained when protein and alumina surface had opposite charges and negative adsorption was obtained when both protein and surface had same charges. Of the four proteins reversibility in adsorption was observed with the one having the lowest molecular weight of 3100. The adsorption behavior apparently had no correlation with their surface hydrophobic!ty. Time dependent changes in air/water interfacial tension was observed for all the four proteins indicating time dependent loosening of compact protein structure and surface unfolding.     

Functionalized carbon nanomaterials as nanocarriers for loading and delivery of a poorly water-soluble anticancer drug: a comparative study

Carbon nanomaterials such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) have been functionalized by highly hydrophilic and biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for loading and delivery of an anticancer drug, camptothecin (CPT). For the first time, CPT was loaded onto MWCNT-PVA and GO-PVA through π-π interactions and its capability to kill human breast and skin cancer cells was investigated.     

Spatial distribution of uranium and chemo-radiological assessment in Hamirpur district,Himachal Pradesh,India

Monitoring of radioactivity in an environment is an important step towards establishing the baseline for environment protection. This work highlights the spatial distribution of uranium (U); assessment of physico-chemical parameters and radiological assessment in groundwater of Hamirpur district, HP, India. The concentration of U ranges from 0.15 to 18.92 μg l^?1. High correlation of U is observed with TDS, Chloride and Nitrate. Major concentration of U is present along the NW–SE trend-line following the Siwalik in the areas where mineralisation is prevalent and is of geogenic source derived from granitic and volcanic rock fragments present in conglomerates. The water-quality-index indicates that the water is suitable for drinking purpose.

     

Near-surface and bulk deep trap states in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs

We have measured the field-effect deep-level transient spectra of Al_xGa_1-xAs/GaAs (where x=0.385) at different reverse-bias fields to probe the near-surface deep trap and bulk deep trap states. In the temperature range 77 to 380 K and for a reverse-bias field -1 to -5 V/cm, four major deep traps were identified. The results of our investigation indicate a distinct effect on the deep-level spectra. Three of the deep trap states E1, E2 and E3 showed definite peak enhancement with the applied reverse-bias field and were identified as bulk deep trap states. The fourth deep trap state E4 was a very weak deep trap state and it showed a decrease of the peak height with the applied reverse-bias field. It was labeled as a near-surface deep trap state. PACS 73.60.Fw