Beam propagation method and its application to integrated optic structures and optical fibers

Practical applications of integrated optics require understanding of light propagation in dielectric waveguides of various geometries and calls for elegant and quick methods of analysis. In this paper, we use beam propagation method to analyse some integrated optic waveguiding elements such as waveguide with bend and branching waveguide. The method is extended to cylindrical co-ordinates, so that structures with circular symmetry can be easily solved. We first present a general beam propagation method algorithm, followed by results taking typical values for various parameters. Our studies show that the efficiency of the method depends on thez-propagation steps and on the number of points chosen for the Fourier transform. The algorithm developed can be used to analyse many other integrated optic structures and to study the effect of other input beam profiles.     

Aqueous spray-drying synthesis of alluaudite Na2+2xFe2−x(SO4)3 sodium insertion material: studies of electrochemical activity,thermodynamic stability,and humidity-induced phase transition

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In pursuit of high-energy density sodium insertion materials, polyanionic frameworks can be designed with tuneable high-voltage operation stemming from...     

A Finite Element Method for the Determination of Optimal Viscoelastic Material Properties from Indentation Tests of Polymer Film and Wire with Polymer Insulation

The time-dependent behavior of bulk polymer film and wire with polymer insulation is studied using indentation. The indenter is displaced into the material at a constant rate and then held at a fixed indentation depth to monitor load relaxation. A finite element simulation of the experiment is performed; this analysis is parameterized in terms of the unknown shear compliance modeled as a Prony series. An optimization method is then presented to determine the unknown material parameters by minimizing the RMS error between the model and the experimental data. The method is demonstrated with poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) films after thermal aging and pristine polyethylene sheet; excellent agreement between the model and the data is demonstrated. The method is also demonstrated to successfully characterize the material properties for the compression of a wire with PVC insulation; the resulting properties are then shown to adequately predict the crossed-cylinder indentation behavior of the same wire using a 3D finite element model. The chief benefit of the method is that an analytical solution method is not required for its implementation; as such, the optimization approach can be readily applied to the determination of material properties from arbitrarily complex experimental geometries.

Triphenylbenzene Sensor for Selective Detection of Picric Acid

A C ₃-symmetric triphenylbenzene based photoluminescent compound, 1,3,5-tris(4′-(N-methylamino)phenyl) benzene ([NHMe]₃TAPB), has been synthesized by mono-N-methylation of 1,3,5-tris(4′-aminophenyl) benzene (TAPB) and structurally characterized. [NHMe]₃TAPB acts as a selective fluorescent sensor for picric acid (PA) with a detection limit as low as 2.25 ppm at a signal to noise ratio of 3. Other related analytes (i.e. TNT, DNT and DNB) show very little effect on the fluorescence intensity of [NHMe]₃TAPB. The selectivity is triggered by proton transfer from picric acid to the fluorophore and ground-state complex formation between the protonated fluorophore and picrate anion through hydrogen bonding interactions. The fluorescence lifetime measurements reveal static nature of fluorescence quenching.     

Pseudohalogenogermylenes versus Halogenogermylenes: Difference in their Complexation Behavior towards Group 6 Metal Carbonyls

Pseudohalogenogermylenes [(iBu)₂ATI]GeY (Y=NCO 4 , NCS 5 ) show different coordination behavior towards group 6 metal carbonyls in comparison to the corresponding halogenogermylenes [(iBu)₂ATI]GeX (X=F 1 , Cl 2 , Br 3 ) (ATI=aminotroponiminate). The reactions of compounds 4 – 5 and 1 – 3 with cis‐[M(CO)₄(COD)] (M=Mo, W, COD=cyclooctadiene) gave trans‐germylene metal complexes {[(iBu)₂ATI]GeY}₂M(CO)₄ (Y=NCO, M=Mo 6 , W 11 ; Y=NCS, M=Mo 7 ) and cis‐germylene metal complexes {[(iBu)₂ATI]GeX}₂M(CO)₄ (M=Mo, X=F 8 , Cl 9 , Br 10 ; M=W, X=Cl 12 ), respectively. Theoretical studies on compounds 7 and 9 reveal that donor–acceptor interactions from Mo to Ge atoms are better stabilized in the observed trans and cis geometries than in the hypothetical cis and trans structures, respectively.     

Synthesis,antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of bis(indolyl)methanes

A series of bioactive bis(indolyl)methanes are synthesized by one-pot green reaction of indole with various substituted aldehydes by microwave irradiation under solvent free conditions. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and anti-inflammatory activity of the synthesized bis(indolyl)-methanes are evaluated in vitro and compared to standard drugs tetracycline and diclofenac, respectively. The majority of the compounds showed good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. Interestingly, compounds 3j, 3i, 3k and 3g exhibited much higher anti-inflammatory activity than the standard diclofenac drug and thus qualify for clinical trials to be used as an anti-inflammatory compound.