Estimating topological charge of propagating vortex from single-shot non-imaged speckle

Encoding information using the topological charge of vortex beams has been proposed for optical communications. The conservation of the topological charge on propagation and the detection of the topological charge by a receiver are significant in these applications and have been well established in free-space. However, when vortex beams enter a diffuser,the wavefront is distorted, leading to a challenge in the conservation and detection of the topological charge. Here, we present a technique to measure the value of the topological charge of a vortex beam obscured in the randomly scattered light. The results of the numerical simulations and experiments are presented and are in good agreement. In particular, only a single-shot measurement is required to detect the topological charge of vortex beams, indicating that the method is applicable to a dynamic diffuser.     

Structure prediction,electronic, and mechanical properties of alkali metal MB_(12)(=Be,Mg, Ca,Sr) from first principles

Using the particle swarm optimization algorithm on structural search methods, we focus our crystal structures search on boron-rich alkali metal compounds of MB₁₂(M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr) with simulation cell sizes of 1–2 formula units(f.u.)at 0 GPa. The structure, electronic, and mechanical properties of MB₁₂ are obtained from the density functional theory using the plane-wave pseudopotential method within the generalized gradient approximations. The formation enthalpies of MB₁₂ regarding to solid metal M and solid alpha-boron suggested the predicted structures can be synthesized except for BeB12. The calculated band structures show MB₁₂(M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr) are all indirect semiconductors. All the calculated elastic constants of MB₁₂ satisfy the the mechanical stable conditions. The mechanical parameters(i.e., bulk modulus,shear modulus, and Young’s modulus) are derived using the Voigt–Reuss–Hill method. The G/B ratios indicated that the MB₁₂ should exhibit brittle behavior. In addition, the hardness, Debye temperature, universal anisotropic index, and the percentage of anisotropy in compression and shear are also discussed in detail. We hope our results can inspire further experimental study on these boron-rich alkali-metal compounds.     

Photocrosslinked methacrylated chitosan-based nanofibrous scaffolds as potential skin substitute

Nanofibers based on natural polymers have recently been attracting research interest as promising materials for use as skin substitutes. Here, we prepared photocrosslinked nanofibrous scaffolds based on methacrylated chitosan (MACS) by photocrosslinking electrospun methacrylated chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) mats and subsequently removing PVA from the nanofibers. We comprehensively investigated the solution properties of MACS/PVA precursors, the intermolecular action between MACS and PVA components, and the morphology of MACS/PVA nanofibers. Results indicated that the fiber diameter and morphology of the photocrosslinked methacrylated chitosan-based nanofibrous scaffolds were controlled by the MACS/PVA mass ratio and showed highly micro-porous structures with many fibrils. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation and cell culture experiments confirmed that MACS-based mats with micro-pore structure were biocompatible with L929 cells and facilitated cellular migration into the 3D matrix, demonstrating their potential application as skin replacements for wound repair.     

Determination of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

A method was developed on a gas chromatograph coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer(GC-MS/MS) for trace level determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls(DL-PCBs) in food and feed. The results demonstrated good sensitivity and repeatability for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs at an extremely low level(10 pg mL~(-1) for 2,3,7,8-TCDD/F), as well as wide linear response of over 3 or 4 orders of magnitude in concentration ranges; 0.5–200 ng mL~(-1) for PeCDD/F and 0.2–2000 ng mL~(-1) for DL-PCBs. The method detection limits for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were in the range from 0.018–0.17 pg g~(-1) to 0.13–0.36 pg g~(-1), respectively. The performance of the GC-MS/MS for food and feed sample analysis showed high precision and accuracy compared to the high resolution gas chromatograph/high resolution mass spectrometer. The results indicated the feasibility of GC-MS/MS as a confirmatory method for the measurement of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in food and feed as required by European Union legislation.     

A second-order compact difference scheme for the fourth-order fractional sub-diffusion equation

In this paper, the Euler–Maruyama (EM) method with random variable stepsize is studied to reproduce the almost sure stability of the true solutions of stochastic differential equations. Since the choice of the time step is based on the current state of the solution, the time variable is proved to be a stopping time. Then the semimartingale convergence theory is employed to obtain the almost sure stability of the random variable stepsize EM solution. To our best knowledge, this is the first paper to apply the random variable stepsize (with clear proof of the stopping time) to the analysis of the almost sure stability of the EM method.     

Bimetallic nanoclusters with strong red fluorescence for sensitive detection of hypochlorite in tap water

Gold-silver nanoclusters (Au-AgNCs) were synthesized by simultaneous chemical reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions in one pot, using bovine serum albumin as both a template and a reductant. The Au-AgNCs have an average size of 2.4 nm and display strong red fluorescence (with an emission peak at 610 nm on excitation at 360 nm). The fluorescence quantum yield can reach 18.6%. Fluorescence is strongly quenched by hypochlorite, while other common anions have minor (or no) effects on fluorescence. Based on these findings, a fluorometric method was developed for the determination of hypochlorite. The method has a linear response in the 0.7 to 15 μM concentration range, with a limit of detection as low as 80 nM. It was successfully applied to the determination of hypochlorite in (spiked) tap water.

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Graphical abstract Gold-silver nanoclusters with strong red fluorescence were synthesized by simultaneous chemical reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions in one pot, and a sensitive and selective method for the detection of hypochlorite was developed based on the quenching of the fluorescence of the nanoclusters.

     

Macroscopic atom-molecule dark state and its collective excitations in fermionic systems

We show that a robust macroscopic atom-molecule dark state can exist in fermionic systems, which represents a coherent superposition between the ground molecular Bose-Einstein condensates and the atomic BCS paired state. We take advantage of the tunability offered by external laser fields, and explore this superposition for demonstrating coherent oscillations between ground molecules and atom pairs. We interpret the oscillation frequencies in terms of the collective excitations of the dark state.     

Single Benzene Green Fluorophore: Solid‐State Emissive,Water‐Soluble,and Solvent‐ and pH‐Independent Fluorescence with Large Stokes Shifts

Benzene is the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon with a six‐membered ring. It is one of the most basic structural units for the construction of π conjugated systems, which are widely used as fluorescent dyes and other luminescent materials for imaging applications and displays because of their enhanced spectroscopic signal. Presented herein is 2,5‐bis(methylsulfonyl)‐1,4‐diaminobenzene as a novel architecture for green fluorophores, established based on an effective push–pull system supported by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. This compound demonstrates high fluorescence emission and photostability and is solid‐state emissive, water‐soluble, and solvent‐ and pH‐independent with quantum yields of Φ=0.67 and Stokes shift of 140 nm (in water). This architecture is a significant departure from conventional extended π‐conjugated systems based on a flat and rigid molecular design and provides a minimum requirement for green fluorophores comprising a single benzene ring.     

Effects of Aromatic Stabilization Energies on Photochromism of New Asymmetrical Azaindole‐Containing Diarylethenes

Three new asymmetrical diarylethenes containing an azaindole moiety and a variable heteroaryl ring have been synthesized. Their properties, such as photochromism, fatigue resistance, thermal stability, acidichromism, and fluorescence, were systematically investigated to elucidate the effects of aromatic stabilization energies (ASE) of the heteroaryl moieties. The results indicated that thermal stability decreased with the increment of the aromatic stabilization energies of the variable heteroaryl rings in the order of thiazyl<thienyl<pyrrolyl. Moreover, the dual switching behaviors of these azaindole‐containing diarylethenes were also studied by the stimulation of acid/base and light. Addition of trifluoroacetic acid to the solutions of these diarylethenes resulted in obvious hypochromic shifts, and their N‐protonated forms also exhibited favorable photochromism.