Electron localization in the quantum Hall regime

The theory of the insulating state discriminates between insulators and metals by means of a localization tensor, which is finite in insulators and divergent in metals. In absence of time-reversal symmetry, this same tensor acquires an off-diagonal imaginary part, proportional to the dc transverse conductivity, leading to quantization of the latter in two-dimensional systems. I provide evidence that electron localization--in the above sense--is the common cause for both vanishing of the dc longitudinal conductivity and quantization of the transverse one in quantum Hall fluids.     

Study of correlation holes. II. CI calculations on model polyatomic systems

The shape of correlation holes in many-electron systems is at present scarcely known, even where correlated wave functions are available. We investigate here the kind of electron correlation brought about by configuration interaction (CI ), within a given basis set, in the wavefunction of a polyatomic system. The model ring system H₆ (in two different bonding circumstances) and H₁₄ have been chosen for a detailed study, because of their paradigmatic importance. We set out the equal-spin and different-spin correlation holes as obtained from complete CI calculations in H6 and partial ct in H₁₄, both within a minimal basis set. We basically find the spinless correlation as being short range, while the spin-dependent correlation holes show long-range oscillations of antiferromagnetic character. We also present a natural spin-geminal analysis of the two-body reduced density matrices in these systems; we find a peculiarity possibly related to the long-range correlation discussed above. Finally, we compare the electron correlation as given from our CI wavefunction to other pictures of electron correlation, as obtained essentially from alternant molecular orbital wave functions and from the electron–gas literature.     

Highly efficient C-H insertion reactions of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by homogeneous and heterogeneous methyltrioxorhenium systems in ionic liquids

A convenient and efficient C-H insertion reaction of environment friendly H₂O₂ into representative hydrocarbon derivatives by homogeneous methyltrioxorhenium (MTO), heterogeneous poly(4-vinylpyridine)/methyltrioxorhenium (PVP/MTO) and microencapsulated polystyrene/methyltrioxorhenium (PS/MTO) systems in ionic liquids, is described. In some cases a higher activity was observed if compared with the same reaction in molecular solvents. The heterogeneous catalysts are stable systems under the reaction conditions and can be recycled for more transformations.     

Influence of the coordination geometry on the physicochemical properties of a copper(II) complex with a tailor-made calixarene-based ligand bearing dipyridyl pendants. An ESR, UV-Vis and CV study

Dipyridyl pendants, suitably attached onto a calix[4]arene fixed in its 1,3-alternate conformation, form stable complexes with copper(ii) in acetonitrile. Both the mononuclear and the homobinuclear species ([Cu(1)](2+) and [Cu(2)(1)](4+)), previously detected through a UV-Vis investigation, have been studied by ESR, UV-Vis and cyclic voltammetry. ESR and UV-Vis data clearly indicate that in the [Cu(1)](2+) species the nitrogen atoms of dipyridyl pendants are tetrahedrally arranged around copper(II). Computer models, optimised through molecular mechanics methods, further support these spectroscopic findings. The tetrahedral arrangement, achieved thanks to the anchoring of the dipyridyl moieties onto the calixarene platform, accounts for the easy reversible reduction of this species. The aspects associated with the reduction-oxidation of the homobinuclear species are also discussed.     

Ultrashort in-plane semiconductor microlasers with high-reflectivity microstructured mirrors

We present very compact, as short as 20 m long, low-threshold in-plane semiconductor lasers operating at a wavelength of 980 nm, in which microstructured mirrors have been formed at both cavity ends by deep reactive ion etching (RIE). The back mirror consists of a seven-period third order Bragg reflector with a measured reflectivity of 95%. The front mirror has a similar configuration, but consists of three periods with a lower reflectivity (80%) in order to allow output coupling. Lasing has been achieved from 20 m long and 8 m wide devices exhibiting a current threshold of 7 mA. These are among the shortest in-plane Fabry–Perot electrically pumped lasers demonstrated to date. Design issues are discussed, along with experimental data from which values for the reflectivity of the mirrors are derived. State-of-the-art electron beam lithography (EBL) and high-aspect-ratio RIE have been used for device fabrication, while additional strategies are proposed for the further improvement of the device performance.     

Probing pentacene polymorphs by lattice dynamics calculations

We have performed a lattice dynamics calculation to compute the "inherent structures" of minimum potential energy for pentacene, starting from available X-ray data. The calculation shows that two distinct bulk crystalline phases of pentacene exist, with very subtle structural differences but clearly different phonon spectra. The method of crystal growth (from solution or vapor) is not the determining factor for obtaining either structure.     

Enthalpic, entropic, and square gradient contributions to the surface energetics of amine-cured epoxy systems

The evolution of surface tension during polymerization of three amine-cured epoxy systems was investigated. Due to the chemical reaction of the epoxy groups with primary and secondary amines, the energetic status of an epoxy-amine system increased during polymerization. At the same time, the polymerization process induced entropic variations, also contributing to the evolution of surface energetics. A simple relation expressing the surface tension as a function of the bulk energy, the entropy of the system, and the square gradient of the polymer density was derived. The bulk and surface energetics were expressed in terms of solubility parameter and surface tension, respectively. The former was predicted using the Van Krevelen group contribution method, while the latter was directly measured using the Wilhelmy wetting method. Results indicated that, in all the three epoxy-amine systems under investigation, a unique relationship combining the surface tension, the bulk energy, the entropy, and the density square gradient of the system could be used. On the basis of the present study, and taking into account all contributory factors, it was concluded that the enthalpy component to the surface energetics is the dominant contribution.     

Nonlocal integral elasticity in nanostructures,mixtures, boundary effects and limit behaviours

Nonlocal elasticity is addressed in terms of integral convolutions for structural models of any dimension, that is bars, beams, plates, shells and 3D continua. A characteristic feature of the treatment is the recourse to the theory of generalised functions (distributions) to provide a unified presentation of previous proposals. Local-nonlocal mixtures are also included in the analysis. Boundary effects of convolutions on bounded domains are investigated, and analytical evaluations are provided in the general case. Methods for compensation of boundary effects are compared and discussed with a comprehensive treatment. Estimates of limit behaviours for extreme values of the nonlocal parameter are shown to give helpful information on model properties, allowing for new comments on previous proposals. Strain-driven and stress-driven models are shown to emerge by swapping the mechanical role of input and output fields in the constitutive convolution, with stress-driven elastic model leading to well-posed problems. Computations of stress-driven nonlocal one-dimensional elastic models are performed to exemplify the theoretical results.