Time-resolved off-axis digital holography for characterization of ultrafast phenomena in water

We present the application of time-resolved off-axis digital holography for the investigation of refractive index/transmission properties of laser-induced plasma filaments in water. Time evolution of both amplitude- and phase-contrast images of the self-focused beam in water was characterized with temporal resolution better than 50 fs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to characterize the propagation of femtosecond laser pulse in nonlinear media using off-axis digital holography.     

Convenient way to 5‐substituted 4‐amino‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones

Various 4‐amino‐2,3‐dihydro‐4H‐triazoles with aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic substituents at the C(5) position were synthesized from corresponding esters and thiocarbohydrazide. This method allows the synthesis these heterocycles in a short time and at reduced expenses.     

Expanding functionality of RNA: synthesis and properties of RNA containing imidazole modified tandem G-U wobble base pairs

Imidazole modification at C-5 of uridine that is part of tandem G-U wobble base pairs causes slight reduction of thermal stability (DeltaDeltaG(0)(310) < 0.4 kcal mol(-1)) and relatively small change in hydration of short RNA helices.     

Synthesis of 5-(6-Methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione and its Reactions with Polyfunctional Electrophiles

Summary.  In the reaction of 5-(6-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione with hydrazine hydrate, 5-(6-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione was formed. The reactions of the latter with ethyl bromoacetate and chloroacetonitrile in the presence of triethylamine proceeded under formation of the corresponding S-alkylated derivatives, whereas from its reaction with ω-bromoacetophenone and ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate triazolothiadiazines were obtained. Treatment of the title compound with ethyl 2-chloroacetoacetate led to the formation of 5-(6-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-4-N-acetylamino-(3-ethoxy-carbonylmethylthio)-1,2,4-triazole. Performing of the latter reaction without basic catalyst gave a triazolothiadiazine. Treatment of the S-alkylated derivatives with sodium methoxide resulted in triazolothiadiazines via a cyclocondensation reaction. Received November 20, 2000. Accepted January 15, 2001     

Modelling of decay kinetics of self-trapped exciton luminescence in CdWO4 under femtosecond laser excitation in absorption saturation conditions

The analytical expressions for the three-dimensional spatial distribution of excitons and luminescence decay kinetics of wide band-gap crystals were derived taking into account the saturation effect for absorption near the centre of the incident laser beam with Gaussian transversal profile. The model is verified for the excitonic emission of CdWO₄ crystals under excitation by ultra-short laser pulses in the region of weak excitonic absorption.     

Rapid microfabrication of transparent materials using filamented femtosecond laser pulses

Microfabrication of transparent materials using femtosecond laser pulses has showed good potential towards industrial application. Maintaining pulse energies exceeding the critical self-focusing threshold by more than 100-fold produced filaments that were used for micromachining purposes. This article demonstrates two different micromachining techniques using femtosecond filaments generated in different transparent media (water and glass). The stated micromachining techniques are cutting and welding of transparent samples. In addition, cutting and drilling experiments were backed by theoretical modelling giving a deeper insight into the whole process. We demonstrate cut-out holes in soda-lime glass having thickness up to 1 mm and aspect ratios close to 20, moreover, the fabrication time is of the order of tens of seconds, in addition, grooves and holes were fabricated in hardened 1.1 mm thick glass (Corning $^\circledR$ Gorilla $^\circledR$ glass). Glass welding was made possible and welded samples were achieved after several seconds of laser fabrication.     

Diffraction grating fabrication in lithium niobate and KDP crystals with femtosecond laser pulses

We report studies of the modifications induced inside lithium niobate and KDP crystals by Yb:KGW ultrafast laser pulses, having 300-fs pulse duration and operating at 100-kHz repetition rate. By focusing the laser beam with a 0.42 numerical-aperture objective, we have recorded homogeneous volume Bragg gratings in the bulk of the niobate crystal that showed excellent diffraction efficiencies, reaching up to 87%, and remained permanent after thermal annealing for one hour at 150°C. The refractive index modification level was found to be 0.002 in lithium niobate. The results show that lithium niobate is a very promising crystal candidate for microphotonics applications. On the contrary, in the KDP crystal no smoothly modified refractive index zones were created.     

Smog chamber study of H2O2 formation in ethene?NOx and propene?NOx mixtures

Hydrogen peroxide formation in the photooxidation of CO? NO_x, ethene? NO_x, and propene? NO_x mixtures has been determined in the TVA 31 cubic meter smog chamber under the following conditions: [NO_x] ca. 22–46 ppb; ethene = 0.22–1.1 ppm, [propene] = 0.12–0.97 ppm; [H₂O] ca. 8 × 10^?3 ppm. Ethene, propene, NO, NO_x, PAN, HCHO, and CH₃CHO were also monitored. Computer modeling was performed using the gas phase ethene and propene mechanism of the Regional Acid Deposition Model. There is good agreement between the model predicted and observed H₂O₂ concentrations. However, to successfully model all the propene? NO_x experimental results, organic nitrate formation from the reaction of peroxy radicals with NO must be included in the mechanism.     

Birefringent modifications induced by femtosecond filaments in optical glass

We present a study of the refractive index modifications spontaneously induced by infrared femtosecond filaments propagating in the bulk of transparent solids. It was found that extended modified refractive index channels up to several mm in length can be formed under loose focusing conditions in fused silica. The observed birefringence zone at the beginning of these channels is attributed to the anisotropic stress induced via nonlinear losses in the high intensity region of the filament.