Geometrical Excess Entropy Production in Nonequilibrium Quantum Systems

For open systems described by the quantum Markovian master equation, we study a possible extension of the Clausius equality to quasistatic operations between nonequilibrium steady states (NESSs). We investigate the excess heat divided by temperature (i.e., excess entropy production) which is transferred into the system during the operations. We derive a geometrical expression for the excess entropy production, which is analogous to the Berry phase in unitary evolution. Our result implies that in general one cannot define a scalar potential whose difference coincides with the excess entropy production in a thermodynamic process, and that a vector potential plays a crucial role in the thermodynamics for NESSs. In the weakly nonequilibrium regime, we show that the geometrical expression reduces to the extended Clausius equality derived by Saito and Tasaki (J. Stat. Phys. 145:1275, 2011). As an example, we investigate a spinless electron system in quantum dots. We find that one can define a scalar potential when the parameters of only one of the reservoirs are modified in a non-interacting system, but this is no longer the case for an interacting system.     

Development of Hybrid-Type Pressure Cell for High-Pressure and High-Field ESR Measurement

A hybrid-type piston-cylinder pressure cell for the electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement has been developed. The cylinder of this pressure cell consists of a NiCrAl inner cylinder and a CuBe outer sleeve, and all inner parts are made of zirconium oxide which has good transmittance to the millimeter and submillimeter waves. We confirmed that the pressure reaches 2.1 GPa. We have also developed a transmission-type high-field ESR system having two different modulation methods for this pressure cell. A test measurement without pressure cell for the two-dimensional orthogonal-dimer spin system of SrCu₂(BO₃)₂ has been done successfully in the wide frequency region. The combination of this electromagnetic wave transmission-type pressure cell and this high-field ESR system is a promising tool for the study of the pressure-induced phase transition of SrCu₂(BO₃)₂.     

Simulation of a ridge-type semiconductor laser with horizontal coupling of lateral modes

A ridge-type semiconductor laser with horizontal coupling of lateral modes is proposed, and lasing characteristics are simulated. A groove is formed in the center of the mesa, and the lateral modes of the laser beams are determined by the coupling of the lateral modes confined by the two ridges, which are formed in the mesa. With an increase in the depth of the groove, light output operating in the fundamental lateral mode is enhanced and threshold current is decreased. When the depth of the groove is \(1.2\,\upmu \hbox {m}\) and the width of the groove is \(<\) 1.98  \(\upmu \hbox {m}\) , the kink does not appear up to the injected current of 2 A.     

Synthesis of Phosphine Oxide-Carboxylic Acid Esters Bearing 9,10-Dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene Moiety

A bulky type of phosphine oxide-carboxylic acid bearing 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene moiety was synthesized by the Diels-Alder reaction of 2-anthryldiphenylphosphine oxide and methyl acrylate, for which the structure was confirmed on the basis of 1 H NMR spectral data to be dimethyl 2-diphenylphosphinoyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,11- and 12,12-dicarboxylates.     

Yamadazyma Farinosa IFO 10896-Mediated Reduction of 4,4-Dimethoxy-2-Butanone as the Key-Step for the Preparation of 1,3-Diols with Unsymmetrical Substituents

(R)-4,4-Dimethoxy-2-butanol was prepared with the action of Yamadazyma farinosa IFO 10896 on 4,4-dimethoxy-2-butanone, and subsequently converted to (2R,4R)- and (2R,4S)-isomers of 6-hepten-2,4-diol by the treatment with allyl bromide and indium in aqueous solution.