Effect of Material Response Time on Optical Bistability in Nonlinear Distributed Feedback Gratings

The dynamic behaviors of nonlinear periodic waveguides with a finite material response time have been investigated by numerically solving both the coupled-mode equations and Debye relaxation equation. When the response time of the nonlinearity is more than the transit time through the grating, a modulational instability is sufficiently suppressed and one can obtain optical bistability. Unlike a nonlinear Fabry-Perot resonator or ring resonators, overshoot in the transmission never takes place in the case of zero detuning. However, a relaxation (or damped) oscillation always takes place in the presence of detuning. It is also found that the switch-on time depends on the material response time and the switch-off time is almost independent of it.     

Unsupervised Image Segmentation Using Hierarchical Clustering

In the analysis of a medical image database aimed at formulating useful knowledge for image diagnosis requires an unsupervised image processing technique without preconceived knowledge. In this paper, we propose a method for unsupervised image segmentation, which is suitable for finding the features contained in an image. A small region around each pixel is considered as a pattern vector, and the set of pattern vectors acquired from the whole image is classified using the hierarchical clustering technique. In hierarchical clustering, the classification of pattern vectors is divided into two clusters at each node according to the statistical criterion based on the entropy in thermodynamics. Results of the test image generated by the Markov random field (MRF) model and real medical images photomicrographs of a colon tumor are shown.     

High Efficiency Electrically-Addressable Phase-Only Spatial Light Modulator

To realize a high efficiency electrically addressable phase-only modulator, we have coupled a liquid crystal display (LCD) to an optically addressed parallel-aligned nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator (PAL-SLM) with a set of lenses. Phase modulation exceeding 3ϖ at 532 nm wavelength was obtained. We obtained linear transfer characteristics for phase modulation at various desired phase levels after calibration and adjustment of the transfer characteristics of the PAL-SLM and the LCD. Diffraction efficiency of 40% for binary phase grating and of 90% for 8-level blazed phase grating, which were very close to the simulation values, were observed. The power loss of the readout light was caused when passed through a half mirror, therefore, we examined a setup using an oblique readout light at the modulator. Very high diffraction efficiency was obtained from the setup by optimizing the polarization direction and optical path for this light, and the orientation of liquid crystals. Since the modulator can perform at better than 90% diffraction efficiency and at nearly 100% reflectivity, various high efficiency systems utilizing such modulators are expected.     

Growth Curve Model with Hierarchical Within-Individuals Design Matrices

This paper deals with some inferential problems under an extended growth curve model with several hierarchical within-individuals design matrices. The model includes the one whose mean structure consists of polynomial growth curves with different degrees. First we consider the case when the covariance matrix is unknown positive definite. We derive a LR test for examining the hierarchical structure for within individuals design matrices and a model selection criterion. Next we consider the case when a random coefficients covariance structure is assumed, under certain assumption of between-individual design matrices. Similar inferential problems are also considered. The dental measurement data (see, e.g., Potthoff and Roy (1964, Biometrika, 51, 313-326)) is reexamined, based on extended growth curve models.     

Hydrogen removal by annealing from C-doped InGaAs grown on InP by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Hydrogen removal from C-doped InGaAs grown on InP substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition is discussed based on the dependence of hole concentration on various annealing conditions. It is revealed that the hydrogen removal rate becomes higher as the annealing temperature is higher and the activation energy of hydrogen removal is about 1.9 eV regardless of C-doped layer thickness. The hydrogen removal rate is also found to be inversely proportional to C-doped layer thickness, suggesting that the hydrogen removal reaction is mainly governed by hydrogen diffusion.     

Electrostatic Retention Mechanism of 2,2'-Dihydroxyazobenzene-Metal chelates on Octadecylsilanized Silica Stationary Phase

The chelating agent 2,2'-dihydroxyazobenzene (DHAB), as shown in Fig. 1, was superior to the determination of trace metal ions by HPLC with ion-pair partition mode. Among the DHAB-metal chelates, only the cationic DHAB-aluminium 1:lchelate,[AIL]⁺, is fluorescent. Thus this chelate is expected to be applicable for selective and sensitive determination of aluminium ion by HPLC. However, the retention behavior of[AlL]⁺ on octadecylsilanized silica stationary phase was not well understood. The interaction between[A1L]⁺ and octadecylsilanized silica stationary phase has been investigated.     

Determination of Heavy Metals in Waters by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry Coupled with Membrane Filtration/Concentration

Ultra trace amounts of heavy metals, such as Cu, Pb, were determined by graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GF-AAS) after miniature membrane filer (MF) concentration/dissolution. Heavy metals were concentrated as pyrrolidine-dithiocarbamate (APDC) chelates on a miniature MF of which diameter was 5 mm, effec-tive filtering diameter was 2 mm and pore size was 2 μm.     

Phase diagrams of noisy traffic states in the presence of a bottleneck

The traffic states are investigated for the noisy traffic flow in the presence of a bottleneck under the open boundary condition. The phase diagrams of the different kinds of congested traffic are presented for different values of sensitivity (the inverse of delay time). It is shown that the five different types of traffic states appear below the critical point: the free traffic with a pinned localized cluster, the weak standing shock, the moving localized cluster, the oscillatory congested traffic, and the strong standing shock. Above the critical point, the moving localized cluster and oscillatory congested traffic do not occur. Also, in the traffic flow without noise, the moving localized cluster and oscillatory congested traffic do not appear.     

Ion polarisation-assisted hydrogen-bonded ferroelectrics in liquid crystalline domains

An alkylamide-substituted (−NHCOC₁₀H₂₁) hydrogen-bonded dibenzo[18]crown-6 derivative (1) was prepared to stabilise the ionic channel structure in a discotic hexagonal columnar (Col_h) liquid crystal. The introduction of simple M⁺X⁻ salts such as Na⁺PF₆⁻ and K⁺I⁻ into the ionic channel of 1 enhanced the ionic conductivity of the Col_h phase of the M⁺·(1)·X⁻ salts, with the highest ionic conductivity reaching ∼10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ for K⁺·(1)·I⁻ and Na⁺·(1)·PF₆⁻ at 460 K, which was approximately 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of 1. The introduction of non-ferroelectric 1 into the ferroelectric N,N′,N′′-tri(tetradecyl)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide (3BC) elicited a ferroelectric response from the mixed Col_h phase of (3BC)_x(1)_1−x with x = 0.9 and 0.8. The further doping of M⁺X⁻ into the ferroelectric Col_h phase of (3BC)_0.9(1)_0.1 enhanced the ferroelectric polarisation assisted by ion displacement in the half-filled ionic channel for the vacant dibenzo[18]crown-6 of (3BC)_0.9[(M⁺)_0.5·(1)·(X⁻)_0.5]_0.1.

An alkylamide-substituted (−NHCOC₁₀H₂₁) hydrogen-bonded dibenzo[18]crown-6 derivative (1) was prepared to stabilise the ionic channel structure in a discotic hexagonal columnar (Col_h) liquid crystal.     

Thermal Degradation and Flammability Properties of Poly(propylene)/Carbon Nanotube Composites

Nanocomposites based on poly(propylene) and multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (up to 2 vol.‐%) were melt blended, yielding a good dispersion of nanotubes without using any organic treatment or additional additives. Carbon nanotubes are found to significantly enhance the thermal stability of poly(propylene) in nitrogen at high temperatures. Specifically, the nanotube additive greatly reduced the heat release rate of poly(propylene). They are found to be at least as effective a flame‐retardant as clay/poly(propylene) nanocomposites.