Specific recording kinetics as a general property of unconventional photorefractive media

We introduce a model for the kinetics of grating formation during holographic recording in optically excitable two-state systems. An unexpected characteristic time dependence of the diffraction efficiency is found. We show that it originates from a nonlinear transformation of the light interference pattern into a refractive-index profile. Our findings strongly resemble and explain by nature the experimental data of two-state systems in general, here represented by two examples: sodium nitroprusside and terbium gallium garnet.     

Femtosecond photomagnetic switching of spins in ferrimagnetic garnet films

We demonstrate that intense laser pulses can be used to directly control the spins in ferrimagnetic garnet films. Through an ultrafast and nonthermal photomagnetic effect the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is modified to create a new long-lived equilibrium orientation for the magnetization. Simultaneously, the magnetization is rotated into this new state by precession in a strong transient optically generated magnetic field. All take place within the 100 fs duration of a single laser pulse, thus demonstrating the feasibility of photomagnetic switching on the femtosecond time scale.     

Precise subnanometer control of the position of a macro object by light pressure

For the first time to the authors' knowledge, efficient control of the position of a macro object by coherent light was demonstrated. The minimal controllable mechanical displacement induced by the light pressure was 9 pm. No dependence of light pressure on wavelength in a broad wavelength range (405-1560 nm) was observed, as predicted by Maxwell's theory.     

Sedimentation of DNA supercoils and bacterial nucleoids

The sedimentation of DNA supercoils and bacterial nucleoids is discussed in terms of an asymptotic expression for the size of branched supercoils exhibiting an excluded-volume effect between superhelical segments. A Kirkwood–Riseman approximation is adopted for the sedimentation coefficient. The theory predicts the sedimentation of DNA supercoils fairly well despite their relatively small size in current simulations and experiments. We introduce a crosslinked supercoil model for bacterial nucleoids that are known to contain a variety of adsorbed proteins. Sedimentation experiments of the 1970s are discussed.     

A synthetic construction of the Figueroa planes

The constructions of the Figueroa planes by Figueroa, Hering-Schaeffer and Dempwolff make essential use of the collineation groups. Here we give a synthetic construction of these planes, which avoids coordinates and groups.Dedicated to Professor Hanfried Lenz on the occasion of his 70th birthday