Phase transitions and modulated structure of the incommensurate phase in Mg[H2O]6SiF6 crystal

The temperature and angular dependences of the EPR spectra of Mg[H₂O]₆SiF₆:Mn²⁺ crystal were investigated in order to clarify the successive phase transitions and existence of the incommensurate phase. Five successive phase transitions were found to occur, and phase II was found to be incommensurately modulated. The modulated structure is caused mainly by the vibrational displacement of the Mg[H₂O]²⁺ ₆ ion along the c-axis. The soliton density of this phase is almost independent of temperature and remains equal to unity.     

Structural phase transitions at clean and metal-covered Si(111) surfaces investigated by RHEED spot analysis

Structural phase transitions between various kinds of superlattice structures formed on a Si(111) surface have been investigated by spot analysis of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Reversible transitions induced by temperature changes and irreversible ones induced by metal depositions were observed. Detailed discussions on the dynamics of the phase transitions are made by quantitative analyses of integrated spot intensity and profile. For a phase transition of 7′7  1′1 structures on a clean Si(111) surface, a hysteresis with temperature difference of 5°C. between in heating and cooling processes was found in the spot intensity change, indicating a first-order transition. Hysteresis was hardly recognized, on the other hand, for transitions of Au-induced superstructures (5×2-Au or ×-Au)  1×1-Au. The spot profiles were found to be broadened during the transition of Si(111)-×-Au  1×1-Au, which was a signature of a continuous transition, while the profiles remained unchanged during the transitions of the 7×7  1×1 and 5×2-Au  1×1-Au phases. Structural conversions induced by In adsorption on the Si(111) surface kept at constant temperatures were also analyzed. The conversions at room temperature were totally dependent on the initial substrate surface structures; the 7×7 surface did not show any structural conversion with In adsorption, while the ×-In surface successively converted to a 2×2 and a × phase with coverage increase. The structural transitions at elevated temperatures were sensitively dependent on the temperatures. Sequences of transitions among the 7×7, 4×1, ×, 1×, and ×4 were quantitatively revealed as changes in RHEED spot intensity.     

The effect of temperature on laws of minor hysteresis loops in nickel single crystals with compressive deformation

The temperature dependence of minor hysteresis loops of compressively deformed nickel single crystals has been investigated in a wide temperature range below the Curie temperature of 628 K. There exist power-law relations between the field-dependent parameters of minor-loops, and their exponents are independent of both temperature and strain after the compressive deformation. These observations indicate the presence of universal power laws in minor hysteresis loops. The minor-loop coefficients of the power laws show a similar temperature dependence of the coercive force, which is quantitatively related to the dislocation density. These properties of minor hysteresis loops are useful for the accurate and quantitative nondestructive evaluation of age degradation in ferromagnetic materials.     

Rapid sea-level change in the Late Guadalupian (Permian) on the Tethyan side of South China: litho- and biostratigraphy of the Chaotian section in Sichuan

The Capitanian (Late Guadalupian) Maokou Formation at Chaotian in northern Sichuan, South China, is composed mainly of shallow marine shelf carbonates deposited on the Tethyan side of South China. By detailed field mapping and scientific drilling, we newly found out unique fossil assemblages and a sharp lithologic change in the upper part of the Maokou Formation. The main part of the Maokou Formation (over 130 m thick) is composed of algal packstone with Wordian-Capitanian large-tested fusulines, rugose corals and other sessile benthos, whereas the Uppermost Member (13 m thick) is composed of black limy mudstone/chert with Capitanian offshore biota (ammonoids, radiolarians, and conodonts). The topmost Capitanian conodont zones are missing; however, the Maokou Formation is disconformably overlain by 260+/-4 Ma volcanic ash (Wangpo bed) and the Early Lopingian Wujiaping Formation with plant-bearing coaly mudstone and shallow marine carbonates (packstone). The newly identified facies change indicates that northern Sichuan has experienced rapid sea-level changes in the late Guadalupian, i.e., first a transgression in the mid-Capitanian and then a regression across the Guadalupian-Lopingian boundary. As the end-Guadalupian is characterized by a global regression, such a volatile sea-level fluctuation, in particular the sea-level rise, is unique to the Tethyan side of South China. The newly recognized relatively deep-water late Guadalupian sequence adds new paleo-environmental information and further provides a paleotectonic interpretation of the low-latitude eastern Tethyan margin immediately before the end-Guadalupian mass extinction.     

Wave packet dynamics in a quasi-one-dimensional metal-halogen complex studied by ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy

An ultrafast optical response is studied in a quasi-one-dimensional halogen-bridged mixed-valence metal complex [Pt(en)(2)] [Pt(en)2I2] (ClO4)(4) with ultrafast time resolution. Wave packet motions both in the ground and self-trapped exciton (STE) states are observed as oscillatory modulations in the time-resolved reflectivity. The wave packet motion on the STE potential surface begins after about 50 fs with respect to the photoexcitation. This delay is attributed to the lattice relaxation from the free exciton state to the STE state.     

Characteristics of Gain-Guided Laser Diodes with Cylindrical-Mirror Cavity

We have developed highly reliable etched-mirror laser diodes using a dry etching method. The lasers without facet-coating have been operating stably over 2500 h under automatic-power control (APC) at a power of 3 mW/facet at 50°C. The gain-guided laser diodes with a cylindrical-mirror cavity (CMC) have coaxial mirrors and a fan-shaped stripe structure. By decreasing the curvature radius of the inner facet or increasing the stripe width of the inner facet, the beam waist parallel to the junction plane can be moved outside of the laser diode, while the beam waist perpendicular to the junction plane stops at the mirror facet. A particular CMC laser has a low astigmatism of 4.1 μm and a low relative intensity of noise (RIN) less than –134 dB/Hz at 4 mW under 0–1% optical feedback without high frequency current superposition.     

Partial-wave analysis of the ωπ0-system at high masses

A partial-wave analysis of the ω ωπ⁰-system produced in the π^- p→ωπ⁰ n reaction at 38 GeV/c beam momentum has been performed. A new 5^?- meson state,ρ ₅(22350), with a massM=2330±35 MeV and a width Γ=400±100 MeV, is observed. The analysis also confirms the 1^?- ρ(2150) meson, a radial-orbital excitation of the ρ(770), observed earlier by the GAMS Collaboration.     

Real-time spectroscopy of Frenkel exciton system

We performed selective excitations of the first- and second-excited Frenkel exciton states (Q- and B-excitons) with use of sub-40-fs and sub-5-fs visible laser pulses. The transient absorption signals exhibit oscillatory features associated with molecular vibrations. From an analysis of the spectral profiles of the phase and amplitude of the oscillation, the experimental result is well explained by the modulated transition dipole moment, which is caused by the dynamic intensity borrowing from the intense B-transition to the weak Q-transition.     

Monitoring of Paint Drying Process by Digital Speckle Correlation

The state of drying paint is monitored from the dynamic behaviors of the speckle pattern arising from laser illumination of the region inspected. Temporal variation of the peak height of the cross-correlation function between successive frames taken with a fixed interval is plotted until the peak maintains a stationary maximum value. We used a speckle pattern in the diffraction field for monitoring of a single region and that in the image field for simultaneous monitoring of various regions. Both the normal and the phase-only algorithms were compared for cross-correlation computation. The former showed more distinct variation of peak height.     

Tamper resistance in optical excitation transfer based on optical near-field interactions

We present tamper resistance in optical excitation transfer via optical near-field interactions based on the energy dissipation process occurring locally in nanometric devices such as quantum dots. A theoretical comparison with electrical systems is also shown, focusing on the required environmental conditions. Numerical simulations based on virtual photon models demonstrate high tamper resistance.