Particle acceleration by stimulated emission of radiation near a solid-state active medium

We report acceleration of electrons moving in free space near an active Nd:YAG slab. The power of a non-relativistic beam of electrons has increased by more than 30% when the medium was excited. It is demonstrated experimentally that the energy gained by the electrons is linearly proportional to the energy stored in the medium. Moreover, the energy gain traces closely the population inversion inferred by monitoring the spontaneous radiation.     

Photochromic LC copolymers containing azobenzene and crown‐ether groups

An approach for the creation of a novel family of multifunctional crown‐ether‐containing comb‐shaped copolyacrylates consisting of chromophoric (azobenzene), ionophoric (crown‐ether), and mesogenic groups in the same macromolecule was developed. Phase behavior of the copolymers was studied, and correlation between their molecular structure and thermal properties was established. The increase of crown‐ether‐containing groups' concentration up to 26 mol % leads to disruption of nematic order and formation of amorphous phase. Influence of copolymers complexation with potassium perchlorate on mesomorphic properties of such systems was investigated. It was shown that complexation leads to decrease in mesophase thermostability due to the significant reducing of the side group anisometry by perchlorate counter ion. The comparative investigations of photooptical properties and photoorientation processes of copolymers and their complexes were also performed. An essential difference in kinetics of photooptical behavior was revealed; the bulky crown‐ether substituents decrease rotational mobility and prevent photoorientation process of azobenzene fragments diminishing photoinduced orientation and order parameter. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6532–6541, 2008     

Consecutive nucleophilic substitution and aza Diels-Alder reaction—an efficient strategy to functionalized 2,2′-bipyridines

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of functionalized 2,2′-bipyridines is reported. The strategy is based on readily available 3-pyridyl-1,2,4-triazine 4-oxides and uses a reaction sequence of nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen and aza Diels-Alder reaction.