Inherently gain flattened S-band erbium doped fiber amplifier based on dual core resonant leaky fiber

A co-axial dual core resonant leaky optical fiber (DCRLF) is designed for inherent gain equalization of S-band erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). Resonance tail of leakage loss of the fiber into the S-band region is utilized to flatten the gain. We have numerically studied the effect of various design parameters and their fabrication tolerances on gain flattening. We show 23.5 dB flat gain with ± 0.9 dB ripple over 30 nm bandwidth (1490–1520 nm) using 120 mW pump. The study should be useful in designing optical fiber amplifiers for optical communication system employing wavelength division multiplexing.     

Nanostructured Ion-Selective MCM-48 Membranes

Templated MCM-48 silica was prepared using CTAB as surfactant. The MCM-48 powders and thin films were characterized by different techniques. MCM-48 layers were deposited on macroporous α-alumina supports and silicon nitride microsieves. The water permeability of MCM-48 was compared with the permeability of conventional mesoporous γ-alumina membranes. The applicability of MCM-48 as ion-selective electric field-driven switchable interconnect for microfluidic devices was demonstrated.     

Microwave Activated Solid Support Synthesis of New Antibacterial Quinolones

 A novel synthesis of 6-fluoro-7-(5-aryl-1,3,4-thiadiazol/oxadiazol-2-yl-sulfanyl)-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acids from 7-chloro-6-fluoro-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid and 5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazoles/oxadiazoles on basic alumina under microwave activation is described. All compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against B. lichenformis, 2689, K. aerogens 2281, S. typhimurium 2501, E. herbicola 2491, and P. vulgaris 2027 and found to possess activities comparable to that of the standard drug norfloxacin.     

On generalized Erd?s spaces

During the last years both Erd?s space and complete Erd?s space were topologically characterized by Dijkstra and van Mill. Applications include results about Erd?s type spaces in ?p-spaces as well as results about Polishable ideals on ω. We present an unifying theorem in terms of sets with a reflexive relation that among other things contains these apparently dissimilar results as special cases.     

Immobilization and Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. gracilis</Emphasis> Extract with Enriched Laminaribiose Phosphorylase Activity for Bienzymatic Production of Laminaribiose

Immobilization methods and carriers were screened for immobilization of Euglena gracilis extract with laminaribiose phosphorylase activity. The extract was successfully immobilized on three different carriers via covalent linkage. Suitable immobilization carriers were Sepabeads EC-EP/S and ECR 8209M with epoxy groups and ECR 8309M with amino groups as functional units. Immobilization on Sepabeads EC-EP/S resulted in highest retained activity (65%). The immobilizates were characterized for pH, temperature, and buffer molarity preferences. The immobilized enzyme lost 48% of its activity when used seven times. Together with sucrose phosphorylase, laminaribiose phosphorylase was successfully applied for bienzymatic production of laminaribiose from sucrose and glucose with a final laminaribiose concentration of 14.3 ± 2.1 g/L (20% yield).     

Synthesis, structural and electrical properties of La and Nb modified Bi4Ti3O12 ferroelectric ceramics

Polycrystalline ceramic samples of Bi_4−xLa_xTi₃O₁₂ (x=0.0, 0.5 and 1) and Bi_3.5La_0.5Ti_3−yNb_yO₁₂ (y=0.02 and 0.04) have been synthesized by standard high temperature solid state reaction method using high purity oxides and carbonates. The effect of lanthanum doping on Bi-site and Nb doping on Ti-site on the structural and electrical properties of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ powders was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dc conductivity and dielectric studies. A better agreement between the observed and calculated X-ray diffraction pattern was obtained by performing the Rietveld refinement with a structural model using the non-centrosymmetric space group Fmmm in all the cases. A better agreement between observed and calculated d-values also shows that the lattice parameters calculated using the Rietveld refinement analysis are better. The increase in lanthanum and niobium contents does not lead to any secondary phases. It is found that La³⁺ doping reduces the material grain size and changes its morphology from the plate-like form to a spherical staking like form. The substitution of Nb for Ti ions affected the degree of disorder and modified the dielectric properties leading to more resistive ceramic compounds. The shape and size of the grains are strongly influenced by the addition of niobium to the system. The activation energies of all the compounds were calculated by measuring their dc electrical conductivities. The frequency and temperature dependent dielectric behavior of all the compounds have also been studied and the results are discussed in detail. The substitution of La and Nb on the Bi and Ti sites decreased the T_c and improved the dielectric and ferroelectric behavior.     

Absence of morphotropic phase boundary effects in BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–PbTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films grown via a chemical multilayer deposition method

We report an unusual behavior observed in (BiFeO₃)_1−x –(PbTiO₃) _x (BF–xPT) thin films prepared using a multilayer chemical solution deposition method. Films of different compositions were grown by depositing several bilayers of BF and PT precursors of varying BF and PT layer thicknesses followed by heat treatment in air. X-ray diffraction showed that samples of all compositions show mixing of two compounds resulting in a single-phase mixture, also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to bulk compositions, samples show a monoclinic (M_A-type) structure suggesting disappearance of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) at x=0.30 as observed in the bulk. This is accompanied by the lack of any enhancement of the remanent polarization at the MPB, as shown by the ferroelectric measurements. Magnetic measurements showed an increase in the magnetization of the samples with increasing BF content. Significant magnetization in the samples indicates melting of spin spirals in the BF–xPT films, arising from a random distribution of iron atoms. Absence of Fe²⁺ ions was corroborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The results illustrate that thin film processing methodology significantly changes the structural evolution, in contrast to predictions from the equilibrium phase diagram, besides modifying the functional characteristics of the BP-xPT system dramatically.