Non-Destructive In-Situ Study of White and Black Coating on Painted Pottery Sherds From Bancun Site (Henan,China) by Raman Microscopy

Abstract

Pottery sherds from the archaeological site of Bancun (Henan, China) were analyzed by Raman microscopy and the pigments used in the coating of this ancient (c. 4000–5000 BC) pottery were determined. It was found that bauxite was used to make the white pigment. The black coating was identified as a magnetite and its particle size was in the nanometer range. This work also showed that the size of pigment had influence on the color of the coating. In principle, Raman spectra could be used not only to identify the mineral source of the pigment but also to estimate the particle size of the pigments.     

Optimizing Design for the Traveling Wave Electrodes in Low-Drive High-Speed Electro-Optic Polymer Modulators

Electro-optic (EO) polymer modulators are very promising in the realization of cost-effective and high-performance optical transmissions. In this article, general strategies and specific designs of the traveling wave electrodes in EO polymer modulators were presented to reduce the modulator drive power while maintaining a broadband response. The optimum device parameters and corresponding conditions were estimated using finite element method based on electrode design. In calculating the results, the comprehensive characteristics of polymer modulator with 1.21 V half-wave voltage and 91 GHz bandwidth was demonstrated with electro-optic interaction length is 20 mm, electro-optic coefficient is 55 pm/V, and operation wavelength is 1.319 μm. These results agree with the 0.8 V half-wave voltage and 30 mm electro-optic interaction length reported in Science. In the five designs presented, a hybrid electrode structure combining CPW and microstrip lines were advanced. The characteristics of this structure are like that of microstrip lines with a single-arm electrode on one arm of the waveguide, but it solves the problem of microstrip to coaxial line transition and corona polarization.     

MIXED-CONVECTION HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER IN A FULLY DEVELOPED HORIZONTAL CHANNEL FLOW

An experimental study of mixed-convection heat and mass transfer flow of a CuS0₄ + H₂S0₄ + H₂O solution in a horizontal channel is performed by using an electrochemical system. Unstable temperature and concentration gradients imposed by a heated cathodic bottom initiate an ascending (secondary) flow of light boundary-layer fluid into the freestream. To visualize the flow, the shadowgraph technique is used. Electrical measurements are used to obtain mass transfer rates and to infer a Sherwood number. The ranges of the parameters studied in the present work for the square channel are Pr = 5-7, Sc = 1,700-2,300, Re = 100-1,000, Gr_m= 1.27 X 10⁶ and Gr_ab = 4.06 × 10⁶-2.4S × 10⁷.     

Technical Reports: Time-Resolved Activities at the Advanced Photon Source Requiring the Pulsed Structure of the X-ray Beam

Scientific research in the time domain using the pulsed structure of the X-ray beams from a third-generation synchrotron source, such as the Advanced Photon Source (APS), has become a major interest among synchrotron users. The traditional material science, chemistry, and biology communities are getting an early glimpse of the potential impact of fast time-resolved X-ray studies. The scientific disciplines that have benefited from these studies include atomic and molecular physics, biology, chemical science, condensed matter physics, engineering science, environmental science, material science, and nuclear science. Technically, the turn-key-type femtosecond (fs) optical lasers with high peak power, used as pumps in many X-ray pump-probe experiments, have only recently become available.     

Multifunctional Small Molecule Fluorophore for Long‐Duration Tumor‐Targeted Monitoring and Dual Modal Phototherapy

In this work, a specific tumor‐targeted small molecular fluorophore for synchronous long‐duration cancer imaging, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy is synthesized. This novel fluorophore exhibits specific targeting ability in certain tumors (U87MG, MDA‐MB‐231, A549, etc.) based on its inherent structure and efficiently generates local hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species simultaneously for imaging‐guided precise cancer therapy combining the photothermic and photodynamic effects under laser irradiation. Meanwhile, compared to traditional near infrared fluorophore, this novel fluorophore with significantly enhanced stability against photobleaching can prolong the time of tumor imaging and improve the phototherapy efficiency. This work presents a potential strategy to develop small‐molecule‐based cancer theranostic agents for simultaneous cancer targeting, imaging, and therapy.     

Dc-bias-field-induced dielectric relaxation and ac conduction in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

The dielectric relaxation and ac conduction of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) ceramics were investigated at different temperatures under a dc bias. The dc bias gives rise to space charge accumulation, i.e. an electrode response, resulting in the significant increase of dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss tangent. Two Debye-like relaxations, arising from electrode and grain boundary responses, are present at low frequency with an increase of the dc bias. The electrode and grain boundary relaxations are distinguished according to the impedance spectroscopy and the frequency-dependent ac conductivity. The relaxation times of electrode and grain boundary relaxation are 0.955 ms and 0.026 ms, respectively, with a dc bias of 10 V at 328 K.     

Numerical solution for curved crack problem in elastic half-plane using hypersingular integral equation

A hypersingular integral equation for the curved crack problems of an elastic half-plane is introduced. Formulation of the equation is based on the usage of a modified complex potential. The potential is generally expressed in the form of a Cauchy-type integral. The modified complex potential is composed of the principal part and the complementary part. The principal part of the complex potential is actually equivalent to the original complex potential for the curved crack in an infinite plate. The role of the complementary part is to eliminate the boundary traction along the boundary of the half-plane caused by the principal part. From the assumed boundary traction condition, a hypersingular integral equation is obtained for the curved crack problems of an elastic half-plane. The curve length coordinate method is used to obtain a final solution. Several numerical examples are presented that prove the efficiency of the suggested method.