InAs/GaAs (1 1 1)A heteroepitaxial systems

We studied the structural, electrical, and mechanical properties of an InAs thin film grown on GaAs (1 1 1)A substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. In contrast to conventionally used (0 0 1) surfaces, where Stranski–Krastanov growth dominates the highly mismatched heteroepitaxy, layer-by-layer growth of InAs can be established. One of the largest advantages of this unique heteroepitaxial system is that it provides a two-dimensional electron gas system in the near-surface region without the problem of electron depletion. We review the fundamental properties and applications of this unique heteroepitaxial system.     

Tunable narrow-band infrared emitters from hexagonal lattices

In this work, we present both the theoretical basis as well as supporting experimental measurements for development of a novel mid-infrared thermally stimulated narrow band emitter with a spectral bandwidth of less than 10%. To achieve this, we utilize a metallized-surface 2D photonic crystal of air voids in a silicon background with hexagonal structure symmetry. Our results are based on the generation of discrete surface plasmon (SP) modes in the thin metallized layer residing on the top surface. This yields a series of adequately spaced discrete peaks in the reflection spectrum, dominated by a single sharp feature corresponding to the lowest plasmon order, in an otherwise uniform highly reflective spectrum (>90%) over most of the IR spectrum. This, in turn, gives rise to a sharp absorption feature with a correspondingly narrow thermal emission peak in the emission spectrum. Transfer matrix calculations simulate well both the position and strengths of the absorption peaks. By altering the period of the surface photonic lattice, the SP peak and emissive band can be tuned to the desired wavelength. These devices promise a new class of tunable infrared emitters with high power in a narrow spectral bandwidth. Such narrow band sources are critical to achieving high efficiency gas sensors.     

Liminf results on the increments of an (N,d)-Gaussian process

We establish some liminf theorems on the increments of a (N,d)-Gaussian process with the usual Euclidean norm, via estimating upper bounds of large deviation probabilities on the suprema of the (N,d)-Gaussian process. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Brightness and decay time of Zn2SiO4:Mn phosphor particles with spherical shape and fine size

Green-light-emitting Zn₂SiO₄:Mn phosphor particles were synthesized by modified large-scale spray pyrolysis using a colloidal solution containing fumed silica particles. The particles had a fine size, filled morphology, spherical shape and non-aggregation characteristics even after post-treatment at 1150 °C. The luminescence characteristics of Zn₂SiO₄:Mn phosphor particles having spherical shape, such as brightness and decay time under VUV excitation light, were investigated as a function of Mn content. The luminescence intensity exhibits a maximum at 5 mol% Mn-doped powder. The decay time increases consistently with decreasing Mn content and more saturated color coordinates are obtained with the composition having 12 mol% Mn. As a consequence, the 10 mol% Mn-doped powder proved to provide a good combination of favorable luminance and acceptable decay time. The influence of post-treatment temperature on the decay time and photoluminescence characteristics of Zn₂SiO₄:Mn particles was also investigated. Particles post-treated at 1155 °C had the maximum photoluminescence intensity, which was identical to 113% that of the commercial product, and a comparable decay time of 5.8 ms. PACS 81.20.Rg; 78. 55.Hx; 78.40.Ha; 81.05.Hd; 81.40.Tv     

Achievement of laser fusion of biological cells using UV pulsed dye laser beams

This paper reports a successful achievement of laser-induced biological cell fusion using an excimer laser excited dye laser. To our knowledge, we examined for the first time the dependence of fusion rate on laser pulse energy, number of laser pulses, and laser wavelength. Maximum fusion rate of approximately 50% was obtained by this laser fusion technology.     

20-relative neighborhood graphs are hamiltonian

For any two points p and q in the Euclidean plane, define LUN_pq = { v | v ∈ R², d_pv < d_pq and d_qv < d_pq}, where d_uv is the Euclidean distance between two points u and v . Given a set of points V in the plane, let LUN_pq(V) = V ∩ LUN_pq. Toussaint defined the relative neighborhood graph of V, denoted by RNG(V) or simply RNG, to be the undirected graph with vertices V such that for each pair p,q ∈ V, (p,q) is an edge of RNG(V) if and only if LUN_pq (V) = ?. The relative neighborhood graph has several applications in pattern recognition that have been studied by Toussaint. We shall generalize the idea of RNG to define the k-relative neighborhood graph of V, denoted by kRNG(V) or simply kRNG, to be the undirected graph with vertices V such that for each pair p,q ∈ V, (p,q) is an edge of kRNG(V) if and only if | LUN_pq(V) | < k, for some fixed positive number k. It can be shown that the number of edges of a kRNG is less than O(kn). Also, a kRNG can be constructed in O(kn₂) time. Let E_c = {e_pq| p ∈ V and q ∈ V}. Then G_c = (V,E_c) is a complete graph. For any subset F of E_c, define the maximum distance of F as max_epq∈Fd_pq. A Euclidean bottleneck Hamiltonian cycle is a Hamiltonian cycle in graph G_c whose maximum distance is the minimum among all Hamiltonian cycles in graph G_c. We shall prove that there exists a Euclidean bottleneck Hamiltonian cycle which is a subgraph of 20RNG(V). Hence, 20RNGs are Hamiltonian.     

A note on strongly π-regular rings

Let R be an associative ring with unit and let N(R) denote the set of nilpotent elements of R. R is said to be stronglyπ-regular if for each x∈R, there exist a positive integer n and an element y∈R such that x ⁿ=x ^{n +1} y and xy=yx. R is said to be periodic if for each x∈R there are integers m,n≥ 1 such that m≠n and x ^m=x ⁿ. Assume that the idempotents in R are central. It is shown in this paper that R is a strongly π-regular ring if and only if N(R) coincides with the Jacobson radical of R and R/N(R) is regular. Some similar conditions for periodic rings are also obtained. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.