Cr(2+):ZnSe and Co(2+):ZnSe saturable-absorber Q switches for 1.54-mum Er:glass lasers

Passive Q switching of Er:glass lasers has been demonstrated with Cr(2+):ZnSe and Co(2+):ZnSe saturable absorbers. A pulse duration of ~50ns and an output pulse energy of 5 mJ were obtained with both Co:ZnSe and Cr:ZnSe passive shutters. A Q-switched conversion efficiency of as much as 26% was obtained for Cr:ZnSe. Theoretical modeling exhibits satisfactory agreement with experimental data.     

Antioxidant properties of gold nanoparticles studied by ESR spectroscopy

The Au-containing nanocomposites were synthesized by UV irradiation followed by the thermal treatment of chitosan oligomer solutions doped by HAuCl₄. The size of the formed gold nanoparticles depends on the concentration of the dopant, which is proved by UV—Vis absorption spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The antioxidant activity of the gold nanoparticles with respect to hydroxy radicals significantly depends on the specific surface of the particles, which was found using the secondary radical spin-trapping technique. The change in the ^·OH radical concentration was monitored by the intensity of the ESR signal of the adduct of the spin trap (α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone) with the Me^·radicals formed in the reaction of ^·OH with DMSO. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 509–512, March, 2008.     

Calorimetric study of organic-inorganic copolymers of ethylene glycol methacrylate and titanium dioxide

Hybrid copolymers of ethylene glycol monomethacrylate and titanium dioxide with different ratios between the organic and inorganic components were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. It was shown that the introduction of the inorganic component enhances the thermal stability of composites compared to that of poly(ethylene glycol monomethacrylate). It was found that the onset temperature of the thermal degradation of copolymers increases with an increase in the titanium dioxide content.     

1.9- m and 2.0- m laser diode pumping of Cr(2+) :ZnSe and Cr(2+) :CdMnTe

Efficient diode pumping at wavelengths of 1.9 and 2.0microm of a Cr(2+): ZnSe laser with an output power of 105 mW and a slope efficiency of 35% with respect to the absorbed pump power is presented. In addition, Cr(2+): CdMnTe has been laser diode pumped as well as operated in the continuous-wave regime, to the best of our knowledge for the first time.     

N → N acyl group migration in <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acylpyrazoles: Isomerization of 1,4-diacyl-5-methyl-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrazoles to 1,4-diacyl-3-methyl-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrazoles

1,4-Diacyl-5-methyl-1H-pyrazoles on heating in toluene undergo isomerization to 1,4-diacyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazoles via intermolecular N → N acyl group migration. 1,4,5-Trisubstituted pyrazoles obtained by reaction of 2-ethoxymethylidene derivatives of 1,3-diketones with 1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylhydrazine or phenylhydrazine failed to isomerize to 1,3,4-trisubstituted pyrazoles.