Transverse mode control by manipulating gain distribution in a Yb:YAG ceramic thin disk

We demonstrated that transverse mode can be controlled by manipulating gain distribution in a Yb:YAG ceramic thin disk. Several elongated higher order transverse modes of a Hermite-Gaussian beam were observed when a straight-line-shaped gain region was created by using a diode laser output from an optical fiber. An orthogonally crossing pair of straight-line-shaped gain regions created with an additional optical fiber output resulted in the generation of a doughnut-shaped Laguerre-Gaussian beam. This implies that easy and quick switching of Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian beams is possible without mechanical handling.     

Calibration method for ESR signal intensity of calcitic shells

A practical method of calibrating intensities of ESR signals with a single crystal of copper pentahydrate (CuSO₄ · 5H₂O) has been developed for calcitic shells containing a large amount of manganese (Mn²⁺). A sample holder is designed to insert the crystal from the bottom of the cavity for use as a standard sample. The signal of Cu²⁺ in the standard does not interfere with the Mn²⁺ signals. The Cu²⁺ signal and dating signal of the shell are recorded simultaneously; the ratio of their intensities is the basis for calibration. It is shown that this calibration method reduces the errors attributed to both coupling and unloadedQ factors of the cavity resonator to within 2%.     

Phonon modes in mass-defect disordered alloy NiPt

The phonon dispersion relations of 00σT branch were measured for Ni₉₅Pt₅ and Ni₇₀Pt₃₀. The dispersion curves breaks up into two branches. Th general shape and its concentration dependence can be explained qualitatively by Taylor's coherent potential approximation theory.     

Intrinsic carrier doping in antiferromagnetically interacted supramolecular copper complexes with (pyrazino)tetrathiafulvalene (pyra-TTF) as the ligand, [CuIICl2(pyra-TTF)] and (pyra-TTF)2[CuI3Cl4(pyra-TTF)

New supramolecular copper complexes with pyrazinotetrathiafulvalene (pyra-TTF) as the ligand, [Cu(II)Cl2(pyra-TTF)] (1) and (pyra-TTF) 2[Cu(I)3Cl4(pyra-TTF)] (2), have been synthesized by the diffusion method. Complex 1 is a black block crystal with a three-dimensional (3-D) supramolecular network; the linear chain [-Cu(II)Cl2-(pyra-TTF)-] n extends along the b axis, where the coordinated pyra-TTF donors are stacked in a head-to-tail and ring-over-bond configuration to construct two-dimensional (2-D) sheets, and between the sheets, there are C...Cl(-) or H...Cl(-) contacts. Even though the electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement reveals the nearly Cu(II) state, complex 1 is a semiconductor with sigmaRT=1.0 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) and Ea=0.33 eV. The high-frequency conductivity measurement also confirmed the intrinsic slight carrier doping from Cu(II) to the pyra-TTF donor. This slight doping enhances not only the real and imaginary dielectric constants but also the antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu(II) spins following the 2-D Heisenberg model with 2J=-20 K. In contrast, complex 2 is a very thin black needle. This needle crystal has two crystallographically independent pyra-TTF molecules, which are coordinated and noncoordinated donors. The coordinated donors composed a supramolecular chain [Cu(I)3Cl4(pyra-TTF)(0)]n , whereas the noncoordinated donors formed conducting alpha'-type pyra-TTF(+0.5) sheets. This complex is semiconducting with sigmaRT=0.1 S cm(-1) and Ea=0.15 eV. Both complexes 1 and 2 demonstrate that the pyra-TTF molecule works not only as an oxidized donor by Cu(II) to construct conducting sheets but also as a ligand coordinated to a Cu cation to form supramolecuar chains.     

19F NMR characterization of the thermodynamics and dynamics of the acid-alkaline transition in a reconstituted sperm whale metmyoglobin

A 19F NMR study on the acid-alkaline transition in sperm whale myoglobin reconstituted with a perfluoromethyl heme, 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,8-diethyl-2,12,18-trimethyl-7-trifluoromethylporphyrinatoiron(III), demonstrated that the thermodynamics of the transition is predominantly controlled by the stability of acidic form.     

Oxidation of Au by surface OH: nucleation and electronic structure of gold on hydroxylated MgO(001)

The nucleation and electronic structure of vapor-deposited Au on hydroxylated MgO(001) surfaces has been investigated under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Hydroxylated MgO(001) surfaces with two different hydroxyl coverages, 0.4 and 1 monolayer, respectively, were prepared by exposure to water (D(2)O) at room temperature. Scanning tunneling microscopy experiments show significantly higher gold particle densities and smaller particle sizes on the hydroxylated MgO surface as compared to gold deposited on clean MgO(001). Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments were performed to reveal details about the initial nucleation of gold. Gold atoms are found to chemically interact with a specific type of hydroxyl groups on the MgO surface, leading to the formation of oxidized gold particles. The enhanced adhesion of Au particles, which is due to the formation of strong Au-O interfacial bonds, is responsible for the observed higher stability of small Au clusters toward thermal sintering on hydroxylated MgO surfaces. The results are compared to similar studies on Au/TiO(2)(110) model systems and powder samples prepared by the deposition-precipitation route.     

Polymerization of coordinated monomers. III. Copolymerization of acrylonitrile–zinc chloride,methacrylonitrile–zinc chloride or methyl methacrylate–zinc chloride complex with styrene

The 1:1 or 2:1 complex of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, or methyl methacrylate with ZnCl₂ was copolymerized with styrene at the temperature of 0–30°C without any initiator. The structure of the copolymer from methyl methacrylate complex and styrene was examined by NMR spectroscopy. The complexes of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile with ZnCl₂ gave a copolymer containing about 50 mole-% styrene units. The complexes of methyl methacrylate yielded an alternating copolymer when the feed molar ratio of methyl methacrylate to styrene was small, but with increasing feed molar ratio the resulting copolymer consisted of about 2 moles of methyl methacrylate per mole of styrene. The formation of a charge-transfer complex of styrene with a monomer coordinated to zinc atom was inferred from the ultraviolet spectra. The regulation of the copolymerization was considered to be effected by the charge-transfer complex. The copolymer resulting from the 2:1 methyl methacrylate–zinc chloride complex had no specific tacticity, whereas the copolymer from the 1:1 complex was richer in coisotacticity than in cosyndiotacticity. The change of the composition of the copolymer and its specific tacticity in the polymerization of the methyl methacrylate complex is related to the structure of the complex.     

Selective adsorption and stable solidification of radioactive cesium ions by porous silica gels loaded with insoluble ferrocyanides

Development of highly functional cesium selective adsorbents for the decontamination of high-activity-level water(HALW) from the Fukushima NPP-1 accident is very urgent. In order to selectively adsorb the radioactive cesium, three kinds of novel porous silica gels loaded with insoluble ferrocyanides(SLFC) were prepared using a successive impregnation/precipitation method. Based on the results of previous research, the SLFC composites have relatively large uptake ratio above 95%, distribution coefficients(Kd) above 103 cm3/g, and excellent adsorption kinetics even in seawater. The solidification results also indicate that zeolites have an excellent Cs immobilization characteristic, gas-trapping and self-sintering abilities, and low leachability. We chose three kinds of SLFC composites to achieve the optimization of solidification by mixing with nine kinds of additives at high temperatures(up to 1200 °C). The Cs contents in the three composites were estimated to be below 30% of the initial contents and decreased with the three stages at calcination temperatures ranging from 25 to 1200 °C. By contrast, the Cs immobilization ratio was markedly lowered by mixing with additives: of those, allophane had the best immobilization result. By increasing the additive ratio to 50 wt%, the Cs immobilization ratio became almost 100% and no volatilization of Cs was detected even after calcination at 1200 °C. This result indicates that calcination of the mixture of SLFC composites after adsorbing Cs+ ions and specific additives under appropriate ratio is effective for stable solidification.