Ferroelectricity in an s=1/2 chain cuprate

We report our discovery of ferroelectricity in the spiral-magnetic state in the quantum quasi-one-dimensional (1D) S=1/2 magnet of LiCu2O2. Electric polarization (P) emerges along the c direction below the spiral-magnetic order temperature, but changes from the c to a axis when magnetic fields (H) are applied along the b direction. We also found that P(c) increases with H(c), and P(a) appears with H(a). LiCu2O2 in zero field appears to be the first ferroelectric cuprate and also a prototypical example of the "1D spiral-magnetic ferroelectrics." However, the unexpected behavior in H may demonstrate the complexity of the ordered spin configuration, inherent in the 1D S=1/2 magnet of LiCu2O2.     

Photo-oxidation of polyhydroxyl molecules on TiO2 surfaces: from hole scavenging to light-induced self-assembly of TiO2-cyclodextrin wires

First-principles calculations are carried out to study photo-oxidation of glucose, as a prototype of polyhydroxyl carbohydrates and alcohols, on TiO2 surfaces. We reveal the microscopic mechanisms for the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes at the TiO2-molecule interface as detailed from hole trapping, deprotonation, to the formation of an electron-hole recombination center. These revealed mechanisms further lead to the understanding of the light-induced self-assembly mechanism for TiO2-cyclodextrin nanowires.     

Turbulence control with local pacing and its implication in cardiac defibrillation

In this review article, we describe turbulence control in excitable systems by using a local periodic pacing method. The controllability conditions of turbulence suppression and the mechanisms underlying these conditions are analyzed. The local pacing method is applied to control Winfree turbulence (WT) and defect turbulence (DT) induced by spiral-wave breakup. It is shown that WT can always be suppressed by local pacing if the pacing amplitude and frequency are properly chosen. On the other hand, the pacing method can achieve suppression of DT induced by instabilities associated with the motions of spiral tips while failing to suppress DT induced by the instabilities of wave propagation far from tips. In the latter case, an auxiliary method of applying gradient field is suggested to improve the control effects. The implication of this local pacing method to realistic cardiac defibrillation is addressed.     

Complete and generalized synchronization in a class of noise perturbed chaotic systems

In the paper, in light of the LaSalle-type invariance principle for stochastic differential equations, chaos synchronization is investigated for a class of chaotic systems dissatisfying a globally Lipschitz condition with noise perturbation. Sufficient criteria for both complete synchronization and generalized synchronization are rigorously established and thus successfully applied to realize chaos synchronization in the coupled unified chaotic systems. Furthermore, concrete examples as well as their numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the possible application of the established criteria.     

Incompatibility networks as models of scale-free small-world graphs

We make a mapping from Sierpinski fractals to a new class of networks, the incompatibility networks, which are scale-free, small-world, disassortative, and maximal planar graphs. Some relevant characteristics of the networks such as degree distribution, clustering coefficient, average path length, and degree correlations are computed analytically and found to be peculiarly rich. The method of network representation can be applied to some real-life systems making it possible to study the complexity of real networked systems within the framework of complex network theory.     

Real-time detection of DNA interactions with long-period fiber-grating-based biosensor

Using an optical biosensor based on a dual-peak long-period fiber grating, we have demonstrated the detection of interactions between biomolecules in real time. Silanization of the grating surface was successfully realized for the covalent immobilization of probe DNA, which was subsequently hybridized with the complementary target DNA sequence. It is interesting to note that the DNA biosensor was reusable after being stripped off the hybridized target DNA from the grating surface, demonstrating a function of multiple usability.     

Improved optical single-sideband generation using the self-modulation birefringence difference in semiconductor optical amplifiers

By employing the self-modulation birefringence difference in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), an improved method is proposed to generate a complete optical single-sideband (OSSB) signal. Over 30 dB sideband suppression ratios (SSRs) of lower OSSB signals are obtained over a 12 dB input power range and a 36 nm wavelength span, with a maximum of over 35 dB. Upper OSSB signals with an SSR of over 15 dB are observed using a SOA for what is believed to be the first time. This method is effective even for the carrier-suppressed signal. The theory for OSSB generation in an SOA is extended and verified by experiment.     

Schematic design of a complex thin-film luminescent screen usable for vacuum fluorescent and field emission display

Based on the facts related to solid-state cathodoluminescence, mixed excitation, and serial excitation recently discovered in our laboratory, a fundamental schematic design and a series of different schematic elaborated designs are proposed for protection from electron accumulation, reasonable use of a luminescent screen, and enhancement of light intensity.     

Precision measurement of the refractive index of carbon dioxide with a frequency comb

We report a higher precision measurement of the refractive index of carbon dioxide using a frequency comb as the light source in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer setup. The experimental sensitivity can reach the level of 8.8x10(-9). Taking into account the measurement accuracy of temperature and pressure, the experimental accuracy has a value of 1.2x10(-8). The measurement result has a deviation from the commonly quoted result [Old , J. Opt. Soc. Am.61, 89 (1971)] by 6.4x10(-7) at 800 nm.     

The effect of applied negative bias voltage on the structure of Ti-doped a-C:H films deposited by FCVA

Ti-doped hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited on Si(1 0 0) substrates by a filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) method using Ar and CH₄ as the feedstock. The composition and microstructure of the films were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. The internal stress was determined by the radius of curvature technique. The influence of the bias voltage on the microstructure of the as-deposited films was investigated. It was found that the graphite-like bonds was dominated in the Ti-doped DLC film deposited at 0 V bias voltage. When bias voltage was increased to −150 V, more diamond-like bond were produced and the sp³ content in film reached the maximum value, after which it decreased and more graphite-like bonds feature produced with further increase of the negative bias voltage. The compressive internal in the Ti-doped DLC films also exhibited a maximum value at −150 V bias voltage. IR results indicated that CH bonded intensity reduced, and H atoms bonded with C atoms were substituted for the Ti atoms as the negative bias voltage increasing. All the composition and microstructure change can be explained by considering the plasma conditions and the effect of negative bias voltage applied to the substrate.