Composition of the “GaAs” quantum dot,grown by droplet epitaxy

Self-assembled strain-free quantum dot (QD) structures were grown on AlGaAs surface by the droplet epitaxal method. The QDs were developed from pure Ga droplets under As pressure. The QDs were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both techniques show that the QDs are very uniform in size and their distribution on the surface is also homogeneous. The high resolution cross-sectional TEM investigation shows perfect lattice matching between the QD and the substrate, and also the faceting of the side walls of QD can be identified exactly by lattice planes. Analytical TEM (elemental mapping by EELS) unambiguously identifies the presence of Al in the QD.     

Effects of crossed columnar defects on vortex pinning in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8

To investigate the existence of a splay effect in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (Bi-2212), vortex pinning has been studied in different configurations of strongly inclined columnar defects (75 from the c axis), installed by heavy-ion irradiation. It is shown that the symmetry of the track setting with respect to the field direction is a more influent parameter than the presence of a dispersion in the track directions. We claim that the enhanced pinning efficiency which is observed in some splayed configurations of columnar defects in Bi-2212 can be interpreted without invoking a splay effect. Received 27 December 1999     

Experimental study of the inclusiveη-spectrum fromp \bar p annihilations at rest in liquid hydrogen

The inclusive η-momentum spectrum from \(\bar p\) annihilations at rest in liquid hydrogen was measured at LEAR. Branching ratios were obtained for $$\begin{gathered} p\bar p \to \eta \omega \left( {1.04_{ - 0.10}^{ + 0.09} } \right)\% ,\eta \rho ^0 \left( {0.53_{ - 0.08}^{ + 0.20} } \right)\% , \hfill \\ \pi a_2 \left( {8.49_{ - 1.10}^{ + 1.05} } \right)\% ,\eta \pi ^0 \left( {1.33 \pm 0.27} \right) \times 10^{ - 4} , \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ , and ηη(8.1±3.1)×10^?5. An upper limit for \(p\bar p \to \eta \eta '\) of 1.8×10^?4 at 95% CL was found. The ratio of the branching ratios is BR(η?)/BR(ηω)=0.51 _?0.06 ^+0.20 . For the ratio of branching ratios into two pseudoscalar mesons, we have BR(ηπ⁰)/BR(π⁰π⁰)=0.65±0.14, BR(ηη)/BR(π⁰π⁰), BR(η η ^′ )/BR(π⁰π⁰) at 95% CL, and BR(ηη)/BR(ηπ⁰).     

Power-law autocorrelated stochastic processes with long-range cross-correlations

We develop a stochastic process with two coupled variables where the absolute values of each variable exhibit long-range power-law autocorrelations and are also long-range cross-correlated. We investigate how the scaling exponents characterizing power-law autocorrelation and long-range cross-correlation behavior in the absolute values of the generated variables depend on the two parameters in our model. In particular, if the autocorrelation is stronger, the cross-correlation is also stronger. We test the utility of our approach by comparing the autocorrelation and cross-correlation properties of the time series generated by our model with data on daily returns over ten years for two major financial indices, the Dow Jones and the S&P500, and on daily returns of two well-known company stocks, IBM and Microsoft, over five years.     

Second-harmonic generation and wave-front correction of a terawatt laser system

By combining second-harmonic generation and wave-front correction of a hybrid Ti:sapphire-Nd:glass terawatt laser chain, we were able to generate a focused intensity above 10(19) W/cm(2), with an estimated 10(9):1 intensity contrast ratio. The frequency of the laser is doubled by use of a type I KDP crystal, and wave-front correction is achieved with a deformable mirror coupled to a wave-front sensor.     

The Contribution of Raman Scattering to the Fluorescence of the Polyene Antibiotic Amphotericin B

Fluorescence has recently been applied to the analysis of the molecular organization state of the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B (AmB) in solution or in lipid membranes. The polyene chain of AmB monomer gives rise to two fluorescence emissions; S₁(2¹A_g) → S₀(1¹A_g) between 500 and 700 nm, S₂(1¹B_u) → S₀(1¹A_g) between 400 and 500 nm. However, Raman scattering might interfere with the S₂ → S₀ emission fluorescence due to the weak fluorescence quantum yield and close proximity to the exciting lines. In fact, we show here that a change in the excitation wavelength results in a shift of three emission bands, an effect which excludes their assignment to fluorescence. These bands originate from the water Raman at 3382 cm^-1and AmB resonance Raman at 1556 and 1153 cm^-1. As a consequence, some former conclusions on the molecular organization state of AmB should be reconsidered.     

Entangling different degrees of freedom by quadrature squeezing cylindrically polarized modes

Quantum systems such as, for example, photons, atoms, or Bose-Einstein condensates, prepared in complex states where entanglement between distinct degrees of freedom is present, may display several intriguing features. In this Letter we introduce the concept of such complex quantum states for intense beams of light by exploiting the properties of cylindrically polarized modes. We show that already in a classical picture the spatial and polarization field variables of these modes cannot be factorized. Theoretically it is proven that by quadrature squeezing cylindrically polarized modes one generates entanglement between these two different degrees of freedom. Experimentally we demonstrate amplitude squeezing of an azimuthally polarized mode by exploiting the nonlinear Kerr effect in a specially tailored photonic crystal fiber. These results display that such novel continuous-variable entangled systems can, in principle, be realized.     

Studying the energy dependence of intrinsic conversion efficiency of single crystal scintillators under X-ray excitation

Single crystal scintilators are used in various radiation detectors applications. The efficiency of the crystal can be determined by the Detector Optical Gain (DOG) defined as the ratio of the emitted optical photon flux over the incident radiation photons flux. A parameter affecting DOG is the intrinsic conversion efficiency (n _C ) giving the percentage of the X-ray photon power converted to optical photon power. n _C is considered a constant value for X-ray energies in the order of keV although a non-proportional behavior has been reported. In this work an analytical model, has been utilized to single crystals scintillators GSO:Ce, LSO:Ce and LYSO:Ce to examine whether the intrinsic conversion efficiency shows non proportional behavior under X-ray excitation. DOG was theoretically calculated as a function of the incident X-ray spectrum, the X-ray absorption efficiency, the energy of the produced optical photons and the light transmission efficiency. The theoretical DOG values were compared with experimental data obtained by irradiating the crystals with X-rays at tube voltages from 50 to 140 kV and by measuring the light energy flux emitted from the irradiated screen. An initial value for n _C (calculated from literature data) was assumed for the X-ray tube voltage of 50 kV. For higher X-ray tube voltages the optical photon propagation phenomena was assumed constant and any deviations between experimental and theoretical data were associated with changes in the intrinsic conversion efficiency. The experimental errors were below 7% for each experimental setup. The behavior of n _C values for LSO:Ce and LYSO:Ce were found very similar, i.e., ranging with values from 0.089 at 50 kV to 0.015 at 140 kV, while for GSO:Ce, n _C demonstrated a peak at 80 kV.     

Improvement of piezoelectric transformer performances using SSHI and SSHI-max methods

The piezoelectric transformers reach densities of power more significant than their magnetic counterparts. However, one of the principal factors limiting the density of power is the acceptable maximum deformation by material constituting the transformer. The heating of the piezoelectric transformers is mainly of mechanical origin. This heating generates a degradation of the characteristics which in its turn generates an additional heating being able to lead to a phenomenon of thermal avalanche. In this work, two nonlinear methods [synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (SSHI) and SSHI-max] have been explored to improve the performance of the Rosen transformer basing on the tension generated by the secondary so as to increase the capacity of mechanic-electric conversion. The simulation results show that SSHI and SSHI-max techniques significantly increase the capacity of mechanic-electric conversion of inserts stuck on a vibrating structure and consequently, the power recovered in electric form. The comparative results of voltage gain, efficiency and the transmitted power of the transformer, before and after SSHI-max and SSHI control are given. These ones indicated that the two nonlinear techniques are promising as applications to improve the performances of the piezo-transformers.