Gain clamping in double-pass L-band EDFA using a broadband FBG

A highly efficient gain-clamped L-band EDFA with improved noise figure characteristic is demonstrated by simply adding a broadband C-band FBG in double-pass system. The combination of the FBG and optical circulator has created laser in the cavity for gain clamping. By adjusting the power combination of pumps 1 and 2, the clamped gain level can be controlled. The amplifier gain is clamped at 28.1 dB from −40 to −25 dBm with a gain variation of less than 0.5 dB by setting the pumps 1 and 2 at 59.5 and 50.6 mW, respectively. The gain is also flat from 1574 nm to 1604 nm with a gain variation of less than 3 dB. The corresponding noise figure varies from 5.6 to 7.6 dB, which is 0.8 to 2.6 dB less than those of unclamped amplifier.     

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Utilizing TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanostructure Films: Effect of Synthesis Temperature

This paper is concerned with a study of the influence of synthesis temperature on the properties of TiO₂ films and the performance of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The TiO₂ film samples synthesized via liquid phase deposition for 5 h at various temperatures, namely, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80°C. It was found that the morphological shape of the film changes with growth temperature. The optical absorption increases with growth temperature. However, the photoluminescence decreases with growth temperature. These TiO₂ samples were applied in a DSSC of ITO/TiO₂/electrolyte/platinum. The DSSC utilizing the sample grown at 40°C demonstrated the highest photovoltaic parameters with the J_sc, and η of 1.40 mA cm^–2 and 0.44% respectively. This is due to the smallest grain size of TiO₂ films and the smallest bulk resistance of the device.     

Microdetermination of benzoylhydrazine and some methoxylated derivatives by using differential pulse polarography

The differential pulse polarographic behaviour of benzoylhydrazine, m-methoxy benzoyl-hydrazine, and o-methoxy benzoylhydrazine has been investigated in Britton-Robinson buffer. The peaks obtained at pH 5 are recommended for the microdetermination of these compounds. The benzoylhydrazine can be obtained with high degrees of accuracy with an experimental detection limit of 4 × 10⁻⁶ M in simple aqueous and aqueous ethanol mixtures.     

Kinetics, thermodynamic and chromatographic behaviour of the uranyl ions sorption from aqueous thiocyanate media onto polyurethane foams

The retention profile of uranyl ions from aqueous thiocyanate media by polyether-type based polyurethane foams (PUFs) has been studied to gain more information regarding the mechanism of extraction. The effect of pH, shaking time, surfactant type, extraction media, temperature and analyte concentration on the retention of uranyl ions onto PUFs has been studied. It has been found that, the sorption of uranyl ions involved in the formation of a ternary complex ion associate of uranyl ion, thiocyanate and PUFs is highly dependent on these parameters. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the uranyl ions sorption have been studied in more detail. The dependency of the extraction on the parameters can be explained via a “solvent extraction,” mechanism. However, owing to the complex nature of the PUFs a dual-mode sorption mechanism involving both absorptions related to “solvent extraction” and an added component for “surface adsorption” may be operated simultaneously. Attempts for quantitative retention and recovery of the uranyl ions in tap and industrial waste water samples by the proposed PUFs columns has been carried out and satisfactory results have been obtained. The cellular structure of the PUF sorbent offer unique advantages over a conventional bulk type sorbents in rapid, versatile effective separation and/or preconcentration of uranyl ions.     

Location and associated hyperfine properties of μ+ in La2CuO4

The location of the positive muon used as a probe in highT _c systems is investigated using the unrestricted Hartree-Fock cluster procedure. Our calculations indicate that ⁺ is located in thea–c plane at a distance of 1.08 Å from the apical oxygen at a ⁺-O(a)-Cu angle of 25°. The hyperfine field at this site is also calculated. Our results show the importance of including the local contact and dipolar contributions to the hyperfine field which arise from the unpaired electron spin distribution in the vicinity of the muon.     

A new synthesis of vitamin C

l-Arabinose was reduced to l-arabinitol and condensed with formaldehyde to give two bis(di-0-methylene-l-arabityloxymethane and two di-O-methylene-l-arabinitol derivatives. Cis-fused 1,3:2,4-Di-O-methylene-l-arabinitol and trans-fused 2,4:3,5-Di-O-methylene-l-arabinitol were also isolated; only the former was affected by the oxidation to give the corresponding aldehyde, which was converted successively to the hydroxy amide, the ethyl hydroxy ester, the corresponding keto ester and vitamin C.     

Differential pulse polarographic behaviors of p-nitrosodimethylaniline: Application for microdetermination of NADH

The differential pulse polarographic behavior of p-nitrosodimethylaniline has been investigated in Britton-Robinson buffer and phosphate buffer. The peak obtained at pH 8.0 is recommended for the trace determination of this compound, with an experimental detection limit of 18 ppb (1.2 × 10^?7M) in simple aqueous solution. The method is also applied for the indirect microdetermination of NADH. The experimental detection limit of NADH is shown to be 1.05 × 10^?6M.     

Calculation of electric field–temperature (E,T) phase diagram of a ferroelectric liquid crystal near the SmA–SmC_α~* transition

In this work we perform a theoretical calculation in order to reconstitute the(E–T) phase diagram of a chiral smectic liquid crystal in the vicinity of the SmA–SmC_α~* transition. This reconstruction is carried out on the basis of a thermodynamic calculation of the slope of the curve joining the SmC_α~* domain and the unwound SmC~*. An empiric correction of the mean field term of Landau De-Gennes development is necessary to accomplish this reconstruction. Thereafter, an experimental validation is performed to verify our calculations.