Frequency Domain Fluorescence Lifetime Study of Crude Petroleum Oils

Frequency domain (FD) fluorescence lifetime data was collected for a series of 20 crude petroleum oils using a 405 nm excitation source and over a spectral range of ~426 to ~650 nm. Average fluorescence lifetimes were calculated using three different models: discrete multi-exponential, Gaussian distribution, and Lorentzian distribution. Fitting the data to extract accurate average lifetimes using the various models proved easier and less time consuming for the FD data than with Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) methods however the analysis of confidence intervals to the computed average lifetimes proved cumbersome for both methods. The uncertainty in the average lifetime was generally larger for the discrete lifetime multi-exponential model when compared to the distribution-based models. For the lifetime distributions, the data from the light crude oils with long lifetimes generally fit to a single decay term. Heavier oils with shorter lifetimes required multiple decay terms. The actual value for the average lifetime is more dependant on the specific fitting model employed than the data acquisition method used. Correlations between average fluorescence lifetimes and physical and chemical parameters of the crude oils were made with a view to developing a quantitative model for predicting the gross chemical composition of crude oils. It was found that there was no significant benefit gained by using FD over TCSPC other than more rapid data analysis in the FD case. For the FD data the Gaussian distribution model for fluorescence lifetime gave the best correlations with chemical composition allowing a qualitative correlation to some bulk oil parameters.

Experimental study on generation of high energy few cycle pulses with hollow fiber filled with neon

25 fs pulses with energy up to 0.8 mJ from a multi-pass amplifier system have been spectrally broadened from 460 nm to 950 nm due to strong self-phase modulation (SPM) effect in a gas filled hollow fiber. Using a set of chirped mirrors, the ultra-broadband dispersion compensation was achieved, and the compressed pulses reached their transform limit. Under optimized conditions we achieved pulses with duration of 5.1 fs and with energy of 400 μJ, corresponding to the peak power up to 80 GW. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 60608003, 60490280, 60225005 and 60621063)     

Structural and optoelectronic properties of amorphous GaN thin films

Amorphous gallium nitride (a-GaN) thin films were deposited on glass substrate by electron beam evaporation technique at room temperature and high vacuum using N ₂ as carrier gas. The structural properties of the films was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was clear from XRD spectra and SEM study that the GaN thin films were amorphous. The absorbance, transmittance and reflectance spectra of these films were measured in the wavelength range of 300–2200 nm. The absorption coefficient spectral analysis in the sharp absorption region revealed a direct band gap of E _g = 3:1 eV. The data analysis allowed the determination of the dispersive optical parameters by calculating the refractive index. The oscillator energy E ₀ and the dispersion energy E _d, which is a measure of the average strength of inter-band optical transition or the oscillator strength, were determined. Electrical conductivity of a-GaN was measured in a different range of temperatures. Then, activation energy of a-GaN thin films was calculated which equalled E _a = 0:434 eV.     

Routing strategies in traffic network and phase transition in network traffic flow

The dynamics of information traffic over scale-free networks has been investigated systematically. A series of routing strategies of data packets have been proposed, including the local routing strategy, the next-nearest-neighbour routing strategy, and the mixed routing strategy based on local static and dynamic information. The capacity of the network can be quantified by the phase transition from free flow state to congestion state. The optimal parameter values of each model leading to the highest efficiency of scale-free networked traffic systems have been found. Moreover, we have found hysteretic loop in networked traffic systems with finite packets delivering ability. Such hysteretic loop indicates the existence of the bi-stable state in the traffic dynamics over scale-free networks.      

Surface plasmon sensor with gold film deposited on a two-dimensional colloidal crystal

A sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of plasmonic crystals fabricated via a colloidal-crystal-assisted templating method is studied. Plasmonic crystals are prepared by depositing a thin gold (Au) layer onto a two-dimensional array of polystyrene spheres self-assembled on a quartz substrate. The enhanced transmission as a result of the SPR of Au plasmonic crystals, which are immersed in different ambient liquids, are measured and compared with that of polystyrene (PS) microsphere templates of different sizes, both before and after removal of Au nanoprisms formed on the quartz substrate through pores among the spheres. It is found that the measured sensitivities exhibit a linear dependence on the refractive index of the surrounding medium and are linked to coupling effects between SPRs on the corrugated Au film and nanoislands. The feasibility of the SPR system in molecular monolayer detection is further demonstrated through a formation of alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers on the Au film surface, which causes a 4 nm red-shift of the main SPR. PACS  07.07.Df; 73.20.Mf; 78.66.-w; 81.16.Dn     

An improved transmission line laser model for multimode laser diodes incorporating thermal effects

An improved transmission line model to study the thermal effects in semiconductor laser diodes is reported in this paper. The temperature effects in the laser characteristics are obtained by incorporating temperature dependent gain and carrier density equations for the laser cavity. These primary factors are introduced in the regular transmission line laser model to estimate the static and dynamic characteristics of an 1.3μm InGaAsP double heterostructure laser diode. The results show good agreement with the experimental observation and solution of rate equations referred in the literature. The key feature of this model is that it provides the laser spectra at various temperatures. Based on the model, time dependent evolution of optical spectrum, temperature dependent optical output and frequency chirp are evaluated. Further the distribution of photon and electron density within the cavity is also determined.     

Measurements of cavitation bubble dynamics based on a beam-deflection probe

We present an optodynamic measurement of a laser-induced cavitation bubble and its oscillations based on a scanning technique using a laser beam-deflection probe. The deflection of the beam was detected with a fast quadrant photodiode which was built into the optical probe. The applied experimental setup enabled us to carry out one- or two-dimensional scanning of the cavitation bubble, automatic control of the experiment, data acquisition and data processing. Shadow photography was used as a comparative method during the experiments.