Synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator of congruent and stoichiometric MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate

A synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on congruent MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (c-MgO:PPLN) is reported. The system, operating at room temperature, was pumped by a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. The wavelengths of the signal and idler waves were tuned from 870 nm to 1.54 μm and 1.58 to 5.67 μm, respectively, by changing the pump wavelength, the grating period or the cavity length. Pumped by 1.1 W of 755 nm laser radiation, the OPO generated 310 mW of 1080 nm radiation. This signal output corresponds to a total conversion efficiency of 50%. Without dispersion compensation the OPO generated phase-modulated signal pulses of 200 fs duration. Besides the OPO of c-MgO:PPLN, an OPO of stoichiometric (s) MgO:PPLN was investigated. Because of the reduced sensitivity to photorefractive damage, both crystals allowed efficient OPO operation at room temperature. Received: 19 August 2002 / Revised version: 11 December 2002 / Published online: 19 March 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-631/205-3906, E-mail: andres@physik.uni-kl.de     

Closed-loop adaptive optics in the human eye

We have developed a prototype apparatus for real-time closed-loop measurement and correction of aberrations in the human eye. The apparatus uses infrared light to measure the wave-front aberration at 25 Hz with a Hartmann-Shack sensor. Defocus is removed by a motorized optometer, and higher-order aberrations are corrected by a membrane deformable mirror. The device was first tested with an artificial eye. Correction of static aberrations takes approximately five iterations, making the system capable of following aberration changes at 5 Hz. This capability allows one to track most of the aberration dynamics in the eye. Results in living eyes showed effective closed-loop correction of aberrations, with a residual uncorrected wave front of 0.1microm for a 4.3-mm pupil diameter. Retinal images of a point source in different subjects with and without adaptive correction of aberrations were estimated in real time. The results demonstrate real-time closed-loop correction of aberration in the living eye. An application of this device is as electro-optic "spectacles" to improve vision.     

General model for water monomer adsorption on close-packed transition and noble metal surfaces

Ab initio density functional theory has been used to investigate the adsorption of H2O on several close-packed transition and noble metal surfaces. A remarkably common binding mechanism has been identified. On every surface H2O binds preferentially at an atop adsorption site with the molecular dipole plane nearly parallel to the surface. This binding mode favors interaction of the H2O 1b(1) delocalized molecular orbital with surface wave functions.     

Turbulent statistical characteristics associated to the north wind phenomenon in southern Brazil with application to turbulent diffusion

A parameterization for the transport processes in a shear driven planetary boundary layer (PBL) has been established employing turbulent statistical quantities measured during the north wind phenomenon in southern Brazil. Therefore, observed one-dimensional turbulent energy spectra are compared with a spectral model based on the Kolmogorov arguments. The good agreement obtained from this comparison leads to well defined formulations for the turbulent velocity variance, local decorrelation time scale and eddy diffusivity. Furthermore, for vertical regions in which the wind shear forcing is relevant, the eddy diffusivity derived from the north wind data presents a similar profile to those obtained from the non-extensive statistical mechanics theory. Finally, a validation for the present parameterization has been accomplished, using a Lagrangian stochastic dispersion model. The Prairie Grass data set, which presents high mean wind speed, is simulated. The analysis developed in this study shows that the turbulence parameterization constructed from wind data for north wind flow cases is able to describe the diffusion in a high wind speed, shear-dominated PBL.     

On the energy transfer from Tb to Eu in LiTb1−xEuxP4O12

The undoped stoichiometric materials LiTbP₄O₁₂ and LiEuP₄O₁₂ show effective green Tb³⁺ and red Eu³⁺ luminescence, respectively. Both systems are fully mixable, which offers the possibility of examining the energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ in the complete system of LiTb_1−xEu_xP₄O₁₂. As the distance of the rare earth ions is large enough to exclude exchange interaction in these materials, only multipolar interaction is to be expected. Dealing only with forbidden f–f transitions it is possible to produce both Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ luminescence at the same time having a suitable Eu³⁺ concentration.     

Wealth condensation in a multiplicative random asset exchange model

Random Asset Exchange (RAE) models, despite a number of simplifying assumptions, serve the purpose of establishing direct relationships between microscopic exchange mechanisms and observed economical data. In this work a conservative multiplicative RAE model is discussed in which, at each timestep, two agents “bet” for a fraction f of the poorest agent's wealth. When the poorest agent wins the bet with probability p, we show that, in a well defined region of the (p,f) phase space, there is wealth condensation. This means that all wealth ends up owned by only one agent, in the long run. We derive the condensation conditions analytically by two different procedures, and find results in accordance with previous numerical estimates. In the non-condensed phase, the equilibrium wealth distribution is a power law for small wealths. The associated exponent is derived analytically and it is found that it tends to -1 on the condensation interface. I turns out that wealth condensation happens also for values of p much larger than 0.5, that is under microscopic exchange rules that, apparently, favor the poor. We argue that the observed “rich get richer” effect is enhanced by the multiplicative character of the dynamics.     

颗粒柱塌落中的尺寸效应和瞬态流变性研究

颗粒材料是自然界和工程中广泛存在和普遍应用的材料,泥石流、滑坡和混凝土等均可视为颗粒材料。颗粒材料研究有助于更好地控制相关自然灾害或利用其某些特性。对颗粒材料柱体的塌落动力学研究不仅可以方便理解颗粒材料在瞬态流动时的流变性,还可以引申到泥石流等岩土材料的运动与堆积形态。本文利用扩展多面体离散单元法对颗粒堆积柱的塌落进行了细致的研究,探索高宽比、摩擦系数以及颗粒柱相对尺寸等对柱体塌落的影响。对颗粒集合进行分网并分析每个网格内的应力与应变率之间的关系,讨论其瞬态本构关系。相关研究对于深入理解颗粒材料重力流的动力学性质以及颗粒集合体的堆积形态具有重要意义。     

Surface passivation of crystalline silicon by sputter deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon

This letter shows that intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering can provide outstanding passivation of crystalline silicon surfaces, similar to that achieved by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). By using a 2% hydrogen and 98% argon gas mixture as the plasma source, 1.5 Ω cm n‐type FZ silicon wafers coated with sputtered a‐Si:H films achieved an effective lifetime of 3.5 ms, comparable to the 3 ms achieved by PECVD (RF and microwave dual‐mode). This is despite the fact that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements show that sputtering and PECVD deposited films have very different chemical bonding configurations. We have found that film thickness and deposition temperature have a significant impact on the passivation results. Self‐annealing and hydrogen plasma treatment during deposition are likely driving forces for the observed changes in surface passivation. These experimental results open the way for the application of sputtered a‐Si:H to silicon heterojunction solar cells. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Small-scale forward smouldering experiments for remediation of coal tar in inert media

This paper presents a series of experiments conducted to assess the potential of smouldering combustion as a novel technology for remediation of contaminated land by water-immiscible organic compounds. The results from a detailed study of the conditions under which a smouldering reaction propagates in sand embedded with coal tar are presented. The objective of the study is to provide further understanding of the governing mechanisms of smouldering combustion of liquids in porous media. A small-scale apparatus consisting of a 100-mm in diameter quartz cylinder arranged in an upward configuration was used for the experiments. Thermocouple measurements and visible digital imaging served to track and characterize the ignition and propagation of the smouldering reaction. These two diagnostics are combined here to provide valuable information on the development of the reaction front. Post-treatment analyses of the sand were used to assess the amount of coal tar remaining in the soil. Experiments explored a range of inlet airflows and fuel concentrations. The smouldering ignition of coal tar was achieved for all the conditions presented here and self-sustained propagation was established after the igniter was turned off. It was found that the combustion is oxygen limited and peak temperatures in the range 800–1080 °C were observed. The peak temperature increased with the airflow at the lower range of flows but decreased with airflow at the higher range of flows. Higher airflows were found to produce faster propagation. Higher fuel concentrations were found to produce higher peak temperatures and slower propagation. The measured mass removal of coal tar was above 99% for sand obtained from the core and 98% for sand in the periphery of the apparatus.     

Fermi surface in the new organic quasi-two-dimensional metal α-(BETS)2TlHg(SeCN)4

Quantum oscillations of de Haas-van Alphen and Shubnikov-de Haas and semiclassical angular oscillations of the magnetoresistance have been observed in the quasi-two-dimensional organic metal α-(BETS)₂TlHg(SeCN)₄. The quantum oscillations are connected with the cylindrical part of the Fermi surface. The angular oscillations are associated with the carrier motion on both the cylindrical part and quasi-planar sheets of the Fermi surface. The values of the Dingle temperature, T _D ≈ 2–3 K, and the effective mass, m* ≈ 1.03m ₀, have been defined. The possibility of the weakening of multibody interactions has been shown in this compound.