Theoretical Aspects of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization in the Solid State: The Influence of High Radical Concentrations on the Solid Effect and Cross Effect Mechanisms

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is used to enhance signals in NMR and MRI experiments. During these experiments microwave (MW) irradiation mediates transfer of spin polarization from unpaired electrons to their neighboring nuclei. Solid state DNP is typically applied to samples containing high concentrations (i.e. 10–40?mM) of stable radicals that are dissolved in glass forming solvents together with molecules of interest. Three DNP mechanisms can be responsible for enhancing the NMR signals: the solid effect (SE), the cross effect (CE), and thermal mixing (TM). Recently, numerical simulations were performed to describe the SE and CE mechanisms in model systems composed of several nuclei and one or two electrons. It was shown that the presence of core nuclei, close to DNP active electrons, can result in a decrease of the nuclear polarization, due to broadening of the double quantum (DQ) and zero quantum (ZQ) spectra. In this publication we consider samples with high radical concentrations, exhibiting broad inhomogeneous EPR line-shapes and slow electron cross-relaxation rates, where the TM mechanism is not the main source for the signal enhancements. In this case most of the electrons in the sample are not affected by the MW field applied at a discrete frequency. Numerical simulations are performed on spin systems composed of several electrons and nuclei in an effort to examine the role of the DNP inactive electrons. Here we show that these electrons also broaden the DQ and ZQ spectra, but that they hardly cause any loss to the DNP enhanced nuclear polarization due to their spin-lattice relaxation mechanism. Their presence can also prevent some of the polarization losses due to the core nuclei.     

Few-Body Approaches and Problems in Hypernuclei

It takes two nucleons to bind a Λ hyperon, and perhaps as many as three nucleons to bind two Λ hyperons. Here I review few-body calculations which consider the onset of binding in multi-strange hypernuclei, including ${\Xi}$ hyperons once the free-space strong-interaction conversion ${\Xi N \to \Lambda \Lambda}$ becomes Pauli forbidden in Λ-abundant matter. Quasibound states of ${\overline {K}}$ mesons in few-nucleon systems are also briefly discussed.     

Dimension-dependent stimulated radiative interaction of a single electron quantum wavepacket

In the foundation of quantum mechanics, the spatial dimensions of electron wavepacket are understood only in terms of an expectation value – the probability distribution of the particle location. One can still inquire how the quantum electron wavepacket size affects a physical process. Here we address the fundamental physics problem of particle–wave duality and the measurability of a free electron quantum wavepacket. Our analysis of stimulated radiative interaction of an electron wavepacket, accompanied by numerical computations, reveals two limits. In the quantum regime of long wavepacket size relative to radiation wavelength, one obtains only quantum-recoil multiphoton sidebands in the electron energy spectrum. In the opposite regime, the wavepacket interaction approaches the limit of classical point-particle acceleration. The wavepacket features can be revealed in experiments carried out in the intermediate regime of wavepacket size commensurate with the radiation wavelength.     

The equivalent nonlinearity for a nonlinear system with dither

Given a single loop nonlinear control system. The problem of constructing a dither signal in order to obtain a desired equivalent nonlinearity is considered. It is assumed that the nonlinearity may be described by a kth order polynomial. For this case it is shown that in general k different levels for the dither signal are necessary.     

Parametric interaction and backward wave oscillation in stimulated compton scattering

Stimulated Compton-Raman scattering and free electron lasers are formulated as parametric (four-photon) or three-wave interaction processes. Manley-Rowe relations and depletable pump equations are derived for both free electron lasers and optical klystron schemes. A process of backward wave oscillation is predicted when a pump radiation field is back scattered off a codirectionally propagating e beam with frequency down conversion. A practicable experiment in the optical regime is proposed to demonstrate this effect.     

Light-dependent Oxygen Consumption in Bacteriochlorophyll-Serine-treated Melanoma Tumors: On-line Determination Using a Tissue-inserted Oxygen Microsensor

Successful application of anticancer therapy, and especially photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by type II (PDTII) processes, depends on the oxygen content within the tumor before, during and after treatment. The high consumption of oxygen during type II PDT imposes constraints on therapy strategies. Although rates of oxygen consumption and repletion during PDTII were suggested by theoretical studies, direct measurements have not been reported. Application of a novel oxygen sensor allowed continuous and direct in situ measurements (up to a depth of 8–9 mm from the tumor surface and for several hours) of temporal variations in the oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) during PDT. Highly pigmented M2R mouse melanoma tumors implanted in CD1 nude mice were treated with bacteriochlorophyll-serine (Bchl-Ser; a new photodynamic reagent) and were subjected to fractionated illumination (700 < λ. < 900 nm) at a fluence rate of 12 mW cm^-2. This illumination led to total oxygen depletion with an average consumption rate of 7.2 uAf(O₂) s^-1. Spontaneous reoxygenation (at an average rate of 2.5 µM(O₂)/s) was observed during the following dark period. These rates are in good agreement with theoretical considerations (Foster et al., Radiat. Res. 126, 296,1991 and Henning et al, Radiat. Res. 142, 221, 1995). The observed patterns of oxygen consumption and recovery during prolonged periods of light/dark cycles were interpreted in terms of vasculature damage and sensitizer clearance. The presented data support the previously suggested advantages of fractionated illumination for type II photodynamic processes.     

Interfacial characterization of chemical solution‐deposited thin films of PbSe on GaAs(100)

The microstructure and composition of the interfacial layer between chemically deposited PbSe and GaAs substrates were studied using high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy‐filtered TEM. The thickness of the interfacial layer varied significantly from direct contact of the film with the substrate to 5 nm in the thickest regions. The results established the presence of a discontinuous, amorphous intermediate layer of Ga₂O₃ at the PbSe/GaAs interface. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Model for cost estimation in a finite-capacity stochastic environment based on shop floor optimization combined with simulation

In recent years several researchers suggested cost estimation models that consider limited capacity. These researchers ignored the stochastic nature of the shop floor. This paper presents a cost estimation model that takes into account the stochastic environment. It is based on marginal analysis – the difference between the total cost without the new order and the total cost with the new order. The proposed model is based on the integration of simulation and optimization. Data generated by the simulation is inserted into the optimization procedure that finds good feasible solutions quickly. A significant advantage of the proposed stochastic cost estimation over an existing deterministic approach is shown. A computational study is performed to test different factors affecting the proposed model.     

Determination of complex Young’s modulus of viscoelastic bars using forced longitudinal vibration of slender rods

A method to identify complex Young’s modulus of viscoelastic materials using forced longitudinal vibration of slender rods is proposed.The method differs from the beam one.Experimental tests were carried out at room temperature with different lengths in 108 mm, 100 mm,90 mm,83.5 mm,80 mm.74.5 mm,70 mm for the polycarbonate bars,and the curves of ratios A₂/A₁ between two ends of a viscoelastic bar versus frequencies are obtained, furthermore,the corresponding 3 dB bandwidth and the storage and loss modulus can be calculated.Sufficient number of obtained complex Young’s modulus at different frequency allows us to calculate other ones using the least square method.If the step of the tested frequency is 5 Hz,the maximum error of results can be less than 6%.By comparison with the measurement methods which the previous literature mentioned,this new method simplifies the calculation,and the physical meaning appears apparently and clearly.