Electro-absorption and refraction in Fabry-Perot quantum well modulators: a general discussion

Fabry-Perot resonators have long been advocated to improve the limited contrast ratio of multiple quantum well optical modulators used in photonic switches based on self electrooptic effect devices (SEEDs) and in other array based optical interconnection schemes. Using data on field dependent GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well absorption and refraction, we have modelled the reflectivity, modulation depth and contrast ratio of resonant modulators. Our results are generally valid for any quantum well modulator and demonstrate 23the important role played by electro-refraction even in regions of strong absorption. Resonators give large contrast ratios but there are trade-offs in the maximum reflectivity change achievable with Fabry-Perot resonators compared to simple modulators. The model gives the optimum number of quantum wells and reflectivity values required to make a resonator at any wavelength for a given quantum well structure. Understanding the limits of Fabry-Perot quantum well modulator performance is important for their application in symmetric self electrooptic effectiveness for photonic switching where modulation and detection properties are both used and for optical interconnection systems.     

A convenient synthesis of sulfonylureas from carboxylic acids and sulfonamides via an in situ Curtius rearrangement

A one-pot reaction of carboxylic acids with sulfonamides to afford sulfonylureas is described.     

On the torsion of Jacobians of principal modular curves of level 3<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Superscript>

We demonstrate that the 3-power torsion points of the Jacobians of the principal modular curves X(3ⁿ) are fixed by the kernel of the canonical outer Galois representation of the pro-3 fundamental group of the projective line minus three points. The proof proceeds by demonstrating the curves in question satisfy a two-part criterion given by Anderson and Ihara. Two proofs of the second part of the criterion are provided; the first relies on a theorem of Shimura, while the second uses the moduli interpretation. Received: 30 September 2005     

A C-symplectic free -manifold with contractible orbits and

An interesting question in symplectic geometry concerns whether or not a closed symplectic manifold can have a free symplectic circle action with orbits contractible in the manifold. Here we present a c-symplectic example, thus showing that the problem is truly geometric as opposed to topological. Furthermore, we see that our example is the only known example of a c-symplectic manifold having non-trivial fundamental group and Lusternik-Schnirelmann category precisely half its dimension.

     

The influence of the liquid crystalline core geometry on the mesogenicity of novel chiral 2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles

The synthesis and characterization of seven novel (R)-2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles are described. The propanonitriles were prepared to evaluate their potential use as thermochromics and ferroelectric dopants, as well as to determine their twist sense properties. The materials exhibit smectic and chiral nematic phases of high thermal stability; the mesogenic behaviour of the nitriles is directly related to the type of two-ring core unit employed. The effects of the different molecular geometries and polarizabilities of the liquid crystalline cores on mesophase stability are discussed, particularly in relation to other members of this series. The chiral nematic phase of the propanonitriles is assigned as having a left-handed twist sense from contact preparation studies, and this is in agreement with rules relating absolute configuration and molecular structure to helical twist sense.     

Elevation of the glass transition temperature in flexible‐chain semicrystalline polymers

In the idealized two‐phase model of a semicrystalline polymer, the amorphous intercrystalline layers are considered to have the same properties as the fully‐amorphous polymer. In reality, these thin intercrystalline layers can be substantially influenced by the presence of the crystals, as individual polymer molecules traverse both crystalline and amorphous phases. In polymers with rigid backbone units, such as poly(etheretherketone), PEEK, previous work has shown this coupling to be particularly severe; the glass transition temperature (T_g) can be elevated by tens of degrees celsius, with the magnitude of the elevation correlating directly with the thinness of the amorphous layer. However, this connection has not been explored for flexible‐chain polymers, such as those formed from vinyl‐type monomers. Here, we examine T_g in both isotactic polystyrene (iPS) and syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS), crystallized under conditions that produce a range of amorphous layer thicknesses. T_g is indeed shown to be elevated relative to fully‐amorphous iPS and sPS, by an amount that correlates with the thinness of the amorphous layer; the magnitude of the effect is severalfold less than that in PEEK, consistent with the minimum lengths of polymer chain required to make a fold in the different cases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1198–1204, 2007     

Considerations on modelling the market for softwood lumber in the United States

The analysis in this paper looks at two important elements in modelling the market for timber in the United States. First, the issue of directional causality between price and quantity and its implications in a modelling effort is investigated. Second, the extent of the geographic market for timber is discussed and a method of detecting it is suggested. The method for detecting the extent of the geographical market is tractable and can be applied in a straightforward way. Both considerations are applied to the softwood lumber market in the United States.     

N. Charton,A. Feldermann,A. Theis,M. H. Stenzel,T. P. Davis,C. Barner‐Kowollik,Initiator efficiency of 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) in bulk dodecyl acrylate free‐radical polymerizations over a wide conversion and molecular weight range (2004) 42(20) 5170–5179

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem (2004) 42(20) 5170–5179. No abstract.