Low-threshold quantum-cascade lasers at 3.5 THz (lambda = 85 microm)

Chirped-superlattice quantum-cascade lasers are reported that emit at lambda approximately 85 microm (3.6 THz), which is to the authors' knowledge the longest wavelength demonstrated so far with this technology. Collected peak output powers of 1.5 mW per facet were measured at liquid-helium temperature, and a maximum operating temperature of 45 K was reached. Record low-threshold-current densities of 95 and 115 A cm(-2) were observed in pulsed and continuous-wave operation, respectively. For the latter, output powers of a few hundred microwatts are estimated at low temperatures.     

Monstrous Branes

 We study D-branes in the bosonic closed string theory whose automorphism group is the Bimonster group (the wreath product of the Monster simple group with ℤ₂). We give a complete classification of D-branes preserving the chiral subalgebra of Monster invariants and show that they transform in a representation of the Bimonster. Our results apply more generally to self-dual conformal field theories which admit the action of a compact Lie group on both the left- and right-moving sectors. Received: 20 February 2002 / Accepted: 17 August 2002 Published online: 19 December 2002 Communicated by R.H. Dijkgraaf     

Dielectric constants of fluid mixtures over a wide range of temperature and density

A new expression is presented for estimating the dielectric constant of a fluid mixture as a function of temperature, density and composition. The estimated dielectric constants (and their derivatives) are required for phase-equilibrium calculations, based on an equation of state, for systems containing electrolytes and nonelectrolytes. The new expression holds for the entire range of fluid densities, from zero to liquid-like densities. Mixing of components is performed on a volume-fraction basis at constant temperature and constant reduced density. For polar components where data are not available at the temperature and/or reduced density of interest, the well-characterized behavior of water is used to extrapolate the available pure-component data. The importance of using the correct density of the mixture is shown. Using one adjustable parameter for each nonideal binary subsystem, predicted results can be significantly improved.