Lie-Poincaré transformations and a reduction criterion in Landau theory

In the Landau theory of phase transitions one considers an effective potential Φ whose symmetry group G and degree d depend on the system under consideration; generally speaking, Φ is the most general G-invariant polynomial of degree d. When such a Φ turns out to be too complicate for a direct analysis, it is essential to be able to drop unessential terms, i.e., to apply a simplifying criterion. Criteria based on singularity theory exist and have a rigorous foundation, but are often very difficult to apply in practice. Here we consider a simplifying criterion (as stated by Gufan) and rigorously justify it on the basis of classical Lie-Poincaré theory as far as one deals with fixed values of the control parameter(s) in the Landau potential; when one considers a range of values, in particular near a phase transition, the criterion has to be accordingly partially modified, as we discuss. We consider some specific cases of group G as examples, and study in detail the application to the Sergienko-Gufan-Urazhdin model for highly piezoelectric perovskites.     

Widely tunable continuous-wave diode-pumped 2-microm Tm-Ho:KYF4 laser

Continuous-wave laser action at approximately 2 microm is demonstrated in a Tm-Ho:KYF4 single crystal at room temperature. Crystal growth, spectroscopic measurements, and laser results are presented. An output power in excess of 250 mW is obtained with a tuning range of 99 nm, the largest ever published, to our knowledge, for Tm-Ho in any crystalline host.     

Experimental confirmation of matched bends

Modal conversion between the fundamental mode and the first-order (leaky) mode has been experimentally investigated in high-index-contrast integrated-optical bent waveguides. The matched bend condition has been experimentally confirmed on cascaded bends, and the effect of both matched and unmatched bends on Y branches has been investigated. Good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results for both monomode and multimode waveguides is achieved. It is demonstrated that, in bent waveguides, the modal conversion between the fundamental mode and the first (leaky) mode can be accurately controlled to avoid additional losses and transfer function impairments.     

Optimization of high-order harmonic generation by adaptive control of a sub-10-fs pulse wave front

We present a method for the optimization of high-order harmonic generation based on wave-front correction of the driving laser beam. The technique exploits wave-front adaptive control by means of a deformable mirror, governed by an optimization procedure.     

Non-phase-matched enhancement of second-harmonic generation in multilayer nonlinear structures with internal reflections

Traditional notions of second-harmonic generation rely on phase matching or quasi phase matching to achieve good conversion efficiencies. We present an entirely new concept for efficient second-harmonic generation that is based on the interference of counterpropagating waves in multilayer structures. Conversion efficiencies are an order of magnitude larger than with phase-matched second-harmonic generation in similar multilayer structures.     

MR enteroclysis using iron oxide particles (ferristene) as an endoluminal contrast agent: an open phase III trial

To evaluate efficacy and safety of a superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent (ferristene) as an endoluminal contrast medium for magnetic resonance (MR) enteroclysis in a phase III trial. Twenty-three patients with history of known or suspected small bowel Crohn's disease underwent MR imaging of the abdomen at 0.5 T unit. The imaging protocol included two phases: the first one without administration of any contrast agent and the second one, where the small bowel was filled by enteroclysis with 800 ml of the luminal iron oxide contrast medium and Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol/Kg) was administered intravenously. Axial Spin-Echo (SE) T1-weighted (T1w), proton-density and T2w images, sagittal and coronal SE T1w and Short TI Inversion Recovery (STIR) sequences were subsequently obtained. Three investigators blindly evaluated images to determine small bowel distribution of ferristene, presence of artifacts, delineation of bowel lesion/wall and the diagnostic value of ferristene combined with gadolinium. Pre- and postcontrast signal intensity measurements of bowel lesion/wall, bowel lumen and background noise were also calculated. Three patients withdrew before the procedure, therefore 20 patients were effectively included in the study. No significant difference between the three investigators' evaluations of the improvement of the diagnostic information was found (percentage of improvement of 90% with 95% confidence limits of 68% and 99%). A statistically significant difference between the first and third investigators was found for grading of quality of delineation of bowel lesion/wall. Signal intensity measures showed a significant increase of the bowel lesion/wall and background noise/lesion for the SE T1w images. No serious adverse event was reported in our series. MR enteroclysis using ferristene as an endoluminal contrast agent appears to be a safe and efficient procedure for the study of the small bowel.     

A novel algorithm for the reduction of undersampling artefacts in magnetic resonance images

An innovative algorithm is presented which is effective in reducing the truncation artefacts occurring in magnetic resonance images due to missing k-space samples. The algorithm works first by filling the incomplete matrix of coefficients with zeroes and then adjusting, by an iterative process, the missing coefficients by performing a reduction of the undersampling artefacts. Then, this set of coefficients is used as a basis for a superresolution algorithm that estimates the missing coefficients by modeling the data as a linear combination of increasing and decreasing exponential functions using Prony's method. In fact, the Prony's method consists of the interpolation of a given data set with a sum of exponential functions: the MRI signals can be well represented as a sum of exponential functions and the missing data can be extrapolated by this representation. The algorithm has been proven to perform better than either a simple algorithm, which detects and then reduces the undersampling artefacts, or an algorithm that models the measured data with approximation functions. The presented algorithm is quite simple and is applicable both to missing rows (phase-frequency acquisitions) and to radial-missing angle (acquisition from projections) undersampling. Experimental results are reported; comparisons, made between the results obtained using the presented algorithm and the alternative methods described above, clearly demonstrate the superiority of the algorithm.     

An open volume, high isolation, radio frequency surface coil system for pulsed magnetic resonance

We present an open volume, high isolation, RF system suitable for pulsed NMR and EPR spectrometers with reduced dead time. It comprises a set of three RF surface coils disposed with mutually parallel RF fields and a double-channel receiver (RX). Theoretical and experimental results obtained with a prototype operating at about 100 MHz are reported. Each surface RF coil (diameter 5.5 cm) was tuned to f₀ = 100.00 ± 0.01 MHz when isolated. Because of the mutual coupling and the geometry of the RF coils, only two resonances at f₁ = 97.94 MHz and f₂ = 101.85 MHz were observed. We show they are associated with two different RF field spatial distributions. In continuous mode (CW) operation the isolation between the TX coil and one of the RX coils (single-channel) was about −10 dB. By setting the double-channel RF assembly in subtraction mode the isolation values at f₁ or f₂ could be optimised to about −75 dB. Following a TX RF pulse (5 μs duration) an exponential decay with time constant of about 600 ns was observed. The isolation with single-channel RX coil was about −11 dB and it increased to about −47 dB with the double-channel RX in subtraction mode. Similar results were obtained with the RF pulse frequency selected to f₂ and also with shorter (500 ns) RF pulses. The above geometrical parameters and operating frequency of the RF assembly were selected as a model for potential applications in solid state NMR and in free radical EPR spectroscopy and imaging.     

Modification of surface properties of electrospun polyamide nanofibers by means of a perfluorinated acridine

Polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers were prepared from formic acid solutions by using electrospinning technique. The fibers were smooth, defects free and with diameters smaller than 200 nm. Small amounts of a perfluorinated acridine were added as dopant to the feed solution to modify the wettability of the fibers. The effect of doping on the contact angle values is well apparent. The contact angle values go from 50° of pure PA6 to 120° when 6% of acridine is added. A comparison between fibers and films of pure and doped polyamide 6 was carried out in order to determine the effect of morphology on wettability. Thermal annealing near the T_g of the polymer promoted the segregation of the molecules to the surface, reaching contact angles of 131° with smaller amounts (4%) of acridine. The surface segregation was also promoted by time aging.