Numerical study on schramm-loewner evolution in nonminimal conformal field theories

The Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) is a powerful tool to describe fractal interfaces in 2D critical statistical systems, yet the application of SLE is well established for statistical systems described by quantum field theories satisfying only conformal invariance, the so-called minimal conformal field theories (CFTs). We consider interfaces in Z(N) spin models at their self-dual critical point for N = 4 and N = 5. These lattice models are described in the continuum limit by nonminimal CFTs where the role of a ZN symmetry, in addition to the conformal one, should be taken into account. We provide numerical results on the fractal dimension of the interfaces which are SLE candidates for nonminimal CFTs. Our results are in excellent agreement with some recent theoretical predictions.     

Optical parametric generation of nearly transform-limited mid-infrared pulses in dispersion-engineered nonlinear waveguides

Optical parametric generation in dispersion-engineered waveguides fabricated by proton exchange in periodically poled lithium niobate is numerically investigated as a means for producing widely tunable mid-infrared ultrashort pulses starting from low energy pump pulses at a 1.55 mum wavelength and with 100 fs duration, which are typical parameters of amplified Er-fiber oscillators. Numerical evidence is given about the generation of sub-100 fs nearly transform-limited pulses in the 2.4-4.4 mum spectral range.     

Confinement of monopole field lines in a superconductor at T ≠ 0

We apply the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations to the confinement of a monopole-antimonopole pair in a superconductor. This is related to the problem of a quark-antiquark pair bound by a confining string, consisting of a colour-electric flux tube, dual to the magnetic vortex of type-II superconductors. We study the confinement of the field lines due to the superconducting state and calculate the effective potential between the two monopoles. The monopoles can be simulated in a real experiment inserting two long and thin magnetic rods. At short distances the potential is Coulombic and at large distances the potential is linear, as previously determined solving the Ginzburg-Landau equations. The magnetic field lines and the string tension are also studied as a function of the temperature T. Because we take into account the explicit fermionic degrees of freedom, this work may open new perspectives to the breaking of chiral symmetry or to colour superconductivity.     

No-local-broadcasting theorem for multipartite quantum correlations

We prove that the correlations present in a multipartite quantum state have an operational quantum character even if the state is unentangled, as long as it does not simply encode a multipartite classical probability distribution. Said quantumness is revealed by the new task of local broadcasting, i.e., of locally sharing preestablished correlations, which is feasible if and only if correlations are stricly classical. Our operational approach leads to natural definitions of measures for quantumness of correlations. It also reproduces the standard no-broadcasting theorem as a special case.     

Further experimental evidences of thermal spreading of tungsten oxide on zirconia

The effects brought about by the time of thermal treatment as well as the water content in the gas phase during the thermal spreading of WO₃ on zirconia were investigated. Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy evidenced the thermal spreading phenomenon and revealed the formation of polymeric tungsten dispersed species. Neither the thermal treatment time nor the water content showed to influence the nature of the dispersed species, which reveal to present thermodynamically preferential molecular structures. Infrared spectroscopy analysis of adsorbed pyridine evidenced that the polytungstate species lead to the generation of Brönsted acid sites. Lewis acid sites stronger than those naturally present on zirconia could also be detected in addition to weaker Lewis sites, which were associated to the WO₃ still present in the catalysts as showed by X-ray diffraction.     

The influence of shear bands on final structure and magnetic properties of 3% Si non-oriented silicon steel

The presence of shear bands in the deformed material before final annealing is very important for Goss and Cube textures formation in silicon steel [S.C. Paolinelli, M.A. Cunha, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 255 (2003) pp. 379. [1]; J.T. Park, J.A. Szpunar, Acta Mater., 51 (2003) 3037. [2]]. The increase of the hot-band grain size can increase the number of shear bands, which favor the nucleation of these orientations. In this work, the effect of the hot band grain size variation, promoted by varying the hot rolling finishing temperature, on final structure and magnetic properties was investigated for 3% Si alloy. It was found that the increase of the hot-band grain size increases the occurrence of shear bands and promotes an increase of η fiber fraction and a reduction of γ fiber fraction, improving the magnetic induction. On the other hand, the final grain size is reduced when the hot-band grain size is larger than 190 μm, deteriorating the core loss values in spite of the texture benefits. The reduction of final grain size was explained by the increase of the number of nuclei at the beginning of the recrystallization caused by the increase of shear bands in the deformed material.     

On the integration of Poisson homogeneous spaces

We study a reduction procedure for describing the symplectic groupoid of a Poisson homogeneous space obtained by quotient of a coisotropic subgroup. We perform it as a reduction of the Lu–Weinstein symplectic groupoid integrating Poisson Lie groups, that is suitable even for the non-complete case.     

Multidimensional custom-made non-linear microscope: from ex-vivo to in-vivo imaging

We have built a custom-made multidimensional non-linear microscope equipped with a combination of several non-linear laser imaging techniques involving fluorescence lifetime, multispectral two-photon and second-harmonic generation imaging. The optical system was mounted on a vertical honeycomb breadboard in an upright configuration, using two galvo-mirrors relayed by two spherical mirrors as scanners. A double detection system working in non-descanning mode has allowed both photon counting and a proportional regime. This experimental setup offering high spatial (micrometric) and temporal (sub-nanosecond) resolution has been used to image both ex-vivo and in-vivo biological samples, including cells, tissues, and living animals. Multidimensional imaging was used to spectroscopically characterize human skin lesions, as malignant melanoma and naevi. Moreover, two-color detection of two photon excited fluorescence was applied to in-vivo imaging of living mice intact neocortex, as well as to induce neuronal microlesions by femtosecond laser burning. The presented applications demonstrate the capability of the instrument to be used in a wide range of biological and biomedical studies. PACS  87.64.mn; 78.47.Cd; 87.19.lw     

Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactide under Solvent‐Free Conditions Catalyzed by a Chlorotitanium Calix[4]arene Complex

A novel chlorotitanium calix[4]arene complex was synthesized and tested, without activator, as catalyst for the polymerization of L ‐ and rac‐lactide under solvent‐free conditions. The catalyst displayed high activity, which depended on the monomer‐to‐catalyst molar ratio, and led to highly isotactic PLLA. Despite concomitant transesterification during the polymerization, polylactide formation was well‐controlled, the molar mass distribution indexes remaining in the restricted range of 1.2–1.4.