400-photon-per-pulse ultrashort pulse autocorrelation measurement with aperiodically poled lithium niobate waveguides at 1.55 microm

We demonstrate ultrasensitive intensity autocorrelation measurements of subpicosecond optical pulses in the telecommunication band by using aperiodically poled lithium niobate (A-PPLN) waveguides. The tightly confined optical beam in the waveguides and the chirped poling period facilitate simultaneous high second-harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency and broad phase-matching (PM) bandwidth. The resulting measurement sensitivity is 3.2 x 10(-7) mW2, approximately 500 times better than the previous record for intensity autocorrelations. We also show that chirped A-PPLN waveguides retain nearly the same SHG efficiency as the unchirped guide as long as the PM bandwidth is not significantly broader than the input spectrum.     

Long-range molecular resonances in a cold Rydberg gas

We present evidence for molecular resonances in a cold dense gas of rubidium Rydberg atoms. Single UV photon excitation from the 5s ground state to np Rydberg states (n=50-90) reveals resonances at energies corresponding to excited atom pairs (n-1)d+ns. We attribute these normally forbidden transitions to avoided crossings between the long-range molecular potentials of two Rydberg atoms. These strong van der Waals interactions result in avoided crossings at extremely long range, e.g., approximately 58 000 times the Bohr radius (a(0)) for n=70.     

Direct evidence for block-by-block growth in high-temperature superconductor ultrathin films

Charge neutrality and stoichiometry impose severe restrictions on the mechanisms of epitaxial growth of complex oxides. The fundamental question arises of what is the minimum growth unit when sample thickness is reduced beyond the size of the unit cell. We have investigated the growth mechanism of YBa2Cu3O7 cuprate superconductor, using a consistent approach based on the growth of noninteger numbers of YBa2Cu3O7 layers in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7)/PrBa(2)Cu3O7 superlattices. Ex situ chemical and structural analysis evidence a 2D block-by-block mechanism in which the minimum growth units are complete unit cell blocks, growing coherently over large lateral distances.     

Shifted identical bands: A new phenomenon

The levels in ¹⁶²Gd were identified in spontaneous fission studies. Its transition energies are remarkably similar to those in ¹⁶⁰Gd. From that work, an analysis of yrast bands in even-even proton to neutron-rich Ba to Pb nuclei led to the discovery of a new phenomenon, shifted identical bands (SIB). SIBs are yrast bands in neighboring nuclei (a, b) with moments of inertia which are identical when shifted by a constant amount κ, so J _1a (1+κ)=J _1b , from 2⁺ to 8⁺ and higher to 16⁺. Out of over 700 comparisons, 55 SIBs were found from stable to the most neutron-rich Ce-W nuclei with $\left| {\bar k} \right|$ between 1.5% and 13%, where the spread in κ is less than ±1%, and only four identical bands ( $\bar k \cong 0$ ). As examples, we found for ¹⁵⁸Sm-¹⁶⁰Gd, $\bar k = \left( { - 3.2_{ - 0.2}^{ + 0.1} } \right)\%$ (where the ± is the total spread in κ from ?3.1 to ?3.4); ¹⁵⁶Nd-¹⁶⁰Gd, (?10.6 _?0.2 ^+0.4 )%; ¹⁵⁸Sm-¹⁶⁰Sm, (3.4 _?0.3 ^+0.5 )%. The J ₁ values were fitted to a variable moment of inertia model with parameters J ₀ and C whose values correlate with the SIB J ₁ values. The SIBs are not correlated either with deformation or with the N _p N _n product of the IBA model.     

Si-O and P-O motifs in inorganic rings and clusters

This article presents a brief overview of different kinds of silanols and the important reactions of N-bonded silanetriols. The synthesis and characterization of silanediols containing Si-N and Si-C bonds, (2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂)N(SiMe₃)Si(Me)(OH)₂ (1e) is described. 1e shows a polymeric crinkled tape type of structure due to extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding. We also describe the formation of a neutral copper(II) complex derived from the reaction of CuCl₂ with (O)P(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃ where the ligand undergoes a facile P-N bond cleavage and functions as an N₂O type of tridentate ligand.     

Mössbauer studies of Ni70Fe10Si8B12 metglass: Reentrant properties

Amorphous metal Fe₁₀Ni₇₀Si₈B₁₂ has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy without and with an weak applied field in the plane of ribbons. Reentrant properties have been confirmed with the existence of a canted state at low temperature. Studies with different values of the applied field have shown that a field near 50 0e is sufficient to saturate the average direction of the ferromagnetism.     

Nuclear molecules in ternary fission

Experimental results on particle accompanied cold fission of ²⁵²Cf suggest the existence of a short-lived quasi-molecular state. Within our three-center phenomenological model, described in this paper, we found a possible explanation based on a new minimum in the deformation energy at a separation distance very close to the touching point. Half-lives of some quasimolecular states which could be formed in ¹⁰Be accompanied fission of ²³⁶U, ²³⁶Pu, ²⁴⁶Cm, ²⁵²Cf, ^252,256Fm, ^256,260No, and ²⁶²Rf are roughly estimated.