Illusions of vision: Interpretation within the framework of a holographic model

Several illusions of vision are considered on the basis of a neurophysiological holographic model of visual perception at the level of the eye’s and the retina. It is suggested that the eye’s optical system forms a spatial spectrum of the observed object rather than its image on the retina. The spectrum is encoded by active anisotropic quasi-crystalline structures of rod rhodopsins and cone iodopsins, and a complex Fourier hologram of the observed object consisting of two quadrature components is recorded. The holographic hypothesis is confirmed by the results obtained by digital simulation.     

Self-assembly of a linear mesoscale tetramer with electrical connectivity

Capillary interaction-based self-assembly of block-shaped mesoscale components into an electrically interconnected 1-D tetramer is reported. Low melting point solder droplets, selectively patterned on the faces of the blocks, were employed to drive the sequential alignment, registration, linking and electrical interconnection of each block. The solder patterns were designed so that successful assembly would only occur when the solder patterns on one block face were correctly aligned with those on the face of an adjacent block. For assembly, the blocks were agitated in a flask containing KBr solution. At 60 °C the solder was molten, and collisions between blocks enabled the solder menisci to easily interact. To minimize interfacial free energy, the menisci coalesced and quickly drove the interacting blocks to form a stable, registered and aligned assembly. When agitation was terminated and the solution cooled, the self-aligned, linear tetrameric arrangement of blocks was permanently captured by solder solidification, a process that provided good mechanical bonding and electrical interconnection between each block. PACS 81.16.Dn; 68.03.Cd; 85.40.-e     

Asymptotic methods in the theory of nonlinear stochastic oscillations

We study applications of asymptotic methods of nonlinear mechanics and the method of Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equations to stochastic oscillations in quasilinear oscillating systems with random perturbations. __________ Translated from Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 510–518, October–December, 2007.     

Characterization of high-order harmonic radiation on femtosecond and attosecond time scales

We characterize the temporal structure of high-order harmonic radiation on both the femtosecond and attosecond time scales. The harmonic emission is characterized by mixed-color two-photon ionization with an infrared femtosecond laser using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer where both pump and probe arms travel completely separate paths. In a first experiment, we measure the duration and chirp of individual harmonics. In a second experiment, we resolve, for the first time with this type of setup, the attosecond beating of several harmonics generated under conditions similar to the first experiment. We suggest that the results of both measurements can be combined to determine the full attosecond time structure of the harmonic emission. PACS 32.80.Rm; 42.65.Ky     

Mineral and chemical compositions and structure-sorption properties of bottom sediments as the basic components of enterosorbents and application materials

The mineral and chemical compositions, as well as some structure-sorption characteristics were determined for clay minerals selected for examination. The integrated coefficients of contamination of bottom sediments with each of the toxicant metals (Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn) were calculated. The minerals examined presumably can be used in medicine as efficient application materials, cosmetic agents, and sorbents (enterosorbents).     

The mechanism of selective NOx reduction by hydrocarbons in excess oxygen on oxide catalysts: V. Adsorption properties of a commercial Ni-Cr oxide catalyst

According to X-ray diffraction analysis data, the test catalyst was a Ni-Cr spinel with an impurity of NiO. With the use of in situ IR spectroscopy, it was found that nitrite, nitrate, and acetate surface complexes occurred under the reaction conditions of the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides by propane in the presence of oxygen on the nickel-chromium catalyst. As the temperature was increased, the nitrite complexes were converted into nitrate species. The molar absorption coefficient of surface nitrate complexes was determined. According to IR-spectroscopic and TPD data, the nitrate complexes were bound relatively weakly to the surface. The temperature region of their existence was 50–200°C. The temperature region of existence of the surface acetate complexes was 200–400°C. The individual adsorption of oxygen was not observed; however, oxygen-containing surface sites (Cr⁵⁺=O) participated in the formation of the surface complexes of reactants.     

Dynamics of fluorescence of solid solutions of quantum dots and the organic dye DODCI: Experiment and numerical simulation

The fluorescence of solid solutions of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and the organic dye DODCI is investigated. It is shown that nonradiative transfer of electronic excitation energy to dye molecules, which with some probability lose their acceptor properties as a result of photoisomerization or photodegradation, is responsible for a significant increase in the fluorescence intensity of a donor. The degree of polarization of the donor fluorescence attains values exceeding 0.5, which is due to the difference in the fluorescence quantum yields of donors with different orientations of the oscillator with respect to the electric vector of an excitation light wave. A numerical simulation of the experimentally observed dependences is performed.     

Interactions of surface states of copper with transition metals and cesium

The pseudopotential augmented-plane-wave method was used to study the surface structure of thin copper films with monolayers of Co, Ni, and Cs. Local densities of electron states, distributions of charge densities in the layers, and electron energy spectra are analyzed. The effect of adsorbates on the electronic properties of the Cu(001) surface and work function are discussed. Satisfactory agreement with available experimental data has been obtained.     

Reaction of aroyl- and hetaroyltrifluoroacetones with acylhydrazines: Regioselectivity and tautomerism of the condensation products

Acylhydrazines react with 1,3-diketones of the general formula CF₃COCH₂COR (where R is an aryl or hetaryl group) at both carbonyl groups. The reaction at the trifluoroacetyl group is favored by donor substituents in the aromatic ring of the 1,3-diketone or by the 2-furyl and, especially, 2-thienyl group as a hetaryl substituent, as well as by elevated temperature. The condensation products at the carbonyl group contiguous to the aryl or hetaryl ring have the structure of 5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydropyrazoles and do not undergo tautomeric transformations in solution. The condensation products at the trifluoroacetyl group have either 5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydropyrazole or hydrazone structure and give rise to ring-chain tautomeric equilibrium in solution. Electron-withdrawing substituents in the aromatic ring of the 1,3-dicarbonyl fragment and CDCl₃ as solvent favor formation of the cyclic tautomer. The state of the tautomeric equilibrium is weakly sensitive to structural variations in the hydrazine component.