Ultralow-noise mode-locked laser with coupled optoelectronic oscillator configuration

We describe simultaneous generation of ultralow-noise optical pulses and microwave signal with a mode-locked fiber laser in a coupled optoelectronic oscillator configuration. We demonstrate 9.2-GHz optical and microwave signals with the measured phase noise of -140 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset frequency. We show that the mode-locked laser in the photonic oscillator serves as a high-Q filter and is responsible for the observed low phase noise.     

Space tests of relativistic gravity with precision clocks and atom interferometers

Precision clocks and interferometers in space can test relativistic gravity with extremely high sensitivity. Yet, only a single such test has been performed, namely the celebrated flight of a hydrogen maser in a sub-orbital trajectory in 1976 (GP-A mission). This paper suggests some of the obstacles to space flight of precision instruments, and describes how the emergence of new technology might offer a pathway for removing those obstacles. A brief review of emerging technologies is made, and new mission concepts based on them are described. Some of the technologies that can impact more tests of relativistic gravity in space at a more distant future are also described.     

Microtorus: a high-finesse microcavity with whispering-gallery modes

We demonstrate a 165-mu;m oblate spheroidal microcavity with a free spectral range of 383.7 GHz (3.06 nm), a resonance bandwidth of 23 MHz (quality factor Q approximately 10(7)) at 1550 nm, and finesse F>/=10(4) . The highly oblate spheroidal dielectric microcavity combines a very high Q factor, typical of microspheres, with a vastly reduced number of excited whispering-gallery modes (by 2 orders of magnitude). The very large free spectral range in this novel microcavity-a few hundred gigahertz instead of a few gigahertz as in typical microspheres-is desirable for applications in spectral analysis, narrow-linewidth optical and rf oscillators, and cavity QED.     

Generation of near-infrared frequency combs from a MgF₂ whispering gallery mode resonator

We report on generation of a 20 nm wide, 35 GHz repetition rate optical frequency comb in a magnesium fluoride whispering gallery mode resonator pumped with 2 mW of 1543 nm light. The high efficiency of comb generation is associated with the small anomalous group velocity dispersion of the resonator. Growth dynamics of the comb is studied and compared with earlier theoretical predictions.     

A multistep collocation method for solving advection equations with delay

Advection equations with delay are appeared in the modeling of the dynamics of structured cell populations. In this article, we construct an efficient two-dimensional multistep collocation method for the numerical solution of a class of advection equations with delay. Equations with aftereffect and equations with both aftereffect and retardation of a state variable are considered. Computability of the algorithm and convergence properties of the proposed numerical method are analyzed for solutions in appropriate Sobolev spaces, and it is shown that the proposed scheme enjoys the spectral accuracy. Numerical examples are given and comparison with other existing methods in the literature is made to demonstrate the efficiency, superiority and high accuracy of the presented method.     

Ultralow-threshold Raman lasing with CaF2 resonators

We demonstrate efficient Raman lasing with CaF2 whispering-gallery-mode resonators. Continuous-wave emission threshold is shown to be possible below 1 microW with a 5mm cavity, which is to our knowledge orders of magnitude lower than in any other Raman source. Low-threshold lasing is made possible by the ultrahigh optical quality factor of the cavity, of the order of Q=5x10(10). Stokes components of up to the fifth order were observed at a pump power of 160 microW, and up to the eighth order at 1 mW. A lasing threshold of 15 microW was also observed in a 100 microm CaF2 microcavity. Potential applications are discussed.     

Green synthesis of bis-coumarin derivatives using Fe(SD)3 as a catalyst and investigation of their biological activities

A convenient, practical, green, and environmentally friendly method was developed for the synthesis of biscoumarins and corresponding tetrakis products from the reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin and various aldehydes. The bis-coumarins were synthesized in high yield under mild reaction conditions. Products were obtained in the presence of in situ prepared Fe(SD)₃ [Iron(III) dodecyl sulfate] as a combined Lewis acid–surfactant catalyst (LASC) in water in short reaction times. Also, the antibacterial activity of compounds was screened against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli as Gram-negative bacteria and Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram-positive bacterial strains. Products 3g , 3k–l were most active than cefotaxime against E. coli and also compounds 3c and 3g were most active than cefotaxime against S. aureus.     

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Pd-PEPPSI type complexes are widely used as precatalyst in a variety of organic reactions, including the Negishi, Kumada and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The aim of this research is to determine potential proposed reaction pathways 1, 2, or 2′ (See Schemes 1 and S1–S4 ) for Pd-PEPPSI precatalyst activation in the presence of ethylene glycol as a solvent also in the gas phase at Cam-B3LYP-D3 method nominated among eight DFT methods examined. There is also investigation into the impact of promoter bases (NaOEt, NaOⁱPr, NaO^tBu) on precatalyst activation of Pd-PEPPSI. Eventually, the most favorable proposed reaction pathway and promoter base for reducing Pd(II) to Pd(0) are predicted computationally. Notably, our findings are consistent with the organ Pd-PEPPSI type complexes that offer increased catalytic activity and provide basic information in the presence of solvents designing the monoligated Pd(0)-solvent.     

Effective one-pot synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran derivatives using nickel Schiff-base complex immobilized on iron oxide nanoparticles

Nickel Schiff-base complex immobilized on silica-coated Fe₃O₄ as a heterogeneous catalyst was designed and characterized by different techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The synthesized nanocatalyst has been explored as a new and efficient recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran derivatives. The reaction proceeds smoothly to supply the respective products in excellent yields and low reaction times. The catalyst can be easily recovered by a magnetic field and reused for eight consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activity.     

Novel isocyanide-based three-component one-pot synthesis of cyanophenylamino-acetamide derivatives

A one-pot multicomponent synthesis of a novel class of cyanophenylamino-acetamides through the conversion of primary amides to the corresponding nitriles, starting from simple and readily available inputs including 2-aminobenzamide, an aldehyde, and an isocyanide in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst, in excellent yields at room temperature in ethanol as a green reaction medium is described.