Exciton dynamics in alternating polyfluorene/fullerene blends

Exciton dynamics in alternating copolymer/fullerene solar cell blends have been investigated using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The acceptor concentrations have been varied over a wide range. Experimental data, kinetic modeling and simulations, all indicate that the efficiency of exciton conversion to charges is 100% even at acceptor concentrations as low as 20 wt%. The reported dependence of solar cell efficiency on fullerene concentration may thus arise from other factors. However, there exists an acceptor concentration threshold (5 wt%) below which a substantial fraction of the excitations remain unquenched. The results, we believe are very relevant to optimization of performance efficiency by clever manipulation of morphology. We have also observed exciton–exciton energy transfer in these blends at low acceptor concentrations.     

Coherent two-photon absorption spectroscopy of the Raman-active KGd(WO4)2 crystal

We report on the systematic open-aperture Z-scan characterization of the two-photon absorption properties in one of the most efficient solid-state Raman frequency shifters, the crystal potassium gadolinium tungstate [KGd(WO4)2]. The two-photon absorption coefficient was determined in the 370-600-nm wavelength range, with the highest value found to be approximately 1.9 cm/GW at 370 nm. Nonlinear losses are crucial in determining the conversion efficiency of the stimulated Raman scattering process when it is excited with ultrashort laser pulses with photon energy exceeding half of the bandgap. In addition, the results were analyzed within the context of a simple two-parabolic-band theoretical model to yield an effective bandgap energy value for the crystal.     

Mysteries Without Mysticism and Correlations Without Correlata: On Quantum Knowledge and Knowledge in General

Following Niels Bohr's interpretation of quantum mechanics as complementarity, this article argues that quantum mechanics may be seen as a theory of, in N. David Mermin's words, correlations without correlata, understood here as the correlations between certain physical events in the classical macro world that at the same time disallow us to ascertain their quantum-level correlata.     

Efficient Raman shifting of high-energy picosecond pulses into the eye-safe 1.5-microm spectral region by use of a KGd(WO4)2 crystal

We report an efficient transient stimulated Raman conversion of high-energy picosecond pulses at 1350 nm into the eye-safe 1500-nm wavelength range by use of a KGd(WO4)2 crystal. The conversion efficiency into either 1503- or 1537-nm radiation (767- or 901-cm(-1) Raman modes, respectively) is measured to be approximately 10% in a single-pass configuration. The transient Raman gain coefficient is found to be approximately 0.8 cm/GW. Simultaneous generation of multiple Raman lines is also observed.