Doubly resonant photon echoes in a three-level system

This paper deals with the photon echoes associated with two optical pulses of different frequencies, resonant to a three-level system, and reveals the existence of anomalous echoes, appearing at times corresponding to the correlations between the inhomogeneous broadenings for different spectral lines. The intensities, direction of propagation and polarizations of the echoes are analyzed quantitatively.     

Atomic force microscopy study on the stability of a surface film formed on a graphite negative electrode at elevated temperatures

The stability at elevated temperatures of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on a graphite negative electrode in lithium ion batteries was investigated by storage tests and in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation. When the fully discharged graphite electrode was stored at elevated temperatures, the irreversible capacity in the following cycle increased remarkably. On the other hand, when the electrode was stored at the fully charged state at elevated temperatures, it was severely self-discharged during storage. AFM observation of the SEI layer formed on a model electrode of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite revealed two important facts on the stability of the SEI at elevated temperatures: (i) dissolution and agglomeration of the SEI layer at the discharged state and (ii) serious SEI growth at the charged state. These phenomena well explain the results of the charge and discharge tests. It was also shown that the addition of vinylene carbonate greatly improves the stability of the SEI at elevated temperatures, and gives good charge and discharge performance after storage.     

On a Theorem of Childs on Normal Bases of Rings of Integers: Addendum

Let p 3 be a prime number, F be a number field with _p F^x,and K = F(_p). In a previous paper, the author proved, undersome assumption on p and F, that an unramified cyclic extensionN/F of degree p has a normal integral basis if and only if thepushed-up extension NK/K has a normal integral basis. This addendumshows that the assertion holds without the above-mentioned assumption.     

Liposomes possess drastic capabilities for topological transformation

Morphological and topological changes of biological membranes play essential roles in cellular activities. It has been thought that these transformations are made possible through interactions with proteins. However, direct observation of giant liposomes by optical dark-field microscopy reveals that the lipid bilayer itself possesses the ability to undergo topological transformation.     

Flow and heat transfer characteristics of drag reducing surfactant solution in a helically coiled pipe

The reduction characteristic of turbulent drag and heat transfer of drag reduction surfactant solution flowing in a helically coiled pipe were experimentally investigated. The drag reduction surfactant used in the present study was the amine oxide type nonionic surfactant of oleyldihydroxyethylamineoxide (ODEAO, C₂₂H₄₅NO₃=371). The zwitterion surfactant of cetyldimethylaminoaciticacidbetaine (CDMB, C₂₀H₄₁NO₂=327) was added by 10% to the ODEAO solution in order to avoid the chemical degradation of ODEAO by ionic impurities in a test tape water. The experiments of flow drag and heat transfer reduction were carried out in the helically coiled pipe of coil to pipe diameter ratio of 37.5 and the helically coiled pipe length to pipe diameter of 1180.5 (pipe diameter of 14.4 mm) at various concentrations, temperatures and flow velocities of the ODEAO surfactant solution. The ODEAO solution showed a non-Newtonian behavior at high concentration of the ODEAO. From the experimental results, it was observed that the friction factor of the ODEAO surfactant solution flowing through the coiled pipe was decreased to a great extent in comparison with water as a Newtonian fluid in the turbulent flow region. Heat transfer measurements for water and the ODEAO solution were performed in both laminar and turbulent flow regions under the uniform heat flux boundary condition. The heat transfer coefficients for the ODEAO solution flow were the same as water flow in the laminar region. On the other hand, heat transfer reduction of the ODEAO solution flow was remarkedly reduced as compared with that of the water flow in the turbulent flow region.     

Efficient synthesis of useful heterocycles via transition metal-catalyzed cascade processes

This paper reports our recent results from synthesis of some useful heterocycles, for example oxazolidinones, indoles, and quinoxalinones, by transition metal-catalyzed cascade processes. The scope and limitations of these procedures and the reaction mechanism for formation of the heterocycles are also discussed.     

Rubber elasticity in the introductory thermodynamics course

An experimental set-up is described in which the temperature of a piece of rubber is measured with thin wire thermocouples. It measures and records the temperature change of the rubber as it heats and cools in response to elongation and contraction. This mechano-caloric effect arising from the entropy elasticity of rubber represents a reversible thermal process in clear distinction from most of other heat effects encountered in our daily experience where the irreversibility is inevitably involved. The demonstration experiment has been proved useful in elementary thermodynamic courses for introducing the entropy concept. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermosensitive, soft glassy and structural colored colloidal array in ionic liquid: colloidal glass to gel transition

A novel soft material comprising thermosensitive poly(benzyl methacrylate)-grafted silica nanoparticles (PBnMA-g-NPs) and the ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)amide ([C(2)mim][NTf(2)]), was fabricated. The thermosensitive properties were studied over a wide range of particle concentrations and temperatures. PBnMA-g-NPs in the IL underwent the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition at lower temperatures with a broader transition temperature range as compared to the free PBnMA solution. Highly concentrated suspensions formed soft glassy colloidal arrays (SGCAs) exhibiting a soft-solid behavior and angle-independent structural color. For the first time, we report a discrete change in the angle-independent structural color of SGCAs with temperature because of a temperature-induced colloidal glass-to-gel transition. The interparticle interaction changed from repulsive to attractive at the LCST temperature, and it was characterized by a V-shaped rheological response and a direct electron microscope observation of the colloidal suspension in the IL. With unique rheological and optical properties as well as properties derived from the IL itself, the thermosensitive SGCAs may be of interest as a new material for a wide range of applications such as electrochemical devices and color displays.