Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and microscopy on single dye molecules with 15 nm resolution

Our recently developed approach of UHV-tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy permits us to acquire Raman spectra of a few single brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) molecules and even a single one adsorbed on a Au(111) surface. This is substantiated by simultaneously recorded STM images. Furthermore, because of the reduced photobleaching in UHV, the time frame for spectral acquisition is sufficiently extended to allow tip-enhanced Raman imaging of a single BCB molecule with a lateral resolution of 15 nm.     

Geometry of random sequential adsorption

By sequentially adding line segments to a line or disks to a surface at random positions without overlaps, we obtain configurations of the one- and two-dimensional random sequential adsorption (RSA) problem. We have simulated the one- and two-dimensional problem with periodic boundary condition. The one-dimensional simulations are compared with the exact analytical solutions to give an estimate of the accuracy of the simulation. In two dimensions the geometrical properties of the RSA configuration are discussed and in addition known results of the RSA process are reproduced. Various statistical distributions of the Voronoi-Dirichlet (VD) network corresponding to the RSA disk configuration are analyzed. In order to characterize pores in the RSA configuration, we introduce circular holes. There is a direct correspondence between vertices of the VD network and these holes, and also between direct/indirect geometrical neighbors and these holes. The hole size distribution is found to be a parabola. We also find general relations that connect the asymptotic behavior of the surface coverage, the correlation function, and the hole size distribution.     

Pressure-induced phase transition(s) in KMnF3 and the importance of the excess volume for phase transitions in perovskite structures

We report a pressure-dependent investigation of KMnF(3) by x-ray diffraction up to 30 GPa. The results are discussed in the framework of Landau theory and in relation to the isostructural phase transition in SrTiO(3). The phase transition temperature near 186 K in KMnF(3) shifts to room temperature at a critical pressure of P(c) = 3.4 GPa; the pressure dependence of the transition point follows ΔP(c)/ΔT(c) = 0.0315 GPa K(-1). The transition becomes second order under high pressure, close to the tricritical point. The phase transition is determined by the rotation of MnF(6) octahedra with their simultaneous expansion along the rotation axis. The rotation angle was found to increase to 10.5° at 24 GPa. An additional anomaly was observed at higher pressure around 25 GPa, suggesting a further phase transition.     

Improved and isotropic resolution in tomographic diffractive microscopy combining sample and illumination rotation

Tomographic Diffractive Microscopy is a technique, which permits to image transparent living specimens in three dimensions without staining. It is commonly implemented in two configurations, by either rotating the sample illumination keeping the specimen fixed, or by rotating the sample using a fixed illumination. Under the first-order Born approximation, the volume of the frequency domain that can be mapped with the rotating illumination method has the shape of a “doughnut”, which exhibits a so-called “missing cone” of non-captured frequencies, responsible for the strong resolution anisotropy characteristic of transmission microscopes. When rotating the sample, the resolution is almost isotropic, but the set of captured frequencies still exhibits a missing part, the shape of which resembles that of an apple core. Furthermore, its maximal extension is reduced compared to tomography with rotating illumination. We propose various configurations for tomographic diffractive microscopy, which combine both approaches, and aim at obtaining a high and isotropic resolution. We illustrate with simulations the expected imaging performances of these configurations.     

Coherent underwater communication using passive time reversal over multipath channels

Passive time reversal exploits underwater acoustic channels’ spatial and temporal diversity. It can refocus multipath propagated signal at the receiver and can be realized simply by the passive phase conjugation (PPC) method. By the temporal focusing, time delay spread caused by multipath propagation is mitigated for spectral efficient coherent communications. However, the PPC method is unable to eliminate multipath and is limited by channel variations. An adaptive equalizer is therefore needed to compensate residual multipath after refocusing and to track channel temporal variations. Spatial diversity is obtained by using a vertical receiving array. In this paper we used 4-hydrophone array and demonstrated that the adaptive decision feedback equalization in conjunction with PPC significantly decreased the bit error rate.     

Elemental composition of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Skopje,FYR of Macedonia

Aerosol samples were collected at an urban background site in Skopje, Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia, during four measurement campaigns from December 2006 to October 2007. An impactor was used to collect particulate matter (PM_2.5) aerosol particles and the samples were analyzed for the concentrations of particulate mass, black carbon (BC), and 17 elements. The 12‐h average PM_2.5 concentrations varied in the range 10–140 µg m^?3 with the highest concentrations measured during wintertime pollution episodes and during the summer period. Pair‐wise correlations and crustal enrichment were studied and the data set was analyzed by factor analysis and positive matrix factorization. Major aerosol components were identified as mineral dust (main observed tracers Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Sr, and Rb), combustion (BC, S, K, V, and Ni), traffic‐related aerosol (Pb and Zn), and secondary sulfate combined with mineral dust. Combustion sources dominated during wintertime and were likely due to heavy oil combustion, biomass burning, and other industrial activities within the city area. Mineral dust was observed throughout the year, but the concentrations peaked during the unusually hot and dry summer of 2007. It is concluded that Skopje suffers from serious air pollution due to central and residential heating, the transport sector, and industrial activities within the city, and contributions from mineral dust increase the PM_2.5 concentrations under dry periods. Topography and meteorological conditions aggravate the problems and make the air quality comparable with the conditions in other highly polluted cities in Southern Europe and worldwide. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

66 W average power from a microjoule-class sub-100 fs fiber oscillator

Performance scaling of passively mode-locked ultrashort-pulse fiber oscillators in terms of average power, peak power, and pulse energy is demonstrated. A very-large-mode-area fiber laser in an all-positive group-velocity-dispersion ring cavity configuration with intracavity spectral filter, mode-locked by nonlinear polarization evolution, emits 66 W of average power at 76 MHz repetition rate, corresponding to 0.9 μJ pulse energy. The pulses are dechirped to 91 fs outside the cavity with an average power of 60 W remaining after the compressor. The generated pulse peak power is as high as 7 MW.     

Linear parameter varying control design for rotating systems supported by journal bearings

Linear parameter varying (LPV) control is a model-based control technique that takes into account time-varying parameters of the plant. In the case of rotating systems supported by lubricated bearings, the dynamic characteristics of the bearings change in time as a function of the rotating speed. Hence, LPV control can tackle the problem of run-up and run-down operational conditions when dynamic characteristics of the rotating system change significantly in time due to the bearings and high vibration levels occur. In this work, the LPV control design for a flexible shaft supported by plain journal bearings is presented. The model used in the LPV control design is updated from unbalance response experimental results and dynamic coefficients for the entire range of rotating speeds are obtained by numerical optimization. Experimental implementation of the designed LPV control resulted in strong reduction of vibration amplitudes when crossing the critical speed, without affecting system behavior in sub- or super-critical speeds.