Single-mode fiber laser based on core-cladding mode conversion

A single-mode fiber laser based on an intracavity core-cladding mode conversion is demonstrated. The fiber laser consists of an Er-doped active fiber and two fiber Bragg gratings. One Bragg grating is a core-cladding mode converter, and the other Bragg grating is a narrowband high reflector that selects the lasing wavelength. Coupling a single core mode and a single cladding mode by the grating mode converter, the laser operates as a hybrid single-mode laser. This approach for designing a laser cavity provides a much larger mode area than conventional large-mode-area step-index fibers.     

Luminescence properties and relaxation processes of strongly correlated organic radical TTTA crystals and molecules

Photoluminescence of strongly correlated organic radical 1,3,5-trithia-2,4,6-triazapentalenyl (TTTA) crystals was measured at room temperature in order to elucidate the relaxation process in the excited state, which is responsible for an initiation of the photoinduced magnetic phase transition in this material. The electronic structure and luminescence properties of TTTA molecule were also investigated to clarify the relaxation process. We found that a luminescence band lies at 1.8 eV in the high-temperature (HT) phase crystal having almost same characteristics as that in TTTA molecule, suggesting that the intramolecular lattice distortion plays an important role for the relaxation process. On the other hand, a broad luminescence band appears at 1.4 eV with a large Stokes shift in the low-temperature (LT) phase crystal. The large Stokes shift observed shows that rearrangement of the dimerized TTTA molecules toward the evenly spaced radicals takes place due to a large intermolecular lattice distortion. This molecular rearrangement in the excited state initiates the photoinduced magnetic phase transition from the LT to HT phases in this material.     

Further search for selectivity of positron annihilation in the skin and cancerous systems

Positronium annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy and Doppler broadening energy spectra (DBES) have been used to search for selectivity and sensitivity for cancerous skin samples with and without cancer. This study is to further explore the melanoma cancerous system and other different types of skin samples. We found that the S parameter in melanoma skin samples cut at 0.39 mm depth from the same patient's skin is smaller than near the skin surface. However in 10 melanoma samples from different patients, the S parameters vary significantly. Similarly, among 10 normal skin samples without cancer, the S parameters also vary largely among different patients. To understand the sensitivity of PAS as a tool to detect cancer formation at the early stage, we propose a controlled and systematic study of in vivo experiments using UV-induced cancer skin from living animals.     

High-resolution GaP Terahertz Spectrometer and Its Application to Detect Defects in Gamma-irradiated Glucose Crystal

We developed high-resolution GaP THz signal generator using Cr:Forsterite lasers with gratings as both a pump and a signal beam for difference-frequency generation. A line width of less than 500 MHz and a wide tunable frequency range (0.6–6.2 THz) provide sufficient resolution for measuring materials with sharp absorption bands using the generator as the light source for a THz spectrometer. This is suitable for materials such as gases or solid samples at low temperatures. We demonstrated the detection of defects in organic materials, as they appear as slight deviations in the absorption frequency in the THz region.     

Superparamagnetic FePt nanoparticles as excellent MRI contrast agents

Chemically disordered face-centered cubic (fcc) FePt nanoparticles (NPs) with a mean diameter of 9 nm were synthesized via pyrolysis of iron(III) ethoxide and platinum(II) acetylacetonate. The surface ligands of these NPs were then exchanged from oleic acid to tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) to measure the longitudinal (T₁) and transverse (T₂) proton relaxation times of aqueous dispersion of FePt NPs. Magnetic resonance relaxometry reveals that TMAOH-capped FePt NPs have a higher T₂-shortening effect than conventional superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs, indicating that fcc-phase FePt NPs might be superior negative contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.     

Recoil effects in high-energy photoemission beyond single-site approximation

Recoil effects of photoelectrons excited by high-energy X-rays are studied beyond the simplest approximation where elastic scatterings of photoelectrons are completely neglected (single-site approximation). At first we have shown that the simple free atom energy shift is accurately obtained within the harmonic and the single-site approximations. Beyond the single-site approximation, this simple formula does not work, but still simple classically acceptable formula can be used to explain the recoil energy shift. Illustrative numerical calculations show that the energy shifts caused by the photoelectron diffraction amounts to 5–8 meV for graphite-like carbon and about 100 meV for LiI₆${\text{LiI}}_6$ cluster at _?k=5${?}_k=5$–7 keV, and show oscillations as functions of the photoelectron energy. Furthermore we discuss the recoil effects in photoemission from extended levels by use of the tight-binding approach. Our approach naturally provides not only Debye–Waller factors but also the recoil factors. In addition to the phonon excitation, we also study the recoil effects associated with plasmon losses where intrinsic and extrinsic processes can interfere each other. Only the latter can contribute to the recoil energy shift.     

Prospective trial of a navigator setting under left hepatic lobe on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography using a free-breathing prospective acquisition correction technique

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare the image acquisition time and image quality obtained by navigator setting under the left hepatic lobe vs. on the right diaphragm on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) using a free-breathing navigator-triggered prospective acquisition correction technique (PACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients prospectively underwent three-dimensional T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MRCP using PACE with the navigator randomly set either under the left hepatic lobe or on top of the right diaphragm. Image acquisition time and subjective image quality were compared on a five-point scale using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney's U test, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference for mean acquisition time (6.1+/-1.6 vs. 6.3+/-1.2 min, P=.689) between the left hepatic lobe group and right diaphragm group. Mean subjective image quality was significantly worse in the left hepatic lobe group than in the right diaphragm group (4.1 vs. 4.7, P=.044). CONCLUSION: Setting the navigator under the left hepatic lobe for MRCP using PACE causes the data processing to be more difficult. As well, under current circumstances, it does not contribute to reducing acquisition time or improving the image quality.     

Effect of UV anneal on plasma CVD low-k film

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) low-dielectric (low-k) film was irradiated with ultra violet (UV) light of wavelength 172 nm to enhance mechanical strength and reduce dielectric constant (k value). The thickness measurement method for the UV annealed low-k film is discussed. The effects of UV irradiation on dielectric constant, shrinkage, stress, density, pore size, mechanical strength, and structure are clarified and the mechanism is discussed.