Collective bands in 104,106,108Mo

We have used our analysis of γ-γ-γ data (5.7 × 10¹¹ triples and higher folds) taken with Gammasphere from prompt γ rays emitted in the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf to study the collective bands in ^104,106,108Mo. The one-phonon and two-phonon γ-vibrational bands and known two-quasiparticle bands in neutron-rich ^104,106Mo were extended to higher spins. The one-and two-phonon γ-vibrational bands have remarkably close energies for transitions from the same spin states and identical moments of inertia. Several new bands are observed and are proposed as quasiparticle bands in ^104,106Mo, along with the first β-type vibrational band in ¹⁰⁶Mo. The quasiparticle bands have essentially constant moments of inertia near the rigid-body value that indicate blocking of the pairing interaction. Candidates for chiral doublet bands in ¹⁰⁶Mo are strong. These are the first reported chiral vibrational bands in an even-even nucleus. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Ultrafast dynamics of surface plasmon polaritons in plasmonic metamaterials

Using near-field scanning optical microscopy and ultrafast laser spectroscopy, we study the linear optical properties of subwavelength nanoslit and nanohole arrays in metal films, which are prototype structures for novel plasmonic metamaterials. Near-field microscopy provides direct evidence for surface plasmon polariton (SPP) excitation and allows for spatial imaging of the corresponding SPP modes. By employing spectral interferometry with ultrashort 11-fs light pulses, we directly reconstruct the temporal structure of the electric field of these pulses as they are transmitted through the metallic nanostructures. The analysis of these data allows for a quantitative extraction of the plasmonic band structure and the radiative damping of the corresponding SPP modes. Clear evidence for plasmonic band gap formation is given. Our results reveal that the coherent coupling between different SPP modes can result in a pronounced suppression of radiative SPP damping, increasing the SPP lifetime from 30 fs to more than 200 fs. These findings are relevant for optimizing and manipulating the optical properties of novel nano-plasmonic devices. PACS 42.70.Qs; 07.79.Fc; 42.25.-p     

Theoretical models for the extracavity Raman laser with crystalline Raman medium

The rate equation model of an extracavity Raman laser is deduced for the first time to the best knowledge of the authors. The normalized radiation transfer equations of the extracavity Raman laser are given. The normalized radiation transfer equations and rate equations were solved numerically to find the optimum reflectivity of the output coupler to realize the maximum conversion efficiency at the first Stokes for both the single and double-pass pumping configurations. Also, the pulse duration of the first Stokes was investigated numerically. The rate equations are verified to be a good approximation to the radiation transfer equations for the regime of low Raman gain and long pump pulse duration. Furthermore, it is found that the optimum reflectivity of the first Stokes and the second Stokes threshold are influenced significantly by the minor feedback of the resonator mirror at the second Stokes. PACS 42.55 42.55.Ye; 42.65 42.65.Dr; 02.60 02.60.Lj; 63.20 63.20.-e     

Synthesis of single-crystalline wurtzite aluminum nitride nanowires by direct arc discharge

High-density hexagonal aluminum nitride (h-AlN) nanowires were synthesized through the direct reaction of Al with nitrogen gas without catalyst and template using a direct arc discharge method. The as-grown AlN nanowires were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The h-AlN nanowires have a diameter in the range 20–70 nm and a length of several tens of micrometers. Vapor–solid growth mechanisms can be employed to explain the formation of the h-AlN nanowires. PACS 81.05.Ea; 81.10.Bk; 81.16.Dn; 68.65.-k; 81.16.-c     

Direct measurement of the magnetocaloric effect in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3

Polycrystalline perovskite La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ was synthesized by a sol–gel method. Its adiabatic temperature change ΔT_ad induced by a magnetic field change was measured directly. At 268 K, near its Curie temperature T_C, ΔT_ad of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ induced by a magnetic field change of 2.02 T reaches 2.4 K. The latent heat Q and magnetic entropy change −ΔS_M induced by a magnetic field change were calculated from the temperature dependence of ΔT_ad and zero-field heat capacity C_p. The maximum values of Q and −ΔS_M in La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ induced by a magnetic field change of 2.02 T are 1.85 J g⁻¹ and 6.9 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. The former is larger than the phase transition latent heat of heating or cooling, which is about 1.70 J g⁻¹.     

Solitary wave solution to a singularly perturbed generalized Gardner equation with nonlinear terms of any order

This paper is concerned with the existence of travelling wave solutions to a singularly perturbed generalized Gardner equation with nonlinear terms of any order. By using geometric singular perturbation theory and based on the relation between solitary wave solution and homoclinic orbits of the associated ordinary differential equations, the persistence of solitary wave solutions of this equation is proved when the perturbation parameter is sufficiently small. The numerical simulations verify our theoretical analysis.     

Large third-order nonlinear optical properties of C70 fullerene in the infrared regime

The nonlinear third-order optical susceptibility of C₇₀ in a toluene solution is measured for the first time by the method of degenerate four-wave mixing using 10 ns laser pulses at 1.06 m. The third-order susceptibility X _in ⁽³⁾ is 5.6×10^–12 esu for a C₇₀ toluene solution at a concentration of 0.476 g/l. The correspondent magnitude of the hyperpolarizability ₁₁₁₁ of the C₇₀ molecule is 1.2×10^–30 esu which is in a good agreement with the prediction given by the model of a free electron in a spherical box.     

Vortex glass phase and flux creep in YBa2Cu3O y epitaxial film

Nonlinear I–V characteristics of YBa₂Cu₃O _y epitaxial film at different temperatures in a magnetic field of up to 5T and angles between the direction of the field and the a–b plane of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° were measured. We find that there are the vortex glass phase and vortex liquid phase in the mixed state. The flux creep exists in the vortex glass phase, and it obviously appears in the area around the boundary between the vortex glass phase and the vortex liquid phase.     

Theoretical and experimental study of single mode-locking pulse generation with low repetition rate in a dual-loss-modulated QML YVO4/Nd:YVO4 laser with EO and GaAs

Using electro-optic (EO) modulator and GaAs saturable absorber, a diode-pumped doubly Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ laser at 1.06 μm is realized. The experimental results show that the number of the mode-locking pulses underneath the Q-switched envelope decreased with increasing pump power. With an output coupling of 6.5 %, the single mode-locking pulse underneath the Q-switched envelope with 1 kHz repetition rate was obtained when the pump power exceeded 4.65 W. At a pump power of 8.25 W for an output coupling of 10 %, a stable mode-locking pulse train at a repetition rate of 1 kHz was achieved with pulse energy as high as 582 μJ and pulse duration of about 580 ps, corresponding to a peak power of 1 MW. Using a hyperbolic secant square function and considering the Gaussian distribution of the intracavity photon density, the coupled rate equations for diode-pumped doubly QML YVO₄/Nd:YVO₄ laser are given and the numerical solutions of the equations are basically in accordance with the experimental results.