Effect of annealing on structure and permeability of poly [(l-trimethylsilyl)-l-propyne]

The permeability of annealed poly (l-(trimethylsilyl)-l-propyne) was studied from the viewpoint of structural information obtained from x-ray diffraction and density. The sample cast from benzene solution had low density (0.82 g/cm³) and high permeability, whereas the annealed sample had a higher density (0.88 g/cm³) and permeability lower by two orders of magnitude. The smaller-angle x-ray diffraction peak for each sample, which was likely to reflect the distance between intermolecular chains, increased in intensity and shifted toward higher angle, corresponding to the change of the density with annealing. The logarithmic oxygen permeability was proportional to the density, namely the free volume fraction correlated with the diffusion coefficient and controlled by annealing and swelling by alcohols.     

Manipulation of Particles with Counter-Propagating Evanescent Waves

Two counter-propagating evanescent beams are used to align and manipulate polystyrene particles on a prism surface. Since the radiation pressure transferred laterally from the evanescent wave is negated on both sides, particles can be stably aligned. By projecting a circular and a linear beam spot onto the interface, both multiple and single arrays of particles are achieved. Arrays of particles trapped on the interface can be easily moved adjusting the intensity of incident beams on either side. We also simulate electromagnetic distribution of scattering light that is converted from the evanescent wave using the FDTD method. The results show that scattering light converts from an evanescent wave propagating through a particle array and has a distance longer than that propagating from a normal evanescent wave.     

Oblique-Incidence Characteristics of a Parallel-Aligned Nematic-Liquid-Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

We have developed optically-addressed and electrically-addressed liquid crystal spatial phase-only light modulators having no pixelized structures. We obtained a large depth of phase-only modulation and high diffraction efficiency based on the electro-optical characteristics of a parallel-aligned nematic liquid crystal. These spatial light modulators (SLM) are of the reflection type, so there would be a loss of power in the readout light from the half mirror, which was set up so as to separate the incident and reflected lights. To optimize the characteristics of a reflection type spatial phase-only light modulator, we have proposed an oblique incident optical readout setup. We have examined the effect of conditions such as the polarization direction and the incidence angle of the readout light, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the SLM. High diffraction efficiency close to the theoretical maximum value was obtained by adjusting the above conditions. The simulation analysis can well explain the experimental results of phase modulation.     

Universal generation of higher-order multiringed Laguerre-Gaussian beams by using a spatial light modulator

Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams of various higher-order radial modes are generated by using a reflective phase-only liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modulator (SLM). Because of the LCOS SLM's phase-modulation characteristic of a wide spatial bandwidth, a phase modulation scheme effectively generates higher-order LG beams of up to the fifth-order radial mode. We also perform correlation analyses between the observed and the theoretical two-dimensional mode profiles to universally obtain correlation coefficients of more than 0.946, which suggest mode generations of high quality.     

Mechanical Characterization Measurement of Polymer Material under Stress by Birefringence Microscope

Some polymer materials under tensile stress provide us interesting information. Internal structure changes of polymer materials must be observed by external stress. Birefringence shows the orientation characteristic in molecular orientation. A microscopic measurement system for birefringence distribution is proposed to analyze the relation between applied stress and birefringence distribution of an internal structure. Birefringence distributions of gelatin such as phase difference and azimuthal angle are shown in cases of loading and unloading stress as a demonstration. The phase difference increased nonlinearly with each process, and change of birefringence in the elastic domain was different from that in the plastic domain.     

在粗糙表面上用液晶空间光调制器进行振动测量

为实现在一段时间内连续实时观测振动物体的全息干涉图形,采用覆盖铝箔的喇叭作为振动物体,利用铝箔原有未经特殊处理表面反射的漫反射光成像,并用光寻址液晶空间光调制器(Liquid crystal-sparial lightmodulator,LC-SLM)作为全息记录载体,来实现振动测量。实验中采用时间平均干涉测量法,得到了不同振动频率下物体的干涉图形。同时在连续改变振动物体的振动频率时,可以清晰地观察到物体振动全息干涉图形的变化过程,即近实时的全息干涉图形。     

Optically driven actuators using poly(vinylidene difluoride)

Optically driven actuators have a feature of a non-contact method supplied by light energy. A new method is proposed with three poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) cantilevers as the legs and a polymer film as the body. The PVDF cantilevers are coated with silver on one surface. When one side of the cantilever is irradiated by a laser beam, an electric field is produced along a cross-section of the cantilever by the pyroelectric effect and a mechanical displacement occurs by the piezoelectric effect. Its response time and its generated force are measured experimentally. Two types of optically driven actuators using PVDF film are proposed to move using different characteristics.     

Electroluminescence properties of In-doped Zn2SiO4 thin films prepared by sol–gel process

The effect of In doping on the electroluminescence (EL) properties of Zn₂SiO₄:In thin films was investigated. In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ thin films were deposited on BaTiO₃ substrates and their EL properties were characterized in this study. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ powders revealed a single phase of Zn₂SiO₄ for In concentrations up to approximately 1.5 mol%, whereas a secondary phase of In₂O₃ was observed for In concentrations in the range of 2–10 mol%. The maximum luminance of thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices varied significantly with the amount of In doping. The highest luminance with blue emission was obtained when 2 mol% In was doped. The blue emission of In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ thin film may be related to the In substitution for Zn. The 2 mol% In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ thin film exhibited blue emission with CIE color coordinates of x=0.208 and y=0.086.     

Age-dependent plasticity in the superior temporal sulcus in deaf humans: a functional MRI study

Background  

Sign-language comprehension activates the auditory cortex in deaf subjects. It is not known whether this functional plasticity in the temporal cortex is age dependent. We conducted functional magnetic-resonance imaging in six deaf signers who lost their hearing before the age of 2 years, five deaf signers who were >5 years of age at the time of hearing loss and six signers with normal hearing. The task was sentence comprehension in Japanese sign language.