The kinetic limitation of anti-stokes luminescence of Er3+ and Yb3+ doped infrared upconversion materials

Infrared-to-visible wave-length conversion in the Yb³⁺−Er³⁺ doped phosphors system has been described by a simple three level model based on two ions mechanism. The excitation in the range of 900–1000 nm of an IR-photon is first absorbed by Yb³⁺ ion as a sensitizer attributed to the resonant energy transition in Er³⁺ ion from ⁴ I _3/2 → ⁴ S _15/2 and ¹ F _9/2 → ⁴ I _15/2, respectively for green and red emission. The essential energy transfer processes in this system i.e. upconversion from ⁴ I _11/2 and ¹ I _13/2, cross-relaxation from ⁴ S _3/2 and ¹ F _9/2 are taken into account. The limitations of the rate-equation approach are examined with a focus on the underlying dynamics of this rare-earth system.     

Using a quantum dot as a high-frequency shot noise detector

We present the experimental realization of a quantum dot (QD) operating as a high-frequency noise detector. Current fluctuations produced in a nearby quantum point contact (QPC) ionize the QD and induce transport through excited states. The resulting transient current through the QD represents our detector signal. We investigate its dependence on the QPC transmission and voltage bias. We observe and explain a quantum threshold feature and a saturation in the detector signal. This experimental and theoretical study is relevant in understanding the backaction of a QPC used as a charge detector.     

Facilitated Transport of Cr(VI) through Polymer Inclusion Membrane System Containing Calix[4]arene Derivative as Carrier Agent

Chromium(VI) is one of the major toxic elements present in environmental samples. The polymer inclusion membrane (PIM), has been developed to provide metal ion transport with high selectivity. This study was conducted to discover efficient methods for removing Cr(VI) from wastewater. A functionalized calix[4]arene carrier 1 in a PIM system was used to transport Cr(VI) from an acidic aqueous donor phase solution to an acceptor phase that contained an acetic acid/ammonium acetate solution at pH 6. The prepared PIM was characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques as well as with contact angle measurements. The efficiency of Cr(VI) transport through the PIM was investigated by studying the effects of carrier concentration on the membrane phase as well as by measuring the amount of plasticizer in the membrane, the pH in the acceptor phase and the membrane's stability and thickness. The kinetic parameters were calculated as rate constant (k), permeability coefficient (P), flux (J) and diffusion coefficient (D_o). The transport efficiency of Cr(VI) was observed to be 98.61% after 10 h under optimized conditions. The experimental results show that Cr(VI) can transport from the donor phase to the acceptor phase with high efficiency through the PIM. The results also suggest that the transport efficiency of the PIM was reproducible and that a PIM is effective for long-term separation processes.     

APPLICATION OF GENETIC ALGORITHM IN PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS BY MULTISPECTRAL EXTINCTION MEASUREMENTS

Both dependent and independent model algorithms are designed with genetic algorithm (GA) to retrieve aerosol size data from multispectral extinction measurements. Compared with the traditional dependent model algorithm, e.g., simplex, GA can locate the global optimized solution instead of local ones. As an independent model algonthm, when combined with B-splines, GA gives consistent results with Chahine and Phillip-Twomey-NNLS algorithms. Numerical simulations also show that GA has high stability and good resistance to relatively higher error levels. For a population size of 50 in the present paper, the feasible ranges for genetic operators Pc and pm are found to be [0.01, 0.5] and [0.01, 0.15], respectively, and the generation number Gen_Max should be larger than 250.     

Weighted moments for a supercritical branching process in a varying or random environment

Let W be the limit of the normalized population size of a supercritical branching process in a varying or random environment. By an elementary method, we find sufficient conditions under which W has finite weighted moments of the form EWpl(W), where p > 1, l 0 is a concave or slowly varying function.     

Raman study of natural berlinite from a geological phosphate deposit

Natural berlinite from a heated sedimentary sequence in Cioclovina Cave (Romania) was studied using Raman spectroscopy complemented with infrared techniques. Vibrational data acquired at room temperature were compared with those reported for synthetic berlinite in ambient conditions. The symmetry of the (PO₄)^3? units is confirmed by the observation of characteristic bands attributed to the ν₁(PO₄)^3? stretching mode, both the ν₄ and ν₂ bending regions at 500–595 cm^?1, and 350–500 cm^?1, respectively. The berlinite Raman fingerprint was unambiguously identified at 1111 and 1104 cm^?1, confirming the identity of the species and elucidating some controversial reports in the mineralogy field.The vibrational data of natural berlinite relates to its crystallography, and along with the spectra–structure correlation, confirmed an almost ideal natural berlinite crystal.     

Stable isotope study of precipitation and cave drip water in Florida (USA): implications for speleothem-based paleoclimate studies

Stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen were used to examine how the isotopic signal of meteoric water is modified as it travels through soil and epikarst into two caves in Florida. Surface and cave water samples were collected every week from February 2006 until March 2007. The isotopic composition of precipitation at the investigated sites is highly variable and shows little seasonal control. The delta18O vs. delta2H plot shows a mixing line having a slope of 5.63, suggesting evaporation effects dominate the isotopic composition of most rainfall events of less than 8 cm/day, as indicated by their low d-excess values. The delta18O values of the drip water show little variability (<0.6 per thousand), which is loosely tied to local variations in the seasonal amount of precipitation. This is only seen during wintertime at the Florida Caverns site. The lag time of over two months and the lack of any relationship between rainfall amount and the increase in drip rate indicate a dominance of matrix flow relative to fracture/conduit flow at each site. The long residence time of the vadose seepage waters allows for an effective isotopic homogenisation of individual and seasonal rainfall events. We find no correlation between rainfall and drip water delta18O at any site. The isotopic composition of drip water in both caves consistently tends to resemble the amount-weighted monthly mean rainfall input. This implies that the delta18O of speleothems from these two caves in Florida cannot record seasonal cycle in rainfall delta18O, but are suitable for paleoclimate reconstructions at inter-annual time scales.dagger.     

Shot-noise detection in a carbon nanotube quantum dot

An on-chip detection scheme for high frequency signals is used to detect noise generated by a quantum dot formed in a single wall carbon nanotube. The noise detection is based on photon assisted tunneling in a superconductor-insulator-superconductor junction. Measurements of shot noise over a full Coulomb diamond are reported with excited states and inelastic cotunneling clearly resolved. Super-Poissonian noise is detected in the case of inelastic cotunneling.