On the phase-space analysis of photon mediated quantum state transfer in nanophotonic waveguidance

A cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) based approach for transferring quantum state between quantum nodes has been proposed, wherein a rubidium (⁸⁷Rb) atom trapped inside a two-mode optical cavity forms the quantum node and photons serve as the information carrier between two such nodes. Information is encoded into polarized photon states generated through the application of a system of lasers. The focus is made on the phase-space analysis of the approach, wherein two subspaces of the hyperfine energy levels with magnetic sub-levels of rubidium (⁸⁷Rb) atom represent the logic states ‘0’ and ‘1’. The system of lasers initiates a cavity assisted Raman process which, in turn, generates a right- or left-circularly polarized photon depending on the logic state of the transmit node. Once the photon is received (at the receive node), the logic state of the transmit node is restored into the receive node through a cavity QED process.     

Design of peptide affinity ligands for S-protein: a comparison of combinatorial and de novo design strategies

Design of peptide affinity ligands against biological targets is important for a broad range of applications. Here, we report on de novo and combinatorial strategies for the design of high-affinity and high-specificity peptides against S-protein as a target. The peptide libraries employed in this study contain (1) consensus motif (CM) sequences identified from high-throughput phage combinatorial screening, (2) point mutations of CM sequences, and (3) de novo sequences rationally designed based on stereo-chemical information of the complex between S-protein and its natural ligand, S-peptide. In general, point mutations to CM allowed for modulating peptide affinity and specificity over a broad range. This is particularly useful in designing peptides with varying affinities and specificities for the target. De novo sequences, especially those based on the S-protein binding pocket, on average bound with higher affinities within a narrow range (10–100 nM) as compared to point mutations to CM (1 nM–2 $\mu $ M). As such, the approaches described here serve as a general guide for optimizing the design of peptide affinity ligands for a wide range of target proteins or applications.     

Ab initio study of dielectric function of C-substituted single walled boron nanotubes

We report dielectric function related optical properties namely dielectric constant, static dielectric constant, and absorption coefficients of C-substituted hexagonal boron nanotubes. The optical properties were computed for parallel and perpendicular polarized light in the framework of density functional theory. In this regard, three models of BNTs namely armchair (3,3), zigzag (5,0), and chiral (4,2) have been undertaken for probing the effect of carbon impurity. Our calculations show high dielectric constant of armchair and chiral BNTs for parallel polarized light and magnitude becomes smaller for higher impurity concentration, while zigzag BNT exhibits reverse trend for high impurity concentration. For perpendicular polarized light, the magnitude of dielectric constant ε ₁(ω) is decreased and shifts at higher frequencies. The absorption is revealed highest for armchair followed by zigzag and chiral BNTs independent of impurity concentration. The intensity of absorption gets weaken for higher concentration. The chiral BNTs show smaller but uniform absorption in smaller frequency range results in uniform field emission. These findings are also compared with available experimental and theoretical results. These metallic nanotubes are promising candidate as interconnects for nanodevices as well as field emission devices.     

Stability and bifurcation analysis of a prey–predator model with age based predation

It is observed that in large animals only adult predators take part in direct predation while suckling feed on milk of adult predators and juveniles are dependent on the dead prey stock killed by the adult predators. Some parts of the dead prey population is consumed by adult predators and remaining parts are consumed by juveniles and the remaining portion decays naturally. In light of this, a mathematical model is proposed to study the stability and bifurcation behaviour of a prey–predator system with age based predation. All the feasible equilibria of the system are obtained and the conditions for the existence of the interior equilibrium are determined. The local stability analysis of all the feasible equilibria is carried out and the possibility of Hopf-bifurcation of the interior equilibrium is studied. Finally, numerical simulation is conducted to support the analytical results.     

Controlled Microstructuring of Janus Particles Based on a Multifunctional Poly(ethylene glycol)

A novel water insoluble, multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol), poly(hydrazide ethylene glycol‐co‐benzyl glycidyl ether) (P(HZ‐co‐BnGE)), is synthesized via thiol‐ene click reaction of poly(allyl glycidyl ether‐co‐benzyl glycidyl ether) (P(AGE‐co‐BnGE)). The base polymer P(AGE‐co‐BnGE) is previously prepared by anionic ring‐opening copolymerization of the corresponding monomers. To demonstrate utility, bicompartmental microspheres and microcylinders containing P(HZ‐co‐BnGE) in one of the compartments are prepared via electrohydrodynamic (EHD) co‐jetting. Next, spatially controlled surface reactivity toward sugars is demonstrated by selective binding of 2α‐mannobiose to the P(HZ‐co‐BnGE) compartment only, as confirmed by a carbohydrate‐lectin‐binding assay. These sugar‐reactive hydrazide‐presenting microparticles have potential applications for glyco‐targeted drug delivery.

     

EPR and Optical Absorption Study of VO2+ Ions Doped Potassium Hexaaquazinc (II) Sulfate Single Crystals

X-band single-crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies are done on VO²⁺ ions doped in potassium hexaaquazinc (II) sulfate, K₂[Zn (H₂O)₆] (SO₄)₂ (PHZS) at room temperature. The spin Hamiltonian parameters, i.e., g and A tensors and their direction cosines, are evaluated by the standard diagonalization procedure using angular variation of the EPR spectra in three planes (ab, bc* and c*a), with the help of a computer program. The EPR spectrum is simulated using the EasySpin program to verify the calculations. The detailed EPR analysis indicates the presence of two magnetically inequivalent VO²⁺ sites. Both the vanadyl complexes are found to take up the substitutional position in the host lattice. The optical absorption spectrum of VO²⁺ ions doped in PHZS single crystal at room temperature is also recorded and four main d–d transfer bands in the visible region are assigned. The theoretical band positions are obtained using energy expressions and a good agreement is found with the experimental values. With the help of assigned bands the crystal-field parameters (Dq, Ds and Dt) are evaluated. Finally, with the optical and EPR data, the nature of bonding in the complex is discussed.     

Controlling laser spectra in a phaseonium photonic crystal using maser

We study the control of quantum resonances in photonic crystals with electromagnetically induced transparency driven by microwave field. In addition to the control laser, the intensity and phase of the maser can alter the transmission and reflection spectra in interesting ways, producing hyperfine resonances through the combined effects of multiple scattering in the superstructure.     

Preparative separation of α- and β-santalenes and (Z)-α- and (Z)-β-santalols using silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel medium pressure liquid chromatography and analysis of sandalwood oil

The major sesquiterpene constituents of East-Indian sandalwood oil (Z)-α- and (Z)-β-santalols have shown to be responsible for most of the biological activities and organoleptic properties of sandalwood oil. The work reported here describes the strategic use of medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) for the separation of both α- and β-santalenes and (Z)-α- and (Z)-β-santalols. Silver nitrate impregnated silica gel was used as the stationary phase in MPLC for quantitative separation of α- and β-santalenes and (Z)-α- and (Z)-β-santalols with mobile phases hexane and dichloromethane, respectively. The purities of α-santalene and (Z)-α-santalol obtained were >96%; however, β-santalene and (Z)-β-santalol were obtained with their respective inseparable epi-isomers. Limits of quantification (LoQ) relative to the FID detector were measured for important sesquiterpene alcohols of heartwood oil of S. album using serial dilutions of the standard stock solutions and demonstrated that the quality of the commercial sandalwood oil can be assessed for the content of individual sesquiterpene alcohols regulated by Australian Standard (AS2112-2003), International Organization for Standardization ISO 3518:2002 (E) and European Union (E. U.).