Multiple nano-TiO2 layers to prevent dye/nano-TiO2 from photodegradation under a UV-exposure environment

A device of multiple nano-TiO₂ layers was proposed and fabricated to prevent a dye/nano-TiO₂ region from serious photo-degradation. In this device, the top of the dye/TiO₂ region was designed to be coated using sol-gel nano-TiO₂ thin films to shield UV irradiation from the photo-degradation effect. The sol-gel TiO₂ was prepared in a low temperature (75 °C) and verified as nano-sized particles and an anatase crystalline structure. Different devices of the multi-layer samples fabricated using different compositions of nano-TiO₂ were produced and exposed for UV irradiation tests. Results show that the presence of the sol-gel TiO₂ films coated on top of the dye/TiO₂ region can significantly alleviate the dye photo-degradation under UV irradiation. This multi-layer device can effectively improve the photo-stability of the dye/TiO₂ region in a UV-exposure environment.     

Z′ mediated flavor changing neutral currents in B meson decays

We study the effects of an extra U(1)′ gauge boson with flavor changing couplings with fermion mass eigenstates on certain B meson decays that are sensitive to such new physics contributions. In particular, we examine to what extent the current data on B_d→φK and B_d→η′K decays may be explained in such models, concentrating on the example in which the flavor changing couplings are left-chiral. We find that within reasonable ranges of parameters, the Z′ contribution can readily account for the anomaly in S_φKS but is not sufficient to explain large branching ratio of B_d→η′K with the same parameter value. S_φKS and S_η′KS are seen to be the dominant observables that constrain the extra weak phase in the model.     

Nanosized metal deposits on titanium dioxide for augmenting gas-phase toluene photooxidation

The build-up of intermediate species on the surface of TiO₂ during gas-phase toluene (C₇H₈) photodegradation has been observed to deactivate the photocatalyst. Nanosized metallic deposits on the TiO₂ surface may enhance the photocatalytic process and improve photocatalyst performance. In this study, noble (Ag, Au) and platinum group (Pt, Pd, Rh) metals, at a nominal loading of 0.5 at.%, were deposited onto Degussa P25 TiO₂ to enhance photocatalyst performance and inhibit deactivation. Pd, Rh and Au deposits delayed photocatalyst deactivation by a factor of 2, while Pt deposits delayed photocatalyst deactivation by a factor of 20, when compared with neat TiO₂. Ag deposits did not improve photocatalyst activity. Metal deposit performance was related to the work function of each metal, however, the Pt finding suggested that these effects are not governed solely by this aspect, but factors such as deposit characteristics and/or thermal catalytic properties of the metals may be influential.     

Study of ferromagnetism–superconductivity interactions in Co/Nb multilayers

We investigate Co/Nb multilayers to explore the spontaneous π-phase shift between the superconducting (SC) layers, which is attributed for causing the non-monotonic change of the SC transition temperature (T_c) with the ferromagnetic (FM) layer thickness (t_FM) in several FM/SC multilayered systems. The issue of interfacial roughness is also explored by growing Co/Nb multilayers at various sputtering pressures. Transport measurements show a non-monotonic dependence of T_c on t_FM, and this dependence is insensitive to the structural variation present in the samples, as measured by X-ray scattering.     

Experimental study of three-dimensional residual stresses in rails by moiré interferometry and dissecting methods

Residual stresses in rails produced by rolling cycles are studied by a destructive testing procedure. Thin slices of rails are cut and small grid elements are made by cutting slots onto the surface of the slice. Residual stresses are believed to be released near the surface of the slice when those grid elements have right angles and are sufficiently small. The resulting deformation produced by the stress relief is measured by moiré interferometry. On assuming all strain components be constant along the longitudinal axis of the rail and this axis is one principal direction, three-dimensional strain and stress components are solved.     

Optimization of erbium-doped fiber MOPA laser

An erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) constructed in a master oscillator and power amplifier (MOPA) configuration is analyzed. The pump powers for the fiber cavity laser and the booster amplifier stages are managed properly to achieve maximal pump conversion efficiency. Our design achieves a pump conversion efficiency of 91.4%, corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 96.6%, for a 1565.8 nm MOPA laser pumped by a total power of 300 mW at 1480 nm. The optimized MOPA laser shows a 25% enhancement in the pump conversion efficiency, compared to a non-MOPA fiber laser. A side lobe suppression ratio of 48 dB for the optimized MOPA laser is observed.     

Study of N*(1440) from J/Ψ decays

For J/Ψ↦ pπ⁰ and pπ⁺π^-, the π⁰ p and pπ⁺π^- systems are limited to be pure isospin-(1/2) due to isospin conservation. This is a big advantage in studying N^* resonances from J/Ψ decays, compared with πN and γN experiments. The process J/Ψ↦ N ^* or p provides a new way to probe the internal structure of the N^* resonances. Here we report a quark model calculation for J/Ψ↦ p, N ^*(1440) and N ^*. The implication for the internal structure of N ^*(1440) is discussed. Received: 1 June 2001 / Accepted: 20 June 2001     

Observation of B(s)(0) → D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)- using e+ e- collisions and a determination of the B(s)-B(s) width difference ΔΓ(s)

We have made the first observation of B(s)(0)→D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)- decays using 23.6 fb(-1) of data recorded by the Belle experiment running on the Υ(5S) resonance. The branching fractions are measured to be B(B(s)(0)→D(s)+ D(s)-)=(1.03(-0.32-0.25)(+0.39+0.26))%, B(B(s)(0)→D(s)(*±) D(s)(?))=(2.75(-0.71)(+0.83)±0.69)%, and B(B(s)(0)→D(s)*+ D(s)*-)=(3.08(-1.04-0.86)(+1.22+0.85))%; the sum is B[B(s)(0)→D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)-]=(6.85(-1.30-1.80)(+1.53+1.79))%. Assuming B(s)(0)→D(s)(*)+ D(s)(*)- saturates decays to CP-even final states, the branching fraction determines the ratio ΔΓ(s)/cosφ, where ΔΓ(s) is the difference in widths between the two B(s)-B(s) mass eigenstates, and φ is a CP-violating weak phase. Taking CP violation to be negligibly small, we obtain ΔΓ(s)/Γ(s)=0.147(-0.030)(+0.036)(stat)(-0.041)(+0.042)(syst), where Γ(s) is the mean decay width.     

光纤光栅力传感器的无源温漂补偿技术

将一光纤光栅沿轴向粘贴于两重叠等腰三角形悬臂梁的交界处进行力传感。理论和实验均证实该无源装置具有自动补偿布拉格波长温漂效应的功能。０￣０．３４Ｎ力范围内,实验表明其传感灵敏度ｎｍ／Ｎ。     

利用调谐滤波技术的光纤光栅复用传感器

采用光纤光栅悬臂梁线性调谐技术 ,提出了利用调谐滤波技术对光纤光栅复用传感信号进行检测的方案 ,在分析其基本工作原理的基础上 ,实验研究了其波分复用传感特性 ,传感测量的结果与光谱分析仪直接测量的结果基本一致。传感器的波长分辨率主要取决于系统的最小可探测光功率 ,由于采用了高灵敏度的光电测量系统 ,传感测量的波长分辨率可达 0 .0 0 5nm ,应变分辨率可达 5.7× 10 - 6 。