Doppler cooling a single Ca+ ion with a violet extended-cavity diode laser

We present a scheme for employing a violet extended-cavity diode laser in experiments with single, trapped ions. For this the grating-stabilised laser is spatially and spectrally filtered and referenced to a Fabry–Pérot cavity. We measure an upper limit to the line width by observing a 305-kHz FWHM beat note with the second harmonic of a titanium sapphire laser. The laser is subsequently used to optically cool a single ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ion close to the Doppler limit. PACS 03.67.Lx; 32.80.Pj; 42.55.Px     

Chern numbers for two families of noncommutative Hopf fibrations

We consider noncommutative line bundles associated with the Hopf fibrations of SU_q(2) over all Podle? spheres and with a locally trivial Hopf fibration of S³_pq. These bundles are given as finitely generated projective modules associated via 1-dimensional representations of U(1) with Galois-type extensions encoding the principal fibrations of SU_q(2) and S³_pq. We show that the Chern numbers of these modules coincide with the winding numbers of representations defining them. To cite this article: P.M. Hajac et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 336 (2003).     

Effect of maltodextrins on the surface activity of small-molecule surfactants

We report on the effect of commercially important polysaccharides (maltodextrins with variable dextrose equivalent (Paselli SA-2, MD-6 and MD-10) on the surface activity at the air–water interface of small-molecule surfactants (sms), possessing different hydrophobic–lipophilic balance ((SSL (Na⁺), the main component is a sodium salt of stearol–lactoyl lactic acid, and PGE (080), polyglycerol ester of C18 fatty acid), and widely used in food products. A marked change of the surface activity of sms was found in the presence of maltodextrins by tensiometry. The combined data of laser multiangle light scattering and mixing calorimetry have suggested that this result is governed by specific complex formation between maltodextrins and sms in aqueous medium. Measurements have been made of the molar mass, the second virial coefficient and the enthalpy of intermolecular interactions in aqueous solutions. The implication of a degree of polymerization of maltodextrins in this phenomenon was shown. The interrelation between the molecular parameters of the formed complexes and their surface activity at the air–water interface has been revealed and discussed.     

Generation of angular momentum of fission fragments in a cluster model

Based on the dinuclear system concept, the role of bending vibrations in creation of the angular momentum of primary fission fragments is investigated. For ²⁵²Cf spontaneous fission, the angular momenta of the fragments are calculated as a function of the neutron multiplicity and compared with available experimental data. Different cluster compositions of the ²⁵²Cf fission modes at the scission point are considered.     

Intrinsic Fluorescence of Actin

In this work actin is used to illustrate connection of protein fluorescence characteristics with its structure. On one hand, it has been demonstrated what kind of information about the contribution of each tryptophan residues to the bulk fluorescence spectrum can be obtained from the special analysis of protein three-dimensional structure. On the other hand, potentials of intrinsic fluorescence for elucidation of proteins structure, dynamics and processes of folding-unfolding are shown. In particular, using this method a new essentially unfolded kinetic intermediate state of actin was detected and characterized, and the place of inactivated actin and its kinetic predecessor in the process of folding-unfolding was determined. It has been revealed that inactivated actin is not intermediate state between the native and completely unfolded states, as it has been accepted before, but a result of protein misfolding. On the basis of the obtained data a new model of actin folding-unfolding pathway has been proposed.     

Parametric Frequency Converters Based on New Nonlinear Crystals

Results of investigations into the physical properties of a number of new nonlinear crystals are presented. The parameters of frequency converters manufactured on their basis are compared, and second-harmonic generation of CO₂ lasers first excited by frequency conversion in LiInSe₂, AgGa_{1– x} In_xSe₂, Ag_xGa_xGe_xS_{2(1 + x)}, and Hg_1–x Cd_xGa₂S₄ crystals is investigated. The superiority of HgGa₂S₄, Hg_1–x Cd_xGa₂S₄, and AgGa_1–x In_xSe₂ over the well-known crystals has been demonstrated for frequency conversion both within the middle-IR range and from the visible range to the middle-IR range. Advantages of LiInSe₂ and AgGa_1–x In_xSe₂ crystals are demonstrated for the direct frequency conversion of femtosecond laser radiation to the middle-IR range compared to the cascade frequency conversion and direct frequency conversion in LiInS₂ crystals.     

Justification of Averaging Method for Multifrequency Impulsive Systems

We prove new theorems on the justification of the averaging method for multifrequency oscillation systems with pulse influence at fixed times.     

Changes in the Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectrum of Myocardium Tissue with Decrease in Its Viability

We investigated the laser-induced fluorescence spectra (LIF) of porcine cardiac tissues with different degrees of viability. The data obtained are compared with the results of routine histological investigations and also with the experiments performed with the use of fluorescent probes. It has been found with a high degree of reliability that the loss of the viability of the myocardium tissue leads to the alteration of its LIF spectra. This can be used for low-invasive rapid control of transplant viability in the process of its preparation and during surgery.     

Effective nonchain HF laser excited by a self-sustained discharge

Lasing and discharge in mixtures of SF₆ with hydrogen and hydrocarbons are investigated. If the chemical reaction is initiated by a self-sustained discharge (a generator with both an inductive and capacitive energy storage can be used), the maximum lasing efficiency is attained at high values of the ratio E/p (where E is the electric field intensity and p is the pressure in the mixture) if shaped electrodes and preionization of the discharge gap are employed. For the first time, the lasing efficiency obtained in a nonchain HF laser is as high as 10% of the energy deposit and 4.5% of the stored energy for a specific radiation energy of ≈140 J/(l atm). At high efficiencies, the emission spectrum of the nonchain HF laser significantly broadens and cascade lasing at P(3-2) → P(2-1) → P(1-0) vibrational transitions for several rotational lines is realized.