Mechanisms of Resonant Infrared Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation

For the last decade, a variant of pulsed laser ablation, Resonant-Infrared Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (RIR-MAPLE), has been studied as a deposition technique for organic and polymeric materials. RIR-MAPLE minimizes photochemical damage from direct interaction with the intense laser beam by encapsulating the polymer in a high infrared-absorption solvent matrix. This review critically examines the thermally-induced ablation mechanisms resulting from irradiation of cryogenic solvent matrices by a tunable free electron laser (FEL). A semi-empirical model is used to calculate temperatures as a function of time in the focal volume and determine heating rates for different resonant modes in two model solvents, based on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the phase transitions induced in the solvent matrices. Three principal ablation mechanisms are discussed, namely normal vaporization at the surface, normal boiling, and phase explosion. Normal vaporization is a highly inefficient polymer deposition mechanism as it relies on collective collisions with evaporating solvent molecules. Diffusion length calculations for heterogeneously nucleated vapor bubbles show that normal boiling is kinetically limited. During high-power pulsed-FEL irradiation, phase explosion is shown to be the most significant contribution to polymer deposition in RIR-MAPLE. Phase explosion occurs when the target is rapidly heated (10⁸ to 10¹⁰ K/s) and the solvent matrix approaches its critical temperature. Spontaneous density stratification (spinodal decay) within the condensed metastable phase leads to rapid homogeneous nucleation of vapor bubbles. As these vapor bubbles interconnect, large pressures build up within the condensed phase, leading to target explosions and recoil-induced ejections of polymer to a near substrate. Phase explosion is a temperature (fluence) threshold-limited process, while surface evaporation can occur even at very low fluences.     

Existence of solutions for a fully nonlinear fourth-order two-point boundary value problem

In this paper, we investigate the existence of solutions of a fully nonlinear fourth-order differential equation $$x^{(4)}=f(t,x,x',x'',x'''),\quad t\in [0,1]$$ with one of the following sets of boundary value conditions; $$x'(0)=x(1)=a_{0}x''(0)-b_{0}x'''(0)=a_{1}x''(1)+b_{1}x'''(1)=0,$$ $$x(0)=x'(1)=a_{0}x''(0)-b_{0}x'''(0)=a_{1}x''(1)+b_{1}x'''(1)=0.$$ By using the Leray-Schauder degree theory, the existence of solutions for the above boundary value problems are obtained. Meanwhile, as an application of our results, an example is given.     

Observation and analysis of in vivo vocal fold tissue instabilities produced by nonlinear source-filter coupling: a case study

Different source-related factors can lead to vocal fold instabilities and bifurcations referred to as voice breaks. Nonlinear coupling in phonation suggests that changes in acoustic loading can also be responsible for this unstable behavior. However, no in vivo visualization of tissue motion during these acoustically induced instabilities has been reported. Simultaneous recordings of laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy, acoustics, aerodynamics, electroglottography, and neck skin acceleration are obtained from a participant consistently exhibiting voice breaks during pitch glide maneuvers. Results suggest that acoustically induced and source-induced instabilities can be distinguished at the tissue level. Differences in vibratory patterns are described through kymography and phonovibrography; measures of glottal area, open/speed quotient, and amplitude/phase asymmetry; and empirical orthogonal function decomposition. Acoustically induced tissue instabilities appear abruptly and exhibit irregular vocal fold motion after the bifurcation point, whereas source-induced ones show a smoother transition. These observations are also reflected in the acoustic and acceleration signals. Added aperiodicity is observed after the acoustically induced break, and harmonic changes appear prior to the bifurcation for the source-induced break. Both types of breaks appear to be subcritical bifurcations due to the presence of hysteresis and amplitude changes after the frequency jumps. These results are consistent with previous studies and the nonlinear source-filter coupling theory.     

Anisotropic conformal infinity

We generalize Penrose’s notion of conformal infinity of spacetime, to situations with anisotropic scaling. This is relevant not only for Lifshitz-type anisotropic gravity models, but also in standard general relativity and string theory, for spacetimes exhibiting a natural asymptotic anisotropy. Examples include the Lifshitz and Schrödinger spaces (proposed as AdS/CFT duals of nonrelativistic field theories), warped AdS ₃, and the near-horizon extreme Kerr geometry. The anisotropic conformal boundary appears crucial for resolving puzzles of holographic renormalization in such spacetimes.     

Prepotential approach to quasinormal modes

In this paper we demonstrate how the recently reported exactly and quasi-exactly solvable models admitting quasinormal modes can be constructed and classified very simply and directly by the newly proposed prepotential approach. These new models were previously obtained within the Lie-algebraic approach. Unlike the Lie-algebraic approach, the prepotential approach does not require any knowledge of the underlying symmetry of the system. It treats both quasi-exact and exact solvabilities on the same footing, and gives the potential as well as the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues simultaneously. We also present three new models with quasinormal modes: a new exactly solvable Morse-like model, and two new quasi-exactly solvable models of the Scarf II and generalized Pöschl–Teller types.     

Quantum MIMO Communication Scheme Based on Quantum Teleportation with Triplet States

A novel quantum MIMO communication scheme is proposed by generalizing the wireless communication technique to the quantum field. The MIMO quantum teleportation can be implemented with triplet states in order to enhance the capacity and fidelity of the quantum channel, in which an n-qubit sequence of quantum signals can be transmitted through the MIMO quantum channel by applying the diversity technique. The quantum noise filtering is involved before the quantum signals are outputted. The analysis and discussions demonstrate that the quantum MIMO teleportation can be performed securely with high capacity and fidelity.     

Highly alkoxylated PPV copolymers for PLEDs: Syntheses, optical properties and enhancement of device lifetimes

A series of solution processible light-emitting copolymers composed of tetraalkoxy-phenylenevinylene (TALK-PPV) and dialkoxy-phenylenevinylene (DALK-PPV) has been synthesized using the Gilch polymerization route. Thermal, optical and electrochemical properties of the synthesized copolymers [poly(TALKPV-co-DALKPV)s] have been investigated and compared with those of each homopolymers, poly[2-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-3,5,6-trimethoxy]-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (TALK-PPV) and poly[2-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-5-methoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (DALK-PPV). The synthesized copolymers showed a high molecular weight (Mn=∼2-3.0×10⁵) and narrow polydispersity indices (∼3). Electroluminescent devices using the copolymers as the emissive layer have been fabricated with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymers/Ca/Al. Interestingly the copolymer devices resulted in a more than 4-fold increase in device lifetime than the homopolymers, which might be due to the highly reduced steric hindrance of the polymer backbone by introducing DALKPV units between the adjacent highly alkoxylated TALKPV repeating units in the polymer backbone.     

Control of resonant peak depths of tunable long-period fiber gratings using overcoupling

We present a method to reduce changes in the resonant peak depth of a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) as the resonant band is tuned by varying the external refractive index. We theoretically analyze the effects of the initial coupling strength on the peak depth change as external refractive index is varied. By controlling the initial coupling strength, it is experimentally demonstrated that an optimum peak depth can be obtained over a range of operating wavelengths that will maximize the sensitivity and stability of LPFG based sensors and tunable filters.     

All-optical switching with a biexcitonic double lambda system

A double lambda four-level system could be implemented with biexcitonic transitions on GaAs quantum well. We observed that the phase dependent biexcitonic transition could be explained by interference between one-photon and three-photon transition in a double lambda four-level system. An ultralow-light switch pulse could control 80% of biexcitonic absorption, which demonstrated all-optical switching with biexcitonic double lambda system.