Sensitivity of depolarized lidar signals to cloud and aerosol particle properties

Measurements from depolarized lidars provide a promising method to retrieve both cloud and aerosol properties and a versatile complement to passive satellite-based sensors. For lidar observations of clouds and aerosols, multiple scattering plays an important role in the scattering process. Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to investigate the sensitivity of lidar backscattering depolarization to cloud and aerosol properties. Lidar parameters are chosen to be similar to those of the upcoming space-based CALIPSO lidar. Cases are considered that consist of a single cloud or aerosol layer, as well as a case in which cirrus clouds overlay different types of aerosols. It is demonstrated that besides thermodynamic cloud phase, the depolarized lidar signal may provide additional information on ice or aerosol particle shapes. However, our results show little sensitivity to ice or aerosol particle sizes. Additionally, for the case of multiple but overlapping layers involving both clouds and aerosols, the depolarized lidar contains information that can help identify the particle properties of each layer.     

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence of vertically stacked self-assembled CdSe quantum dots in ZnSe

We studied the optical properties of multiple layers of self-assembled CdSe quantum dots (QDs) embedded in ZnSe, grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The ZnSe barrier thicknesses separating the QD layers ranged from 30 to 60 monolayers (ML). For stacks with thinnest ZnSe barriers photoluminescence (PL) measurements reveal blue shifts as large as 180 meV relative to PL observed for single QD layers. The amount of blue shift decreases with increasing barrier thickness, and for the 60 ML spacer the PL energy returns to that emitted by a single layer of QDs. Temperature dependence of the integrated intensity of the emission spectra reveals that the activation energy for PL quenching is largest for barrier thicknesses of 30 and 45 ML. We tentatively attribute these effects to a decrease in the size of the vertically stacked QDs when the thickness of the barrier layers is small.     

Separated AlxIn1−xN quantum dots grown by plasma-reactive co-sputtering

Separated Al_xIn_1−xN quantum dots (QDs) embedded in amorphous AlN films have been produced by radio-frequency co-sputtering technique on silicon (1 1 1) and quartz glass substrates. The mean size and density of Al_xIn_1−xN QDs can be conveniently monitored by deposition parameters. Transparent electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction were used to detect the structure of the Al_xIn_1−xN QDs system; field-emission scanning-electron microscope was adopted to measure the surface morphology and anticipate the size of the QDs; X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy was used to measure the stoichiometric ratios of the QDs.     

Broadly tunable dual-wavelength light source for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

The signal and idler beams from a picosecond, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) provide the two colors necessary for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. The OPO provides a continuously tunable frequency difference between the two beams over a broad range of Raman shifts (100-3700 cm(-1)) by varying the temperature of a single nonlinear crystal. The near-infrared output (900-1300 nm) allows for deep penetration into thick samples and reduced nonlinear photodamage. Applications of this light source to in vivo cell and ex vivo tissue imaging are demonstrated.     

Cavity-enhanced optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification

A novel method for the generation of high-energy ultrashort optical pulses is described and studied theoretically and numerically. Through the combination of parametric amplification and enhancement cavities, this method opens a route to generate few-cycle pulses at unprecedented average power levels through the use of a low-energy, high average-power pump source and energy storage in the enhancement cavity. Dispersion in the enhancement cavity ceases to be a concern with the use of long pump pulses. Limitations set by the Kerr nonlinearity of the amplifier crystal are analyzed, and ways to overcome them using self-defocusing nonlinearities are discussed.     

Experimental and numerical investigation on the exergy and entransy performance of a novel plate heat exchanger

There has been increased attention on various types of plate heat exchangers because of their high efficiency and compactness. This article presents an investigation of heat transfer and fluid flow performance of a novel plate heat exchanger based on numeric studies and experimental tests. Parameters of the novel plate heat exchanger are analyzed and discussed. The thermo-hydraulic transfer performance of different plate heat exchangers is comprehensively analyzed using the exergy and entransy principle. The results indicate that the novel plate heat exchanger has better thermo-hydraulic transfer performance than the smooth plate heat exchanger. The result of this study provides a paradigm for the optimal design of plate heat exchangers.     

Influence of tetraborate anions on manganese electrodeposition in an anion-exchange membrane electrolysis reactor

The influences of tetraborate anions on manganese electrodeposition in an anion-exchange membrane electrolysis reactor were investigated. The experimental results of manganese electrodeposition indicate that a certain amount of tetraborate anions can increase cathode current efficiency and initial pH 7.0–8.0 is suitable for high cathode current efficiency. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis show the nanocrystalline structure and impact morphology of electrodeposited manganese. The purity of electrodeposited manganese is above 99.88 %. The tests of tetraborate anions on buffer capacity (β) and pH value of the electrolyte near the cathode surface confirm that tetraborate anions facilitate manganese electrodeposition. Tetraborate anions can improve concentration polarization of Mn²⁺ ions and then increase the overpotential of hydrogen evolution reaction. Therefore, ammonium tetraborate can reduce the hydrogen embrittlement, pore, and pitting negative effect on electrodeposit surface, to improve the corrosion resistance of electrodeposited manganese. After tetraborate anions being added in electrolyte, weight loss measurement indicates that the corrosion resistance of electrodeposited manganese is improved. Electrochemical measurements testify that corrosion resistance of electrodeposited manganese containing tetraborate anions in electrolyte is reflected by less negative corrosion potential and higher impedance.     

Solitary wave solution to a singularly perturbed generalized Gardner equation with nonlinear terms of any order

This paper is concerned with the existence of travelling wave solutions to a singularly perturbed generalized Gardner equation with nonlinear terms of any order. By using geometric singular perturbation theory and based on the relation between solitary wave solution and homoclinic orbits of the associated ordinary differential equations, the persistence of solitary wave solutions of this equation is proved when the perturbation parameter is sufficiently small. The numerical simulations verify our theoretical analysis.     

Gamma-rays from Mössbauer sources: a low-dose approach to cancer therapy

Summary A new approach to cancer treatment using low-energy gamma-rays is discussed. Cultures of bone marrow mononuclear cells collected from normal donors and patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia have been studied after the addition of hematin, at different concentrations, and irradiation by a M?ssbauer gamma-ray source. Growth stimulation has been observed when hematin is added to normal bone marrow cultures, while growth inhibition is observed when hematin is added to leukaemic cultures. The effect becomes then more pronounced when hematin is used in combination with M?ssbauer gamma-rays.     

Parity violation at neutron p-wave resonances of238U and232Th and related questions

Parity violation effects have been studied at 40 neutron p-wave resonances of the even-even nuclei²³⁸U and²³²Th. Of these 11 show parity violation effects larger than 2 standard deviations, making parity violation a rather common phenomenon. Parity mixing up to 10% has been found. The root-mean squared matrix elements for parity violation derived from these resonances are M=0.58 (+0.50/-0.25) meV for²³⁸U, respectively 1.39 (+0.35/-0.38) meV for²³²Th.