Effect of Pb2+ ions on the photoluminescence characteristics of Mn2+-doped Zn2SiO4

Zn₂SiO₄ single-doped and co-doped with Mn²⁺ ions and Pb²⁺ ions has been prepared by a sol–gel process. The luminescent properties of the samples have been investigated. From the excitation and emission spectral analysis, it was found that the emission peaks vary with the change of the excitation wavelength. An enhanced luminescent characteristic of Mn²⁺ ions (in blue and green spectral zones) has been observed, due to the energy transfer from the Pb²⁺ ion to the Mn²⁺ ion. The emission peaks originate from the d–d transitions of the Mn²⁺ ion. However, the relative intensities of the peaks show a dependence on the concentration of the Pb²⁺ ion. PACS 81.05.Je; 78.55.Hx; 61.72.Ww     

New enantiomeric polylactide-block-poly(butylene succinate)-block-polylactides: syntheses, characterization and in situ self-assembly

In situ self-assemblies of new biodegradable triblock PLLA-b-PBS-b-PLLA and PDLA-b-PBS-b-PDLA have been investigated in acetonitrile solution. At first, two series of PLLA-b-PBS-b-PLLA and PDLA-b-PBS-b-PDLA, respectively denoted as the P and Q triblock copolyester series, were prepared with fixed PBS block ((overline) M(n,NMR) = 6.9 kDa) and diverse enantiomeric PLLA/PDLA blocks. Further, their chemical structures and thermal properties were characterized by means of titration, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), polarimeter, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and thermal analytical instruments. When mixing the synthesized enantiomeric copolyester pairs denoted as P(1)/Q(1) - P(8)/Q(8) in acetonitrile solution at 60 degrees C, in situ self-assemblies were found to happen for the P(4)/Q(4) to P(8)/Q(8) pairs, bearing longer enantiomeric PLA block lengths. DSC and WAXD analysis of the self-assembled microparticles demonstrated that PLLA/PDLA racemic crystals were formed for the P(5)/Q(5) - P(8)/Q(8) systems, as evidenced by their melting points over 200 degrees C, and a new X-ray diffraction peak detected at 2theta = 11.8 degrees . Moreover, morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the formation of disk- or platelet-like microparticles. It was noted that the diameters of the microparticles self-assembled in situ decreased from 1.28-1.50 mum down to 480-660 nm, through tailoring the enantiomeric PLA block length. Other factors, such as a central PBS block, the enantiomeric block length and the preparation conditions were suggested to play important roles in the in situ self-assembly of these enantiomeric triblock copolyesters. These results provide a facile way to self-assemble hydrophobic, biodegradable microparticles, through tuning the important van der Waals stereocomplexation interactions between two enantiomeric blocks in solution.     

Experimental observation of classical subwavelength interference with a pseudothermal light source

We report the experimental observation of classical subwavelength double slit interference with a pseudothermal light source. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical simulation using the second order correlation function for the thermal light.     

Re-radiation of acoustic waves from the A0 wave on a submerged elastic shell

We consider evacuated thin semi-infinite shells immersed in a fluid, which may be either of cylindrical shape with a hemispherical shell endcap, or formed two-dimensionally by semi-infinite parallel plates joined together by a semi-cylinder. The connected shell portions are joined in a manner to satisfy continuity but with a discontinuous radius of curvature. Acoustic waves are considered incident along the axis of symmetry (say the z axis) onto the curved portion of the shell, where they, at the critical angle of coincidence, generate Lamb and Stoneley-type waves in the shell. Computations were carried out using a code developed by Cao et al. [Chinese J. Acoust. 14, 317 (1995)] and was used in order to computationally visualize the waves in the fluid that have been re-radiated by the shell waves a the critical angle. The frequency range was below that of the lowest Lamb wave, and only the A0 wave (and partly the S0 wave) was observed to re-radiate into the fluid under our assumptions. The results will be compared to experimental results in which the re-radiated waves are optically visualized by the Schardin-Cranz schlieren method.     

Performance analysis of very-small-aperture lasers

The fabrication of very-small-aperture lasers is demonstrated, and their performance is analyzed. Because of strong optical feedback caused by a gold film on the front facet of the laser, its behavior changes: The threshold current decreases, the density of light inside the laser diode and the redshift effect of the spectra are enhanced, and the laser diode's lifetime is shorter than that of common laser diodes with large driving current.     

Negative differential conductance and hot phonons in suspended nanotube molecular wires

Freely suspended metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibit reduced current carrying ability compared to those lying on substrates, and striking negative differential conductance at low electric fields. Theoretical analysis reveals significant self-heating effects including electron scattering by hot nonequilibrium optical phonons. Electron transport characteristics under strong self-heating are exploited for the first time to probe the thermal conductivity of individual SWNTs (approximately 3600 W m-1 K-1 at T=300 K) up to approximately 700 K, and reveal a 1/T dependence expected for umklapp phonon scattering at high temperatures.     

Quantum-classical correspondence in response theory

The correspondence principle between the quantum commutator [A, B] and the classical Poisson brackets iota h{A, B} is examined in the context of response theory. The classical response function is obtained as the leading term of the expansion of the phase space representation of the response function in terms of Weyl-Wigner transformations and is shown to increase without bound at long times as a result of ignoring divergent higher-order contributions. Systematical inclusion of higher-order contributions improves the accuracy of the h expansion at finite times. Resummation of all the higher-order terms establishes the classical-quantum correspondence <--> alpha n e iota n omega t|Jv + nh/2. The time interval of the validity of the simple classical limit [A(t), B(0)] --> iota h{A(t), B(0)} is estimated for quasiperiodic dynamics and is shown to be inversely proportional to anharmonicity.     

Absorption-induced confinement of lasing modes in diffusive random media

We present a numerical study of lasing modes in diffusive random media with local pumping. The reabsorption of emitted light suppresses the feedback from the unpumped part of the sample and effectively reduces the system size. The lasing modes are dramatically different from the quasi modes of the passive system (without gain or absorption). Even if all the quasi modes of a passive diffusive system are extended across the entire sample, the lasing modes are still confined in the pumped volume with an exponential tail outside it. The reduction of effective system volume by absorption broadens the distribution of decay rates of quasi modes and facilitates the occurrence of discrete lasing peaks.     

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective ring opening of oxabicyclic alkenes with organozinc halides

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric ring opening of oxabenzonorbornadienes with readily available organozinc halides under mild conditions in the presence of (S)-Pr(i)-PHOX produces the corresponding 1,2-dihydronaphth-1-ols in good yield and high enantioselectivity. [reaction: see text]