30 GHz bandwidth, 1.55 μm MQW-DFB laser diode based on a newmodulation scheme

The authors present a new concept of modulation for a 1.55 μm DFB MQW laser diode allowing generation of millimetre waves. The method consists in modulating the saturable absorber of a two-section laser. The improvements brought by the new concept are evaluated theoretically and have been verified experimentally for the first time. In particular, a 30 GHz cutoff frequency has been measured     

Chain mechanisms for the dehydro-bromination of ring-substituted α-bromoacetophenones in alcohols

Ring substituted α-bromoacetophenones undergo efficient photodecomposition upon ultraviolet irradiation in alcohol solvents. The process involves chain reactions mediated by the ketyl radicals derived by hydrogen abstraction from the alcohols. It is suggested that two chain reactions involving hydrogen and electron transfer may be taking place concurrently. Competitive studies lead to relative rate constants for the reactions of ketyl radicals with ring-substituted α-bromoacetophenones.     

Monolithic photoreceiver integrating GaInAs PIN/JFET with diffused junctions

A new integrated PIN/JFET using an original three-layer GalnAs structure has been developed in order to optimise both devices separately. Thanks to the good performances and high reliability of individual components, the sensitivity of such monolithic photoreceivers is ? 33.7 dBm for a 10?9 bit error rate at 140 Mbit/s.     

Nano-structuration of CoO film by misfit dislocations

We have studied the nano-patterning of CoO film induced by misfit dislocation network at the interface with the Ag(0 0 1) substrate. Grazing incidence diffraction (GIXD), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) have been used to characterize chemistry and structure of the CoO layers. The XPS spectrum of the Co 2p core level permitted to establish the stoichiometric growth of CoO. The structure of the CoO film together with the absorption sites of cobalt and oxygen atoms was determined, thanks to GIXD measurements. Moreover we have followed the evolution of the in-plane lattice constant of the CoO as a function of the film thickness. It turns out that the CoO film growth starts with the same in-plane lattice constant of the Ag(0 0 1) substrate up to 3-4 ML; afterwards the in-plane parameter of CoO steadily increases before reaching a stable value of 2.98 Å at 23 ML. During the relaxation process, at about 8 ML of film thickness, we observe the formation of a buried misfit dislocation network. These dislocations, that have a period of 9.2 nm for a film thickness of 23 ML, induce mosaicity in the CoO film which then appears as a regular distribution of tilted domains.     

Update on ignition studies at CEA

This article sums up the theoretical and experimental studies about ignition. Three experiments are salient this year on the Omega laser in collaboration with DOE laboratories (1) 3 cones of beams allow to mimic the LMJ configuration and to get symmetry measurements. (2) We measured perturbations due to hydro-instability in CHGe planar samples with face-on and side-on radiographs. (3) We improved our nuclear diagnostics, particularly the neutron image system tested on direct drive implosions. As far as LMJ target design is concerned, we defined a preliminary domain corresponding to the possible operation at 2ω. At 3ω we studied the low mode instability effects on the DT deformation (due to the laser or to the target) and on the yield. The stability is clearly improved with graded doped CH for our nominal capsule L1215.     

Solid-state synthesis of monazite-type compounds containing tetravalent elements

On the basis of optimized grinding/heating cycles developed for several phosphate-based ceramics, the preparation of brabantite and then monazite/brabantite solid solutions loaded with tetravalent thorium, uranium, and cerium (as a plutonium surrogate) was examined versus the heating temperature. The chemical reactions and transformations occurring when heating the initial mixtures of AnO2/CeO2, CaHPO(4).2H2O (or CaO), and NH4H2PO4 were identified through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis experiments. The incorporation of thorium, which presents only one stabilized oxidation state, occurs at 1100 degrees C. At this temperature, all the thorium-brabantite samples appear to be pure and single phase as suggested by XRD, electron probe microanalyses, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. By the same method, tetravalent uranium can be also stabilized in uranium-brabantite, i.e., Ca0.5U0.5PO4, after heating at 1200 degrees C. Both brabantites, Ca0.5Th0.5PO4 and Ca0.5U0.5PO4, begin to decompose when increasing the temperature to 1400 and 1300 degrees C, respectively, leading to a mixture of CaO and AnO2 by the volatilization of P4O10. In contrast to the cases of thorium and uranium, cerium(IV) is not stabilized during the heating treatment at high temperature. Indeed, the formation of Ca0.5Ce0.5PO4 appears impossible, due to the partial reduction of cerium(IV) into cerium(III) above 840 degrees C. Consequently, the systems always appear polyphase, with compositions of CeIII1-2xCeIVxCaxPO4 and Ca2P2O7. The same conclusion can be also given when discussing the incorporation of cerium(IV) into La1-2xCeIIIx-yCeIVyCay(PO4)1-x+y. This incomplete incorporation of cerium(IV) confirms the results obtained when trying to stabilize tetravalent plutonium in Ca0.5PuIV0.5PO4 samples.     

Integrated multiscale modeling of the nervous system: predicting changes in hippocampal network activity by a positive AMPA receptor modulator

One of the fundamental characteristics of the brain is its hierarchical organization. Scales in both space and time that must be considered when integrating across hierarchies of the nervous system are sufficiently great as to have impeded the development of routine multilevel modeling methodologies. Complex molecular interactions at the level of receptors and channels regulate activity at the level of neurons; interactions between multiple populations of neurons ultimately give rise to complex neural systems function and behavior. This spatial complexity takes place in the context of a composite temporal integration of multiple, different events unfolding at the millisecond, second, minute, hour, and longer time scales. In this study, we present a multiscale modeling methodology that integrates synaptic models into single neuron, and multineuron, network models. We have applied this approach to the specific problem of how changes at the level of kinetic parameters of a receptor-channel model are translated into changes in the temporal firing pattern of a single neuron, and ultimately, changes in the spatiotemporal activity of a network of neurons. These results demonstrate how this powerful methodology can be applied to understand the effects of a given local process within multiple hierarchical levels of the nervous system.     

p-Xylene-selective metal-organic frameworks: a case of topology-directed selectivity

Para-disubstituted alkylaromatics such as p-xylene are preferentially adsorbed from an isomer mixture on three isostructural metal-organic frameworks: MIL-125(Ti) ([Ti(8)O(8)(OH)(4)(BDC)(6)]), MIL-125(Ti)-NH(2) ([Ti(8)O(8)(OH)(4)(BDC-NH(2))(6)]), and CAU-1(Al)-NH(2) ([Al(8)(OH)(4)(OCH(3))(8)(BDC-NH(2))(6)]) (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate). Their unique structure contains octahedral cages, which can separate molecules on the basis of differences in packing and interaction with the pore walls, as well as smaller tetrahedral cages, which are capable of separating molecules by molecular sieving. These experimental data are in line with predictions by molecular simulations. Additional adsorption and microcalorimetric experiments provide insight in the complementary role of the two cage types in providing the para selectivity.     

A radical procedure for the anti-Markovnikov hydroazidation of alkenes

A one-pot procedure for the efficient hydroazidation of alkenes involving hydroboration with catecholborane followed by reaction with benzenesulfonyl azide in the presence of a radical initiator is described. The regioselectivity is controlled by the hydroboration step and corresponds in most cases to an anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity. This procedure is applicable to a wide range of alkenes and gives excellent results with 1,2-disubstituted and trisubstituted alkenes.