Domino mechanisms in photoinduced phase transitions

Photoinduced structural phase transitions via excited electronic states are discussed theoretically using a one-dimensional model composed of localized electrons and lattices under the adiabatic or diabatic approximation. We show that the global structural change by photoexcitation only at a site is possible, and we clarify conditions for the occurrence of such phenomena. Spatiotemporal dynamics of nonequilibrium first-order phase transitions is also investigated in detail in terms of photoinduced nucleations and domino processes of the domain boundaries (domain walls), which are in striking contrast to the mean-field dynamics. In the adiabatic regime, after the spontaneous emission of a photon, an initial local structural change (i) remains locally, (ii) induces cooperatively a global structural change, or (iii) disappears and returns to the initial phase. Dynamical features of the case (ii) are characterized by the deterministic (semichaotic) domino process; domain walls between the two phases move determinis-tically at a constant velocity (with changing speed) without further spontaneous emissions in the case of strong (weak) dissipation. In the diabatic regime, similar three types of structural change exist. The domain-wall dynamics is described as the stochastic domino process, which is accompanied by the successive radiative transitions. A new theoretical treatment is also proposed to study crossover between the adiabatic and diabatic regimes.     

Real Time Development of Structure in Partially Molten State Stretching of Polypropylene as Detected by Spectral Birefringence Technique: Effect of Isotacticity

The uniaxial deformation behavior of three polypropylene films with isotacticity indices varying from 43 to 95 was investigated in the partially molten state using real time, true stress, true strain, and birefringence measurement system. These polymers generally exhibit three regime stress‐birefringence behaviors during stretching. The unmelted crystalline regions act as physical junctions. If the films contain crystallinity that is too low (less than ca. 10%) the Regime I disappears. Under these conditions, the films were found to exhibit large linearity in strain and stress optical behavior. If, however, too low a deformation rate is employed, these relationships become non‐linear.

The increase of isotacticity increases the magnitude of the birefringence at all deformation levels primarily as a result of the increase in crystallinity that helps in establishing a long‐range physical network. This increase in the long‐range connectivity was found to promote not only the orientation in crystalline domains but also in the amorphous domains. The increased long‐range connectivity in high isotacticity films was also found to result in destruction of local initial structures that generate a large fraction of the oriented amorphous chain regions. This translates into larger stress decrease and birefringence increase changes during the holding stage where the oriented amorphous chains undergo complex relaxation/oriented crystallization processes.     

Investigation on birefringence property in uniaxial crystal (Ca0.28Ba0.72)0.75(Sr0.60Ba0.40)Nb2O6

The birefringence of (Ca_0.28Ba_0.72)_0.75(Sr_0.60Ba_0.40)Nb₂O₆ crystal is measured basing on polarization‐ extinction method and conoscopic interference method. Experimental results show that the birefringence in this crystal is up to 10^‐5, the natural birefringence in this crystal is (n_o ‐n_e) = 5.89 x 10^‐5 with the He‐Ne laser wavelength at 632.8nm and the birefringence grads with wavelength at 532nm is 5.68 x 10^‐5, which indicate the good optical homogeneity of this crystal. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effects of distributed birefringence on fiber Bragg grating under non-uniform transverse load

Many theoretical and experimental studies have been developed to characterize the spectral response of an optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in axial strain fields in recent years. However, comparatively few works were devoted to the evolution of the spectrum when a FBG is subjected to non-uniform transverse load. In this paper, the effects of distributed birefringence on FBG under non-uniform transverse load are analyzed and a numerical simulation based on the piecewise-uniform approach is also discussed to simulate the responses of FBG under some typical non-uniform transverse strain fields. Experiment was carried out using different loads applied at different locations of the FBG. Good agreements between experimental results and numerical simulations have been obtained.     

Soliton Propagation in Birefringent Fibers

In this article, the propagation of solitons in a single mode fiber with polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is analyzed. In optical fibers, the randomly varying birefringence degrades soliton transmission system in two aspects. First, the dispersive waves cause pulse broadening. Second, the dispersive waves interact with other soliton pulses. Here we studied the effects of PMD on a single pulse and the variation of pulse broadening, energy decay, and degree of polarization on a single soliton pulse propagating over a very long distance.     

Frequency-domain birefringence measurement of biological binding to magnetic nanoparticles

Optical detection of the frequency-dependent magnetic relaxation signal is used to monitor the binding of biological molecules to magnetic nanoparticles in a ferrofluid. Biological binding reactions cause changes in the magnetic relaxation signal due to an increase in the average hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoparticles. To allow the relaxation signal to be detected in dilute ferrofluids, measurements are made using a balanced photodetector, resulting in a 25 μV/√Hz noise floor, within 50% of the theoretical limit imposed by photon shot noise. Measurements of a ferrofluid composed of magnetite nanoparticles coated with anti-IgG antibodies show that the average hydrodynamic diameter increases from 115.2 to 125.4 nm after reaction with IgG.     

超声双折射法测试铝合金的内部应力

声各向同性的金属材料在应力作用下表现出声各向异性,这是用声弹性法分析材料内部应力的基础。本文用偏振方向平行或垂直于应力方向的超声纯横波对LY11型铝合金进行测试。实验结果表明:材料在拉、压单轴应力作用下,偏振方向平行和垂直于应力方向的超声纯横波的声速都发生了变化。实验在分析材料声各向异性的基础上计算材料声弹性双折射系数,得到测试LY11型铝合金内部应力的理论公式,并对其内部的残余应力进行评估。实验中利用双换能器回振法测量声速,时间测试精确度可达10^-11s,可精确测量声速的微小变化量。     

Photoinduced Birefringence in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Polymeric Thin Films Doped with Di-Azo Sudan G

Photoinduced birefringence in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polymeric thin films doped with di-azo Sudan G was investigated. A pump-probe method was used to study the dynamic behavior of the birefringence. The mechanism for the inducement of birefringence is discussed in terms of the photoisomerization of the di-azo Sudan G molecules. The results showed that the dynamic evolution of the photoinduced birefringence was such that the average birefringence increased, saturated, and then decreased with respect to the laser pump intensity. Also, an exponential-like relationship was observed between both the saturation and the isotropic states of the averaged transmitted probe beam (expressing the residual anisotropy) and the birefringence on one hand, and the intensity amplitudes of the pumping powers on the other hand.     

Synthesis,self-assembly and photo-responsive behavior of AB2 shaped amphiphilic azo block copolymer

In this work, we report the synthesis of AB2 shaped amphiphilic azo block copolymer by macromolecular azo coupling reaction. The product and intermediates were characterized by various methods. The selfassembly in selected solvents and photo-responsive behavior of the copolymer were studied by means of UV–vis spectrophotometry and TEM. Spherical aggregates can be obtained by gradually adding water into the solution of this amphiphilic azo block copolymer. Upon irradiation with polarized UV(365 nm)light, the aggregates can be elongated in the polarized direction.     

Lone-Pair Enhanced Birefringence in an Alkaline-Earth Metal Tin(II) Phosphate BaSn2(PO4)2

The first alkaline-earth metal tin(II) phosphate, BaSn₂(PO₄)₂, has been discovered, which consists of layered structures constructed from strictly alternating [SnO₃]⁴⁻ and [PO₄]³⁻ moieties. This compound is expected to have a large birefringence with Δn≈0.071 at 1064 nm, owing to the presence of stereochemically active lone pair metal cations.