Multiple-beam Ramsey interference and quantum decoherence

We study the effect of photon scattering from a path of a four-beam atomic interference setup, which is based on a cesium atomic beam and two subsequent optical Ramsey pulses projecting the atoms onto a multilevel dark state. While in two-beam interference, any attempt to keep track of an interfering path reduces the fringe contrast, we demonstrate that photon scattering in a multiple-path arrangement cannot only lead to a decrease, but - under certain conditions - also to an increase of the interference contrast. The results are confirmed by a density-matrix calculation. We are aware that in all cases the “which-path” information carried away by the scattered photons leads to a loss of information that is contained in the atomic quantum state. An approach to quantify this “which-path” information using observed fringe signals is presented; it allows for an appropriate measure of quantum decoherence in multiple-path interference. Received: 27 July 2000 / Published online: 6 December 2000     

p-type porous-silicon transducer for cation detection: effect of the porosity, pore morphology, temperature and ion valency on the sensor response and generalisation of the Nernst equation

This paper shows the possibility of using oxidised porous silicon (PS) as a transducer material for ion-sensor applications. It aims to study the over-Nernstian behaviour of the porous electrodes towards the concentration of cations in contact. The dependence of the sensitivity on the porosity of the samples prepared from highly doped substrates has been studied. Maximal values of over-Nernstian sensitivities around 240 mV/pNa and ∼92 mV/pCu, corresponding to a PS-layer porosity of about 65%, obtained respectively from p⁻ and p⁺ silicon substrates, have been registered. Furthermore, the effect of the porous nanostructure morphology has been studied, by preparing PS samples from weakly doped wafers. The porous-silicon-based sensor behaviour for different PS-layer thicknesses has also been experimentally investigated. According to these results, a physical model has been proposed to explain the mechanisms which govern the charge-carrier transfer from one side to the other of the functionalised oxide layer, and leads to the over-Nernstian adsorption of the cationic species at the electrolyte/SiO₂ interface. Afterwards, the Nernst relation has been generalised accordingly, on one hand, to the previous experimental results, and on the other hand, to the results obtained about the ion-valency and the electrolyte-temperature effects on the sensor responses. Received: 15 December 2000 / Accepted: 18 December 2000 / Published online: 23 March 2001     

Theoretical and Experimental Study of Scattering of a Plane Wave by an Inhomogeneous Plasma Sphere

Scattering of electromagnetic waves by an inhomogeneous plasma sphere has been studied theoretically and experimentally. The offset angles of electromagnetic waves caused by the plasma sphere have been observed experimentally. The effects of the electromagnetic wave frequency and plasma density on the offset angle are discussed. The plasma density is estimated with the offset angle.     

Efficient use of the surface plasmon polariton resonance in light scattering from adsorbates

Efficient collection of the scattered light from adsorbates on silver in the attenuated total reflection configuration is demonstrated with a so-called Weierstrass prism. The Raman signal from carbon contamination on silver films is enhanced by two orders of magnitude with respect to the simple external backscattering configuration.     

Crystal field and microscopic spin Hamiltonians approach including spin-spin and spin-other-orbit interactions for d and d ions at low symmetry C3 symmetry sites: V in Al2O3

A new module has been developed within the CFA/MSH computer package, which is applicable for d² and d⁸ ions at sites of trigonal symmetry type I (C_3v,D₃,D_3d) and type II (C₃,C_3i), including the ‘imaginary’ CF term. For the first time the spin-spin (SS) and spin-other-orbit (SOO) interactions have also been included in the Hamiltonian. This module enables to study the contributions to the energy levels and the spin Hamiltonian parameters, i.e. zero-field splitting D and g-factors: g_∥ and g_⊥. The contributions arising from the spin-orbit (SO), SS, and SOO interaction as well as those due to the low symmetry CF effects induced by the distortion angle ?, which describes the difference between C₃ and C_3v symmetry, can be studied. As an application of the new module, calculations have been carried out for V³⁺(3d²) ions in α-Al₂O₃ crystal, taking into account for the first time the SS and SOO interactions, and the low symmetry CF effects. The results show that (i) the contributions from the SS and SOO interactions to the energy levels are larger for free V³⁺ ions than those for V³⁺ ions in α-Al₂O₃ crystal, (ii) both the contributions to the SH parameters and the energy levels arising from the SOO interaction are larger than those arising from the SS interaction, (iii) the contributions due to the low symmetry CF effects induced by the distortion angle ? are in general significant, (iv) D and g_⊥ are sensitive to the distortion angle ?, whereas g_∥ is insensitive to ?, and (v) the influence of the lattice distortions on the spectroscopic properties of V³⁺ ion in α-Al₂O₃ is pronounced. It appears important for similar ion-crystal cases to consider the lattice distortions in detailed calculations, which take into account the relevant contributions from the SO, SS and SOO interactions. A good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results has been obtained.     

Average coordination-number dependence of glass-transition temperature in Ge-In-Se chalcogenide glasses

Twenty-six glassy compositions, belonging to the Ge_xIn₆Se_94-x and Ge_xIn₁₂Se_88-x families of the Ge-In-Se system, were prepared from high purity constiment elements. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements were carried out on these glasses. The DSC thermograms were used to determine the glass transition temperatures (T _g) for the compositions examined. TheT _g-composition dependence of the Ge_xIn₆Se_94-x family shows a minimum inT _g at a value of the average coordination number, r, equal to 2.4. For both families of the glasses examined, theT _g-r dependence displays maxima at r=2.75 and r=2.83 for Ge_xIn₆Se_94-x and Ge_xIn₁₂Se_88-x families, respectively. These results are interpreted by using the Phillips model of rigidity percolation and Chemically Ordered Covalent Network (COCN) model.     

成膜溶剂对聚4-甲基戊烯-1膜的形态结构和透过行为的影响——Ⅱ.膜的气体透过行为

以聚4-甲基戊烯-1(PMP)为膜材质,分别以环己烷、三氯乙烯、四氯乙烯及环已烷/三氯乙烯为溶剂,研究了这些溶液浇铸膜对O_2、N_2、H_2及CO_2等气体的透过行为。结果表明,气体的透过主要发生在PMP的无定形区域,但也在PMP的晶区进行。PMP的Ⅵ型结晶比Ⅰ型结晶具有较低的气体透过活化能。     

Protein Separation with Flow-Through Chromatography

Proteins are isolated in the chemical process industries for a wide variety of uses. Isolation and separation are often conducted with chromatography. Conventional chromatography of proteins is often tedious and can suffer from poor efficiency and resolution. There is a well-known tradeoff between resolution and speed', Newer methods of protein chromatography seek to diminish the shortcomings of conventional methods. New methods are presently being investigated for process, preparative, and analytical applications.     

Sorption thermosiphon apparatus (STA): A novel and accurate system for gas mixtures sorption measurements

One of the main challenges in membrane gas separation is the plasticizing effect that reduces selectivity. For a better understanding of this phenomenon, the knowledge of the sorption behavior of each component of the mixture is necessary. For this purpose, the sorption thermosyphon apparatus (STA), was successfully designed and tested with gas sorption measurements. One of the main advantages of the STA compared to actual other methods is to ensure concentration uniformity at the headspace using a thermosiphon, as pressure decay is recorded. The equilibrium condition is not disturbed during the sampling and allow the obtention of accurate data at the end of the sorption experiment. To validate the novel system, the sorption, diffusion and permeation coefficients of pure CO2 and CH₄, as well as for a CO₂/CH₄ (50/50) mixture, in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were obtained through STA and other experimental techniques showing good agreement with literature data.