Resonant-induced transparency and coupled modes in layered metamaterials

We present an overview of some of our work on transmission properties and mode characteristics of layered metamaterials and their potential applications. In particular, we will show how layered metamaterials exhibit unusual transmission properties and unconventional features of guided modes, such as resonance-induced transparency in multilayer structures and slope reversal of dispersion curves in coupled waveguides. PACS 78.67.-n; 73.21.Ac; 61.46.+w; 42.25.Bs; 42.82.Et     

Necessity of aromatic carboxylate anions to be planar to induce growth of cationic micelles

It is well-known that some aromatic anions have the ability to induce viscoelastic transformation in aqueous solutions of cationic surfactants even at added salt concentrations as low as 10-20 mM. This behavior is associated with the formation of an entangled network of elongated micelles. However, the effect of aromatic ring substituents on the anion's ability to promote rapid micelle growth is not well-understood. We have performed ab initio calculations of the carbonyl group rotation barriers in a series of substituted benzoate and naphthoate anions at the MP2/STO-3G level of theory. It was found that aromatic carboxylates, known to be particularly effective in causing sphere-rod transition in cationic micelles, preferably adopt conformations with the COO(-) group in the same plane as the ring(s). This structural preference can be attributed to either intramolecular hydrogen bonding (o-hydroxyl derivatives) or pi-conjugation effects (m- and p-halogenated derivatives). In the former case the barrier to rotation is 40-50 kcal/mol, whereas in the latter case the threshold value is around 3.0 kcal/mol. Propensity for the planar conformation correlates with a greater depth of counterion penetration into the micelle surface, as inferred from NMR experiments, compared to the anions with less hindered carbonyl rotation. This points to favorable hydrophobic interactions between the surfactant methylene groups and the aromatic ring(s) of the anion as a possible explanation for the rapid growth of cationic micelles observed upon addition of certain aromatic carboxylates.     

Interaction of dextran sulfates with positively and negatively charged silver bromide hydrosols

Summary The effects of dextran sulfates of different molecular weights and charge densities on the stability of positively and negatively charged silver bromide solsin statu nascendi have been studied by means of light scattering.The plots of scattering intensities of a positively charged sol against the concentration of the added dextran sulfates show one pronounced maximum, the position which is independent on the molecular weight of the polyelectrolyte used. The maximum shifts to lower polyion concentrations with dilution of the sol.The effect of polyanions on the stability of silver bromide sols of the same sign of charge were investigated as a function of molecular weight of the polymers, the sol concentration, the charge and the concentration of counterions, and the addition of methanol. Destabilization only occurred if sufficient amount of indifferent electrolyte was present in the system. However, the concentration of counterions necessary to produce a flocculation maximum was lower in the presence of the polyelectrolytes than in their absence. The results obtained were compared with the data on sols containing nonionic dextrans reported earlier.

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Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß der Dextransulfate von verschiedenen Molekulargewichten und Ladungsdichten auf die Stabilität der positiv und negativ geladenen Silberbromid-Solein statu nascendi wurden durch Lichtstreuung untersucht. Wenn die Intensitäten der Lichtstreuung eines positiv geladenen Silberbromid-Sols gegen die Konzentration der zugesetzten DextranSulfate aufgetragen werden, tritt ein ausgeprägtes Maximum auf, dessen Lage von dem Molekulargewicht des angewandten Polyelektrolyten unabhängig ist. Bei Verdünnung des Sols wird das Maximum zur niedrigeren Konzentration des Polyanions verschoben.Der Einfluß der Polyanionen auf die Stabilität der Silberbromid-Sole mit gleichem Ladungsvorzeichen wurde in Abhängigkeit von dem Molekulargewicht des zugesetzten Dextransulfats, der Solkonzentration, der Ladung und Konzentration der Gegenionen und dem Zusatz von Methylalkohol untersucht. Destabilisierung wird nur in Anwesenheit einer genügenden Menge von Neutralelektrolyten in den untersuchten Systemen beobachtet. Die Konzentration der Gegenionen, die ein Flockungsmaximum verursachen, ist immer niedriger als die kritische Koagulationsmenge derselben Ionen für das gleiche Sol in Abwesenheit von Makroionen. Die Resultate wurden mit den Wechselwirkungen der Silberbromid-Sole mit nichtionogenen Dextranen verglichen, und der Mechanismus der Flockung durch Polyelektrolyte wurde diskutiert.

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5 figures and 1 table

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Supported by the NSF Grant GP 42331 X.

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A part of the Ph.D. Thesis by David Lindsay.     

The separation of hypericin's enantiomers and their photophysics in chiral environments

We report the first separation of the enantiomers of hypericin. Their steady-state optical spectra and ultrafast primary photoprocesses are investigated in chiral environments. Within experimental error, there is no difference between the two enantiomers in any of the systems considered. This is consistent with the emerging picture that the rich and extended absorption spectrum of hypericin is not a result of ground-state heterogeneity. It is also consistent with the observation that the spectra and photophysics of hypericin are generally insensitive to environments in which it does not aggregate.