Creation of "quantum platelets" via strain-controlled self-organization at steps

We demonstrate, by both theory and experiment, the strain-induced self-organized formation of "quantum platelets," monolayer-thick islands of finite dimensions. They form at the early stage of heteroepitaxial growth on a substrate with regularly spaced steps, and align along the steps. In the direction perpendicular to substrate steps, the island position and spacing can be preselected through substrate miscut. Along the steps, the island size and density are controlled by self-organized growth.     

Inclusiveπ° production in 360 GeVpp interactions using the european hybrid spectrometer

The intermediate and forward gamma detectors of EHS are used to reconstructπ°'s produced by 360 GeV/cpp interactions in the Rapid Cycling Bubble Chamber (RCBC). Using thepp forwardbackward symmetry, the inclusiveπ° production cross section is obtainedσ _π°=(132±11) mb. The averageπ° multiplicity is determined as a function of the charged particle multiplicity. The (1?x) dependence is given for differentp _T regions.     

Alkanethiols on platinum: multicomponent self-assembled monolayers

We have studied the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-alkanethiols on platinum thin films using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and contact angle (CA) measurements. Specifically, SAMs of 1-hexanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol, and 1-octadecanethiol were grown on polycrystalline Pt films, and the effects of Pt surface preparation, deposition conditions, and solvent treatments on the initial quality and stability of the monolayer in air were investigated. The SAMs prepared under ambient conditions on piranha-cleaned and UV/ozone-cleaned substrates were compared to monolayers formed on template-stripped Pt in an inert atmosphere. We found that alkanethiols deposited from 1 mM ethanolic solutions on piranha-cleaned Pt formed densely packed monolayers in which alkyl chains were oriented close to the surface normal. Stored in the laboratory ambient, these monolayers were unchanged over about 1 week but were largely oxidized in about 1 month. No evidence was found of molecules being weakly bound within the monolayer or having undergone C-S bond scission; however, three distinct sulfur states were observed for all samples in the XPS of the S 2p region. The lowest- and highest-binding-energy components are assigned to alkylthiolate and partially oxidized alkylthiolate species, respectively. The remaining S 2p component (approximately one-third of the sulfur layer), intermediate in binding energy between the other two components, is attributed to a chemisorbed species with a S binding configuration distinct from the majority alkylthiolate: for example, S bound to Pt bound to O, S with a different Pt coordination number, or S in an adsorbed disulfide.     

Base-dependent competitive adsorption of single-stranded DNA on gold

We characterize the room-temperature adsorption of single-stranded DNA homo-oligonucleotides from solution onto polycrystalline Au films, including competitive adsorption between all possible pairs of unmodified oligomers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy analysis of the resulting films shows that oligonucleotides adsorb with a strongly base-dependent affinity, adenine (A) > cytosine (C) >/= guanine (G) > thymine (T). In competitive adsorption experiments on Au, oligo(dA) strongly dominates over the other oligonucleotides. The relative adsorption affinity of oligo(dA) is so great that it competes effectively against adsorption of thiolated oligomers and even causes hybridized oligo(dA).oligo(dT) duplexes to denature in the presence of Au.     

Duality, triality and complementary extremum principles in non-convex parametric variational problems with applications

This paper presents a reasonably complete duality theory anda nonlinear dual transformation method for solving the fullynonlinear, non-convex parametric variational problem inf{W(u- µ) - F(u)}, and associated nonlinear boundary valueproblems, where is a nonlinear operator, W is either convexor concave functional of p = u, and µ is a given parameter.Detailed mathematical proofs are provided for the complementaryextremum principles proposed recently in finite deformationtheory. A method for obtaining truly dual variational principles(without a dual gap and involving the dual variable p* of uonly) in n-dimensional problems is proposed. It is proved thatfor convex W(p), the critical point of the associated LagrangianL_µ(u, p*) is a saddle point if and only if the so-calledcomplementary gap function is positive. In this case, the systemhas only one dual problem. However, if this gap function isnegative, the critical point of the Lagrangian is a so-calledsuper-critical point, which is equivalent to the Auchmuty'sanomalous critical point in geometrically linear systems. Wediscover that, in this case, the system may have more than oneprimal-dual set of problems. The critical point of the Lagrangianeither minimizes or maximizes both primal and dual problems.An interesting triality theorem in non-convex systems is proved,which contains a minimax complementary principle and a pairof minimum and maximum complementary principles. Applicationsin finite deformation theory are illustrated. An open problemleft by Hellinger and Reissner is solved completely and a purecomplementary energy principle is constructed. It is provedthat the dual Euler-Lagrange equation is an algebraic equation,and hence, a general analytic solution for non-convex variational-boundaryvalue problems is obtained. The connection between nonlineardifferential equations and algebraic geometry is revealed.     

Quantitative characterization of DNA films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

We describe the use of self-assembled films of thiolated (dT)25 single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) on gold as a model system for quantitative characterization of DNA films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We evaluate the applicability of a uniform and homogeneous overlayer-substrate model for data analysis, examine model parameters used to describe DNA films (e.g., density and electron attenuation length), and validate the results. The model is used to obtain quantitative composition and coverage information as a function of immobilization time. We find that when the electron attenuation effects are properly included in the XPS data analysis, excellent agreement is obtained with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements for relative values of the DNA coverage, and the calculated absolute coverage is consistent with a previous radiolabeling study. Based on the effectiveness of the analysis procedure for model (dT)25 ssDNA films, it should be generally valid for direct quantitative comparison of DNA films prepared under widely varying conditions.     

Modeling futures price dynamics on the RTS and MICEX indices

Reasons for the substantial differences of historical and theoretical futures prices on RTS and MICEX indices are investigated. A model is proposed that considers the observed differences for the modeling of futures prices within the risk assessment of a portfolio of derivatives using the Monte Carlo method.     

Photoluminescence of the nanosized xerogel Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in pores of anodic alumina

The photoluminescence properties of a composite material prepared by the introduction of the nanosized phosphor Zn₂SiO₄:Mn²⁺ into porous anodic alumina have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy studies have revealed that Zn₂SiO₄:Mn²⁺ particles are uniformly distributed in 70% of the volume of the pore channels. The samples exhibit an intense luminescence in the range of 2.3–3.0 eV, which corresponds to the emission of different types of F centers in alumina. After the formation of Zn₂SiO₄:Mn²⁺ nanoparticles in the pores, an intense photoluminescence band is observed at 2.4 eV due to the ⁴T₁–⁶A₁ electronic transition within the 3d shell of the Mn²⁺ activator ion. It has been found that the maximum of the photoluminescence of Zn₂SiO₄:Mn²⁺ xerogel nanoparticles located in the porous matrix is shifted to higher energies, and the luminescence decay time decreases significantly.     

Nucleobase orientation and ordering in films of single-stranded DNA on gold

We demonstrate how the orientation and ordering of DNA bases in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and ambient environments can be determined using complementary spectroscopic methods. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) with fluorescence detection, X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies are used to quantify the coverage, chemical composition, orientation, and ordering of thymine bases in model self-assembled monolayers of thymine homo-oligonucleotides [oligo(dT)] on gold. We find that, in monolayers of thiol-modified oligo(dT), thymine bases tend to orient parallel to the Au substrate, and this preferential orientation is significantly more pronounced in monolayers of thiolated 5-mers compared to 25-mers. We interpret this preferential orientation as a signature of significant correlations (local ordering) between individual nuleobases, which offers a way to quantify and compare nucleobase interactions in films under both ambient and UHV conditions.     

Electronic states in magnetic nanostructures

The electronic states responsible for oscillatory magnetic coupling, giant magnetoresistance (GMR), and spin-polarized tunneling are explored. They occupy well-defined locations in (E, k) space. Their energy E has to be within a few kT of the Fermi level, a range that is now becoming accessible to high-resolution photoemission. Particular attention is paid to k-regions near the Fermi level crossings of the s, p-band, where a sizable group velocity is combined with a d-like magnetic splitting and spin-polarization. These electronic states can be tailored by quantization in structures with single-digit nanometer dimensions, such as two-dimensional quantum wells and one-dimensional arrays of stripes and dots. Such arrays can be produced by self-assembly on top of stepped silicon surfaces.