Projector formalism of generalized Brownian motion theory applied to dissipative and noisy systems

The projector formalism of Zwanzig-Mori type is extended to obtain generalized Fokker-Planck and generalized nonlinear Langevin equations for coarse-grained variables when the underlying microscopic dynamics is dissipative and noisy (stochastic).     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) with 2(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)phenol(5-NO(2).PAPS) and tartaric acid with 5-NO(2).PAPS-niobium(V) complex

Spectrophotometric determinations of palladium(II) and tartaric acid were respectively investigated by using the color reactions between 2(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)phenol(5-NO₂.PAPS) and palladium(II) in strong acidic media, and between 5-NO₂.PAPS, niobium(V) tartaric acid in weak acidic media. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0–25 μg/10 ml palladium(II), with an apparent molecular coefficient () of 6.2×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 612 nm, and 0–23 μg/10 ml tartaric acid with =1.08×10⁶ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 612 nm, respectively. The proposed methods were selective and sensitive in comparison with other chelating pyridylazo dyes–palladium(II) or metavanadic acid–tartaric acid method, and the effect of foreign ions such as copper(II) was negligible for the assay of palladium(II) with 5-NO₂.PAPS.     

Output and picosecond amplification characteristics of an efficient and high-power discharge excimer laser

Improvements in output pulse energy and efficiency of a conventional capacitor-transfer-type discharge excimer laser with automatic preionization have been achieved by extending the discharge volume and resulting moderate pumping of the active medium. The discharge laser produces a pulse energy of more than 1 J for XeCl, KrF, and ArF lasers in square beams of about 2×2 cm², and the maximum overall efficiency observed is 2.9% for XeCl, 3.2% for KrF and 1.8% for ArF. The laser device has been involved in a picosecond ( 32 ps) XeCl laser amplification system, and was operated as an amplifier at a repetitive frequency of 10 Hz. Saturation fluence for XeCl laser was measured to be 1.4 mJ/cm², and the picosecond pulse energy of 40 mJ was extracted from the amplifier.On leave from Ebara Corp., 6-6-7, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104, JapanOn leave from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD., 4-6-22, Kan-on shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima 733, Japan     

Pressure calculation in hybrid particle-field simulations

In the framework of a recently developed scheme for a hybrid particle-field simulation techniques where self-consistent field (SCF) theory and particle models (molecular dynamics) are combined [J. Chem. Phys. 130, 214106 (2009)], we developed a general formulation for the calculation of instantaneous pressure and stress tensor. The expressions have been derived from statistical mechanical definition of the pressure starting from the expression for the free energy functional in the SCF theory. An implementation of the derived formulation suitable for hybrid particle-field molecular dynamics-self-consistent field simulations is described. A series of test simulations on model systems are reported comparing the calculated pressure with those obtained from standard molecular dynamics simulations based on pair potentials.     

Why does shear banding behave like first-order phase transitions? Derivation of a potential from a mechanical constitutive model

Numerous numerical and experimental evidence suggest that shear banding behavior looks like first-order phase transitions. In this paper, we demonstrate that this correspondence is actually established in the so-called non-local diffusive Johnson-Segalman model (the DJS model), a typical mechanical constitutive model that has been widely used for describing shear banding phenomena. In the neighborhood of the critical point, we apply the reduction procedure based on the center manifold theory to the governing equations of the DJS model. As a result, we obtain a time evolution equation of the flow field that is equivalent to the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations for modeling thermodynamic first-order phase transitions. This result, for the first time, provides a mathematical proof that there is an analogy between the mechanical instability and thermodynamic phase transition at least in the vicinity of the critical point of the shear banding of DJS model. Within this framework, we can clearly distinguish the metastable branch in the stress-strain rate curve around the shear banding region from the globally stable branch. A simple extension of this analysis to a class of more general constitutive models is also discussed. Numerical simulations for the original DJS model and the reduced TDGL equation is performed to confirm the range of validity of our reduction theory.     

Application of a new microcantilever biosensor resonating at the air-liquid interface for direct insulin detection and continuous monitoring of enzymatic reactions

Here we describe the application of a recently developed high-resolution microcantilever biosensor resonating at the air-liquid interface for the continuous detection of antigen-antibody and enzyme-substrate interactions. The cantilever at the air-liquid interface demonstrated 50% higher quality factor and a 5.7-fold increase in signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) compared with one immersed in the purified water. First, a label-free detection of a low molecular weight protein (insulin, 5.8 kDa) in physiological concentration was demonstrated. The liquid facing side of the cantilever was functionalized by coating its surface with insulin antibodies, while the opposite side was exposed to air. The meniscus membrane at the micro-slit around the cantilever sustained the liquid in the microchannel. After optimizing the process of surface functionalization, the resonance frequency shift was successfully measured for insulin solutions of 0.4, 2.0, and 6.3 ng ml(-1). To demonstrate additional application of the device for monitoring enzymatic protein degradation, the liquid facing microcantilever surface was coated with human recombinant SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) and exposed to various concentrations of proteinase K solution, and the kinetics of the SOD1 digestion was continuously monitored. The results showed that it is a suitable tool for sensitive protein detection and analysis.     

Compact three-port optical two-dimensional photonic crystal-based circulator of W-format

A three-port optical circulator of W-format based on 2D photonic crystal is presented. This circulator is more compact as compared to the known one of the traditional Y-format. The W-circulator does not have rotational symmetry. As a consequence, the frequency responses for different port excitation are slightly different, as it is shown by symmetry analysis and by numerical simulations.     

Particle Monte Carlo simulation of string-like colloidal assembly in two and three dimensions

We simulate structural phase behavior of polymer-grafted colloidal particles by molecular Monte Carlo technique. The interparticle potential, which has a finite repulsive square-step outside a rigid core of the colloid, was previously confirmed via numerical self-consistent field calculation. This model potential is purely repulsive. We simulate these model colloids in the canonical ensemble in two and three dimensions and find that these particles containing no interparticle attraction self-assemble and align in a string-like assembly, at low temperature and high density. This string-like colloidal assembly is related to percolation phenomena. Analyzing the cluster size distribution and the average string length, we build phase diagrams and discover that the average string length diverges around the region where the melting transition line and the percolation transition line cross. This result is similar to Ising spin systems, in which the percolation transition line and the order-disorder line meet at a critical point.     

Silicon-based integrated interferometer with phase modulation driven by surface acoustic waves

As a novel application of silicon-based integrated optics, results from a proposed compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer are presented. The deposition of a ZnO thin-film transducer upon the reference arm of the interferometer transforms this optically passive device into a device with active sinusoidal phase modulation.