Optical absorption bistability in quasi-one-dimensional peierls semiconductors

The optical absorption coefficient γ of a thin film of a Peierls semiconductor has been calculated in the dipole approximation for direct interband transitions as a function of intensity I and central frequency ω₀ of a quasi-monochromatic frequency spectrum near the lower optical transition edge. It is shown that the γ(I, ω₀) dependence is strongly nonlinear, and within a certain region of I and ω₀ variation, not single-valued, which indicates the onset of resonator-free optical bistability with increasing absorption.     

The Loewner Equation: Maps and Shapes

An approach called Schramm–Loewner evolution (SLE) provides a new method for dealing with a wide variety of scale-invariant problems in two dimensions. This approach is based upon an older method called Loewner Evolution (LE), which connects analytic and geometrical constructions in the complex plane. In this paper, the bases of LE and SLE are described and some simple applications are discussed in relatively non-technical form. A bibliography of the subject is presented.     

On numerical ranges and roots

Existence of the fractional powers is established in Banach algebra setting, in terms of the numerical ranges of elements involved. The behavior of the spectra and (for Hermitian ∗-algebras satisfying some additional hypotheses) the ∗-numerical range under taking these powers also is investigated.     

Synthesis of amorphous block copoly(arylene ether ketones) and their characterization

Exchange reactions that may proceed in the course of polycondensation during formation of a polymer from 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 4,4′-(isopropylidene)diphenol have been studied. It has been shown that the molecular mass of the polymer decreases under the action of 4,4′-(isopropylidene)diphenol diphenolate. The nucleophilic substitution of the activated aryl halide in DMAA in the presence of potassium carbonate yields high-molecular-mass block copoly(arylene ether ketones) based on 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and a number of bisphenols. It was demonstrated the synthetic procedure and the chemical structure of block copoly(arylene ether ketones) strongly affect the onset temperature of softening and the mechanical characteristics of the films based on these polymers.     

Myoglobin-CO substate structures and dynamics: multidimensional vibrational echoes and molecular dynamics simulations

Spectrally resolved infrared stimulated vibrational echo data were obtained for sperm whale carbonmonoxymyoglobin (MbCO) at 300 K. The measured dephasing dynamics of the CO ligand are in agreement with dephasing dynamics calculated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for MbCO with the residue histidine-64 (His64) having its imidazole epsilon nitrogen protonated (N(epsilon)-H). The two conformational substate structures B(epsilon) and R(epsilon) observed in the MD simulations are assigned to the spectroscopic A(1) and A(3) conformational substates of MbCO, respectively, based on the agreement between the experimentally measured and calculated dephasing dynamics for these substates. In the A(1) substate, the N(epsilon)-H proton and N(delta) of His64 are approximately equidistant from the CO ligand, while in the A(3) substate, the N(epsilon)-H of His64 is oriented toward the CO, and the N(delta) is on the surface of the protein. The MD simulations show that dynamics of His64 represent the major source of vibrational dephasing of the CO ligand in the A(3) state on both femtosecond and picosecond time scales. Dephasing in the A(1) state is controlled by His64 on femtosecond time scales, and by the rest of the protein and the water solvent on longer time scales.     

Comparability of analytical results obtained in proficiency testing based on a metrological approach

A “yes–no” type of criterion is proposed for the assessment of comparability of proficiency testing (PT) results when the PT scheme is based on a metrological approach, i.e. on the use of a reference material as the test sample, etc. The criterion tests a null hypothesis concerning the insignificance of a bias of the mean of the results from a traceable value certified in the reference material used for the PT. Reliability of such assessment is determined by the probabilities of not rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true, and rejecting it when it is false (the alternative hypothesis is true). It is shown that a number of chemical, metrological and statistical reasons should be taken into account for careful formulation of the hypotheses, enabling the avoidance of an erroneous assessment of the comparability. The criterion can be helpful for PT providers and laboratory accreditation bodies in analysis of PT results.