Inclusive two-jet production at HERA: direct and resolved cross sections in next-to-leading order QCD

We have calculated inclusive two-jet cross sections in next-to-leading order QCD for low Q ² ep collisions superimposing direct and resolved contributions. Infrared and collinear singularities in the virtual and real contributions are cancelled with the phase space slicing method. Various inclusive two-jet distributions have been computed. The results are compared with recent data from the ZEUS collaboration at HERA.     

Control of the block copolymer morphology in templated epoxy thermosets

It has been found that by the addition of low concentrations of an amphiphilic block copolymer to an epoxy resin, novel disordered morphologies can be formed and preserved through curing. This article will focus on characterizing the influence of the block copolymer and casting solvent on the templated morphology achieved in the thermoset sample. The ultimate goal of this work is to determine the parameters that would control the microphase morphology produced. Epoxy resins blended with a series of amphiphilic block copolymers based on hydrogenated polyisoprene (polyethylene-alt-propylene or PEP) and polyethylene oxide (PEO), specifically, were investigated. In this article, the cure-induced order–order phase transition from the spherical to wormlike micelle morphology will also be discussed. It is proposed that the formation of the wormlike micelle structure from the spherical micelle structure is similar to the phase transition behavior that occurs in dilute block copolymer solutions as a function of the influence of the solvent on micelle morphology. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3338–3348, 2007     

Numerical Modeling of Solitons in a Low Birefringent Optical Fiber

A numerical investigation, based on the split-step Fourier transform algorithm of all optical switching of solitons in a low birefringent optical fiber is presented. The numerical algorithm is described in detail. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular weight dependence of diblock copolymer segregation at a polymer/polymer interface

Utilizing forward recoil spectrometry (FRES), we have determined the segregation isotherm which describes the interfacial excess z_i^* of diblock copolymers of poly (d₈-styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine) (dPS-PVP) at the interface between the homopolymers PS and PVP as a function of ?_∞, the volume fraction of diblock copolymer remaining in the host homopolymer. All the samples were analyzed after annealing at temperatures and times sufficient to achieve equilibrium segregation. The effect of the degree of polymerization of both the diblock copolymers and the host homopolymers on the segregation isotherm is investigated. When the degree of polymerization of the homopolymer is much larger than that of the diblock copolymer, the normalized interfacial excess (z_i^*/R_g), where R_g is the radius of gyration of an isolated block copolymer chain, is a universal function of that portion of the block copolymer chemical potential due to chain stretching. The existence of such a universal function is predicted by theory and its form is in good agreement with self-consistent mean field calculations. Using these results, one can predict important aspects of the block copolymer segregation (e.g., the saturation interfacial excess) without recourse to the time-consuming numerical calculations. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Selected-area growth of carbon nanotubes by the combination of focused ion beam and chemical vapor deposition techniques.

In this article, we report a technique for growing carbon nanotubes in a more controllable fashion, which enables us to synthesize nanotubes directly in various forms of designed patterns. This nanofabrication process is based on a combination of focused ion beam (FIB) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. In this process, arrays of conductive patterns were first deposited on silicon substrates by directing a gaseous compound (C(9)H(16)Pt) via the capillary needle-sized nozzles within a FIB system. The substrates were then coated with catalyst and further modified by the FIB to localize the position of the catalyst. Finally, the growth of carbon nanotubes on the designed substrates was carried out by CVD of hydrocarbon gases. This fabrication technique has the advantage of positioning carbon nanotubes in selected locations. This may open up opportunities for the direct synthesis of carbon nanotubes onto almost any substrate material, thus allowing fabrication of carbon nanotube-based devices.     

Second Dissociation Constant of Bis-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetic Acid (BICINE) and pH of Its Buffer Solutions from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, K ₂, and related thermodynamic quantities of the ampholyte bis[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetic acid (BICINE) have been determined at temperatures from 5 to 55 ^∘C. The pH values of six equimolal buffer solutions, and four buffer solutions having ionic strengths (I = 0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹) similar to those in blood plasma, have been evaluated at 12 temperatures from 5 to 55 ^∘C using the Bates–Guggenheim convention. The liquid junction potentials (E _j ) between the buffer solutions of BICINE and saturated KCl solution of the calomel electrode at 25 and 37 ^∘C have been estimated by measurement with a flowing junction cell. These values of E _j have been used to ascertain the operational pH values at 25 and 37 ^∘C. The pK ₂ values at 25 and 37 ^∘C are 8.333 and 8.156, respectively. The thermodynamic quantities associated with the second acid dissociation have been calculated from the values of pK ₂ as a function of temperature. The zwitterionic buffer BICINE was shown to be useful as a pH standard in the region close to that of blood serum.     

Encapsulation of ZnS:Mn2+ nanocrystals with diblock copolymers

The encapsulation of the nanocrystalline manganese‐doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Mn) in poly(styrene‐b‐2vinylpyridine) (PS‐PVP) diblock copolymers is reported. Below the critical micelle concentration in the absence of nanocrystals (NCs), inverse micelles of PS‐PVP were induced by adding ZnS:Mn NCs, the presence of which was confirmed by scanning force microscope and dynamic light scattering. In toluene, a PS‐selective solvent, the less‐soluble PVP blocks preferentially surround the ligand‐coated ZnS:Mn NCs. For PS‐PVP encapsulated ZnS:Mn NCs, the ratio of blue emission to orange emission of ZnS:Mn NCs is dependent on both the concentration of PS‐PVP and the solvent quality. The pyridine of PVP blocks form complexes with the Zn atoms via the nitrogen lone pair and thus the sulfur vacancies are passivated. As a result, the defect‐related blue emission is selectively quenched even when the micelles are not formed. As the concentration of PS‐PVP encapsulating the ZnS:Mn NCs increases, the intensity of blue emission decreases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3227–3233, 2006     

Weak boson plus jet production in 2nd-order QCD

We calculate cross sections for the production ofW ⁺ andZ bosons in association with 1 and 2 jets at \(p\bar p\) collider energies. The expected rates for these processes in second-order QCD are presented as a function of the cuts on the transverse momenta of the jets and are compared with jet rates measured by UA1.