Pulse-front tilt created in misaligned dispersionless optical systems and correct interferometric autocorrelation

In this work we present a matrix analysis of the sensitivity of otherwise dispersionless 4f and 2f-2f optical systems to misalignments resulting in spatio-temporal distortions of ultrashort laser pulses. Special attention is given to the possible creation of a pulse-front tilt (PFT). The exact analytical expression for the second-harmonic interferometric autocorrelation signal of an inverted-field autocorrelator is calculated. It confirms the effective broadening of the ultrashort pulses in the presence of an arbitrary PFT.     

The homotopy of the K(2)-local Moore spectrum at the prime 3 revisited

In this paper we use the approach introduced in (Goerss et al., Ann Math 162(2):777–822, 2005) in order to analyze the homotopy groups of $L_{K(2)}V(0)$ , the mod- $3$ Moore spectrum $V(0)$ localized with respect to Morava $K$ -theory $K(2)$ . These homotopy groups have already been calculated by Shimomura (J Math Soc Japan 52(1): 65–90, 2000). The results are very complicated so that an independent verification via an alternative approach is of interest. In fact, we end up with a result which is more precise and also differs in some of its details from that of Shimomura (J Math Soc Japan 52(1): 65–90, 2000). An additional bonus of our approach is that it breaks up the result into smaller and more digestible chunks which are related to the $K(2)$ -localization of the spectrum $TMF$ of topological modular forms and related spectra. Even more, the Adams–Novikov differentials for $L_{K(2)}V(0)$ can be read off from those for $TMF$ .     

Effect of accelerated weathering on surface chemistry of modified wood

In this study, the effects of UV-light irradiation and water spray on colour and surface chemistry of scots pine sapwood samples were investigated. The specimens were treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a metal-free propiconazol-based formulation, chitosan, furfuryl alcohol and linseed and tall oils. The weathering experiment was performed by cycles of 2 h UV-light irradiation followed by water spray for 18 min. The changes at the surface of the weathered samples were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); colour characterizations were performed by measuring CIELab parameters.The results show that all treatment methods except chitosan treatment provided lower colour changes than the control groups after 800 h exposure in weathering test cycle, but differences between chitosan and control were also small. The lowest colour changes were found on linseed oil (full cell process) and CCA treated wood. FT-IR results show that oil treatment (linseed and tall oil) decreased the intensities of a lignin specific peak (1500-1515 cm⁻¹). Absorption band changes at 1630-1660 cm⁻¹ were reduced by all treatments.