Fine structure in the time of flight distribution of C2 in laser produced plasma from graphite

Time resolved optical emission spectroscopy is employed to study the expansion dynamics of C2 species in a graphite plasma produced during the Nd : YAG ablation. At low laser fluences a single peak distribution with low kinetic energy is observed. At higher fluences a twin peak distribution is found. It has been noted that these double peak time of flight distribution splits into a triple peak structure at distances >_ 17mm from the target surface. The reason for the occurrence of multiple peak is due to different formation mechanisms of C2 species

Investigations on nanosecond laser produced plasma in air from the multi-component material YBa2Cu3O7

The laser produced plasma from the multi-component target YBa2CU3O7 was analyzed using Michelson interferometry and time resolved emission spectroscopy. The interaction of 10 ns pulses of 1.06 mum radiation from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at laser power densities ranging from 0.55 GW cm-2 to 1.5 GW cm-2 has been studied. Time resolved spectral measurements of the plasma evolution show distinct features at different points in its temporal history. For a time duration of less than 55 ns after the laser pulse (for a typical laser power density of 0.8 GW cm-2, the emission spectrum is dominated by black-body radiation. During cooling after 55 ns the spectral emission consists mainly of neutral and ionic species. Line averaged electron densities were deduced from interferometric line intensity measurements at various laser power densities. Plasma electron densities are of the order of 1017 cm-3 and the plasma temperature at the core region is about 1 eV. The measurement of plasma emission line intensities of various ions inside the plasma gave evidence of multiphoton ionization of the elements constituting the target at low laser power densities. At higher laser power densities the ionization mechanism is collision dominated. For elements such as nitrogen present outside the target, ionization is due to collisions only.

Spatial and time resolved analysis of CN bands in the laser induced plasma from graphite

Analysis of the emission bands of the CN molecules in the plasma generated from a graphite target irradiated with 1-06/~m radiation pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser has been done. Depending on the position of the sampled volume of the plasma plume, the intensity distribution in the emission spectra is found to change drastically. The vibrational temperature and population distribution in the different vibrational levels have been studied as function of distance from the target for different time delays with respect to the incidence of the laser pulse. The translational temperature calculated from time of flight is found to be higher than the observed vibrational temperature for CN molecules and the reason for this is explained.

Selective mode excitation in dye-doped DNA polyvinyl alcohol thin film

A solid-state laser based on a dye-doped deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) matrix is described. A thin solid film of DNA has been fabricated by treating with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and used as a host for the laser dye Rhodamine 6G. The edge emitted spectrum clearly indicated the existence of laser modes and amplified spontaneous emission. Lasing was obtained by pumping with a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. For a pump energy of 10 mJ/pulse, an intense line with FWHM ≈0.2 nm was observed at 566 nm due to selective mode excitation.

Studies on ASE, Lasing and NLO characteristics in Certain Laser Dyes

Observing the wide possibilities of fluorescent dyes, an exhaustive investigation is done in laser dyes mainly focusing on Coumarin 540 which has a very strong emission in the green region. The photophysics of the dye is studied in detail in a good number of solvent environments. The results of the amplified spontaneous emission and lasing behaviour in both dye solution and different polymer solid state matrices and the ptotostability of the these matrices are investigated using the photoacoustic technique and the same are also included in this thesis. The energy transfer behaviour in dye mixtures which could be utilized for laser studies and bio-analysis are also presented. The nonlinear characterization of Coumarin540 forms the last part of the experimental investigations presented in the thesis.

Application of Imaging to Study the Evolution and Dynamics of Laser Produced Plasma from Solid and Thin Film Li Targets

The present thesis report the results obtained from the studies carried out on the laser blow off plasma (LBO) from LiF-C (Lithium Fluoride with Carbon) thin film target, which is of particular importance in Tokamak plasma diagnostics. Keeping in view of its significance, plasma generated by the irradiation of thin film target by nanosecond laser pulses from an Nd:YAG laser over the thin film target has been characterized by fast photography using intensified CCD. In comparison to other diagnostic techniques, imaging studies provide better understanding of plasma geometry (size, shape, divergence etc) and structural formations inside the plume during different stages of expansion.

Photonic applications of biomaterials with special reference to biopolymers and microbes

This thesis Entitled Photonic applications of biomaterials with special reference to biopolymers and microbes. A detailed investigation will be presented in the present thesis related to direct applications of biopolymers into some selected area of photonics and how the growth kinetics of an aerial bacterial colony on solid agar media was studied using laser induced fluorescence technique. This chapter is an overview of the spectrum of biomaterials and their application to Photonics. The chapter discusses a wide range of biomaterials based photonics applications like efficient harvesting of solar energy, lowthreshold lasing, high-density data storage, optical switching, filtering and template for nano s tructures. The most extensively investigated photonics application in biology is Laser induced fluorescence technique. The importance of fluorescence studies in different biological and related fields are also mentioned in this chapter.

Rice husk ash – A valuable reinforcement for high density polyethylene

This paper presents the results of a study on the use of rice husk ash (RHA) for property modification of high density polyethylene (HDPE). Rice husk is a waste product of the rice processing industry. It is used widely as a fuel which results in large quantities of RHA. Here, the characterization of RHA has been done with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICPAES), light scattering based particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Most reports suggest that RHA when blended directly with polymers without polar groups does not improve the properties of the polymer substantially. In this study RHA is blended with HDPE in the presence of a compatibilizer. The compatibilized HDPE-RHA blend has a tensile strength about 18% higher than that of virgin HDPE. The elongation-at-break is also higher for the compatibilized blend. TGA studies reveal that uncompatibilized as well as compatibilized HDPERHA composites have excellent thermal stability. The results prove that RHA is a valuable reinforcing material for HDPE and the environmental pollution arising from RHA can be eliminated in a profitable way by this technique.

Optical Characterization of Organic Gain Materials for UV-emitting Hybrid Complex Coupled VCSELs

In this thesis, optical gain measurement setup based on variable stripe length method is designed, implemented and improved. The setup is characterized using inorganic and organic samples. The optical gain of spiro-quaterphenyl is calculated and compared with measurements from the setup. Films with various thicknesses of spiro-quaterphenyl, methoxy-spiro-quaterphenyl and phenoxy-spiro-quaterphenyl are deposited by a vacuum vapor deposition technique forming asymmetric slab waveguides. The optical properties, laser emission threshold, optical gain and loss coefficient for these films are measured. Additionally, the photodegradation during pumping process is investigated.

Optical amplification and stability of spiroquaterphenyl compounds and blends

In this contribution, we present a systematic investigation on a series of spiroquaterphenyl compounds optimised for solid state lasing in the near ultraviolet (UV). Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) thresholds in the order of 1 μJ/cm2 are obtained in neat (undiluted) films and blends, with emission peaks at 390 1 nm for unsubstituted and meta-substituted quaterphenyls and 400 4 nm for para-ether substituted quaterphenyls. Mixing with a transparent matrix retains a low threshold, shifts the emission to lower wavelengths and allows a better access to modes having their intensity maximum deeper in the film. Chemical design and blending allow an independent tuning of optical and processing properties such as the glass transition.

Theoretical rovibrational line intensities in the electronic ground state of ozone

First-principles calculations of absolute line intensities and rovibrational energies of ozone (O-16(3)) are reported using potential energy and electric dipole moment functions calculated by the internally contracted MRCI approach. The rovibrational energies and eigenfunctions (up to about 8500 cm(-1) and J = 64) were obtained variationally with an exact Hamiltonian in internal valence coordinates. More than 4.8 x 10(6) electric dipole transition matrix elements were calculated for the absolute rovibrational line intensities. They are compared with the values of the HITRAN database. The purely rotational absolute line intensities in the (000) state and the rovibrational intensities for the (001)-(000) band agree to within about 0.3 to 1% for the (0 10)-(000) band to within about 3 to 4%. Excellent agreement with experiment is also achieved for low-lying overtone and combination bands. Inconsistencies are found for the (100)-(000) band overlapping with the antisymmetric stretching fundamental and also for the (002)-(000) antisymmetric stretching overtone. The generated dipole moment function can be used for predicting the absorption intensities in any of the heavier isotopomers, hot bands or the rates of spontaneous emission.

Generation of inertia-gravity waves in the rotating thermal annulus by a localised boundary layer instability

Waves with periods shorter than the inertial period exist in the atmosphere (as inertia-gravity waves) and in the oceans (as Poincaré and internal gravity waves). Such waves owe their origin to various mechanisms, but of particular interest are those arising either from local secondary instabilities or spontaneous emission due to loss of balance. These phenomena have been studied in the laboratory, both in the mechanically-forced and the thermally-forced rotating annulus. Their generation mechanisms, especially in the latter system, have not yet been fully understood, however. Here we examine short period waves in a numerical model of the rotating thermal annulus, and show how the results are consistent with those from earlier laboratory experiments. We then show how these waves are consistent with being inertia-gravity waves generated by a localised instability within the thermal boundary layer, the location of which is determined by regions of strong shear and downwelling at certain points within a large-scale baroclinic wave flow. The resulting instability launches small-scale inertia-gravity waves into the geostrophic interior of the flow. Their behaviour is captured in fully nonlinear numerical simulations in a finite-difference, 3D Boussinesq Navier-Stokes model. Such a mechanism has many similarities with those responsible for launching small- and meso-scale inertia-gravity waves in the atmosphere from fronts and local convection.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of human cytosolic aminopeptidase P: a single manganese(II)-dependent enzyme

The mammalian bradykinin-degrading enzyme aminopeptidase P (AP-P; E. C. 3.4.11.9) is a metal-dependent enzyme and is a member of the peptidase clan MG. AP-P exists as membrane-bound and cytosolic forms, which represent distinct gene products. A partially truncated clone encoding the cytosolic form was obtained from a human pancreatic cDNA library and the 5' region containing the initiating Met was obtained by 5' rapid accumulation of cDNA ends (RACE). The open reading frame encodes a protein of 623 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 69,886 Da. The full-length cDNA with a C-terminal hexahistidine tag was expressed in Escherichia coli and COS-1 cells and migrated on SDS-PAGE with a molecular mass of 71 kDa. The expressed cytosolic AP-P hydrolyzed the X-Pro bond of bradykinin and substance P but did not hydrolyze Gly-Pro-hydroxyPro. Hydrolysis of bradykinin was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and by the specific inhibitor of the membrane-bound form of mammalian AP-P, apstatin. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy of AP-P expressed in E. coli revealed the presence of 1 mol of manganese/mol of protein and insignificant amounts of cobalt, iron, and zinc. The enzymatic activity of AP-P was promoted in the presence of Mn(II), and this activation was increased further by the addition of glutathione. The only other metal ion to cause slight activation of the enzyme was Co(II), with Ca(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) all being inhibitory. Removal of the metal ion from the protein was achieved by treatment with 1,10-phenanthroline. The metal-free enzyme was reactivated by the addition of Mn(II) and, partially, by Fe(II). Neither Co(II) nor Zn(II) reactivated the metal-free enzyme. On the basis of these data we propose that human cytosolic AP-P is a single metal ion-dependent enzyme and that manganese is most likely the metal ion used in vivo.

Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic activity of a multifunctional enzyme mimetic oxoperoxovanadium(v) complex

The synthesis and structural characterization of a novel oxoperoxovanadium(v) complex [VO(O-2)(PAH)-(phen)] containing the ligands 2-phenylacetohydroxamic acid (PAHH) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) has been accomplished. The oxoperoxovanadium(v) complex was found to mimic both vanadate-dependent haloperoxidase (VHPO) activity as well as nuclease activity through effective interaction with DNA. The complex is the first example of a structurally characterized stable oxoperoxovanadium(v) complex with a coordinated bi-dentate hydroximate moiety (-CONHO-) from 2-phenylacetohydroximate (PAH). The oxoperoxovanadium(v) complex has been used as catalyst for the peroxidative bromination reaction of some unsaturated alcohols (e.g. 4-pentene-1-ol, 1-octene-3-ol and 9-decene-1-ol) in the presence of H2O2 and KBr. The catalytic products have been characterized by GC-MS analysis and spectrophotometric methods. The DNA binding of this complex has been established with CT DNA whereas the DNA cleavage was demonstrated with plasmid DNA. The interactions of the complex with DNA have been monitored by electronic absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Viscometric measurements suggest that the compound is a DNA intercalator. The nuclease activity of this complex was confirmed by gel electrophoresis studies.

Comments on 'Balance and the slow quasimanifold: some explicit results'

The concept of slow vortical dynamics and its role in theoretical understanding is central to geophysical fluid dynamics. It leads, for example, to “potential vorticity thinking” (Hoskins et al. 1985). Mathematically, one imagines an invariant manifold within the phase space of solutions, called the slow manifold (Leith 1980; Lorenz 1980), to which the dynamics are constrained. Whether this slow manifold truly exists has been a major subject of inquiry over the past 20 years. It has become clear that an exact slow manifold is an exceptional case, restricted to steady or perhaps temporally periodic flows (Warn 1997). Thus the concept of a “fuzzy slow manifold” (Warn and Ménard 1986) has been suggested. The idea is that nearly slow dynamics will occur in a stochastic layer about the putative slow manifold. The natural question then is, how thick is this layer? In a recent paper, Ford et al. (2000) argue that Lighthill emission—the spontaneous emission of freely propagating acoustic waves by unsteady vortical flows—is applicable to the problem of balance, with the Mach number Ma replaced by the Froude number F, and that it is a fundamental mechanism for this fuzziness. They consider the rotating shallow-water equations and find emission of inertia–gravity waves at O(F2). This is rather surprising at first sight, because several studies of balanced dynamics with the rotating shallow-water equations have gone beyond second order in F, and found only an exponentially small unbalanced component (Warn and Ménard 1986; Lorenz and Krishnamurthy 1987; Bokhove and Shepherd 1996; Wirosoetisno and Shepherd 2000). We have no technical objection to the analysis of Ford et al. (2000), but wish to point out that it depends crucially on R 1, where R is the Rossby number. This condition requires the ratio of the characteristic length scale of the flow L to the Rossby deformation radius LR to go to zero in the limit F → 0. This is the low Froude number scaling of Charney (1963), which, while originally designed for the Tropics, has been argued to be also relevant to mesoscale dynamics (Riley et al. 1981). If L/LR is fixed, however, then F → 0 implies R → 0, which is the standard quasigeostrophic scaling of Charney (1948; see, e.g., Pedlosky 1987). In this limit there is reason to expect the fuzziness of the slow manifold to be “exponentially thin,” and balance to be much more accurate than is consistent with (algebraic) Lighthill emission.