Photoluminescence of MEH-PPV with ultraviolet excitation

The basic optical properties of PPV-based polymers have been extensively studied due to their potential technological applications. However, a detailed investigation of electronic processes following photoexcitation in the ultraviolet is still lacking. We report photoluminescence measurements on poly(1-methoxy-4-ethylhexyloxy-paraphenylenevinylene) - MEH-PPV in the 2.0-5.6 eV range, with excitation up to 5.6 eV. The photoluminescence spectra lineshape is independent of excitation energy. The photoluminescence efficiency is high for energies well below the absorption maximum due to near-resonant excitation of the longest conjugated segments which are responsible for the PL It decreases strongly for excitation energies in the range 2.1-2.5 eV (up to the absorption maximum) and slightly from 2.5 to 5.6 eV. The results indicate that states excited in the ultraviolet rapidly relax nonradiatively to the lowest state, from where the usual luminescence occurs. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phase-transition studies of Ba(0.90)Ca(0.10)(Ti(1-x)Zr(x))O(3) ferroelectric ceramic compounds

Perovskite-structured Ba(0.90)Ca(0.10)(Ti(1-x)Zr(x))O(3) ceramics were prepared in this work and subsequently studied in terms of composition-dependent dielectric and high-resolution long-range order structural properties from 30 to 450 K. The dielectric response of these materials was measured at several frequencies in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. Combining both techniques, including Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data, allowed observing that, when increasing Zr(4+) content, the materials change from conventional to diffuse and relaxor ferroelectric compounds, the transition occurring spontaneously at the x = 0.18 composition. Interestingly, this spontaneous transition turned out to be prevented for a further increase of Zr(4+). On the basis of all the dielectric and structural results processed, a phase diagram of this system is presented. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Detection of microwaves using the organic semiconductor poly(p-phenylenevinylene)

We report a new procedure to convert the polymer precursor poly(xylylidene tetrahydrothiophenium chloride) (PTHT) into poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) using microwave irradiation. Spin-coated PTHT films were irradiated at room temperature under ambient conditions in a commercial microwave oven, with varying power from 20W to 100W. Complete conversion was reached within only 5 min of irradiation for powers above 50W, yielding PPV films with absorption and photoluminescence spectra that are practically indistinguishable from the spectra of thermally converted PPV films, which require ca. 2 h of a high temperature (similar to 200 degrees C) thermal treatment. In addition to a much faster conversion procedure, the irradiation with microwaves led to a red shift in the absorption spectrum of a PTHT film, which varied linearly with the time of irradiation. These films can then be used as low-cost, easy-to-use detectors of microwaves. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structure and optical properties of [Ba(1-x)Y(2x/3)](Zr(0.25)Ti(0.75))O(3) powders

[Ba(1-x)Y(2x/3)](Zr(0.25)Ti(0.75))O(3) powders with different yttrium concentrations (x = 0, 0.025 and 0.05) were prepared by solid state reaction. These powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Fourier transform Raman scattering (FT-RS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray absorption near-edge (XANES) spectroscopies. The optical properties were investigated by means of ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Even with the addition of yttrium, the XRD patterns revealed that all powders crystallize in a perovskite-type cubic structure. FT-RS and FT-IR spectra indicated that the presence of [YO(6)] clusters is able to change the interaction forces between the O-Ti-O and O-Zr-O bonds. XANES spectra were used to obtain information on the off-center Ti displacements or distortion effects on the [TiO(6)] clusters. The different optical band gap values estimated from UV-vis spectra suggested the existence of intermediary energy levels (shallow or deep holes) within the band gap. The PL measurements carried out with a 350 nm wavelength at room temperature showed that all powders present typical broad band emissions in the blue region. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Mechanosensitivity of astrocytes on optimized polyacrylamide gels analyzed by quantitative morphometry

Cells are able to detect and respond to mechanical cues from their environment. Previous studies have investigated this mechanosensitivity on various cell types, including neural cells such as astrocytes. In this study, we have carefully optimized polyacrylamide gels, commonly used as compliant growth substrates, considering their homogeneity in surface topography, mechanical properties, and coating density, and identified several potential pitfalls for the purpose of mechanosensitivity studies. The resulting astrocyte response to growth on substrates with shear storage moduli of G` = 100 Pa and G` = 10 kPa was then evaluated as a function of coating density of poly-D-lysine using quantitative morphometric analysis. Astrocytes cultured on stiff substrates showed significantly increased perimeter, area, diameter, elongation, number of extremities and overall complexity if compared to those cultured on compliant substrates. A statistically significant difference in the overall morphological score was confirmed with an artificial intelligence-based shape analysis. The dependence of the cells` morphology on PDL coating density seemed to be weak compared to the effect of the substrate stiffness and was slightly biphasic, with a maximum at 10-100 mu g ml(-1) PDL concentration. Our finding suggests that the compliance of the surrounding tissue in vivo may influence astrocyte morphology and behavior.

On the lower bound on the exchange-correlation energy in two dimensions

We study the properties of the lower bound on the exchange-correlation energy in two dimensions. First we review the derivation of the bound and show how it can be written in a simple density-functional form. This form allows an explicit determination of the prefactor of the bound and testing its tightness. Next we focus on finite two-dimensional systems and examine how their distance from the bound depends on the system geometry. The results for the high-density limit suggest that a finite system that comes as close as possible to the ultimate bound on the exchange-correlation energy has circular geometry and a weak confining potential with a negative curvature. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Collapse of rho (xx) Ringlike Structures in 2DEGs Under Tilted Magnetic Fields

In the quantum Hall regime, the longitudinal resistivity rho (xx) plotted as a density-magnetic-field (n (2D) -B) diagram displays ringlike structures due to the crossings of two sets of spin split Landau levels from different subbands [see, e.g., Zhang et al., in Phys. Rev. Lett. 95:216801, 2005. For tilted magnetic fields, some of these ringlike structures ""shrink"" as the tilt angle is increased and fully collapse at theta (c) a parts per thousand 6A degrees. Here we theoretically investigate the topology of these structures via a non-interacting model for the 2DEG. We account for the inter Landau-level coupling induced by the tilted magnetic field via perturbation theory. This coupling results in anticrossings of Landau levels with parallel spins. With the new energy spectrum, we calculate the corresponding n (2D) -B diagram of the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level. We argue that the DOS displays the same topology as rho (xx) in the n (2D) -B diagram. For the ring with filling factor nu=4, we find that the anticrossings make it shrink for increasing tilt angles and collapse at a large enough angle. Using effective parameters to fit the theta=0A degrees data, we find a collapsing angle theta (c) a parts per thousand 3.6A degrees. Despite this factor-of-two discrepancy with the experimental data, our model captures the essential mechanism underlying the ring collapse.

Spin-density functional for exchange anisotropic Heisenberg model

Ground-state energies for anti ferromagnetic Heisenberg models with exchange anisotropy are estimated by means of a local-spin approximation made in the context of the density functional theory. Correlation energy is obtained using the non-linear spin-wave theory for homogeneous systems from which the spin functional is built. Although applicable to chains of any size, the results are shown for small number of sites, to exhibit finite-size effects and allow comparison with exact-numerical data from direct diagonalization of small chains. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation and structural characterization of rare-earth doped lead lanthanum zirconate titanate ceramics

A new preparation route towards rare-earth (RE) doped polycrystalline lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics (RE = Y(3+), Nd(3+), Yb(3+)), based on the use of doped lanthanum oxide or zirconia, is reported. Structural characterization by X-ray powder diffraction reveals that secondary phase formation can be substantially diminished in comparison to conventional preparation methods. The distribution of the rare-earth dopants was investigated as a function of concentration by static (207)Pb spin echo NMR spectra, using Fourier Transformation of Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill spin echo trains. For the Nd- and Yb-doped materials, the interaction of the (207)Pb nuclei with the unpaired electron spin density results in significant broadening and shifting of the NMR signal, whereas these effects are absent in the diamagnetic Y(3+) doped materials. Based on different concentration dependences of the NMR lineshape parameters, we conclude that the structural role of the Nd(3+) dopants differs significantly from that of Yb(3+). While the Nd(3+) ions appear to be statistically distributed in the PLZT lattice, incorporation of Yb(3+) into PLZT appears to be limited by the appearance of doped cubic zirconia as a secondary phase. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

EXACT AND APPROXIMATE RELATIONS FOR THE SPIN-DEPENDENCE OF THE EXCHANGE ENERGY IN HIGH MAGNETIC FIELDS

The exchange energy of an arbitrary collinear-spin many-body system in an external magnetic field is a functional of the spin-resolved charge and current densities, E(x)[n(up arrow), n(down arrow), j(up arrow), j(down arrow)]. Within the framework of density-functional theory (DFT), we show that the dependence of this functional on the four densities can be fully reconstructed from either of two extreme limits: a fully polarized system or a completely unpolarized system. Reconstruction from the limit of an unpolarized system yields a generalization of the Oliver-Perdew spin scaling relations from spin-DFT to current-DFT. Reconstruction from the limit of a fully polarized system is used to derive the high-field form of the local-spin-density approximation to current-DFT and to magnetic-field DFT.

Solid state NMR as a new approach for the structural characterization of rare-earth doped lead lanthanum zirconate titanate laser ceramics

To facilitate the design of laser host materials with optimized emission properties, detailed structural information at the atomic level is essential, regarding the local bonding environment of the active ions (distribution over distinct lattice sites) and their extent of local clustering as well as their population distribution over separate micro- or nanophases. The present study explores the potential of solid state NMR spectroscopy to provide such understanding for rare-earth doped lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics. As the NMR signals of the paramagnetic dopant species cannot be observed directly, two complementary approaches are utilized: (1) direct observation of diamagnetic mimics using Sc-45 NMR and (2) study of the paramagnetic interaction of the constituent host lattice nuclei with the rare-earth dopant, using Pb-207 NMR lineshape analysis. Sc-45 MAS NMR spectra of scandium-doped PLZT samples unambiguously reveal scandium to be six-coordinated, suggesting that this rare-earth ion substitutes in the B site. Static Pb-207 spin echo NMR spectra of a series of Tm-doped PLZT samples reveal a clear influence of paramagnetic rare-earth dopant concentration on the NMR lineshape. In the latter case high-fidelity spectra can be obtained by spin echo mapping under systematic incrementation of the excitation frequency, benefiting from the signal-to-noise enhancement afforded by spin echo train Fourier transforms. Consistent with XRD data, the Pb-207 NMR lineshape analysis suggests that statistical incorporation into the PLZT lattice occurs at dopant levels of up to 1 wt.% Tm3+, while at higher levels the solubility limit is reached. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Friedel oscillations in one-dimensional metals: From Luttinger`s theorem to the Luttinger liquid

Charge density and magnetization density profiles of one-dimensional metals are investigated by two complementary many-body methods: numerically exact (Lanczos) diagonalization, and the Bethe-Ansatz local-density approximation with and without a simple self-interaction correction. Depending on the magnetization of the system, local approximations reproduce different Fourier components of the exact Friedel oscillations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Energy of bond defects in quantum spin chains obtained from local approximations and from exact diagonalization

We study the influence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic bond defects on the ground-state energy of antiferromagnetic spin chains. In the absence of translational invariance, the energy spectrum of the full Hamiltonian is obtained numerically, by an iterative modi. cation of the power algorithm. In parallel, approximate analytical energies are obtained from a local-bond approximation, proposed here. This approximation results in significant improvement upon the mean-field approximation, at negligible extra computational effort. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Energy transfer processes in Yb(3+)-Tm(3+) co-doped sodium alumino-phosphate glasses with improved 1.8 mu m emission

Sodium alumino-phosphate glasses co-doped with Yb(3+) and Tm(3+) ions have been prepared with notably low OH(-) content, and characterized from the viewpoint of their spectroscopic properties. In these glasses, Yb(3+) acts as an efficient sensitizer of excitation energy at 0.98 mu m - which can be provided by high power and low cost diode lasers, and subsequently undergoes non-resonant energy transfer to Tm(3+) ions ((2)F(5/2), (3)H(6) --> (2)F(7/2), (3)H(5)). Through this process, the emitting level (3)F(4) is rapidly populated, generating improved emission at 1.8 mu m ((3)F(4) --> (3)H(6)). In order to guarantee the efficiency of such favorable energy transfer, energy losses via multiphonon decay, Yb-Yb radiative trapping, and non- radiative transfer to OH(-) groups were evaluated, and minimized when possible. The dipole - dipole energy transfer microscopic parameters corresponding to Yb(3+) --> Tm(3+), Yb(3+) --> Yb(3+) and Tm(3+) --> Tm(3+) transfers, calculated by the Forster-Dexter model, are C(Yb-Tm) = 2.9 x 10(-40) cm(6) s(-1), C(Yb-Yb) = 42 x 10(-40) cm(6) s(-1) and C(Tm-Tm) = 43 x 10(-40) cm(6) s(-1), respectively.

Evidence for magnetic phase separation in La(0.86)Sr(0.14)Mn(1-x)Cu(x)O(3+delta) manganites from NMR and magnetic measurements

Polycrystalline La(0.86)Sr(0.14)Mn(1-x)Cu(x)O(3+delta) (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) manganites were investigated by means of magnetic measurements and zero-field (139)La and (55)Mn nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Magnetization versus temperature measurements revealed a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in most samples, with lower Curie temperatures and broader transitions for samples with higher Cu contents. The details of the magnetization measurements suggested a phase-separated scenario, with ferromagnetic clusters embedded in an antiferromagnetic matrix, especially for the samples with large Cu contents (x = 0.15 and 0.20). Zero-field (139)La NMR measurements confirmed this finding, since the spectral features remained almost unchanged for all Cu-doped samples, whereas the bulk magnetization was drastically reduced with increasing Cu content. (55)Mn NMR spectra were again typical of ferromagnetic regions, with a broadening of the resonance line caused by the disorder introduced by the Cu doping. The results indicate a coexistence of different magnetic phases in the manganites studied, with the addition of Cu contributing to the weakening of the double-exchange interaction in most parts of the material.