Sample records for absorption dicke-state dynamics

  1. Dicke superradiance as nondestructive probe for the state of atoms in optical lattices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    ten Brinke, Nicolai; Schützhold, Ralf

    2016-04-01

    We present a proposal for a probing scheme utilizing Dicke superradiance to obtain information about ultracold atoms in optical lattices. A probe photon is absorbed collectively by an ensemble of lattice atoms generating a Dicke state. The lattice dynamics (e.g., tunneling) affects the coherence properties of that Dicke state and thus alters the superradiant emission characteristics - which in turn provides insight into the lattice (dynamics). Comparing the Bose-Hubbard and the Fermi-Hubbard model, we find similar superradiance in the strongly interacting Mott insulator regime, but crucial differences in the weakly interacting (superfluid or metallic) phase. Furthermore, we study the possibility to detect whether a quantum phase transition between the two regimes can be considered adiabatic or a quantum quench.

  2. Dynamics of coherent states in regular and chaotic regimes of the non-integrable Dicke model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lerma-Hernández, S.; Chávez-Carlos, J.; Bastarrachea-Magnani, M. A.; López-del-Carpio, B.; Hirsch, J. G.

    2018-04-01

    The quantum dynamics of initial coherent states is studied in the Dicke model and correlated with the dynamics, regular or chaotic, of their classical limit. Analytical expressions for the survival probability, i.e. the probability of finding the system in its initial state at time t, are provided in the regular regions of the model. The results for regular regimes are compared with those of the chaotic ones. It is found that initial coherent states in regular regions have a much longer equilibration time than those located in chaotic regions. The properties of the distributions for the initial coherent states in the Hamiltonian eigenbasis are also studied. It is found that for regular states the components with no negligible contribution are organized in sequences of energy levels distributed according to Gaussian functions. In the case of chaotic coherent states, the energy components do not have a simple structure and the number of participating energy levels is larger than in the regular cases.

  3. Entanglement detection in the vicinity of arbitrary Dicke states.

    PubMed

    Duan, L-M

    2011-10-28

    Dicke states represent a class of multipartite entangled states that can be generated experimentally with many applications in quantum information. We propose a method to experimentally detect genuine multipartite entanglement in the vicinity of arbitrary Dicke states. The detection scheme can be used to experimentally quantify the entanglement depth of many-body systems and is easy to implement as it requires measurement of only three collective spin operators. The detection criterion is strong as it heralds multipartite entanglement even in cases where the state fidelity goes down exponentially with the number of qubits.

  4. Experimental entanglement of a six-photon symmetric Dicke state.

    PubMed

    Wieczorek, Witlef; Krischek, Roland; Kiesel, Nikolai; Michelberger, Patrick; Tóth, Géza; Weinfurter, Harald

    2009-07-10

    We report on the experimental observation and characterization of a six-photon entangled Dicke state. We obtain a fidelity as high as 0.654+/-0.024 and prove genuine six-photon entanglement by, amongst others, a two-setting witness yielding -0.422+/-0.148. This state has remarkable properties; e.g., it allows obtaining inequivalent entangled states of a lower qubit number via projective measurements, and it possesses a high entanglement persistency against qubit loss. We characterize the properties of the six-photon Dicke state experimentally by detecting and analyzing the entanglement of a variety of multipartite entangled states.

  5. Generalized Dicke Nonequilibrium Dynamics in Trapped Ions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Genway, Sam; Li, Weibin; Ates, Cenap; Lanyon, Benjamin P.; Lesanovsky, Igor

    2014-01-01

    We explore trapped ions as a setting to investigate nonequilibrium phases in a generalized Dicke model of dissipative spins coupled to phonon modes. We find a rich dynamical phase diagram including superradiantlike regimes, dynamical phase coexistence, and phonon-lasing behavior. A particular advantage of trapped ions is that these phases and transitions among them can be probed in situ through fluorescence. We demonstrate that the main physical insights are captured by a minimal model and consider an experimental realization with Ca+ ions trapped in a linear Paul trap with a dressing scheme to create effective two-level systems with a tunable dissipation rate.

  6. Arbitrary Dicke-State Control of Symmetric Rydberg Ensembles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deutsch, Ivan

    2017-04-01

    We study the production of arbitrary superpositions of Dicke states via optimal control. We show that N atomic hyperfine qubits, interacting symmetrically via the Rydberg blockade, are well described by the Jaynes-Cummings Model (JCM), familiar in cavity QED. In this isomorphism, the presence or absence of a collective Rydberg excitation plays the role of the two-level system and the number of symmetric excitations of the hyperfine qubits plays the role of the bosonic excitations of the JCM. This system is fully controllable through the addition of phase-modulated microwaves that drive transitions between the Rydberg-dressed states. In the weak dressing regime, this results in a single-axis twisting Hamiltonian, plus time-dependent rotations of the collective spin. For strong dressing we control the entire Jaynes-Cummings ladder. Using optimal control, we design microwave waveforms that can generate arbitrary states in the symmetric subspace. This includes cat states, Dicke states, and spin squeezed states. With currently feasible parameters, it is possible to generate arbitrary symmetric states of _10 hyperfine qubits in 1 microsec, assuming a fast microwave phase switching time. The same control can be achieved with a ``dressed-ground control'' scheme, which reduces the demands for fast phase switching at the expense of increased total control time. More generally, we can achieve control on larger ensembles of qubits by designing waveforms that are bandwidth limited within the coherence time of the system. We use this to study general questions of the ``quantum speed limit'' and information content in a waveform that is needed to generate arbitrary quantum states.

  7. Excited state X-ray absorption spectroscopy: Probing both electronic and structural dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Neville, Simon P.; Averbukh, Vitali; Ruberti, Marco; Yun, Renjie; Patchkovskii, Serguei; Chergui, Majed; Stolow, Albert; Schuurman, Michael S.

    2016-10-01

    We investigate the sensitivity of X-ray absorption spectra, simulated using a general method, to properties of molecular excited states. Recently, Averbukh and co-workers [M. Ruberti et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140, 184107 (2014)] introduced an efficient and accurate L 2 method for the calculation of excited state valence photoionization cross-sections based on the application of Stieltjes imaging to the Lanczos pseudo-spectrum of the algebraic diagrammatic construction (ADC) representation of the electronic Hamiltonian. In this paper, we report an extension of this method to the calculation of excited state core photoionization cross-sections. We demonstrate that, at the ADC(2)x level of theory, ground state X-ray absorption spectra may be accurately reproduced, validating the method. Significantly, the calculated X-ray absorption spectra of the excited states are found to be sensitive to both geometric distortions (structural dynamics) and the electronic character (electronic dynamics) of the initial state, suggesting that core excitation spectroscopies will be useful probes of excited state non-adiabatic dynamics. We anticipate that the method presented here can be combined with ab initio molecular dynamics calculations to simulate the time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy of excited state molecular wavepacket dynamics.

  8. Room-temperature cavity quantum electrodynamics with strongly coupled Dicke states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Breeze, Jonathan D.; Salvadori, Enrico; Sathian, Juna; Alford, Neil McN.; Kay, Christopher W. M.

    2017-09-01

    The strong coupling regime is essential for efficient transfer of excitations between states in different quantum systems on timescales shorter than their lifetimes. The coupling of single spins to microwave photons is very weak but can be enhanced by increasing the local density of states by reducing the magnetic mode volume of the cavity. In practice, it is difficult to achieve both small cavity mode volume and low cavity decay rate, so superconducting metals are often employed at cryogenic temperatures. For an ensembles of N spins, the spin-photon coupling can be enhanced by √{N } through collective spin excitations known as Dicke states. For sufficiently large N the collective spin-photon coupling can exceed both the spin decoherence and cavity decay rates, making the strong-coupling regime accessible. Here we demonstrate strong coupling and cavity quantum electrodynamics in a solid-state system at room-temperature. We generate an inverted spin-ensemble with N 1015 by photo-exciting pentacene molecules into spin-triplet states with spin dephasing time T2* 3 μs. When coupled to a 1.45 GHz TE01δ mode supported by a high Purcell factor strontium titanate dielectric cavity (Vm 0.25 cm3, Q 8,500), we observe Rabi oscillations in the microwave emission from collective Dicke states and a 1.8 MHz normal-mode splitting of the resultant collective spin-photon polariton. We also observe a cavity protection effect at the onset of the strong-coupling regime which decreases the polariton decay rate as the collective coupling increases.

  9. Local distinguishability of Dicke states in quantum secret sharing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Jing-Tao; Xu, Gang; Chen, Xiu-Bo; Sun, Xing-Ming; Jia, Heng-Yue

    2017-03-01

    We comprehensively investigate the local distinguishability of orthogonal Dicke states under local operations and classical communication (LOCC) from both qualitative and quantitative aspects. Based on our work, defects in the LOCC-quantum secret sharing (QSS) scheme can be complemented, and the information leakage can be quantified. For (k1 ,k2 , k , n)-threshold LOCC-QSS scheme, more intuitive formulas for unambiguous probability and guessing probability were established, which can be used for determining the parameter k1 and k2 directly.

  10. Experimental observation of four-photon entangled Dicke state with high fidelity.

    PubMed

    Kiesel, N; Schmid, C; Tóth, G; Solano, E; Weinfurter, H

    2007-02-09

    We present the experimental observation of the symmetric four-photon entangled Dicke state with two excitations |D_{4};{(2)}. A simple experimental setup allowed quantum state tomography yielding a fidelity as high as 0.844+/-0.008. We study the entanglement persistency of the state using novel witness operators and focus on the demonstration of a remarkable property: depending on the orientation of a measurement on one photon, the remaining three photons are projected into both inequivalent classes of genuine tripartite entanglement, the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger and W class. Furthermore, we discuss possible applications of |D_{4};{(2)} in quantum communication.

  11. Dynamics of cosmological perturbations in modified Brans-Dicke cosmology with matter-scalar field interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kofinas, Georgios; Lima, Nelson A.

    2017-10-01

    In this work we focus on a novel completion of the well-known Brans-Dicke theory that introduces an interaction between the dark energy and dark matter sectors, known as complete Brans-Dicke (CBD) theory. We obtain viable cosmological accelerating solutions that fit supernovae observations with great precision without any scalar potential V (ϕ ). We use these solutions to explore the impact of the CBD theory on the large scale structure by studying the dynamics of its linear perturbations. We observe a growing behavior of the lensing potential Φ+ at late-times, while the growth rate is actually suppressed relatively to Λ CDM , which allows the CBD theory to provide a competitive fit to current RSD measurements of f σ8. However, we also observe that the theory exhibits a pathological change of sign in the effective gravitational constant concerning the perturbations on subhorizon scales that could pose a challenge to its validity.

  12. Spin-squeezing and Dicke-state preparation by heterodyne measurement

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vanderbruggen, T.; Bernon, S.; Bertoldi, A.

    2011-01-15

    We investigate the quantum nondemolition (QND) measurement of an atomic population based on a heterodyne detection and show that the induced back-action allows for the preparation of both spin-squeezed and Dicke states. We use a wave-vector formalism to describe the stochastic process of the measurement and the associated atomic evolution. Analytical formulas of the atomic distribution momenta are derived in the weak-coupling regime both for short- and long-time behavior, and they are in good agreement with those obtained by a Monte Carlo simulation. The experimental implementation of the proposed heterodyne detection scheme is discussed. The role played in the squeezingmore » process by the spontaneous emission is considered.« less

  13. Spin squeezing as an indicator of quantum chaos in the Dicke model.

    PubMed

    Song, Lijun; Yan, Dong; Ma, Jian; Wang, Xiaoguang

    2009-04-01

    We study spin squeezing, an intrinsic quantum property, in the Dicke model without the rotating-wave approximation. We show that the spin squeezing can reveal the underlying chaotic and regular structures in phase space given by a Poincaré section, namely, it acts as an indicator of quantum chaos. Spin squeezing vanishes after a very short time for an initial coherent state centered in a chaotic region, whereas it persists over a longer time for the coherent state centered in a regular region of the phase space. We also study the distribution of the mean spin directions when quantum dynamics takes place. Finally, we discuss relations among spin squeezing, bosonic quadrature squeezing, and two-qubit entanglement in the dynamical processes.

  14. Excited-state absorption and fluorescence dynamics of Er3+:KY3F10

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Labbé, C.; Doualan, J. L.; Moncorgé, R.; Braud, A.; Camy, P.

    2018-05-01

    We report here on a complete investigation of the excited-state absorption and fluorescence dynamics of Er3+ doped KY3F10 single crystals versus dopant concentrations and optical excitation conditions. Radiative and effective (including non-radiative relaxations) emission lifetimes and branching ratios are determined from a Judd-Ofelt analysis of the absorption spectra and via specific fluorescence experiments using wavelength selective laser excitations. Excited-state absorption and emission spectra are registered within seven spectral domains, i.e. 560 nm, 650 nm, 710 nm, 810 nm, 970 nm, 1550 nm and 2750 nm. A maximum gain cross-section of 0.93 × 10-21 cm2 is determined at the potential laser wavelength of 2.801 μm for a population ratio of 0.48. Saturation of fluorescence intensities and variations of population ratios versus pumping rates are registered and confronted with a rate equation model to derive the rates of the most important up-conversion and cross-relaxation energy transfers occurring at high dopant concentrations.

  15. Lovelock-Brans-Dicke gravity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wenjie Tian, David; Booth, Ivan

    2016-02-01

    According to Lovelock’s theorem, the Hilbert-Einstein and the Lovelock actions are indistinguishable from their field equations. However, they have different scalar-tensor counterparts, which correspond to the Brans-Dicke and the Lovelock-Brans-Dicke (LBD) gravities, respectively. In this paper the LBD model of alternative gravity with the Lagrangian density {{L}}{LBD}=\\frac{1}{16π }≤ft[φ ≤ft(R+\\frac{a}{\\sqrt{-g}}{}*{RR}+b{ G }\\right)-\\frac{{ω }{{L}}}{φ }{{{\

  16. The complete Brans–Dicke theories

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kofinas, Georgios, E-mail: gkofinas@aegean.gr

    Given that the simple wave equation of Brans–Dicke theory for the scalar field is preserved, we have investigated, through exhaustively analyzing the Bianchi identities, the consistent theories which violate the exact energy conservation equation. It is found that only three theories exist which are unambiguously determined from consistency, without imposing arbitrary functions by hand. Each of these theories possesses a specific interaction term which controls the energy exchange between the scalar field and ordinary matter. The theories contain new parameters (integration constants from the integration procedure) and when these are switched-off, Brans–Dicke theory emerges. As usually, the vacuum theories canmore » be defined from the complete Brans–Dicke theories when the matter energy–momentum tensor vanishes.« less

  17. Digital-analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models with superconducting circuits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lamata, Lucas

    2017-03-01

    We propose a digital-analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models with superconducting circuits, including Fermi- Bose condensates, biased and pulsed Dicke models, for all regimes of light-matter coupling. We encode these classes of problems in a set of superconducting qubits coupled with a bosonic mode implemented by a transmission line resonator. Via digital-analog techniques, an efficient quantum simulation can be performed in state-of-the-art circuit quantum electrodynamics platforms, by suitable decomposition into analog qubit-bosonic blocks and collective single-qubit pulses through digital steps. Moreover, just a single global analog block would be needed during the whole protocol in most of the cases, superimposed with fast periodic pulses to rotate and detune the qubits. Therefore, a large number of digital steps may be attained with this approach, providing a reduced digital error. Additionally, the number of gates per digital step does not grow with the number of qubits, rendering the simulation efficient. This strategy paves the way for the scalable digital-analog quantum simulation of many-body dynamics involving bosonic modes and spin degrees of freedom with superconducting circuits.

  18. Digital-analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models with superconducting circuits

    PubMed Central

    Lamata, Lucas

    2017-01-01

    We propose a digital-analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models with superconducting circuits, including Fermi- Bose condensates, biased and pulsed Dicke models, for all regimes of light-matter coupling. We encode these classes of problems in a set of superconducting qubits coupled with a bosonic mode implemented by a transmission line resonator. Via digital-analog techniques, an efficient quantum simulation can be performed in state-of-the-art circuit quantum electrodynamics platforms, by suitable decomposition into analog qubit-bosonic blocks and collective single-qubit pulses through digital steps. Moreover, just a single global analog block would be needed during the whole protocol in most of the cases, superimposed with fast periodic pulses to rotate and detune the qubits. Therefore, a large number of digital steps may be attained with this approach, providing a reduced digital error. Additionally, the number of gates per digital step does not grow with the number of qubits, rendering the simulation efficient. This strategy paves the way for the scalable digital-analog quantum simulation of many-body dynamics involving bosonic modes and spin degrees of freedom with superconducting circuits. PMID:28256559

  19. Finite-size scaling analysis in the two-photon Dicke model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Xiang-You; Zhang, Yu-Yu

    2018-05-01

    We perform a Schrieffer-Wolff transformation to the two-photon Dicke model by keeping the leading-order correction with a quartic term of the field, which is crucial for finite-size scaling analysis. Besides a spectral collapse as a consequence of two-photon interaction, the super-radiant phase transition is indicated by the vanishing of the excitation energy and the uniform atomic polarization. The scaling functions for the ground-state energy and the atomic pseudospin are derived analytically. The scaling exponents of the observables are the same as those in the standard Dicke model, indicating they are in the same universality class.

  20. Light, Molecules, Action: Broadband UV-visible transient absorption studies of excited state dynamics in photoactive molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sension, Roseanne

    2015-03-01

    Broadband UV-visible transient absorption spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for the investigation of the dynamics of electronically excited molecules in the condensed phase. It is now possible to obtain transient spectra on a routine basis spanning the range from <300 nm to >800 nm with femtosecond time resolution. We have used this method to study the excited state dynamics and internal conversion of a range of molecular systems with potential application as optically powered molecular devices. The cyclohexadiene ring-opening reaction is the basis of a class of important optical switches and of the biological synthesis of previtamin D3. The ring-opening reaction is ultrafast, occurring on a picosecond to subpicosecond times scale depending on the substituents around the ring. These have a significant influence on the dynamics and electronic structure of the electronically excited molecule. The results of a series of transient absorption studies as a function of chromophore substitution and environment will be presented. The cis-trans isomerization of polyene molecules, especially substituted stilbenes, provides another important class of functional molecular transformations. Again the excited state dynamics can be ultrafast with photochemistry controlled by details of the curve crossings and conical intersections. Finally the photochemistry of the even more complex set of cobalamin chromophores with a photoalabile C-Co bond has been proposed as a tool for spatio-temporal control of molecule delivery including drug delivery. Broadband transient absorption spectroscopy has been used to investigate the ultrafast electronic dynamics of a range of cobalamin compounds with comparison to detailed theoretical calculations. The results of these studies will be presented.

  1. Gravitational Collapse in Husain space-time for Brans-Dicke Gravity Theory with Power-law Potential.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rudra, Prabir

    2016-07-01

    The motive of this work is to study gravitational collapse in Husain space-time in Brans-Dicke gravity theory. Among many scalar-tensor theories of gravity, Brans-Dicke is the simplest and the impact of it can be regulated by two parameters associated with it, namely, the Brans-Dicke parameter, ω, and the potential-scalar field dependency parameter 'n' respectively. V. Husain's work on exact solution for null fluid collapse in 1996 has influenced many authors to follow his way to find the end-state of the homogeneous/inhomogeneous dust cloud. Vaidya's metric is used all over to follow the nature of future outgoing radial null geodesics. Detecting whether the central singularity is naked or wrapped by an event horizon, by the existence of future directed radial null geodesic emitted in past from the singularity is the basic objective. To point out the existence of positive trajectory tangent solution, both particular parametric cases(through tabular forms) and wide range contouring process have been applied. Precisely, perfect fluid's equation of state satisfies a wide range of phenomena : from dust to exotic fluid like dark energy. We have used the equation of state parameter 'k' to determine the end state of collapse in different cosmological era. Our main target is to check low ω (more deviations from Einstein gravity-more Brans Dicke effect) and negative 'k' zones. This particularly throws light on the nature of the end-state of collapse in accelerated expansion in Brans Dicke gravity. It is seen that for positive values of EoS parameter 'k', the collapse results in a black hole, whereas for negative values of 'k', naked singularity is the only outcome. It is also to be noted that "low ω" leads to the possibility of getting more naked singularities even for a non-accelerating universe.

  2. Generalized Brans-Dicke theories

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    De Felice, Antonio; Tsujikawa, Shinji, E-mail: defelice@rs.kagu.tus.ac.jp, E-mail: shinji@rs.kagu.tus.ac.jp

    2010-07-01

    In Brans-Dicke theory a non-linear self interaction of a scalar field φ allows a possibility of realizing the late-time cosmic acceleration, while recovering the General Relativistic behavior at early cosmological epochs. We extend this to more general modified gravitational theories in which a de Sitter solution for dark energy exists without using a field potential. We derive a condition for the stability of the de Sitter point and study the background cosmological dynamics of such theories. We also restrict the allowed region of model parameters from the demand for the avoidance of ghosts and instabilities. A peculiar evolution of themore » field propagation speed allows us to distinguish those theories from the ΛCDM model.« less

  3. Molecular dynamics simulations of collision-induced absorption: Implementation in LAMMPS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fakhardji, W.; Gustafsson, M.

    2017-02-01

    We pursue simulations of collision-induced absorption in a mixture of argon and xenon gas at room temperature by means of classical molecular dynamics. The established theoretical approach (Hartmann et al. 2011 J. Chem. Phys. 134 094316) is implemented with the molecular dynamics package LAMMPS. The bound state features in the absorption spectrum are well reproduced with the molecular dynamics simulation in comparison with a laboratory measurement. The magnitude of the computed absorption, however, is underestimated in a large part of the spectrum. We suggest some aspects of the simulation that could be improved.

  4. Absorption dynamics and delay time in complex potentials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Villavicencio, Jorge; Romo, Roberto; Hernández-Maldonado, Alberto

    2018-05-01

    The dynamics of absorption is analyzed by using an exactly solvable model that deals with an analytical solution to Schrödinger’s equation for cutoff initial plane waves incident on a complex absorbing potential. A dynamical absorption coefficient which allows us to explore the dynamical loss of particles from the transient to the stationary regime is derived. We find that the absorption process is characterized by the emission of a series of damped periodic pulses in time domain, associated with damped Rabi-type oscillations with a characteristic frequency, ω = (E + ε)/ℏ, where E is the energy of the incident waves and ‑ε is energy of the quasidiscrete state of the system induced by the absorptive part of the Hamiltonian; the width γ of this resonance governs the amplitude of the pulses. The resemblance of the time-dependent absorption coefficient with a real decay process is discussed, in particular the transition from exponential to nonexponential regimes, a well-known feature of quantum decay. We have also analyzed the effect of the absorptive part of the potential on the dynamical delay time, which behaves differently from the one observed in attractive real delta potentials, exhibiting two regimes: time advance and time delay.

  5. Holographic Dark Energy in Brans-Dicke Theory with Logarithmic Form of Scalar Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, C. P.; Kumar, Pankaj

    2017-10-01

    In this paper, an interacting holographic dark energy model with Hubble horizon as an infra-red cut-off is considered in the framework of Brans-Dicke theory. We assume the Brans-Dicke scalar field as a logarithmic form ϕ = ϕ 0 l n( α + β a), where a is the scale factor, α and β are arbitrary constants, to interpret the physical phenomena of the Universe. The equation of state parameter w h and deceleration parameter q are obtained to discuss the dynamics of the evolution of the Universe. We present a unified model of holographic dark energy which explains the early time acceleration (inflation), medieval time deceleration and late time acceleration. It is also observed that w h may cross the phantom divide line in the late time evolution. We also discuss the cosmic coincidence problem. We obtain a time-varying density ratio of holographic dark energy to dark matter which is a constant of order one (r˜ O(1)) during early and late time evolution, and may evolve sufficiently slow at present time. Thus, the model successfully resolves the cosmic coincidence problem.

  6. False vacuum decay in Jordan-Brans-Dicke cosmologies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Holman, Richard; Kolb, Edward W.; Vadas, Sharon L.; Wang, Yun; Weinberg, Erick J.

    1989-01-01

    The bubble nucleation rate in a first-order phase transition taking place in a background Jordan-Brans-Dicke cosmology is examined. The leading order terms in the nucleation rate when the Jordan-Brans-Dicke field is large (i.e., late times) are computed by means of a Weyl rescaling of the fields in the theory. It is found that despite the fact that the Jordan-Brans-Dicke field (hence the effective gravitational constant) has a time dependence in the false vacuum at late times the nucleation rate is time independent.

  7. Gravitational collapse in Husain space-time for Brans-Dicke gravity theory with power-law potential

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rudra, Prabir; Biswas, Ritabrata; Debnath, Ujjal

    2014-12-01

    The motive of this work is to study gravitational collapse in Husain space-time in Brans-Dicke gravity theory. Among many scalar-tensor theories of gravity, Brans-Dicke is the simplest and the impact of it can be regulated by two parameters associated with it, namely, the Brans-Dicke parameter, ω, and the potential-scalar field dependency parameter n respectively. V. Husain's work on exact solution for null fluid collapse in 1996 has influenced many authors to follow his way to find the end-state of the homogeneous/inhomogeneous dust cloud. Vaidya's metric is used all over to follow the nature of future outgoing radial null geodesics. Detecting whether the central singularity is naked or wrapped by an event horizon, by the existence of future directed radial null geodesic emitted in past from the singularity is the basic objective. To point out the existence of positive trajectory tangent solution, both particular parametric cases (through tabular forms) and wide range contouring process have been applied. Precisely, perfect fluid's EoS satisfies a wide range of phenomena: from dust to exotic fluid like dark energy. We have used the EoS parameter k to determine the end state of collapse in different cosmological era. Our main target is to check low ω (more deviations from Einstein gravity-more Brans Dicke effect) and negative k zones. This particularly throws light on the nature of the end-state of collapse in accelerated expansion in Brans Dicke gravity. It is seen that for positive values of EoS parameter k, the collapse results in a black hole, whereas for negative values of k, naked singularity is the only outcome. It is also to be noted that "low ω" leads to the possibility of getting more naked singularities even for a non-accelerating universe.

  8. Digital-analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models with superconducting circuits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lamata, Lucas

    We propose a digital-analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models with superconducting circuits, including Fermi-Bose condensates, biased and pulsed Dicke models, for all regimes of light-matter coupling. We encode these classes of problems in a set of superconducting qubits coupled with a bosonic mode implemented by a transmission line resonator. Via digital-analog techniques, an efficient quantum simulation can be performed in state-of-the-art circuit quantum electrodynamics platforms, by suitable decomposition into analog qubit-bosonic blocks and collective single-qubit pulses through digital steps. Moreover, just a single global analog block would be needed during the whole protocol in most of the cases, superimposed with fast periodic pulses to rotate and detune the qubits. Therefore, a large number of digital steps may be attained with this approach, providing a reduced digital error. Additionally, the number of gates per digital step does not grow with the number of qubits, rendering the simulation efficient. This strategy paves the way for the scalable digital-analog quantum simulation of many-body dynamics involving bosonic modes and spin degrees of freedom with superconducting circuits. The author wishes to acknowledge discussions with I. Arrazola, A. Mezzacapo, J. S. Pedernales, and E. Solano, and support from Ramon y Cajal Grant RYC-2012-11391, Spanish MINECO/FEDER FIS2015-69983-P, UPV/EHU UFI 11/55 and Project EHUA14/04.

  9. Quantum signature of chaos and thermalization in the kicked Dicke model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ray, S.; Ghosh, A.; Sinha, S.

    2016-09-01

    We study the quantum dynamics of the kicked Dicke model (KDM) in terms of the Floquet operator, and we analyze the connection between chaos and thermalization in this context. The Hamiltonian map is constructed by suitably taking the classical limit of the Heisenberg equation of motion to study the corresponding phase-space dynamics, which shows a crossover from regular to chaotic motion by tuning the kicking strength. The fixed-point analysis and calculation of the Lyapunov exponent (LE) provide us with a complete picture of the onset of chaos in phase-space dynamics. We carry out a spectral analysis of the Floquet operator, which includes a calculation of the quasienergy spacing distribution and structural entropy to show the correspondence to the random matrix theory in the chaotic regime. Finally, we analyze the thermodynamics and statistical properties of the bosonic sector as well as the spin sector, and we discuss how such a periodically kicked system relaxes to a thermalized state in accordance with the laws of statistical mechanics.

  10. Quantum signature of chaos and thermalization in the kicked Dicke model.

    PubMed

    Ray, S; Ghosh, A; Sinha, S

    2016-09-01

    We study the quantum dynamics of the kicked Dicke model (KDM) in terms of the Floquet operator, and we analyze the connection between chaos and thermalization in this context. The Hamiltonian map is constructed by suitably taking the classical limit of the Heisenberg equation of motion to study the corresponding phase-space dynamics, which shows a crossover from regular to chaotic motion by tuning the kicking strength. The fixed-point analysis and calculation of the Lyapunov exponent (LE) provide us with a complete picture of the onset of chaos in phase-space dynamics. We carry out a spectral analysis of the Floquet operator, which includes a calculation of the quasienergy spacing distribution and structural entropy to show the correspondence to the random matrix theory in the chaotic regime. Finally, we analyze the thermodynamics and statistical properties of the bosonic sector as well as the spin sector, and we discuss how such a periodically kicked system relaxes to a thermalized state in accordance with the laws of statistical mechanics.

  11. Analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models in trapped ions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aedo, Ibai; Lamata, Lucas

    2018-04-01

    We propose the analog quantum simulation of generalized Dicke models in trapped ions. By combining bicromatic laser interactions on multiple ions we can generate all regimes of light-matter coupling in these models, where here the light mode is mimicked by a motional mode. We present numerical simulations of the three-qubit Dicke model both in the weak field (WF) regime, where the Jaynes-Cummings behavior arises, and the ultrastrong coupling (USC) regime, where a rotating-wave approximation cannot be considered. We also simulate the two-qubit biased Dicke model in the WF and USC regimes and the two-qubit anisotropic Dicke model in the USC regime and the deep-strong coupling regime. The agreement between the mathematical models and the ion system convinces us that these quantum simulations can be implemented in the laboratory with current or near-future technology. This formalism establishes an avenue for the quantum simulation of many-spin Dicke models in trapped ions.

  12. Quantum state engineering in hybrid open quantum systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Joshi, Chaitanya; Larson, Jonas; Spiller, Timothy P.

    2016-04-01

    We investigate a possibility to generate nonclassical states in light-matter coupled noisy quantum systems, namely, the anisotropic Rabi and Dicke models. In these hybrid quantum systems, a competing influence of coherent internal dynamics and environment-induced dissipation drives the system into nonequilibrium steady states (NESSs). Explicitly, for the anisotropic Rabi model, the steady state is given by an incoherent mixture of two states of opposite parities, but as each parity state displays light-matter entanglement, we also find that the full state is entangled. Furthermore, as a natural extension of the anisotropic Rabi model to an infinite spin subsystem, we next explored the NESS of the anisotropic Dicke model. The NESS of this linearized Dicke model is also an inseparable state of light and matter. With an aim to enrich the dynamics beyond the sustainable entanglement found for the NESS of these hybrid quantum systems, we also propose to combine an all-optical feedback strategy for quantum state protection and for establishing quantum control in these systems. Our present work further elucidates the relevance of such hybrid open quantum systems for potential applications in quantum architectures.

  13. Non-singular Brans–Dicke collapse in deformed phase space

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rasouli, S.M.M., E-mail: mrasouli@ubi.pt; Centro de Matemática e Aplicações; Physics Group, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin

    2016-12-15

    We study the collapse process of a homogeneous perfect fluid (in FLRW background) with a barotropic equation of state in Brans–Dicke (BD) theory in the presence of phase space deformation effects. Such a deformation is introduced as a particular type of non-commutativity between phase space coordinates. For the commutative case, it has been shown in the literature (Scheel, 1995), that the dust collapse in BD theory leads to the formation of a spacetime singularity which is covered by an event horizon. In comparison to general relativity (GR), the authors concluded that the final state of black holes in BD theorymore » is identical to the GR case but differs from GR during the dynamical evolution of the collapse process. However, the presence of non-commutative effects influences the dynamics of the collapse scenario and consequently a non-singular evolution is developed in the sense that a bounce emerges at a minimum radius, after which an expanding phase begins. Such a behavior is observed for positive values of the BD coupling parameter. For large positive values of the BD coupling parameter, when non-commutative effects are present, the dynamics of collapse process differs from the GR case. Finally, we show that for negative values of the BD coupling parameter, the singularity is replaced by an oscillatory bounce occurring at a finite time, with the frequency of oscillation and amplitude being damped at late times.« less

  14. Non-singular Brans-Dicke collapse in deformed phase space

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rasouli, S. M. M.; Ziaie, A. H.; Jalalzadeh, S.; Moniz, P. V.

    2016-12-01

    We study the collapse process of a homogeneous perfect fluid (in FLRW background) with a barotropic equation of state in Brans-Dicke (BD) theory in the presence of phase space deformation effects. Such a deformation is introduced as a particular type of non-commutativity between phase space coordinates. For the commutative case, it has been shown in the literature (Scheel, 1995), that the dust collapse in BD theory leads to the formation of a spacetime singularity which is covered by an event horizon. In comparison to general relativity (GR), the authors concluded that the final state of black holes in BD theory is identical to the GR case but differs from GR during the dynamical evolution of the collapse process. However, the presence of non-commutative effects influences the dynamics of the collapse scenario and consequently a non-singular evolution is developed in the sense that a bounce emerges at a minimum radius, after which an expanding phase begins. Such a behavior is observed for positive values of the BD coupling parameter. For large positive values of the BD coupling parameter, when non-commutative effects are present, the dynamics of collapse process differs from the GR case. Finally, we show that for negative values of the BD coupling parameter, the singularity is replaced by an oscillatory bounce occurring at a finite time, with the frequency of oscillation and amplitude being damped at late times.

  15. Obituary: Richard L. (Dick) Walker, Jr., 1938-2005

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pier, Jeffrey R.; Mason, Brian

    2005-12-01

    Dick Walker, 67, died 30 March 2005 in Flagstaff, AZ, following a long illness. He was born on 9 March 1938 in Hampton, Iowa and grew up in Waterloo, Iowa. As a child, Dick was fascinated with astronomy and built his own telescope. He saved his pennies and bought and read every book on the subject he could find. He also raised pigeons, naming four of them Hertzsprung, Hoyle, Gamow, and Kron. In 1957, the year Sputnik was launched, Dick began his college studies at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. In 1959, he transferred to the State University of Iowa (subsequently renamed the University of Iowa) in Iowa City, where he earned a BA degree in astronomy and physics in 1963. He joined the staff of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, where he worked in the Time Service Division for a year before his assignment to the Astrometry and Astrophysics Division. Dick relocated to Flagstaff, AZ, in 1966 to continue his Naval Observatory service at the Flagstaff Station. His retirement in May 1999, ended a thirty-six-year career with USNO. Dick was first and foremost an observational astronomer. From the mid 1960s through the late 1970s, much of Dick's time was devoted to the measurement of binary stars, observing with the 12-inch and 26-inch refractors in Washington and later the 40-inch and 61-inch reflectors in Flagstaff. He also made many trips to Lick Observatory to work with the 36-inch Clark Refractor there. During this time he consulted with Charles Worley, who was observing on the 26-inch, to make sure time was well-spent examining doubles that could not be observed in Washington. This period of observing overlapped with the early years of speckle interferometry, and Dick's observations, made with the largest telescope used for micrometry at the time, were very important for ascertaining the veracity of this new technique. He was a studious and very careful observer of doubles and made over 8,000 measures, resulting in almost 3,000 mean positions

  16. Nonlinear absorption dynamics using field-induced surface hopping: zinc porphyrin in water.

    PubMed

    Röhr, Merle I S; Petersen, Jens; Wohlgemuth, Matthias; Bonačić-Koutecký, Vlasta; Mitrić, Roland

    2013-05-10

    We wish to present the application of our field-induced surface-hopping (FISH) method to simulate nonlinear absorption dynamics induced by strong nonresonant laser fields. We provide a systematic comparison of the FISH approach with exact quantum dynamics simulations on a multistate model system and demonstrate that FISH allows for accurate simulations of nonlinear excitation processes including multiphoton electronic transitions. In particular, two different approaches for simulating two-photon transitions are compared. The first approach is essentially exact and involves the solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in an extended manifold of excited states, while in the second one only transiently populated nonessential states are replaced by an effective quadratic coupling term, and dynamics is performed in a considerably smaller manifold of states. We illustrate the applicability of our method to complex molecular systems by simulating the linear and nonlinear laser-driven dynamics in zinc (Zn) porphyrin in the gas phase and in water. For this purpose, the FISH approach is connected with the quantum mechanical-molecular mechanical approach (QM/MM) which is generally applicable to large classes of complex systems. Our findings that multiphoton absorption and dynamics increase the population of higher excited states of Zn porphyrin in the nonlinear regime, in particular in solution, provides a means for manipulating excited-state properties, such as transient absorption dynamics and electronic relaxation. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  17. Electrically tunable Dicke effect in a double-ring resonator

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cetin, A. E.; Muestecaplioglu, Oe. E.; Department of Physics, Koc University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34450

    We study the finite-element method analysis of the Dicke effect using numerical simulations in an all-optical system of an optical waveguide side-coupled to two interacting ring resonators in a liquid crystal environment. The system is shown to exhibit all the signatures of the Dicke effect under active and reversible control by an applied voltage.

  18. Interview with Dick Whiteside

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Winarski, Kathy

    2005-01-01

    Dick Whiteside, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Tulane University, is one of the leading strategists in the field of enrollment management. Dr. Whiteside has held influential positions at the University of Hartford, in West Hartford, Connecticut, The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, the City University of New York in…

  19. Cosmological Constraint on Brans-Dicke Theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Xuelei; Wu, Fengquan

    We develop the covariant formalism of the cosmological perturbation theory for the Brans-Dicke gravity, and use it to calculate the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy and large scale structure (LSS) power spectrum. We introduce a new parameter ζ which is related to the Brans-Dicke parameter ζ = ln(1/ω + 1), and use the Markov-Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to explore the parameter space. Using the latest CMB data published by WMAP, ACBAR, CBI, Boomerang teams, and the LSS data from the SDSS survey DR4, we find that the the 2σ (95.5%) bound on ζ is about |ζ| > 10-2, or |ω| > 102, the precise limit depends somewhat on the prior used.

  20. Brans-Dicke Galileon and the variational principle

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quiros, Israel; García-Salcedo, Ricardo; Gonzalez, Tame; Horta-Rangel, F. Antonio; Saavedra, Joel

    2016-09-01

    This paper is aimed at a (mostly) pedagogical exposition of the derivation of the motion equations of certain modifications of general relativity. Here we derive in all detail the motion equations in the Brans-Dicke theory with cubic self-interaction. This is a modification of the Brans-Dicke theory by the addition of a term in the Lagrangian which is non-linear in the derivatives of the scalar field: it contains second-order derivatives. This is the basis of the so-called Brans-Dicke Galileon. We pay special attention to the variational principle and to the algebraic details of the derivation. It is shown how higher order derivatives of the fields appearing in the intermediate computations cancel out leading to second order motion equations. The reader will find useful tips for the derivation of the field equations of modifications of general relativity such as the scalar-tensor theories and f(R) theories, by means of the (stationary action) variational principle. The content of this paper is particularly recommended to those graduate and postgraduate students who are interested in the study of the mentioned modifications of general relativity.

  1. What We Talk around when We Talk about "The Dick"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Savage, Elizabeth

    2011-01-01

    Some years ago, the author had her first opportunity to teach an undergraduate American Romanticism course, which meant she had a chance to teach "Moby-Dick" the way she thought it should be taught. Meeting two days a week, her course was set up so that students read about thirty pages of "Moby-Dick" for one class meeting a week paired with…

  2. Tilted Kantowski-Sachs cosmological model in Brans-Dicke theory of gravitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pawar, D. D.; Shahare, S. P.; Dagwal, V. J.

    2018-02-01

    Tilted Kantowski-Sachs cosmological model in Brans-Dicke theory for perfect fluid has been investigated. The general solution of field equations in Brans-Dicke theory for the combined scalar and tensor field are obtained by using power law relation. Also, some physical and geometrical parameters are obtained and discussed.

  3. First-Order Quantum Phase Transition for Dicke Model Induced by Atom-Atom Interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Xiu-Qin; Liu, Ni; Liang, Jiu-Qing

    2017-05-01

    In this article, we use the spin coherent state transformation and the ground state variational method to theoretically calculate the ground function. In order to consider the influence of the atom-atom interaction on the extended Dicke model’s ground state properties, the mean photon number, the scaled atomic population and the average ground energy are displayed. Using the self-consistent field theory to solve the atom-atom interaction, we discover the system undergoes a first-order quantum phase transition from the normal phase to the superradiant phase, but a famous Dicke-type second-order quantum phase transition without the atom-atom interaction. Meanwhile, the atom-atom interaction makes the phase transition point shift to the lower atom-photon collective coupling strength. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 11275118, 11404198, 91430109, 61505100, 51502189, and the Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi Province (STIP) under Grant No. 2014102, and the Launch of the Scientific Research of Shanxi University under Grant No. 011151801004, and the National Fundamental Fund of Personnel Training under Grant No. J1103210. The Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province under Grant No. 2015011008

  4. Dicke-model simulation via cavity-assisted Raman transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhiqiang; Lee, Chern Hui; Kumar, Ravi; Arnold, K. J.; Masson, Stuart J.; Grimsmo, A. L.; Parkins, A. S.; Barrett, M. D.

    2018-04-01

    The Dicke model is of fundamental importance in quantum mechanics for understanding the collective behavior of atoms coupled to a single electromagnetic mode. Here, we demonstrate a Dicke-model simulation via cavity-assisted Raman transitions in a configuration using counterpropagating laser beams. The observations indicate that motional effects should be included to fully account for the results. These results are contrary to experiments using single-beam and copropagating configurations. We give a theoretical description that accounts for the beam geometries used in the experiments and indicates the potential role of motional effects. In particular, a model is given that highlights the influence of Doppler broadening on the observed phase-transition thresholds.

  5. Interview with Dick Fish

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    An interview with Dick Fish of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory is presented. Mr. Fish's current research interests are discussed. These interests include the identification of trace metal non-porphyrin compounds in heavy crude petroleums. In particular, these interests include the identification of a class of nickel and vanadium compounds in the heavy crude petroleum from various geographical locations, e.g., the Boscan in Cerro Negro in Venezuela, Wilmington in California, and Prudhoe Bay in Alaska.

  6. Comment on the Jordan-Brands-Dicke universes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lorenz-Petzold, D.

    1987-06-01

    It is shown that the recently obtained Jordan-Brans-Dicke solutions by Chauvet and Guzmán (1986) are either inconsistent, or only special power-law solutions derived previously by Lorenz-Petzold in various papers.

  7. Inflation and dark energy from the Brans-Dicke theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Artymowski, Michał; Lalak, Zygmunt; Lewicki, Marek

    2015-06-01

    We consider the Brans-Dicke theory motivated by the f(R) = R + α Rn - β R2-n model to obtain a stable minimum of the Einstein frame scalar potential of the Brans-Dicke field. As a result we have obtained an inflationary scalar potential with non-zero value of residual vacuum energy, which may be a source of dark energy. In addition we discuss the probability of quantum tunnelling from the minimum of the potential. Our results can be easily consistent with PLANCK or BICEP2 data for appropriate choices of the value of n and ω.

  8. Antigravity in F( R) and Brans-Dicke theories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oikonomou, V. K.; Karagiannakis, N.

    2014-12-01

    We study antigravity in F( R)-theory originating scalar-tensor theories and also in Brans-Dicke models without cosmological constant. For the F( R) theory case, we obtain the Jordan frame antigravity scalar-tensor theory by using a variant of the Lagrange multipliers method and we numerically study the time dependent effective gravitational constant. As we shall demonstrate in detail by using some viable F( R) models, although the initial F( R) models have no antigravity, their scalar-tensor counterpart theories might or not have antigravity, a fact mainly depending on the parameter that characterizes antigravity. Similar results hold true in the Brans-Dicke model, which we also studied numerically. In addition, regarding the Brans-Dicke model we also found some analytic cosmological solutions. Since antigravity is an unwanted feature in gravitational theories, our findings suggest that in the case of F( R) theories, antigravity does not occur in the real world described by the F( R) theory, but might occur in the Jordan frame scalar-tensor counterpart of the F( R) theory, and this happens under certain circumstances. The central goal of our study is to present all different cases in which antigravity might occur in modified gravity models.

  9. Remembering Dick Crane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jossem, E. Leonard

    2007-09-01

    Physicist, polymath, educator, leader, Horace Richard Crane died on April 19, 2007, a few months short of his 100th birthday. Those of us who were fortunate enough to have had him as a friend mourn his loss, but for all of us he leaves a rich and varied legacy of published works that invite reading and rereading. Dick's work as a physicist was recognized in 1966 by his election to the National Academy of Sciences and in 1986 by the award of the President's National Medal of Science: "For the first measurement of the magnetic moment and spin of free electrons and positrons."

  10. Variational treatment of entanglement in the Dicke model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bakemeier, L.; Alvermann, A.; Fehske, H.

    2015-10-01

    We introduce a variational ansatz for the Dicke model that extends mean-field theory through the inclusion of spin-oscillator correlations. The correlated variational state is obtained from the mean-field product state via a unitary transformation. The ansatz becomes correct in the limit of large oscillator frequency and in the limit of a large spin, for which it captures the leading quantum corrections to the classical limit exactly including the spin-oscillator entanglement entropy. We explain the origin of the unitary transformation before we show that the ansatz improves substantially upon mean-field theory, giving near exact results for the ground state energy and very good results for other observables. We then discuss why the ansatz still encounters problems in the transition regime at moderate spin lengths, where it fails to capture the precursors of the superradiant quantum phase transition faithfully. This observation illustrates the principal limits of semi-classical formulations, even after they are extended with correlations and entanglement.

  11. Effects of anisotropy on interacting ghost dark energy in Brans-Dicke theories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hossienkhani, H.; Fayaz, V.; Azimi, N.

    2017-03-01

    In this work we concentrate on the ghost dark energy model within the framework of the Brans-Dicke theory in an anisotropic Universe. Within this framework we discuss the behavior of equation of state, deceleration and dark energy density parameters of the model. We consider the squared sound speed and quest for signs of stability of the model. We also probe observational constraints by using the latest observational data on the ghost dark energy models as the unification of dark matter and dark energy. In order to do so, we focus on observational determinations of the Hubble expansion rate (namely, the expansion history) H(z). Then we evaluate the evolution of the growth of perturbations in the linear regime for both ghost DE and Brans-Dicke theory and compare the results with standard FRW and ΛCDM models. We display the effects of the anisotropy on the evolutionary behavior the ghost DE models where the growth rate is higher in this models. Eventually the growth factor for the ΛCDM Universe will always fall behind the ghost DE models in an anisotropic Universe.

  12. Keldysh approach for nonequilibrium phase transitions in quantum optics: Beyond the Dicke model in optical cavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Torre, Emanuele G. Dalla; Diehl, Sebastian; Lukin, Mikhail D.; Sachdev, Subir; Strack, Philipp

    2013-02-01

    We investigate nonequilibrium phase transitions for driven atomic ensembles interacting with a cavity mode and coupled to a Markovian dissipative bath. In the thermodynamic limit and at low frequencies, we show that the distribution function of the photonic mode is thermal, with an effective temperature set by the atom-photon interaction strength. This behavior characterizes the static and dynamic critical exponents of the associated superradiance transition. Motivated by these considerations, we develop a general Keldysh path-integral approach that allows us to study physically relevant nonlinearities beyond the idealized Dicke model. Using standard diagrammatic techniques, we take into account the leading-order corrections due to the finite number N of atoms. For finite N, the photon mode behaves as a damped classical nonlinear oscillator at finite temperature. For the atoms, we propose a Dicke action that can be solved for any N and correctly captures the atoms’ depolarization due to dissipative dephasing.

  13. Excited-state dynamics of pentacene derivatives with stable radical substituents.

    PubMed

    Ito, Akitaka; Shimizu, Akihiro; Kishida, Noriaki; Kawanaka, Yusuke; Kosumi, Daisuke; Hashimoto, Hideki; Teki, Yoshio

    2014-06-23

    The excited-state dynamics of pentacene derivatives with stable radical substituents were evaluated in detail through transient absorption measurements. The derivatives showed ultrafast formation of triplet excited state(s) in the pentacene moiety from a photoexcited singlet state through the contributions of enhanced intersystem crossing and singlet fission. Detailed kinetic analyses for the transient absorption data were conducted to quantify the excited-state characteristics of the derivatives. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  14. {gamma} parameter and Solar System constraint in chameleon-Brans-Dicke theory

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Saaidi, Kh.; Mohammadi, A.; Sheikhahmadi, H.

    2011-05-15

    The post Newtonian parameter is considered in the chameleon-Brans-Dicke model. In the first step, the general form of this parameter and also effective gravitational constant is obtained. An arbitrary function for f({Phi}), which indicates the coupling between matter and scalar field, is introduced to investigate validity of solar system constraint. It is shown that the chameleon-Brans-Dicke model can satisfy the solar system constraint and gives us an {omega} parameter of order 10{sup 4}, which is in comparable to the constraint which has been indicated in [19].

  15. Revisiting the analogue of the Jebsen-Birkhoff theorem in Brans-Dicke gravity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faraoni, Valerio; Hammad, Fayçal; Cardini, Adriana M.; Gobeil, Thomas

    2018-04-01

    We report the explicit form of the general static, spherically symmetric, and asymptotically flat solution of vacuum Brans-Dicke gravity in the Jordan frame, assuming that the Brans-Dicke scalar field has no singularities or zeros (except possibly for a central singularity). This general solution is conformal to the Fisher-Wyman geometry of Einstein theory and its nature depends on a scalar charge parameter. Apart from the Schwarzschild black hole, only wormhole throats and central naked singularities are possible.

  16. Explaining fast radio bursts through Dicke's superradiance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Houde, Martin; Mathews, Abhilash; Rajabi, Fereshteh

    2018-03-01

    Fast radio bursts (FRBs), characterized by strong bursts of radiation intensity at radio wavelengths lasting on the order of a millisecond, have yet to be firmly associated with a family, or families, of astronomical sources. It follows that despite the large number of proposed models, no well-defined physical process has been identified to explain this phenomenon. In this paper, we demonstrate how Dicke's superradiance, for which evidence has recently been found in the interstellar medium, can account for the characteristics associated with FRBs. Our analysis and modelling of previously detected FRBs suggest they could originate from regions in many ways similar to those known to harbour masers or megamasers, and result from the coherent radiation emanating from populations of molecules associated with large-scale entangled quantum mechanical states. We estimate this entanglement to involve as many as ˜1030 to ˜1032 molecules over distances spanning 100-1000 au.

  17. Excitation Dynamics in Phycoerythrin 545: Modeling of Steady-State Spectra and Transient Absorption with Modified Redfield Theory

    PubMed Central

    Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I.; Doust, Alexander B.; Curutchet, Carles; Scholes, Gregory D.; van Grondelle, Rienk

    2010-01-01

    Abstract We model the spectra and excitation dynamics in the phycobiliprotein antenna complex PE545 isolated from the unicellular photosynthetic cryptophyte algae Rhodomonas CS24. The excitonic couplings between the eight bilins are calculated using the CIS/6-31G method. The site energies are extracted from a simultaneous fit of the absorption, circular dichroism, fluorescence, and excitation anisotropy spectra together with the transient absorption kinetics using the modified Redfield approach. Quantitative fit of the data enables us to assign the eight exciton components of the spectra and build up the energy transfer picture including pathways and timescales of energy relaxation, thus allowing a visualization of excitation dynamics within the complex. PMID:20643051

  18. TEACHING "MOBY DICK," A METHOD AND AN APPROACH.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    JOSEPHS, LOIS

    "MOBY DICK" IS SINGULARLY APPROPRIATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ITS PHILOSOPHICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL EMPHASIS. HOWEVER, TO GUIDE THE STUDENTS INTO THE THEMATIC INTRICACIES OF THE WORK, THE TEACHER MUST USE A CAREFULLY PLANNED, INDUCTIVE APPROACH THAT DEMANDS CLOSE TEXTUAL STUDY IN CLASS. ALTHOUGH EACH TEACHER SHOULD CONCENTRATE…

  19. First-order dipolar phase transition in the Dicke model with infinitely coordinated frustrating interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mukhin, S. I.; Gnezdilov, N. V.

    2018-05-01

    We found analytically a first-order quantum phase transition in a Cooper pair box array of N low-capacitance Josephson junctions capacitively coupled to resonant photons in a microwave cavity. The Hamiltonian of the system maps on the extended Dicke Hamiltonian of N spins 1 /2 with infinitely coordinated antiferromagnetic (frustrating) interaction. This interaction arises from the gauge-invariant coupling of the Josephson-junction phases to the vector potential of the resonant photons field. In the N ≫1 semiclassical limit, we found a critical coupling at which the ground state of the system switches to one with a net collective electric dipole moment of the Cooper pair boxes coupled to a super-radiant equilibrium photonic condensate. This phase transition changes from the first to second order if the frustrating interaction is switched off. A self-consistently "rotating" Holstein-Primakoff representation for the Cartesian components of the total superspin is proposed, that enables one to trace both the first- and the second-order quantum phase transitions in the extended and standard Dicke models, respectively.

  20. Excited state dynamics of the astaxanthin radical cation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Amarie, Sergiu; Förster, Ute; Gildenhoff, Nina; Dreuw, Andreas; Wachtveitl, Josef

    2010-07-01

    Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in the visible and NIR and ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy were used to examine the excited state dynamics of astaxanthin and its radical cation. For neutral astaxanthin, two kinetic components corresponding to time constants of 130 fs (decay of the S 2 excited state) and 5.2 ps (nonradiative decay of the S 1 excited state) were sufficient to describe the data. The dynamics of the radical cation proved to be more complex. The main absorption band was shifted to 880 nm (D 0 → D 3 transition), showing a weak additional band at 1320 nm (D 0 → D 1 transition). We found, that D 3 decays to the lower-lying D 2 within 100 fs, followed by a decay to D 1 with a time constant of 0.9 ps. The D 1 state itself exhibited a dual behavior, the majority of the population is transferred to the ground state in 4.9 ps, while a small population decays on a longer timescale of 40 ps. Both transitions from D 1 were found to be fluorescent.

  1. Axially Symmetric Brans-Dicke-Maxwell Solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chatterjee, S.

    1981-05-01

    Following a method of John and Goswami new solutions of coupled Brans-Dicke-Maxwell theory are generated from Zipoy's solutions in oblate and prolate spheroidal coordinates for source-free gravitational field. All these solutions become Euclidean at infinity. The asymptotic behavior and the singularity of the solutions are discussed and a comparative study made with the corresponding Einstein-Maxwell solutions. The possibility of a very large red shift from the boundary of the spheroids is also discussed.

  2. Integrability and superintegrability of the generalized n-level many-mode Jaynes-Cummings and Dicke models

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Skrypnyk, T.

    2009-10-15

    We analyze symmetries of the integrable generalizations of Jaynes-Cummings and Dicke models associated with simple Lie algebras g and their reductive subalgebras g{sub K}[T. Skrypnyk, 'Generalized n-level Jaynes-Cummings and Dicke models, classical rational r-matrices and nested Bethe ansatz', J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41, 475202 (2008)]. We show that their symmetry algebras contain commutative subalgebras isomorphic to the Cartan subalgebras of g, which can be added to the commutative algebras of quantum integrals generated with the help of the quantum Lax operators. We diagonalize additional commuting integrals and constructed with their help the most general integrable quantum Hamiltonian of themore » generalized n-level many-mode Jaynes-Cummings and Dicke-type models using nested algebraic Bethe ansatz.« less

  3. Dynamics of water absorption through superabsorbent polymer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Sooyoung; Kim, Wonjung

    2017-11-01

    Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) consist of hydrophilic cross-linked polymer networks that can absorb and retain a great amount of water relative to their own mass, so that they are widely used for disposable diapers and holding soil moisture in agriculture. SAPs are typically available in the form of submillimeter-sized particles, and the water absorption is driven by capillary flows between particles as well as diffusion that entail swelling. Although the control of water absorption of SAPs is important in engineering applications, but the dynamics of water absorption in SAP particles has not been fully understood. We examine the dynamics of the water absorption of sodium polyacrylate, one of the most common SAP. We experimentally measured the water absorption of sodium polyacrylate particles in one-dimensional confined channel. The water flows through the particles were analyzed by capillarity dominant at the early stage and by diffusion involving volume expansion critical at a later stage. The results provide a quantitative basis of the hydrodynamic analysis of the water flow through SAP particles from a macroscopic point of view, facilitating the prediction of water uptake of SAPs in hygienic and agricultural applications. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No.2015R1A2A2A04006181).

  4. Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics of Cytosine Aza-Derivative and Analogues.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Zhongneng; Zhou, Xueyao; Wang, Xueli; Jiang, Bin; Li, Yongle; Chen, Jinquan; Xu, Jianhua

    2017-04-13

    Excited state dynamics of 5-azacytosine (5-AC), 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine (2,4-DT), and 2-amino-1,3,5-triazine (2-AT) were comprehensively investigated by steady state absorption, fluorescence, and femtosecond transient absorption measurements. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations were performed to help assign the absorption bands and understand the excited state decay mechanisms. The experimental results of excited singlet state dynamics for 5-AC, 2,4-DT, and 2-AT with femtosecond time resolution were reported for the first time. Two distinct decay pathways, with ∼1 ps and tens of picosecond lifetimes, were observed in 5-AC. Only one decay pathway with 17 ps lifetime was observed in 2,4-DT while an emissive state was found in 2-AT. TDDFT calculations suggest that 5-AC has a dark nπ* (S 1 ) state below the first allowed ππ* (S 2 ) state, which leads to the ultrafast decay of the ππ* state. In 2,4-DT, there is no dark nπ* state below the bright ππ* (S 1 ) state and the 17 ps lifetime is assigned to the relaxation from the ππ* (S 1 ) state to ground state. Two dark nπ* states (S 1 and S 2 ) were found in 2-AT, which exhibits much more complex excited state dynamics compared with the other two. Photoluminescence in 2-AT has been confirmed to be fluorescence emission from its bright ππ* (S 3 ) state. Our results strongly suggest that electronic structures are very sensitive to the substitution on the triazine ring and that the photophysical properties of nucleic acid analogues depend highly on their molecular structures.

  5. Dynamics of molecules in extreme rotational states

    PubMed Central

    Yuan, Liwei; Teitelbaum, Samuel W.; Robinson, Allison; Mullin, Amy S.

    2011-01-01

    We have constructed an optical centrifuge with a pulse energy that is more than 2 orders of magnitude larger than previously reported instruments. This high pulse energy enables us to create large enough number densities of molecules in extreme rotational states to perform high-resolution state-resolved transient IR absorption measurements. Here we report the first studies of energy transfer dynamics involving molecules in extreme rotational states. In these studies, the optical centrifuge drives CO2 molecules into states with J ∼ 220 and we use transient IR probing to monitor the subsequent rotational, translational, and vibrational energy flow dynamics. The results reported here provide the first molecular insights into the relaxation of molecules with rotational energy that is comparable to that of a chemical bond.

  6. The Truth of the Thing: Nonfiction in "Moby Dick"

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hilbert, Betsy

    1986-01-01

    Looks at Melville's narrative construction of "onion-like...layers of truth" that combine romance and textbook, presents critics' discussion and scholars' treatment of the cetological information present in the text, offers an explanation for the lack of recognition due to the nonfictional parts of "Moby Dick." (JK)

  7. Fano-Agarwal couplings and non-rotating wave approximation in single-photon timed Dicke subradiance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mirza, Imran M.; Begzjav, Tuguldur

    2016-04-01

    Recently a new class of single-photon timed Dicke (TD) subradiant states has been introduced with possible applications in single-photon-based quantum information storage and on demand ultrafast retrieval (Scully M. O., Phys. Rev. Lett., 115 (2015) 243602). However, the influence of any kind of virtual processes on the decay of these new kind of subradiant states has been left as an open question. In the present paper, we focus on this problem in detail. In particular, we investigate how pure Fano-Agarwal couplings and other virtual processes arising from non-rotating wave approximation impact the decay of otherwise sub- and superradiant states. In addition to the overall virtual couplings among all TD states, we also focus on the dominant role played by the couplings between specific TD states.

  8. Absorption and Emission Spectroscopic Investigation of Thermal Dynamics and Photo-Dynamics of the Rhodopsin Domain of the Rhodopsin-Guanylyl Cyclase from the Nematophagous Fungus Catenaria anguillulae

    PubMed Central

    Penzkofer, Alfons; Scheib, Ulrike; Stehfest, Katja; Hegemann, Peter

    2017-01-01

    The rhodopsin-guanylyl cyclase from the nematophagous fungus Catenaria anguillulae belongs to a recently discovered class of enzymerhodopsins and may find application as a tool in optogenetics. Here the rhodopsin domain CaRh of the rhodopsin-guanylyl cyclase from Catenaria anguillulae was studied by absorption and emission spectroscopic methods. The absorption cross-section spectrum and excitation wavelength dependent fluorescence quantum distributions of CaRh samples were determined (first absorption band in the green spectral region). The thermal stability of CaRh was studied by long-time attenuation measurements at room temperature (20.5 °C) and refrigerator temperature of 3.5 °C. The apparent melting temperature of CaRh was determined by stepwise sample heating up and cooling down (obtained apparent melting temperature: 62 ± 2 °C). The photocycle dynamics of CaRh was investigated by sample excitation to the first inhomogeneous absorption band of the CaRhda dark-adapted state around 590 nm (long-wavelength tail), 530 nm (central region) and 470 nm (short-wavelength tail) and following the absorption spectra development during exposure and after exposure (time resolution 0.0125 s). The original protonated retinal Schiff base PRSBall-trans in CaRhda photo-converted reversibly to protonated retinal Schiff base PRSBall-trans,la1 with restructured surroundings (CaRhla1 light-adapted state, slightly blue-shifted and broadened first absorption band, recovery to CaRhda with time constant of 0.8 s) and deprotonated retinal Schiff base RSB13-cis (CaRhla2 light-adapted state, first absorption band in violet to near ultraviolet spectral region, recovery to CaRhda with time constant of 0.35 s). Long-time light exposure of light-adapted CaRhla1 around 590, 530 and 470 nm caused low-efficient irreversible degradation to photoproducts CaRhprod. Schemes of the primary photocycle dynamics of CaRhda and the secondary photocycle dynamics of CaRhla1 are developed. PMID:28981475

  9. Brans-Dicke Theory with Λ>0: Black Holes and Large Scale Structures.

    PubMed

    Bhattacharya, Sourav; Dialektopoulos, Konstantinos F; Romano, Antonio Enea; Tomaras, Theodore N

    2015-10-30

    A step-by-step approach is followed to study cosmic structures in the context of Brans-Dicke theory with positive cosmological constant Λ and parameter ω. First, it is shown that regular stationary black-hole solutions not only have constant Brans-Dicke field ϕ, but can exist only for ω=∞, which forces the theory to coincide with the general relativity. Generalizations of the theory in order to evade this black-hole no-hair theorem are presented. It is also shown that in the absence of a stationary cosmological event horizon in the asymptotic region, a stationary black-hole horizon can support a nontrivial Brans-Dicke hair. Even more importantly, it is shown next that the presence of a stationary cosmological event horizon rules out any regular stationary solution, appropriate for the description of a star. Thus, to describe a star one has to assume that there is no such stationary horizon in the faraway asymptotic region. Under this implicit assumption generic spherical cosmic structures are studied perturbatively and it is shown that only for ω>0 or ω≲-5 their predicted maximum sizes are consistent with observations. We also point out how, many of the conclusions of this work differ qualitatively from the Λ=0 spacetimes.

  10. Bianchi type-I domain walls with negative constant deceleration parameter in Brans-Dicke theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Katore, S. D.

    2011-04-01

    Bianchi type-I space-time is considered in the presence of a domain walls source in the scalar-tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Brans and Dicke (C.H. Brans and R.H. Dicke, Phys. Rev. 24, 925 (1961)). With the help of the special law of variation for Hubble's parameter proposed by Bermann (M.S. Berman, Nuovo Cimento B 74, 182 (1983)) a cosmological model with negative constant deceleration parameter is obtained in the presence of domain walls. Some physical properties of the model are also discussed.

  11. Elucidating ultrafast electron dynamics at surfaces using extreme ultraviolet (XUV) reflection-absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Biswas, Somnath; Husek, Jakub; Baker, L Robert

    2018-04-24

    Here we review the recent development of extreme ultraviolet reflection-absorption (XUV-RA) spectroscopy. This method combines the benefits of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, such as element, oxidation, and spin state specificity, with surface sensitivity and ultrafast time resolution, having a probe depth of only a few nm and an instrument response less than 100 fs. Using this technique we investigated the ultrafast electron dynamics at a hematite (α-Fe2O3) surface. Surface electron trapping and small polaron formation both occur in 660 fs following photoexcitation. These kinetics are independent of surface morphology indicating that electron trapping is not mediated by defects. Instead, small polaron formation is proposed as the likely driving force for surface electron trapping. We also show that in Fe2O3, Co3O4, and NiO, band gap excitation promotes electron transfer from O 2p valence band states to metal 3d conduction band states. In addition to detecting the photoexcited electron at the metal M2,3-edge, the valence band hole is directly observed as transient signal at the O L1-edge. The size of the resulting charge transfer exciton is on the order of a single metal-oxygen bond length. Spectral shifts at the O L1-edge correlate with metal-oxygen bond covalency, confirming the relationship between valence band hybridization and the overpotential for water oxidation. These examples demonstrate the unique ability to measure ultrafast electron dynamics with element and chemical state resolution using XUV-RA spectroscopy. Accordingly, this method is poised to play an important role to reveal chemical details of previously unseen surface electron dynamics.

  12. Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of nitric oxide synthase studied by visible broadband transient absorption spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hung, Chih-Chang; Yabushita, Atsushi; Kobayashi, Takayoshi; Chen, Pei-Feng; Liang, Keng S.

    2017-09-01

    Ultrafast dynamics of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) oxygenase domain was studied by transient absorption spectroscopy pumping at Soret band. The broadband visible probe spectrum has visualized the relaxation dynamics from the Soret band to Q-band and charge transfer (CT) band. Supported by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, global fitting analysis has successfully concluded the relaxation dynamics from the Soret band to be (1) electronic transition to Q-band (0.16 ps), (2) ligand dissociation and CT (0.94 ps), (3) relaxation of the CT state (4.0 ps), and (4) ligand rebinding (59 ps).

  13. High-order corrections on the laser cooling limit in the Lamb-Dicke regime.

    PubMed

    Yi, Zhen; Gu, Wen-Ju

    2017-01-23

    We investigate corrections on the cooling limit of high-order Lamb-Dicke (LD) parameters in the double electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) cooling scheme. Via utilizing quantum interferences, the single-phonon heating mechanism vanishes and the system evolves to a double dark state, from which we will obtain the mechanical occupation on the single-phonon excitation state. In addition, the further correction induced by two-phonon heating transitions is included to achieve a more accurate cooling limit. There exist two pathways of two-phonon heating transitions: direct two-phonon excitation from the dark state and further excitation from the single-phonon excited state. By adding up these two parts of correction, the obtained analytical predictions show a well consistence with numerical results. Moreover, we find that the two pathways can destructively interfere with each other, leading to the elimination of two-phonon heating transitions and achieving a lower cooling limit.

  14. Author! Author! The Gallant Children's Author: Dick King-Smith

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brodie, Carolyn S.

    2005-01-01

    This column presents a brief biography of Dick King-Smith. Born on March 27, 1922 and raised in Gloucestershire, England, he grew up with animals of all kinds. King-Smith was a farmer for twenty years and then became a school teacher. He was also a soldier during wartime, a traveling salesman, shoe factory worker, and television presenter. He…

  15. Solar oblateness from Archimedes to Dicke

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sigismondi, C.; Oliva, P.

    2005-10-01

    The non-spherical shape of the Sun has been invoked to explain the anomalous precession of Mercury. A brief history of some methods for measuring the solar diameter is presented. Archimedes was the first to give upper and lower values for the solar diameter in the third century before Christ. Then there followed the method of total eclipses, used after Halley's observative campaign of 1715 eclipse. We will also discuss the variant of partial eclipses, useful to measure different chords of the solar disk and the method of Dicke, which correlates oblateness with luminous excess in the equatorial zone.

  16. Brans-Dicke inflation in light of the Planck 2015 data

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tahmasebzadeh, B.; Rezazadeh, K.; Karami, K., E-mail: b.tahmasebzadeh@iasbs.ac.ir, E-mail: rezazadeh86@gmail.com, E-mail: kkarami@uok.ac.ir

    We study inflation in the Brans-Dicke gravity as a special model of the scalar-tensor gravity. We obtain the inflationary observables containing the scalar spectral index, the tensor-to-scalar ratio, the running of the scalar spectral index and the equilateral non-Gaussianity parameter in terms of the general form of the potential in the Jordan frame. Then, we compare the results for various inflationary potentials in light of the Planck 2015 data. Our study shows that in the Brans-Dicke gravity, the power-law, inverse power-law and exponential potentials are ruled out by the Planck 2015 data. But, the hilltop, Higgs, Coleman-Weinberg and natural potentialsmore » can be compatible with Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data at 95% CL. Moreover, the D-brane, SB SUSY and displaced quadratic potentials can be in well agreement with the observational data since their results can lie inside the 68% CL region of Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data.« less

  17. Dynamic Optoelectronic Properties in Perovskite Oxide Thin Films Measured with Ultrafast Transient Absorption & Reflectance Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smolin, Sergey Y.

    Ultrafast transient absorption and reflectance spectroscopy are foundational techniques for studying photoexcited carrier recombination mechanisms, lifetimes, and charge transfer rates. Because quantifying photoexcited carrier dynamics is central to the intelligent design and improvement of many solid state devices, these transient optical techniques have been applied to a wide range of semiconductors. However, despite their promise, interpretation of transient absorption and reflectance data is not always straightforward and often relies on assumptions of physical processes, especially with respect to the influence of heating. Studying the material space of perovskite oxides, the careful collection, interpretation, and analysis of ultrafast data is presented here as a guide for future research into novel semiconductors. Perovskite oxides are a class of transition metal oxides with the chemical structure ABO3. Although traditionally studied for their diverse physical, electronic, and magnetic properties, perovskite oxides have gained recent research attention as novel candidates for light harvesting applications. Indeed, strong tunable absorption, unique interfacial properties, and vast chemical flexibility make perovskite oxides a promising photoactive material system. However, there is limited research characterizing dynamic optoelectronic properties, such as recombination lifetimes, which are critical to know in the design of any light-harvesting device. In this thesis, ultrafast transient absorption and reflectance spectroscopy was used to understand these dynamic optoelectronic properties in highquality, thin (<50 nm) perovskite oxide films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Starting with epitaxial LaFeO3 (LFO) grown on (LaAlO 3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7 (LSAT), transient absorption spectroscopy reveals two photoinduced absorption features at the band gap of LFO at 2.4 eV and at the higher energy absorption edge at 3.5 eV. Using a combination of temperature

  18. On the emergence of the ΛCDM model from self-interacting Brans-Dicke theory in d= 5

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reyes, Luz Marina; Perez Bergliaffa, Santiago Esteban

    2018-01-01

    We investigate whether a self-interacting Brans-Dicke theory in d=5 without matter and with a time-dependent metric can describe, after dimensional reduction to d=4, the FLRW model with accelerated expansion and non-relativistic matter. By rewriting the effective 4-dimensional theory as an autonomous 3-dimensional dynamical system and studying its critical points, we show that the ΛCDM cosmology cannot emerge from such a model. This result suggests that a richer structure in d=5 may be needed to obtain the accelerated expansion as well as the matter content of the 4-dimensional universe.

  19. Ultrafast carrier dynamics of titanic acid nanotubes investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Wang, Li; Zhao, Hui; Pan, Lin Yun; Weng, Yu Xiang; Nakato, Yoshihiro; Tamai, Naoto

    2010-12-01

    Carrier dynamics of titanic acid nanotubes (phase of H2Ti2O5.H2O) deposited on a quartz plate was examined by visible/near-IR transient absorption spectroscopy with an ultraviolet excitation. The carrier dynamics of titanic acid nanotubes follows the fast trapping process which attributed to the intrinsic tubular structure, the relaxation of shallow trapped carriers and the recombination as a second-order kinetic process. Transient absorption of titanic acid nanotubes was dominated by the absorption of surface-trapped holes in visible region around 500 nm, which was proved by the faster decay dynamics in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol as a hole-scavenger. However, the slow relaxation of free carriers was much more pronounced in the TiO2 single crystals, as compared with the transient absorption spectra of titanic acid nanotubes under the similar excitation.

  20. Probing dynamical symmetry breaking using quantum-entangled photons

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Hao; Piryatinski, Andrei; Jerke, Jonathan

    Here, we present an input/output analysis of photon-correlation experiments whereby a quantum mechanically entangled bi-photon state interacts with a material sample placed in one arm of a Hong–Ou–Mandel apparatus. We show that the output signal contains detailed information about subsequent entanglement with the microscopic quantum states in the sample. In particular, we apply the method to an ensemble of emitters interacting with a common photon mode within the open-system Dicke model. Our results indicate considerable dynamical information concerning spontaneous symmetry breaking can be revealed with such an experimental system.

  1. Probing dynamical symmetry breaking using quantum-entangled photons

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Hao; Piryatinski, Andrei; Jerke, Jonathan; ...

    2017-11-15

    Here, we present an input/output analysis of photon-correlation experiments whereby a quantum mechanically entangled bi-photon state interacts with a material sample placed in one arm of a Hong–Ou–Mandel apparatus. We show that the output signal contains detailed information about subsequent entanglement with the microscopic quantum states in the sample. In particular, we apply the method to an ensemble of emitters interacting with a common photon mode within the open-system Dicke model. Our results indicate considerable dynamical information concerning spontaneous symmetry breaking can be revealed with such an experimental system.

  2. Hamiltonian formulation of Palatini f(R) theories a la Brans-Dicke theory

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Olmo, Gonzalo J.; Sanchis-Alepuz, Helios; Institut fuer Physik, Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz

    2011-05-15

    We study the Hamiltonian formulation of f(R) theories of gravity both in metric and in Palatini formalism using their classical equivalence with Brans-Dicke theories with a nontrivial potential. The Palatini case, which corresponds to the {omega}=-3/2 Brans-Dicke theory, requires special attention because of new constraints associated with the scalar field, which is nondynamical. We derive, compare, and discuss the constraints and evolution equations for the {omega}=-3/2 and {omega}{ne}-3/2 cases. Based on the properties of the constraint and evolution equations, we find that, contrary to certain claims in the literature, the Cauchy problem for the {omega}=-3/2 case is well formulated andmore » there is no reason to believe that it is not well posed in general.« less

  3. Absorptive capacity, technological innovation, and product life cycle: a system dynamics model.

    PubMed

    Zou, Bo; Guo, Feng; Guo, Jinyu

    2016-01-01

    While past research has recognized the importance of the dynamic nature of absorptive capacity, there is limited knowledge on how to generate a fair and comprehensive analytical framework. Based on interviews with 24 Chinese firms, this study develops a system-dynamics model that incorporates an important feedback loop among absorptive capacity, technological innovation, and product life cycle (PLC). The simulation results reveal that (1) PLC affects the dynamic process of absorptive capacity; (2) the absorptive capacity of a firm peaks in the growth stage of PLC, and (3) the market demand at different PLC stages is the main driving force in firms' technological innovations. This study also explores a sensitivity simulation using the variables of (1) time spent in founding an external knowledge network, (2) research and development period, and (3) knowledge diversity. The sensitivity simulation results show that the changes of these three variables have a greater impact on absorptive capacity and technological innovation during growth and maturity stages than in the introduction and declining stages of PLC. We provide suggestions on how firms can adjust management policies to improve their absorptive capacity and technological innovation performance during different PLC stages.

  4. Conformational relaxation dynamics in the excited electronic states of benzil in solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Ajay K.; Palit, Dipak K.; Mittal, Jai P.

    2002-07-01

    Relaxation dynamics in the excited singlet (S1) state of benzil have been studied in solution using pico and subpicosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. The triple exponential decay dynamics of the S1 state indicates that the process of conformational change from the cis-skewed to the trans-planar form takes place via the formation of a meta-stable intermediate conformer resulting the involvement of two consequent barrier crossing processes. The barrier crossing dynamics is governed by both the polarity of the solvent, which alters the barrier heights by `static' interactions, as well as the viscosity of the solvent via `dynamical' interactions.

  5. The Role of Trait and State Absorption in the Enjoyment of Music

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Little is known about the role of state versus trait characteristics on our enjoyment of music. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of state and trait absorption upon preference for music, particularly preference for music that evokes negative emotions. The sample consisted of 128 participants who were asked to listen to two pieces of self-selected music and rate the music on variables including preference and felt and expressed emotions. Participants completed a brief measure of state absorption after listening to each piece, and a trait absorption inventory. State absorption was strongly positively correlated with music preference, whereas trait absorption was not. Trait absorption was related to preference for negative emotions in music, with chi-square analyses demonstrating greater enjoyment of negative emotions in music among individuals with high trait absorption. This is the first study to show that state and trait absorption have separable and distinct effects on a listener’s music experience, with state characteristics impacting music enjoyment in the moment, and trait characteristics influencing music preference based on its emotional content. PMID:27828970

  6. The Role of Trait and State Absorption in the Enjoyment of Music.

    PubMed

    Hall, Sarah E; Schubert, Emery; Wilson, Sarah J

    2016-01-01

    Little is known about the role of state versus trait characteristics on our enjoyment of music. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of state and trait absorption upon preference for music, particularly preference for music that evokes negative emotions. The sample consisted of 128 participants who were asked to listen to two pieces of self-selected music and rate the music on variables including preference and felt and expressed emotions. Participants completed a brief measure of state absorption after listening to each piece, and a trait absorption inventory. State absorption was strongly positively correlated with music preference, whereas trait absorption was not. Trait absorption was related to preference for negative emotions in music, with chi-square analyses demonstrating greater enjoyment of negative emotions in music among individuals with high trait absorption. This is the first study to show that state and trait absorption have separable and distinct effects on a listener's music experience, with state characteristics impacting music enjoyment in the moment, and trait characteristics influencing music preference based on its emotional content.

  7. Radiant energy absorption studies for laser propulsion. [gas dynamics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Caledonia, G. E.; Wu, P. K. S.; Pirri, A. N.

    1975-01-01

    A study of the energy absorption mechanisms and fluid dynamic considerations for efficient conversion of high power laser radiation into a high velocity flow is presented. The objectives of the study are: (1) to determine the most effective absorption mechanisms for converting laser radiation into translational energy, and (2) to examine the requirements for transfer of the absorbed energy into a steady flow which is stable to disturbances in the absorption zone. A review of inverse Bremsstrahlung, molecular and particulate absorption mechanisms is considered and the steady flow and stability considerations for conversion of the laser power to a high velocity flow in a nozzle configuration is calculated. A quasi-one-dimensional flow through a nozzle was formulated under the assumptions of perfect gas.

  8. FRW cosmological models in Brans-Dicke theory of gravity with variable q and dynamical \\varLambda-term

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chand, Avtar; Mishra, R. K.; Pradhan, Anirudh

    2016-02-01

    Exact solution of modified Einstein's field equations are considered within the scope of spatially homogeneous and isotropic Fraidmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) space-time filled with perfect fluid in the frame work of Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor theory of gravity. In this paper we have investigated the flat, open and closed FRW models and the effect of dynamic cosmological term on the evolution of the universe. Two types of FRW cosmological models are obtained by setting the power law between the scalar field φ and the scale factor a and deceleration parameter (DP) q as a time dependent. The concept of time dependent DP with some proper assumptions yield two type of the average scale factors (i) a(t)=[sinh(α t)]^{1/n} and (ii) a(t)=[t^{α}et]^{1/n}, α and n≠ 0 are arbitrary constants. In case (i), for 0 < n ≤ 1, it generates a class of accelerating models while for n > 1, the models of the universe exhibit phase transition from early decelerating to present accelerating phase and the transition redshift zt has been calculated and found to be in good agreement with the results from recent astrophysical observations. In case (ii), for n ≥ 2 and α = 1, we obtain a class of transit models of the universe from early decelerating to present accelerating phase. Taking into consideration the observational data, we conclude that the cosmological constant behaves as a positive decreasing function of time. The physical and geometric properties of the models are also discussed with the help of graphical presentations.

  9. Straight spinning cosmic strings in Brans-Dicke gravity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dos Santos, S. Mittmann; da Silva, J. M. Hoff; Cindra, J. L.

    2018-03-01

    An exact solution of straight spinning cosmic strings in Brans-Dicke theory of gravitation is presented. The possibility of the existence of closed time-like curves around these cosmic strings is analyzed. Furthermore, the stability about the formation of the topological defect discussed here is checked. It is shown that the existence of a suitable choice for the integration constants in which closed time-like curves are not allowed. We also study the (im)possibility of using the obtained spacetime in the rotational curves problem.

  10. Dynamically tunable extraordinary light absorption in monolayer graphene

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Safaei, Alireza; Chandra, Sayan; Vázquez-Guardado, Abraham; Calderon, Jean; Franklin, Daniel; Tetard, Laurene; Zhai, Lei; Leuenberger, Michael N.; Chanda, Debashis

    2017-10-01

    The high carrier mobility of graphene makes it an attractive material for electronics, however, graphene's application for optoelectronic systems is limited due to its low optical absorption. We present a cavity-coupled nanopatterned graphene absorber designed to sustain temporal and spatial overlap between localized surface plasmon resonance and cavity modes, thereby resulting in enhanced absorption up to an unprecedented value of theoretically (60 %) and experimentally measured (45 %) monolayer graphene in the technologically relevant 8-12-μm atmospheric transparent infrared imaging band. We demonstrate a wide electrostatic tunability of the absorption band (˜2 μ m ) by modifying the Fermi energy. The proposed device design allows enhanced absorption and dynamic tunability of chemical vapor deposition grown low carrier mobility graphene which provides a significant advantage over previous strategies where absorption enhancement was limited to exfoliated high carrier mobility graphene. We developed an analytical model that incorporates the coupling of the graphene electron and substrate phonons, providing valuable and instructive insights into the modified plasmon-phonon dispersion relation necessary to interpret the experimental observations. Such gate voltage and cavity tunable enhanced absorption in chemical vapor deposited large area monolayer graphene paves the path towards the scalable development of ultrasensitive infrared photodetectors, modulators, and other optoelectronic devices.

  11. Femtosecond coherent nuclear dynamics of excited tetraphenylethylene: Ultrafast transient absorption and ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopic studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kayal, Surajit; Roy, Khokan; Umapathy, Siva

    2018-01-01

    Ultrafast torsional dynamics plays an important role in the photoinduced excited state dynamics. Tetraphenylethylene (TPE), a model system for the molecular motor, executes interesting torsional dynamics upon photoexcitation. The photoreaction of TPE involves ultrafast internal conversion via a nearly planar intermediate state (relaxed state) that further leads to a twisted zwitterionic state. Here, we report the photoinduced structural dynamics of excited TPE during the course of photoisomerization in the condensed phase by ultrafast Raman loss (URLS) and femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. TA measurements on the S1 state reveal step-wise population relaxation from the Franck-Condon (FC) state → relaxed state → twisted state, while the URLS study provides insights on the vibrational dynamics during the course of the reaction. The TA spectral dynamics and vibrational Raman amplitudes within 1 ps reveal vibrational wave packet propagating from the FC state to the relaxed state. Fourier transformation of this oscillation leads to a ˜130 cm-1 low-frequency phenyl torsional mode. Two vibrational marker bands, Cet=Cet stretching (˜1512 cm-1) and Cph=Cph stretching (˜1584 cm-1) modes, appear immediately after photoexcitation in the URLS spectra. The initial red-shift of the Cph=Cph stretching mode with a time constant of ˜400 fs (in butyronitrile) is assigned to the rate of planarization of excited TPE. In addition, the Cet=Cet stretching mode shows initial blue-shift within 1 ps followed by frequency red-shift, suggesting that on the sub-picosecond time scale, structural relaxation is dominated by phenyl torsion rather than the central Cet=Cet twist. Furthermore, the effect of the solvent on the structural dynamics is discussed in the context of ultrafast nuclear dynamics and solute-solvent coupling.

  12. Femtosecond coherent nuclear dynamics of excited tetraphenylethylene: Ultrafast transient absorption and ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopic studies.

    PubMed

    Kayal, Surajit; Roy, Khokan; Umapathy, Siva

    2018-01-14

    Ultrafast torsional dynamics plays an important role in the photoinduced excited state dynamics. Tetraphenylethylene (TPE), a model system for the molecular motor, executes interesting torsional dynamics upon photoexcitation. The photoreaction of TPE involves ultrafast internal conversion via a nearly planar intermediate state (relaxed state) that further leads to a twisted zwitterionic state. Here, we report the photoinduced structural dynamics of excited TPE during the course of photoisomerization in the condensed phase by ultrafast Raman loss (URLS) and femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. TA measurements on the S 1 state reveal step-wise population relaxation from the Franck-Condon (FC) state → relaxed state → twisted state, while the URLS study provides insights on the vibrational dynamics during the course of the reaction. The TA spectral dynamics and vibrational Raman amplitudes within 1 ps reveal vibrational wave packet propagating from the FC state to the relaxed state. Fourier transformation of this oscillation leads to a ∼130 cm -1 low-frequency phenyl torsional mode. Two vibrational marker bands, C et =C et stretching (∼1512 cm -1 ) and C ph =C ph stretching (∼1584 cm -1 ) modes, appear immediately after photoexcitation in the URLS spectra. The initial red-shift of the C ph =C ph stretching mode with a time constant of ∼400 fs (in butyronitrile) is assigned to the rate of planarization of excited TPE. In addition, the C et =C et stretching mode shows initial blue-shift within 1 ps followed by frequency red-shift, suggesting that on the sub-picosecond time scale, structural relaxation is dominated by phenyl torsion rather than the central C et =C et twist. Furthermore, the effect of the solvent on the structural dynamics is discussed in the context of ultrafast nuclear dynamics and solute-solvent coupling.

  13. On the phenomenology of extended Brans-Dicke gravity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lima, Nelson A.; Ferreira, Pedro G., E-mail: ndal@roe.ac.uk, E-mail: p.ferreira1@physics.ox.ac.uk

    We introduce a designer approach for extended Brans-Dicke gravity that allows us to obtain the evolution of the scalar field by fixing the Hubble parameter to that of a w CDM model. We obtain analytical approximations for ϕ as a function of the scale factor and use these to build expressions for the effective Newton's constant at the background and at the linear level and the slip between the perturbed Newtonian potentials. By doing so, we are able to explore their dependence on the fundamental parameters of the theory.

  14. Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Investigation of Photoinduced Dynamics in POLY(3-HEXYLTHIOPHENE)-BLOCK-OLIGO(ANTHRACENE-9,10-DIYL)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Strain, Jacob; Rathnayake, Hemali; Liu, Jinjun

    2017-06-01

    Semiconducting polymer nanostructures featuring bulk heterojunction (BHJ) architecture are promising light harvesters in photovoltaic (PV) devices because they allow control of individual domain sizes, internal structure and ordering, as well as well-defined contact between the electron donor and acceptor. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PV devices strongly depends on photoinduced dynamics. Understanding and optimizing photoinduced charge transfer processes in BHJ's hence help improve the performance of PV devices and increase their PCE in particular. We have investigated the photoinduced dynamics of a block polymer containing moieties of poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and polyanthracene (PANT) in solution and in solid state with femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. The dynamics of the polymer PANT alone are also studied as a control. The TA spectra of PANT includes a strong excited state absorption centered at 610 (nm) along with a stimulated emission signal stretching past the detection limit into the UV region which is absent in the monomer's spectra in the detection window. The block polymer's TA spectra strongly resembles that of P3HT but a noticeable positive pull on P3HT's stimulated emission signal residing at 575-620 (nm) is indicative of the excited state absorption of PANT in the adjacent spectral region. The doubling of the lifetime exciton delocalization on the block polymer versus P3HT alone have alluded that the lifetime of P3HT is extended by the covalent addition of PANT. The current spectroscopic investigation represents an interesting example of photoinduced processes in systems with complex energy level structure. Studies of dependence of change generation and separation on composition, dimension, and morphology of the heterojunctions are in process.

  15. Exact solutions to Brans-Dicke cosmologies in flat Friedmann universes.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Morganstern, R. E.

    1971-01-01

    The Brans-Dicke cosmological equations for flat Friedmann-type expanding universes are solved parametrically for time, density, expansion parameter, and scalar field. These results reduce to a previously obtained exact solution to the radiation cosmology. Although the scalar field may be undetectable at the present epoch, it is felt that, if it exists, it must play an important role as one approaches the initial singularity of the cosmology.

  16. Effect of the solvent environment on the spectroscopic properties and dynamics of the lowest excited states of carotenoids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Frank, H.A.; Bautista, J.A.; Josue, J.

    2000-05-11

    The spectroscopic properties and dynamics of the lowest excited singlet states of peridinin, fucoxanthin, neoxanthin, uriolide acetate, spheroidene, and spheroidenone in several different solvents have been studied by steady-state absorption and fast-transient optical spectroscopic techniques. Peridinin, fucoxanthin, uriolide acetate, and spheroidenone, which contain carbonyl functional groups in conjugation with the carbon-carbon {pi}-electron system, display broader absorption spectral features and are affected more by the solvent environment than neoxanthin and spheroidene, which do not contain carbonyl functional groups. The possible sources of the spectral broadening are explored by examining the absorption spectra at 77 K in glassy solvents. Also, carotenoids whichmore » contain carbonyls have complex transient absorption spectra and show a pronounced dependence of the excited singlet state lifetime on the solvent environment. It is postulated that these effects are related to the presence of an intramolecular charge transfer state strongly coupled to the S{sub 1} (2{sup 1}A{sub g}) excited singlet state. Structural variations in the series of carotenoids studied here make it possible to focus on the general molecular features that control the spectroscopic and dynamic properties of carotenoids.« less

  17. Direct observation of ring-opening dynamics in strong-field ionized selenophene using femtosecond inner-shell absorption spectroscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Lackner, Florian; Chatterley, Adam S.; Pemmaraju, C. D.; ...

    2016-12-21

    Femtosecond extreme ultraviolet transient absorption spectroscopy is used to explore strong-field ionization induced dynamics in selenophene (C 4H 4Se). The dynamics are monitored in real-time from the viewpoint of the Se atom by recording the temporal evolution of element-specific spectral features near the Se 3d inner-shell absorption edge (~58 eV). The interpretation of the experimental results is supported by first-principles time-dependent density functional theory calculations. The experiments simultaneously capture the instantaneous population of stable molecular ions, the emergence and decay of excited cation states, and the appearance of atomic fragments. The experiments reveal, in particular, insight into the strong-field inducedmore » ring-opening dynamics in the selenophene cation, which are traced by the emergence of non-cyclic molecules as well as the liberation of Se + ions within an overall time scale of approximately 170 fs. In this study, we propose that both products may be associated with dynamics on the same electronic surfaces but with different degrees of vibrational excitation. The time-dependent inner-shell absorption features provide direct evidence for a complex relaxation mechanism that may be approximated by a two-step model, whereby the initially prepared, excited cyclic cation decays within τ 1 = 80 ± 30 fs into a transient molecular species, which then gives rise to the emergence of bare Se + and ring-open cations within an additional τ 2 = 80 ± 30 fs. The combined experimental and theoretical results suggest a close relationship between σ* excited cation states and the observed ring-opening reactions. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that the combination of femtosecond time-resolved core-level spectroscopy with ab initio estimates of spectroscopic signatures provide new insights into complex, ultrafast photochemical reactions such as ring-opening dynamics in organic molecules in real-time and with simultaneous

  18. Intermediate accelerated solutions as generic late-time attractors in a modified Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cid, Antonella; Leon, Genly; Leyva, Yoelsy

    2016-02-01

    In this paper we investigate the evolution of a Jordan-Brans-Dicke scalar field, Φ, with a power-law potential in the presence of a second scalar field, phi, with an exponential potential, in both the Jordan and the Einstein frames. We present the relation of our model with the induced gravity model with power-law potential and the integrability of this kind of models is discussed when the quintessence field phi is massless, and has a small velocity. The fact that for some fine-tuned values of the parameters we may get some integrable cosmological models, makes our choice of potentials very interesting. We prove that in Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory, the de Sitter solution is not a natural attractor. Instead, we show that the attractor in the Jordan frame corresponds to an ``intermediate accelerated'' solution of the form a(t) simeq eα1 tp1, as t → ∞ where α1 > 0 and 0 < p1 < 1, for a wide range of parameters. Furthermore, when we work in the Einstein frame we get that the attractor is also an ``intermediate accelerated'' solution of the form fraktur a(fraktur t) simeq eα2 fraktur tp2 as fraktur t → ∞ where α2 > 0 and 0dynamical system is then reduced to a two dimensional one, and the late-time attractor is linked with the exact solution found for the induced gravity model. In this example the ``intermediate accelerated'' solution does not exist, and the attractor solution has an asymptotic de Sitter-like evolution law for the

  19. Water dynamics of Ser-His-Glu-Cys-Asn powder and effects of moisture absorption on its chemical properties.

    PubMed

    Lin, Songyi; Xue, Peiyu; Yang, Shuailing; Li, Xingfang; Dong, Xiuping; Chen, Feng

    2017-08-01

    This study has elucidated moisture dynamics in the soybean peptide, Ser-His-Glu-Cys-Asn (SHECN) powder by using dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We also tried to investigate the effects of moisture absorption on the biological activity and chemical properties of SHECN with some effective methods such as mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). DVS results showed that the moisture absorption of SHECN could reach a maximum of 33%, and the SHECN powder after synthesis actually existed in a trihydrate state of SHECN.3H 2 O. Low-field NMR revealed that three water proportions including strong combined water, binding water and bulk water were involved in SHECN moisture absorption and absored water dominantly existed in the form of combined water. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MIR spectroscopy results indicated that moisture absorption could change the morphology and structure of SHECN. After moisture absorption at 50% and 75% relative humidity, 19 volatiles were identified by GC-MS analysis. Additionally, this study showed that a part of reductive groups in SHECN was oxidized and its antioxidant ability declined significantly (P < 0.05) after moisture absorption. Water absorbed into SHECN powder can significantly change its microstructure and cause its activity to decrease. We must prevent SHECN from absorbing moisture during storage because the water can accelerate the oxidation of samples and promote microbial reactions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

  20. Role of intermediate state in the excited state dynamics of highly efficient TADF molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hosokai, Takuya; Matsuzaki, Hiroyuki; Furube, Akihiro; Tokumaru, Katsumi; Tsutsui, Tetsuo; Nakanotani, Hajime; Yahiro, Masayuki; Adachi, Chihaya

    2016-09-01

    We hereby report the results of our direct investigation into the excited-state dynamics of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules in solution using pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS). We found that the charge-transfer (CT) state commonly stated for TADF molecules encompasses two forms: localized and delocalized CT states. A highly efficient TADF molecule, 4CzIPN [Uoyama et al., Nature, 492, 234-238 (2012)], showed both the localized and delocalized CT states, while an inefficient TADF molecule, 2CzPN, exhibited only a localized CT state. By analyzing the time profile of triplet species observed in TAS, we propose that the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) of 4CzIPN occurs via a mutual interaction in multiple energy levels of localized neutral and CT states, and delocalized CT states.

  1. Dicke states in multiple quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sitek, Anna; Manolescu, Andrei

    2013-10-01

    We present a theoretical study of the collective optical effects which can occur in groups of three and four quantum dots. We define conditions for stable subradiant (dark) states, rapidly decaying super-radiant states, and spontaneous trapping of excitation. Each quantum dot is treated like a two-level system. The quantum dots are, however, realistic, meaning that they may have different transition energies and dipole moments. The dots interact via a short-range coupling which allows excitation transfer across the dots, but conserves the total population of the system. We calculate the time evolution of single-exciton and biexciton states using the Lindblad equation. In the steady state the individual populations of each dot may have permanent oscillations with frequencies given by the energy separation between the subradiant eigenstates.

  2. Picosecond dynamics of excited singlet states in organic microcrystals: Diffuse reflectance laser photolysis study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ikeda, Noriaki; Koshioka, Masanori; Masuhara, Hiroshi; Yoshihara, Keitaro

    1988-09-01

    Absorption spectra and picosecond dynamics of the singlet exciton states of benzil and p-terphenyl in a microcrystal have been measured for the first time by analyzing the diffuse reflected spectra of the picosecond continuum.

  3. Probing excitons in transition metal dichalcogenides by Drude-like exciton intraband absorption.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Siqi; He, Dawei; He, Jiaqi; Zhang, Xinwu; Yi, Lixin; Wang, Yongsheng; Zhao, Hui

    2018-05-24

    Understanding excitonic dynamics in two-dimensional semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides is important for developing their optoelectronic applications. Recently, transient absorption techniques based on resonant excitonic absorption have been used to study various aspects of excitonic dynamics in these materials. The transient absorption in such measurements originates from phase-space state filling, bandgap renormalization, or screening effects. Here we report a new method to probe excitonic dynamics based on exciton intraband absorption. In this Drude-like process, probe photons are absorbed by excitons in their intraband excitation to higher energy states, causing a transient absorption signal. Although the magnitude of the transient absorption is lower than that of the resonant techniques, the new method is less restrictive on the selection of probe wavelength, has a larger linear range, and can provide complementary information on photocarrier dynamics. Using the WS2 monolayer and bulk samples as examples, we show that the new method can probe exciton-exciton annihilation at high densities and reveal exciton formation processes. We also found that the exciton intraband absorption cross section of the WS2 monolayer is on the order of 10-18 cm2.

  4. Single-photon absorption by single photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chan, Herman C. H.; Gamel, Omar E.; Fleming, Graham R.; Whaley, K. Birgitta

    2018-03-01

    We provide a unified theoretical approach to the quantum dynamics of absorption of single photons and subsequent excitonic energy transfer in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes. Our analysis combines a continuous mode < n > -photon quantum optical master equation for the chromophoric system with the hierarchy of equations of motion describing excitonic dynamics in presence of non-Markovian coupling to vibrations of the chromophores and surrounding protein. We apply the approach to simulation of absorption of single-photon coherent states by pigment-protein complexes containing between one and seven chromophores, and compare with results obtained by excitation using a thermal radiation field. We show that the values of excitation probability obtained under single-photon absorption conditions can be consistently related to bulk absorption cross-sections. Analysis of the timescale and efficiency of single-photon absorption by light-harvesting systems within this full quantum description of pigment-protein dynamics coupled to a quantum radiation field reveals a non-trivial dependence of the excitation probability and the excited state dynamics induced by exciton-phonon coupling during and subsequent to the pulse, on the bandwidth of the incident photon pulse. For bandwidths equal to the spectral bandwidth of Chlorophyll a, our results yield an estimation of an average time of ˜0.09 s for a single chlorophyll chromophore to absorb the energy equivalent of one (single-polarization) photon under irradiation by single-photon states at the intensity of sunlight.

  5. Charge Carrier Dynamics of Quantum Confined Semiconductor Nanoparticles Analyzed via Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thibert, Arthur Joseph, III

    solution with a turnover number of 9.94 after 5 h at 103.9 μmol/h. CdSe quantum dots themselves are only marginally active in 0.1 M Na2S/Na2SO3 solution with a turnover number of 1.10 after 5 h at 11.53 μmol/h, while CdSe quantum dots in pure H2O are found to be completely inactive. Broad-band transient absorption spectroscopy is used to elucidate the mechanisms that facilitate the enhancement in the CdSe core/shell quantum dots, which is attributed to passivation of surface-deep trap states with energies lying below the reduction potential necessary for H2O reduction. Thus, it is shown that surface trapping dynamics and energetics can be manipulated to dictate the photocatalytic activities of novel CdSe quantum dot based photocatalytic materials. Chapter 4 builds upon this work examining the differences in dynamics that occur upon passivation of water soluble CdZnS alloy cores with ZnS shells, which were produced in the Snee laboratory (UI Chicago), via 400 nm pump broadband probe ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, and global analysis modeling. We also examine the perturbation invoked on charge carrier dynamics caused by growing Pd nanoparticles on the CdZnS/ZnS shell surface in-situ and note the cyclical charge carrier transfer that takes place. Both the CdZnS core and CdZnS/ZnS core/shell quantum dots exhibit unusually long lived excited states (much > 8 ns) while the CdZnS/ZnS.Pd tandem core/shell quantum dots recover much quicker (~3 ns). Additionally, ultrafast excitation fluence dependencies are used to characterize Auger recombination and the presence of two different trap state populations observable in the visible spectrum. In chapter 5 (JACS, 20664, 2011), we switch from examining direct band-gap chalcogenide based quantum dots to Si quantum dots synthesized in the Kauzlarich laboratory (UCD), which exhibit an indirect band-gap. Here a microwave-assisted reaction to produce hydrogen-terminated silicon quantum dots is discussed. The Si quantum dots

  6. Real-time observation of fluctuations at the driven-dissipative Dicke phase transition

    PubMed Central

    Brennecke, Ferdinand; Mottl, Rafael; Baumann, Kristian; Landig, Renate; Donner, Tobias; Esslinger, Tilman

    2013-01-01

    We experimentally study the influence of dissipation on the driven Dicke quantum phase transition, realized by coupling external degrees of freedom of a Bose–Einstein condensate to the light field of a high-finesse optical cavity. The cavity provides a natural dissipation channel, which gives rise to vacuum-induced fluctuations and allows us to observe density fluctuations of the gas in real-time. We monitor the divergence of these fluctuations over two orders of magnitude while approaching the phase transition, and observe a behavior that deviates significantly from that expected for a closed system. A correlation analysis of the fluctuations reveals the diverging time scale of the atomic dynamics and allows us to extract a damping rate for the external degree of freedom of the atoms. We find good agreement with our theoretical model including dissipation via both the cavity field and the atomic field. Using a dissipation channel to nondestructively gain information about a quantum many-body system provides a unique path to study the physics of driven-dissipative systems. PMID:23818599

  7. Polymethine and squarylium molecules with large excited-state absorption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lim, Jin Hong; Przhonska, Olga V.; Khodja, Salah; Yang, Sidney; Ross, T. S.; Hagan, David J.; Van Stryland, Eric W.; Bondar, Mikhail V.; Slominsky, Yuriy L.

    1999-07-01

    We study nonlinear absorption in a series of ten polymethine dyes and two squarylium dyes using Z-scan, pump-probe and optical limiting experiments. Both picosecond and nanosecond characterization were performed at 532 nm, while picosecond measurements were performed using an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) from 440 to 650 nm. The photophysical parameters of these dyes including cross sections and excited-state lifetimes are presented both in solution in ethanol and in an elastopolymeric material, polyurethane acrylate (PUA). We determine that the dominant nonlinearity in all these dyes is large excited-state absorption (ESA), i.e. reverse saturable absorption. For several of the dyes we measure a relatively large ground-state absorption cross section, σ01, which effectively populates an excited state that possesses an extremely large ESA cross section, σ12. The ratios of σ12/ σ01 are the largest we know of, up to 200 at 532 nm, and lead to very low thresholds for optical limiting. However, the lifetimes of the excited state are of the order of 1 ns in ethanol, which is increased to up to 3 ns in PUA. This lifetime is less than optimum for sensor protection applications for Q-switched inputs, and intersystem crossing times for these molecules are extremely long, so that triplet states are not populated. These parameters show a significant improvement over those of the first set of this class of dyes studied and indicate that further improvement of the photophysical parameters may be possible. From these measurements, correlations between molecular structure and nonlinear properties are made. We propose a five-level, all-singlet state model, which includes reorientation processes in the first excited state. This includes a trans- cis conformational change that leads to the formation of a new state with a new molecular configuration which is also absorbing but can undergo a light-induced degradation at high inputs.

  8. Teaching Psychology and Literature: Melancholia as Motivation in the Novels of Dick Francis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wagner, Elaine

    2010-01-01

    Teaching literature from a psychological perspective provides a basis for the study and analysis of human motivation and behavior, as psychology and literature make mutual contributions to the study of both disciplines. Melancholia is a recurring theme in the novels of Dick Francis, and the first-person accounts of despair and depression are…

  9. Ultrafast Dynamics in DNA and RNA Derivatives Monitored by Broadband Transient Absorption Spectrscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brister, Matthew M.; Crespo-Hernández, Carlos E.

    2015-06-01

    The ultrafast dynamics of nucleic acids have been under scrutiny for the past couple of decades because of the role that the high-energy electronic states play in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Kinetic models have been proposed, based on both experimental and theoretical discoveries. Direct experimental evidence of the intersystem crossing rate and population of the triplet state for most nucleic acid bases has yet to be reported, even though the triplet state is thought to be the most reactive species. Utilizing broadband femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we reveal the time scale at which singlet-to-triplet population transfer occurs in several nucleic acid derivatives in the condensed phase. The implication of these results to the current understanding of the DNA and RNA photochemistry will be discussed. The authors acknowledge the CAREER program of the National Science Foundation (Grant No. CHE-1255084) for financial support.

  10. Pressure dependence of excited-state charge-carrier dynamics in organolead tribromide perovskites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, X. C.; Han, J. H.; Zhao, H. F.; Yan, H. C.; Shi, Y.; Jin, M. X.; Liu, C. L.; Ding, D. J.

    2018-05-01

    Excited-state charge-carrier dynamics governs the performance of organometal trihalide perovskites (OTPs) and is strongly influenced by the crystal structure. Characterizing the excited-state charge-carrier dynamics in OTPs under high pressure is imperative for providing crucial insights into structure-property relations. Here, we conduct in situ high-pressure femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy experiments to study the excited-state carrier dynamics of CH3NH3PbBr3 (MAPbBr3) under hydrostatic pressure. The results indicate that compression is an effective approach to modulate the carrier dynamics of MAPbBr3. Across each pressure-induced phase, carrier relaxation, phonon scattering, and Auger recombination present different pressure-dependent properties under compression. Responsiveness is attributed to the pressure-induced variation in the lattice structure, which also changes the electronic band structure. Specifically, simultaneous prolongation of carrier relaxation and Auger recombination is achieved in the ambient phase, which is very valuable for excess energy harvesting. Our discussion provides clues for optimizing the photovoltaic performance of OTPs.

  11. Dynamic Stark broadening as the Dicke narrowing effect

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Calisti, A.; Mossé, C.; Ferri, S.; Talin, B.; Rosmej, F.; Bureyeva, L. A.; Lisitsa, V. S.

    2010-01-01

    A very fast method to account for charged particle dynamics effects in calculations of spectral line shape emitted by plasmas is presented. This method is based on a formulation of the frequency fluctuation model (FFM), which provides an expression of the dynamic line shape as a functional of the static distribution of frequencies. Thus, the main numerical work rests on the calculation of the quasistatic Stark profile. This method for taking into account ion dynamics allows a very fast and accurate calculation of Stark broadening of atomic hydrogen high- n series emission lines. It is not limited to hydrogen spectra. Results on helium- β and Lyman- α lines emitted by argon in microballoon implosion experiment conditions compared with experimental data and simulation results are also presented. The present approach reduces the computer time by more than 2 orders of magnitude as compared with the original FFM with an improvement of the calculation precision, and it opens broad possibilities for its application in spectral line-shape codes.

  12. Different evolution dynamics of vector solitons depending on their polarization states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Wei-Cheng; Chen, Guo-Jie

    2014-03-01

    There are three types of temporal evolution dynamics of vector solitons observed in a ring fiber laser with a semiconductor saturable absorption mirror (SESAM) as a mode-locker. It is found that the polarization property of vector solitons is an important factor for achieving different evolution dynamics. The vector soliton with a uniform polarization state across the whole pulse profile and zero polarization extinction ratio operates at a fundamental repetition rate with a single pulse profile. The elliptically polarized vector soliton with a larger polarization extinction ratio exhibits a harmonic pulse train. The soliton bunching with multi-peak structures exists between the above two states and shows elliptical polarization with a small polarization extinction ratio.

  13. Diode laser absorption sensors for gas-dynamic and combustion flows

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Allen, M. G.

    1998-01-01

    Recent advances in room-temperature, near-IR and visible diode laser sources for tele-communication, high-speed computer networks, and optical data storage applications are enabling a new generation of gas-dynamic and combustion-flow sensors based on laser absorption spectroscopy. In addition to conventional species concentration and density measurements, spectroscopic techniques for temperature, velocity, pressure and mass flux have been demonstrated in laboratory, industrial and technical flows. Combined with fibreoptic distribution networks and ultrasensitive detection strategies, compact and portable sensors are now appearing for a variety of applications. In many cases, the superior spectroscopic quality of the new laser sources compared with earlier cryogenic, mid-IR devices is allowing increased sensitivity of trace species measurements, high-precision spectroscopy of major gas constituents, and stable, autonomous measurement systems. The purpose of this article is to review recent progress in this field and suggest likely directions for future research and development. The various laser-source technologies are briefly reviewed as they relate to sensor applications. Basic theory for laser absorption measurements of gas-dynamic properties is reviewed and special detection strategies for the weak near-IR and visible absorption spectra are described. Typical sensor configurations are described and compared for various application scenarios, ranging from laboratory research to automated field and airborne packages. Recent applications of gas-dynamic sensors for air flows and fluxes of trace atmospheric species are presented. Applications of gas-dynamic and combustion sensors to research and development of high-speed flows aeropropulsion engines, and combustion emissions monitoring are presented in detail, along with emerging flow control systems based on these new sensors. Finally, technology in nonlinear frequency conversion, UV laser materials, room

  14. Trapping Dynamics in Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I of Higher Plants Is Governed by the Competition Between Excited State Diffusion from Low Energy States and Photochemical Charge Separation.

    PubMed

    Molotokaite, Egle; Remelli, William; Casazza, Anna Paola; Zucchelli, Giuseppe; Polli, Dario; Cerullo, Giulio; Santabarbara, Stefano

    2017-10-26

    The dynamics of excited state equilibration and primary photochemical trapping have been investigated in the photosystem I-light harvesting complex I isolated from spinach, by the complementary time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption approaches. The combined analysis of the experimental data indicates that the excited state decay is described by lifetimes in the ranges of 12-16 ps, 32-36 ps, and 64-77 ps, for both detection methods, whereas faster components, having lifetimes of 550-780 fs and 4.2-5.2 ps, are resolved only by transient absorption. A unified model capable of describing both the fluorescence and the absorption dynamics has been developed. From this model it appears that the majority of excited state equilibration between the bulk of the antenna pigments and the reaction center occurs in less than 2 ps, that the primary charge separated state is populated in ∼4 ps, and that the charge stabilization by electron transfer is completed in ∼70 ps. Energy equilibration dynamics associated with the long wavelength absorbing/emitting forms harbored by the PSI external antenna are also characterized by a time mean lifetime of ∼75 ps, thus overlapping with radical pair charge stabilization reactions. Even in the presence of a kinetic bottleneck for energy equilibration, the excited state dynamics are shown to be principally trap-limited. However, direct excitation of the low energy chlorophyll forms is predicted to lengthen significantly (∼2-folds) the average trapping time.

  15. Dynamics of interacting Dicke model in a coupled-cavity array

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Badshah, Fazal; Qamar, Shahid; Paternostro, Mauro

    2014-09-01

    We consider the dynamics of an array of mutually interacting cavities, each containing an ensemble of N two-level atoms. By exploring the possibilities offered by ensembles of various dimensions and a range of atom-light and photon-hopping values, we investigate the generation of multisite entanglement, as well as the performance of excitation transfer across the array, resulting from the competition between on-site nonlinearities of the matter-light interaction and intersite photon hopping. In particular, for a three-cavity interacting system it is observed that the initial excitation in the first cavity completely transfers to the ensemble in the third cavity through the hopping of photons between the adjacent cavities. Probabilities of the transfer of excitation of the cavity modes and ensembles exhibit characteristics of fast and slow oscillations governed by coupling and hopping parameters, respectively. In the large-hopping case, by seeding an initial excitation in the cavity at the center of the array, a tripartite W state, as well as a bipartite maximally entangled state, is obtained, depending on the interaction time. Population of the ensemble in a cavity has a positive impact on the rate of excitation transfer between the ensembles and their local cavity modes. In particular, for ensembles of five to seven atoms, tripartite W states can be produced even when the hopping rate is comparable to the cavity-atom coupling rate. A similar behavior of the transfer of excitation is observed for a four-coupled-cavity system with two initial excitations.

  16. Quantum state-resolved probing of strong-field-ionized xenon atoms using femtosecond high-order harmonic transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Loh, Zhi-Heng; Khalil, Munira; Correa, Raoul E; Santra, Robin; Buth, Christian; Leone, Stephen R

    2007-04-06

    Femtosecond high-order harmonic transient absorption spectroscopy is used to resolve the complete |j,m quantum state distribution of Xe+ produced by optical strong-field ionization of Xe atoms at 800 nm. Probing at the Xe N4/5 edge yields a population distribution rhoj,|m| of rho3/2,1/2ratiorho1/2,1/2ratiorho3/2,3/2=75+/-6 :12+/-3 :13+/-6%. The result is compared to a tunnel ionization calculation with the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling, revealing nonadiabatic ionization behavior. The sub-50-fs time resolution paves the way for tabletop extreme ultraviolet absorption probing of ultrafast dynamics.

  17. Gravitational field of a concentrated mass in Jordan—Brans—Dicke theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arutyunyan, G. G.; Papoyan, V. V.

    1994-04-01

    The problem of determining the gravitational field of a static, spherically symmetric, self-gravitating object is formulated. The small number of physically applicable exact solutions of the equations in Jordan—Brans—Dicke theory is augmented with new exact solutions describing the external gravitational field of the given body. Once a solution has been found, it can be rewritten in modified curvature, homogeneous, and other coordinates by appropriate gauging. In a special case the solution coincides with the well-known Schwarzschild solution.

  18. Anisotropic string cosmological model in Brans–Dicke theory of gravitation with time-dependent deceleration parameter

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Maurya, D. Ch., E-mail: dcmaurya563@gmail.com; Zia, R., E-mail: rashidzya@gmail.com; Pradhan, A., E-mail: pradhan.anirudh@gmail.com

    We discuss a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic string cosmological models in the Brans–Dicke theory of gravitation. For a spatially homogeneous metric, it is assumed that the expansion scalar θ is proportional to the shear scalar σ. This condition leads to A = kB{sup m}, where k and m are constants. With these assumptions and also assuming a variable scale factor a = a(t), we find solutions of the Brans–Dicke field equations. Various phenomena like the Big Bang, expanding universe, and shift from anisotropy to isotropy are observed in the model. It can also be seen that in early stage ofmore » the evolution of the universe, strings dominate over particles, whereas the universe is dominated by massive strings at the late time. Some physical and geometrical behaviors of the models are also discussed and observed to be in good agreement with the recent observations of SNe la supernovae.« less

  19. Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Investigation of Photoinduced Dynamics in Novel Donor-Acceptor Core-Shell Nanostructures for Organic Photovoltaics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Strain, Jacob; Jamhawi, Abdelqader; Abeywickrama, Thulitha M.; Loomis, Wendy; Rathnayake, Hemali; Liu, Jinjun

    2016-06-01

    Novel donor-acceptor nanostructures were synthesized via covalent synthesis and/or UV cross-linking method. Their photoinduced dynamics were investigated with ultrafast transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. These new nanostructures are made with the strategy in mind to reduce manufacturing steps in the process of fabricating an organic photovoltaic cell. By imitating the heterojunction interface within a fixed particle domain, several fabrication steps can be bypassed reducing cost and giving more applicability to other film deposition methods. Such applications include aerosol deposition and ink-jet printing. The systems that were studied by TA spectroscopy include PDIB core, PDIB-P3HT core-shell, and PDIB-PANT core-shell which range in size from 60 to 130 nm. Within the experimentally accessible spectra range there resides a region of ground state bleaching, stimulated emission, and excited-state absorption of both neutrals and anions. Control experiments have been carried out to assign these features. At high pump fluences the TA spectra of PDIB core alone also indicate an intramolecular charge separation. The TA spectroscopy results thus far suggest that the core-shells resemble the photoinduced dynamics of a standard film although the particles are dispersed in solution, which indicates the desired outcome of the work.

  20. Energy-Looping Nanoparticles: Harnessing Excited-State Absorption for Deep-Tissue Imaging.

    PubMed

    Levy, Elizabeth S; Tajon, Cheryl A; Bischof, Thomas S; Iafrati, Jillian; Fernandez-Bravo, Angel; Garfield, David J; Chamanzar, Maysamreza; Maharbiz, Michel M; Sohal, Vikaas S; Schuck, P James; Cohen, Bruce E; Chan, Emory M

    2016-09-27

    Near infrared (NIR) microscopy enables noninvasive imaging in tissue, particularly in the NIR-II spectral range (1000-1400 nm) where attenuation due to tissue scattering and absorption is minimized. Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanocrystals are promising deep-tissue imaging probes due to their photostable emission in the visible and NIR, but these materials are not efficiently excited at NIR-II wavelengths due to the dearth of lanthanide ground-state absorption transitions in this window. Here, we develop a class of lanthanide-doped imaging probes that harness an energy-looping mechanism that facilitates excitation at NIR-II wavelengths, such as 1064 nm, that are resonant with excited-state absorption transitions but not ground-state absorption. Using computational methods and combinatorial screening, we have identified Tm(3+)-doped NaYF4 nanoparticles as efficient looping systems that emit at 800 nm under continuous-wave excitation at 1064 nm. Using this benign excitation with standard confocal microscopy, energy-looping nanoparticles (ELNPs) are imaged in cultured mammalian cells and through brain tissue without autofluorescence. The 1 mm imaging depths and 2 μm feature sizes are comparable to those demonstrated by state-of-the-art multiphoton techniques, illustrating that ELNPs are a promising class of NIR probes for high-fidelity visualization in cells and tissue.

  1. K- absorption on two nucleons and ppK- bound state search in the Σ0p final state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vázquez Doce, O.; Fabbietti, L.; Cargnelli, M.; Curceanu, C.; Marton, J.; Piscicchia, K.; Scordo, A.; Sirghi, D.; Tucakovic, I.; Wycech, S.; Zmeskal, J.; Anastasi, A.; Curciarello, F.; Czerwinski, E.; Krzemien, W.; Mandaglio, G.; Martini, M.; Moskal, P.; Patera, V.; Pérez del Rio, E.; Silarski, M.

    2016-07-01

    We report the measurement of K- absorption processes in the Σ0p final state and the first exclusive measurement of the two nucleon absorption (2NA) with the KLOE detector. The 2NA process without further interactions is found to be 9% of the sum of all other contributing processes, including absorption on three and more nucleons or 2NA followed by final state interactions with the residual nucleons. We also determine the possible contribution of the ppK- bound state to the Σ0p final state. The yield of ppK- /Kstop- is found to be (0.044 ± 0.009stat-0.005+0.004 syst) ṡ10-2 but its statistical significance based on an F-test is only 1σ.

  2. Energy absorption ability of buckyball C720 at low impact speed: a numerical study based on molecular dynamics

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    The dynamic impact response of giant buckyball C720 is investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations. The non-recoverable deformation of C720 makes it an ideal candidate for high-performance energy absorption. Firstly, mechanical behaviors under dynamic impact and low-speed crushing are simulated and modeled, which clarifies the buckling-related energy absorption mechanism. One-dimensional C720 arrays (both vertical and horizontal alignments) are studied at various impact speeds, which show that the energy absorption ability is dominated by the impact energy per buckyball and less sensitive to the number and arrangement direction of buckyballs. Three-dimensional stacking of buckyballs in simple cubic, body-centered cubic, hexagonal, and face-centered cubic forms are investigated. Stacking form with higher occupation density yields higher energy absorption. The present study may shed lights on employing C720 assembly as an advanced energy absorption system against low-speed impacts. PMID:23360618

  3. Dynamical effects in x-ray absorption spectra of graphene and monolayered h -BN on Ni(111)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rusz, J.; Preobrajenski, A. B.; Ng, May Ling; Vinogradov, N. A.; Mårtensson, N.; Wessely, O.; Sanyal, B.; Eriksson, O.

    2010-02-01

    We present first-principles calculations of x-ray absorption spectra of graphene and hexagonal BN monolayer on the Ni(111) substrate. Including dynamical core-hole screening effects according to the theory of Mahan-Nozières-de Dominics (MND) results in an overall good agreement with previously published experimental data and our new observations. This approach provides a unified first-principles description of the electronic structure and core excitations in the sp2 -bonded materials on metal surfaces and a better insight into the dynamics of screening effects. We demonstrate in particular that the observed spectral features of graphene and hexagonal BN can be well reproduced with the MND theory, and that they are determined by a delicate balance between initial and final-state effects.

  4. Dynamics of Photoexcited State of Semiconductor Quantum Dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trivedi, Dhara J.

    In this thesis, non-adiabatic molecular dynamics (NAMD) of excited states in semiconductor quantum dots are investigated. Nanoscale systems provide important opportunities for theory and computation for research because the experimental tools often provide an incomplete picture of the structure and/or function of nanomaterials, and theory can often fill in missing features crucial in understanding what is being measured. The simulation of NAMD is an indispensable tool for understanding complex ultrafast photoinduced processes such as charge and energy transfer, thermal relaxation, and charge recombination. Based on the state-of-the-art ab initio approaches in both the energy and time domains, the thesis presents a comprehensive discussion of the dynamical processes in quantum dots, ranging from the initial photon absorption to the final emission. We investigate the energy relaxation and transfer rates in pure and surface passivated quantum dots of different sizes. The study establishes the fundamental mechanisms of the electron and hole relaxation processes with and without hole traps. We develop and implement more accurate and efficient methods for NAMD. These methods are advantageous over the traditional ones when one encounters classically forbidden transitions. We also explore the effect of decoherence and non-adiabatic couplings on the dynamics. The results indicate significant influence on the accuracy and related computational cost of the simulated dynamics.

  5. Cosmological constraints on Brans-Dicke theory.

    PubMed

    Avilez, A; Skordis, C

    2014-07-04

    We report strong cosmological constraints on the Brans-Dicke (BD) theory of gravity using cosmic microwave background data from Planck. We consider two types of models. First, the initial condition of the scalar field is fixed to give the same effective gravitational strength Geff today as the one measured on Earth, GN. In this case, the BD parameter ω is constrained to ω>692 at the 99% confidence level, an order of magnitude improvement over previous constraints. In the second type, the initial condition for the scalar is a free parameter leading to a somewhat stronger constraint of ω>890, while Geff is constrained to 0.981

  6. Robert Dicke and the naissance of experimental gravity physics, 1957-1967

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peebles, Phillip James Edwin

    2017-06-01

    The experimental study of gravity became much more active in the late 1950s, a change pronounced enough be termed the birth, or naissance, of experimental gravity physics. I present a review of developments in this subject since 1915, through the broad range of new approaches that commenced in the late 1950s, and up to the transition of experimental gravity physics to what might be termed a normal and accepted part of physical science in the late 1960s. This review shows the importance of advances in technology, here as in all branches of natural science. The role of contingency is illustrated by Robert Dicke's decision in the mid-1950s to change directions in mid-career, to lead a research group dedicated to the experimental study of gravity. The review also shows the power of nonempirical evidence. Some in the 1950s felt that general relativity theory is so logically sound as to be scarcely worth the testing. But Dicke and others argued that a poorly tested theory is only that, and that other nonempirical arguments, based on Mach's Principle and Dirac's Large Numbers hypothesis, suggested it would be worth looking for a better theory of gravity. I conclude by offering lessons from this history, some peculiar to the study of gravity physics during the naissance, some of more general relevance. The central lesson, which is familiar but not always well advertised, is that physical theories can be empirically established, sometimes with surprising results.

  7. Excitation energy dependence of excited states dynamics in all- trans-carotenes determined by femtosecond absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kosumi, Daisuke; Yanagi, Kazuhiro; Nishio, Tomohiro; Hashimoto, Hideki; Yoshizawa, Masayuki

    2005-06-01

    Ultrafast relaxation kinetics in β-carotene and lycopene has been investigated by femtosecond absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies using tunable excitation pulses. The transient signals induced by the photoexcitation with larger excess energy have broader bands and longer lifetimes both in the 11Bu+and21Ag- excited states. The excess vibrational energy remains longer than several picoseconds and slows the relaxation kinetics in carotenoids.

  8. Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of RNA and DNA C tracts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cohen, Boiko; Larson, Matthew H.; Kohler, Bern

    2008-06-01

    The excited-state dynamics of the RNA homopolymer of cytosine and of the 18-mer (dC) 18 were studied by steady-state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. At pH 6.8, excitation of poly(rC) by a femtosecond UV pump pulse produces excited states that decay up to one order of magnitude more slowly than the excited states formed in the mononucleotide cytidine 5'-monophosphate under the same conditions. Even slower relaxation is observed for the hemiprotonated, self-associated form of poly(rC), which is stable at acidic pH. Transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence signals for (dC) 18 at pH 6.8 are similar to ones observed for poly(rC) near pH 4, indicating that hemiprotonated structures are found in DNA C tracts at neutral pH. In both systems, there is evidence for two kinds of emitting states with lifetimes of ˜100 ps and slightly more than 1 ns. The former states are responsible for the bulk of emission from the hemiprotonated structures. Evidence suggests that slow electronic relaxation in these self-complexes is the result of vertical base stacking. The similar signals from RNA and DNA C tracts suggest a common base-stacked structure, which may be identical with that of i-motif DNA.

  9. Icy Moon Absorption Signatures: Probes of Saturnian Magnetospheric Dynamics and Moon Activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roussos, E.; Krupp, N.; Jones, G. H.; Paranicas, C.; Mitchell, D. G.; Krimigis, S. M.; Motschmann, U.; Dougherty, M. K.; Lagg, A.; Woch, J.

    2006-12-01

    After the first flybys at the outer planets by the Pioneer and Voyager probes, it became evident that energetic charged particle absorption features in the radiation belts are important tracers of magnetospheric dynamical features and parameters. Absorption signatures are especially important for characterizing the Saturnian magnetosphere. Due to the spin and magnetic axes' near-alignment, losses of particles to the icy moon surfaces and rings are higher compared to the losses at other planetary magnetospheres. The refilling rate of these absorption features (termed "micorsignatures") can be associated with particle diffusion. In addition, as these microsignatures drift with the properties of the pre-depletion electrons, they provide us direct information on the drift shell structure in the radiation belts and the factors that influence their shape. The multiple icy moon L-shell crossings by the Cassini spacecraft during the first 2 years of the mission provided us with almost 100 electron absorption events by eight different moons, at various longitudinal separations from each one and at various electron energies. Their analysis seems to give a consistent picture of the electron diffusion source and puts aside a lot of inconsistencies that resulted from relevant Pioneer and Voyager studies. The presence of non-axisymmetric particle drift shells even down to the orbit of Enceladus (3.98 Rs), also revealed through this analysis, suggests either large ring current disturbances or the action of global or localized electric fields. Finally, despite these absorption signatures being observed far from the originating moons, they can give us hints on the nature of the local interaction between each moon and the magnetospheric plasma. It is, nevertheless, beyond any doubt that energetic charged particle absorption signatures are a very powerful tool that can be used to effectively probe a series of dynamical processes in the Saturnian magnetosphere.

  10. Isotropic LQC and LQC-inspired models with a massless scalar field as generalised Brans-Dicke theories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rama, S. Kalyana

    2018-06-01

    We explore whether generalised Brans-Dicke theories, which have a scalar field Φ and a function ω (Φ ), can be the effective actions leading to the effective equations of motion of the LQC and the LQC-inspired models, which have a massless scalar field σ and a function f( m). We find that this is possible for isotropic cosmology. We relate the pairs (σ , f) and (Φ , ω ) and, using examples, illustrate these relations. We find that near the bounce of the LQC evolutions for which f(m) = sin m, the corresponding field Φ → 0 and the function ω (Φ ) ∝ Φ ^2. We also find that the class of generalised Brans-Dicke theories, which we had found earlier to lead to non singular isotropic evolutions, may be written as an LQC-inspired model. The relations found here in the isotropic cases do not apply to the anisotropic cases, which perhaps require more general effective actions.

  11. General integrable n-level, many-mode Janes-Cummings-Dicke models and classical r-matrices with spectral parameters

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Skrypnyk, T., E-mail: taras.skrypnyk@unimib.it, E-mail: tskrypnyk@imath.kiev.ua

    Using the technique of classical r-matrices and quantum Lax operators, we construct the most general form of the quantum integrable “n-level, many-mode” spin-boson Jaynes-Cummings-Dicke-type hamiltonians describing an interaction of a molecule of N n-level atoms with many modes of electromagnetic field and containing, in general, additional non-linear interaction terms. We explicitly obtain the corresponding quantum Lax operators and spin-boson analogs of the generalized Gaudin hamiltonians and prove their quantum commutativity. We investigate symmetries of the obtained models that are associated with the geometric symmetries of the classical r-matrices and construct the corresponding algebra of quantum integrals. We consider in detailmore » three classes of non-skew-symmetric classical r-matrices with spectral parameters and explicitly obtain the corresponding quantum Lax operators and Jaynes-Cummings-Dicke-type hamiltonians depending on the considered r-matrix.« less

  12. Ultrafast photo-initiated molecular quantum dynamics in the DNA dinucleotide d(ApG) revealed by broadband transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Stuhldreier, Mayra C; Temps, Friedrich

    2013-01-01

    The ultrafast photo-initiated quantum dynamics of the adenine-guanine dinucleotide d(ApG) in aqueous solution (pH 7) has been studied by femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy after excitation at lambda = 260 nm. The results reveal a hierarchy of processes on time scales from tau < 100 fs to tau > 100 ps. Characteristic spectro-temporal signatures are observed indicating the transformation of the molecules in the electronic relaxation from the photo-excited state to a long-lived exciplex. In particular, broadband UV/VIS excited-state absorption (ESA) measurements detected a distinctive absorption by the excited dinucleotide around lambda = 335 nm, approximately 0.5 eV to the blue compared to the maximum of the broad and unstructured ESA spectrum after excitation of an equimolar mixture of the mononucleotides dAMP and dGMP. A similar feature has been identified as signature of the excimer in the dynamics of the adenine dinucleotide d(ApA). The lifetime of the d(ApG) exciplex was found to be tau = 124 +/- 4 ps both from the ESA decay time and from the ground-state recovery time, far longer than the sub-picosecond lifetimes of excited dAMP or dGMP. Fluorescence-time profiles measured by the up-conversion technique indicate that the exciplex state is reached around approximately 6 ps after excitation. Very weak residual fluorescence at longer times red-shifted to the emission from the photo-excited state shows that the exciplex is almost optically dark, but still has enough oscillator strength to give rise to the dual fluorescence of the dinucleotide in the static fluorescence spectrum.

  13. Three-dimensional pin-to-pin analyses of VVER-440 cores by the MOBY-DICK code

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lehmann, M.; Mikolas, P.

    1994-12-31

    Nuclear design for the Dukovany (EDU) VVER-440s nuclear power plant is routinely performed by the MOBY-DICK system. After its implementation on Hewlett Packard series 700 workstations, it is able to perform routinely three-dimensional pin-to-pin core analyses. For purposes of code validation, the benchmark prepared from EDU operational data was solved.

  14. Orbiting naked singularities in large-ω Brans-Dicke gravity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chauvineau, Bertrand

    2017-11-01

    Brans-Dicke gravity admits spherical solutions describing naked singularities rather than black holes. Depending on some parameters entering such a solution, stable circular orbits exist for all radii. One shows that, despite the fact a naked singularity is an infinite redshift location, the far observed orbital motion frequency is unbounded for an adiabatically decreasing radius. We then argue that this feature remains true in a wide set of scalar(s)-tensor theories if gravity. This is a salient difference with general relativity, and the repercussion on the gravitational radiation by EMRI systems is stressed. Since this behaviour survives the ω \\longrightarrow ∞ limit, the possibility of such solutions is of utmost interest in the new gravitational wave astronomy context, despite the current constraints on scalar-tensor gravity.

  15. Quantum phase transitions of light in a dissipative Dicke-Bose-Hubbard model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Ren-Cun; Tan, Lei; Zhang, Wen-Xuan; Liu, Wu-Ming

    2017-09-01

    The impact that the environment has on the quantum phase transition of light in the Dicke-Bose-Hubbard model is investigated. Based on the quasibosonic approach, mean-field theory, and perturbation theory, the formulation of the Hamiltonian, the eigenenergies, and the superfluid order parameter are obtained analytically. Compared with the ideal cases, the order parameter of the system evolves with time as the photons naturally decay in their environment. When the system starts with the superfluid state, the dissipation makes the photons more likely to localize, and a greater hopping energy of photons is required to restore the long-range phase coherence of the localized state of the system. Furthermore, the Mott lobes depend crucially on the numbers of atoms and photons (which disappear) of each site, and the system tends to be classical with the number of atoms increasing; however, the atomic number is far lower than that expected under ideal circumstances. As there is an inevitable interaction between the coupled-cavity array and its surrounding environment in the actual experiments, the system is intrinsically dissipative. The results obtained here provide a more realistic image for characterizing the dissipative nature of quantum phase transitions in lossy platforms, which will offer valuable insight into quantum simulation of a dissipative system and which are helpful in guiding experimentalists in open quantum systems.

  16. Obtaining a W state from a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state via stochastic local operations and classical communication with a rate approaching unity.

    PubMed

    Yu, Nengkun; Guo, Cheng; Duan, Runyao

    2014-04-25

    We introduce a notion of the entanglement transformation rate to characterize the asymptotic comparability of two multipartite pure entangled states under stochastic local operations and classical communication (SLOCC). For two well known SLOCC inequivalent three-qubit states |GHZ⟩=(1/2)(|000⟩+|111⟩) and |W⟩=(1/3)(|100⟩+|010⟩+|001⟩), we show that the entanglement transformation rate from |GHZ⟩ to |W⟩ is exactly 1. That means that we can obtain one copy of the W state from one copy of the Greenberg-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state by SLOCC, asymptotically. We then apply similar techniques to obtain a lower bound on the entanglement transformation rates from an N-partite GHZ state to a class of Dicke states, and prove the tightness of this bound for some special cases which naturally generalize the |W⟩ state. A new lower bound on the tensor rank of the matrix permanent is also obtained by evaluating the tensor rank of Dicke states.

  17. Atomistic absorption spectra and non-adiabatic dynamics of the LH2 complex with a GPU-accelerated ab initio exciton model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glowacki, David

    Recently, we outlined an efficient multi-tiered parallel excitonic framework that utilizes time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to calculate ground/excited state energies and gradients of large supramolecular complexes in atomistic detail. In this paper, we apply our ab initioexciton framework to the 27 coupled bacteriocholorophyll-a chromophores which make up the LH2 complex, using it to compute linear absorption spectra and short-time, on-the-fly nonadiabatic surface-hopping (SH) dynamics of electronically excited LH2. Our ab initio exciton model includes two key parameters whose values are determined by fitting to experiment: d, which is added to the diagonal elements, corrects for the error in TDDFT vertical excitation energies on a single chromophore; and e, which occurs on the off-diagonal matrix elements, describes the average dielectric screening of the inter-chromophore transition-dipole coupling. Using snapshots obtained from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations (MD) of LH2, best-fit values of both d and e were obtained by fitting to the thermally broadened experimental absorption spectrum within the Frank-Condon approximation, providing a linear absorption spectrum that agrees reasonably well with the experimental observations. We follow the nonadiabatic dynamics using surface hopping to construct time-resolved visualizations of the EET dynamics in the sub-picosecond regime following photoexcitation. This provides some qualitative insight into the excitonic energy transfer (EET) that results from atomically resolved vibrational fluctuations of the chromophores. The dynamical picture that emerges is one of rapidly fluctuating eigenstates that are delocalized over multiple chromophores and undergo frequent crossing on a femtosecond timescale as a result of the underlying chromophore vibrational dynamics. The eigenstate fluctuations arise from disorder in both the diagonal chromophore site energies and the off-diagonal inter

  18. New Rh 2 (II,II) Complexes for Solar Energy Applications: Panchromatic Absorption and Excited-State Reactivity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Whittemore, Tyler J.; Sayre, Hannah J.; Xue, Congcong

    In this work, the new heteroleptic paddlewheel complexes cis-[Rh 2(μ-form) 2(μ-np) 2][BF 4] 2, where form = p-ditolylformamidinate (DTolF) or p-difluorobenzylformamidinate (F-form) and np = 1,8-napthyridyine, and cis-Rh 2(μ-form) 2(μ-npCOO) 2 (npCOO – = 1,8-naphthyridine-2-carboxylate), were synthesized and characterized. The complexes absorb strongly throughout the ultraviolet (λ max = 300 nm, ε = 20 300 M –1 cm –1) and visible regions (λ max = 640 nm ε = 3500 M –1 cm –1), making them potentially useful new dyes with panchromatic light absorption for solar energy conversion applications. Ultrafast and nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared spectroscopies were usedmore » to characterize the identity and dynamics of the excited states, where singlet and triplet Rh 2/form-to-naphthyridine, metal/ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (ML-LCT) excited states were observed in all four complexes. The npCOO – complexes exhibit red-shifted absorption profiles extending into the near-IR and undergo photoinitiated electron transfer to generate reduced methyl viologen, a species that persists in the presence of a sacrificial donor. The energy of the triplet excited state of each complex was estimated from energy-transfer quenching experiments using a series of organic triplet donors (E( 3ππ*) from 1.83 to 0.78 eV). The singlet reduction (+0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl) potentials, and singlet and triplet oxidation potentials (-1.1 and -0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively) were determined. Finally, based on the excited-state lifetimes and redox properties, these complexes represent a new class of light absorbers with potential application as dyes for charge injection into semiconductor solar cells and in sensitizer-catalyst assemblies for photocatalysis that operate with irradiation from the ultraviolet to ~800 nm.« less

  19. New Rh 2 (II,II) Complexes for Solar Energy Applications: Panchromatic Absorption and Excited-State Reactivity

    DOE PAGES

    Whittemore, Tyler J.; Sayre, Hannah J.; Xue, Congcong; ...

    2017-10-04

    In this work, the new heteroleptic paddlewheel complexes cis-[Rh 2(μ-form) 2(μ-np) 2][BF 4] 2, where form = p-ditolylformamidinate (DTolF) or p-difluorobenzylformamidinate (F-form) and np = 1,8-napthyridyine, and cis-Rh 2(μ-form) 2(μ-npCOO) 2 (npCOO – = 1,8-naphthyridine-2-carboxylate), were synthesized and characterized. The complexes absorb strongly throughout the ultraviolet (λ max = 300 nm, ε = 20 300 M –1 cm –1) and visible regions (λ max = 640 nm ε = 3500 M –1 cm –1), making them potentially useful new dyes with panchromatic light absorption for solar energy conversion applications. Ultrafast and nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared spectroscopies were usedmore » to characterize the identity and dynamics of the excited states, where singlet and triplet Rh 2/form-to-naphthyridine, metal/ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (ML-LCT) excited states were observed in all four complexes. The npCOO – complexes exhibit red-shifted absorption profiles extending into the near-IR and undergo photoinitiated electron transfer to generate reduced methyl viologen, a species that persists in the presence of a sacrificial donor. The energy of the triplet excited state of each complex was estimated from energy-transfer quenching experiments using a series of organic triplet donors (E( 3ππ*) from 1.83 to 0.78 eV). The singlet reduction (+0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl) potentials, and singlet and triplet oxidation potentials (-1.1 and -0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively) were determined. Finally, based on the excited-state lifetimes and redox properties, these complexes represent a new class of light absorbers with potential application as dyes for charge injection into semiconductor solar cells and in sensitizer-catalyst assemblies for photocatalysis that operate with irradiation from the ultraviolet to ~800 nm.« less

  20. X-ray absorption spectroscopy: EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) and XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Alp, E.E.; Mini, S.M.; Ramanathan, M.

    1990-04-01

    The x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) had been an essential tool to gather spectroscopic information about atomic energy level structure in the early decades of this century. It has also played an important role in the discovery and systematization of rare-earth elements. The discovery of synchrotron radiation in 1952, and later the availability of broadly tunable synchrotron based x-ray sources have revitalized this technique since the 1970's. The correct interpretation of the oscillatory structure in the x-ray absorption cross-section above the absorption edge by Sayers et. al. has transformed XAS from a spectroscopic tool to a structural technique. EXAFS (Extended X-raymore » Absorption Fine Structure) yields information about the interatomic distances, near neighbor coordination numbers, and lattice dynamics. An excellent description of the principles and data analysis techniques of EXAFS is given by Teo. XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure), on the other hand, gives information about the valence state, energy bandwidth and bond angles. Today, there are about 50 experimental stations in various synchrotrons around the world dedicated to collecting x-ray absorption data from the bulk and surfaces of solids and liquids. In this chapter, we will give the basic principles of XAS, explain the information content of essentially two different aspects of the absorption process leading to EXAFS and XANES, and discuss the source and samples limitations.« less

  1. Time-Resolved IR-Absorption Spectroscopy of Hot-Electron Dynamics in Satellite and Upper Conduction Bands in GaP

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cavicchia, M. A.; Alfano, R. R.

    1995-01-01

    The relaxation dynamics of hot electrons in the X6 and X7 satellite and upper conduction bands in GaP was directly measured by femtosecond UV-pump-IR-probe absorption spectroscopy. From a fit to the induced IR-absorption spectra the dominant scattering mechanism giving rise to the absorption at early delay times was determined to be intervalley scattering of electrons out of the X7 upper conduction-band valley. For long delay times the dominant scattering mechanism is electron-hole scattering. Electron transport dynamics of the upper conduction band of GaP has been time resolved.

  2. Dynamical Evolution of Properties for Atom and Field in the Process of Two-Photon Absorption and Emission Between Atomic Levels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Jian-ming; Xu, Xue-xiang

    2018-04-01

    Using dressed state method, we cleverly solve the dynamics of atom-field interaction in the process of two-photon absorption and emission between atomic levels. Here we suppose that the atom is initially in the ground state and the optical field is initially in Fock state, coherent state or thermal state, respectively. The properties of the atom, including the population in excited state and ground state, the atom inversion, and the properties for optical field, including the photon number distribution, the mean photon number, the second-order correlation function and the Wigner function, are discussed in detail. We derive their analytical expressions and then make numerical analysis for them. In contrast with Jaynes-Cummings model, some similar results, such as quantum Rabi oscillation, revival and collapse, are also exhibit in our considered model. Besides, some novel nonclassical states are generated.

  3. NASA Remembers Gemini, Apollo Astronaut Dick Gordon

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2017-11-07

    Astronaut Dick Gordon, command module pilot on Apollo 12, the second lunar landing mission, died on Monday, November 6 at the age of 88. A native of Seattle, Washington and 1951 graduate of the University of Washington, Gordon became an astronaut in 1963 after a career as a naval aviator. He spent more than 316 hours in space on two missions. He was the pilot for the three-day Gemini 11 mission in 1966 and performed two spacewalks. At the time of the flight, Gemini 11 set the world altitude record of 850 miles. Gordon made a second flight in 1969 as command pilot on Apollo 12 with spacecraft commander, Pete Conrad and lunar module pilot, Alan Bean. Throughout the 31-hour lunar surface stay by Conrad and Bean, Gordon remained in orbit around the moon on the command module, "Yankee Clipper." In November 2005, NASA honored Gordon with an Ambassador of Exploration award. NASA presented these prestigious awards to the astronauts who took part in the nation's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs from 1961 to 1972.

  4. Photodissociation dynamics in the first absorption band of pyrrole. I. Molecular Hamiltonian and the Herzberg-Teller absorption spectrum for the A12(π σ* ) ←X˜ 1 A1(π π ) transition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Picconi, David; Grebenshchikov, Sergy Yu.

    2018-03-01

    This paper opens a series in which the photochemistry of the two lowest πσ* states of pyrrole and their interaction with each other and with the ground electronic state X ˜ are studied using ab initio quantum mechanics. New 24-dimensional potential energy surfaces for the photodissociation of the N-H bond and the formation of the pyrrolyl radical are calculated using the multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASPT2) for the electronic states X ˜ (π π ) , 11A2(πσ*), and 11B1(πσ*) and locally diabatized. In this paper, the ab initio calculations are described and the photodissociation in the state 11A2(πσ*) is analyzed. The excitation 11 A2←X ˜ is mediated by the coordinate dependent transition dipole moment functions constructed using the Herzberg-Teller expansion. Nuclear dynamics, including 6, 11, and 15 active degrees of freedom, are studied using the multi-configurational time-dependent Hartree method. The focus is on the frequency resolved absorption spectrum as well as on the dissociation time scales and the resonance lifetimes. Calculations are compared with available experimental data. An approximate convolution method is developed and validated, with which absorption spectra can be calculated and assigned in terms of vibrational quantum numbers. The method represents the total absorption spectrum as a convolution of the diffuse spectrum of the detaching H-atom and the Franck-Condon spectrum of the heteroaromatic ring. Convolution calculation requires a minimal quantum chemical input and is a promising tool for studying the πσ* photodissociation in model biochromophores.

  5. Controlled ultrafast transfer and stability degree of generalized coherent states of a kicked two-level ion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Hao; Kong, Chao; Hai, Wenhua

    2018-06-01

    We investigate quantum dynamics of a two-level ion trapped in the Lamb-Dicke regime of a δ -kicked optical lattice, based on the exact generalized coherent states rotated by a π / 2 pulse of Ramsey type experiment. The spatiotemporal evolutions of the spin-motion entangled states in different parameter regions are illustrated, and the parameter regions of different degrees of quantum stability described by the quantum fidelity are found. Time evolutions of the probability for the ion being in different pseudospin states reveal that the ultrafast entanglement generation and population transfers of the system can be analytically controlled by managing the laser pulses. The probability in an initially disentangled state shows periodic collapses (entanglement) and revivals (de-entanglement). Reduction of the stability degree results in enlarging the period of de-entanglement, while the instability and potential chaos will cause the sustained entanglement. The results could be justified experimentally in the existing setups and may be useful in engineering quantum dynamics for quantum information processing.

  6. Dynamic absorption coefficients of chemically amplified resists and nonchemically amplified resists at extreme ultraviolet

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fallica, Roberto; Stowers, Jason K.; Grenville, Andrew; Frommhold, Andreas; Robinson, Alex P. G.; Ekinci, Yasin

    2016-07-01

    The dynamic absorption coefficients of several chemically amplified resists (CAR) and non-CAR extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photoresists are measured experimentally using a specifically developed setup in transmission mode at the x-ray interference lithography beamline of the Swiss Light Source. The absorption coefficient α and the Dill parameters ABC were measured with unprecedented accuracy. In general, the α of resists match very closely with the theoretical value calculated from elemental densities and absorption coefficients, whereas exceptions are observed. In addition, through the direct measurements of the absorption coefficients and dose-to-clear values, we introduce a new figure of merit called chemical sensitivity to account for all the postabsorption chemical reaction ongoing in the resist, which also predicts a quantitative clearing volume and clearing radius, due to the photon absorption in the resist. These parameters may help provide deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms of the EUV concepts of clearing volume and clearing radius, which are then defined and quantitatively calculated.

  7. Quantification of the dynamic changes in the absorption coefficient of liquid water at erbium:YAG and carbon dioxide laser wavelengths

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shori, Ramesh K.

    The interaction of high-intensity, short-pulsed radiation with liquid water results in dynamic changes in the optical absorption coefficient of water. These changes and their implications, as related to mid-infrared laser ablation of tissue, were not investigated until the late 1980's and early 1990's. Classical models of absorption and heating do not explain the dynamic, non-linear changes in water. The objective of the present work was to quantify the dynamic changes in the absorption coefficient of liquid water as a function of incident energy at three clinically relevant infrared wavelengths (λ = 2.94, 9.6, 10.6 μm). To investigate the changes in the absorption spectrum of water in the 3-μm band, a stable, high-energy Q- switched Er:YAG laser emitting 2.94-μm radiation in a near-perfect TEMoo spatial beam profile was developed. Key to the development of this laser was careful attention to the gain medium, optical pump system, system optics, and the thermal system. The final system design was capable of emitting 110 mJ/pulse at of 2-4 Hz with a lamp lifetime exceeding 12 million pulses The laser was used in two sets of experiments in order to quantify the above changes. First, the laser was used to measure the velocity of the shock front produced by vaporizing a gelatin-based tissue phantom. The measured shock velocity was related to the optical energy absorbed by the tissue phantom and the absorption coefficient, based on the pressure relationships derived using a 1-D piston model for an expanding plume. The shock front velocity measurements indicate that the absorption coefficient is constant for incident fluences less than 20 J/cm2, a result consistent with transmission data. For higher fluences, the data indicate a decrease in the absorption coefficient, which is again consistent with transmission data. Quantification of the absorption coefficient can, however, not be made without violating assumptions that form the basis for the 1-D piston model. Second

  8. Implications of Two Well-Known Models for Instructional Designers in Distance Education: Dick-Carey versus Morrison-Ross-Kemp

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Akbulut, Yavuz

    2007-01-01

    This paper first summarizes, and then compares and contrasts two well-known instructional design models: Dick and Carey Model (DC) and Morrison, Ross and Kemp model (MRK). The target audiences of both models are basically instructional designers. Both models have applications for different instructional design settings. They both see the…

  9. Five-Photon Absorption and Selective Enhancement of Multiphoton Absorption Processes

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    We study one-, two-, three-, four-, and five-photon absorption of three centrosymmetric molecules using density functional theory. These calculations are the first ab initio calculations of five-photon absorption. Even- and odd-order absorption processes show different trends in the absorption cross sections. The behavior of all even- and odd-photon absorption properties shows a semiquantitative similarity, which can be explained using few-state models. This analysis shows that odd-photon absorption processes are largely determined by the one-photon absorption strength, whereas all even-photon absorption strengths are largely dominated by the two-photon absorption strength, in both cases modulated by powers of the polarizability of the final excited state. We demonstrate how to selectively enhance a specific multiphoton absorption process. PMID:26120588

  10. Five-Photon Absorption and Selective Enhancement of Multiphoton Absorption Processes.

    PubMed

    Friese, Daniel H; Bast, Radovan; Ruud, Kenneth

    2015-05-20

    We study one-, two-, three-, four-, and five-photon absorption of three centrosymmetric molecules using density functional theory. These calculations are the first ab initio calculations of five-photon absorption. Even- and odd-order absorption processes show different trends in the absorption cross sections. The behavior of all even- and odd-photon absorption properties shows a semiquantitative similarity, which can be explained using few-state models. This analysis shows that odd-photon absorption processes are largely determined by the one-photon absorption strength, whereas all even-photon absorption strengths are largely dominated by the two-photon absorption strength, in both cases modulated by powers of the polarizability of the final excited state. We demonstrate how to selectively enhance a specific multiphoton absorption process.

  11. Do fluorescence and transient absorption probe the same intramolecular charge transfer state of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile?

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gustavsson, Thomas; Coto, Pedro B.; Serrano-Andres, Luis

    2009-07-21

    We present here the results of time-resolved absorption and emission experiments for 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile in solution, which suggest that the fluorescent intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state may differ from the twisted ICT (TICT) state observed in transient absorption.

  12. A Derivation of the Dick Effect from Control-Loop Models for Periodically Interrogated Passive Frequency Standards

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Greenhall, Charles A.

    1996-01-01

    The phase of a frequency standard that uses periodic interrogation and control of a local oscillator (LO) is degraded by a long-term random-walk component induced by downconversion of LO noise into the loop passband. The Dick formula for the noise level of this degradation can be derived from explicit solotions of two LO control-loop models. A summary of the derivations is given here.

  13. Absorption enhancement in type-II coupled quantum rings due to existence of quasi-bound states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsieh, Chi-Ti; Lin, Shih-Yen; Chang, Shu-Wei

    2018-02-01

    The absorption of type-II nanostructures is often weaker than type-I counterpart due to spatially separated electrons and holes. We model the bound-to-continuum absorption of type-II quantum rings (QRs) using a multiband source-radiation approach using the retarded Green function in the cylindrical coordinate system. The selection rules due to the circular symmetry for allowed transitions of absorption are utilized. The bound-tocontinuum absorptions of type-II GaSb coupled and uncoupled QRs embedded in GaAs matrix are compared here. The GaSb QRs act as energy barriers for electrons but potential wells for holes. For the coupled QR structure, the region sandwiched between two QRs forms a potential reservoir of quasi-bound electrons. Electrons in these states, though look like bound ones, would ultimately tunnel out of the reservoir through barriers. Multiband perfectly-matched layers are introduced to model the tunneling of quasi-bound states into open space. Resonance peaks are observed on the absorption spectra of type-II coupled QRs due to the formation of quasi-bound states in conduction bands, but no resonance exist in the uncoupled QR. The tunneling time of these metastable states can be extracted from the resonance and is in the order of ten femtoseconds. Absorption of coupled QRs is significantly enhanced as compared to that of uncoupled ones in certain spectral windows of interest. These features may improve the performance of photon detectors and photovoltaic devices based on type-II semiconductor nanostructures.

  14. Spin-vibronic quantum dynamics for ultrafast excited-state processes.

    PubMed

    Eng, Julien; Gourlaouen, Christophe; Gindensperger, Etienne; Daniel, Chantal

    2015-03-17

    Ultrafast intersystem crossing (ISC) processes coupled to nuclear relaxation and solvation dynamics play a central role in the photophysics and photochemistry of a wide range of transition metal complexes. These phenomena occurring within a few hundred femtoseconds are investigated experimentally by ultrafast picosecond and femtosecond transient absorption or luminescence spectroscopies, and optical laser pump-X-ray probe techniques using picosecond and femtosecond X-ray pulses. The interpretation of ultrafast structural changes, time-resolved spectra, quantum yields, and time scales of elementary processes or transient lifetimes needs robust theoretical tools combining state-of-the-art quantum chemistry and developments in quantum dynamics for solving the electronic and nuclear problems. Multimode molecular dynamics beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation has been successfully applied to many small polyatomic systems. Its application to large molecules containing a transition metal atom is still a challenge because of the nuclear dimensionality of the problem, the high density of electronic excited states, and the spin-orbit coupling effects. Rhenium(I) α-diimine carbonyl complexes, [Re(L)(CO)3(N,N)](n+) are thermally and photochemically robust and highly flexible synthetically. Structural variations of the N,N and L ligands affect the spectroscopy, the photophysics, and the photochemistry of these chromophores easily incorporated into a complex environment. Visible light absorption opens the route to a wide range of applications such as sensors, probes, or emissive labels for imaging biomolecules. Halide complexes [Re(X)(CO)3(bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, or I; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) exhibit complex electronic structure and large spin-orbit effects that do not correlate with the heavy atom effects. Indeed, the (1)MLCT → (3)MLCT intersystem crossing (ISC) kinetics is slower than in [Ru(bpy)3](2+) or [Fe(bpy)3](2+) despite the presence of a third-row transition metal

  15. Quantitative broadband absorption and scattering spectroscopy in turbid media by combined frequency-domain and steady state methodologies

    DOEpatents

    Tromberg, Bruce J [Irvine, CA; Berger, Andrew J [Rochester, NY; Cerussi, Albert E [Lake Forest, CA; Bevilacqua, Frederic [Costa Mesa, CA; Jakubowski, Dorota [Irvine, CA

    2008-09-23

    A technique for measuring broadband near-infrared absorption spectra of turbid media that uses a combination of frequency-domain and steady-state reflectance methods. Most of the wavelength coverage is provided by a white-light steady-state measurement, whereas the frequency-domain data are acquired at a few selected wavelengths. Coefficients of absorption and reduced scattering derived from the frequency-domain data are used to calibrate the intensity of the steady-state measurements and to determine the reduced scattering coefficient at all wavelengths in the spectral window of interest. The absorption coefficient spectrum is determined by comparing the steady-state reflectance values with the predictions of diffusion theory, wavelength by wavelength. Absorption spectra of a turbid phantom and of human breast tissue in vivo, derived with the combined frequency-domain and steady-state technique, agree well with expected reference values.

  16. Excited state electron and energy relays in supramolecular dinuclear complexes revealed by ultrafast optical and X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Hayes, Dugan; Kohler, Lars; Hadt, Ryan G; Zhang, Xiaoyi; Liu, Cunming; Mulfort, Karen L; Chen, Lin X

    2018-01-28

    The kinetics of photoinduced electron and energy transfer in a family of tetrapyridophenazine-bridged heteroleptic homo- and heterodinuclear copper(i) bis(phenanthroline)/ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complexes were studied using ultrafast optical and multi-edge X-ray transient absorption spectroscopies. This work combines the synthesis of heterodinuclear Cu(i)-Ru(ii) analogs of the homodinuclear Cu(i)-Cu(i) targets with spectroscopic analysis and electronic structure calculations to first disentangle the dynamics at individual metal sites by taking advantage of the element and site specificity of X-ray absorption and theoretical methods. The excited state dynamical models developed for the heterodinuclear complexes are then applied to model the more challenging homodinuclear complexes. These results suggest that both intermetallic charge and energy transfer can be observed in an asymmetric dinuclear copper complex in which the ground state redox potentials of the copper sites are offset by only 310 meV. We also demonstrate the ability of several of these complexes to effectively and unidirectionally shuttle energy between different metal centers, a property that could be of great use in the design of broadly absorbing and multifunctional multimetallic photocatalysts. This work provides an important step toward developing both a fundamental conceptual picture and a practical experimental handle with which synthetic chemists, spectroscopists, and theoreticians may collaborate to engineer cheap and efficient photocatalytic materials capable of performing coulombically demanding chemical transformations.

  17. Elucidating the Nature of the Excited State of a Heteroleptic Copper Photosensitizer by using Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Moonshiram, Dooshaye; Garrido-Barros, Pablo; Gimbert-Suriñach, Carolina; Picón, Antonio; Liu, Cunming; Zhang, Xiaoyi; Karnahl, Michael; Llobet, Antoni

    2018-04-25

    We report the light-induced electronic and geometric changes taking place within a heteroleptic Cu I photosensitizer, namely [(xant)Cu(Me 2 phenPh 2 )]PF 6 (xant=xantphos, Me 2 phenPh 2 =bathocuproine), by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the ps-μs time regime. Time-resolved X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis enabled the elucidation of the electronic and structural configuration of the copper center in the excited state as well as its decay dynamics in different solvent conditions with and without triethylamine acting as a sacrificial electron donor. A three-fold decrease in the decay lifetime of the excited state is observed in the presence of triethylamine, showing the feasibility of the reductive quenching pathway in the latter case. A prominent pre-edge feature is observed in the XANES spectrum of the excited state upon metal to charge ligand transfer transition, showing an increased hybridization of the 3d states with the ligand p orbitals in the tetrahedron around the Cu center. EXAFS and density functional theory illustrate a significant shortening of the Cu-N and an elongation of the Cu-P bonds together with a decrease in the torsional angle between the xantphos and bathocuproine ligand. This study provides mechanistic time-resolved understanding for the development of improved heteroleptic Cu I photosensitizers, which can be used for the light-driven production of hydrogen from water. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  18. High-Power Collective Charging of a Solid-State Quantum Battery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferraro, Dario; Campisi, Michele; Andolina, Gian Marcello; Pellegrini, Vittorio; Polini, Marco

    2018-03-01

    Quantum information theorems state that it is possible to exploit collective quantum resources to greatly enhance the charging power of quantum batteries (QBs) made of many identical elementary units. We here present and solve a model of a QB that can be engineered in solid-state architectures. It consists of N two-level systems coupled to a single photonic mode in a cavity. We contrast this collective model ("Dicke QB"), whereby entanglement is genuinely created by the common photonic mode, to the one in which each two-level system is coupled to its own separate cavity mode ("Rabi QB"). By employing exact diagonalization, we demonstrate the emergence of a quantum advantage in the charging power of Dicke QBs, which scales like √{N } for N ≫1 .

  19. Picosecond sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy with applications to excited state proton transfer

    DOE PAGES

    Van Kuiken, Benjamin E.; Ross, Matthew R.; Strader, Matthew L.; ...

    2017-05-08

    Picosecond X-ray absorption (XA) spectroscopy at the S K-edge (~2.4 keV) is demonstrated and used to monitor excited state dynamics in a small organosulfur molecule (2-Thiopyridone, 2TP) following optical excitation. Multiple studies have reported that the thione (2TP) is converted into the thiol (2-Mercaptopyridine, 2MP) following photoexcitation. However, the timescale and photochemical pathway of this reaction remain uncertain. In this work, time-resolved XA spectroscopy at the S K-edge is used to monitor the formation and decay of two transient species following 400nm excitation of 2TP dissolved in acetonitrile. The first transient species forms within the instrument response time (70 ps)more » and decays within 6 ns. The second transient species forms on a timescale of ~400 ps and decays on a 15 ns timescale. Time-dependent density functional theory is used to identify the first and second transient species as the lowestlying triplet states of 2TP and 2MP, respectively. This study demonstrates transient S K-edge XA spectroscopy as a sensitive and viable probe of time-evolving charge dynamics near sulfur sites in small molecules with future applications towards studying complex biological and material systems.« less

  20. Two-dimensional Fano lineshapes: Excited-state absorption contributions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Finkelstein-Shapiro, Daniel; Pullerits, Tõnu; Hansen, Thorsten

    2018-05-01

    Fano interferences in nanostructures are influenced by dissipation effects as well as many-body interactions. Two-dimensional coherent spectroscopies have just begun to be applied to these systems where the spectroscopic signatures of a discrete-continuum structure are not known. In this article, we calculate the excited-state absorption contribution for different models of higher lying excited states. We find that the characteristic asymmetry of one-dimensional spectroscopies is recovered from the many-body contributions and that the higher lying excited manifolds have distorted lineshapes that are not anticipated from discrete-level Hamiltonians. We show that the Stimulated Emission cannot have contributions from a flat continuum of states. This work completes the Ground-State Bleach and Stimulated Emission signals that were calculated previously [D. Finkelstein-Shapiro et al., Phys. Rev. B 94, 205137 (2016)]. The model reproduces the observations reported for molecules on surfaces probed by 2DIR.

  1. Two-dimensional Fano lineshapes: Excited-state absorption contributions.

    PubMed

    Finkelstein-Shapiro, Daniel; Pullerits, Tõnu; Hansen, Thorsten

    2018-05-14

    Fano interferences in nanostructures are influenced by dissipation effects as well as many-body interactions. Two-dimensional coherent spectroscopies have just begun to be applied to these systems where the spectroscopic signatures of a discrete-continuum structure are not known. In this article, we calculate the excited-state absorption contribution for different models of higher lying excited states. We find that the characteristic asymmetry of one-dimensional spectroscopies is recovered from the many-body contributions and that the higher lying excited manifolds have distorted lineshapes that are not anticipated from discrete-level Hamiltonians. We show that the Stimulated Emission cannot have contributions from a flat continuum of states. This work completes the Ground-State Bleach and Stimulated Emission signals that were calculated previously [D. Finkelstein-Shapiro et al., Phys. Rev. B 94, 205137 (2016)]. The model reproduces the observations reported for molecules on surfaces probed by 2DIR.

  2. Absorption spectroscopy at the ultimate quantum limit from single-photon states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Whittaker, R.; Erven, C.; Neville, A.; Berry, M.; O'Brien, J. L.; Cable, H.; Matthews, J. C. F.

    2017-02-01

    Absorption spectroscopy is routinely used to characterise chemical and biological samples. For the state-of-the-art in laser absorption spectroscopy, precision is theoretically limited by shot-noise due to the fundamental Poisson-distribution of photon number in laser radiation. In practice, the shot-noise limit can only be achieved when all other sources of noise are eliminated. Here, we use wavelength-correlated and tuneable photon pairs to demonstrate how absorption spectroscopy can be performed with precision beyond the shot-noise limit and near the ultimate quantum limit by using the optimal probe for absorption measurement—single photons. We present a practically realisable scheme, which we characterise both the precision and accuracy of by measuring the response of a control feature. We demonstrate that the technique can successfully probe liquid samples and using two spectrally similar types of haemoglobin we show that obtaining a given precision in resolution requires fewer heralded single probe photons compared to using an idealised laser.

  3. Enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit in DNA-like systems induced by Fano and Dicke effects.

    PubMed

    Fu, Hua-Hua; Gu, Lei; Wu, Dan-Dan; Zhang, Zu-Quan

    2015-04-28

    We report a theoretical study highlighting the thermoelectric properties of biological and synthetic DNA molecules. Based on an effective tight-binding model of duplex DNA and by using the nonequilibrium Green's function technique, the thermal conductance, electrical conductance, Seebeck coefficient and thermoelectric figure of merit in the system are numerically calculated by varying the asymmetries of energies and electronic hoppings in the backbone sites to simulate the environmental complications and fluctuations. We find that due to the multiple transport paths in the DNA molecule, the Fano antiresonance occurs, and enhances the Seebeck coefficient and the figure of merit. When the energy difference is produced in every opposite backbone site, the Dicke effect appears. This effect gives rise to a semiconducting-metallic transition, and enhances the thermoelectric efficiency of the DNA molecule remarkably. Moreover, as the Fano antiresonance point is close to the Dicke resonance one, a giant enhancement in the thermoelectric figure of merit in the DNA molecule has been found. These results provide a scenario to obtain effective routes to enhance the thermoelectric efficiency in the DNA molecules, and suggest perspectives for future experiments intending to control the thermoelectric transport in DNA-like nanodevices.

  4. Dynamic belief state representations.

    PubMed

    Lee, Daniel D; Ortega, Pedro A; Stocker, Alan A

    2014-04-01

    Perceptual and control systems are tasked with the challenge of accurately and efficiently estimating the dynamic states of objects in the environment. To properly account for uncertainty, it is necessary to maintain a dynamical belief state representation rather than a single state vector. In this review, canonical algorithms for computing and updating belief states in robotic applications are delineated, and connections to biological systems are highlighted. A navigation example is used to illustrate the importance of properly accounting for correlations between belief state components, and to motivate the need for further investigations in psychophysics and neurobiology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Dynamics of the bleaching of tail states in CdS1- x Se x mixed crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Breitkopf, T.; Kalt, H.; Klingshirn, C.; Reznitsky, A.

    1996-06-01

    The kinetics of excitons localized by statistic potential fluctuations have been studied in CdS 1-xSex ternary alloys under quasi-stationary excitation conditions and have been time resolved after picosecond-pulse excitation. In luminescence experiments we observe the filling of the band tail with rising excitation intensity. The reduction of carrier density with time by recombination leads to a red shift of the luminescence band after picosecond-pulse excitation. Bleaching of absorption of the localized states is found in pump-probe experiments. Its dynamics depend on the localization depth of the excitons and on the pump-pulse energy. Using higher excitation intensities, we observe stimulated emission in luminescence, correlated with significant changes in the behavior of the absorption bleaching. The possible origin of the stimulated emission situated in the spectral region of localized states is discussed.

  6. Photodissociation dynamics of bromoiodomethane from the first and second absorption bands. A combined velocity map and slice imaging study.

    PubMed

    Marggi Poullain, Sonia; Chicharro, David V; Navarro, Eduardo; Rubio-Lago, Luis; González-Vázquez, Jesús; Bañares, Luis

    2018-01-31

    The photodissociation dynamics of bromoiodomethane (CH 2 BrI) have been investigated at the maximum of the first A and second A' absorption bands, at 266 and 210 nm excitation wavelengths, respectively, using velocity map and slice imaging techniques in combination with a probe detection of both iodine and bromine fragments, I( 2 P 3/2 ), I*( 2 P 1/2 ), Br( 2 P 3/2 ) and Br*( 2 P 1/2 ) via (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization. Experimental results, i.e. translational energy and angular distributions, are reported and discussed in conjunction with high level ab initio calculations of potential energy curves and absorption spectra. The results indicate that in the A-band, direct dissociation through the 5A' excited state leads to the I( 2 P 3/2 ) channel while I*( 2 P 1/2 ) atoms are produced via the 5A' → 4A'/4A'' nonadiabatic crossing. The presence of Br and Br* fragments upon excitation to the A-band is attributed to indirect dissociation via a curve crossing between the 5A' with upper excited states such as the 9A'. The A'-band is characterized by a strong photoselectivity leading exclusively to the Br( 2 P 3/2 ) and Br*( 2 P 1/2 ) channels, which are likely produced by dissociation through the 9A' excited state. Avoided crossings between several excited states from both the A and A' bands entangle however the possible reaction pathways.

  7. Picosecond time-resolved absorption and fluorescence dynamics in the artificial bacteriorhodopsin pigment BR6.11.

    PubMed

    Brack, T L; Delaney, J K; Atkinson, G H; Albeck, A; Sheves, M; Ottolenghi, M

    1993-08-01

    The picosecond molecular dynamics in an artificial bacteriorhodopsin (BR) pigment containing a structurally modified all-trans retinal chromphore with a six-membered ring bridging the C11=C12-C13 positions (BR6.11) are measured by picosecond transient absorption and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Time-dependent intensity and spectral changes in absorption in the 570-650-nm region are monitored for delays as long as 5 ns after the 7-ps, 573-nm excitation of BR6.11. Two intermediates, J6.11 and K6.11/1, both with enhanced absorption to the red (> 600 nm) of the BR6.11 spectrum are observed within approximately 50 ps. The J6.11 intermediate decays with a time constant of 12 +/- 3 ps to form K6.11/1. The K6.11/1 intermediate decays with an approximately 100-ps time constant to form a third intermediate, K6.11/2, which is observed through diminished 650-nm absorption (relative to that of K6.11/1). No other transient absorption changes are found during the remainder of the initial 5-ns period of the BR6.11 photoreaction. Fluorescence in the 650-900-nm region is observed from BR6.11, K6.11/1, and K6.11/2, but no emission assignable to J6.11 is found. The BR6.11 fluroescence spectrum has a approximately 725-nm maximum which is blue-shifted by approximately 15 nm relative to that of native BR-570 and is 4.2 +/- 1.5 times larger in intensity (same sample optical density). No differences in the profile of the fluorescence spectra of BR6.11 and the intermediates K6.11/1 and K6.11/2 are observed. Following ground-state depletion of the BR6.11 population, the time-resolved fluroescence intensity monitored at 725 nm increases with two time constants, 12 +/- 3 and approximately 100 ps, both of which correlate well with changes in the picosecond transient absorption data. The resonance Raman spectrum of ground-state BR6.11, measured with low-energy, 560-nm excitation, is significantly different from the spectrum of native BR-570, thus confirming that the

  8. Excited state electron and energy relays in supramolecular dinuclear complexes revealed by ultrafast optical and X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Hayes, Dugan; Kohler, Lars; Hadt, Ryan G.; ...

    2017-11-28

    Here, the kinetics of photoinduced electron and energy transfer in a family of tetrapyridophenazine-bridged heteroleptic homo- and heterodinuclear copper(I) bis(phenanthroline)/ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes were studied using ultrafast optical and multi-edge X-ray transient absorption spectroscopies. This work combines the synthesis of heterodinuclear Cu(I)–Ru(II) analogs of the homodinuclear Cu(I)–Cu(I) targets with spectroscopic analysis and electronic structure calculations to first disentangle the dynamics at individual metal sites by taking advantage of the element and site specificity of X-ray absorption and theoretical methods. The excited state dynamical models developed for the heterodinuclear complexes are then applied to model the more challenging homodinuclear complexes. These resultsmore » suggest that both intermetallic charge and energy transfer can be observed in an asymmetric dinuclear copper complex in which the ground state redox potentials of the copper sites are offset by only 310 meV. We also demonstrate the ability of several of these complexes to effectively and unidirectionally shuttle energy between different metal centers, a property that could be of great use in the design of broadly absorbing and multifunctional multimetallic photocatalysts. This work provides an important step toward developing both a fundamental conceptual picture and a practical experimental handle with which synthetic chemists, spectroscopists, and theoreticians may collaborate to engineer cheap and efficient photocatalytic materials capable of performing coulombically demanding chemical transformations.« less

  9. Excited state electron and energy relays in supramolecular dinuclear complexes revealed by ultrafast optical and X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hayes, Dugan; Kohler, Lars; Hadt, Ryan G.

    Here, the kinetics of photoinduced electron and energy transfer in a family of tetrapyridophenazine-bridged heteroleptic homo- and heterodinuclear copper(I) bis(phenanthroline)/ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes were studied using ultrafast optical and multi-edge X-ray transient absorption spectroscopies. This work combines the synthesis of heterodinuclear Cu(I)–Ru(II) analogs of the homodinuclear Cu(I)–Cu(I) targets with spectroscopic analysis and electronic structure calculations to first disentangle the dynamics at individual metal sites by taking advantage of the element and site specificity of X-ray absorption and theoretical methods. The excited state dynamical models developed for the heterodinuclear complexes are then applied to model the more challenging homodinuclear complexes. These resultsmore » suggest that both intermetallic charge and energy transfer can be observed in an asymmetric dinuclear copper complex in which the ground state redox potentials of the copper sites are offset by only 310 meV. We also demonstrate the ability of several of these complexes to effectively and unidirectionally shuttle energy between different metal centers, a property that could be of great use in the design of broadly absorbing and multifunctional multimetallic photocatalysts. This work provides an important step toward developing both a fundamental conceptual picture and a practical experimental handle with which synthetic chemists, spectroscopists, and theoreticians may collaborate to engineer cheap and efficient photocatalytic materials capable of performing coulombically demanding chemical transformations.« less

  10. Calculation of Vibrational and Electronic Excited-State Absorption Spectra of Arsenic-Water Complexes Using Density Functional Theory

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-06-03

    Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375-5320 NRL/MR/6390--16-9681 Calculation of Vibrational and Electronic Excited-State Absorption Spectra...NUMBER OF PAGES 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT Calculation of Vibrational and Electronic Excited-State Absorption Spectra of Arsenic-Water Complexes Using...Unclassified Unlimited Unclassified Unlimited 59 Samuel G. Lambrakos (202) 767-2601 Calculations are presented of vibrational and electronic excited-state

  11. Molecular dynamics simulations of acoustic absorption by a carbon nanotube

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ayub, M.; Zander, A. C.; Huang, D. M.; Howard, C. Q.; Cazzolato, B. S.

    2018-06-01

    Acoustic absorption by a carbon nanotube (CNT) was studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in a molecular domain containing a monatomic gas driven by a time-varying periodic force to simulate acoustic wave propagation. Attenuation of the sound wave and the characteristics of the sound field due to interactions with the CNT were studied by evaluating the behavior of various acoustic parameters and comparing the behavior with that of the domain without the CNT present. A standing wave model was developed for the CNT-containing system to predict sound attenuation by the CNT and the results were verified against estimates of attenuation using the thermodynamic concept of exergy. This study demonstrates acoustic absorption effects of a CNT in a thermostatted MD simulation, quantifies the acoustic losses induced by the CNT, and illustrates their effects on the CNT. Overall, a platform was developed for MD simulations that can model acoustic damping induced by nanostructured materials such as CNTs, which can be used for further understanding of nanoscale acoustic loss mechanisms associated with molecular interactions between acoustic waves and nanomaterials.

  12. The Effect of Sulfur Substitution on the Excited-State Dynamics of DNA and RNA Base Derivatives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pollum, Marvin; Crespo-Hernández, Carlos E.

    2014-06-01

    Substitution of oxygen by a sulfur atom in the natural DNA and RNA bases gives rise to a family of derivatives commonly known as the thiobases. Upon excitation with UV radiation, the natural bases are able to quickly and efficiently dissipate the imparted energy as heat to their surroundings. Thiobases, on the other hand, relax into a long-lived triplet excited state in quantum yields that approach unity. This finding has both fundamental and biological relevance because the triplet state plays a foremost role in the photochemistry of the thiobases, this is especially important in the current medicinal applications of thiobase derivatives. Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we are able uncover the ultrafast dynamics leading to the population of this reactive triplet state. In particular, I will present our results on how the site of sulfur substitution and the degree of substitution impact these dynamics and I will compare these experimental results to some recent computational work. Pinning down the excited-state dynamics of the thiobases is important to furthering the understanding of dynamics in natural DNA/RNA bases, as well as to the discovery of thiobase derivatives with desirable therapeutic properties. The authors acknowledge the CAREER program of the National Science Foundation (Grant No. CHE-1255084) for financial support.

  13. Ultrafast dynamics of multi-exciton state coupled to coherent vibration in zinc chlorin aggregates for artificial photosynthesis.

    PubMed

    Shi, Tongchao; Liu, Zhengzheng; Miyatake, Tomohiro; Tamiaki, Hitoshi; Kobayashi, Takayoshi; Zhang, Zeyu; Du, Juan; Leng, Yuxin

    2017-11-27

    Ultrafast vibronic dynamics induced by the interaction of the Frenkel exciton with the coherent molecular vibrations in a layer-structured zinc chlorin aggregates prepared for artificial photosynthesis have been studied by 7.1 fs real-time vibrational spectroscopy with multi-spectrum detection. The fast decay of 100 ± 5fs is ascribed to the relaxation from the higher multi-exciton state (MES) to the one-exciton state, and the slow one of 863 ± 70fs is assigned to the relaxation from Q-exciton state to the dark nonfluorescent charge-transfer (CT) state, respectively. In addition, the wavelength dependences of the exciton-vibration coupling strength are found to follow the zeroth derivative of the transient absorption spectra of the exciton. It could be explained in term of the transition dipole moment modulated by dynamic intensity borrowing between the B transition and the Q transition through the vibronic interactions.

  14. A path integral approach to the full Dicke model with dipole-dipole interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aparicio Alcalde, M.; Stephany, J.; Svaiter, N. F.

    2011-12-01

    We consider the full Dicke spin-boson model composed by a single bosonic mode and an ensemble of N identical two-level atoms with different couplings for the resonant and anti-resonant interaction terms, and incorporate a dipole-dipole interaction between the atoms. Assuming that the system is in thermal equilibrium with a reservoir at temperature β-1, we compute the free energy in the thermodynamic limit N → ∞ in the saddle-point approximation to the path integral and determine the critical temperature for the super-radiant phase transition. In the zero temperature limit, we recover the critical coupling of the quantum phase transition, presented in the literature.

  15. Moisture-Absorption and Water Dynamics in the Powder of Egg Albumen Peptide, Met-Pro-Asp-Ala-His-Leu.

    PubMed

    Yang, Shuailing; Liu, Xuye; Zhang, Mingdi; Lin, Songyi; Chen, Feng

    2017-01-01

    Moisture absorbed into the powder of Met-Pro-Asp-Ala-His-Leu (MPDAHL)-a novel egg albumen antioxidant peptide-profoundly affects its properties. In this study, we elucidated water dynamics in MPDAHL using DVS, DSC, and low-field 1 H NMR. Based on the DVS data, we found that MPDAHL sorption kinetics obey a parallel exponential model. DSC results indicated that both water and heating could change the microstructure of MPDAHL. The T 2 parameters of NMR reflected the different phases of moisture absorption revealed that there were 4 categories of water with different states or mobility in the MPDAHL during the moisture absorption process. The fastest fraction T 2b mainly dominated the hygroscopicity of MPDAHL and the absorbed water significantly changed the proton distribution and structure of MPDAHL. Thus, this study shows that DVS, DSC, and low-field 1 H NMR are effective methods for monitoring water mobility and distribution in synthetic peptides. It can be used to improve the quality assurance of functional peptides. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®.

  16. Transition state region in the A-Band photodissociation of allyl iodide—A femtosecond extreme ultraviolet transient absorption study

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bhattacherjee, Aditi, E-mail: abhattacherjee@berkeley.edu, E-mail: andrewattar@berkeley.edu; Attar, Andrew R., E-mail: abhattacherjee@berkeley.edu, E-mail: andrewattar@berkeley.edu; Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720

    2016-03-28

    Femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient absorption spectroscopy based on a high-harmonic generation source is used to study the 266 nm induced A-band photodissociation dynamics of allyl iodide (CH{sub 2} =CHCH{sub 2}I). The photolysis of the C—I bond at this wavelength produces iodine atoms both in the ground ({sup 2}P{sub 3/2}, I) and spin-orbit excited ({sup 2}P{sub 1/2}, I*) states, with the latter as the predominant channel. Using XUV absorption at the iodine N{sub 4/5} edge (45–60 eV), the experiments constitute a direct probe of not only the long-lived atomic iodine reaction products but also the fleeting transition state region ofmore » the repulsive n{sub I}σ{sup ∗}{sub C—I} excited states. Specifically, three distinct features are identified in the XUV transient absorption spectrum at 45.3 eV, 47.4 eV, and 48.4 eV (denoted transients A, B, and C, respectively), which arise from the repulsive valence-excited nσ{sup ∗} states and project onto the high-lying core-excited states of the dissociating molecule via excitation of 4d(I) core electrons. Transients A and B originate from 4d(I) → n(I) core-to-valence transitions, whereas transient C is best assigned to a 4d(I) →σ{sup ∗}(C—I) transition. The measured differential absorbance of these new features along with the I/I* branching ratios known from the literature is used to suggest a more definitive assignment, albeit provisional, of the transients to specific dissociative states within the A-band manifold. The transients are found to peak around 55 fs–65 fs and decay completely by 145 fs–185 fs, demonstrating the ability of XUV spectroscopy to map the evolution of reactants into products in real time. The similarity in the energies of transients A and B with analogous features observed in methyl iodide [Attar et al. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 6, 5072, (2015)] together with the new observation of transient C in the present work provides a more complete picture of the valence

  17. Tracking dissociation dynamics of strong-field ionized 1,2-dibromoethane with femtosecond XUV transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Chatterley, Adam S; Lackner, Florian; Neumark, Daniel M; Leone, Stephen R; Gessner, Oliver

    2016-06-07

    Using femtosecond time-resolved extreme ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, the dissociation dynamics of the haloalkane 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) have been explored following strong field ionization by femtosecond near infrared pulses at intensities between 7.5 × 10(13) and 2.2 × 10(14) W cm(-2). The major elimination products are bromine atoms in charge states of 0, +1, and +2. The charge state distribution is strongly dependent on the incident NIR intensity. While the yield of neutral fragments is essentially constant for all measurements, charged fragment yields grow rapidly with increasing NIR intensities with the most pronounced effect observed for Br(++). However, the appearance times of all bromine fragments are independent of the incident field strength; these are found to be 320 fs, 70 fs, and 30 fs for Br˙, Br(+), and Br(++), respectively. Transient molecular ion features assigned to DBE(+) and DBE(++) are observed, with dynamics linked to the production of Br(+) products. Neutral Br˙ atoms are produced on a timescale consistent with dissociation of DBE(+) ions on a shallow potential energy surface. The appearance of Br(+) ions by dissociative ionization is also seen, as evidenced by the simultaneous decay of a DBE(+) ionic species. Dicationic Br(++) products emerge within the instrument response time, presumably from Coulomb explosion of triply charged DBE.

  18. Tracking dissociation dynamics of strong-field ionized 1,2-dibromoethane with femtosecond XUV transient absorption spectroscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Chatterley, Adam S.; Lackner, Florian; Neumark, Daniel M.; ...

    2016-05-11

    Using femtosecond time-resolved extreme ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, the dissociation dynamics of the haloalkane 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) have been explored following strong field ionization by femtosecond near infrared pulses at intensities between 7.5 × 10 13 and 2.2 × 10 14 W cm -2. The major elimination products are bromine atoms in charge states of 0, +1, and +2. The charge state distribution is strongly dependent on the incident NIR intensity. While the yield of neutral fragments is essentially constant for all measurements, charged fragment yields grow rapidly with increasing NIR intensities with the most pronounced effect observed for Br ++. However,more » the appearance times of all bromine fragments are independent of the incident field strength; these are found to be 320 fs, 70 fs, and 30 fs for Br˙, Br +, and Br ++, respectively. Transient molecular ion features assigned to DBE + and DBE ++ are observed, with dynamics linked to the production of Br + products. Neutral Br˙ atoms are produced on a timescale consistent with dissociation of DBE + ions on a shallow potential energy surface. The appearance of Br + ions by dissociative ionization is also seen, as evidenced by the simultaneous decay of a DBE + ionic species. Dicationic Br ++ products emerge within the instrument response time, presumably from Coulomb explosion of triply charged DBE.« less

  19. Intermediate accelerated solutions as generic late-time attractors in a modified Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cid, Antonella; Leon, Genly; Leyva, Yoelsy, E-mail: acidm@ubiobio.cl, E-mail: genly.leon@ucv.cl, E-mail: yoelsy.leyva@uta.cl

    2016-02-01

    In this paper we investigate the evolution of a Jordan-Brans-Dicke scalar field, Φ, with a power-law potential in the presence of a second scalar field, φ, with an exponential potential, in both the Jordan and the Einstein frames. We present the relation of our model with the induced gravity model with power-law potential and the integrability of this kind of models is discussed when the quintessence field φ is massless, and has a small velocity. The fact that for some fine-tuned values of the parameters we may get some integrable cosmological models, makes our choice of potentials very interesting. Wemore » prove that in Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory, the de Sitter solution is not a natural attractor. Instead, we show that the attractor in the Jordan frame corresponds to an ''intermediate accelerated'' solution of the form a(t) ≅ e{sup α{sub 1} t{sup p{sup {sub 1}}}}, as t → ∞ where α{sub 1} > 0 and 0 < p{sub 1} < 1, for a wide range of parameters. Furthermore, when we work in the Einstein frame we get that the attractor is also an ''intermediate accelerated'' solution of the form a(t) ≅ e{sup α{sub 2} tp{sub 2}} as t → ∞ where α{sub 2} > 0 and 0« less

  20. Broadband ultrafast transient absorption of multiple exciton dynamics in lead sulfide nanocrystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gesuele, Felice; Wong, Chee Wei; Sfeir, Matthew; Misewich, James; Koh, Weonkyu; Murray, Christopher

    2011-03-01

    Multiple exciton generation (MEG) is under intense investigation as potential third-generation solar photovoltaics with efficiencies beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit. We examine PbS nanocrystals, dispersed and vigorously stirred in TCE solution, by means of supercontinuum femtosecond transient absorption (TA). TA spectra show the presence of first and second order bleaches for the 1Sh-Se and 1Ph-Pe excitonic transition while photoinduced absorption for the 1Sh,e-Ph,e transitions. We found evidence of carrier multiplication (MEG for single absorbed photon) from the analysis of the first and second order bleaches, in the limit of low number of absorbed photons (Nabs ~ 0.01), for energy three times and four times the Energy gap. The MEG efficiency, derived from the ratio between early-time to long-time TA signal, presents a strongly dispersive behavior with maximum red shifted respect the first absorption peak. Analysis of population dynamics shows that in presence of biexciton, the 1Sh-Se bleach peak is red-shifted indicating a positive binding energy. MEG efficiency estimation will be discussed with regards to spectral integration, correlated higher-order and first excitonic transitions, as well as the nanocrystal morphologies.

  1. Multinucleon pion absorption on {sup 4}He into the pppn final state

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lehmann, A.; Backenstoss, G.; Koehler, J.

    1997-10-01

    Results from a 4{pi} solid angle measurement of the reaction {pi}{sup +4}He{r_arrow}pppn at incident pion energies of T{sub {pi}{sup +}}= 70, 118, 162, 239, and 330 MeV are presented. Integrated cross sections are given for the reactions where three nucleons participate, leading to energetic (ppp) or (ppn) final states, and for states where four nucleons are involved (pppn). The two three-nucleon absorption modes were investigated in particular, and an energy dependent isospin ratio of the cross sections of {sigma}{sub ppn}/ {sigma}{sub ppp}=3.6{plus_minus}1.3, 2.6 {plus_minus}0.5, 1.8{plus_minus}0.3, 1.4{plus_minus} 0.2, and 1.8{plus_minus}0.6 was determined from 70 to 330 MeV. The differential cross sectionsmore » were described by a complete set of eight independent variables and compared to simple cascade and phase space models. From this analysis the contributions from initial state interactions to the multinucleon absorption cross sections were found to be more important at higher pion energies, while those from final state interactions are stronger at lower energies. However, both mechanisms combined were found to account for not more than one-third of the total pppn multinucleon yield. The remaining strength is reasonably well reproduced by phase space models, but shows a dependence on the incident pion{close_quote}s orbital angular momentum. The isospin structure of the (ppp) and (ppn) final states is not understood, nor are some structures in their distributions. The four-nucleon yield (pppn) was found to be weak (1{endash}8{percent} of the total absorption cross section) and shows no evidence for a {open_quotes}double- {Delta}{close_quotes} excitation. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}« less

  2. Strong field control of predissociation dynamics.

    PubMed

    Corrales, María E; Balerdi, Garikoitz; Loriot, Vincent; de Nalda, Rebeca; Bañares, Luis

    2013-01-01

    Strong field control scenarios are investigated in the CH3I predissociation dynamics at the origin of the second absorption B-band, in which state-selective electronic predissociation occurs through the crossing with a valence dissociative state. Dynamic Stark control (DSC) and pump-dump strategies are shown capable of altering both the predissociation lifetime and the product branching ratio.

  3. Pryce-Hoyle Tensor in a Combined Einstein-Cartan-Brans-Dicke Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Berman, Marcelo Samuel

    2009-03-01

    In addition to introducing matter injection through a scalar field determined by Pryce-Hoyle tensor, we also combine it with a BCDE (Brans-Dicke-Einstein-Cartan) theory with lambda-term developed earlier by Berman (Astrophys. Space Sci. 314:79-82, 2008), for inflationary scenario. It involves a variable cosmological constant, which decreases with time, jointly with energy density, cosmic pressure, shear, vorticity, and Hubble’s parameter, while the scale factor, total spin and scalar field increase exponentially. The post-inflationary fluid resembles a perfect one, though total spin grows, but not the angular speed (Berman, in Astrophys. Space Sci. 312:275, 2007). The Pryce-Hoyle tensor, which can measured by the number of injected particles per unit proper volume and time, as well as shear and vorticity, can be neglected in the aftermath of inflation (“no-hair”).

  4. Theoretical description of excited state dynamics in nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rubio, Angel

    2009-03-01

    There has been much progress in the synthesis and characterization of nanostructures however, there remain immense challenges in understanding their properties and interactions with external probes in order to realize their tremendous potential for applications (molecular electronics, nanoscale opto-electronic devices, light harvesting and emitting nanostructures). We will review the recent implementations of TDDFT to study the optical absorption of biological chromophores, one-dimensional polymers and layered materials. In particular we will show the effect of electron-hole attraction in those systems. Applications to the optical properties of solvated nanostructures as well as excited state dynamics in some organic molecules will be used as text cases to illustrate the performance of the approach. Work done in collaboration with A. Castro, M. Marques, X. Andrade, J.L Alonso, Pablo Echenique, L. Wirtz, A. Marini, M. Gruning, C. Rozzi, D. Varsano and E.K.U. Gross.

  5. On the nature of solvatochromic effect: The riboflavin absorption spectrum as a case study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daidone, Isabella; Amadei, Andrea; Aschi, Massimiliano; Zanetti-Polzi, Laura

    2018-03-01

    We present here the calculation of the absorption spectrum of riboflavin in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide using a hybrid quantum/classical approach, namely the perturbed matrix method, based on quantum mechanical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The calculated spectra are compared to the absorption spectrum of riboflavin previously calculated in water and to the experimental spectra obtained in all three solvents. The experimentally observed variations in the absorption spectra upon change of the solvent environment are well reproduced by the calculated spectra. In addition, the nature of the excited states of riboflavin interacting with different solvents is investigated, showing that environment effects determine a recombination of the gas-phase electronic states and that such a recombination is strongly affected by the polarity of the solvent inducing significant changes in the absorption spectra.

  6. Mixed state dynamical quantum phase transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharya, Utso; Bandyopadhyay, Souvik; Dutta, Amit

    2017-11-01

    Preparing an integrable system in a mixed state described by a thermal density matrix, we subject it to a sudden quench and explore the subsequent unitary dynamics. To address the question of whether the nonanalyticities, namely, the dynamical quantum phase transitions (DQPTs), persist when the initial state is mixed, we consider two versions of the generalized Loschmidt overlap amplitude (GLOA). Our study shows that the GLOA constructed using the Uhlmann approach does not show any signature of DQPTs at any nonzero initial temperature. On the other hand, a GLOA defined in the interferometric phase approach through the purifications of the time-evolved density matrix, indeed shows that nonanalyiticies in the corresponding "dynamical free-energy density" persist, thereby establishing the existence of mixed state dynamical quantum phase transitions (MSDQPTs). Our work provides a framework that perfectly reproduces both the nonanalyticities and also the emergent topological structure in the pure state limit. These claims are corroborated by analyzing the nonequilibrium dynamics of a transverse Ising chain initially prepared in a thermal state and subjected to a sudden quench of the transverse field.

  7. Cooperative emission of light by an ensemble of dipoles near a metal nanoparticle: the plasmonic Dicke effect.

    PubMed

    Pustovit, Vitaliy N; Shahbazyan, Tigran V

    2009-02-20

    We identify a new mechanism for cooperative emission of light by an ensemble of N dipoles near a metal nanostructure supporting a surface plasmon. The cross talk between emitters due to the virtual plasmon exchange leads to the formation of three plasmonic superradiant modes whose radiative decay rates scale with N, while the total radiated energy is thrice that of a single emitter. Our numerical simulations indicate that the plasmonic Dicke effect survives nonradiative losses in the metal.

  8. In Vitro-In Vivo Predictive Dissolution-Permeation-Absorption Dynamics of Highly Permeable Drug Extended-Release Tablets via Drug Dissolution/Absorption Simulating System and pH Alteration.

    PubMed

    Li, Zi-Qiang; Tian, Shuang; Gu, Hui; Wu, Zeng-Guang; Nyagblordzro, Makafui; Feng, Guo; He, Xin

    2018-05-01

    Each of dissolution and permeation may be a rate-limiting factor in the absorption of oral drug delivery. But the current dissolution test rarely took into consideration of the permeation property. Drug dissolution/absorption simulating system (DDASS) valuably gave an insight into the combination of drug dissolution and permeation processes happening in human gastrointestinal tract. The simulated gastric/intestinal fluid of DDASS was improved in this study to realize the influence of dynamic pH change on the complete oral dosage form. To assess the effectiveness of DDASS, six high-permeability drugs were chosen as model drugs, including theophylline (pK a1  = 3.50, pK a2  = 8.60), diclofenac (pK a  = 4.15), isosorbide 5-mononitrate (pK a  = 7.00), sinomenine (pK a  = 7.98), alfuzosin (pK a  = 8.13), and metoprolol (pK a  = 9.70). A general elution and permeation relationship of their commercially available extended-release tablets was assessed as well as the relationship between the cumulative permeation and the apparent permeability. The correlations between DDASS elution and USP apparatus 2 (USP2) dissolution and also between DDASS permeation and beagle dog absorption were developed to estimate the predictability of DDASS. As a result, the common elution-dissolution relationship was established regardless of some variance in the characteristic behavior between DDASS and USP2 for drugs dependent on the pH for dissolution. Level A in vitro-in vivo correlation between DDASS permeation and dog absorption was developed for drugs with different pKa. The improved DDASS will be a promising tool to provide a screening method on the predictive dissolution-permeation-absorption dynamics of solid drug dosage forms in the early-phase formulation development.

  9. Seasonal dynamics of light absorption by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the NW Mediterranean Sea (BOUSSOLE site)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Organelli, Emanuele; Bricaud, Annick; Antoine, David; Matsuoka, Atsushi

    2014-09-01

    We analyze a two-year time-series of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) light absorption measurements in the upper 400 m of the water column at the BOUSSOLE site in the NW Mediterranean Sea. The seasonal dynamics of the CDOM light absorption coefficients at 440 nm (acdom(440)) is essentially characterized by (i) subsurface maxima forming in spring and progressively reinforcing throughout summer, (ii) impoverishment in the surface layer throughout summer and (iii) vertical homogeneity in winter. Seasonal variations of the spectral dependence of CDOM absorption, as described by the exponential slope value (Scdom), are characterized by highest values in summer and autumn at the surface and low values at the depths of acdom(440) subsurface maxima or just below them. Variations of acdom(440) are likely controlled by microbial digestion of phytoplankton cells, which leads to CDOM production, and by photochemical destruction (photobleaching), which leads to CDOM degradation. Photobleaching is also the main driver of Scdom variations. Consistently with previous observations, acdom(440) for a given chlorophyll a concentration is higher than expected from Case I waters bio-optical models. The total non-water light absorption budget shows that surface waters at the BOUSSOLE site are largely dominated by CDOM during all seasons but the algal bloom in March and April. These results improve the knowledge of CDOM absorption dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea, which is scarcely documented. In addition, they open the way to improved algorithms for the retrieval of CDOM absorption from field or satellite radiometric measurements.

  10. Scalar field as an intrinsic time measure in coupled dynamical matter-geometry systems. II. Electrically charged gravitational collapse

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakonieczna, Anna; Yeom, Dong-han

    2016-05-01

    Investigating the dynamics of gravitational systems, especially in the regime of quantum gravity, poses a problem of measuring time during the evolution. One of the approaches to this issue is using one of the internal degrees of freedom as a time variable. The objective of our research was to check whether a scalar field or any other dynamical quantity being a part of a coupled multi-component matter-geometry system can be treated as a `clock' during its evolution. We investigated a collapse of a self-gravitating electrically charged scalar field in the Einstein and Brans-Dicke theories using the 2+2 formalism. Our findings concentrated on the spacetime region of high curvature existing in the vicinity of the emerging singularity, which is essential for the quantum gravity applications. We investigated several values of the Brans-Dicke coupling constant and the coupling between the Brans-Dicke and the electrically charged scalar fields. It turned out that both evolving scalar fields and a function which measures the amount of electric charge within a sphere of a given radius can be used to quantify time nearby the singularity in the dynamical spacetime part, in which the apparent horizon surrounding the singularity is spacelike. Using them in this respect in the asymptotic spacetime region is possible only when both fields are present in the system and, moreover, they are coupled to each other. The only nonzero component of the Maxwell field four-potential cannot be used to quantify time during the considered process in the neighborhood of the whole central singularity. None of the investigated dynamical quantities is a good candidate for measuring time nearby the Cauchy horizon, which is also singular due to the mass inflation phenomenon.

  11. Generalized Weyl–Heisenberg Algebra, Qudit Systems and Entanglement Measure of Symmetric States via Spin Coherent States

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daoud, Mohammed; Kibler, Maurice

    2018-04-01

    A relation is established in the present paper between Dicke states in a d-dimensional space and vectors in the representation space of a generalized Weyl-Heisenberg algebra of finite dimension d. This provides a natural way to deal with the separable and entangled states of a system of N = d-1 symmetric qubit states. Using the decomposition property of Dicke states, it is shown that the separable states coincide with the Perelomov coherent states associated with the generalized Weyl-Heisenberg algebra considered in this paper. In the so-called Majorana scheme, the qudit (d-level) states are represented by N points on the Bloch sphere; roughly speaking, it can be said that a qudit (in a d-dimensional space) is describable by a N-qubit vector (in a N-dimensional space). In such a scheme, the permanent of the matrix describing the overlap between the N qubits makes it possible to measure the entanglement between the N qubits forming the qudit. This is confirmed by a Fubini-Study metric analysis. A new parameter, proportional to the permanent and called perma-concurrence, is introduced for characterizing the entanglement of a symmetric qudit arising from N qubits. For d=3 (i.e., N = 2), this parameter constitutes an alternative to the concurrence for two qubits. Other examples are given for d=4 and 5. A connection between Majorana stars and zeros of a Bargmmann function for qudits closes this article.

  12. Temperature dependence of the hydrated electron's excited-state relaxation. II. Elucidating the relaxation mechanism through ultrafast transient absorption and stimulated emission spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Farr, Erik P.; Zho, Chen-Chen; Challa, Jagannadha R.; Schwartz, Benjamin J.

    2017-08-01

    The structure of the hydrated electron, particularly whether it exists primarily within a cavity or encompasses interior water molecules, has been the subject of much recent debate. In Paper I [C.-C. Zho et al., J. Chem. Phys. 147, 074503 (2017)], we found that mixed quantum/classical simulations with cavity and non-cavity pseudopotentials gave different predictions for the temperature dependence of the rate of the photoexcited hydrated electron's relaxation back to the ground state. In this paper, we measure the ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy of the photoexcited hydrated electron as a function of temperature to confront the predictions of our simulations. The ultrafast spectroscopy clearly shows faster relaxation dynamics at higher temperatures. In particular, the transient absorption data show a clear excess bleach beyond that of the equilibrium hydrated electron's ground-state absorption that can only be explained by stimulated emission. This stimulated emission component, which is consistent with the experimentally known fluorescence spectrum of the hydrated electron, decreases in both amplitude and lifetime as the temperature is increased. We use a kinetic model to globally fit the temperature-dependent transient absorption data at multiple temperatures ranging from 0 to 45 °C. We find the room-temperature lifetime of the excited-state hydrated electron to be 137 ±40 fs, in close agreement with recent time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) experiments and in strong support of the "non-adiabatic" picture of the hydrated electron's excited-state relaxation. Moreover, we find that the excited-state lifetime is strongly temperature dependent, changing by slightly more than a factor of two over the 45 °C temperature range explored. This temperature dependence of the lifetime, along with a faster rate of ground-state cooling with increasing bulk temperature, should be directly observable by future TRPES experiments. Our data also suggest

  13. United States Air Force Summary, Fifth Edition

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-03-01

    t911 COPPER BAUXITE UNITED STATES ZINC CBROIJJI. C!’ NICKEL SOURCE. CIA -HANDBOOK OF ECONOMIC STATISTICS, 19711 IINC it IANSINESE COBALT IRON().pueUI...Wilson, Charles (TX) Boggs, Lindy (Mrs. Hole)(LA) Benjomin, Adam Jr. (IN) Dicks, Norman D. (WAI McHugh "Mafhew F. (NY) Ginn, So (GA) lehman, Williom

  14. Dynamic light absorption of biomass burning organic carbon photochemically aged under natural sunlight

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, M.; Jang, M.

    2013-08-01

    Wood burning aerosol produced under smoldering conditions was photochemically aged with different relative humidity (RH) and NOx conditions using a 104 m3 dual outdoor chamber under natural sunlight. Light absorption of organic carbon (OC) was measured over the course of photooxidation using a UV-visible spectrometer connected to an integrating sphere. At high RH, the color decayed rapidly. NOx slightly prolonged the color of wood smoke, suggesting that NOx promotes the formation of chromophores via secondary processes. Overall, the mass absorption cross-section (integrated between 280 nm and 600 nm) of OC increased by 11-54% (except high RH) in the morning and then gradually decreased by 19-68% in the afternoon. This dynamic change in light absorption of wood burning OC can be explained by two mechanisms: chromophore formation and sunlight bleaching. To investigate the effect of chemical transformation on light absorption, wood smoke particles were characterized using various spectrometers. The intensity of fluorescence, which is mainly related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), rapidly decreased with time indicating the potential bleaching of PAHs. A decline of levoglucosan concentrations evinced the change of POA with time. The aerosol water content measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that wood burning aerosol became less hygroscopic as photooxidation proceeded. A similar trend in light absorption changes has been observed in ambient smoke aerosol originating from the 2012 County Line Wildfire in Florida. We conclude that the biomass burning OC becomes less light absorbing after 8-9 h sunlight exposure compared to fresh wood burning OC.

  15. Dynamic light absorption of biomass-burning organic carbon photochemically aged under natural sunlight

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, M.; Jang, M.

    2014-02-01

    Wood-burning aerosol produced under smoldering conditions was photochemically aged with different relative humidity (RH) and NOx conditions using a 104 m3 dual outdoor chamber under natural sunlight. Light absorption of organic carbon (OC) was measured over the course of photooxidation using a UV-visible spectrometer connected to an integrating sphere. At high RH, the color decayed rapidly. NOx slightly prolonged the color of wood smoke, suggesting that NOx promotes the formation of chromophores via secondary processes. Overall, the mass absorption cross section (integrated between 280 and 600 nm) of OC increased by 11-54% (except high RH) in the morning and then gradually decreased by 19-68% in the afternoon. This dynamic change in light absorption of wood-burning OC can be explained by two mechanisms: chromophore formation and sunlight bleaching. To investigate the effect of chemical transformation on light absorption, wood smoke particles were characterized using various spectrometers. The intensity of fluorescence, which is mainly related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), rapidly decreased with time, indicating the potential bleaching of PAHs. A decline of levoglucosan concentrations evinced the change of primary organic aerosol with time. The aerosol water content measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that wood-burning aerosol became less hygroscopic as photooxidation proceeded. A similar trend in light absorption changes has been observed in ambient smoke aerosol originating from the 2012 County Line wildfire in Florida. We conclude that the biomass-burning OC becomes less light absorbing after 8-9 h sunlight exposure compared to fresh wood-burning OC.

  16. Electronic and Structural Elements That Regulate the Excited-State Dynamics in Purine Nucleobase Derivatives

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    The excited-state dynamics of the purine free base and 9-methylpurine are investigated using experimental and theoretical methods. Femtosecond broadband transient absorption experiments reveal that excitation of these purine derivatives in aqueous solution at 266 nm results primarily in ultrafast conversion of the S2(ππ*) state to the vibrationally excited 1nπ* state. Following vibrational and conformational relaxation, the 1nπ* state acts as a doorway state in the efficient population of the triplet manifold with an intersystem crossing lifetime of hundreds of picoseconds. Experiments show an almost 2-fold increase in the intersystem crossing rate on going from polar aprotic to nonpolar solvents, suggesting that a solvent-dependent energy barrier must be surmounted to access the singlet-to-triplet crossing region. Ab initio static and surface-hopping dynamics simulations lend strong support to the proposed relaxation mechanism. Collectively, the experimental and computational results demonstrate that the accessibility of the nπ* states and the topology of the potential energy surfaces in the vicinity of conical intersections are key elements in controlling the excited-state dynamics of the purine derivatives. From a structural perspective, it is shown that the purine chromophore is not responsible for the ultrafast internal conversion in the adenine and guanine monomers. Instead, C6 functionalization plays an important role in regulating the rates of radiative and nonradiative relaxation. C6 functionalization inhibits access to the 1nπ* state while simultaneously facilitating access to the 1ππ*(La)/S0 conical intersection, such that population of the 1nπ* state cannot compete with the relaxation pathways to the ground state involving ring puckering at the C2 position. PMID:25763596

  17. Excited-state dynamics of mononucleotides and DNA strands in a deep eutectic solvent.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yuyuan; de La Harpe, Kimberly; Hariharan, Mahesh; Kohler, Bern

    2018-04-17

    The photophysics of several mono- and oligonucleotides were investigated in a deep eutectic solvent for the first time. The solvent glyceline, prepared as a 1 : 2 mole ratio mixture of choline chloride and glycerol, was used to study excited-state deactivation in a non-aqueous solvent by the use of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. DNA strands in glyceline retain the secondary structures that are present in aqueous solution to some degree, thus enabling a study of the effects of solvent properties on the excited states of stacked bases and stacked base pairs. The excited-state lifetime of the mononucleotide 5'-AMP in glyceline is 630 fs, or twice as long as in aqueous solution. Even slower relaxation is seen for 5'-TMP in glyceline, and a possible triplet state with a lifetime greater than 3 ns is observed. Circular dichroism spectra show that the single strand (dA)18 and the duplex d(AT)9·d(AT)9 adopt similar structures in glyceline and in aqueous solution. Despite having similar conformations in both solvents, femtosecond transient absorption experiments reveal striking changes in the dynamics. Excited-state decay and vibrational cooling generally take place more slowly in glyceline than in water. Additionally, the fraction of long-lived excited states in both oligonucleotide systems is lower in glyceline than in aqueous solution. For a DNA duplex, water is suggested to favor decay pathways involving intrastrand charge separation, while the deep eutectic solvent favors interstrand deactivation channels involving neutral species. Slower solvation dynamics in the viscous deep eutectic solvent may also play a role. These results demonstrate that the dynamics of excitations in stacked bases and stacked base pairs depend not only on conformation, but are also highly sensitive to the solvent.

  18. Phonon-assisted optical absorption in BaSnO 3 from first principles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Monserrat, Bartomeu; Dreyer, Cyrus E.; Rabe, Karin M.

    2018-03-01

    The perovskite BaSnO3 provides a promising platform for the realization of an earth-abundant n -type transparent conductor. Its optical properties are dominated by a dispersive conduction band of Sn 5 s states and by a flatter valence band of O 2 p states, with an overall indirect gap of about 2.9 eV . Using first-principles methods, we study the optical properties of BaSnO3 and show that both electron-phonon interactions and exact exchange, included using a hybrid functional, are necessary to obtain a qualitatively correct description of optical absorption in this material. In particular, the electron-phonon interaction drives phonon-assisted optical absorption across the minimum indirect gap and therefore determines the absorption onset, and it also leads to the temperature dependence of the absorption spectrum. Electronic correlations beyond semilocal density functional theory are key to determine the dynamical stability of the cubic perovskite structure, as well as the correct energies of the conduction bands that dominate absorption. Our work demonstrates that phonon-mediated absorption processes should be included in the design of novel transparent conductor materials.

  19. Particulate and dissolved spectral absorption on the continental shelf of the southeastern United States

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nelson, James R.; Guarda, Sonia

    1995-05-01

    Visible absorption spectra of particulate and dissolved materials were characterized on the continental shelf off the southeastern United States (the South Atlantic Bight), emphasizing cross-shelf and seasonal variability. A coastal front separates turbid coastal waters from clearer midshelf waters. Spatial and seasonal patterns were evident in absorption coefficients for phytoplankton, detritus, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM); spectral shape parameters for CDOM and detritus; and phytoplankton chlorophyll-specific absorption. The magnitude of CDOM absorption reflected seasonal differences in freshwater discharge and the salinity of the midshelf waters. In the spring of 1993 (high discharge), CDOM absorption at 443 nm was >10 times that of total particulate absorption between 12 and 50 km offshore (0.28-0.69 m-1 versus 0.027-0.062 m-1) and up to 10 times the CDOM absorption measured in the previous summer (low discharge). Phytoplankton chlorophyll-specific absorption in the blue increased with distance from shore (from <0.03 m2 mg-1 in inner shelf waters to ˜0.1 m2 mg-1 at the most seaward stations in summer) and, for similar chlorophyll concentrations, was higher in summer than in the winter-spring. These spatial and seasonal patterns in phytoplankton chlorophyll-specific absorption can be attributed to a shift in phytoplankton species composition (from predominantly diatoms inshore to a cyanobacteria-dominated assemblage midshelf in summer), pigment packaging, and higher carotenoid:chlorophyll with distance from shore.

  20. 69. INTERIOR VIEW OF THE ABSORPTION TOWER BUILDING, ABSORPTION TOWER ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    69. INTERIOR VIEW OF THE ABSORPTION TOWER BUILDING, ABSORPTION TOWER UNDER CONSTRUCTION. (DATE UNKNOWN). - United States Nitrate Plant No. 2, Reservation Road, Muscle Shoals, Muscle Shoals, Colbert County, AL

  1. Extended Lagrangian Excited State Molecular Dynamics.

    PubMed

    Bjorgaard, J A; Sheppard, D; Tretiak, S; Niklasson, A M N

    2018-02-13

    An extended Lagrangian framework for excited state molecular dynamics (XL-ESMD) using time-dependent self-consistent field theory is proposed. The formulation is a generalization of the extended Lagrangian formulations for ground state Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008 100, 123004]. The theory is implemented, demonstrated, and evaluated using a time-dependent semiempirical model, though it should be generally applicable to ab initio theory. The simulations show enhanced energy stability and a significantly reduced computational cost associated with the iterative solutions of both the ground state and the electronically excited states. Relaxed convergence criteria can therefore be used both for the self-consistent ground state optimization and for the iterative subspace diagonalization of the random phase approximation matrix used to calculate the excited state transitions. The XL-ESMD approach is expected to enable numerically efficient excited state molecular dynamics for such methods as time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TD-HF), Configuration Interactions Singles (CIS), and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT).

  2. Semi-classical dynamics of superradiant Rayleigh scattering in a Bose-Einstein condensate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Müller, J. H.; Witthaut, D.; le Targat, R.; Arlt, J. J.; Polzik, E. S.; Hilliard, A. J.

    2016-10-01

    Due to its coherence properties and high optical depth, a Bose-Einstein condensate [BEC] provides an ideal setting to investigate collective atom-light interactions. Superradiant light scattering [SLS] in a BEC is a fascinating example of such an interaction. It is an analogous process to Dicke superradiance, in which an electronically inverted sample decays collectively, leading to the emission of one or more light pulses in a well-defined direction. Through time-resolved measurements of the superradiant light pulses emitted by an end-pumped BEC, we study the close connection of SLS with Dicke superradiance. A 1D model of the system yields good agreement with the experimental data and shows that the dynamics result from the structures that build up in the light and matter-wave fields along the BEC. This paves the way for exploiting the atom-photon correlations generated by the superradiance.

  3. A transmission-grating-modulated pump-probe absorption spectroscopy and demonstration of diffusion dynamics of photoexcited carriers in bulk intrinsic GaAs film.

    PubMed

    Chen, Ke; Wang, Wenfang; Chen, Jianming; Wen, Jinhui; Lai, Tianshu

    2012-02-13

    A transmission-grating-modulated time-resolved pump-probe absorption spectroscopy is developed and formularized. The spectroscopy combines normal time-resolved pump-probe absorption spectroscopy with a binary transmission grating, is sensitive to the spatiotemporal evolution of photoinjected carriers, and has extensive applicability in the study of diffusion transport dynamics of photoinjected carriers. This spectroscopy has many advantages over reported optical methods to measure diffusion dynamics, such as simple experimental setup and operation, and high detection sensitivity. The measurement of diffusion dynamics is demonstrated on bulk intrinsic GaAs films. A carrier density dependence of carrier diffusion coefficient is obtained and agrees well with reported results.

  4. Tunable emission and excited state absorption induced optical limiting in Tb2(MoO4)3: Sm3+/Eu3+ nanophosphors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mani, Kamal P.; Sreekanth, Perumbilavil; Vimal, G.; Biju, P. R.; Unnikrishnan, N. V.; Ittyachen, M. A.; Philip, Reji; Joseph, Cyriac

    2016-12-01

    Photoluminescence properties and optical limiting behavior of pure and Sm3+/Eu3+ doped Tb2(MoO4)3 nanophosphors are investigated. The prepared nanophosphors exhibit excellent emission when excited by UV light. Color-tunable emissions in Tb2-xSmx(MoO4)3 and Tb2-xEux(MoO4)3 are realized by employing different excitation wavelengths or by controlling the doping concentration of Sm3+ and Eu3+. Luminescence quantum yield and CIE chromatic coordinates of the prepared phosphors were also presented. Optical limiting properties of the samples are investigated by open aperture Z-scan technique using 5 ns laser pulses at 532 nm. Numerical fitting of the measured Z-scan data to the relevant nonlinear transmission equations reveals that the nonlinear absorption is arising from strong excited state absorption, along with weak absorption saturation and it is found that the optical nonlinearity of Tb2(MoO4)3 increases with Sm3+/Eu3+doping. Parameters such as saturation fluence, excited state absorption cross section and ground state absorption cross section of the samples have been determined numerically, from which the figure of merit for nonlinear absorption is calculated. The excited state absorption cross-section of the samples is found to be one order of magnitude higher than that of the ground state absorption cross-section, indicating strong reverse saturable absorption. These results indicate that Sm3+/Eu3+ doped Tb2(MoO4)3 nanophosphors are efficient media for UV/n-UV pumped LEDs, and are also potential candidates for designing efficient optical limiting devices for the protection of human eyes and sensitive optical detectors from harmful laser radiation.

  5. Estimating Power System Dynamic States Using Extended Kalman Filter

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Huang, Zhenyu; Schneider, Kevin P.; Nieplocha, Jaroslaw

    2014-10-31

    Abstract—The state estimation tools which are currently deployed in power system control rooms are based on a steady state assumption. As a result, the suite of operational tools that rely on state estimation results as inputs do not have dynamic information available and their accuracy is compromised. This paper investigates the application of Extended Kalman Filtering techniques for estimating dynamic states in the state estimation process. The new formulated “dynamic state estimation” includes true system dynamics reflected in differential equations, not like previously proposed “dynamic state estimation” which only considers the time-variant snapshots based on steady state modeling. This newmore » dynamic state estimation using Extended Kalman Filter has been successfully tested on a multi-machine system. Sensitivity studies with respect to noise levels, sampling rates, model errors, and parameter errors are presented as well to illustrate the robust performance of the developed dynamic state estimation process.« less

  6. Quantum-state resolved reactive scattering at the gas-liquid interface: F+squalane (C30H62) dynamics via high-resolution infrared absorption of nascent HF(v,J).

    PubMed

    Zolot, Alexander M; Dagdigian, Paul J; Nesbitt, David J

    2008-11-21

    Exothermic chemical reaction dynamics at the gas-liquid interface have been investigated by colliding a supersonic beam of F atoms [E(com)=0.7(3) kcalmol] with a continuously refreshed liquid hydrocarbon (squalane) surface under high vacuum conditions. Absolute HF(v,J) product densities are determined by infrared laser absorption spectroscopy, with velocity distributions along the probe axis derived from high resolution Dopplerimetry. Nascent HF(vstate populations [E(rot)=1.0(1) kcalmol] indicate that some fraction of molecules directly scatter into the gas phase without rotationally equilibrating with the surface. Nascent HF also recoils from the liquid surface with excess translational energy, resulting in Doppler broadened linewidths that increase systematically with internal HF excitation. The data are consistent with microscopic branching in HF-surface dynamics following the reactive event, with (i) a direct reactive scattering fraction of newly formed product molecules leaving the surface promptly and (ii) a trapping desorption fraction that accommodates rotationally (though still not vibrationally) with the bulk liquid. Comparison with analogous gas phase F+hydrocarbon processes reveals that the liquid acts as a partial "heat sink" for vibrational energy flow on the time scale of the chemical reaction event.

  7. Quantum-state resolved reactive scattering at the gas-liquid interface: F +squalane (C30H62) dynamics via high-resolution infrared absorption of nascent HF(v,J)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zolot, Alexander M.; Dagdigian, Paul J.; Nesbitt, David J.

    2008-11-01

    Exothermic chemical reaction dynamics at the gas-liquid interface have been investigated by colliding a supersonic beam of F atoms [Ecom=0.7(3)kcal/mol] with a continuously refreshed liquid hydrocarbon (squalane) surface under high vacuum conditions. Absolute HF(v,J) product densities are determined by infrared laser absorption spectroscopy, with velocity distributions along the probe axis derived from high resolution Dopplerimetry. Nascent HF(v ⩽3) products are formed in a highly nonequilibrium (inverted) vibrational distribution [⟨Evib⟩=13.2(2)kcal/mol], reflecting insufficient time for complete thermal accommodation with the surface prior to desorption. Colder, but still non-Boltzmann, rotational state populations [⟨Erot⟩=1.0(1)kcal/mol] indicate that some fraction of molecules directly scatter into the gas phase without rotationally equilibrating with the surface. Nascent HF also recoils from the liquid surface with excess translational energy, resulting in Doppler broadened linewidths that increase systematically with internal HF excitation. The data are consistent with microscopic branching in HF-surface dynamics following the reactive event, with (i) a direct reactive scattering fraction of newly formed product molecules leaving the surface promptly and (ii) a trapping desorption fraction that accommodates rotationally (though still not vibrationally) with the bulk liquid. Comparison with analogous gas phase F +hydrocarbon processes reveals that the liquid acts as a partial "heat sink" for vibrational energy flow on the time scale of the chemical reaction event.

  8. Real-time ab initio simulations of excited-state dynamics in nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tomanek, David

    2007-03-01

    Combining time-dependent ab initio density functional calculations for electrons with molecular dynamics simulations for ions, we investigate the effect of excited-state dynamics in nanostructures. In carbon nanotubes, we find electronic excitations to last for a large fraction of a picosecond. The de-excitation process is dominated by coupling to other electronic degrees of freedom during the first few hundred femtoseconds. Later, the de-excitation process becomes dominated by coupling to ionic motion. The onset point and damping rate in that regime change with initial ion velocities, a manifestation of temperature dependent electron-phonon coupling. Considering the fact that the force field in the electronically excited state differs significantly from the ground state, as reflected in the Franck-Condon effect, atomic bonds can easily be broken or restored during the relatively long lifetime of electronic excitations. This effect can be utilized in a ``photo-surgery" of nanotubes, causing structural self-healing at vacancy sites or selective de-oxidation processes induced by photo-absorption. Also, electronic excitations are a key ingredient for the understanding of sputtering processes in nanostructures, induced by energetic collisions with ions. Yoshiyuki Miyamoto, Angel Rubio, and David Tomanek, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 126104 (2006). Yoshiyuki Miyamoto, Savas Berber, Mina Yoon, Angel Rubio, and David Tomanek, Chem. Phys. Lett. 392, 209 (2004). Yoshiyuki Miyamoto, Noboru Jinbo, Hisashi Nakamura, Angel Rubio, and David Tomanek, Phys. Rev. B 70, 233408 (2004). Yoshiyuki Miyamoto, Arkady Krasheninnikov, and David Tomanek (in preparation).

  9. Time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy: Watching atoms dance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Milne, Chris J.; Pham, Van-Thai; Gawelda, Wojciech; van der Veen, Renske M.; El Nahhas, Amal; Johnson, Steven L.; Beaud, Paul; Ingold, Gerhard; Lima, Frederico; Vithanage, Dimali A.; Benfatto, Maurizio; Grolimund, Daniel; Borca, Camelia; Kaiser, Maik; Hauser, Andreas; Abela, Rafael; Bressler, Christian; Chergui, Majed

    2009-11-01

    The introduction of pump-probe techniques to the field of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has allowed the monitoring of both structural and electronic dynamics of disordered systems in the condensed phase with unprecedented accuracy, both in time and in space. We present results on the electronically excited high-spin state structure of an Fe(II) molecular species, [FeII(bpy)3]2+, in aqueous solution, resolving the Fe-N bond distance elongation as 0.2 Å. In addition an analysis technique using the reduced χ2 goodness of fit between FEFF EXAFS simulations and the experimental transient absorption signal in energy space has been successfully tested as a function of excited state population and chemical shift, demonstrating its applicability in situations where the fractional excited state population cannot be determined through other measurements. Finally by using a novel ultrafast hard x-ray 'slicing' source the question of how the molecule relaxes after optical excitation has been successfully resolved using femtosecond XANES.

  10. Effect of interdiffusion and external magnetic field on electronic states and light absorption in Gaussian-shaped double quantum ring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aziz-Aghchegala, V. L.; Mughnetsyan, V. N.; Kirakosyan, A. A.

    2018-02-01

    The effect of interdiffusion and magnetic field on confined states of electron and heavy hole as well as on interband absorption spectrum in a Ga1-xAlxAs/GaAs Gaussian-shaped double quantum ring are investigated. It is shown that both interdiffusion and magnetic field lead to the change of the charge carriers' quantum states arrangement by their energies. The oscillating behavior of the electron ground state energy as a function of magnetic field induction gradually disappears with the increase of diffusion parameter due to the enhanced tunneling of electron to the central region of the ring. For the heavy hole the ground state energy oscillations are not observable in the region of the values of magnetic field induction B = 0 - 10 T . For considered transitions both the magnetic field and the interdiffusion lead to a blue-shift of the absorption spectrum and to decreasing of the absorption intensity. The obtained results indicate on the opportunity of purposeful manipulation of energy states and absorption spectrum of a Gaussian-shaped double quantum ring by means of the post growth annealing and the external magnetic field.

  11. Extended Lagrangian Excited State Molecular Dynamics

    DOE PAGES

    Bjorgaard, Josiah August; Sheppard, Daniel Glen; Tretiak, Sergei; ...

    2018-01-09

    In this work, an extended Lagrangian framework for excited state molecular dynamics (XL-ESMD) using time-dependent self-consistent field theory is proposed. The formulation is a generalization of the extended Lagrangian formulations for ground state Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008 100, 123004]. The theory is implemented, demonstrated, and evaluated using a time-dependent semiempirical model, though it should be generally applicable to ab initio theory. The simulations show enhanced energy stability and a significantly reduced computational cost associated with the iterative solutions of both the ground state and the electronically excited states. Relaxed convergence criteria can therefore be used both formore » the self-consistent ground state optimization and for the iterative subspace diagonalization of the random phase approximation matrix used to calculate the excited state transitions. In conclusion, the XL-ESMD approach is expected to enable numerically efficient excited state molecular dynamics for such methods as time-dependent Hartree–Fock (TD-HF), Configuration Interactions Singles (CIS), and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT).« less

  12. Extended Lagrangian Excited State Molecular Dynamics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bjorgaard, Josiah August; Sheppard, Daniel Glen; Tretiak, Sergei

    In this work, an extended Lagrangian framework for excited state molecular dynamics (XL-ESMD) using time-dependent self-consistent field theory is proposed. The formulation is a generalization of the extended Lagrangian formulations for ground state Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008 100, 123004]. The theory is implemented, demonstrated, and evaluated using a time-dependent semiempirical model, though it should be generally applicable to ab initio theory. The simulations show enhanced energy stability and a significantly reduced computational cost associated with the iterative solutions of both the ground state and the electronically excited states. Relaxed convergence criteria can therefore be used both formore » the self-consistent ground state optimization and for the iterative subspace diagonalization of the random phase approximation matrix used to calculate the excited state transitions. In conclusion, the XL-ESMD approach is expected to enable numerically efficient excited state molecular dynamics for such methods as time-dependent Hartree–Fock (TD-HF), Configuration Interactions Singles (CIS), and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT).« less

  13. Radiationless Transitions and Excited-State Absorption in Tunable Laser Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-09-01

    chromium - doped halide elpasolites K2 NaGaF 6 , K2 NaScF6 and Cs2NaYCl 6 , and on the laser-active TI0 (l) color center in KCI. Luminescence lifetime...Non-radiative transitions, transition metals, chromium , ¶SLWmER o E tunable lasers, high pressure, luminescence, color centers ൙. SECURITY O...quenching and excited-state absorption are major loss mechanisms. Low-crystal-field chromium complexes in ordered perovskites of cubic elpasolite structure

  14. Ultrafast studies of the excited-state dynamics of copper and nickel phthalocyanine tetrasulfonates: potential sensitizers for the two-photon photodynamic therapy of tumors.

    PubMed

    Fournier, Michel; Pépin, Claude; Houde, Daniel; Ouellet, René; van Lier, Johan E

    2004-01-01

    In order to evaluate the potential of copper and nickel phthalocyanine tetrasulfonates as sensitizers for two-photon photodynamic therapy, we conducted kinetic femtosecond measurements of transient absorption and bleaching of their excited state dynamics in aqueous solution. Samples were pumped with 620 nm and 310 nm laser light, which allowed us to study relaxation processes from both the first and second singlet (or doublet for the copper phthalocyanine) excited states. A second excitation from the first excited triplet state, approximately 685 and 105 ps after the first excitation for copper and nickel phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate respectively, was the most efficient way to bring the molecules to an upper triplet state. Presumably this highest triplet state can inflict molecular damage on adjacent biomolecules int eh absence of oxygen, resulting in the desired cytotoxic cellular response. Transient absorption spectra at different fixed delays indicate that optimum efficiency would require that the second photon has a wavelength of approximately 750 nm.

  15. Tuning optical absorption and photoexcited recombination dynamics in La1-xSrxFeO3-δ through A-site substitution and oxygen vacancies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smolin, Sergey; Scafetta, Mark; Choquette, Amber; Sfeir, Matthew; Baxter, Jason; May, Steven

    We study optical absorption and recombination dynamics in La1-xSrxFeO3-δ thin films, uncovering the effects of tuning nominal Fe valence via A-site substitution and oxygen stoichiometry. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to measure static optical properties, revealing a linear increase in absorption coefficient at 1.25 eV and a red-shifting of the optical absorption edge with increasing Sr fraction. The absorption spectra can be similarly tuned through the introduction of oxygen vacancies, indicating the critical role that nominal Fe valence plays in optical absorption. Dynamic optoelectronic properties were studied with ultrafast transient reflectance spectroscopy, revealing similar nanosecond photoexcited carrier lifetimes for oxygen deficient and stoichiometric films with the same nominal Fe valence. These results demonstrate that while the static optical absorption is strongly dependent on Fe valence tuned through cation or anion stoichiometry, oxygen vacancies do not appear to play a significantly detrimental role in the recombination kinetics. Nsf: ECCS-1201957, MRI DMR-0922929, MRI DMR-1040166. This research used resources of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, which is a U.S. DOE Office of Science Facility, at Brookhaven National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-SC0012704.

  16. The steady state solutions of radiatively driven stellar winds for a non-Sobolev, pure absorption model

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Poe, C. H.; Owocki, S. P.; Castor, J. I.

    1990-01-01

    The steady state solution topology for absorption line-driven flows is investigated for the condition that the Sobolev approximation is not used to compute the line force. The solution topology near the sonic point is of the nodal type with two positive slope solutions. The shallower of these slopes applies to reasonable lower boundary conditions and realistic ion thermal speed v(th) and to the Sobolev limit of zero of the usual Castor, Abbott, and Klein model. At finite v(th), this solution consists of a family of very similar solutions converging on the sonic point. It is concluded that a non-Sobolev, absorption line-driven flow with a realistic values of v(th) has no uniquely defined steady state. To the extent that a pure absorption model of the outflow of stellar winds is applicable, radiatively driven winds should be intrinsically variable.

  17. Excited state absorption spectra of dissolved and aggregated distyrylbenzene: A TD-DFT state and vibronic analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oliveira, Eliezer Fernando; Shi, Junqing; Lavarda, Francisco Carlos; Lüer, Larry; Milián-Medina, Begoña; Gierschner, Johannes

    2017-07-01

    A time-dependent density functional theory study is performed to reveal the excited state absorption (ESA) features of distyrylbenzene (DSB), a prototype π-conjugated organic oligomer. Starting with a didactic insight to ESA based on simple molecular orbital and configuration considerations, the performance of various density functional theory functionals is tested to reveal the full vibronic ESA features of DSB at short and long probe delay times.

  18. Energy cascades, excited state dynamics, and photochemistry in cob(III)alamins and ferric porphyrins.

    PubMed

    Rury, Aaron S; Wiley, Theodore E; Sension, Roseanne J

    2015-03-17

    Porphyrins and the related chlorins and corrins contain a cyclic tetrapyrrole with the ability to coordinate an active metal center and to perform a variety of functions exploiting the oxidation state, reactivity, and axial ligation of the metal center. These compounds are used in optically activated applications ranging from light harvesting and energy conversion to medical therapeutics and photodynamic therapy to molecular electronics, spintronics, optoelectronic thin films, and optomagnetics. Cobalt containing corrin rings extend the range of applications through photolytic cleavage of a unique axial carbon-cobalt bond, permitting spatiotemporal control of drug delivery. The photochemistry and photophysics of cyclic tetrapyrroles are controlled by electronic relaxation dynamics including internal conversion and intersystem crossing. Typically the electronic excitation cascades through ring centered ππ* states, ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) states, metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states, and metal centered states. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for the investigation of the electronic state dynamics in metal containing tetrapyrroles. The UV-visible spectrum is sensitive to the oxidation state, electronic configuration, spin state, and axial ligation of the central metal atom. Ultrashort broadband white light probes spanning the range from 270 to 800 nm, combined with tunable excitation pulses, permit the detailed unravelling of the time scales involved in the electronic energy cascade. State-of-the-art theoretical calculations provide additional insight required for precise assignment of the states. In this Account, we focus on recent ultrafast transient absorption studies of ferric porphyrins and corrin containing cob(III)alamins elucidating the electronic states responsible for ultrafast energy cascades, excited state dynamics, and the resulting photoreactivity or photostability of these compounds. Iron

  19. Enhancing the absorption and energy transfer process via quantum entanglement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zong, Xiao-Lan; Song, Wei; Zhou, Jian; Yang, Ming; Yu, Long-Bao; Cao, Zhuo-Liang

    2018-07-01

    The quantum network model is widely used to describe the dynamics of excitation energy transfer in photosynthesis complexes. Different from the previous schemes, we explore a specific network model, which includes both light-harvesting and energy transfer process. Here, we define a rescaled measure to manifest the energy transfer efficiency from external driving to the sink, and the external driving fields are used to simulate the energy absorption process. To study the role of initial state in the light-harvesting and energy transfer process, we assume the initial state of the donors to be two-qubit and three-qubit entangled states, respectively. In the two-qubit initial state case, we find that the initial entanglement between the donors can help to improve the absorption and energy transfer process for both the near-resonant and large-detuning cases. For the case of three-qubit initial state, we can see that the transfer efficiency will reach a larger value faster in the tripartite entanglement case compared to the bipartite entanglement case.

  20. Exploring size and state dynamics in CdSe quantum dots using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Caram, Justin R.; Zheng, Haibin; Dahlberg, Peter D.; Rolczynski, Brian S.; Griffin, Graham B.; Dolzhnikov, Dmitriy S.; Talapin, Dmitri V.; Engel, Gregory S.

    2014-01-01

    Development of optoelectronic technologies based on quantum dots depends on measuring, optimizing, and ultimately predicting charge carrier dynamics in the nanocrystal. In such systems, size inhomogeneity and the photoexcited population distribution among various excitonic states have distinct effects on electron and hole relaxation, which are difficult to distinguish spectroscopically. Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy can help to untangle these effects by resolving excitation energy and subsequent nonlinear response in a single experiment. Using a filament-generated continuum as a pump and probe source, we collect two-dimensional spectra with sufficient spectral bandwidth to follow dynamics upon excitation of the lowest three optical transitions in a polydisperse ensemble of colloidal CdSe quantum dots. We first compare to prior transient absorption studies to confirm excitation-state-dependent dynamics such as increased surface-trapping upon excitation of hot electrons. Second, we demonstrate fast band-edge electron-hole pair solvation by ligand and phonon modes, as the ensemble relaxes to the photoluminescent state on a sub-picosecond time-scale. Third, we find that static disorder due to size polydispersity dominates the nonlinear response upon excitation into the hot electron manifold; this broadening mechanism stands in contrast to that of the band-edge exciton. Finally, we demonstrate excitation-energy dependent hot-carrier relaxation rates, and we describe how two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy can complement other transient nonlinear techniques. PMID:24588185

  1. Identification of metastable states in peptide's dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ruzhytska, Svitlana; Jacobi, Martin Nilsson; Jensen, Christian H.; Nerukh, Dmitry

    2010-10-01

    A recently developed spectral method for identifying metastable states in Markov chains is used to analyze the conformational dynamics of a four-residue peptide valine-proline-alanine-leucine. We compare our results to empirically defined conformational states and show that the found metastable states correctly reproduce the conformational dynamics of the system.

  2. Femtosecond transient absorption dynamics of close-packed gold nanocrystal monolayer arrays*1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eah, Sang-Kee; Jaeger, Heinrich M.; Scherer, Norbert F.; Lin, Xiao-Min; Wiederrecht, Gary P.

    2004-03-01

    Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate hot electron dynamics of close-packed 6 nm gold nanocrystal monolayers. Morphology changes of the monolayer caused by the laser pump pulse are monitored by transmission electron microscopy. At low pump power, the monolayer maintains its structural integrity. Hot electrons induced by the pump pulse decay through electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling inside the nanocrystals with a decay constant that is similar to the value for bulk films. At high pump power, irreversible particle aggregation and sintering occur in the nanocrystal monolayer, which cause damping and peak shifting of the transient bleach signal.

  3. Excited state and charge-carrier dynamics in perovskite solar cell materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ponseca, Carlito S., Jr.; Tian, Yuxi; Sundström, Villy; Scheblykin, Ivan G.

    2016-02-01

    Organo-metal halide perovskites (OMHPs) have attracted enormous interest in recent years as materials for application in optoelectronics and solar energy conversion. These hybrid semiconductors seem to have the potential to challenge traditional silicon technology. In this review we will give an account of the recent development in the understanding of the fundamental light-induced processes in OMHPs from charge-photo generation, migration of charge carries through the materials and finally their recombination. Our and other literature reports on time-resolved conductivity, transient absorption and photoluminescence properties are used to paint a picture of how we currently see the fundamental excited state and charge-carrier dynamics. We will also show that there is still no fully coherent picture of the processes in OMHPs and we will indicate the problems to be solved by future research.

  4. Femtosecond Heterodyne Transient Grating Detection of Conformational Dynamics in the S0 (11Ag-) State of Carotenoids After Nonradiative Decay of the S2 (11Bu+) State

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roscioli, Jerome D.; Ghosh, Soumen; Bishop, Michael M.; Lafountain, Amy M.; Frank, Harry A.; Beck, Warren F.

    Transient grating spectroscopy was used to study the dynamics of nonradiative decay of the S1 (21Ag-) state in ß-carotene and peridinin after optical preparation of the S2) state. The kinetics of the recovery of the absorption and dispersion components of the third-order signal exhibit significantly different time constants. For β-carotene in benzonitrile, the absorption and dispersion recovery time constants are 11.6 and 10.2 ps. For peridinin in methanol, the time constants are 9.9 and 7.4 ps. These results indicate that the initial product of the decay of the S1 state is a conformationally displaced structure. The decay rate for the S1 state and the conformational relaxation rate are both slowed in peridinin as the polarity of the solvent decreases; in ethyl acetate, the conformational relaxation time constant is 45 ps, which rules out a dominant contribution from vibrational cooling. These results indicate that the S1 state develops intramolecular charge transfer character owing to distortions along torsional and out-of-plane coordinates, with a pyramidal structure favored as the most stable conformation. Recovery of the photoselected ground state conformation involves a reverse charge-transfer event followed by relaxation to a planar structure. Work supported by Photosynthetic Systems Program of the U.S. Department of Energy under Grant DE-SC0010847.

  5. Studies by Near Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopies of Bonding Dynamics at the Graphene/Guanine Interface - A Proposal for High Mobility, Organic Graphene Field Effect Transistors

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-07-01

    AFRL-AFOSR-UK-TR-2015-0034 Studies by Near Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopies of Bonding Dynamics at the Graphene /Guanine...Interface – A Proposal for High Mobility, Organic Graphene Field Effect Transistors Eva Campo BANGOR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ROAD BANGOR...April 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Studies by Near Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopies of Bonding Dynamics at the Graphene /Guanine Interface - A

  6. Excited-State Deactivation of Branched Phthalocyanine Compounds.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Huaning; Li, Yang; Chen, Jun; Zhou, Meng; Niu, Yingli; Zhang, Xinxing; Guo, Qianjin; Wang, Shuangqing; Yang, Guoqiang; Xia, Andong

    2015-12-21

    The excited-state relaxation dynamics and chromophore interactions in two phthalocyanine compounds (bis- and trisphthalocyanines) are studied by using steady-state and femtosecond transient absorption spectral measurements, where the excited-state energy-transfer mechanism is explored. By exciting phthalocyanine compounds to their second electronically excited states and probing the subsequent relaxation dynamics, a multitude of deactivation pathways are identified. The transient absorption spectra show the relaxation pathway from the exciton state to excimer state and then back to the ground state in bisphthalocyanine (bis-Pc). In trisphthalocyanine (tris-Pc), the monomeric and dimeric subunits are excited and the excitation energy transfers from the monomeric vibrationally hot S1 state to the exciton state of a pre-associated dimer, with subsequent relaxation to the ground state through the excimer state. The theoretical calculations and steady-state spectra also show a face-to-face conformation in bis-Pc, whereas in tris-Pc, two of the three phthalocyanine branches form a pre-associated face-to-face dimeric conformation with the third one acting as a monomeric unit; this is consistent with the results of the transient absorption experiments from the perspective of molecular structure. The detailed structure-property relationships in phthalocyanine compounds is useful for exploring the function of molecular aggregates in energy migration of natural photosynthesis systems. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  7. UV absorption spectrum and photodissociation channels of the simplest Criegee intermediate (CH2OO).

    PubMed

    Dawes, Richard; Jiang, Bin; Guo, Hua

    2015-01-14

    The lowest-lying singlet states of the simplest Criegee intermediate (CH2OO) have been characterized along the O-O dissociation coordinate using explicitly correlated MRCI-F12 electronic structure theory and large active spaces. It is found that a high-level treatment of dynamic electron-correlation is essential to accurately describe these states. A significant well on the B-state is identified at the MRCI-F12 level with an equilibrium structure that differs substantially from that of the ground X-state. This well is presumably responsible for the apparent vibrational structure in some experimental UV absorption spectra, analogous to the structured Huggins band of the iso-electronic ozone. The B-state potential in the Franck-Condon region is sufficiently accurate that an absorption spectrum calculated with a one-dimensional model agrees remarkably well with experiment.

  8. Ultrafast quantum control of ionization dynamics in krypton.

    PubMed

    Hütten, Konrad; Mittermair, Michael; Stock, Sebastian O; Beerwerth, Randolf; Shirvanyan, Vahe; Riemensberger, Johann; Duensing, Andreas; Heider, Rupert; Wagner, Martin S; Guggenmos, Alexander; Fritzsche, Stephan; Kabachnik, Nikolay M; Kienberger, Reinhard; Bernhardt, Birgitta

    2018-02-19

    Ultrafast spectroscopy with attosecond resolution has enabled the real time observation of ultrafast electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and solids. These experiments employ attosecond pulses or pulse trains and explore dynamical processes in a pump-probe scheme that is selectively sensitive to electronic state of matter via photoelectron or XUV absorption spectroscopy or that includes changes of the ionic state detected via photo-ion mass spectrometry. Here, we demonstrate how the implementation of combined photo-ion and absorption spectroscopy with attosecond resolution enables tracking the complex multidimensional excitation and decay cascade of an Auger auto-ionization process of a few femtoseconds in highly excited krypton. In tandem with theory, our study reveals the role of intermediate electronic states in the formation of multiply charged ions. Amplitude tuning of a dressing laser field addresses different groups of decay channels and allows exerting temporal and quantitative control over the ionization dynamics in rare gas atoms.

  9. Enzymatic Transition States, Transition-State Analogs, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Lifetimes

    PubMed Central

    Schramm, Vern L.

    2017-01-01

    Experimental analysis of enzymatic transition-state structures uses kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) to report on bonding and geometry differences between reactants and the transition state. Computational correlation of experimental values with chemical models permits three-dimensional geometric and electrostatic assignment of transition states formed at enzymatic catalytic sites. The combination of experimental and computational access to transition-state information permits (a) the design of transition-state analogs as powerful enzymatic inhibitors, (b) exploration of protein features linked to transition-state structure, (c) analysis of ensemble atomic motions involved in achieving the transition state, (d) transition-state lifetimes, and (e) separation of ground-state (Michaelis complexes) from transition-state effects. Transition-state analogs with picomolar dissociation constants have been achieved for several enzymatic targets. Transition states of closely related isozymes indicate that the protein’s dynamic architecture is linked to transition-state structure. Fast dynamic motions in catalytic sites are linked to transition-state generation. Enzymatic transition states have lifetimes of femtoseconds, the lifetime of bond vibrations. Binding isotope effects (BIEs) reveal relative reactant and transition-state analog binding distortion for comparison with actual transition states. PMID:21675920

  10. 14 CFR 25.723 - Shock absorption tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... absorption tests. (a) The analytical representation of the landing gear dynamic characteristics that is used... previous tests conducted on the same basic landing gear system that has similar energy absorption...

  11. Excited-state dynamics of size-dependent colloidal TiO2-Au nanocomposites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karam, Tony E.; Khoury, Rami A.; Haber, Louis H.

    2016-03-01

    The ultrafast excited-state dynamics of size-dependent TiO2-Au nanocomposites synthesized by reducing gold nanoclusters to the surface of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles are studied using pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopy with 400 nm excitation pulses. The results show that the relaxation processes of the plasmon depletion band, which are described by electron-phonon and phonon-phonon scattering lifetimes, are independent of the gold nanocluster shell size surrounding the TiO2 nanoparticle core. The dynamics corresponding to interfacial electron transfer between the gold nanoclusters and the TiO2 bandgap are observed to spectrally overlap with the gold interband transition signal, and the electron transfer lifetimes are shown to significantly decrease as the nanocluster shell size increases. Additionally, size-dependent periodic oscillations are observed and are attributed to acoustic phonons of a porous shell composed of aggregated gold nanoclusters around the TiO2 core, with frequencies that decrease and damping times that remain constant as the nanocluster shell size increases. These results are important for the development of improved catalytic nanomaterial applications.

  12. Dynamic Functional Connectivity States Reflecting Psychotic-like Experiences.

    PubMed

    Barber, Anita D; Lindquist, Martin A; DeRosse, Pamela; Karlsgodt, Katherine H

    2018-05-01

    Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are associated with lower social and occupational functioning, and lower executive function. Emerging evidence also suggests that PLEs reflect neural dysfunction resembling that of psychotic disorders. The present study examined dynamic connectivity related to a measure of PLEs derived from the Achenbach Adult Self-Report, in an otherwise-healthy sample of adults from the Human Connectome Project. A total of 76 PLE-endorsing and 153 control participants were included in the final sample. To characterize network dysfunction, dynamic connectivity states were examined across large-scale resting-state networks using dynamic conditional correlation and k-means clustering. Three dynamic states were identified. The PLE-endorsing group spent more time than the control group in state 1, a state reflecting hyperconnectivity within visual regions and hypoconnectivity within the default mode network, and less time in state 2, a state characterized by robust within-network connectivity for all networks and strong default mode network anticorrelations. Within the PLE-endorsing group, worse executive function was associated with more time spent in and more transitions into state 1 and less time spent in and fewer transitions into state 3. PLEs are associated with altered large-scale brain dynamics, which tip the system away from spending more time in states reflecting more "typical" connectivity patterns toward more time in states reflecting visual hyperconnectivity and default mode hypoconnectivity. Copyright © 2017 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Ultrafast carrier dynamics in band edge and broad deep defect emission ZnSe nanowires

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Othonos, Andreas; Lioudakis, Emmanouil; Philipose, U.; Ruda, Harry E.

    2007-12-01

    Ultrafast carrier dynamics of ZnSe nanowires grown under different growth conditions have been studied. Transient absorption measurements reveal the dependence of the competing effects of state filling and photoinduced absorption on the probed energy states. The relaxation of the photogenerated carriers occupying defect states in the stoichiometric and Se-rich samples are single exponentials with time constants of 3-4ps. State filling is the main contribution for probe energies below 1.85eV in the Zn-rich grown sample. This ultrafast carrier dynamics study provides an important insight into the role that intrinsic point defects play in the observed photoluminescence from ZnSe nanowires.

  14. Dynamics of entanglement and the Schmidt gap in a driven light-matter system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gómez-Ruiz, F. J.; Mendoza-Arenas, J. J.; Acevedo, O. L.; Rodríguez, F. J.; Quiroga, L.; Johnson, N. F.

    2018-01-01

    The ability to modify light-matter coupling in time (e.g. using external pulses) opens up the exciting possibility of generating and probing new aspects of quantum correlations in many-body light-matter systems. Here we study the impact of such a pulsed coupling on the light-matter entanglement in the Dicke model as well as the respective subsystem quantum dynamics. Our dynamical many-body analysis exploits the natural partition between the radiation and matter degrees of freedom, allowing us to explore time-dependent intra-subsystem quantum correlations by means of squeezing parameters, and the inter-subsystem Schmidt gap for different pulse duration (i.e. ramping velocity) regimes—from the near adiabatic to the sudden quench limits. Our results reveal that both types of quantities indicate the emergence of the superradiant phase when crossing the quantum critical point. In addition, at the end of the pulse light and matter remain entangled even though they become uncoupled, which could be exploited to generate entangled states in non-interacting systems.

  15. Energy absorption behavior of polyurea coatings under laser-induced dynamic tensile and mixed-mode loading

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jajam, Kailash; Lee, Jaejun; Sottos, Nancy

    2015-06-01

    Energy absorbing, lightweight, thin transparent layers/coatings are desirable in many civilian and military applications such as hurricane resistant windows, personnel face-shields, helmet liners, aircraft canopies, laser shields, blast-tolerant sandwich structures, sound and vibration damping materials to name a few. Polyurea, a class of segmented block copolymer, has attracted recent attention for its energy absorbing properties. However, most of the dynamic property characterization of polyurea is limited to tensile and split-Hopkinson-pressure-bar compression loading experiments with strain rates on the order of 102 and 104 s-1, respectively. In the present work, we report the energy absorption behavior of polyurea thin films (1 to 2 μm) subjected to laser-induced dynamic tensile and mixed-mode loading. The laser-generated high amplitude stress wave propagates through the film in short time frames (15 to 20 ns) leading to very high strain rates (107 to 108 s-1) . The substrate stress, surface velocity and fluence histories are inferred from the displacement fringe data. On comparing input and output fluences, test results indicate significant energy absorption by the polyurea films under both tensile and mixed-mode loading conditions. Microscopic examination reveals distinct changes in failure mechanisms under mixed-mode loading from that observed under pure tensile loading. Office of Naval Research MURI.

  16. First-principles calculations of K-shell X-ray absorption spectra for warm dense nitrogen

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Zi; Zhang, Shen; Kang, Wei

    2016-05-15

    X-ray absorption spectrum is a powerful tool for atomic structure detection on warm dense matter. Here, we perform first-principles molecular dynamics and X-ray absorption spectrum calculations on warm dense nitrogen along a Hugoniot curve. From the molecular dynamics trajectory, the detailed atomic structures are examined for each thermodynamical condition. The K-shell X-ray absorption spectrum is calculated, and its changes with temperature and pressure along the Hugoniot curve are discussed. The warm dense nitrogen systems may contain isolated nitrogen atoms, N{sub 2} molecules, and nitrogen clusters, which show quite different contributions to the total X-ray spectrum due to their different electronmore » density of states. The changes of X-ray spectrum along the Hugoniot curve are caused by the different nitrogen structures induced by the temperature and the pressure. Some clear signatures on X-ray spectrum for different thermodynamical conditions are pointed out, which may provide useful data for future X-ray experiments.« less

  17. Time-resolved two-photon spectroscopy of photosystem I determines hidden carotenoid dark-state dynamics.

    PubMed

    Wehling, Axel; Walla, Peter J

    2005-12-29

    We present time-resolved fs two-photon pump-probe data measured with photosystem I (PS I) of Thermosynechococcus elongatus. Two-photon excitation (lambda(exc)/2 = 575 nm) in the spectral region of the optically forbidden first excited singlet state of the carotenoids, Car S1, gives rise to a 800 fs and a 9 ps decay component of the Car S1 --> S(n) excited-state absorption with an amplitude of about 47 +/- 16% and 53 +/- 10%, respectively. By measuring a solution of pure beta-carotene under exactly the same conditions, only a 9 ps decay component can be observed. Exciting PS I at exactly the same spectral region via one-photon excitation (lambda(exc) = 575 nm) also does not show any sub-ps component. We ascribe the observed constant of 800 fs to a portion of about 47 +/- 16% beta-carotene states that can potentially transfer their energy efficiently to chlorophyll pigments via the optically dark Car S1 state. We compared these data with conventional one-photon pump-probe data, exciting the optically allowed second excited state, Car S2. This comparison demonstrates that the fast dynamics of the optically forbidden state can hardly be unravelled via conventional one-photon excitation only because the corresponding Car S1 populations are too small after Car S2 --> Car S1 internal conversion. A direct comparison of the amplitudes of the Car S1 --> S(n) excited-state absorption of PS I and beta-carotene observed after Car S2 excitation allows determination of a quantum yield for the Car S1 formation in PS I of 44 +/- 5%. In conclusion, an overall Car S2 --> Chl energy-transfer efficiency of approximately 69 +/- 5% is observed at room temperature with 56 +/- 5% being transferred via Car S2 and probably very hot Car S1 states and 13 +/- 5% being transferred via hot and "cold" Car S1 states.

  18. Simulations of fluorescence solvatochromism in substituted PPV oligomers from excited state molecular dynamics with implicit solvent

    DOE PAGES

    Bjorgaard, J. A.; Nelson, T.; Kalinin, K.; ...

    2015-04-28

    In this study, an efficient method of treating solvent effects in excited state molecular dynamics (ESMD) is implemented and tested by exploring the solvatochromic effects in substituted p-phenylene vinylene oligomers. A continuum solvent model is used which has very little computational overhead. This allows simulations of ESMD with solvent effects on the scale of hundreds of picoseconds for systems of up to hundreds of atoms. At these time scales, solvatochromic shifts in fluoresence spectra can be described. Solvatochromic shifts in absorption and fluorescence spectra from ESMD are compared with time-dependent density functional theory calculations and experiments.

  19. Quantum Nuclear Dynamics Pumped and Probed by Ultrafast Polarization Controlled Steering of a Coherent Electronic State in LiH.

    PubMed

    Nikodem, Astrid; Levine, R D; Remacle, F

    2016-05-19

    The quantum wave packet dynamics following a coherent electronic excitation of LiH by an ultrashort, polarized, strong one-cycle infrared optical pulse is computed on several electronic states using a grid method. The coupling to the strong field of the pump and the probe pulses is included in the Hamiltonian used to solve the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. The polarization of the pump pulse allows us to control the localization in time and in space of the nonequilibrium coherent electronic motion and the subsequent nuclear dynamics. We show that transient absorption, resulting from the interaction of the total molecular dipole with the electric fields of the pump and the probe, is a very versatile probe of the different time scales of the vibronic dynamics. It allows probing both the ultrashort, femtosecond time scale of the electronic coherences as well as the longer dozens of femtoseconds time scales of the nuclear motion on the excited electronic states. The ultrafast beatings of the electronic coherences in space and in time are shown to be modulated by the different periods of the nuclear motion.

  20. Low-lying singlet states of carotenoids having 8-13 conjugated double bonds as determined by electronic absorption spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Peng; Nakamura, Ryosuke; Kanematsu, Yasuo; Koyama, Yasushi; Nagae, Hiroyoshi; Nishio, Tomohiro; Hashimoto, Hideki; Zhang, Jian-Ping

    2005-07-01

    Electronic absorption spectra were recorded at room temperature in solutions of carotenoids having different numbers of conjugated double bonds, n = 8-13, including a spheroidene derivatives, neurosporene, spheroidene, lycopene, anhydrorhodovibrin and spirilloxanthin. The vibronic states of 1Bu+(v=0-4), 2Ag-(v=0-3), 3Ag- (0) and 1Bu- (0) were clearly identified. The arrangement of the four electronic states determined by electronic absorption spectroscopy was identical to that determined by measurement of resonance Raman excitation profiles [K. Furuichi et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 356 (2002) 547] for carotenoids in crystals.

  1. Coevolution of dynamical states and interactions in dynamic networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zimmermann, Martín G.; Eguíluz, Víctor M.; San Miguel, Maxi

    2004-06-01

    We explore the coupled dynamics of the internal states of a set of interacting elements and the network of interactions among them. Interactions are modeled by a spatial game and the network of interaction links evolves adapting to the outcome of the game. As an example, we consider a model of cooperation in which the adaptation is shown to facilitate the formation of a hierarchical interaction network that sustains a highly cooperative stationary state. The resulting network has the characteristics of a small world network when a mechanism of local neighbor selection is introduced in the adaptive network dynamics. The highly connected nodes in the hierarchical structure of the network play a leading role in the stability of the network. Perturbations acting on the state of these special nodes trigger global avalanches leading to complete network reorganization.

  2. On the relationship between the classical Dicke-Jaynes-Cummings-Gaudin model and the nonlinear Schroedinger equation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Du, Dianlou; Geng, Xue

    2013-05-15

    In this paper, the relationship between the classical Dicke-Jaynes-Cummings-Gaudin (DJCG) model and the nonlinear Schroedinger (NLS) equation is studied. It is shown that the classical DJCG model is equivalent to a stationary NLS equation. Moreover, the standard NLS equation can be solved by the classical DJCG model and a suitably chosen higher order flow. Further, it is also shown that classical DJCG model can be transformed into the classical Gaudin spin model in an external magnetic field through a deformation of Lax matrix. Finally, the separated variables are constructed on the common level sets of Casimir functions and the generalizedmore » action-angle coordinates are introduced via the Hamilton-Jacobi equation.« less

  3. X-Ray Absorption Microspectroscopy with Electrostatic Force Microscopy and its Application to Chemical States Mapping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishii, M.; Rigopoulos, N.; Poolton, N. R. J.; Hamilton, B.

    2007-02-01

    A new technique named X-EFM that measures the x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) of nanometer objects was developed. In X-EFM, electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) is used as an x-ray absorption detector, and photoionization induced by x-ray absorption of surface electron trapping sites is detected by EFM. An EFM signal with respect to x-ray photon energy provides the XAFS spectra of the trapping sites. We adopted X-EFM to observe Si oxide thin films. An edge jump shift intrinsic to the X-EFM spectrum was found, and it was explained with a model where an electric field between the trapping site and probe deepens the energy level of the inner-shell. A scanning probe under x-rays with fixed photon energy provided the chemical state mapping on the surface.

  4. Quantum state-resolved energy transfer dynamics at gas-liquid interfaces: IR laser studies of CO2 scattering from perfluorinated liquids.

    PubMed

    Perkins, Bradford G; Häber, Thomas; Nesbitt, David J

    2005-09-01

    An apparatus for detailed study of quantum state-resolved inelastic energy transfer dynamics at the gas-liquid interface is described. The approach relies on supersonic jet-cooled molecular beams impinging on a continuously renewable liquid surface in a vacuum and exploits sub-Doppler high-resolution laser absorption methods to probe rotational, vibrational, and translational distributions in the scattered flux. First results are presented for skimmed beams of jet-cooled CO(2) (T(beam) approximately 15 K) colliding at normal incidence with a liquid perfluoropolyether (PFPE) surface at E(inc) = 10.6(8) kcal/mol. The experiment uses a tunable Pb-salt diode laser for direct absorption on the CO(2) nu(3) asymmetric stretch. Measured rotational distributions in both 00(0)0 and 01(1)0 vibrational manifolds indicate CO(2) inelastically scatters from the liquid surface into a clearly non-Boltzmann distribution, revealing nonequilibrium dynamics with average rotational energies in excess of the liquid (T(s) = 300 K). Furthermore, high-resolution analysis of the absorption profiles reveals that Doppler widths correspond to temperatures significantly warmer than T(s) and increase systematically with the J rotational state. These rotational and translational distributions are consistent with two distinct gas-liquid collision pathways: (i) a T approximately 300 K component due to trapping-desorption (TD) and (ii) a much hotter distribution (T approximately 750 K) due to "prompt" impulsive scattering (IS) from the gas-liquid interface. By way of contrast, vibrational populations in the CO(2) bending mode are inefficiently excited by scattering from the liquid, presumably reflecting much slower T-V collisional energy transfer rates.

  5. An analysis of OH excited state absorption lines in DR 21 and K3-50

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jones, K. N.; Doel, R. C.; Field, D.; Gray, M. D.; Walker, R. N. F.

    1992-10-01

    We present an analysis of the OH absorption line zones observed toward the compact H II regions DR 21 and K3-50. Using as parameters the kinetic and dust temperatures, the H2 number density and the ratio of OH-H2 number densities to the velocity gradient, the model quantitatively reproduces the absorption line data for the six main line transitions in 2 Pi3/2 J = 5/2, 7/2, and 9/2. Observed upper limits for the absorption or emission in the satellite lines of 2 Pi3/2 J = 5/2 are crucial in constraining the range of derived parameters. Physical conditions derived for DR 21 show that the kinetic temperature centers around 140 K, the H2 number density around 10 exp 7/cu cm, and that the OH column density in the excited state absorption zone lies between 1 x 10 exp 15/sq cm and 2 x 10 exp 15/sq cm. Including contributions from a J = 3/2 absorption zone, the total OH column density is more than a factor of 2 lower than estimates based upon LTE (Walmsley et al., 1986). The OH absorption zone in K3-50 tends toward higher density and displays a larger column density, while the kinetic temperature is similar. For both sources, the dust temperature is found to be significantly lower than the kinetic temperature.

  6. Femtosecond excited state studies of the two-center three-electron bond driven twisted internal charge transfer dynamics in 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene.

    PubMed

    Balkowski, Grzegorz; Szemik-Hojniak, Anna; van Stokkum, Ivo H M; Zhang, Hong; Buma, Wybren J

    2005-04-28

    Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion and transient absorption experiments have been performed to monitor the photoinduced electronic, geometry, and solvent relaxation dynamics of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene dissolved in methylcyclohexane or n-hexane, n-dodecane, dichloromethane, and acetonitrile. The data have been analyzed by using a sequential global analysis method that gives rise to species associated difference spectra. The spectral features in these spectra and their dynamic behavior enable us to associate them with specific processes occurring in the molecule. The experiments show that the internal charge-transfer lpi* state is populated after internal conversion from the 1La state. In the lpi state the molecule is concluded to be subject to a large-amplitude motion, thereby confirming our previous predictions that internal charge transfer in this state is accompanied by the formation of a two-center three-electron bond between the two nitrogen atoms. Solvent relaxation and vibrational cooling in the lpi* state cannot be separated in polar solvents, but in apolar solvents a distinct vibrational cooling process in the lpi* state is discerned. The spectral and dynamic characteristics of the final species created in the experiments are shown to correspond well with what has been determined before for the relaxed emissive lpi state.

  7. Parity oscillations and photon correlation functions in the Z2-U (1 ) Dicke model at a finite number of atoms or qubits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yi-Xiang, Yu; Ye, Jinwu; Zhang, CunLin

    2016-08-01

    Four standard quantum optics models, that is, the Rabi, Dicke, Jaynes-Cummings, and Tavis-Cummings models, were proposed by physicists many decades ago. Despite their relative simple forms and many previous theoretical works, their physics at a finite N , especially inside the superradiant regime, remain unknown. In this work, by using the strong-coupling expansion and exact diagonalization (ED), we study the Z2-U(1 ) Dicke model with independent rotating-wave coupling g and counterrotating-wave coupling g' at a finite N . This model includes the four standard quantum optics models as its various special limits. We show that in the superradiant phase, the system's energy levels are grouped into doublets with even and odd parity. Any anisotropy β =g'/g ≠1 leads to the oscillation of parities in both the ground and excited doublets as the atom-photon coupling strength increases. The oscillations will be pushed to the infinite coupling strength in the isotropic Z2 limit β =1 . We find nearly perfect agreement between the strong-coupling expansion and the ED in the superradiant regime when β is not too small. We also compute the photon correlation functions, squeezing spectrum, and number correlation functions that can be measured by various standard optical techniques.

  8. Ultrafast transient absorption studies of hematite nanoparticles: the effect of particle shape on exciton dynamics.

    PubMed

    Fitzmorris, Bob C; Patete, Jonathan M; Smith, Jacqueline; Mascorro, Xiomara; Adams, Staci; Wong, Stanislaus S; Zhang, Jin Z

    2013-10-01

    Much progress has been made in using hematite (α-Fe2 O3 ) as a potentially practical and sustainable material for applications such as solar-energy conversion and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting; however, recent studies have shown that the performance can be limited by a very short charge-carrier diffusion length or exciton lifetime. In this study, we performed ultrafast studies on hematite nanoparticles of different shapes to determine the possible influence of particle shape on the exciton dynamics. Nanorice, multifaceted spheroidal nanoparticles, faceted nanocubes, and faceted nanorhombohedra were synthesized and characterized by using SEM and XRD techniques. Their exciton dynamics were investigated by using femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. Although the TA spectral features differ for the four samples studied, their decay profiles are similar, which can be fitted with time constants of 1-3 ps, approximately 25 ps, and a slow nanosecond component extending beyond the experimental time window that was measured (2 ns). The results indicate that the overall exciton lifetime is weakly dependent on the shape of the hematite nanoparticles, even though the overall optical absorption and scattering are influenced by the particle shape. This study suggests that other strategies need to be developed to increase the exciton lifetime or to lengthen the exciton diffusion length in hematite nanostructures. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  9. Photo-physical properties and triplet-triplet absorption of platinum(II) acetylides in solid PMMA matrices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glimsdal, Eirik; Westlund, Robert; Lindgren, Mikael

    2009-05-01

    Because of their strong nonlinear optical properties, Platinum(II) acetylides are investigated as potential chromophores for optical power limiting (OPL) applications. The strong excited state absorption and efficient intersystem crossing to the triplet states in these materials are desired properties for good OPL performance. We recently reported on OPL and photo-physical properties of Pt(II)-acetylide chromophores in solution, modified with thiophenyl or triazole groups. [R. Westlund et al. J. Mater. Chem. 18, 166 (2008); E. Glimsdal et al. Proc. SPIE 6740, 67400M (2007)] The chromophores were later incorporated into poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) glasses. A variety of doped organic solids were prepared, reaching concentrations of up to 13 wt% of the guest molecule. Raman spectra of the doped solid devices proved that the chemical structure of the nonlinear dyes remains intact upon the polymerization of the solid matrix. Luminescence spectra confirm that the basic photo-physical properties (absorption, emission and inter-system crossing) observed for the solute molecules in THF are maintained also in the solid state. In particular, the phosphorescence lifetime stays in the order of μs to ms, just as in the oxygen evacuated liquid samples. Also, the wavelength dependence and time-dynamics of the triplet absorption spectra of the dyes, dissolved in THF solution and dispersed in solid PMMA matrices, were investigated and compared. Ground state UV absorption spectra between 300 and 420 nm have corresponding broad band visible triplet-triplet absorption between 400 and 800 nm. The triplet state extinction coefficients were determined to be in the order of 104 M-1cm-1.

  10. Observation of excited state absorption in the V-Cr Prussian blue analogue

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hedley, Luke; Horbury, Michael D.; Liedy, Florian; Johansson, J. Olof

    2017-11-01

    We present femtosecond transient transmission measurements of thin films of the VII/III-CrIII Prussian blue analogue (V-Cr PBA) in the spectral range 330-675 nm after exciting the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transition (LMCT) at 400 nm. A global analysis including three decay-times of τ1 = 230 fs, τ2 = 1.38 ps and τ3 ≫ 2 ns could satisfactory describe the data. We observed an excited state absorption (ESA) at 345 nm, which was attributed to a charge-transfer transition from the 2E state on the Cr ions after fast intersystem crossing from the quartet manifold. An additional weak and short-lived ESA at 455 nm was also observed and was tentatively attributed to the initially populated 4LMCT state.

  11. Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 3): William Dick Lagoons, West Caln Township, Chester County, PA. (First remedial action), June 1991

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1991-09-28

    The 4.4-acre William Dick Lagoons site is a chemical wastewater disposal site in West Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. An estimated 30 residences located within 1,000 feet of the site use private wells for their drinking water supply. Two other Superfund sites are near the site. From the 1950's to 1970, Mr. William Dick used the lagoons to dispose of wastewater left from cleaning the interiors of chemical and petroleum tank trailers owned primarily by Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, (CLTL), and residual chemical products. Later in 1970, vandalism caused the release of an estimated 300,000 gallons of wastewater into Birchmore » Run, a tributary of the West Branch of Brandywine Creek. As a result of this discharge, more than 2,600 fish died, and water supplies that used Brandywine Creek as a water source were closed. The Record of Decision (ROD) provides an interim remedy and addresses contaminated residential water as Operable Unit 1 (OU1) and ground water as OU2. A future ROD will address source control and will provide a remedy for the cleanup of contaminated soil. The primary contaminants of concern affecting the ground water are VOCs including benzene, PCE, and TCE; other organics including phenols; and metals. The selected remedial action for the site is included.« less

  12. Dynamics of vibrational relaxation in the S 1 state of carotenoids having 11 conjugated CC bonds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hörvin Billsten, Helena; Zigmantas, Donatas; Sundström, Villy; Polívka, Tomáš

    2002-04-01

    Transient absorption spectra and kinetics in the 470-650 nm region were recorded for lycopene, β-carotene and zeaxanthin, all carotenoids with 11 conjugated double bonds, in two solvents with different polarity. Analysis of the red wing of the carotenoid S 1-S n transition revealed presence of a pronounced shoulder at early delay times. The kinetics recorded at this low-energy shoulder of the S 1-S n transition yields an additional decay component of 500-800 fs in addition to the main S 1 decay. This dynamics is ascribed to a vibrational relaxation in the S 1 state of the carotenoids.

  13. Imaging electronic trap states in perovskite thin films with combined fluorescence and femtosecond transient absorption microscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Xiao, Kai; Ma, Ying -Zhong; Simpson, Mary Jane; ...

    2016-04-22

    Charge carrier trapping degrades the performance of organometallic halide perovskite solar cells. To characterize the locations of electronic trap states in a heterogeneous photoactive layer, a spatially resolved approach is essential. Here, we report a comparative study on methylammonium lead tri-iodide perovskite thin films subject to different thermal annealing times using a combined photoluminescence (PL) and femtosecond transient absorption microscopy (TAM) approach to spatially map trap states. This approach coregisters the initially populated electronic excited states with the regions that recombine radiatively. Although the TAM images are relatively homogeneous for both samples, the corresponding PL images are highly structured. Themore » remarkable variation in the PL intensities as compared to transient absorption signal amplitude suggests spatially dependent PL quantum efficiency, indicative of trapping events. Furthermore, detailed analysis enables identification of two trapping regimes: a densely packed trapping region and a sparse trapping area that appear as unique spatial features in scaled PL maps.« less

  14. Picosecond excite-and-probe absorption measurement of the 4T2 state nonradiative lifetime in ruby

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gayen, S. K.; Wang, W. B.; Petricevic, V.; Dorsinville, R.; Alfano, R. R.

    1985-01-01

    In a picosecond excite-and-probe absorption measurement, a 527-nm picosecond pulse excites the 4T2 state of the Cr(3+) ion in ruby and a 3.4-micron picosecond probe pulse monitors the growth and decay of population in the 2E state as a function of pump-probe delay. From the growth of population in the metastable 2E state, an upper limit of 7 ps for the nonradiative lifetime of the 4T2 state is determined.

  15. Instantaneous brain dynamics mapped to a continuous state space.

    PubMed

    Billings, Jacob C W; Medda, Alessio; Shakil, Sadia; Shen, Xiaohong; Kashyap, Amrit; Chen, Shiyang; Abbas, Anzar; Zhang, Xiaodi; Nezafati, Maysam; Pan, Wen-Ju; Berman, Gordon J; Keilholz, Shella D

    2017-11-15

    Measures of whole-brain activity, from techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, provide a means to observe the brain's dynamical operations. However, interpretation of whole-brain dynamics has been stymied by the inherently high-dimensional structure of brain activity. The present research addresses this challenge through a series of scale transformations in the spectral, spatial, and relational domains. Instantaneous multispectral dynamics are first developed from input data via a wavelet filter bank. Voxel-level signals are then projected onto a representative set of spatially independent components. The correlation distance over the instantaneous wavelet-ICA state vectors is a graph that may be embedded onto a lower-dimensional space to assist the interpretation of state-space dynamics. Applying this procedure to a large sample of resting-state and task-active data (acquired through the Human Connectome Project), we segment the empirical state space into a continuum of stimulus-dependent brain states. Upon observing the local neighborhood of brain-states adopted subsequent to each stimulus, we may conclude that resting brain activity includes brain states that are, at times, similar to those adopted during tasks, but that are at other times distinct from task-active brain states. As task-active brain states often populate a local neighborhood, back-projection of segments of the dynamical state space onto the brain's surface reveals the patterns of brain activity that support many experimentally-defined states. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Dynamic Leidenfrost temperature on micro-textured surfaces: Acoustic wave absorption into thin vapor layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jerng, Dong Wook; Kim, Dong Eok

    2018-01-01

    The dynamic Leidenfrost phenomenon is governed by three types of pressure potentials induced via vapor hydrodynamics, liquid dynamic pressure, and the water hammer effect resulting from the generation of acoustic waves at the liquid-vapor interface. The prediction of the Leidenfrost temperature for a dynamic droplet needs quantitative evaluation and definition for each of the pressure fields. In particular, the textures on a heated surface can significantly affect the vapor hydrodynamics and the water hammer pressure. We present a quantitative model for evaluating the water hammer pressure on micro-textured surfaces taking into account the absorption of acoustic waves into the thin vapor layer. The model demonstrates that the strength of the acoustic flow into the liquid droplet, which directly contributes to the water hammer pressure, depends on the magnitude of the acoustic resistance (impedance) in the droplet and the vapor region. In consequence, the micro-textures of the surface and the increased spacing between them reduce the water hammer coefficient ( kh ) defined as the ratio of the acoustic flow into the droplet to total generated flow. Aided by numerical calculations that solve the laminar Navier-Stokes equation for the vapor flow, we also predict the dynamic Leidenfrost temperature on a micro-textured surface with reliable accuracy consistent with the experimental data.

  17. Mesoscopic entanglement induced by spontaneous emission in solid-state quantum optics.

    PubMed

    González-Tudela, Alejandro; Porras, Diego

    2013-02-22

    Implementations of solid-state quantum optics provide us with devices where qubits are placed at fixed positions in photonic or plasmonic one-dimensional waveguides. We show that solely by controlling the position of the qubits and with the help of a coherent driving, collective spontaneous decay may be engineered to yield an entangled mesoscopic steady state. Our scheme relies on the realization of pure superradiant Dicke models by a destructive interference that cancels dipole-dipole interactions in one dimension.

  18. A model of cerebellar computations for dynamical state estimation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Paulin, M. G.; Hoffman, L. F.; Assad, C.

    2001-01-01

    The cerebellum is a neural structure that is essential for agility in vertebrate movements. Its contribution to motor control appears to be due to a fundamental role in dynamical state estimation, which also underlies its role in various non-motor tasks. Single spikes in vestibular sensory neurons carry information about head state. We show how computations for optimal dynamical state estimation may be accomplished when signals are encoded in spikes. This provides a novel way to design dynamical state estimators, and a novel way to interpret the structure and function of the cerebellum.

  19. Molecular dynamics simulations of classical sound absorption in a monatomic gas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ayub, M.; Zander, A. C.; Huang, D. M.; Cazzolato, B. S.; Howard, C. Q.

    2018-05-01

    Sound wave propagation in argon gas is simulated using molecular dynamics (MD) in order to determine the attenuation of acoustic energy due to classical (viscous and thermal) losses at high frequencies. In addition, a method is described to estimate attenuation of acoustic energy using the thermodynamic concept of exergy. The results are compared against standing wave theory and the predictions of the theory of continuum mechanics. Acoustic energy losses are studied by evaluating various attenuation parameters and by comparing the changes in behavior at three different frequencies. This study demonstrates acoustic absorption effects in a gas simulated in a thermostatted molecular simulation and quantifies the classical losses in terms of the sound attenuation constant. The approach can be extended to further understanding of acoustic loss mechanisms in the presence of nanoscale porous materials in the simulation domain.

  20. Simulating superradiance from higher-order-intensity-correlation measurements: Single atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiegner, R.; Oppel, S.; Bhatti, D.; von Zanthier, J.; Agarwal, G. S.

    2015-09-01

    Superradiance typically requires preparation of atoms in highly entangled multiparticle states, the so-called Dicke states. In this paper we discuss an alternative route where we prepare such states from initially uncorrelated atoms by a measurement process. By measuring higher-order intensity-intensity correlations we demonstrate that we can simulate the emission characteristics of Dicke superradiance by starting with atoms in the fully excited state. We describe the essence of the scheme by first investigating two excited atoms. Here we demonstrate how via Hanbury Brown and Twiss type of measurements we can produce Dicke superradiance and subradiance displayed commonly with two atoms in the single excited symmetric and antisymmetric Dicke states, respectively. We thereafter generalize the scheme to arbitrary numbers of atoms and detectors, and explain in detail the mechanism which leads to this result. The approach shows that the Hanbury Brown and Twiss type of intensity interference and the phenomenon of Dicke superradiance can be regarded as two sides of the same coin. We also present a compact result for the characteristic functional which generates all order intensity-intensity correlations.

  1. Ultrafast chemical reactions in shocked nitromethane probed with dynamic ellipsometry and transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Brown, Kathryn E; McGrane, Shawn D; Bolme, Cynthia A; Moore, David S

    2014-04-10

    Initiation of the shock driven chemical reactions and detonation of nitromethane (NM) can be sensitized by the addition of a weak base; however, the chemical mechanism by which sensitization occurs remains unclear. We investigated the shock driven chemical reaction in NM and in NM sensitized with diethylenetriamine (DETA), using a sustained 300 ps shock driven by a chirped Ti:sapphire laser. We measured the solutions' visible transient absorption spectra and measured interface particle and shock velocities of the nitromethane solutions using ultrafast dynamic ellipsometry. We found there to be a volume-increasing reaction that takes place around interface particle velocity up = 2.4 km/s and up = 2.2 km/s for neat NM and NM with 5% DETA, respectively. The rate at which transient absorption increases is similar in all mixtures, but with decreasing induction times for solutions with increasing DETA concentrations. This result supports the hypothesis that the chemical reaction mechanisms for shocked NM and NM with DETA are the same. Data from shocked NM are compared to literature experimental and theoretical data.

  2. Attosecond XUV absorption spectroscopy of doubly excited states in helium atoms dressed by a time-delayed femtosecond infrared laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Z. Q.; Ye, D. F.; Ding, Thomas; Pfeifer, Thomas; Fu, L. B.

    2015-01-01

    In the present paper, we investigate the time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy of doubly excited states of helium atoms by solving the time-dependent two-electron Schrödinger equation numerically based on a one-dimensional model. The helium atoms are subjected to an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulse and a time-delayed infrared (IR) few-cycle laser pulse. A superposition of doubly excited states populated by the XUV pulse is identified, which interferes with the direct ionization pathway leading to Fano resonance profiles in the photoabsorption spectrum. In the presence of an IR laser, however, the Fano line profiles are strongly modified: A shifting, splitting, and broadening of the original absorption lines is observed when the XUV attosecond pulse and infrared few-cycle laser pulse overlap in time, which is in good agreement with recent experimental results. At certain time delays, we observe symmetric Lorentz, inverted Fano profiles, and even negative absorption cross sections indicating that the XUV light can be amplified during the interaction with atoms. We further prove that the above pictures are general for different doubly excited states by suitably varying the frequency of the IR field to coherently couple the corresponding states.

  3. Dynamical tuning between nearly perfect reflection, absorption, and transmission of light via graphene/dielectric structures

    PubMed Central

    Linder, Jacob; Halterman, Klaus

    2016-01-01

    Exerting well-defined control over the reflection (R), absorption (A), and transmission (T) of electromagnetic waves is a key objective in quantum optics. To this end, one often utilizes hybrid structures comprised of elements with different optical properties in order to achieve features such as high R or high A for incident light. A desirable goal would be the possibility to tune between all three regimes of nearly perfect reflection, absorption, and transmission within the same device, thus swapping between the cases R → 1, A → 1, and T → 1 dynamically. We here show that a dielectric interfaced with a graphene layer on each side allows for precisely this: by tuning only the Fermi level of graphene, all three regimes can be reached in the THz regime and below. Moreover, we show that the inclusion of cylindrical defects in the system offers a different type of control of the scattering of electromagnetic waves by means of the graphene layers. PMID:27917886

  4. Weakly dynamic dark energy via metric-scalar couplings with torsion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sur, Sourav; Singh Bhatia, Arshdeep

    2017-07-01

    We study the dynamical aspects of dark energy in the context of a non-minimally coupled scalar field with curvature and torsion. Whereas the scalar field acts as the source of the trace mode of torsion, a suitable constraint on the torsion pseudo-trace provides a mass term for the scalar field in the effective action. In the equivalent scalar-tensor framework, we find explicit cosmological solutions representing dark energy in both Einstein and Jordan frames. We demand the dynamical evolution of the dark energy to be weak enough, so that the present-day values of the cosmological parameters could be estimated keeping them within the confidence limits set for the standard LCDM model from recent observations. For such estimates, we examine the variations of the effective matter density and the dark energy equation of state parameters over different redshift ranges. In spite of being weakly dynamic, the dark energy component differs significantly from the cosmological constant, both in characteristics and features, for e.g. it interacts with the cosmological (dust) fluid in the Einstein frame, and crosses the phantom barrier in the Jordan frame. We also obtain the upper bounds on the torsion mode parameters and the lower bound on the effective Brans-Dicke parameter. The latter turns out to be fairly large, and in agreement with the local gravity constraints, which therefore come in support of our analysis.

  5. Terahertz absorption of lysozyme in solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martin, Daniel R.; Matyushov, Dmitry V.

    2017-08-01

    Absorption of radiation by solution is described by its frequency-dependent dielectric function and can be viewed as a specific application of the dielectric theory of solutions. For ideal solutions, the dielectric boundary-value problem separates the polar response into the polarization of the void in the liquid, created by the solute, and the response of the solute dipole. In the case of a protein as a solute, protein nuclear dynamics do not project on significant fluctuations of the dipole moment in the terahertz domain of frequencies and the protein dipole can be viewed as dynamically frozen. Absorption of radiation then reflects the interfacial polarization. Here we apply an analytical theory and computer simulations to absorption of radiation by an ideal solution of lysozyme. Comparison with the experiment shows that Maxwell electrostatics fails to describe the polarization of the protein-water interface and the "Lorentz void," which does not anticipate polarization of the interface by the external field (no surface charges), better represents the data. An analytical theory for the slope of the solution absorption against the volume fraction of the solute is formulated in terms of the cavity field response function. It is calculated from molecular dynamics simulations in good agreement with the experiment. The protein hydration shell emerges as a separate sub-ensemble, which, collectively, is not described by the standard electrostatics of dielectrics.

  6. Coherent structural trapping through wave packet dispersion during photoinduced spin state switching

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lemke, Henrik T.; Kjær, Kasper S.; Hartsock, Robert

    The description of ultrafast nonadiabatic chemical dynamics during molecular photo-transformations remains challenging because electronic and nuclear configurations impact each other and cannot be treated independently. Here we gain experimental insights, beyond the Born–Oppenheimer approximation, into the light-induced spin-state trapping dynamics of the prototypical [Fe(bpy)3]2+ compound by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy at sub-30-femtosecond resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio. The electronic decay from the initial optically excited electronic state towards the high spin state is distinguished from the structural trapping dynamics, which launches a coherent oscillating wave packet (265 fs period), clearly identified as molecular breathing. Throughout the structural trapping, the dispersionmore » of the wave packet along the reaction coordinate reveals details of intramolecular vibronic coupling before a slower vibrational energy dissipation to the solution environment. These findings illustrate how modern time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy can provide key information to unravel dynamic details of photo-functional molecules.« less

  7. Coherent structural trapping through wave packet dispersion during photoinduced spin state switching

    DOE PAGES

    Lemke, Henrik T.; Kjær, Kasper S.; Hartsock, Robert; ...

    2017-05-24

    The description of ultrafast nonadiabatic chemical dynamics during molecular photo-transformations remains challenging because electronic and nuclear configurations impact each other and cannot be treated independently. Here we gain experimental insights, beyond the Born–Oppenheimer approximation, into the light-induced spin-state trapping dynamics of the prototypical [Fe(bpy)3]2+ compound by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy at sub-30-femtosecond resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio. The electronic decay from the initial optically excited electronic state towards the high spin state is distinguished from the structural trapping dynamics, which launches a coherent oscillating wave packet (265 fs period), clearly identified as molecular breathing. Throughout the structural trapping, the dispersionmore » of the wave packet along the reaction coordinate reveals details of intramolecular vibronic coupling before a slower vibrational energy dissipation to the solution environment. These findings illustrate how modern time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy can provide key information to unravel dynamic details of photo-functional molecules.« less

  8. Coherent structural trapping through wave packet dispersion during photoinduced spin state switching

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lemke, Henrik T.; Kjær, Kasper S.; Hartsock, Robert; van Driel, Tim B.; Chollet, Matthieu; Glownia, James M.; Song, Sanghoon; Zhu, Diling; Pace, Elisabetta; Matar, Samir F.; Nielsen, Martin M.; Benfatto, Maurizio; Gaffney, Kelly J.; Collet, Eric; Cammarata, Marco

    2017-05-01

    The description of ultrafast nonadiabatic chemical dynamics during molecular photo-transformations remains challenging because electronic and nuclear configurations impact each other and cannot be treated independently. Here we gain experimental insights, beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, into the light-induced spin-state trapping dynamics of the prototypical [Fe(bpy)3]2+ compound by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy at sub-30-femtosecond resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio. The electronic decay from the initial optically excited electronic state towards the high spin state is distinguished from the structural trapping dynamics, which launches a coherent oscillating wave packet (265 fs period), clearly identified as molecular breathing. Throughout the structural trapping, the dispersion of the wave packet along the reaction coordinate reveals details of intramolecular vibronic coupling before a slower vibrational energy dissipation to the solution environment. These findings illustrate how modern time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy can provide key information to unravel dynamic details of photo-functional molecules.

  9. EEG and chaos: Description of underlying dynamics and its relation to dissociative states

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ray, William J.

    1994-01-01

    The goal of this work is the identification of states especially as related to the process of error production and lapses of awareness as might be experienced during aviation. Given the need for further articulation of the characteristics of 'error prone state' or 'hazardous state of awareness,' this NASA grant focused on basic ground work for the study of the psychophysiology of these states. In specific, the purpose of this grant was to establish the necessary methodology for addressing three broad questions. The first is how the error prone state should be conceptualized, and whether it is similar to a dissociative state, a hypnotic state, or absent mindedness. Over 1200 subjects completed a variety of psychometric measures reflecting internal states and proneness to mental lapses and absent mindedness; the study suggests that there exists a consistency of patterns displayed by individuals who self-report dissociative experiences such that those individuals who score high on measures of dissociation also score high on measures of absent mindedness, errors, and absorption, but not on scales of hypnotizability. The second broad question is whether some individuals are more prone to enter these states than others. A study of 14 young adults who scored either high or low on the dissociation experiences scale performed a series of six tasks. This study suggests that high and low dissociative individuals arrive at the experiment in similar electrocortical states and perform cognitive tasks (e.g., mental math) in a similar manner; it is in the processing of internal emotional states that differences begin to emerge. The third question to be answered is whether recent research in nonlinear dynamics, i.e., chaos, offer an addition and/or alternative to traditional signal processing methods, i.e., fast Fourier transforms, and whether chaos procedures can be modified to offer additional information useful in identifying brain states. A preliminary review suggests that

  10. Nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics modeling of photoinduced dynamics in conjugated molecules.

    PubMed

    Nelson, Tammie; Fernandez-Alberti, Sebastian; Chernyak, Vladimir; Roitberg, Adrian E; Tretiak, Sergei

    2011-05-12

    Nonadiabatic dynamics generally defines the entire evolution of electronic excitations in optically active molecular materials. It is commonly associated with a number of fundamental and complex processes such as intraband relaxation, energy transfer, and light harvesting influenced by the spatial evolution of excitations and transformation of photoexcitation energy into electrical energy via charge separation (e.g., charge injection at interfaces). To treat ultrafast excited-state dynamics and exciton/charge transport we have developed a nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics (NA-ESMD) framework incorporating quantum transitions. Our calculations rely on the use of the Collective Electronic Oscillator (CEO) package accounting for many-body effects and actual potential energy surfaces of the excited states combined with Tully's fewest switches algorithm for surface hopping for probing nonadiabatic processes. This method is applied to model the photoinduced dynamics of distyrylbenzene (a small oligomer of polyphenylene vinylene, PPV). Our analysis shows intricate details of photoinduced vibronic relaxation and identifies specific slow and fast nuclear motions that are strongly coupled to the electronic degrees of freedom, namely, torsion and bond length alternation, respectively. Nonadiabatic relaxation of the highly excited mA(g) state is predicted to occur on a femtosecond time scale at room temperature and on a picosecond time scale at low temperature.

  11. Dynamic mechanical analysis and high strain-rate energy absorption characteristics of vertically aligned carbon nanotube reinforced woven fiber-glass composites

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The dynamic mechanical behavior and energy absorption characteristics of nano-enhanced functionally graded composites, consisting of 3 layers of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) forests grown on woven fiber-glass (FG) layer and embedded within 10 layers of woven FG, with polyester (PE) and...

  12. Photo-dynamics of roseoflavin and riboflavin in aqueous and organic solvents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zirak, P.; Penzkofer, A.; Mathes, T.; Hegemann, P.

    2009-03-01

    Roseoflavin (8-dimethylamino-8-demethyl- D-riboflavin) and riboflavin in aqueous and organic solvents are studied by optical absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and fluorescence decay kinetics. Solvent polarity dependent absorption shifts are observed. The fluorescence quantum yields are solvent dependent. For roseoflavin the fluorescence decay shows a bi-exponential dependence (ps to sub-ps time constant, and 100 ps to a few ns time constant). The roseoflavin photo-dynamics is explained in terms of fast intra-molecular charge transfer (diabatic electron transfer) from the dimethylamino electron donor group to the pteridin carbonyl electron acceptor followed by intra-molecular charge recombination. The fast fluorescence component is due to direct locally-excited-state emission, and the slow fluorescence component is due to delayed locally-excited-state emission and charge transfer state emission. The fluorescence decay of riboflavin is mono-exponential. The S 1-state potential energy surface is determined by vibronic relaxation and solvation dynamics due to excited-state dipole moment changes (adiabatic optical electron transfer).

  13. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy of silanized silicon quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kuntermann, Volker; Cimpean, Carla; Brehm, Georg; Sauer, Guido; Kryschi, Carola; Wiggers, Hartmut

    2008-03-01

    Excitonic properties of colloidal silicon quantum dots (Si qdots) with mean sizes of 4nm were examined using stationary and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Chemically stable silicon oxide shells were prepared by controlled surface oxidation and silanization of HF-etched Si qdots. The ultrafast relaxation dynamics of photogenerated excitons in Si qdot colloids were studied on the picosecond time scale from 0.3psto2.3ns using femtosecond-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The time evolution of the transient absorption spectra of the Si qdots excited with a 150fs pump pulse at 390nm was observed to consist of decays of various absorption transitions of photoexcited electrons in the conduction band which overlap with both the photoluminescence and the photobleaching of the valence band population density. Gaussian deconvolution of the spectroscopic data allowed for disentangling various carrier relaxation processes involving electron-phonon and phonon-phonon scatterings or arising from surface-state trapping. The initial energy and momentum relaxation of hot carriers was observed to take place via scattering by optical phonons within 0.6ps . Exciton capturing by surface states forming shallow traps in the amorphous SiOx shell was found to occur with a time constant of 4ps , whereas deeper traps presumably localized in the Si-SiOx interface gave rise to exciton trapping processes with time constants of 110 and 180ps . Electron transfer from initially populated, higher-lying surface states to the conduction band of Si qdots (>2nm) was observed to take place within 400 or 700fs .

  14. A QM/MM study of the absorption spectrum of harmane in water solution and interacting with DNA: the crucial role of dynamic effects.

    PubMed

    Etienne, Thibaud; Very, Thibaut; Perpète, Eric A; Monari, Antonio; Assfeld, Xavier

    2013-05-02

    We present a time-dependent density functional theory computation of the absorption spectra of one β-carboline system: the harmane molecule in its neutral and cationic forms. The spectra are computed in aqueous solution. The interaction of cationic harmane with DNA is also studied. In particular, the use of hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods is discussed, together with its coupling to a molecular dynamics strategy to take into account dynamic effects of the environment and the vibrational degrees of freedom of the chromophore. Different levels of treatment of the environment are addressed starting from purely mechanical embedding to electrostatic and polarizable embedding. We show that a static description of the spectrum based on equilibrium geometry only is unable to give a correct agreement with experimental results, and dynamic effects need to be taken into account. The presence of two stable noncovalent interaction modes between harmane and DNA is also presented, as well as the associated absorption spectrum of harmane cation.

  15. Dynamical states, possibilities and propagation of stress signal

    PubMed Central

    Malik, Md. Zubbair; Ali, Shahnawaz; Singh, Soibam Shyamchand; Ishrat, Romana; Singh, R. K. Brojen

    2017-01-01

    The stress driven dynamics of Notch-Wnt-p53 cross-talk is subjected to a few possible dynamical states governed by simple fractal rules, and allowed to decide its own fate by choosing one of these states which are contributed from long range correlation with varied fluctuations due to active molecular interaction. The topological properties of the networks corresponding to these dynamical states have hierarchical features with assortive structure. The stress signal driven by nutlin and modulated by mediator GSK3 acts as anti-apoptotic signal in this system, whereas, the stress signal driven by Axin and modulated by GSK3 behaves as anti-apoptotic for a certain range of Axin and GSK3 interaction, and beyond which the signal acts as favor-apoptotic signal. However, this stress system prefers to stay in an active dynamical state whose counterpart complex network is closest to hierarchical topology with exhibited roles of few interacting hubs. During the propagation of stress signal, the system allows the propagator pathway to inherit all possible properties of the state to the receiver pathway/pathways with slight modifications, indicating efficient information processing and democratic sharing of responsibilities in the system via cross-talk. The increase in the number of cross-talk pathways in the system favors to establish self-organization. PMID:28106087

  16. Dynamical states, possibilities and propagation of stress signal.

    PubMed

    Malik, Md Zubbair; Ali, Shahnawaz; Singh, Soibam Shyamchand; Ishrat, Romana; Singh, R K Brojen

    2017-01-20

    The stress driven dynamics of Notch-Wnt-p53 cross-talk is subjected to a few possible dynamical states governed by simple fractal rules, and allowed to decide its own fate by choosing one of these states which are contributed from long range correlation with varied fluctuations due to active molecular interaction. The topological properties of the networks corresponding to these dynamical states have hierarchical features with assortive structure. The stress signal driven by nutlin and modulated by mediator GSK3 acts as anti-apoptotic signal in this system, whereas, the stress signal driven by Axin and modulated by GSK3 behaves as anti-apoptotic for a certain range of Axin and GSK3 interaction, and beyond which the signal acts as favor-apoptotic signal. However, this stress system prefers to stay in an active dynamical state whose counterpart complex network is closest to hierarchical topology with exhibited roles of few interacting hubs. During the propagation of stress signal, the system allows the propagator pathway to inherit all possible properties of the state to the receiver pathway/pathways with slight modifications, indicating efficient information processing and democratic sharing of responsibilities in the system via cross-talk. The increase in the number of cross-talk pathways in the system favors to establish self-organization.

  17. China’s Trade with the United States and the World

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-01-04

    Defense, and Trade Division Dick K. Nanto Specialist in Industry and Trade Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Report Documentation Page...U.S. industries and manufacturing employment, Congress has begun to focus on not only access to the Chinese market and intellectual property rights...the United States are taking market share from other Pacific Rim countries, particularly the East Asian newly industrialized countries (NICS), which

  18. Modified Holographic Ricci Dark Energy in Chameleon Brans-Dicke Cosmology and Its Thermodynamic Consequence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jawad, A.; Chattopadhyay, S.; Bhattacharya, S.; Pasqua, A.

    2015-04-01

    The objective of this paper is to discuss the Chameleon Brans-Dicke gravity with non-minimally matter coupling of scalar field. We take modified Holographic Ricci dark energy model in this gravity with its energy density in interaction with energy density of cold dark matter. We assume power-law ansatz for scale factor and scalar field to discuss potential as well as coupling functions in the evolving universe. These reconstructed functions are plotted versus scalar field and time for different values of power component of scale factor n. We observe that potential and coupling functions represent increasing behavior, in particular, consistent results for a specific value of n. Finally, we have examined validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics and we have observed its validity for all values of n. The financial Supported from Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India under Project Grant No. SR/FTP/PS-167/2011 is thankfully acknowledged by SC

  19. Analytical model for atomic resonant attosecond transient absorption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cariker, C.; Kjellson, T.; Lindroth, E.; Argenti, L.

    2017-04-01

    Recent advancements in ultrafast laser technology have made it possible to probe electron dynamics in highly excited atomic states that autoionize on a femtosecond timescale, thus giving insight into the dynamics of Auger decay and its interference with the continuum. These experiments provide a stringent test for time-resolved analytical models of autoionization. Here we present a finite-pulse, multi-photon perturbative model which is used in conjunction with ab-initio structure calculations to predict the attosecond transient absorption spectrum (ATAS) of an atom above the ionization threshold. We apply this model to compute the ATAS of argon in the vicinity of the 3s-1 4 p resonance as a function of the time delay between an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and an infrared (IR) pulse, as well as of the angle between their polarization. We show that by modulating the parameters of the IR pulse it is possible to control the dipolar coupling between neighboring states and hence the lineshape of the 3s-1 4 p resonance. NSF Grant No. 1607588.

  20. Using X-ray absorption to probe sulfur oxidation states in complex molecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vairavamurthy, A.

    1998-10-01

    X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy offers an important non-destructive tool for determining oxidation states and for characterizing chemical speciation. The technique was used to experimentally verify the oxidation states of sulfur in different types of complex molecules because there are irregularities and uncertainties in assigning the values traditionally. The usual practice of determining oxidation states involves using a set of conventional rules. The oxidation state is an important control in the chemical speciation of sulfur, ranging from -2 to +6 in its different compounds. Experimental oxidation-state values for various types of sulfur compounds, using their XANES peak-energy positions, were assigned from a scale in which elemental sulfur and sulfate are designated as 0 and +6, respectively. Because these XANES-based values differed considerably from conventionally determined oxidation states for most sulfur compounds, a new term 'oxidation index' was coined to describe them. The experimental values were closer to those conventional values obtained by assigning shared electrons to the more electronegative atoms than to those based on other customary rules for assigning them. Because the oxidation index is distinct and characteristic for each different type of sulfur functionality, it becomes an important parameter for characterizing sulfur species, and for experimentally verifying uncertain oxidation states.

  1. A multi-state trajectory method for non-adiabatic dynamics simulations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tao, Guohua, E-mail: taogh@pkusz.edu.cn

    2016-03-07

    A multi-state trajectory approach is proposed to describe nuclear-electron coupled dynamics in nonadiabatic simulations. In this approach, each electronic state is associated with an individual trajectory, among which electronic transition occurs. The set of these individual trajectories constitutes a multi-state trajectory, and nuclear dynamics is described by one of these individual trajectories as the system is on the corresponding state. The total nuclear-electron coupled dynamics is obtained from the ensemble average of the multi-state trajectories. A variety of benchmark systems such as the spin-boson system have been tested and the results generated using the quasi-classical version of the method showmore » reasonably good agreement with the exact quantum calculations. Featured in a clear multi-state picture, high efficiency, and excellent numerical stability, the proposed method may have advantages in being implemented to realistic complex molecular systems, and it could be straightforwardly applied to general nonadiabatic dynamics involving multiple states.« less

  2. Three Averaging Techniques for Reduction of Antenna Temperature Variance Measured by a Dicke Mode, C-Band Radiometer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mackenzie, Anne I.; Lawrence, Roland W.

    2000-01-01

    As new radiometer technologies provide the possibility of greatly improved spatial resolution, their performance must also be evaluated in terms of expected sensitivity and absolute accuracy. As aperture size increases, the sensitivity of a Dicke mode radiometer can be maintained or improved by application of any or all of three digital averaging techniques: antenna data averaging with a greater than 50% antenna duty cycle, reference data averaging, and gain averaging. An experimental, noise-injection, benchtop radiometer at C-band showed a 68.5% reduction in Delta-T after all three averaging methods had been applied simultaneously. For any one antenna integration time, the optimum 34.8% reduction in Delta-T was realized by using an 83.3% antenna/reference duty cycle.

  3. Investigation of Rhodopsin Dynamics in its Signaling State by Solid-State Deuterium NMR Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Struts, Andrey V.; Chawla, Udeep; Perera, Suchithranga M.D.C.; Brown, Michael F.

    2017-01-01

    Site-directed deuterium NMR spectroscopy is a valuable tool to study the structural dynamics of biomolecules in cases where solution NMR is inapplicable. Solid-state 2H NMR spectral studies of aligned membrane samples of rhodopsin with selectively labeled retinal provide information on structural changes of the chromophore in different protein states. In addition, solid-state 2H NMR relaxation time measurements allow one to study the dynamics of the ligand during the transition from the inactive to the active state. Here we describe the methodological aspects of solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy for functional studies of rhodopsin, with an emphasis on the dynamics of the retinal cofactor. We provide complete protocols for the preparation of NMR samples of rhodopsin with 11-cis-retinal selectively deuterated at the methyl groups in aligned membranes. In addition, we review optimized conditions for trapping the rhodopsin photointermediates; and lastly we address the challenging problem of trapping the signaling state of rhodopsin in aligned membrane films. PMID:25697522

  4. Principal States of Dynamic Functional Connectivity Reveal the Link Between Resting-State and Task-State Brain: An fMRI Study.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Lin; Zhu, Yang; Sun, Junfeng; Deng, Lifu; He, Naying; Yang, Yang; Ling, Huawei; Ayaz, Hasan; Fu, Yi; Tong, Shanbao

    2018-01-25

    Task-related reorganization of functional connectivity (FC) has been widely investigated. Under classic static FC analysis, brain networks under task and rest have been demonstrated a general similarity. However, brain activity and cognitive process are believed to be dynamic and adaptive. Since static FC inherently ignores the distinct temporal patterns between rest and task, dynamic FC may be more a suitable technique to characterize the brain's dynamic and adaptive activities. In this study, we adopted [Formula: see text]-means clustering to investigate task-related spatiotemporal reorganization of dynamic brain networks and hypothesized that dynamic FC would be able to reveal the link between resting-state and task-state brain organization, including broadly similar spatial patterns but distinct temporal patterns. In order to test this hypothesis, this study examined the dynamic FC in default-mode network (DMN) and motor-related network (MN) using Blood-Oxygenation-Level-Dependent (BOLD)-fMRI data from 26 healthy subjects during rest (REST) and a hand closing-and-opening (HCO) task. Two principal FC states in REST and one principal FC state in HCO were identified. The first principal FC state in REST was found similar to that in HCO, which appeared to represent intrinsic network architecture and validated the broadly similar spatial patterns between REST and HCO. However, the second FC principal state in REST with much shorter "dwell time" implied the transient functional relationship between DMN and MN during REST. In addition, a more frequent shifting between two principal FC states indicated that brain network dynamically maintained a "default mode" in the motor system during REST, whereas the presence of a single principal FC state and reduced FC variability implied a more temporally stable connectivity during HCO, validating the distinct temporal patterns between REST and HCO. Our results further demonstrated that dynamic FC analysis could offer unique

  5. Molecular specificity in photoacoustic microscopy by time-resolved transient absorption.

    PubMed

    Shelton, Ryan L; Mattison, Scott P; Applegate, Brian E

    2014-06-01

    We have recently harnessed transient absorption, a resonant two-photon process, for ultrahigh resolution photoacoustic microscopy, achieving nearly an order of magnitude improvement in axial resolution. The axial resolution is optically constrained due to the two-photon process unlike traditional photoacoustic microscopy where the axial resolution is inversely proportional to the frequency bandwidth of the detector. As a resonant process, the arrival time of the two photons need not be instantaneous. Systematically recording the signal as a function of the delay between two pulses will result in the measurement of an exponential decay whose time constant is related to the molecular dynamics. This time constant, analogous to the fluorescence lifetime, but encompassing nonradiative decay as well, can be used to differentiate between molecular systems with overlapping absorption spectra. This is frequently the situation for closely related yet distinct molecules such as redox pairs. In order to enable the measure of the exponential decay, we have reconfigured our transient absorption ultrasonic microscopy (TAUM) system to incorporate two laser sources with precisely controlled pulse trains. The system was tested by measuring Rhodamine 6G, an efficient laser dye where the molecular dynamics are dominated by the fluorescence pathway. As expected, the measured exponential time constant or ground state recovery time, 3.3±0.7  ns, was similar to the well-known fluorescence lifetime, 4.11±0.05  ns. Oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin are the quintessential pair whose relative concentration is related to the local blood oxygen saturation. We have measured the ground state recovery times of these two species in fully oxygenated and deoxygenated bovine whole blood to be 3.7±0.8  ns and 7.9±1.0  ns, respectively. Hence, even very closely related pairs of molecules may be differentiated with this technique.

  6. Experimental and theoretical study on the excited-state dynamics of ortho-, meta-, and para-methoxy methylcinnamate.

    PubMed

    Miyazaki, Yasunori; Yamamoto, Kanji; Aoki, Jun; Ikeda, Toshiaki; Inokuchi, Yoshiya; Ehara, Masahiro; Ebata, Takayuki

    2014-12-28

    The S1 state dynamics of methoxy methylcinnamate (MMC) has been investigated under supersonic jet-cooled conditions. The vibrationally resolved S1-S0 absorption spectrum was recorded by laser induced fluorescence and mass-resolved resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy and separated into conformers by UV-UV hole-burning (UV-UV HB) spectroscopy. The S1 lifetime measurements revealed different dynamics of para-methoxy methylcinnamate from ortho-methoxy methylcinnamate and meta-methoxy methylcinnamate (hereafter, abbreviated as p-, o-, and m-MMCs, respectively). The lifetimes of o-MMC and m-MMC are on the nanosecond time scale and exhibit little tendency of excess energy dependence. On the other hand, p-MMC decays much faster and its lifetime is conformer and excess energy dependent. In addition, the p-MMC-H2O complex was studied to explore the effect of hydration on the S1 state dynamics of p-MMC, and it was found that the hydration significantly accelerates the nonradiative decay. Quantum chemical calculation was employed to search the major decay route from S1(ππ(∗)) for three MMCs and p-MMC-H2O in terms of (i) trans → cis isomerization and (ii) internal conversion to the (1)nπ(∗) state. In o-MMC and m-MMC, the large energy barrier is created for the nonradiative decay along (i) the double-bond twisting coordinate (∼1000 cm(-1)) in S1 as well as (ii) the linear interpolating internal coordinate (∼1000 cm(-1)) from S1 to (1)nπ(∗) states. The calculation on p-MMC decay dynamics suggests that both (i) and (ii) are available due to small energy barrier, i.e., 160 cm(-1) by the double-bond twisting and 390 cm(-1) by the potential energy crossing. The hydration of p-MMC raises the energy barrier of the IC route to the S1/(1)nπ(∗) conical intersection, convincing that the direct isomerization is more likely to occur.

  7. Mean field dynamics of some open quantum systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Merkli, Marco; Rafiyi, Alireza

    2018-04-01

    We consider a large number N of quantum particles coupled via a mean field interaction to another quantum system (reservoir). Our main result is an expansion for the averages of observables, both of the particles and of the reservoir, in inverse powers of √{N }. The analysis is based directly on the Dyson series expansion of the propagator. We analyse the dynamics, in the limit N →∞ , of observables of a fixed number n of particles, of extensive particle observables and their fluctuations, as well as of reservoir observables. We illustrate our results on the infinite mode Dicke model and on various energy-conserving models.

  8. Mean field dynamics of some open quantum systems.

    PubMed

    Merkli, Marco; Rafiyi, Alireza

    2018-04-01

    We consider a large number N of quantum particles coupled via a mean field interaction to another quantum system (reservoir). Our main result is an expansion for the averages of observables, both of the particles and of the reservoir, in inverse powers of [Formula: see text]. The analysis is based directly on the Dyson series expansion of the propagator. We analyse the dynamics, in the limit [Formula: see text], of observables of a fixed number n of particles, of extensive particle observables and their fluctuations, as well as of reservoir observables. We illustrate our results on the infinite mode Dicke model and on various energy-conserving models.

  9. Controlling the excited-state dynamics of low band gap, near-infrared absorbers via proquinoidal unit electronic structural modulation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bai, Yusong; Rawson, Jeff; Roget, Sean A.

    While the influence of proquinoidal character upon the linear absorption spectrum of low optical bandgap π-conjugated polymers and molecules is well understood, its impact upon excited-state relaxation pathways and dynamics remains obscure. We report the syntheses, electronic structural properties, and excited-state dynamics of a series of model highly conjugated near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing chromophores based on a (porphinato)metal(II)-proquinoidal spacer-(porphinato)metal(II) (PM-Sp-PM) structural motif. A combination of excited-state dynamical studies and time-dependent density functional theory calculations: (i) points to the cardinal role that excited-state configuration interaction (CI) plays in determining the magnitudes of S 1 → S 0 radiative (k r), S 1 → T 1 intersystem crossing (k ISC), and S 1 → S 0 internal conversion (k IC) rate constants in these PM-Sp-PM chromophores, and (ii) suggests that a primary determinant of CI magnitude derives from the energetic alignment of the PM and Sp fragment LUMOs (ΔE L). These insights not only enable steering of excited-state relaxation dynamics of high oscillator strength NIR absorbers to realize either substantial fluorescence or long-lived triplets (τmore » $$_ {T_1}$$ > μs) generated at unit quantum yield (Φ ISC = 100%), but also crafting of those having counter-intuitive properties: for example, while (porphinato)platinum compounds are well known to generate non-emissive triplet states (Φ ISC = 100%) upon optical excitation at ambient temperature, diminishing the extent of excited-state CI in these systems realizes long-wavelength absorbing heavy-metal fluorophores. In conclusion, this work highlights approaches to: (i) modulate low-lying singlet excited-state lifetime over the picosecond-to-nanosecond time domain, (ii) achieve NIR fluorescence with quantum yields up to 25%, (iii) tune the magnitude of S 1–T 1 ISC rate constant from 10 9 to 10 12 s -1 and (iv) realize T 1-state lifetimes that

  10. Controlling the excited-state dynamics of low band gap, near-infrared absorbers via proquinoidal unit electronic structural modulation

    DOE PAGES

    Bai, Yusong; Rawson, Jeff; Roget, Sean A.; ...

    2017-06-07

    While the influence of proquinoidal character upon the linear absorption spectrum of low optical bandgap π-conjugated polymers and molecules is well understood, its impact upon excited-state relaxation pathways and dynamics remains obscure. We report the syntheses, electronic structural properties, and excited-state dynamics of a series of model highly conjugated near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing chromophores based on a (porphinato)metal(II)-proquinoidal spacer-(porphinato)metal(II) (PM-Sp-PM) structural motif. A combination of excited-state dynamical studies and time-dependent density functional theory calculations: (i) points to the cardinal role that excited-state configuration interaction (CI) plays in determining the magnitudes of S 1 → S 0 radiative (k r), S 1 → T 1 intersystem crossing (k ISC), and S 1 → S 0 internal conversion (k IC) rate constants in these PM-Sp-PM chromophores, and (ii) suggests that a primary determinant of CI magnitude derives from the energetic alignment of the PM and Sp fragment LUMOs (ΔE L). These insights not only enable steering of excited-state relaxation dynamics of high oscillator strength NIR absorbers to realize either substantial fluorescence or long-lived triplets (τmore » $$_ {T_1}$$ > μs) generated at unit quantum yield (Φ ISC = 100%), but also crafting of those having counter-intuitive properties: for example, while (porphinato)platinum compounds are well known to generate non-emissive triplet states (Φ ISC = 100%) upon optical excitation at ambient temperature, diminishing the extent of excited-state CI in these systems realizes long-wavelength absorbing heavy-metal fluorophores. In conclusion, this work highlights approaches to: (i) modulate low-lying singlet excited-state lifetime over the picosecond-to-nanosecond time domain, (ii) achieve NIR fluorescence with quantum yields up to 25%, (iii) tune the magnitude of S 1–T 1 ISC rate constant from 10 9 to 10 12 s -1 and (iv) realize T 1-state lifetimes that

  11. Existence of a new emitting singlet state of proflavine: femtosecond dynamics of the excited state processes and quantum chemical studies in different solvents.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Karuppannan Senthil; Selvaraju, Chellappan; Malar, Ezekiel Joy Padma; Natarajan, Paramasivam

    2012-01-12

    Proflavine (3,6-diaminoacridine) shows fluorescence emission with lifetime, 4.6 ± 0.2 ns, in all the solvents irrespective of the solvent polarity. To understand this unusual photophysical property, investigations were carried out using steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in the pico- and femtosecond time domain. Molecular geometries in the ground and low-lying excited states of proflavine were examined by complete structural optimization using ab initio quantum chemical computations at HF/6-311++G** and CIS/6-311++G** levels. Time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations were performed to study the excitation energies in the low-lying excited states. The steady state absorption and emission spectral details of proflavine are found to be influenced by solvents. The femtosecond fluorescence decay of the proflavine in all the solvents follows triexponential function with two ultrafast decay components (τ(1) and τ(2)) in addition to the nanosecond component. The ultrafast decay component, τ(1), is attributed to the solvation dynamics of the particular solvent used. The second ultrafast decay component, τ(2), is found to vary from 50 to 215 ps depending upon the solvent. The amplitudes of the ultrafast decay components vary with the wavelength and show time dependent spectral shift in the emission maximum. The observation is interpreted that the time dependent spectral shift is not only due to solvation dynamics but also due to the existence of more than one emitting state of proflavine in the solvent used. Time resolved area normalized emission spectral (TRANES) analysis shows an isoemissive point, indicating the presence of two emitting states in homogeneous solution. Detailed femtosecond fluorescence decay analysis allows us to isolate the two independent emitting components of the close lying singlet states. The CIS and TDDFT calculations also support the existence of the close lying emitting states. The near constant

  12. Dynamics of one-state downhill protein folding.

    PubMed

    Li, Peng; Oliva, Fabiana Y; Naganathan, Athi N; Muñoz, Victor

    2009-01-06

    The small helical protein BBL has been shown to fold and unfold in the absence of a free energy barrier according to a battery of quantitative criteria in equilibrium experiments, including probe-dependent equilibrium unfolding, complex coupling between denaturing agents, characteristic DSC thermogram, gradual melting of secondary structure, and heterogeneous atom-by-atom unfolding behaviors spanning the entire unfolding process. Here, we present the results of nanosecond T-jump experiments probing backbone structure by IR and end-to-end distance by FRET. The folding dynamics observed with these two probes are both exponential with common relaxation times but have large differences in amplitude following their probe-dependent equilibrium unfolding. The quantitative analysis of amplitude and relaxation time data for both probes shows that BBL folding dynamics are fully consistent with the one-state folding scenario and incompatible with alternative models involving one or several barrier crossing events. At 333 K, the relaxation time for BBL is 1.3 micros, in agreement with previous folding speed limit estimates. However, late folding events at room temperature are an order of magnitude slower (20 micros), indicating a relatively rough underlying energy landscape. Our results in BBL expose the dynamic features of one-state folding and chart the intrinsic time-scales for conformational motions along the folding process. Interestingly, the simple self-averaging folding dynamics of BBL are the exact dynamic properties required in molecular rheostats, thus supporting a biological role for one-state folding.

  13. Dynamic state estimation assisted power system monitoring and protection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cui, Yinan

    The advent of phasor measurement units (PMUs) has unlocked several novel methods to monitor, control, and protect bulk electric power systems. This thesis introduces the concept of "Dynamic State Estimation" (DSE), aided by PMUs, for wide-area monitoring and protection of power systems. Unlike traditional State Estimation where algebraic variables are estimated from system measurements, DSE refers to a process to estimate the dynamic states associated with synchronous generators. This thesis first establishes the viability of using particle filtering as a technique to perform DSE in power systems. The utility of DSE for protection and wide-area monitoring are then shown as potential novel applications. The work is presented as a collection of several journal and conference papers. In the first paper, we present a particle filtering approach to dynamically estimate the states of a synchronous generator in a multi-machine setting considering the excitation and prime mover control systems. The second paper proposes an improved out-of-step detection method for generators by means of angular difference. The generator's rotor angle is estimated with a particle filter-based dynamic state estimator and the angular separation is then calculated by combining the raw local phasor measurements with this estimate. The third paper introduces a particle filter-based dual estimation method for tracking the dynamic states of a synchronous generator. It considers the situation where the field voltage measurements are not readily available. The particle filter is modified to treat the field voltage as an unknown input which is sequentially estimated along with the other dynamic states. The fourth paper proposes a novel framework for event detection based on energy functions. The key idea is that any event in the system will leave a signature in WAMS data-sets. It is shown that signatures for four broad classes of disturbance events are buried in the components that constitute the

  14. Rapid Mapping of Lithiation Dynamics in Transition Metal Oxide Particles with Operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Nowack, Lea; Grolimund, Daniel; Samson, Vallerie; Marone, Federica; Wood, Vanessa

    2016-02-24

    Since the commercialization of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), layered transition metal oxides (LiMO2, where M = Co, Mn, Ni, or mixtures thereof) have been materials of choice for LIB cathodes. During cycling, the transition metals change their oxidation states, an effect that can be tracked by detecting energy shifts in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) can therefore be used to visualize and quantify lithiation kinetics in transition metal oxide cathodes; however, in-situ measurements are often constrained by temporal resolution and X-ray dose, necessitating compromises in the electrochemistry cycling conditions used or the materials examined. We report a combined approach to reduce measurement time and X-ray exposure for operando XAS studies of lithium ion batteries. A highly discretized energy resolution coupled with advanced post-processing enables rapid yet reliable identification of the oxidation state. A full-field microscopy setup provides sub-particle resolution over a large area of battery electrode, enabling the oxidation state within many transition metal oxide particles to be tracked simultaneously. Here, we apply this approach to gain insights into the lithiation kinetics of a commercial, mixed-metal oxide cathode material, nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA), during (dis)charge and its degradation during overcharge.

  15. Rapid Mapping of Lithiation Dynamics in Transition Metal Oxide Particles with Operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Nowack, Lea; Grolimund, Daniel; Samson, Vallerie; Marone, Federica; Wood, Vanessa

    2016-01-01

    Since the commercialization of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), layered transition metal oxides (LiMO2, where M = Co, Mn, Ni, or mixtures thereof) have been materials of choice for LIB cathodes. During cycling, the transition metals change their oxidation states, an effect that can be tracked by detecting energy shifts in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) can therefore be used to visualize and quantify lithiation kinetics in transition metal oxide cathodes; however, in-situ measurements are often constrained by temporal resolution and X-ray dose, necessitating compromises in the electrochemistry cycling conditions used or the materials examined. We report a combined approach to reduce measurement time and X-ray exposure for operando XAS studies of lithium ion batteries. A highly discretized energy resolution coupled with advanced post-processing enables rapid yet reliable identification of the oxidation state. A full-field microscopy setup provides sub-particle resolution over a large area of battery electrode, enabling the oxidation state within many transition metal oxide particles to be tracked simultaneously. Here, we apply this approach to gain insights into the lithiation kinetics of a commercial, mixed-metal oxide cathode material, nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA), during (dis)charge and its degradation during overcharge. PMID:26908198

  16. Rapid Mapping of Lithiation Dynamics in Transition Metal Oxide Particles with Operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nowack, Lea; Grolimund, Daniel; Samson, Vallerie; Marone, Federica; Wood, Vanessa

    2016-02-01

    Since the commercialization of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), layered transition metal oxides (LiMO2, where M = Co, Mn, Ni, or mixtures thereof) have been materials of choice for LIB cathodes. During cycling, the transition metals change their oxidation states, an effect that can be tracked by detecting energy shifts in the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) can therefore be used to visualize and quantify lithiation kinetics in transition metal oxide cathodes; however, in-situ measurements are often constrained by temporal resolution and X-ray dose, necessitating compromises in the electrochemistry cycling conditions used or the materials examined. We report a combined approach to reduce measurement time and X-ray exposure for operando XAS studies of lithium ion batteries. A highly discretized energy resolution coupled with advanced post-processing enables rapid yet reliable identification of the oxidation state. A full-field microscopy setup provides sub-particle resolution over a large area of battery electrode, enabling the oxidation state within many transition metal oxide particles to be tracked simultaneously. Here, we apply this approach to gain insights into the lithiation kinetics of a commercial, mixed-metal oxide cathode material, nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA), during (dis)charge and its degradation during overcharge.

  17. A simulation study on the abatement of CO2 emissions by de-absorption with monoethanolamine.

    PubMed

    Greer, T; Bedelbayev, A; Igreja, J M; Gomes, J F; Lie, B

    2010-01-01

    Because of the adverse effect of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion on the earth's ecosystems, the most cost-effective method for CO2 capture is an important area of research. The predominant process for CO2 capture currently employed by industry is chemical absorption in amine solutions. A dynamic model for the de-absorption process was developed with monoethanolamine (MEA) solution. Henry's law was used for modelling the vapour phase equilibrium of the CO2, and fugacity ratios calculated by the Peng-Robinson equation of state (EOS) were used for H2O, MEA, N2 and O2. Chemical reactions between CO2 and MEA were included in the model along with the enhancement factor for chemical absorption. Liquid and vapour energy balances were developed to calculate the liquid and vapour temperature, respectively.

  18. In Situ Solid-State Reactions Monitored by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy: Temperature-Induced Proton Transfer Leads to Chemical Shifts.

    PubMed

    Stevens, Joanna S; Walczak, Monika; Jaye, Cherno; Fischer, Daniel A

    2016-10-24

    The dramatic colour and phase alteration with the solid-state, temperature-dependent reaction between squaric acid and 4,4'-bipyridine has been probed in situ with X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The electronic and chemical sensitivity to the local atomic environment through chemical shifts in the near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) revealed proton transfer from the acid to the bipyridine base through the change in nitrogen protonation state in the high-temperature form. Direct detection of proton transfer coupled with structural analysis elucidates the nature of the solid-state process, with intermolecular proton transfer occurring along an acid-base chain followed by a domino effect to the subsequent acid-base chains, leading to the rapid migration along the length of the crystal. NEXAFS thereby conveys the ability to monitor the nature of solid-state chemical reactions in situ, without the need for a priori information or long-range order. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. Identifying and correcting non-Markov states in peptide conformational dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nerukh, Dmitry; Jensen, Christian H.; Glen, Robert C.

    2010-02-01

    Conformational transitions in proteins define their biological activity and can be investigated in detail using the Markov state model. The fundamental assumption on the transitions between the states, their Markov property, is critical in this framework. We test this assumption by analyzing the transitions obtained directly from the dynamics of a molecular dynamics simulated peptide valine-proline-alanine-leucine and states defined phenomenologically using clustering in dihedral space. We find that the transitions are Markovian at the time scale of ≈50 ps and longer. However, at the time scale of 30-40 ps the dynamics loses its Markov property. Our methodology reveals the mechanism that leads to non-Markov behavior. It also provides a way of regrouping the conformations into new states that now possess the required Markov property of their dynamics.

  20. Two-photon interband absorption coefficients in tungstate and molybdate crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lukanin, V. I.; Karasik, A. Ya.

    2015-02-01

    Two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficients were measured in tungstate and molybdate crystals - BaWO4, KGW, CaMoO4, BaMoO4, CaWO4, PbWO4 and ZnWO4 upon different orientations of excitation polarization with respect to the crystallographic axes. Trains of 25 ps pulses with variable radiation intensities of third (349 nm) harmonics of passively mode-locked 1047 nm Nd:YLF laser were used for interband two-photon excitation of the crystals. It was suggested that in the case, when 349 nm radiation pumping energy exceeds the bandgap width (hν>Eg), the nonlinear excitation process can be considered as two-step absorption. The interband two-photon absorption in all the studied crystals induces the following one-photon absorption from the exited states, which affects the nonlinear process dynamics and leads to a hysteresis in the dependence of the transmission on the excitation intensity. This fact was taken into account under analysis of the experimental dependences of the reciprocal transmission on the excitation intensity. Laser excitation in the transparency region of the crystals caused stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) not for all the crystals studied. The measured nonlinear coefficients allowed us to explain the suppression of SRS in crystals as a result of competition between the SRS and TPA.

  1. Understanding the Current Dynamical States of Globular Clusters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pooley, David

    2008-09-01

    We appear to be on the verge of a major paradigm shift in our understanding of the current dynamical states of Galactic globular clusters. Fregeau (2008) brought together two recent theoretical breakthroughs as well as an observational breakthrough made possible by Chandra -- that a globular cluster's X-ray source population scales with its dynamical encounter frequency -- to persuasively argue that we have misunderstood the dynamical states of Galactic globular clusters. The observational evidence hinges on Chandra results from clusters which are classified as "core collapsed," of which there are only a handful of observations. I propose a nearly complete census with Chandra of the rest of the "core collapsed" globular clusters.

  2. Temperature dependence of the Urbach optical absorption edge: A theory of multiple phonon absorption and emission sidebands

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grein, C. H.; John, Sajeev

    1989-01-01

    The optical absorption coefficient for subgap electronic transitions in crystalline and disordered semiconductors is calculated by first-principles means with use of a variational principle based on the Feynman path-integral representation of the transition amplitude. This incorporates the synergetic interplay of static disorder and the nonadiabatic quantum dynamics of the coupled electron-phonon system. Over photon-energy ranges of experimental interest, this method predicts accurate linear exponential Urbach behavior of the absorption coefficient. At finite temperatures the nonlinear electron-phonon interaction gives rise to multiple phonon emission and absorption sidebands which accompany the optically induced electronic transition. These sidebands dominate the absorption in the Urbach regime and account for the temperature dependence of the Urbach slope and energy gap. The physical picture which emerges is that the phonons absorbed from the heat bath are then reemitted into a dynamical polaronlike potential well which localizes the electron. At zero temperature we recover the usual polaron theory. At high temperatures the calculated tail is qualitatively similar to that of a static Gaussian random potential. This leads to a linear relationship between the Urbach slope and the downshift of the extrapolated continuum band edge as well as a temperature-independent Urbach focus. At very low temperatures, deviations from these rules are predicted arising from the true quantum dynamics of the lattice. Excellent agreement is found with experimental data on c-Si, a-Si:H, a-As2Se3, and a-As2S3. Results are compared with a simple physical argument based on the most-probable-potential-well method.

  3. Generation of high-fidelity four-photon cluster state and quantum-domain demonstration of one-way quantum computing.

    PubMed

    Tokunaga, Yuuki; Kuwashiro, Shin; Yamamoto, Takashi; Koashi, Masato; Imoto, Nobuyuki

    2008-05-30

    We experimentally demonstrate a simple scheme for generating a four-photon entangled cluster state with fidelity over 0.860+/-0.015. We show that the fidelity is high enough to guarantee that the produced state is distinguished from Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger, W, and Dicke types of genuine four-qubit entanglement. We also demonstrate basic operations of one-way quantum computing using the produced state and show that the output state fidelities surpass classical bounds, which indicates that the entanglement in the produced state essentially contributes to the quantum operation.

  4. Weakly dynamic dark energy via metric-scalar couplings with torsion

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sur, Sourav; Bhatia, Arshdeep Singh, E-mail: sourav.sur@gmail.com, E-mail: arshdeepsb@gmail.com

    We study the dynamical aspects of dark energy in the context of a non-minimally coupled scalar field with curvature and torsion. Whereas the scalar field acts as the source of the trace mode of torsion, a suitable constraint on the torsion pseudo-trace provides a mass term for the scalar field in the effective action. In the equivalent scalar-tensor framework, we find explicit cosmological solutions representing dark energy in both Einstein and Jordan frames. We demand the dynamical evolution of the dark energy to be weak enough, so that the present-day values of the cosmological parameters could be estimated keeping themmore » within the confidence limits set for the standard LCDM model from recent observations. For such estimates, we examine the variations of the effective matter density and the dark energy equation of state parameters over different redshift ranges. In spite of being weakly dynamic, the dark energy component differs significantly from the cosmological constant, both in characteristics and features, for e.g. it interacts with the cosmological (dust) fluid in the Einstein frame, and crosses the phantom barrier in the Jordan frame. We also obtain the upper bounds on the torsion mode parameters and the lower bound on the effective Brans-Dicke parameter. The latter turns out to be fairly large, and in agreement with the local gravity constraints, which therefore come in support of our analysis.« less

  5. Heinrich Dieter Holland (1927-2012)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Turekian, Karl K.

    2012-08-01

    Heinrich Dieter "Dick" Holland, who died on 21 May 2012, was responsible for major advances across several fields of geochemistry. He was born on 27 May 1927 and died just short of his 85th birthday. How Dick became a geochemist is an interesting story in itself. I first met Dick when we shared an office as graduate students at Columbia University in New York. He had attended Princeton University in New Jersey and graduated in 1946 with a chemistry major. He had arrived in the United States with his family from Germany in 1940. The family was of Jewish origin, and although Dick and his relatives were not strict practitioners, their fate in Hitler's Germany, dictated by the family's ancestry, would have been undesirable. Dick and his brother first went to England in 1939 to escape the future horrors that were sure to await them if they had remained in Germany. After their parents escaped to the Dominican Republic, Dick and his brother joined them there. With the help of friends, the family came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 1940 (it was not unusual for immigrants to first come to a landing spot in the western hemisphere prior to admission to the United States).

  6. Radiationless Transitions and Excited-State Absorption of Low-Field Chromium Complexes in Solids

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-07-20

    host-lattice modes and, in the case of the scandium compound with 5 % chromium concentration, of the a and tIg 2g localized modes. The local-mode...Radiationless transitions and excited-state Final report I/I/86-5/31/89 absorption of low-field chromium complexes 6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER ( 1 in...complexes, chromium ; tunable lasers, high pressure,-photoluminescence 4. 26, AMTVrAC? (Cbm e @CAP N Igemem’ a IdoMit’ by block nambew) The continuation of a

  7. Ultrafast laser control of autoionizing resonances observed in attosecond transient absorption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liao, Chen-Ting; Harkema, Nathan; Sandhu, Arvinder

    2017-04-01

    Attosecond and femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses can be used to probe electron dynamics in high-lying excited states that autoionize on a femtosecond timescale, thus providing information on the process of Auger decay and its interference with the continua. Here we utilize XUV pulses in connection with infrared (IR) pulses to perform attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy of the impulsive response of argon autoionizing Rydberg states in the vicinity of the 3s-1 4 p resonance. We show that by tuning the time delay and field polarization of IR pulse, it is possible to control the dipolar coupling between neighboring states and hence the spectral line shape of the resonance, such as the transition between Breit-Wigner to Beutler-Fano profiles. NSF Grant No. PHY-1505556.

  8. Molecular dynamics and a spectroscopic study of sulfur dioxide absorption by an ionic liquid and its mixtures with PEO.

    PubMed

    Hoher, Karina; Cardoso, Piercarlo F; Lepre, Luiz F; Ando, Rômulo A; Siqueira, Leonardo J A

    2016-10-19

    An investigation comprising experimental techniques (absorption capacity of SO 2 and vibrational spectroscopy) and molecular simulations (thermodynamics, structure, and dynamics) has been performed for the polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), the ionic liquid butyltrimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([N 4111 ][Tf 2 N]) and their mixtures as sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) absorbing materials. The polymer PEO has higher capacity to absorb SO 2 than the neat ionic liquid, whereas the mixtures presented intermediary absorption capacities. The band assigned to the symmetric stretching band of SO 2 at ca. 1140 cm -1 , which is considered a spectroscopic probe for the strength of SO 2 interactions with its neighborhood, shifts to lower wavenumbers as more negative total interaction energy values of SO 2 were evaluated from the simulations. The solvation free energy of SO 2 , ΔG sol , correlates linearly with the absorption capacity of SO 2 . The negative values of ΔG sol are due to negative and positive values of enthalpy and entropy, respectively. In the ionic liquid, SO 2 weakens the cation-anion interactions, whereas in the mixture with a high content of PEO these interactions are slightly increased. Such effects were correlated with the relative population of cisoid and transoid conformers of Tf 2 N anions as revealed by Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the presence of SO 2 in the systems provokes the increase of diffusion coefficients of the absorbing species in comparison with the systems without the gas. Proper to the slow dynamics of the polymer, the diffusion coefficient of ions and SO 2 diminishes with the increase of the PEO content.

  9. Accurate predictions of iron redox state in silicate glasses: A multivariate approach using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dyar, M. Darby; McCanta, Molly; Breves, Elly

    2016-03-01

    Pre-edge features in the K absorption edge of X-ray absorption spectra are commonly used to predict Fe3+ valence state in silicate glasses. However, this study shows that using the entire spectral region from the pre-edge into the extended X-ray absorption fine-structure region provides more accurate results when combined with multivariate analysis techniques. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression technique yields %Fe3+ values that are accurate to ±3.6% absolute when the full spectral region is employed. This method can be used across a broad range of glass compositions, is easily automated, and is demonstrated to yield accurate resultsmore » from different synchrotrons. It will enable future studies involving X-ray mapping of redox gradients on standard thin sections at 1 × 1 μm pixel sizes.« less

  10. Accurate predictions of iron redox state in silicate glasses: A multivariate approach using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dyar, M. Darby; McCanta, Molly; Breves, Elly

    2016-03-01

    Pre-edge features in the K absorption edge of X-ray absorption spectra are commonly used to predict Fe 3+ valence state in silicate glasses. However, this study shows that using the entire spectral region from the pre-edge into the extended X-ray absorption fine-structure region provides more accurate results when combined with multivariate analysis techniques. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression technique yields %Fe 3+ values that are accurate to ±3.6% absolute when the full spectral region is employed. This method can be used across a broad range of glass compositions, is easily automated, and is demonstrated to yieldmore » accurate results from different synchrotrons. It will enable future studies involving X-ray mapping of redox gradients on standard thin sections at 1 × 1 μm pixel sizes.« less

  11. A SEARCH FOR Hα ABSORPTION AROUND KELT-3 b AND GJ 436 b

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cauley, P. Wilson; Redfield, Seth; Jensen, Adam G., E-mail: pcauley@wesleyan.edu

    2017-02-01

    Observations of extended atmospheres around hot planets have generated exciting results concerning the dynamics of escaping planetary material. The configuration of the escaping planetary gas can result in asymmetric transit features, producing both pre- and post-transit absorption in specific atomic transitions. Measuring the velocity and strength of the absorption can provide constraints on the mass loss mechanism, and potentially clues to the interactions between the planet and the host star. Here we present a search for H α absorption in the circumplanetary environments of the hot planets KELT-3 b and GJ 436 b. We find no evidence for absorption aroundmore » either planet at any point during the two separate transit epochs for which each system was observed. We provide upper limits on the radial extent and density of the excited hydrogen atmospheres around both planets. The null detection for GJ 436 b contrasts with the strong Ly α absorption measured for the same system, suggesting that the large cloud of neutral hydrogen is almost entirely in the ground state. The only confirmed exoplanetary H α absorption to date has been made around the active star HD 189733 b. KELT-3 and GJ 436 are less active than HD 189733, hinting that exoplanet atmospheres exposed to EUV photons from active stars are better suited for detection of H α absorption.« less

  12. Nonequilibrium optical control of dynamical states in superconducting nanowire circuits.

    PubMed

    Madan, Ivan; Buh, Jože; Baranov, Vladimir V; Kabanov, Viktor V; Mrzel, Aleš; Mihailovic, Dragan

    2018-03-01

    Optical control of states exhibiting macroscopic phase coherence in condensed matter systems opens intriguing possibilities for materials and device engineering, including optically controlled qubits and photoinduced superconductivity. Metastable states, which in bulk materials are often associated with the formation of topological defects, are of more practical interest. Scaling to nanosize leads to reduced dimensionality, fundamentally changing the system's properties. In one-dimensional superconducting nanowires, vortices that are present in three-dimensional systems are replaced by fluctuating topological defects of the phase. These drastically change the dynamical behavior of the superconductor and introduce dynamical periodic long-range ordered states when the current is driven through the wire. We report the control and manipulation of transitions between different dynamically stable states in superconducting δ 3 -MoN nanowire circuits by ultrashort laser pulses. Not only can the transitions between different dynamically stable states be precisely controlled by light, but we also discovered new photoinduced hidden states that cannot be reached under near-equilibrium conditions, created while laser photoexcited quasi-particles are outside the equilibrium condition. The observed switching behavior can be understood in terms of dynamical stabilization of various spatiotemporal periodic trajectories of the order parameter in the superconductor nanowire, providing means for the optical control of the superconducting phase with subpicosecond control of timing.

  13. Photoinduced electron-transfer in perylenediimide triphenylamine-based dendrimers: single photon timing and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Fron, Eduard; Pilot, Roberto; Schweitzer, Gerd; Qu, Jianqiang; Herrmann, Andreas; Müllen, Klaus; Hofkens, Johan; Van der Auweraer, Mark; De Schryver, Frans C

    2008-05-01

    The excited state dynamics of two generations perylenediimide chromophores substituted in the bay area with dendritic branches bearing triphenylamine units as well as those of the respective reference compounds are investigated. Using single photon timing and multi-pulse femtosecond transient absorption experiments a direct proof of a reversible charge transfer occurring from the peripheral triphenylamine to the electron acceptor perylenediimide core is revealed. Femtosecond pump-dump-probe experiments provide evidence for the ground state dynamics by populating excited vibronic levels. It is found by the means of both techniques that the rotational isomerization of the dendritic branches occurs on a time scale that ranges up to 1 ns. This time scale of the isomerization depends on the size of the dendritic arms and is similar both in the ground and excited state.

  14. Exciton exciton annihilation dynamics in chromophore complexes. II. Intensity dependent transient absorption of the LH2 antenna system.

    PubMed

    Bruggemann, B; May, V

    2004-02-01

    Using the multiexciton density matrix theory of excitation energy transfer in chromophore complexes developed in a foregoing paper [J. Chem. Phys. 118, 746 (2003)], the computation of ultrafast transient absorption spectra is presented. Beside static disorder and standard mechanisms of excitation energy dissipation the theory incorporates exciton exciton annihilation (EEA) processes. To elucidate signatures of EEA in intensity dependent transient absorption data the approach is applied to the B850 ring of the LH2 found in rhodobacter sphaeroides. As main indications for two-exciton population and resulting EEA we found (i) a weakening of the dominant single-exciton bleaching structure in the transient absorption, and (ii) an intermediate suppression of long-wavelength and short-wavelength shoulders around the bleaching structure. The suppression is caused by stimulated emission from the two-exciton to the one-exciton state and the return of the shoulders follows from a depletion of two-exciton population according to EEA. The EEA-signature survives as a short-wavelength shoulder in the transient absorption if orientational and energetic disorder are taken into account. Therefore, the observation of the EEA-signatures should be possible when doing frequency resolved transient absorption experiments with a sufficiently strongly varying pump-pulse intensity. Copyright 2004 American Institute of Physics

  15. Multi-state trajectory approach to non-adiabatic dynamics: General formalism and the active state trajectory approximation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tao, Guohua

    2017-07-01

    A general theoretical framework is derived for the recently developed multi-state trajectory (MST) approach from the time dependent Schrödinger equation, resulting in equations of motion for coupled nuclear-electronic dynamics equivalent to Hamilton dynamics or Heisenberg equation based on a new multistate Meyer-Miller (MM) model. The derived MST formalism incorporates both diabatic and adiabatic representations as limiting cases and reduces to Ehrenfest or Born-Oppenheimer dynamics in the mean-field or the single-state limits, respectively. In the general multistate formalism, nuclear dynamics is represented in terms of a set of individual state-specific trajectories, while in the active state trajectory (AST) approximation, only one single nuclear trajectory on the active state is propagated with its augmented images running on all other states. The AST approximation combines the advantages of consistent nuclear-coupled electronic dynamics in the MM model and the single nuclear trajectory in the trajectory surface hopping (TSH) treatment and therefore may provide a potential alternative to both Ehrenfest and TSH methods. The resulting algorithm features in a consistent description of coupled electronic-nuclear dynamics and excellent numerical stability. The implementation of the MST approach to several benchmark systems involving multiple nonadiabatic transitions and conical intersection shows reasonably good agreement with exact quantum calculations, and the results in both representations are similar in accuracy. The AST treatment also reproduces the exact results reasonably, sometimes even quantitatively well, with a better performance in the adiabatic representation.

  16. Communication: Smoothing out excited-state dynamics: Analytical gradients for dynamically weighted complete active space self-consistent field

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Glover, W. J., E-mail: williamjglover@gmail.com

    2014-11-07

    State averaged complete active space self-consistent field (SA-CASSCF) is a workhorse for determining the excited-state electronic structure of molecules, particularly for states with multireference character; however, the method suffers from known issues that have prevented its wider adoption. One issue is the presence of discontinuities in potential energy surfaces when a state that is not included in the state averaging crosses with one that is. In this communication I introduce a new dynamical weight with spline (DWS) scheme that mimics SA-CASSCF while removing energy discontinuities due to unweighted state crossings. In addition, analytical gradients for DWS-CASSCF (and other dynamically weightedmore » schemes) are derived for the first time, enabling energy-conserving excited-state ab initio molecular dynamics in instances where SA-CASSCF fails.« less

  17. Entanglement measures for intermediate separability of quantum states

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ichikawa, Tsubasa; Sasaki, Toshihiko; Tsutsui, Izumi

    We present a family of entanglement measures R{sub m} which act as indicators of separability of n-qubit quantum states into m subsystems for arbitrary 2{<=}m{<=}n. The measure R{sub m} vanishes if the state is separable into m subsystems, and for m=n it gives the Meyer-Wallach measure, while for m=2 it reduces, in effect, to the one introduced recently by Love et al. [Quantum Inf. Process. 6, 187 (2007)]. The measures R{sub m} are evaluated explicitly for the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state and the W state (and its modifications, the W{sub k} or Dicke states) to show that these globally entangled states exhibitmore » rather distinct behaviors under the measures, indicating the utility of the measures R{sub m} for characterizing globally entangled states as well.« less

  18. Bromine substitution improves excited-state dynamics in mesoporous mixed halide perovskite films.

    PubMed

    Talbert, Eric M; Zarick, Holly F; Boulesbaa, Abdelaziz; Soetan, Naiya; Puretzky, Alexander A; Geohegan, David B; Bardhan, Rizia

    2017-08-24

    In this study, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) is utilized to examine the excited-state dynamics in methylammonium lead iodide/bromide (MAPb(I 1-x Br x ) 3 ) perovskites as a function of bromide content. TAS spectral behavior reveals characteristic lifetimes for thermalization, recombination, and charge carrier injection of MAPb(I 1-x Br x ) 3 from x = 0 to 0.3 infiltrated in mesoporous titania films. Carrier recombination and charge injection lifetimes demonstrated a discernable increase with Br content likely because high carrier populations are supported by the higher density of vacant electronic states in mixed-halide perovskites due to the increased capacity of the conduction band. However, we observe for the first time that carrier thermalization lifetimes significantly decrease with increasing Br. This suggests that the shift in crystal structure from tetragonal towards pseudocubic accelerates carrier cooling, resulting in the relief of the hot phonon bottleneck. Furthermore, the stabilized MAPb(I 1-x Br x ) 3 samples exhibit a lower Burstein-Moss shift of 0.07-0.08 eV compared to pure MAPbI 3 (0.12 eV). Our results provide evidence that Br inclusion contributes to a broadening of the parabolic conduction band and to improvement in electron-phonon coupling and phonon propagation in the lattice.

  19. Dynamic elementary mode modelling of non-steady state flux data.

    PubMed

    Folch-Fortuny, Abel; Teusink, Bas; Hoefsloot, Huub C J; Smilde, Age K; Ferrer, Alberto

    2018-06-18

    A novel framework is proposed to analyse metabolic fluxes in non-steady state conditions, based on the new concept of dynamic elementary mode (dynEM): an elementary mode activated partially depending on the time point of the experiment. Two methods are introduced here: dynamic elementary mode analysis (dynEMA) and dynamic elementary mode regression discriminant analysis (dynEMR-DA). The former is an extension of the recently proposed principal elementary mode analysis (PEMA) method from steady state to non-steady state scenarios. The latter is a discriminant model that permits to identify which dynEMs behave strongly different depending on the experimental conditions. Two case studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with fluxes derived from simulated and real concentration data sets, are presented to highlight the benefits of this dynamic modelling. This methodology permits to analyse metabolic fluxes at early stages with the aim of i) creating reduced dynamic models of flux data, ii) combining many experiments in a single biologically meaningful model, and iii) identifying the metabolic pathways that drive the organism from one state to another when changing the environmental conditions.

  20. Absorption characteristics of forest fire particulate matter

    Treesearch

    E.M. Patterson; Charles K. McMahon

    1984-01-01

    Abstract. Absorption properties of smokes from laboratory fires that represent prescription hums in the Southern states have been quantified to relate variations in measured absorption parameters to variation in fire conditions and to estimate emission factors for elemental carbon. Results showed significant differences in absorption of the smoke...

  1. Measurement of the dipole moments of excited states and photochemical transients by microwave dielectric absorption

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fessenden, R.W.; Carton, P.M.; Shimamori, H.

    1982-09-16

    Time-resolved changes in microwave dielectric absorption have been used to study transients formed by laser flash photolysis. Details of the method and apparatus are given. Applications both to the measurements of the dipole moments of transients and to decay kinetics are given. The dipole moments of the lowest triplet states of a number of aromatic compounds (mostly ketones) have been measured in benzene solution at room temperature. States of n..pi..* character generally possess smaller dipole moments than the corresponding ground states while states of ..pi pi..* character (for example, fluorenone) have larger values than the ground state. The triplets ofmore » 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde and 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone have rather high values of dipole moment (10.5 and 8.4 D, respectively) showing their charge-transfer character. The triplet state of benzil was found to have zero or near-zero dipole moment, thus confirming that the triplet state is of a transstructure. 7 figures, 1 table.« less

  2. Nonequilibrium optical control of dynamical states in superconducting nanowire circuits

    PubMed Central

    Madan, Ivan; Baranov, Vladimir V.

    2018-01-01

    Optical control of states exhibiting macroscopic phase coherence in condensed matter systems opens intriguing possibilities for materials and device engineering, including optically controlled qubits and photoinduced superconductivity. Metastable states, which in bulk materials are often associated with the formation of topological defects, are of more practical interest. Scaling to nanosize leads to reduced dimensionality, fundamentally changing the system’s properties. In one-dimensional superconducting nanowires, vortices that are present in three-dimensional systems are replaced by fluctuating topological defects of the phase. These drastically change the dynamical behavior of the superconductor and introduce dynamical periodic long-range ordered states when the current is driven through the wire. We report the control and manipulation of transitions between different dynamically stable states in superconducting δ3-MoN nanowire circuits by ultrashort laser pulses. Not only can the transitions between different dynamically stable states be precisely controlled by light, but we also discovered new photoinduced hidden states that cannot be reached under near-equilibrium conditions, created while laser photoexcited quasi-particles are outside the equilibrium condition. The observed switching behavior can be understood in terms of dynamical stabilization of various spatiotemporal periodic trajectories of the order parameter in the superconductor nanowire, providing means for the optical control of the superconducting phase with subpicosecond control of timing. PMID:29670935

  3. Transient absorption microscopy studies of energy relaxation in graphene oxide thin film.

    PubMed

    Murphy, Sean; Huang, Libai

    2013-04-10

    Spatial mapping of energy relaxation in graphene oxide (GO) thin films has been imaged using transient absorption microscopy (TAM). Correlated AFM images allow us to accurately determine the thickness of the GO films. In contrast to previous studies, correlated TAM-AFM allows determination of the effect of interactions of GO with the substrate and between stacked GO layers on the relaxation dynamics. Our results show that energy relaxation in GO flakes has little dependence on the substrate, number of stacked layers, and excitation intensity. This is in direct contrast to pristine graphene, where these factors have great consequences in energy relaxation. This suggests intrinsic factors rather than extrinsic ones dominate the excited state dynamics of GO films.

  4. Observation and quantification of the quantum dynamics of a strong-field excited multi-level system.

    PubMed

    Liu, Zuoye; Wang, Quanjun; Ding, Jingjie; Cavaletto, Stefano M; Pfeifer, Thomas; Hu, Bitao

    2017-01-04

    The quantum dynamics of a V-type three-level system, whose two resonances are first excited by a weak probe pulse and subsequently modified by another strong one, is studied. The quantum dynamics of the multi-level system is closely related to the absorption spectrum of the transmitted probe pulse and its modification manifests itself as a modulation of the absorption line shape. Applying the dipole-control model, the modulation induced by the second strong pulse to the system's dynamics is quantified by eight intensity-dependent parameters, describing the self and inter-state contributions. The present study opens the route to control the quantum dynamics of multi-level systems and to quantify the quantum-control process.

  5. Solute-Solvent Charge-Transfer Excitations and Optical Absorption of Hydrated Hydroxide from Time-Dependent Density-Functional Theory.

    PubMed

    Opalka, Daniel; Sprik, Michiel

    2014-06-10

    The electronic structure of simple hydrated ions represents one of the most challenging problems in electronic-structure theory. Spectroscopic experiments identified the lowest excited state of the solvated hydroxide as a charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) state. In the present work we report computations of the absorption spectrum of the solvated hydroxide ion, treating both solvent and solute strictly at the same level of theory. The average absorption spectrum up to 25 eV has been computed for samples taken from periodic ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The experimentally observed CTTS state near the onset of the absorption threshold has been analyzed at the generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) and with a hybrid density-functional. Based on results for the lowest excitation energies computed with the HSE hybrid functional and a Davidson diagonalization scheme, the CTTS transition has been found 0.6 eV below the first absorption band of liquid water. The transfer of an electron to the solvent can be assigned to an excitation from the solute 2pπ orbitals, which are subject to a small energetic splitting due to the asymmetric solvent environment, to the significantly delocalized lowest unoccupied orbital of the solvent. The distribution of the centers of the excited state shows that CTTS along the OH(-) axis of the hydroxide ion is avoided. Furthermore, our simulations indicate that the systematic error arising in the calculated spectrum at the GGA originates from a poor description of the valence band energies in the solution.

  6. Dynamics of Affective States during Complex Learning

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    D'Mello, Sidney; Graesser, Art

    2012-01-01

    We propose a model to explain the dynamics of affective states that emerge during deep learning activities. The model predicts that learners in a state of engagement/flow will experience cognitive disequilibrium and confusion when they face contradictions, incongruities, anomalies, obstacles to goals, and other impasses. Learners revert into the…

  7. The role of tachysterol in vitamin D photosynthesis - a non-adiabatic molecular dynamics study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cisneros, Cecilia; Thompson, Travis; Baluyot, Noel; Smith, Adam C.; Tapavicza, Enrico

    To investigate the role of tachysterol in the photophysical/chemical regulation of vitamin D photosynthesis, we studied its electronic absorption properties and excited state dynamics using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), coupled cluster theory (CC2), and non-adiabatic molecular dynamics. In excellent agreement with experiments, the simulated electronic spectrum shows a broad absorption band covering the spectra of the other vitamin D photoisomers. The broad band stems from the spectral overlap of four different ground state rotamers. After photoexcitation, the first excited singlet state (S1) decays within 882 fs. The S1 dynamics is characterized by a strong twisting of the central double bond. 96% of all trajectories relax without chemical transformation to the ground state. In 2.3 % of the trajectories we observed [1,5]-sigmatropic hydrogen shift forming the partly deconjugated toxisterol D1. 1.4 % previtamin D formation is observed via hula-twist double bond isomerization. We find a strong dependence between photoreactivity and dihedral angle conformation: hydrogen shift only occurs in cEc and cEt rotamers and double bond isomerization occurs mainly in cEc rotamers. Our study confirms the hypothesis that cEc rotamers are more prone to previtamin D formation than other isomers. We also observe the formation of a cyclobutene-toxisterol in the hot ground state (0.7 %). Due to its strong absorption and unreactive behavior, tachysterol acts mainly as a sun shield suppressing previtamin D formation. Tachysterol shows stronger toxisterol formation than previtamin D. Absorption of low energy UV light by the cEc rotamer can lead to previtamin D formation. Our study reinforces a recent hypothesis that tachysterol can act as a previtamin D source when only low energy ultraviolet light is available, as it is the case in winter or in the morning and evening hours of the day.

  8. Optimal design of porous structures for the fastest liquid absorption.

    PubMed

    Shou, Dahua; Ye, Lin; Fan, Jintu; Fu, Kunkun

    2014-01-14

    Porous materials engineered for rapid liquid absorption are useful in many applications, including oil recovery, spacecraft life-support systems, moisture management fabrics, medical wound dressings, and microfluidic devices. Dynamic absorption in capillary tubes and porous media is driven by the capillary pressure, which is inversely proportional to the pore size. On the other hand, the permeability of porous materials scales with the square of the pore size. The dynamic competition between these two superimposed mechanisms for liquid absorption through a heterogeneous porous structure may lead to an overall minimum absorption time. In this work, we explore liquid absorption in two different heterogeneous porous structures [three-dimensional (3D) circular tubes and porous layers], which are composed of two sections with variations in radius/porosity and height. The absorption time to fill the voids of porous constructs is expressed as a function of radius/porosity and height of local sections, and the absorption process does not follow the classic Washburn's law. Under given height and void volume, these two-section structures with a negative gradient of radius/porosity against the absorption direction are shown to have faster absorption rates than control samples with uniform radius/porosity. In particular, optimal structural parameters, including radius/porosity and height, are found that account for the minimum absorption time. The liquid absorption in the optimized porous structure is up to 38% faster than in a control sample. The results obtained can be used a priori for the design of porous structures with excellent liquid management property in various fields.

  9. Hot Carrier Dynamics in the X Valley in Si and Ge Measured by Pump-IR-Probe Absorption Spectroscopy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wang, W. B.; Cavicchia, M. A.; Alfano, R. R.

    1996-01-01

    Si is the semiconductor of choice for nanoelectronic roadmap into the next century for computer and other nanodevices. With growing interest in Si, Ge, and Si(sub m)Ge(sub n) strained superlattices, knowledge of the carrier relaxation processes in these materials and structures has become increasingly important. The limited time resolution for earlier studies of carrier dynamics in Ge and Si, performed using Nd:glass lasers, was not sufficient to observe the fast cooling processes. In this paper, we present a direct measurement of hot carrier dynamics in the satellite X valley in Si and Ge by time-resolved infrared(IR) absorption spectroscopy, and show the potential of our technique to identify whether the X valley is the lowest conduction valley in semiconductor materials and structures.

  10. Direct visualization of hydrogen absorption dynamics in individual palladium nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Narayan, Tarun C.; Hayee, Fariah; Baldi, Andrea; Leen Koh, Ai; Sinclair, Robert; Dionne, Jennifer A.

    2017-01-01

    Many energy storage materials undergo large volume changes during charging and discharging. The resulting stresses often lead to defect formation in the bulk, but less so in nanosized systems. Here, we capture in real time the mechanism of one such transformation—the hydrogenation of single-crystalline palladium nanocubes from 15 to 80 nm—to better understand the reason for this durability. First, using environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy, we monitor the hydrogen absorption process in real time with 3 nm resolution. Then, using dark-field imaging, we structurally examine the reaction intermediates with 1 nm resolution. The reaction proceeds through nucleation and growth of the new phase in corners of the nanocubes. As the hydrogenated phase propagates across the particles, portions of the lattice misorient by 1.5%, diminishing crystal quality. Once transformed, all the particles explored return to a pristine state. The nanoparticles' ability to remove crystallographic imperfections renders them more durable than their bulk counterparts. PMID:28091597

  11. Direct visualization of hydrogen absorption dynamics in individual palladium nanoparticles

    DOE PAGES

    Narayan, Tarun C.; Hayee, Fariah; Baldi, Andrea; ...

    2017-01-16

    Many energy storage materials undergo large volume changes during charging and discharging. The resulting stresses often lead to defect formation in the bulk, but less so in nanosized systems. Here, we capture in real time the mechanism of one such transformation—the hydrogenation of single-crystalline palladium nanocubes from 15 to 80 nm—to better understand the reason for this durability. First, using environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy, we monitor the hydrogen absorption process in real time with 3 nm resolution. Then, using dark-field imaging, we structurally examine the reaction intermediates with 1 nm resolution. The reaction proceeds through nucleation and growth ofmore » the new phase in corners of the nanocubes. As the hydrogenated phase propagates across the particles, portions of the lattice misorient by 1.5%, diminishing crystal quality. Once transformed, all the particles explored return to a pristine state. As a result, the nanoparticles’ ability to remove crystallographic imperfections renders them more durable than their bulk counterparts.« less

  12. Compression Behavior and Energy Absorption of Aluminum Alloy AA6061 Tubes with Multiple Holes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Simhachalam, Bade; Lakshmana Rao, C.; Srinivas, Krishna

    2014-05-01

    In this article, compression behavior and energy absorption of aluminum alloy AA6061 tubes are investigated both experimentally and numerically. Static and dynamic simulations are done using LS-Dyna Software for AA6061 tubes. True stress-plastic strain curves from the tensile test are used in the static and dynamic simulations of AA6061 tubes. The energy absorption values between experimental compression results and numeral simulation are found to be in good agreement. Dynamic simulations are done with drop velocity of up to 10 m/s to understand the inertia effects on energy absorption. The deformed modes from the numerical simulation are compared between tubes with and without holes in static and dynamic conditions.

  13. Microscopic observation of magnon bound states and their dynamics.

    PubMed

    Fukuhara, Takeshi; Schauß, Peter; Endres, Manuel; Hild, Sebastian; Cheneau, Marc; Bloch, Immanuel; Gross, Christian

    2013-10-03

    The existence of bound states of elementary spin waves (magnons) in one-dimensional quantum magnets was predicted almost 80 years ago. Identifying signatures of magnon bound states has so far remained the subject of intense theoretical research, and their detection has proved challenging for experiments. Ultracold atoms offer an ideal setting in which to find such bound states by tracking the spin dynamics with single-spin and single-site resolution following a local excitation. Here we use in situ correlation measurements to observe two-magnon bound states directly in a one-dimensional Heisenberg spin chain comprising ultracold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice. We observe the quantum dynamics of free and bound magnon states through time-resolved measurements of two spin impurities. The increased effective mass of the compound magnon state results in slower spin dynamics as compared to single-magnon excitations. We also determine the decay time of bound magnons, which is probably limited by scattering on thermal fluctuations in the system. Our results provide a new way of studying fundamental properties of quantum magnets and, more generally, properties of interacting impurities in quantum many-body systems.

  14. Experimental and theoretical study on the excited-state dynamics of ortho-, meta-, and para-methoxy methylcinnamate

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Miyazaki, Yasunori; Yamamoto, Kanji; Aoki, Jun

    The S{sub 1} state dynamics of methoxy methylcinnamate (MMC) has been investigated under supersonic jet-cooled conditions. The vibrationally resolved S{sub 1}-S{sub 0} absorption spectrum was recorded by laser induced fluorescence and mass-resolved resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy and separated into conformers by UV-UV hole-burning (UV-UV HB) spectroscopy. The S{sub 1} lifetime measurements revealed different dynamics of para-methoxy methylcinnamate from ortho-methoxy methylcinnamate and meta-methoxy methylcinnamate (hereafter, abbreviated as p-, o-, and m-MMCs, respectively). The lifetimes of o-MMC and m-MMC are on the nanosecond time scale and exhibit little tendency of excess energy dependence. On the other hand, p-MMC decays much faster andmore » its lifetime is conformer and excess energy dependent. In addition, the p-MMC-H{sub 2}O complex was studied to explore the effect of hydration on the S{sub 1} state dynamics of p-MMC, and it was found that the hydration significantly accelerates the nonradiative decay. Quantum chemical calculation was employed to search the major decay route from S{sub 1}(ππ{sup ∗}) for three MMCs and p-MMC-H{sub 2}O in terms of (i) trans → cis isomerization and (ii) internal conversion to the {sup 1}nπ{sup ∗} state. In o-MMC and m-MMC, the large energy barrier is created for the nonradiative decay along (i) the double-bond twisting coordinate (∼1000 cm{sup −1}) in S{sub 1} as well as (ii) the linear interpolating internal coordinate (∼1000 cm{sup −1}) from S{sub 1} to {sup 1}nπ{sup ∗} states. The calculation on p-MMC decay dynamics suggests that both (i) and (ii) are available due to small energy barrier, i.e., 160 cm{sup −1} by the double-bond twisting and 390 cm{sup −1} by the potential energy crossing. The hydration of p-MMC raises the energy barrier of the IC route to the S{sub 1}/{sup 1}nπ{sup ∗} conical intersection, convincing that the direct isomerization is more likely to occur.« less

  15. Quantum Entanglement Molecular Absorption Spectrum Simulator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nguyen, Quang-Viet; Kojima, Jun

    2006-01-01

    Quantum Entanglement Molecular Absorption Spectrum Simulator (QE-MASS) is a computer program for simulating two photon molecular-absorption spectroscopy using quantum-entangled photons. More specifically, QE-MASS simulates the molecular absorption of two quantum-entangled photons generated by the spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) of a fixed-frequency photon from a laser. The two-photon absorption process is modeled via a combination of rovibrational and electronic single-photon transitions, using a wave-function formalism. A two-photon absorption cross section as a function of the entanglement delay time between the two photons is computed, then subjected to a fast Fourier transform to produce an energy spectrum. The program then detects peaks in the Fourier spectrum and displays the energy levels of very short-lived intermediate quantum states (or virtual states) of the molecule. Such virtual states were only previously accessible using ultra-fast (femtosecond) laser systems. However, with the use of a single-frequency continuous wave laser to produce SPDC photons, and QEMASS program, these short-lived molecular states can now be studied using much simpler laser systems. QE-MASS can also show the dependence of the Fourier spectrum on the tuning range of the entanglement time of any externally introduced optical-path delay time. QE-MASS can be extended to any molecule for which an appropriate spectroscopic database is available. It is a means of performing an a priori parametric analysis of entangled photon spectroscopy for development and implementation of emerging quantum-spectroscopic sensing techniques. QE-MASS is currently implemented using the Mathcad software package.

  16. Probing ultrafast ππ*/nπ* internal conversion in organic chromophores via K-edge resonant absorption

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wolf, T. J. A.; Myhre, R. H.; Cryan, J. P.

    Many photoinduced processes including photosynthesis and human vision happen in organic molecules and involve coupled femtosecond dynamics of nuclei and electrons. Organic molecules with heteroatoms often possess an important excited-state relaxation channel from an optically allowed ππ* to a dark nπ* state. The ππ*/nπ* internal conversion is difficult to investigate, as most spectroscopic methods are not exclusively sensitive to changes in the excited-state electronic structure. Here, we report achieving the required sensitivity by exploiting the element and site specificity of near-edge soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. As a hole forms in the n orbital during ππ*/nπ* internal conversion, the absorption spectrummore » at the heteroatom K-edge exhibits an additional resonance. We demonstrate the concept using the nucleobase thymine at the oxygen K-edge, and unambiguously show that ππ*/nπ* internal conversion takes place within (60 ± 30) fs. Furthermore, high-level-coupled cluster calculations confirm the method’s impressive electronic structure sensitivity for excited-state investigations.« less

  17. Probing ultrafast ππ*/nπ* internal conversion in organic chromophores via K-edge resonant absorption

    DOE PAGES

    Wolf, T. J. A.; Myhre, R. H.; Cryan, J. P.; ...

    2017-06-22

    Many photoinduced processes including photosynthesis and human vision happen in organic molecules and involve coupled femtosecond dynamics of nuclei and electrons. Organic molecules with heteroatoms often possess an important excited-state relaxation channel from an optically allowed ππ* to a dark nπ* state. The ππ*/nπ* internal conversion is difficult to investigate, as most spectroscopic methods are not exclusively sensitive to changes in the excited-state electronic structure. Here, we report achieving the required sensitivity by exploiting the element and site specificity of near-edge soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. As a hole forms in the n orbital during ππ*/nπ* internal conversion, the absorption spectrummore » at the heteroatom K-edge exhibits an additional resonance. We demonstrate the concept using the nucleobase thymine at the oxygen K-edge, and unambiguously show that ππ*/nπ* internal conversion takes place within (60 ± 30) fs. Furthermore, high-level-coupled cluster calculations confirm the method’s impressive electronic structure sensitivity for excited-state investigations.« less

  18. Superfund record of decision (EPA Region 3): William Dick Lagoons, West Caln Township, Chester County, PA, March 1993

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1993-03-31

    This decision document presents the selected remedial action for Operable Unit 3 of the William Dick Lagoons Site (Site), in West Caln Township, Pennsylvania. The remedy described in this Record of Decision is for Operable Unit 3 at the Site. The remedy selected for Operable Unit 3 will reduce the concentrations of hazardous substances in the Site soils so that leaching of contaminants into the groundwater will be minimized. Reduction of the volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds in the soils is necessary in order the groundwater will not continue to be impacted above acceptable levels. In addition, themore » installation of a vegetative soil cover or multi-layer cap will prevent the surrounding community from exposure to Site-related contaminants through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact.« less

  19. Excited state non-adiabatic dynamics of the smallest polyene, trans 1,3-butadiene. I. Time-resolved photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boguslavskiy, Andrey E.; Schalk, Oliver; Gador, Niklas; Glover, William J.; Mori, Toshifumi; Schultz, Thomas; Schuurman, Michael S.; Martínez, Todd J.; Stolow, Albert

    2018-04-01

    The ultrafast excited state dynamics of the smallest polyene, trans-1,3-butadiene, were studied by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TRPEPICO) spectroscopy. The evolution of the excited state wavepacket, created by pumping the bright 1Bu (ππ*) electronic state at its origin of 216 nm, is projected via one- and two-photon ionization at 267 nm onto several ionization continua. The results are interpreted in terms of Koopmans' correlations and Franck-Condon factors for the excited and cationic states involved. The known predissociative character of the cation excited states is utilized to assign photoelectron bands to specific continua using TRPEPICO spectroscopy. This permits us to report the direct observation of the famously elusive S1(21Ag) dark electronic state during the internal conversion of trans 1,3-butadiene. Our phenomenological analysis permits the spectroscopic determination of several important time constants. We report the overall decay lifetimes of the 11Bu and 21Ag states and observe the re-appearance of the hot ground state molecule. We argue that the apparent dephasing time of the S2(11Bu) state, which leads to the extreme breadth of the absorption spectrum, is principally due to large amplitude torsional motion on the 1Bu surface in conjunction with strong non-adiabatic couplings via conical intersections, whereupon nuclear wavepacket revivals to the initial Franck-Condon region become effectively impossible. In Paper II [W. J. Glover et al., J. Chem. Phys. 148, 164303 (2018)], ab initio multiple spawning is used for on-the-fly computations of the excited state non-adiabatic wavepacket dynamics and their associated TRPEPICO observables, allowing for direct comparisons of experiment with theory.

  20. Polarization-controlled optimal scatter suppression in transient absorption spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Malý, Pavel; Ravensbergen, Janneke; Kennis, John T. M.; van Grondelle, Rienk; Croce, Roberta; Mančal, Tomáš; van Oort, Bart

    2017-01-01

    Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy is a powerful technique to study fast photo-induced processes, such as electron, proton and energy transfer, isomerization and molecular dynamics, in a diverse range of samples, including solid state materials and proteins. Many such experiments suffer from signal distortion by scattered excitation light, in particular close to the excitation (pump) frequency. Scattered light can be effectively suppressed by a polarizer oriented perpendicular to the excitation polarization and positioned behind the sample in the optical path of the probe beam. However, this introduces anisotropic polarization contributions into the recorded signal. We present an approach based on setting specific polarizations of the pump and probe pulses, combined with a polarizer behind the sample. Together, this controls the signal-to-scatter ratio (SSR), while maintaining isotropic signal. We present SSR for the full range of polarizations and analytically derive the optimal configuration at angles of 40.5° between probe and pump and of 66.9° between polarizer and pump polarizations. This improves SSR by (or compared to polarizer parallel to probe). The calculations are validated by transient absorption experiments on the common fluorescent dye Rhodamine B. This approach provides a simple method to considerably improve the SSR in transient absorption spectroscopy. PMID:28262765

  1. Nuclear quantum effects in electronically adiabatic quantum time correlation functions: Application to the absorption spectrum of a hydrated electron

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Turi, László; Hantal, György; Rossky, Peter J.; Borgis, Daniel

    2009-07-01

    A general formalism for introducing nuclear quantum effects in the expression of the quantum time correlation function of an operator in a multilevel electronic system is presented in the adiabatic limit. The final formula includes the nuclear quantum time correlation functions of the operator matrix elements, of the energy gap, and their cross terms. These quantities can be inferred and evaluated from their classical analogs obtained by mixed quantum-classical molecular dynamics simulations. The formalism is applied to the absorption spectrum of a hydrated electron, expressed in terms of the time correlation function of the dipole operator in the ground electronic state. We find that both static and dynamic nuclear quantum effects distinctly influence the shape of the absorption spectrum, especially its high energy tail related to transitions to delocalized electron states. Their inclusion does improve significantly the agreement between theory and experiment for both the low and high frequency edges of the spectrum. It does not appear sufficient, however, to resolve persistent deviations in the slow Lorentzian-like decay part of the spectrum in the intermediate 2-3 eV region.

  2. Characterizing and Differentiating Brain State Dynamics via Hidden Markov Models

    PubMed Central

    Ou, Jinli; Xie, Li; Jin, Changfeng; Li, Xiang; Zhu, Dajiang; Jiang, Rongxin; Chen, Yaowu

    2014-01-01

    Functional connectivity measured from resting state fMRI (R-fMRI) data has been widely used to examine the brain’s functional activities and has been recently used to characterize and differentiate brain conditions. However, the dynamical transition patterns of the brain’s functional states have been less explored. In this work, we propose a novel computational framework to quantitatively characterize the brain state dynamics via hidden Markov models (HMMs) learned from the observations of temporally dynamic functional connectomics, denoted as functional connectome states. The framework has been applied to the R-fMRI dataset including 44 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients and 51 normal control (NC) subjects. Experimental results show that both PTSD and NC brains were undergoing remarkable changes in resting state and mainly transiting amongst a few brain states. Interestingly, further prediction with the best-matched HMM demonstrates that PTSD would enter into, but could not disengage from, a negative mood state. Importantly, 84 % of PTSD patients and 86 % of NC subjects are successfully classified via multiple HMMs using majority voting. PMID:25331991

  3. The effects of the electric and intense laser field on the binding energies of donor impurity states (1s and 2p±) and optical absorption between the related states in an asymmetric parabolic quantum well

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kasapoglu, E.; Sakiroglu, S.; Sökmen, I.; Restrepo, R. L.; Mora-Ramos, M. E.; Duque, C. A.

    2016-10-01

    We have calculated the effects of electric and intense laser fields on the binding energies of the ground and some excited states of conduction electrons coupled to shallow donor impurities as well as the total optical absorption coefficient for transitions between 1s and 2p± electron-impurity states in a asymmetric parabolic GaAs/Ga1-x AlxAs quantum well. The binding energies were obtained using the effective-mass approximation within a variational scheme. Total absorption coefficient (linear and nonlinear absorption coefficient) for the transitions between any two impurity states were calculated from first- and third-order dielectric susceptibilities derived within a perturbation expansion for the density matrix formalism. Our results show that the effects of the electric field, intense laser field, and the impurity location on the binding energy of 1s-impurity state are more pronounced compared with other impurity states. If the well center is changed to be Lc<0 (Lc>0), the effective well width decreases (increases), and thus we can obtain the red or blue shift in the resonant peak position of the absorption coefficient by changing the intensities of the electric and non-resonant intense laser field as well as dimensions of the well and impurity positions.

  4. Ultrafast Dynamics of 1,3-Cyclohexadiene in Highly Excited States

    DOE PAGES

    Bühler, Christine C.; Minitti, Michael P.; Deb, Sanghamitra; ...

    2011-01-01

    The ultrafast dynamics of 1,3-cyclohexadiene has been investigated via structurally sensitive Rydberg electron binding energies and shown to differ upon excitation to the 1B state and the 3p Rydberg state. Excitation of the molecule with 4.63 eV photons into the ultrashort-lived 1B state yields the well-known ring opening to 1,3,5-hexatriene, while a 5.99 eV photon lifts the molecule directly into the 3p-Rydberg state. Excitation to 3p does not induce ring opening. In both experiments, time-dependent shifts of the Rydberg electron binding energy reflect the structural dynamics of the molecular core. Structural distortions associated with 3p-excitation cause a dynamical shift in the -more » and -binding energies by 10 and 26 meV/ps, respectively, whereas after excitation into 1B, more severe structural transformations along the ring-opening coordinate produce shifts at a rate of 40 to 60 meV/ps. The experiment validates photoionization-photoelectron spectroscopy via Rydberg states as a powerful technique to observe structural dynamics of polyatomic molecules.« less

  5. Exciton absorption of entangled photons in semiconductor quantum wells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodriguez, Ferney; Guzman, David; Salazar, Luis; Quiroga, Luis; Condensed Matter Physics Group Team

    2013-03-01

    The dependence of the excitonic two-photon absorption on the quantum correlations (entanglement) of exciting biphotons by a semiconductor quantum well is studied. We show that entangled photon absorption can display very unusual features depending on space-time-polarization biphoton parameters and absorber density of states for both bound exciton states as well as for unbound electron-hole pairs. We report on the connection between biphoton entanglement, as quantified by the Schmidt number, and absorption by a semiconductor quantum well. Comparison between frequency-anti-correlated, unentangled and frequency-correlated biphoton absorption is addressed. We found that exciton oscillator strengths are highly increased when photons arrive almost simultaneously in an entangled state. Two-photon-absorption becomes a highly sensitive probe of photon quantum correlations when narrow semiconductor quantum wells are used as two-photon absorbers. Research funds from Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes

  6. The architecture of dynamic reservoir in the echo state network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cui, Hongyan; Liu, Xiang; Li, Lixiang

    2012-09-01

    Echo state network (ESN) has recently attracted increasing interests because of its superior capability in modeling nonlinear dynamic systems. In the conventional echo state network model, its dynamic reservoir (DR) has a random and sparse topology, which is far from the real biological neural networks from both structural and functional perspectives. We hereby propose three novel types of echo state networks with new dynamic reservoir topologies based on complex network theory, i.e., with a small-world topology, a scale-free topology, and a mixture of small-world and scale-free topologies, respectively. We then analyze the relationship between the dynamic reservoir structure and its prediction capability. We utilize two commonly used time series to evaluate the prediction performance of the three proposed echo state networks and compare them to the conventional model. We also use independent and identically distributed time series to analyze the short-term memory and prediction precision of these echo state networks. Furthermore, we study the ratio of scale-free topology and the small-world topology in the mixed-topology network, and examine its influence on the performance of the echo state networks. Our simulation results show that the proposed echo state network models have better prediction capabilities, a wider spectral radius, but retain almost the same short-term memory capacity as compared to the conventional echo state network model. We also find that the smaller the ratio of the scale-free topology over the small-world topology, the better the memory capacities.

  7. Electronic structures and population dynamics of excited states of xanthione and its derivatives

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fedunov, Roman G.; Rogozina, Marina V.; Khokhlova, Svetlana S.; Ivanov, Anatoly I.; Tikhomirov, Sergei A.; Bondarev, Stanislav L.; Raichenok, Tamara F.; Buganov, Oleg V.; Olkhovik, Vyacheslav K.; Vasilevskii, Dmitrii A.

    2017-09-01

    A new compound, 1,3-dimethoxy xanthione (DXT), has been synthesized and its absorption (stationary and transient) and luminescence spectra have been measured in n-hexane and compared with xanthione (XT) spectra. The pronounced broadening of xanthione vibronic absorption band related to the electronic transition to the second singlet excited state has been observed. Distinctions between the spectra of xanthione and its methoxy derivatives are discussed. Quantum chemical calculations of these compounds in the ground and excited electronic states have been accomplished to clarify the nature of electronic spectra changes due to modification of xanthione by methoxy groups. Appearance of a new absorption band of DXT caused by symmetry changes has been discussed. Calculations of the second excited state structure of xanthione and its methoxy derivatives confirm noticeable charge transfer (about 0.1 of the charge of an electron) from the methoxy group to thiocarbonyl group. Fitting of the transient spectra of XT and DXT has been fulfilled and the time constants of internal conversion S2 →S1 and intersystem crossing S1 →T1 have been determined. A considerable difference between the time constants of internal conversion S2 →S1 in XT and DXT is uncovered.

  8. Ultrafast dynamics and excited state spectra of open-chain carotenoids at room and low temperatures.

    PubMed

    Niedzwiedzki, Dariusz; Koscielecki, Jeremy F; Cong, Hong; Sullivan, James O; Gibson, George N; Birge, Robert R; Frank, Harry A

    2007-05-31

    Many of the spectroscopic features and photophysical properties of carotenoids are explained using a three-state model in which the strong visible absorption of the molecules is associated with an S0 (1(1)Ag-) --> S2 (1(1)Bu+) transition, and the lowest lying singlet state, S1 (2(1)Ag-), is a state into which absorption from the ground state is forbidden by symmetry. However, semiempirical and ab initio quantum calculations have suggested additional excited singlet states may lie either between or in the vicinity of S1 (2(1)Ag-) and S2 (1(1)Bu+), and some ultrafast spectroscopic studies have reported evidence for these states. One such state, denoted S*, has been implicated as an intermediate in the depopulation of S2 (1(1)Bu+) and as a pathway for the formation of carotenoid triplet states in light-harvesting complexes. In this work, we present the results of an ultrafast, time-resolved spectroscopic investigation of a series of open-chain carotenoids derived from photosynthetic bacteria and systematically increasing in their number of pi-electron carbon-carbon double bonds (n). The molecules are neurosporene (n = 9), spheroidene (n = 10), rhodopin glucoside (n = 11), rhodovibrin (n = 12), and spirilloxanthin (n = 13). The molecules were studied in acetone and CS2 solvents at room temperature. These experiments explore the effect of solvent polarity and polarizability on the spectroscopic and kinetic behavior of the molecules. The molecules were also studied in ether/isopentane/ethanol (EPA) glasses at 77 K, in which the spectral resolution is greatly enhanced. Analysis of the data using global fitting techniques has revealed the ultrafast dynamics of the excited states and spectral changes associated with their decay, including spectroscopic features not previously reported. The data are consistent with S* being identified with a twisted conformational structure, the yield of which is increased in molecules having longer pi-electron conjugations. In particular

  9. Time-dependent oral absorption models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Higaki, K.; Yamashita, S.; Amidon, G. L.

    2001-01-01

    The plasma concentration-time profiles following oral administration of drugs are often irregular and cannot be interpreted easily with conventional models based on first- or zero-order absorption kinetics and lag time. Six new models were developed using a time-dependent absorption rate coefficient, ka(t), wherein the time dependency was varied to account for the dynamic processes such as changes in fluid absorption or secretion, in absorption surface area, and in motility with time, in the gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, the plasma concentration profiles of propranolol obtained in human subjects following oral dosing were analyzed using the newly derived models based on mass balance and compared with the conventional models. Nonlinear regression analysis indicated that the conventional compartment model including lag time (CLAG model) could not predict the rapid initial increase in plasma concentration after dosing and the predicted Cmax values were much lower than that observed. On the other hand, all models with the time-dependent absorption rate coefficient, ka(t), were superior to the CLAG model in predicting plasma concentration profiles. Based on Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC), the fluid absorption model without lag time (FA model) exhibited the best overall fit to the data. The two-phase model including lag time, TPLAG model was also found to be a good model judging from the values of sum of squares. This model also described the irregular profiles of plasma concentration with time and frequently predicted Cmax values satisfactorily. A comparison of the absorption rate profiles also suggested that the TPLAG model is better at prediction of irregular absorption kinetics than the FA model. In conclusion, the incorporation of a time-dependent absorption rate coefficient ka(t) allows the prediction of nonlinear absorption characteristics in a more reliable manner.

  10. Protonation States in molecular dynamics simulations of peptide folding and binding.

    PubMed

    Ben-Shimon, Avraham; Shalev, Deborah E; Niv, Masha Y

    2013-01-01

    Peptides are important signaling modules, acting both as individual hormones and as parts of larger molecules, mediating their protein-protein interactions. Many peptidic and peptidomimetic drugs have reached the marketplace and opportunities for peptide-based drug discovery are on the rise. pH-dependent behavior of peptides is well documented in the context of misfolding diseases and peptide translocation. Changes in the protonation states of peptide residues often have a crucial effect on a peptide's structure, dynamics and function, which may be exploited for biotechnological applications. The current review surveys the increasing levels of sophistication in the treatment of protonation states in computational studies involving peptides. Specifically we describe I) the common practice of assigning a single protonation state and using it throughout the dynamic simulation, II) approaches that consider multiple protonation states and compare computed observables to experimental ones, III) constant pH molecular dynamics methods that couple changes in protonation states with conformational dynamics "on the fly". Applications of conformational dynamics treatment of peptides in the context of binding, folding and interactions with the membrane are presented, illustrating the growing body of work in this field and highlighting the importance of careful handling of protonation states of peptidic residues.

  11. Markov State Models Provide Insights into Dynamic Modulation of Protein Function

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Conspectus Protein function is inextricably linked to protein dynamics. As we move from a static structural picture to a dynamic ensemble view of protein structure and function, novel computational paradigms are required for observing and understanding conformational dynamics of proteins and its functional implications. In principle, molecular dynamics simulations can provide the time evolution of atomistic models of proteins, but the long time scales associated with functional dynamics make it difficult to observe rare dynamical transitions. The issue of extracting essential functional components of protein dynamics from noisy simulation data presents another set of challenges in obtaining an unbiased understanding of protein motions. Therefore, a methodology that provides a statistical framework for efficient sampling and a human-readable view of the key aspects of functional dynamics from data analysis is required. The Markov state model (MSM), which has recently become popular worldwide for studying protein dynamics, is an example of such a framework. In this Account, we review the use of Markov state models for efficient sampling of the hierarchy of time scales associated with protein dynamics, automatic identification of key conformational states, and the degrees of freedom associated with slow dynamical processes. Applications of MSMs for studying long time scale phenomena such as activation mechanisms of cellular signaling proteins has yielded novel insights into protein function. In particular, from MSMs built using large-scale simulations of GPCRs and kinases, we have shown that complex conformational changes in proteins can be described in terms of structural changes in key structural motifs or “molecular switches” within the protein, the transitions between functionally active and inactive states of proteins proceed via multiple pathways, and ligand or substrate binding modulates the flux through these pathways. Finally, MSMs also provide a

  12. Infraslow Electroencephalographic and Dynamic Resting State Network Activity.

    PubMed

    Grooms, Joshua K; Thompson, Garth J; Pan, Wen-Ju; Billings, Jacob; Schumacher, Eric H; Epstein, Charles M; Keilholz, Shella D

    2017-06-01

    A number of studies have linked the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal to electroencephalographic (EEG) signals in traditional frequency bands (δ, θ, α, β, and γ), but the relationship between BOLD and its direct frequency correlates in the infraslow band (<1 Hz) has been little studied. Previously, work in rodents showed that infraslow local field potentials play a role in functional connectivity, particularly in the dynamic organization of large-scale networks. To examine the relationship between infraslow activity and network dynamics in humans, direct current (DC) EEG and resting state magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired simultaneously. The DC EEG signals were correlated with the BOLD signal in patterns that resembled resting state networks. Subsequent dynamic analysis showed that the correlation between DC EEG and the BOLD signal varied substantially over time, even within individual subjects. The variation in DC EEG appears to reflect the time-varying contribution of different resting state networks. Furthermore, some of the patterns of DC EEG and BOLD correlation are consistent with previous work demonstrating quasiperiodic spatiotemporal patterns of large-scale network activity in resting state. These findings demonstrate that infraslow electrical activity is linked to BOLD fluctuations in humans and that it may provide a basis for large-scale organization comparable to that observed in animal studies.

  13. Slope-scale dynamic states of rockfalls

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Agliardi, F.; Crosta, G. B.

    2009-04-01

    Rockfalls are common earth surface phenomena characterised by complex dynamics at the slope scale, depending on local block kinematics and slope geometry. We investigated the nature of this slope-scale dynamics by parametric 3D numerical modelling of rockfalls over synthetic slopes with different inclination, roughness and spatial resolution. Simulations were performed through an original code specifically designed for rockfall modeling, incorporating kinematic and hybrid algorithms with different damping functions available to model local energy loss by impact and pure rolling. Modelling results in terms of average velocity profiles suggest that three dynamic regimes (i.e. decelerating, steady-state and accelerating), previously recognized in the literature through laboratory experiments on granular flows, can set up at the slope scale depending on slope average inclination and roughness. Sharp changes in rock fall kinematics, including motion type and lateral dispersion of trajectories, are associated to the transition among different regimes. Associated threshold conditions, portrayed in "phase diagrams" as slope-roughness critical lines, were analysed depending on block size, impact/rebound angles, velocity and energy, and model spatial resolution. Motion in regime B (i.e. steady state) is governed by a slope-scale "viscous friction" with average velocity linearly related to the sine of slope inclination. This suggest an analogy between rockfall motion in regime B and newtonian flow, whereas in regime C (i.e. accelerating) an analogy with a dilatant flow was observed. Thus, although local behavior of single falling blocks is well described by rigid body dynamics, the slope scale dynamics of rockfalls seem to statistically approach that of granular media. Possible outcomes of these findings include a discussion of the transition from rockfall to granular flow, the evaluation of the reliability of predictive models, and the implementation of criteria for a

  14. Magneto-optical far-infrared absorption spectroscopy of the hole states of indium phosphide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lewis, R. A.; Wang, Y.-J.

    2005-03-01

    Far-infrared absorption spectroscopy in magnetic fields of up to 30 T of the zinc acceptor impurity in indium phosphide has revealed for the first time a series of free-hole transitions (Landau-related series) in addition to the familiar bound-hole transitions (Lyman series) as well as hitherto unobserved phonon replicas of both series. Analysis of these data permits the simultaneous direct experimental determination of (i) the hole effective mass, (ii) the species-specific binding energy of the acceptor impurity, (iii) the absolute energy levels of the acceptor excited states of both odd and even parity, (iv) more reliable, and in some cases the only, g factors for acceptor states, through relaxation of the selection rules for phonon replicas, and (v) the LO phonon energy. The method is applicable to other semiconductors and may lead to the reappraisal of their physical parameters.

  15. Laser continuum source atomic absorption spectroscopy: Measuring the ground state with nanosecond resolution in laser-induced plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Merten, Jonathan; Johnson, Bruce

    2018-01-01

    A new dual-beam atomic absorption technique is applied to laser-induced plasmas. The technique uses an optical parametric oscillator pseudocontinuum, producing emission that is both wider than the absorption line profile, but narrow enough to allow the use of an echelle spectrograph without order sorting. The dual-beam-in space implementation makes the technique immune to nonspecific attenuation of the probe beam and the structure of the pseudocontinuum. The potential for plasma diagnostics is demonstrated with spatially and temporally resolved measurements of magnesium metastable and lithium ground state optical depths in a laser-induced plasma under reduced pressure conditions. The lithium measurements further demonstrate the technique's potential for isotope ratio measurements.

  16. Learning State Space Dynamics in Recurrent Networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Simard, Patrice Yvon

    Fully recurrent (asymmetrical) networks can be used to learn temporal trajectories. The network is unfolded in time, and backpropagation is used to train the weights. The presence of recurrent connections creates internal states in the system which vary as a function of time. The resulting dynamics can provide interesting additional computing power but learning is made more difficult by the existence of internal memories. This study first exhibits the properties of recurrent networks in terms of convergence when the internal states of the system are unknown. A new energy functional is provided to change the weights of the units in order to the control the stability of the fixed points of the network's dynamics. The power of the resultant algorithm is illustrated with the simulation of a content addressable memory. Next, the more general case of time trajectories on a recurrent network is studied. An application is proposed in which trajectories are generated to draw letters as a function of an input. In another application of recurrent systems, a neural network certain temporal properties observed in human callosally sectioned brains. Finally the proposed algorithm for stabilizing dynamics around fixed points is extended to one for stabilizing dynamics around time trajectories. Its effects are illustrated on a network which generates Lisajous curves.

  17. Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

    PubMed

    Yang, Dongyuan; Min, Yanjun; Chen, Zhichao; He, Zhigang; Yuan, Kaijun; Dai, Dongxu; Yang, Xueming; Wu, Guorong

    2018-04-17

    The ultrafast excited-state dynamics of 2,5-dimethylpyrrole following excitation at wavelengths in the range of 265.7-216.7 nm is studied using the time-resolved photoelectron imaging method. It is found that excitation at longer wavelengths (265.7-250.2 nm) results in the population of the S1(1πσ*) state, which decays out of the photoionization window in about 90 fs. At shorter pump wavelengths (242.1-216.7 nm), the assignments are less clear-cut. We tentatively assign the initially photoexcited state(s) to the 1π3p Rydberg state(s) which has lifetimes of 159 ± 20, 125 ± 15, 102 ± 10 and 88 ± 10 fs for the pump wavelengths of 242.1, 238.1, 232.6 and 216.7 nm, respectively. Internal conversion to the S1(1πσ*) state represents at most a minor decay channel. The methyl substitution effects on the decay dynamics of the excited states of pyrrole are also discussed. Methyl substitution on the pyrrole ring seems to enhance the direct internal conversion from the 1π3p Rydberg state to the ground state, while methyl substitution on the N atom has less influence and the internal conversion to the S1(πσ*) state represents a main channel.

  18. New photocycle intermediates in the photoactive yellow protein from Ectothiorhodospira halophila: picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Ujj, L; Devanathan, S; Meyer, T E; Cusanovich, M A; Tollin, G; Atkinson, G H

    1998-07-01

    Previous studies have shown that the room temperature photocycle of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) from Ectothiorhodospira halophila involves at least two intermediate species: I1, which forms in <10 ns and decays with a 200-micros lifetime to I2, which itself subsequently returns to the ground state with a 140-ms time constant at pH 7 (Genick et al. 1997. Biochemistry. 36:8-14). Picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy has been used here to reveal a photophysical relaxation process (stimulated emission) and photochemical intermediates in the PYP photocycle that have not been reported previously. The first new intermediate (I0) exhibits maximum absorption at approximately 510 nm and appears in absorptivity. Idouble dagger0 decays with a 3 +/- 0.15 ns time constant to form I1. Stimulated emission from an excited electronic state of PYP is observed both within the 4-6-ps cross-correlation times used in this work, and with a 16-ps delay for all probe wavelengths throughout the 426-525-nm region studied. These transient absorption and emission data provide a more detailed understanding of the mechanistic dynamics occurring during the PYP photocycle.

  19. Steady-state kinetic modeling constrains cellular resting states and dynamic behavior.

    PubMed

    Purvis, Jeremy E; Radhakrishnan, Ravi; Diamond, Scott L

    2009-03-01

    A defining characteristic of living cells is the ability to respond dynamically to external stimuli while maintaining homeostasis under resting conditions. Capturing both of these features in a single kinetic model is difficult because the model must be able to reproduce both behaviors using the same set of molecular components. Here, we show how combining small, well-defined steady-state networks provides an efficient means of constructing large-scale kinetic models that exhibit realistic resting and dynamic behaviors. By requiring each kinetic module to be homeostatic (at steady state under resting conditions), the method proceeds by (i) computing steady-state solutions to a system of ordinary differential equations for each module, (ii) applying principal component analysis to each set of solutions to capture the steady-state solution space of each module network, and (iii) combining optimal search directions from all modules to form a global steady-state space that is searched for accurate simulation of the time-dependent behavior of the whole system upon perturbation. Importantly, this stepwise approach retains the nonlinear rate expressions that govern each reaction in the system and enforces constraints on the range of allowable concentration states for the full-scale model. These constraints not only reduce the computational cost of fitting experimental time-series data but can also provide insight into limitations on system concentrations and architecture. To demonstrate application of the method, we show how small kinetic perturbations in a modular model of platelet P2Y(1) signaling can cause widespread compensatory effects on cellular resting states.

  20. Electronic excited states and relaxation dynamics in polymer heterojunction systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramon, John Glenn Santos

    The potential for using conducting polymers as the active material in optoelectronic devices has come to fruition in the past few years. Understanding the fundamental photophysics behind their operations points to the significant role played by the polymer interface in their performance. Current device architectures involve the use of bulk heterojunctions which intimately blend the donor and acceptor polymers to significantly increase not only their interfacial surface area but also the probability of exciton formation within the vicinity of the interface. In this dissertation, we detail the role played by the interface on the behavior and performance of bulk heterojunction systems. First, we explore the relation between the exciton binding energy to the band offset in determining device characteristics. As a general rule, when the exciton binding energy is greater than the band offset, the exciton remains the lowest energy excited state leading to efficient light-emitting properties. On the other hand, if the offset is greater than the binding energy, charge separation becomes favorable leading to better photovoltaic behavior. Here, we use a Wannier function, configuration interaction based approach to examine the essential excited states and predict the vibronic absorption and emission spectra of the PPV/BBL, TFB/F8BT and PFB/F8BT heterojunctions. Our results underscore the role of vibrational relaxation in the formation of charge-transfer states following photoexcitation. In addition, we look at the relaxation dynamics that occur upon photoexcitation. For this, we adopt the Marcus-Hush semiclassical method to account for lattice reorganization in the calculation of the interconversion rates in TFB/F8BT and PFB/F8BT. We find that, while a tightly bound charge-transfer state (exciplex) remains the lowest excited state, a regeneration pathway to the optically active lowest excitonic state in TFB/F8BT is possible via thermal repopulation from the exciplex. Finally

  1. Experimental and theoretical studies of the npσ1Σu+ and npπ1 Πu+ (n ⩾ 4,N‧ = 1 -6) states of D2: Energies, natural widths, absorption line intensities, and dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glass-Maujean, M.; Jungen, Ch.; Vasserot, A. M.; Schmoranzer, H.; Knie, A.; Kübler, S.; Ehresmann, A.; Ubachs, W.

    2017-08-01

    Over a thousand spectral lines in the photoexcitation spectrum of molecular deuterium (D2) to np1 Σu+ and 1Πu+ Rydberg levels (n ⩾ 4) were measured for rotational levels N‧ = 1 -6 in the 117 000-137 000 cm-1 spectral range by two different types of experiments at two synchrotron radiation sources: a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) Fourier-transform (FT) spectrometer at SOLEIL, Paris and a 10 m-normal-incidence monochromator (NIM) at BESSY II, Berlin. The experimental energies, the absorption cross sections, Einstein A-coefficients, and line widths are compared with ab initio multi-channel quantum defect (MQDT) calculations for these levels. More than 350 R(0) or P(2) lines were assigned, some 280 R(1) or P(3) lines, some 270 R(2) or P(4) lines, over 100 R(3) or P(5) lines, over 90 R(4) lines, and 24 R(5) lines to extract information on the N‧ = 1 -6 excited levels. Transition energies were determined up to excitation energies of 137 000 cm-1 above the ground state, thereby extending earlier work by various authors and considerably improving the spectral accuracy (< 0.1 cm-1), leading to several reassignments. The absorption and the dissociation, ionization and fluorescence excitation cross sections from the NIM experiment are measured on absolute scale and are used to calibrate intensities in the VUV-FT spectra. The overall agreement between experiment and first principles calculations, without adjustable parameters, is excellent in view of the multi-state interferences treated within the MQDT-framework: For the low N‧ values the averaged deviations between those observed in the FT-SOLEIL spectra and those calculated with MQDT are ∼ 0.1 cm-1 with a spread of ∼ 0.5 cm-1. The line intensities in terms of Einstein coefficients are well represented in the MQDT-framework, as are the level widths representing the lifetimes associated with the sum of the three decay channels. These line intensities follow, in general, the 1 /n3 scaling behavior as characteristic in

  2. Bromine substitution improves excited-state dynamics in mesoporous mixed halide perovskite films

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Talbert, Eric M.; Zarick, Holly F.; Boulesbaa, Abdelaziz

    Here in this study, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) is utilized to examine the excited-state dynamics in methylammonium lead iodide/bromide (MAPb(I 1-xBrx)3) perovskites as a function of bromide content. TAS spectral behavior reveals characteristic lifetimes for thermalization, recombination, and charge carrier injection of MAPb(I 1-xBr x) 3 from x = 0 to 0.3 infiltrated in mesoporous titania films. Carrier recombination and charge injection lifetimes demonstrated a discernable increase with Br content likely because high carrier populations are supported by the higher density of vacant electronic states in mixed-halide perovskites due to the increased capacity of the conduction band. However, wemore » observe for the first time that carrier thermalization lifetimes significantly decrease with increasing Br. This suggests that the shift in crystal structure from tetragonal towards pseudocubic accelerates carrier cooling, resulting in the relief of the hot phonon bottleneck. Furthermore, the stabilized MAPb(I 1-xBrx) 3 samples exhibit a lower Burstein–Moss shift of 0.07–0.08 eV compared to pure MAPbI 3 (0.12 eV). Our results provide evidence that Br inclusion contributes to a broadening of the parabolic conduction band and to improvement in electron–phonon coupling and phonon propagation in the lattice.« less

  3. Bromine substitution improves excited-state dynamics in mesoporous mixed halide perovskite films

    DOE PAGES

    Talbert, Eric M.; Zarick, Holly F.; Boulesbaa, Abdelaziz; ...

    2017-08-02

    Here in this study, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) is utilized to examine the excited-state dynamics in methylammonium lead iodide/bromide (MAPb(I 1-xBrx)3) perovskites as a function of bromide content. TAS spectral behavior reveals characteristic lifetimes for thermalization, recombination, and charge carrier injection of MAPb(I 1-xBr x) 3 from x = 0 to 0.3 infiltrated in mesoporous titania films. Carrier recombination and charge injection lifetimes demonstrated a discernable increase with Br content likely because high carrier populations are supported by the higher density of vacant electronic states in mixed-halide perovskites due to the increased capacity of the conduction band. However, wemore » observe for the first time that carrier thermalization lifetimes significantly decrease with increasing Br. This suggests that the shift in crystal structure from tetragonal towards pseudocubic accelerates carrier cooling, resulting in the relief of the hot phonon bottleneck. Furthermore, the stabilized MAPb(I 1-xBrx) 3 samples exhibit a lower Burstein–Moss shift of 0.07–0.08 eV compared to pure MAPbI 3 (0.12 eV). Our results provide evidence that Br inclusion contributes to a broadening of the parabolic conduction band and to improvement in electron–phonon coupling and phonon propagation in the lattice.« less

  4. DFT study of electron absorption and emission spectra of pyramidal LnPc(OAc) complexes of some lanthanide ions in the solid state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hanuza, J.; Godlewska, P.; Lisiecki, R.; Ryba-Romanowski, W.; Kadłubański, P.; Lorenc, J.; Łukowiak, A.; Macalik, L.; Gerasymchuk, Yu.; Legendziewicz, J.

    2018-05-01

    The electron absorption and emission spectra were measured for the pyramidal LnPc(OAc) complexes in the solid state and co-doped in silica glass, where Ln = Er, Eu and Ho. The theoretical electron spectra were determined from the quantum chemical DFT calculation using four approximations CAM-B3LYP/LANL2DZ, CAM-B3LYP/CC-PVDZ, B3LYP/LANL2DZ and B3LYP/CC-PVDZ. It was shown that the best agreement between the calculated and experimental structural parameters and spectroscopic data was reached for the CAM-B3LYP/LANL2DZ model. The emission spectra were measured using the excitations both in the ligand and lanthanide absorption ranges. The possibility of energy transfer between the phthalocyanine ligand and excited states of lanthanide ions was discussed. It was shown that the back energy transfer from metal states to phthalocyanine state is responsible for the observed emission of the studied complexes both in the polycrystalline state and silica glass.

  5. Study of a Steel's Energy Absorption System for Heavy Quadricycles and Nonlinear Explicit Dynamic Analysis of its Behavior under Impact by FEM.

    PubMed

    López Campos, José Ángel; Segade Robleda, Abraham; Vilán Vilán, José Antonio; García Nieto, Paulino José; Blanco Cordero, Javier

    2015-10-10

    Current knowledge of the behavior of heavy quadricycles under impact is still very poor. One of the most significant causes is the lack of energy absorption in the vehicle frame or its steel chassis structure. For this reason, special steels (with yield stresses equal to or greater than 350 MPa) are commonly used in the automotive industry due to their great strain hardening properties along the plastic zone, which allows good energy absorption under impact. This paper presents a proposal for a steel quadricycle energy absorption system which meets the percentages of energy absorption for conventional vehicles systems. This proposal is validated by explicit dynamics simulation, which will define the whole problem mathematically and verify behavior under impact at speeds of 40 km/h and 56 km/h using the finite element method (FEM). One of the main consequences of this study is that this FEM-based methodology can tackle high nonlinear problems like this one with success, avoiding the need to carry out experimental tests, with consequent economical savings since experimental tests are very expensive. Finally, the conclusions from this innovative research work are given.

  6. Imaging the dynamics of free-electron Landau states

    PubMed Central

    Schattschneider, P.; Schachinger, Th.; Stöger-Pollach, M.; Löffler, S.; Steiger-Thirsfeld, A.; Bliokh, K. Y.; Nori, Franco

    2014-01-01

    Landau levels and states of electrons in a magnetic field are fundamental quantum entities underlying the quantum Hall and related effects in condensed matter physics. However, the real-space properties and observation of Landau wave functions remain elusive. Here we report the real-space observation of Landau states and the internal rotational dynamics of free electrons. States with different quantum numbers are produced using nanometre-sized electron vortex beams, with a radius chosen to match the waist of the Landau states, in a quasi-uniform magnetic field. Scanning the beams along the propagation direction, we reconstruct the rotational dynamics of the Landau wave functions with angular frequency ~100 GHz. We observe that Landau modes with different azimuthal quantum numbers belong to three classes, which are characterized by rotations with zero, Larmor and cyclotron frequencies, respectively. This is in sharp contrast to the uniform cyclotron rotation of classical electrons, and in perfect agreement with recent theoretical predictions. PMID:25105563

  7. Hybridized orbital states in spin-orbit coupled 3 d -5 d double perovskites studied by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Min-Cheol; Lee, Sanghyun; Won, C. J.; Lee, K. D.; Hur, N.; Chen, Jeng-Lung; Cho, Deok-Yong; Noh, T. W.

    2018-03-01

    We investigated the orbital hybridization mechanism in 3 d -5 d double perovskites (DPs) of La2CoIrO6 and La2CoPtO6 using x-ray absorption spectroscopy. It is clearly evidenced by O K -edge and Co K -edge x-ray absorption spectra that the Co 3 d orbitals hybridize not only with the half-filled Ir/Pt jeff states but also with the fully empty (unpolarized) Ir/Pt eg states in both DPs. The Co 3 d eg-Ir 5 d eg hybridization cannot contribute to the ferrimagnetic long-range order in La2CoIrO6 established by spin-selective Co 3 d t2 g-Ir 5 d jeff hybridization through the intermediate oxygen p state but could serve as an origin of paramagnetism. The strengths of such orbital hybridizations were found to be almost invariant to temperature, even far above the Curie temperature, implying persistent paramagnetism against the antiferromagnetic ordering in the spin-orbit entangled 3 d -5 d DPs.

  8. Solvation structure of the halides from x-ray absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Antalek, Matthew; Hedman, Britt; Sarangi, Ritimukta, E-mail: ritis@slac.stanford.edu

    2016-07-28

    Three-dimensional models for the aqueous solvation structures of chloride, bromide, and iodide are reported. K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Minuit X-ray absorption near edge (MXAN) analyses found well-defined single shell solvation spheres for bromide and iodide. However, dissolved chloride proved structurally distinct, with two solvation shells needed to explain its strikingly different X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum. Final solvation models were as follows: iodide, 8 water molecules at 3.60 ± 0.13 Å and bromide, 8 water molecules at 3.40 ± 0.14 Å, while chloride solvation included 7 water molecules at 3.15 ± 0.10 Å, andmore » a second shell of 7 water molecules at 4.14 ± 0.30 Å. Each of the three derived solvation shells is approximately uniformly disposed about the halides, with no global asymmetry. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations simulating the chloride XANES spectra following from alternative solvation spheres revealed surprising sensitivity of the electronic state to 6-, 7-, or 8-coordination, implying a strongly bounded phase space for the correct structure during an MXAN fit. MXAN analysis further showed that the asymmetric solvation predicted from molecular dynamics simulations using halide polarization can play no significant part in bulk solvation. Classical molecular dynamics used to explore chloride solvation found a 7-water solvation shell at 3.12 (−0.04/+0.3) Å, supporting the experimental result. These experiments provide the first fully three-dimensional structures presenting to atomic resolution the aqueous solvation spheres of the larger halide ions.« less

  9. Ultrafast Energy Transfer Dynamics Between a Polypyridyl Ru(II) Chromophore and a Covalently Attached Acceptor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Styers-Barnett, David; Gannon, Erika; Papanikolas, John; Meyer, Thomas

    2003-03-01

    The energy transfer dynamics between the ^3MLCT excited state of a polypyridyl Ru(II) chromophore and a ligand-bound anthracene has been studied using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Photoexcitation of the metal complex at 450 nm promotes an electron from a d-orbital on the metal to a π* orbital on the bipyridine, forming a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state. Energy transfer to the covalently appended anthracene is followed by the growth of the anthracene excited state absorption at 425 nm, and the simultaneous decay of the ^3MLCT absorption at 380 nm. The observed growth is biexponential, with the fast component attributed to energy transfer (19 ps), and the slow component arising from a combination of interligand electron transfer between the polypyridyl ligands and energy transfer (75 ps).

  10. Excited state non-adiabatic dynamics of the smallest polyene, trans 1,3-butadiene. I. Time-resolved photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Boguslavskiy, Andrey E.; Schalk, Oliver; Gador, Niklas

    The ultrafast excited state dynamics of the smallest polyene, trans-1,3-butadiene, were studied by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TRPEPICO) spectroscopy. The evolution of the excited state wavepacket, created by pumping the bright 1B u (ππ*) electronic state at its origin of 216 nm, is projected via one- and two-photon ionization at 267 nm onto several ionization continua. The results are interpreted in terms of Koopmans’ correlations and Franck-Condon factors for the excited and cationic states involved. The known predissociative character of the cation excited states is utilized to assign photoelectron bands to specific continua using TRPEPICO spectroscopy. This permits us tomore » report the direct observation of the famously elusive S 1(2 1A g) dark electronic state during the internal conversion of trans 1,3-butadiene. Our phenomenological analysis permits the spectroscopic determination of several important time constants. We report the overall decay lifetimes of the 1 1B u and 2 1A g states and observe the re-appearance of the hot ground state molecule. We argue that the apparent dephasing time of the S 2(1 1B u) state, which leads to the extreme breadth of the absorption spectrum, is principally due to large amplitude torsional motion on the 1B u surface in conjunction with strong non-adiabatic couplings via conical intersections, whereupon nuclear wavepacket revivals to the initial Franck-Condon region become effectively impossible. Lastly, in Paper II [W. J. Glover et al., J. Chem. Phys. 148, 164303 (2018)], ab initio multiple spawning is used for on-the-fly computations of the excited state non-adiabatic wavepacket dynamics and their associated TRPEPICO observables, allowing for direct comparisons of experiment with theory.« less

  11. Excited state non-adiabatic dynamics of the smallest polyene, trans 1,3-butadiene. I. Time-resolved photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Boguslavskiy, Andrey E.; Schalk, Oliver; Gador, Niklas; ...

    2018-04-27

    The ultrafast excited state dynamics of the smallest polyene, trans-1,3-butadiene, were studied by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TRPEPICO) spectroscopy. The evolution of the excited state wavepacket, created by pumping the bright 1B u (ππ*) electronic state at its origin of 216 nm, is projected via one- and two-photon ionization at 267 nm onto several ionization continua. The results are interpreted in terms of Koopmans’ correlations and Franck-Condon factors for the excited and cationic states involved. The known predissociative character of the cation excited states is utilized to assign photoelectron bands to specific continua using TRPEPICO spectroscopy. This permits us tomore » report the direct observation of the famously elusive S 1(2 1A g) dark electronic state during the internal conversion of trans 1,3-butadiene. Our phenomenological analysis permits the spectroscopic determination of several important time constants. We report the overall decay lifetimes of the 1 1B u and 2 1A g states and observe the re-appearance of the hot ground state molecule. We argue that the apparent dephasing time of the S 2(1 1B u) state, which leads to the extreme breadth of the absorption spectrum, is principally due to large amplitude torsional motion on the 1B u surface in conjunction with strong non-adiabatic couplings via conical intersections, whereupon nuclear wavepacket revivals to the initial Franck-Condon region become effectively impossible. Lastly, in Paper II [W. J. Glover et al., J. Chem. Phys. 148, 164303 (2018)], ab initio multiple spawning is used for on-the-fly computations of the excited state non-adiabatic wavepacket dynamics and their associated TRPEPICO observables, allowing for direct comparisons of experiment with theory.« less

  12. Ab Initio Theory of Dynamical Core-Hole Screening in Graphite from X-Ray Absorption Spectra

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wessely, O.; Katsnelson, M. I.; Eriksson, O.

    2005-04-01

    We have implemented the effect of dynamical core-hole screening, as given by Mahan, Nozières, and De Dominicis, in a first-principles based method and applied the theory to the x-ray absorption (XA) spectrum of graphite. It turns out that two of the conspicuous peaks of graphite are well described, both regarding the position, shape, and relative intensity, whereas one peak is absent in the theory. Only by incorporation of both excitonic and delocalized processes can a full account of the experimental spectrum be obtained theoretically, and we interpret the XA spectrum in graphite to be the result of a well screened and a poor screened process, much in the same way as is done for core level x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

  13. Dynamic absorption and scattering of water and hydrogel during high-repetition-rate (>100 MHz) burst-mode ultrafast-pulse laser ablation.

    PubMed

    Qian, Zuoming; Covarrubias, Andrés; Grindal, Alexander W; Akens, Margarete K; Lilge, Lothar; Marjoribanks, Robin S

    2016-06-01

    High-repetition-rate burst-mode ultrafast-laser ablation and disruption of biological tissues depends on interaction of each pulse with the sample, but under those particular conditions which persist from previous pulses. This work characterizes and compares the dynamics of absorption and scattering of a 133-MHz repetition-rate, burst-mode ultrafast-pulse laser, in agar hydrogel targets and distilled water. The differences in energy partition are quantified, pulse-by-pulse, using a time-resolving integrating-sphere-based device. These measurements reveal that high-repetition-rate burst-mode ultrafast-laser ablation is a highly dynamical process affected by the persistence of ionization, dissipation of plasma plume, neutral material flow, tissue tensile strength, and the hydrodynamic oscillation of cavitation bubbles.

  14. To Investigate the Absorption, Dynamic Contact Angle and Printability Effects of Synthetic Zeolite Pigments in an Inkjet Receptive Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jalindre, Swaraj Sunil

    Ink absorption performance in inkjet receptive coatings containing synthetic zeolite pigments was studied. Coating pigment pore and particle size distribution are the key parameters that influence in modifying media surface properties, thus affecting the rate of ink penetration and drying time (Scholkopf, et al. 2004). The primary objective of this study was: (1) to investigate the synthetic zeolite pigment effects on inkjet ink absorption, dynamic contact angle and printability, and (2) to evaluate these novel synthetic zeolite pigments in replacing the fumed silica pigments in conventional inkjet receptive coatings. In this research study, single pigment coating formulations (in equal P:B ratio) were prepared using microporous synthetic zeolite pigments (5A, Organophilic and 13X) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) binder. The laboratory-coated samples were characterized for absorption, air permeance, roughness, drying time, wettability and print fidelity. Based on the rheological data, it was found that the synthetic zeolite formulated coatings depicted a Newtonian flow behavior at low shear; while the industry accepted fumed silica based coatings displayed a characteristically high pseudoplastic flow behavior. Our coated samples generated using microporous synthetic zeolite pigments produced low absorption, reduced wettability and accelerated ink drying characteristics. These characteristics were caused due to the synthetic zeolite pigments, which resulted in relatively closed surface structure coated samples. The research suggested that no single selected synthetic zeolite coating performed better than the conventional fumed silica based coatings. Experimental data also showed that there was no apparent relationship between synthetic zeolite pigment pore sizes and inkjet ink absorption. For future research, above coated samples should be evaluated for pore size distribution using Mercury Porosimeter, which quantifies surface porosity of coated samples. This presented

  15. Infraslow Electroencephalographic and Dynamic Resting State Network Activity

    PubMed Central

    Grooms, Joshua K.; Thompson, Garth J.; Pan, Wen-Ju; Billings, Jacob; Schumacher, Eric H.; Epstein, Charles M.

    2017-01-01

    Abstract A number of studies have linked the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal to electroencephalographic (EEG) signals in traditional frequency bands (δ, θ, α, β, and γ), but the relationship between BOLD and its direct frequency correlates in the infraslow band (<1 Hz) has been little studied. Previously, work in rodents showed that infraslow local field potentials play a role in functional connectivity, particularly in the dynamic organization of large-scale networks. To examine the relationship between infraslow activity and network dynamics in humans, direct current (DC) EEG and resting state magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired simultaneously. The DC EEG signals were correlated with the BOLD signal in patterns that resembled resting state networks. Subsequent dynamic analysis showed that the correlation between DC EEG and the BOLD signal varied substantially over time, even within individual subjects. The variation in DC EEG appears to reflect the time-varying contribution of different resting state networks. Furthermore, some of the patterns of DC EEG and BOLD correlation are consistent with previous work demonstrating quasiperiodic spatiotemporal patterns of large-scale network activity in resting state. These findings demonstrate that infraslow electrical activity is linked to BOLD fluctuations in humans and that it may provide a basis for large-scale organization comparable to that observed in animal studies. PMID:28462586

  16. Modeling of the Dynamics of Radio Wave Reflection and Absorption in a Smoothly Ionomogeneous Plasma with Electromagnetically Driven Strong Langmuir Turbulence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kochetov, A. V.

    2018-05-01

    This work was initiated by experiments on studying the self-action of radio waves incident on the ionosphere from a ground-based transmitter at the stage of electromagnetic excitation of Langmuir turbulence (Langmuir effect). The emphasis is on the impact of "self-consistent" collisionless absorption of radio waves by the Langmuir turbulence, which develops when the incident-wave field swells in the resonant region of a smoothly inhomogeneous plasma, on the dynamics of the radio wave reflection. Electrodynamic characteristics of the nonlinear-plasma layer, which has a linear unperturbed profile of the plasma density, with different features of the absorption development are obtained for a high intensity of the incident radiation. Calculations of "soft" and "hard" regimes of the absorption occurrence, as well as hysteresis modes in which the damping switch-on and off thresholds differ several times, are carried out. The algorithms we devised and the results of the study can serve as the basis for a more adequate and more detailed numerical simulation for interpretation of the experimental data obtained at the stage of the Langmuir effect in the ionosphere.

  17. Dynamic recruitment of resting state sub-networks

    PubMed Central

    O'Neill, George C.; Bauer, Markus; Woolrich, Mark W.; Morris, Peter G.; Barnes, Gareth R.; Brookes, Matthew J.

    2015-01-01

    Resting state networks (RSNs) are of fundamental importance in human systems neuroscience with evidence suggesting that they are integral to healthy brain function and perturbed in pathology. Despite rapid progress in this area, the temporal dynamics governing the functional connectivities that underlie RSN structure remain poorly understood. Here, we present a framework to help further our understanding of RSN dynamics. We describe a methodology which exploits the direct nature and high temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG). This technique, which builds on previous work, extends from solving fundamental confounds in MEG (source leakage) to multivariate modelling of transient connectivity. The resulting processing pipeline facilitates direct (electrophysiological) measurement of dynamic functional networks. Our results show that, when functional connectivity is assessed in small time windows, the canonical sensorimotor network can be decomposed into a number of transiently synchronising sub-networks, recruitment of which depends on current mental state. These rapidly changing sub-networks are spatially focal with, for example, bilateral primary sensory and motor areas resolved into two separate sub-networks. The likely interpretation is that the larger canonical sensorimotor network most often seen in neuroimaging studies reflects only a temporal aggregate of these transient sub-networks. Our approach opens new frontiers to study RSN dynamics, showing that MEG is capable of revealing the spatial, temporal and spectral signature of the human connectome in health and disease. PMID:25899137

  18. Dynamic Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Major Depression.

    PubMed

    Kaiser, Roselinde H; Whitfield-Gabrieli, Susan; Dillon, Daniel G; Goer, Franziska; Beltzer, Miranda; Minkel, Jared; Smoski, Moria; Dichter, Gabriel; Pizzagalli, Diego A

    2016-06-01

    Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by abnormal resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), especially in medial prefrontal cortical (MPFC) regions of the default network. However, prior research in MDD has not examined dynamic changes in functional connectivity as networks form, interact, and dissolve over time. We compared unmedicated individuals with MDD (n=100) to control participants (n=109) on dynamic RSFC (operationalized as SD in RSFC over a series of sliding windows) of an MPFC seed region during a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Among participants with MDD, we also investigated the relationship between symptom severity and RSFC. Secondary analyses probed the association between dynamic RSFC and rumination. Results showed that individuals with MDD were characterized by decreased dynamic (less variable) RSFC between MPFC and regions of parahippocampal gyrus within the default network, a pattern related to sustained positive connectivity between these regions across sliding windows. In contrast, the MDD group exhibited increased dynamic (more variable) RSFC between MPFC and regions of insula, and higher severity of depression was related to increased dynamic RSFC between MPFC and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These patterns of highly variable RSFC were related to greater frequency of strong positive and negative correlations in activity across sliding windows. Secondary analyses indicated that increased dynamic RSFC between MPFC and insula was related to higher levels of recent rumination. These findings provide initial evidence that depression, and ruminative thinking in depression, are related to abnormal patterns of fluctuating communication among brain systems involved in regulating attention and self-referential thinking.

  19. Anharmonic resonance absorption of short laser pulses in clusters: A molecular dynamics simulation study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahalik, S. S.; Kundu, M.

    2016-12-01

    Linear resonance (LR) absorption of an intense 800 nm laser light in a nano-cluster requires a long laser pulse >100 fs when Mie-plasma frequency ( ω M ) of electrons in the expanding cluster matches the laser frequency (ω). For a short duration of the pulse, the condition for LR is not satisfied. In this case, it was shown by a model and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 123401 (2006)] that electrons absorb laser energy by anharmonic resonance (AHR) when the position-dependent frequency Ω [ r ( t ) ] of an electron in the self-consistent anharmonic potential of the cluster satisfies Ω [ r ( t ) ] = ω . However, AHR remains to be a debate and still obscure in multi-particle plasma simulations. Here, we identify AHR mechanism in a laser driven cluster using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. By analyzing the trajectory of each MD electron and extracting its Ω [ r ( t ) ] in the self-generated anharmonic plasma potential, it is found that electron is outer ionized only when AHR is met. An anharmonic oscillator model, introduced here, brings out most of the features of MD electrons while passing the AHR. Thus, we not only bridge the gap between PIC simulations, analytical models, and MD calculations for the first time but also unequivocally prove that AHR process is a universal dominant collisionless mechanism of absorption in the short pulse regime or in the early time of longer pulses in clusters.

  20. Ultrafast photoinduced dynamics of the 3,6-diaminoacridinium derivative ATTO 465 in solution.

    PubMed

    Arden-Jacob, Jutta; Drexhage, Karl-Heinz; Druzhinin, Sergey I; Ekimova, Maria; Flender, Oliver; Lenzer, Thomas; Oum, Kawon; Scholz, Mirko

    2013-02-14

    The excited state dynamics of the dye ATTO 465, a well-known fluorescence marker for biological applications, have been characterized in various solvents including THF, ethanol, methanol, water and the highly polar protic ionic liquid 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate (2-OH-EAF) by combining results from time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) and ultrafast pump-supercontinuum probe (PSCP) spectroscopy as well as steady-state absorption and fluorescence. In water, 2-OH-EAF and two fluorinated alcohols, there is a pronounced blue-shift and broadening of the S(0) → S(1) absorption band and also a larger Stokes shift than in the other solvents, indicating a particular influence of hydrogen-bonding interactions. S(1) lifetimes from TCSPC at 25 °C range from 3.3 ns to 5.6 ns. An unusual increase in the S(1) lifetime with temperature is observed for ethanol and methanol, however water behaves in the opposite way. The behavior can be tentatively explained by a solvent- and temperature-dependent "proximity effect", where coupling of the close-lying S(1) and S(2) states influences the intramolecular relaxation rate of the dye. In addition, temperature-dependent complex equilibria of ATTO 465 with solvent molecules may influence the measured lifetimes. Several excited-state absorption (ESA) transitions are identified in the PSCP spectra, which are in good agreement with the position of the UV bands in the steady-state absorption spectra. Small shifts of the stimulated emission and ESA bands are consistent with solvation dynamics in the excited electronic state. An additional ~16 ps component in water, visible over the entire spectral range, is tentatively ascribed to a fast IC channel which is accessed by a fraction of ATTO 465 molecules.

  1. Accurate quantum yields by laser gain vs absorption spectroscopy - Investigation of Br/Br(asterisk) channels in photofragmentation of Br2 and IBr

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Haugen, H. K.; Weitz, E.; Leone, S. R.

    1985-01-01

    Various techniques have been used to study photodissociation dynamics of the halogens and interhalogens. The quantum yields obtained by these techniques differ widely. The present investigation is concerned with a qualitatively new approach for obtaining highly accurate quantum yields for electronically excited states. This approach makes it possible to obtain an accuracy of 1 percent to 3 percent. It is shown that measurement of the initial transient gain/absorption vs the final absorption in a single time-resolved signal is a very accurate technique in the study of absolute branching fractions in photodissociation. The new technique is found to be insensitive to pulse and probe laser characteristics, molecular absorption cross sections, and absolute precursor density.

  2. Dynamical differences of hemoglobin and the ionotropic glutamate receptor in different states revealed by a new dynamics alignment method.

    PubMed

    Tobi, Dror

    2017-08-01

    A new algorithm for comparison of protein dynamics is presented. Compared protein structures are superposed and their modes of motions are calculated using the anisotropic network model. The obtained modes are aligned using the dynamic programming algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch, commonly used for sequence alignment. Dynamical comparison of hemoglobin in the T and R2 states reveals that the dynamics of the allosteric effector 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate binding site is different in the two states. These differences can contribute to the selectivity of the effector to the T state. Similar comparison of the ionotropic glutamate receptor in the kainate+(R,R)-2b and ZK bound states reveals that the kainate+(R,R)-2b bound states slow modes describe upward motions of ligand binding domain and the transmembrane domain regions. Such motions may lead to the opening of the receptor. The upper lobes of the LBDs of the ZK bound state have a smaller interface with the amino terminal domains above them and have a better ability to move together. The present study exemplifies the use of dynamics comparison as a tool to study protein function. Proteins 2017; 85:1507-1517. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Causal relations among events and states in dynamic geographical phenomena

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Zhaoqiang; Feng, Xuezhi; Xuan, Wenling; Chen, Xiuwan

    2007-06-01

    There is only a static state of the real world to be recorded in conventional geographical information systems. However, there is not only static information but also dynamic information in geographical phenomena. So that how to record the dynamic information and reveal the relations among dynamic information is an important issue in a spatio-temporal information system. From an ontological perspective, we can initially divide the spatio-temporal entities in the world into continuants and occurrents. Continuant entities endure through some extended (although possibly very short) interval of time (e.g., houses, roads, cities, and real-estate). Occurrent entities happen and are then gone (e.g., a house repair job, road construction project, urban expansion, real-estate transition). From an information system perspective, continuants and occurrents that have a unique identity in the system are referred to as objects and events, respectively. And the change is represented implicitly by static snapshots in current spatial temporal information systems. In the previous models, the objects can be considered as the fundamental components of the system, and the change is modeled by considering time-varying attributes of these objects. In the spatio-temporal database, the temporal information that is either interval or instant is involved and the underlying data structures and indexes for temporal are considerable investigated. However, there is the absence of explicit ways of considering events, which affect the attributes of objects or the state. So the research issue of this paper focuses on how to model events in conceptual models of dynamic geographical phenomena and how to represent the causal relations among events and the objects or states. Firstly, the paper reviews the conceptual modeling in a temporal GIS by researchers. Secondly, this paper discusses the spatio-temporal entities: objects and events. Thirdly, this paper investigates the causal relations amongst

  4. Excited state properties of peridinin: Observation of a solvent dependence of the lowest excited singlet state lifetime and spectral behavior unique among carotenoids

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bautista, J.A.; Connors, R.E.; Raju, B.B.

    1999-10-14

    The spectroscopic properties and dynamic behavior of peridinin in several different solvents were studied by steady-state absorption, fluorescence, and transient optical spectroscopy. The lifetime of the lowest excited singlet state of peridinin is found to be strongly dependent on solvent polarity and ranges from 7 ps in the strongly polar solvent trifluoroethanol to 172 ps in the nonpolar solvents cyclohexane and benzene. The lifetimes show no obvious correlation with solvent polarizability, and hydrogen bonding of the solvent molecules to peridinin is not an important factor in determining the dynamic behavior of the lowest excited singlet state. The wavelengths of emissionmore » maxima, the quantum yields of fluorescence, and the transient absorption spectra are also affected by the solvent environment. A model consistent with the data and supported by preliminary semiempirical calculations invokes the presence of a charge transfer state in the excited state manifold of peridinin to account for the observations. The charge transfer state most probably results from the presence of the lactone ring in the {pi}-electron conjugation of peridinin analogous to previous findings on aminocoumarins and related compounds. The behavior of peridinin reported here is highly unusual for carotenoids, which generally show little dependence of the spectral properties and lifetimes of the lowest excited singlet state on the solvent environment.« less

  5. Dynamics and control of state-dependent networks for probing genomic organization

    PubMed Central

    Rajapakse, Indika; Groudine, Mark; Mesbahi, Mehran

    2011-01-01

    A state-dependent dynamic network is a collection of elements that interact through a network, whose geometry evolves as the state of the elements changes over time. The genome is an intriguing example of a state-dependent network, where chromosomal geometry directly relates to genomic activity, which in turn strongly correlates with geometry. Here we examine various aspects of a genomic state-dependent dynamic network. In particular, we elaborate on one of the important ramifications of viewing genomic networks as being state-dependent, namely, their controllability during processes of genomic reorganization such as in cell differentiation. PMID:21911407

  6. Investigating the Intersession Reliability of Dynamic Brain-State Properties.

    PubMed

    Smith, Derek M; Zhao, Yrian; Keilholz, Shella D; Schumacher, Eric H

    2018-06-01

    Dynamic functional connectivity metrics have much to offer to the neuroscience of individual differences of cognition. Yet, despite the recent expansion in dynamic connectivity research, limited resources have been devoted to the study of the reliability of these connectivity measures. To address this, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 100 Human Connectome Project subjects were compared across 2 scan days. Brain states (i.e., patterns of coactivity across regions) were identified by classifying each time frame using k means clustering. This was done with and without global signal regression (GSR). Multiple gauges of reliability indicated consistency in the brain-state properties across days and GSR attenuated the reliability of the brain states. Changes in the brain-state properties across the course of the scan were investigated as well. The results demonstrate that summary metrics describing the clustering of individual time frames have adequate test/retest reliability, and thus, these patterns of brain activation may hold promise for individual-difference research.

  7. Tin Oxide Nanowires: The Influence of Trap States on Ultrafast Carrier Relaxation

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    We have studied the optical properties and carrier dynamics in SnO2nanowires (NWs) with an average radius of 50 nm that were grown via the vapor–liquid solid method. Transient differential absorption measurements have been employed to investigate the ultrafast relaxation dynamics of photogenerated carriers in the SnO2NWs. Steady state transmission measurements revealed that the band gap of these NWs is 3.77 eV and contains two broad absorption bands. The first is located below the band edge (shallow traps) and the second near the center of the band gap (deep traps). Both of these absorption bands seem to play a crucial role in the relaxation of the photogenerated carriers. Time resolved measurements suggest that the photogenerated carriers take a few picoseconds to move into the shallow trap states whereas they take ~70 ps to move from the shallow to the deep trap states. Furthermore the recombination process of electrons in these trap states with holes in the valence band takes ~2 ns. Auger recombination appears to be important at the highest fluence used in this study (500 μJ/cm2); however, it has negligible effect for fluences below 50 μJ/cm2. The Auger coefficient for the SnO2NWs was estimated to be 7.5 ± 2.5 × 10−31 cm6/s. PMID:20596473

  8. DFT study of electron absorption and emission spectra of pyramidal LnPc(OAc) complexes of some lanthanide ions in the solid state.

    PubMed

    Hanuza, J; Godlewska, P; Lisiecki, R; Ryba-Romanowski, W; Kadłubański, P; Lorenc, J; Łukowiak, A; Macalik, L; Gerasymchuk, Yu; Legendziewicz, J

    2018-05-05

    The electron absorption and emission spectra were measured for the pyramidal LnPc(OAc) complexes in the solid state and co-doped in silica glass, where Ln=Er, Eu and Ho. The theoretical electron spectra were determined from the quantum chemical DFT calculation using four approximations CAM-B3LYP/LANL2DZ, CAM-B3LYP/CC-PVDZ, B3LYP/LANL2DZ and B3LYP/CC-PVDZ. It was shown that the best agreement between the calculated and experimental structural parameters and spectroscopic data was reached for the CAM-B3LYP/LANL2DZ model. The emission spectra were measured using the excitations both in the ligand and lanthanide absorption ranges. The possibility of energy transfer between the phthalocyanine ligand and excited states of lanthanide ions was discussed. It was shown that the back energy transfer from metal states to phthalocyanine state is responsible for the observed emission of the studied complexes both in the polycrystalline state and silica glass. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  9. Study of a Steel’s Energy Absorption System for Heavy Quadricycles and Nonlinear Explicit Dynamic Analysis of its Behavior under Impact by FEM

    PubMed Central

    López Campos, José Ángel; Segade Robleda, Abraham; Vilán Vilán, José Antonio; García Nieto, Paulino José; Blanco Cordero, Javier

    2015-01-01

    Current knowledge of the behavior of heavy quadricycles under impact is still very poor. One of the most significant causes is the lack of energy absorption in the vehicle frame or its steel chassis structure. For this reason, special steels (with yield stresses equal to or greater than 350 MPa) are commonly used in the automotive industry due to their great strain hardening properties along the plastic zone, which allows good energy absorption under impact. This paper presents a proposal for a steel quadricycle energy absorption system which meets the percentages of energy absorption for conventional vehicles systems. This proposal is validated by explicit dynamics simulation, which will define the whole problem mathematically and verify behavior under impact at speeds of 40 km/h and 56 km/h using the finite element method (FEM). One of the main consequences of this study is that this FEM–based methodology can tackle high nonlinear problems like this one with success, avoiding the need to carry out experimental tests, with consequent economical savings since experimental tests are very expensive. Finally, the conclusions from this innovative research work are given. PMID:28793607

  10. Fusion of Ultraviolet-Visible and Infrared Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Data to Model Ultrafast Photoisomerization.

    PubMed

    Debus, Bruno; Orio, Maylis; Rehault, Julien; Burdzinski, Gotard; Ruckebusch, Cyril; Sliwa, Michel

    2017-08-03

    Ultrafast photoisomerization reactions generally start at a higher excited state with excess of internal vibrational energy and occur via conical intersections. This leads to ultrafast dynamics which are difficult to investigate with a single transient absorption spectroscopy technique, be it in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) or infrared (IR) domain. On one hand, the information available in the UV-vis domain is limited as only slight spectral changes are observed for different isomers. On the other hand, the interpretation of vibrational spectra is strongly hindered by intramolecular relaxation and vibrational cooling. These limitations can be circumvented by fusing UV-vis and IR transient absorption spectroscopy data in a multiset multivariate curve resolution analysis. We apply this approach to describe the spectrodynamics of the ultrafast cis-trans photoisomerization around the C-N double bond observed for aromatic Schiff bases. Twisted intermediate states could be elucidated, and isomerization was shown to occur through a continuous complete rotation. More broadly, data fusion can be used to rationalize a vast range of ultrafast photoisomerization processes of interest in photochemistry.

  11. Analyte-induced spectral filtering in femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Abraham, Baxter; Nieto-Pescador, Jesus; Gundlach, Lars

    Here, we discuss the influence of spectral filtering by samples in femtosecond transient absorption measurements. Commercial instruments for transient absorption spectroscopy (TA) have become increasingly available to scientists in recent years and TA is becoming an established technique to measure the dynamics of photoexcited systems. Furthermore, we show that absorption of the excitation pulse by the sample can severely alter the spectrum and consequently the temporal pulse shape. This “spectral self-filtering” effect can lead to systematic errors and misinterpretation of data, most notably in concentration dependent measurements. Finally, the combination of narrow absorption peaks in the sample with ultrafast broadbandmore » excitation pulses is especially prone to this effect.« less

  12. Analyte-induced spectral filtering in femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Abraham, Baxter; Nieto-Pescador, Jesus; Gundlach, Lars

    2017-03-06

    Here, we discuss the influence of spectral filtering by samples in femtosecond transient absorption measurements. Commercial instruments for transient absorption spectroscopy (TA) have become increasingly available to scientists in recent years and TA is becoming an established technique to measure the dynamics of photoexcited systems. Furthermore, we show that absorption of the excitation pulse by the sample can severely alter the spectrum and consequently the temporal pulse shape. This “spectral self-filtering” effect can lead to systematic errors and misinterpretation of data, most notably in concentration dependent measurements. Finally, the combination of narrow absorption peaks in the sample with ultrafast broadbandmore » excitation pulses is especially prone to this effect.« less

  13. Discovery of Hα Absorption in the Unusual Broad Absorption Line Quasar SDSS J083942.11+380526.3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aoki, Kentaro; Iwata, Ikuru; Ohta, Kouji; Ando, Masataka; Akiyama, Masayuki; Tamura, Naoyuki

    2006-11-01

    We discovered Hα absorption in the broad Hα emission line of an unusual broad absorption line quasar, SDSS J083942.11+380526.3, at z=2.318, through near-infrared spectroscopy with the Cooled Infrared Spectrograph and Camera for OHS (CISCO) on the Subaru telescope. The presence of nonstellar Hα absorption is known only in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 to date; thus, our discovery is the first case for quasars. The Hα absorption line is blueshifted by 520 km s-1 relative to the Hα emission line, and its redshift almost coincides with those of UV low-ionization metal absorption lines. The width of the Hα absorption (~340 km s-1) is similar to those of the UV low-ionization absorption lines. These facts suggest that the Hα and low-ionization metal absorption lines are produced by the same low-ionization gas, which has a substantial amount of neutral gas. The column density of the neutral hydrogen is estimated to be ~1018 cm-2 by assuming a gas temperature of 10,000 K from the analysis of the curve of growth. The continuum spectrum is reproduced by a reddened [E(B-V)~0.15 mag for the SMC-like reddening law] composite quasar spectrum. Furthermore, the UV spectrum of SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 shows a remarkable similarity to that of NGC 4151 in its low state, suggesting that the physical condition of the absorber in SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 is similar to that of NGC 4151 in the low state. As proposed for NGC 4151, SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 may also be seen through the edge of the obscuring torus. Based in part on data collected at Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

  14. Spectral Absorption Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bergstrom, R. W.; Pilewskie, P.; Russell, P. B.; Redemann, J.; Bond, T. C.; Quinn, P. K.; Sierau, B.

    2007-01-01

    We have determined the solar spectral absorption optical depth of atmospheric aerosols for specific case studies during several field programs (three cases have been reported previously; two are new results). We combined airborne measurements of the solar net radiant flux density and the aerosol optical depth with a detailed radiative transfer model for all but one of the cases. The field programs (SAFARI 2000, ACE Asia, PRIDE, TARFOX, INTEX-A) contained aerosols representing the major absorbing aerosol types: pollution, biomass burning, desert dust and mixtures. In all cases the spectral absorption optical depth decreases with wavelength and can be approximated with a power-law wavelength dependence (Absorption Angstrom Exponent or AAE). We compare our results with other recent spectral absorption measurements and attempt to briefly summarize the state of knowledge of aerosol absorption spectra in the atmosphere. We discuss the limitations in using the AAE for calculating the solar absorption. We also discuss the resulting spectral single scattering albedo for these cases.

  15. X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure And Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Analysis of Standards And Biological Samples Containing Mixed Oxidation States of Chromium(III) And Chromium(VI)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Parsons, J.G.; Dokken, K.; Peralta-Videa, J.R.

    For the first time a method has been developed for the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data analyses of biological samples containing multiple oxidation states of chromium. In this study, the first shell coordination and interatomic distances based on the data analysis of known standards of potassium chromate (Cr(VI)) and chromium nitrate hexahydrate (Cr(III)) were investigated. The standards examined were mixtures of the following molar ratios of Cr(VI):Cr(III), 0:1, 0.25:0.75, 0.5:0.5, 0.75:0.25, and 1:0. It was determined from the calibration data that the fitting error associated with linear combination X-ray absorption near edge structure (LC-XANES) fittings was approximately {+-}10%more » of the total fitting. The peak height of the Cr(VI) pre-edge feature after normalization of the X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra was used to prepare a calibration curve. The EXAFS fittings of the standards were also investigated and fittings to lechuguilla biomass samples laden with different ratios of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were performed as well. An excellent agreement between the XANES data and the data presented in the EXAFS spectra was observed. The EXFAS data also presented mean coordination numbers directly related to the ratios of the different chromium oxidation states in the sample. The chromium oxygen interactions had two different bond lengths at approximately 1.68 and 1.98 {angstrom} for the Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in the sample, respectively.« less

  16. Ultrafast carrier dynamics and third-order nonlinear optical properties of AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals.

    PubMed

    Yu, Kuai; Yang, Yang; Wang, Junzhong; Tang, Xiaosheng; Xu, Qing-Hua; Wang, Guo Ping

    2018-06-22

    Broad photoluminescence (PL) emission, a large Stokes shift and extremely long-lived radiative lifetimes are the characteristics of ternary I-III-VI semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), such as CuInS 2 and AgInS 2 . However, the lack of understanding regarding the intriguing PL mechanisms and photo-carrier dynamics limits their further applications. Here, AgInS 2 and AgInS 2 /ZnS NCs were chemically synthesized and their carrier dynamics were studied by time-resolved PL spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the surface defect state, which contributed dominantly to the non-radiative decay processes, was effectively passivated through ZnS alloying. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was also used to investigate the carrier dynamics, revealing the electron storage at the surface state and donor state. Furthermore, the two photon absorption properties of AgInS 2 and AgInS 2 /ZnS NCs were measured using an open-aperture Z-scan technique. The improved third-order nonlinear susceptibility [Formula: see text] of AgInS 2 through ZnS alloying demonstrates potential application in two photon PL biological imaging.

  17. Ultrafast carrier dynamics and third-order nonlinear optical properties of AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Kuai; Yang, Yang; Wang, Junzhong; Tang, Xiaosheng; Xu, Qing-Hua; Wang, Guo Ping

    2018-06-01

    Broad photoluminescence (PL) emission, a large Stokes shift and extremely long-lived radiative lifetimes are the characteristics of ternary I–III–VI semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), such as CuInS2 and AgInS2. However, the lack of understanding regarding the intriguing PL mechanisms and photo-carrier dynamics limits their further applications. Here, AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS NCs were chemically synthesized and their carrier dynamics were studied by time-resolved PL spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the surface defect state, which contributed dominantly to the non-radiative decay processes, was effectively passivated through ZnS alloying. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was also used to investigate the carrier dynamics, revealing the electron storage at the surface state and donor state. Furthermore, the two photon absorption properties of AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS NCs were measured using an open-aperture Z-scan technique. The improved third-order nonlinear susceptibility {χ }(3) of AgInS2 through ZnS alloying demonstrates potential application in two photon PL biological imaging.

  18. Ultralight Fe@C Nanocapsules/Sponge Composite with Reversibly Tunable Microwave Absorption Performances.

    PubMed

    Li, Yixing; Mao, Zhe; Liu, Rongge; Zhao, Xiaoning; Zhang, Yanhui; Qin, Gaowu; Zhang, Xuefeng

    2017-08-11

    Microwave absorbers are usually designed to solve electromagnetic interferences at a specific frequency, while the requirements may be dynamic during service life. Therefore, a recoverable tuning for microwave absorption properties in response to an external stimulus would be highly desirable. We herein present a micro/nano-scale hybrid absorber, in which high-performance Fe@C nanocapsule absorbents are integrated with a porous melamine sponge skeleton, exhibiting multiple merits of light weight, strong absorption and high elasticity. By mechanically compressing and decompressing the absorber, microwave absorption performances can be effectively shifted between 18 GHz and 26.5 GHz. The present study thus provides a new strategy for the design of a 'dynamic' microwave absorber.

  19. Macroscopic description of complex adaptive networks coevolving with dynamic node states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiedermann, Marc; Donges, Jonathan F.; Heitzig, Jobst; Lucht, Wolfgang; Kurths, Jürgen

    2015-05-01

    In many real-world complex systems, the time evolution of the network's structure and the dynamic state of its nodes are closely entangled. Here we study opinion formation and imitation on an adaptive complex network which is dependent on the individual dynamic state of each node and vice versa to model the coevolution of renewable resources with the dynamics of harvesting agents on a social network. The adaptive voter model is coupled to a set of identical logistic growth models and we mainly find that, in such systems, the rate of interactions between nodes as well as the adaptive rewiring probability are crucial parameters for controlling the sustainability of the system's equilibrium state. We derive a macroscopic description of the system in terms of ordinary differential equations which provides a general framework to model and quantify the influence of single node dynamics on the macroscopic state of the network. The thus obtained framework is applicable to many fields of study, such as epidemic spreading, opinion formation, or socioecological modeling.

  20. Macroscopic description of complex adaptive networks coevolving with dynamic node states.

    PubMed

    Wiedermann, Marc; Donges, Jonathan F; Heitzig, Jobst; Lucht, Wolfgang; Kurths, Jürgen

    2015-05-01

    In many real-world complex systems, the time evolution of the network's structure and the dynamic state of its nodes are closely entangled. Here we study opinion formation and imitation on an adaptive complex network which is dependent on the individual dynamic state of each node and vice versa to model the coevolution of renewable resources with the dynamics of harvesting agents on a social network. The adaptive voter model is coupled to a set of identical logistic growth models and we mainly find that, in such systems, the rate of interactions between nodes as well as the adaptive rewiring probability are crucial parameters for controlling the sustainability of the system's equilibrium state. We derive a macroscopic description of the system in terms of ordinary differential equations which provides a general framework to model and quantify the influence of single node dynamics on the macroscopic state of the network. The thus obtained framework is applicable to many fields of study, such as epidemic spreading, opinion formation, or socioecological modeling.

  1. Excited-state dynamics of the medicinal pigment curcumin in a hydrogel.

    PubMed

    Harada, Takaaki; Lincoln, Stephen F; Kee, Tak W

    2016-10-12

    Curcumin is a yellow polyphenol with multiple medicinal effects. These effects, however, are limited due to its poor aqueous stability and solubility. A hydrogel of 3% octadecyl randomly substituted polyacrylate (PAAC18) has been shown to provide high aqueous stability for curcumin under physiological conditions, offering a route for photodynamic therapy. In this study, the excited-state photophysics of curcumin in the PAAC18 hydrogel is investigated using a combination of femtosecond transient absorption and fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy. The transient absorption results reveal a multiexponential decay in the excited-state kinetics with fast (1 ps & 15 ps) and slow (110 ps & ≈5 ns) components. The fast decay component exhibits a deuterium isotope effect with D 2 O in the hydrogel, indicating that the 15 ps decay component is attributable to excited-state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer of curcumin in the PAAC18 hydrogel. In addition, solvent reorganisation of excited-state curcumin is investigated using multiwavelength femtosecond fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy. The results show that the dominant solvation response (τ = 0.08 ps) is a fast inertial motion owing to the presence of bulk-like water in the vicinity of the hydrophobic octadecyl substituents of the PAAC18 hydrogel. The results also show an additional response with longer time constants of 1 and 6 ps, which is attributable to translational diffusion of confined water molecules in the three-dimensional, cross-linking network of the octadecyl substituents of PAAC18. Overall, we show that excited-state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer and solvent reorganisation are major photophysical events for curcumin in the PAAC18 hydrogel.

  2. Dynamic State Estimation of Terrestrial and Solar Plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kamalabadi, Farzad

    A pervasive problem in virtually all branches of space science is the estimation of multi-dimensional state parameters of a dynamical system from a collection of indirect, often incomplete, and imprecise measurements. Subsequent scientific inference is predicated on rigorous analysis, interpretation, and understanding of physical observations and on the reliability of the associated quantitative statistical bounds and performance characteristics of the algorithms used. In this work, we focus on these dynamic state estimation problems and illustrate their importance in the context of two timely activities in space remote sensing. First, we discuss the estimation of multi-dimensional ionospheric state parameters from UV spectral imaging measurements anticipated to be acquired the recently selected NASA Heliophysics mission, Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON). Next, we illustrate that similar state-space formulations provide the means for the estimation of 3D, time-dependent densities and temperatures in the solar corona from a series of white-light and EUV measurements. We demonstrate that, while a general framework for the stochastic formulation of the state estimation problem is suited for systematic inference of the parameters of a hidden Markov process, several challenges must be addressed in the assimilation of an increasing volume and diversity of space observations. These challenges are: (1) the computational tractability when faced with voluminous and multimodal data, (2) the inherent limitations of the underlying models which assume, often incorrectly, linear dynamics and Gaussian noise, and (3) the unavailability or inaccuracy of transition probabilities and noise statistics. We argue that pursuing answers to these questions necessitates cross-disciplinary research that enables progress toward systematically reconciling observational and theoretical understanding of the space environment.

  3. Health assessment for William Dick Lagoons, Honeybrook, Pennsylvania, Region 3. CERCLIS No. PAD980537773. Preliminary report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1988-09-30

    The William Dick Lagoon site consists of three unlined lagoons (approximately 2.5 acres total area) which previously contained over four million gallons of rinse water from cleaning chemical tank trailers. In 1970, two of the lagoons breached and released approximately 300,000 gallons of wastewater into the nearby area and a small tributary. Trichloroethylene, toluene, 4,4-DDE, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons have been reported in the soil on the site. Trichloroethylene was detected in a nearby spring, previously used as a water source by a small number of residents. Potential human exposure pathways include ingestion of contaminated water, dermal exposure to contaminatedmore » water and soil, and inhalation of contaminated dust and organics in the contaminated groundwater. The site is considered to be of potential public health concern because of the risk to human health caused by the possibility of exposure to hazardous substances. However, it does not appear that a human population is currently exposed to site contaminants at levels of health concern.« less

  4. Absorption and emission spectroscopic characterization of blue-light receptor Slr1694 from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

    PubMed

    Zirak, P; Penzkofer, A; Lehmpfuhl, C; Mathes, T; Hegemann, P

    2007-01-03

    The BLUF protein Slr1694 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is characterized by absorption and emission spectroscopy. Slr1694 expressed from E. coli which non-covalently binds FAD, FMN, and riboflavin (called Slr1694(I)), and reconstituted Slr1694 which dominantly contains FAD (called Slr1694(II)) are investigated. The receptor conformation of Slr1694 (dark adapted form Slr1694(r)) is transformed to the putative signalling state (light adapted form Slr1694(s)) with red-shifted absorption and decreased fluorescence efficiency by blue-light excitation. In the dark at 22 degrees C, the signalling state recovers back to the initial receptor state with a time constants of about 14.2s for Slr1694(I) and 17s for Slr1694(II). Quantum yields of signalling state formation of approximately 0.63+/-0.07 for both Slr1694(I) and Slr1694(II) were determined by transient transmission measurements and intensity dependent steady-state transmission measurements. Extended blue-light excitation causes some bound flavin conversion to the hydroquinone form and some photo-degradation, both with low quantum efficiency. The flavin-hydroquinone re-oxidizes slowly back (time constant 5-9 min) to the initial flavoquinone form in the dark. A photo-cycle dynamics scheme is presented.

  5. Direct and simultaneous observation of ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium.

    PubMed

    Zürch, Michael; Chang, Hung-Tzu; Borja, Lauren J; Kraus, Peter M; Cushing, Scott K; Gandman, Andrey; Kaplan, Christopher J; Oh, Myoung Hwan; Prell, James S; Prendergast, David; Pemmaraju, Chaitanya D; Neumark, Daniel M; Leone, Stephen R

    2017-06-01

    Understanding excited carrier dynamics in semiconductors is crucial for the development of photovoltaics and efficient photonic devices. However, overlapping spectral features in optical pump-probe spectroscopy often render assignments of separate electron and hole carrier dynamics ambiguous. Here, ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium nanocrystalline thin films are directly and simultaneously observed by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet at the germanium M 4,5 edge. We decompose the spectra into contributions of electronic state blocking and photo-induced band shifts at a carrier density of 8 × 10 20  cm -3 . Separate electron and hole relaxation times are observed as a function of hot carrier energies. A first-order electron and hole decay of ∼1 ps suggests a Shockley-Read-Hall recombination mechanism. The simultaneous observation of electrons and holes with extreme ultraviolet transient absorption spectroscopy paves the way for investigating few- to sub-femtosecond dynamics of both holes and electrons in complex semiconductor materials and across junctions.

  6. Direct and simultaneous observation of ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium

    PubMed Central

    Zürch, Michael; Chang, Hung-Tzu; Borja, Lauren J.; Kraus, Peter M.; Cushing, Scott K.; Gandman, Andrey; Kaplan, Christopher J.; Oh, Myoung Hwan; Prell, James S.; Prendergast, David; Pemmaraju, Chaitanya D.; Neumark, Daniel M.; Leone, Stephen R.

    2017-01-01

    Understanding excited carrier dynamics in semiconductors is crucial for the development of photovoltaics and efficient photonic devices. However, overlapping spectral features in optical pump-probe spectroscopy often render assignments of separate electron and hole carrier dynamics ambiguous. Here, ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium nanocrystalline thin films are directly and simultaneously observed by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet at the germanium M4,5 edge. We decompose the spectra into contributions of electronic state blocking and photo-induced band shifts at a carrier density of 8 × 1020 cm−3. Separate electron and hole relaxation times are observed as a function of hot carrier energies. A first-order electron and hole decay of ∼1 ps suggests a Shockley–Read–Hall recombination mechanism. The simultaneous observation of electrons and holes with extreme ultraviolet transient absorption spectroscopy paves the way for investigating few- to sub-femtosecond dynamics of both holes and electrons in complex semiconductor materials and across junctions. PMID:28569752

  7. Potential-based dynamical reweighting for Markov state models of protein dynamics.

    PubMed

    Weber, Jeffrey K; Pande, Vijay S

    2015-06-09

    As simulators attempt to replicate the dynamics of large cellular components in silico, problems related to sampling slow, glassy degrees of freedom in molecular systems will be amplified manyfold. It is tempting to augment simulation techniques with external biases to overcome such barriers with ease; biased simulations, however, offer little utility unless equilibrium properties of interest (both kinetic and thermodynamic) can be recovered from the data generated. In this Article, we present a general scheme that harnesses the power of Markov state models (MSMs) to extract equilibrium kinetic properties from molecular dynamics trajectories collected on biased potential energy surfaces. We first validate our reweighting protocol on a simple two-well potential, and we proceed to test our method on potential-biased simulations of the Trp-cage miniprotein. In both cases, we find that equilibrium populations, time scales, and dynamical processes are reliably reproduced as compared to gold standard, unbiased data sets. We go on to discuss the limitations of our dynamical reweighting approach, and we suggest auspicious target systems for further application.

  8. Absorption coefficients of silicon: A theoretical treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsai, Chin-Yi

    2018-05-01

    A theoretical model with explicit formulas for calculating the optical absorption and gain coefficients of silicon is presented. It incorporates direct and indirect interband transitions and considers the effects of occupied/unoccupied carrier states. The indirect interband transition is calculated from the second-order time-independent perturbation theory of quantum mechanics by incorporating all eight possible routes of absorption or emission of photons and phonons. Absorption coefficients of silicon are calculated from these formulas. The agreements and discrepancies among the calculated results, the Rajkanan-Singh-Shewchun (RSS) formula, and Green's data are investigated and discussed. For example, the RSS formula tends to overestimate the contributions of indirect transitions for cases with high photon energy. The results show that the state occupied/unoccupied effect is almost negligible for silicon absorption coefficients up to the onset of the optical gain condition where the energy separation of Quasi-Femi levels between electrons and holes is larger than the band-gap energy. The usefulness of using the physics-based formulas, rather than semi-empirical fitting ones, for absorption coefficients in theoretical studies of photovoltaic devices is also discussed.

  9. Real-time electron dynamics for massively parallel excited-state simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andrade, Xavier

    The simulation of the real-time dynamics of electrons, based on time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), is a powerful approach to study electronic excited states in molecular and crystalline systems. What makes the method attractive is its flexibility to simulate different kinds of phenomena beyond the linear-response regime, including strongly-perturbed electronic systems and non-adiabatic electron-ion dynamics. Electron-dynamics simulations are also attractive from a computational point of view. They can run efficiently on massively parallel architectures due to the low communication requirements. Our implementations of electron dynamics, based on the codes Octopus (real-space) and Qball (plane-waves), allow us to simulate systems composed of thousands of atoms and to obtain good parallel scaling up to 1.6 million processor cores. Due to the versatility of real-time electron dynamics and its parallel performance, we expect it to become the method of choice to apply the capabilities of exascale supercomputers for the simulation of electronic excited states.

  10. Learning to Estimate Dynamical State with Probabilistic Population Codes.

    PubMed

    Makin, Joseph G; Dichter, Benjamin K; Sabes, Philip N

    2015-11-01

    Tracking moving objects, including one's own body, is a fundamental ability of higher organisms, playing a central role in many perceptual and motor tasks. While it is unknown how the brain learns to follow and predict the dynamics of objects, it is known that this process of state estimation can be learned purely from the statistics of noisy observations. When the dynamics are simply linear with additive Gaussian noise, the optimal solution is the well known Kalman filter (KF), the parameters of which can be learned via latent-variable density estimation (the EM algorithm). The brain does not, however, directly manipulate matrices and vectors, but instead appears to represent probability distributions with the firing rates of population of neurons, "probabilistic population codes." We show that a recurrent neural network-a modified form of an exponential family harmonium (EFH)-that takes a linear probabilistic population code as input can learn, without supervision, to estimate the state of a linear dynamical system. After observing a series of population responses (spike counts) to the position of a moving object, the network learns to represent the velocity of the object and forms nearly optimal predictions about the position at the next time-step. This result builds on our previous work showing that a similar network can learn to perform multisensory integration and coordinate transformations for static stimuli. The receptive fields of the trained network also make qualitative predictions about the developing and learning brain: tuning gradually emerges for higher-order dynamical states not explicitly present in the inputs, appearing as delayed tuning for the lower-order states.

  11. Designing non-Hermitian dynamics for conservative state evolution on the Bloch sphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Sunkyu; Piao, Xianji; Park, Namkyoo

    2018-03-01

    An evolution on the Bloch sphere is the fundamental state transition, including optical polarization controls and qubit operations. Conventional evolution of a polarization state or qubit is implemented within a closed system that automatically satisfies energy conservation from the Hermitian formalism. Although particular forms of static non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, such as parity-time-symmetric Hamiltonians, allow conservative states in an open system, the criteria for the energy conservation in a dynamical open system have not been fully explored. Here, we derive the condition of conservative state evolution in open-system dynamics and its inverse design method, by developing the non-Hermitian modification of the Larmor precession equation. We show that the geometrically designed locus on the Bloch sphere can be realized by different forms of dynamics, leading to the isolocus family of non-Hermitian dynamics. This increased degree of freedom allows the complementary phenomena of error-robust and highly sensitive evolutions on the Bloch sphere, which could be applicable to stable polarizers, quantum gates, and optimized sensors in dynamical open systems.

  12. Rotational spectroscopy of cold and trapped molecular ions in the Lamb-Dicke regime

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alighanbari, S.; Hansen, M. G.; Korobov, V. I.; Schiller, S.

    2018-06-01

    Sympathetic cooling of trapped ions has been established as a powerful technique for the manipulation of non-laser-coolable ions1-4. For molecular ions, it promises vastly enhanced spectroscopic resolution and accuracy. However, this potential remains untapped so far, with the best resolution achieved being not better than 5 × 10-8 fractionally, due to residual Doppler broadening being present in ion clusters even at the lowest achievable translational temperatures5. Here we introduce a general and accessible approach that enables Doppler-free rotational spectroscopy. It makes use of the strong radial spatial confinement of molecular ions when trapped and crystallized in a linear quadrupole trap, providing the Lamb-Dicke regime for rotational transitions. We achieve a linewidth of 1 × 10-9 fractionally and 1.3 kHz absolute, an improvement of ≃50-fold over the previous highest resolution in rotational spectroscopy. As an application, we demonstrate the most precise test of ab initio molecular theory and the most accurate (1.3 × 10-9) determination of the proton mass using molecular spectroscopy. The results represent the long overdue extension of Doppler-free microwave spectroscopy of laser-cooled atomic ion clusters6 to higher spectroscopy frequencies and to molecules. This approach enables a wide range of high-accuracy measurements on molecules, both on rotational and, as we project, vibrational transitions.

  13. Laser Absorption by Over-Critical Plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    May, J.; Tonge, J.; Fiuza, F.; Fonseca, R. A.; Silva, L. O.; Mori, W. B.

    2015-11-01

    Absorption of high intensity laser light by matter has important applications to emerging sciences and technology, such as Fast Ignition ICF and ion acceleration. As such, understanding the underlying mechanisms of this absorption is key to developing these technologies. Critical features which distinguish the interaction of high intensity light - defined here as a laser field having a normalized vector potential greater than unity - are that the reaction of the material to the fields results in sharp high-density interfaces; and that the movement of the electrons is in general relativistic, both in a fluid and a thermal sense. The results of these features are that the absorption mechanisms are qualitatively distinct from those at lower intensities. We will review previous work, by our group and others, on the absorption mechanisms, and highlight current research. We will show that the standing wave structure of the reflected laser light is key to particle dynamics for normally incident lasers. The authors acknowledge the support of the Department of Energy under contract DE-NA 0001833 and the National Science Foundation under contract ACI 1339893.

  14. Hydration shell parameters of aqueous alcohols: THz excess absorption and packing density.

    PubMed

    Matvejev, V; Zizi, M; Stiens, J

    2012-12-06

    Solvation in water requires minimizing the perturbations in its hydrogen bonded network. Hence solutes distort water molecular motions in a surrounding domain, forming a molecule-specific hydration shell. The properties of those hydration shells impact the structure and function of the solubilized molecules, both at the single molecule and at higher order levels. The size of the hydration shell and the picoseconds time-scale water dynamics retardation are revealed by terahertz (THz) absorption coefficient measurements. Room-temperature absorption coefficient at f = 0.28 [THz] is measured as a function of alcohol concentration in aqueous methanol, ethanol, 1,2-propanol, and 1-butanol solutions. Highly diluted alcohol measurements and enhanced overall measurement accuracy are achieved with a THz absorption measurement technique of nL-volume liquids in a capillary tube. In the absorption analysis, bulk and interfacial molecular domains of water and alcohol are considered. THz ideal and excess absorption coefficients are defined in accordance with thermodynamics mixing formulations. The parameter extraction method is developed based on a THz excess absorption model and hydrated solute molecule packing density representation. First, the hydration shell size is deduced from the hydrated solute packing densities at two specific THz excess absorption nonlinearity points: at infinite alcohol dilution (IAD) and at the THz excess absorption extremum (EAE). Consequently, interfacial water and alcohol molecular domain absorptions are deduced from the THz excess absorption model. The hydration shell sizes obtained at the THz excess absorption extremum are in excellent agreement with other reports. The hydration shells of methanol, ethanol, 1- and 2-propanol consist of 13.97, 22.94, 22.99, and 31.10 water molecules, respectively. The hydration shell water absorption is on average 0.774 ± 0.028 times the bulk water absorption. The hydration shell parameters might shed light on

  15. Enhanced absorption cycle computer model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grossman, G.; Wilk, M.

    1993-09-01

    Absorption heat pumps have received renewed and increasing attention in the past two decades. The rising cost of electricity has made the particular features of this heat-powered cycle attractive for both residential and industrial applications. Solar-powered absorption chillers, gas-fired domestic heat pumps, and waste-heat-powered industrial temperature boosters are a few of the applications recently subjected to intensive research and development. The absorption heat pump research community has begun to search for both advanced cycles in various multistage configurations and new working fluid combinations with potential for enhanced performance and reliability. The development of working absorption systems has created a need for reliable and effective system simulations. A computer code has been developed for simulation of absorption systems at steady state in a flexible and modular form, making it possible to investigate various cycle configurations with different working fluids. The code is based on unit subroutines containing the governing equations for the system's components and property subroutines containing thermodynamic properties of the working fluids. The user conveys to the computer an image of his cycle by specifying the different subunits and their interconnections. Based on this information, the program calculates the temperature, flow rate, concentration, pressure, and vapor fraction at each state point in the system, and the heat duty at each unit, from which the coefficient of performance (COP) may be determined. This report describes the code and its operation, including improvements introduced into the present version. Simulation results are described for LiBr-H2O triple-effect cycles, LiCl-H2O solar-powered open absorption cycles, and NH3-H2O single-effect and generator-absorber heat exchange cycles. An appendix contains the user's manual.

  16. Excited state dynamics & optical control of molecular motors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiley, Ted; Sension, Roseanne

    2014-03-01

    Chiral overcrowded alkenes are likely candidates for light driven rotary molecular motors. At their core, these molecular motors are based on the chromophore stilbene, undergoing ultrafast cis/trans photoisomerization about their central double bond. Unlike stilbene, the photochemistry of molecular motors proceeds in one direction only. This unidirectional rotation is a result of helicity in the molecule induced by steric hindrance. However, the steric hindrance which ensures unidirectional excited state rotation, has the unfortunate consequence of producing large ground state barriers which dramatically decrease the overall rate of rotation. These molecular scale ultrafast motors have only recently been studied by ultrafast spectroscopy. Our lab has studied the photochemistry and photophysics of a ``first generation'' molecular motor with UV-visible transient absorption spectroscopy. We hope to use optical pulse shaping to enhance the efficiency and turnover rate of these molecular motors.

  17. Direct measurements of nonlinear absorption and refraction in solutions of phthalocyanines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wei, T. H.; Hagan, D. J.; Sence, M. J.; Van Stryland, E. W.; Perry, J. W.; Coulter, D. R.

    1992-01-01

    Direct measurements are reported of the excited singlet-state absorption cross section and the associated nonlinear refractive cross section using picosecond pulses at 532 nm in solutions of phthalocyanine and naphthalocyanine dyes. By monitoring the transmittance and far-field spatial beam distortion for different pulsewidths in the picosecond regime, it is shown that both the nonlinear absorption and refraction are fluence (energy-per-unit-area) rather than irradiance dependent. Thus, excited-state absorption is the dominant nonlinear absorption process, and the observed nonlinear refraction is also due to real population excitation.

  18. Detecting brain dynamics during resting state: a tensor based evolutionary clustering approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al-sharoa, Esraa; Al-khassaweneh, Mahmood; Aviyente, Selin

    2017-08-01

    Human brain is a complex network with connections across different regions. Understanding the functional connectivity (FC) of the brain is important both during resting state and task; as disruptions in connectivity patterns are indicators of different psychopathological and neurological diseases. In this work, we study the resting state functional connectivity networks (FCNs) of the brain from fMRI BOLD signals. Recent studies have shown that FCNs are dynamic even during resting state and understanding the temporal dynamics of FCNs is important for differentiating between different conditions. Therefore, it is important to develop algorithms to track the dynamic formation and dissociation of FCNs of the brain during resting state. In this paper, we propose a two step tensor based community detection algorithm to identify and track the brain network community structure across time. First, we introduce an information-theoretic function to reduce the dynamic FCN and identify the time points that are similar topologically to combine them into a tensor. These time points will be used to identify the different FC states. Second, a tensor based spectral clustering approach is developed to identify the community structure of the constructed tensors. The proposed algorithm applies Tucker decomposition to the constructed tensors and extract the orthogonal factor matrices along the connectivity mode to determine the common subspace within each FC state. The detected community structure is summarized and described as FC states. The results illustrate the dynamic structure of resting state networks (RSNs), including the default mode network, somatomotor network, subcortical network and visual network.

  19. Solvatochromic Effects on the Absorption Spectrum of 2-Thiocytosine

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The solvatochromic effects of six different solvents on the UV absorption spectrum of 2-thiocytosine have been studied by a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques. The steady-state absorption spectra show significant shifts of the absorption bands, where in more polar solvents the first absorption maximum shifts to higher transition energies and the second maximum to lower energies. The observed solvatochromic shifts have been rationalized using three popular solvatochromic scales and with high-level multireference quantum chemistry calculations including implicit and explicit solvent effects. It has been found that the dipole moments of the excited states account for some general shifts in the excitation energies, whereas the explicit solvent interactions explain the differences in the spectra recorded in the different solvents. PMID:28452483

  20. State variable modeling of the integrated engine and aircraft dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rotaru, Constantin; Sprinţu, Iuliana

    2014-12-01

    This study explores the dynamic characteristics of the combined aircraft-engine system, based on the general theory of the state variables for linear and nonlinear systems, with details leading first to the separate formulation of the longitudinal and the lateral directional state variable models, followed by the merging of the aircraft and engine models into a single state variable model. The linearized equations were expressed in a matrix form and the engine dynamics was included in terms of variation of thrust following a deflection of the throttle. The linear model of the shaft dynamics for a two-spool jet engine was derived by extending the one-spool model. The results include the discussion of the thrust effect upon the aircraft response when the thrust force associated with the engine has a sizable moment arm with respect to the aircraft center of gravity for creating a compensating moment.

  1. A NOTE ON THE UNIFIED FIRST LAW IN f(R) GRAVITY THEORY

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yi; Gong, Yungui; Zhu, Zong-Hong

    2012-04-01

    Because of the dynamical equivalence between the f(R) gravity and the Brans-Dicke theory, the dynamical equation in the f(R) gravity is suggested to be derived from a view point of thermodynamics here. By a conformal transformation, the Brans-Dicke theory in the Jordan frame could be expressed as a minimal coupling scalar field theory in Einstein frame. Using the entropy-area relation d˜ {S} = d˜ {A}/4 G, the correct Friedmann equations could be gotten in both frames. Furthermore, we also discuss the corresponding generalized Misner-Sharp energies for theoretical consistence.

  2. Generation and decay dynamics of triplet excitons in Alq3 thin films under high-density excitation conditions.

    PubMed

    Watanabe, Sadayuki; Furube, Akihiro; Katoh, Ryuzi

    2006-08-31

    We studied the generation and decay dynamics of triplet excitons in tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) thin films by using transient absorption spectroscopy. Absorption spectra of both singlet and triplet excitons in the film were identified by comparison with transient absorption spectra of the ligand molecule (8-hydroxyquinoline) itself and the excited triplet state in solution previously reported. By measuring the excitation light intensity dependence of the absorption, we found that exciton annihilation dominated under high-density excitation conditions. Annihilation rate constants were estimated to be gammaSS = (6 +/- 3) x 10(-11) cm3 s(-1) for single excitons and gammaTT = (4 +/- 2) x 10(-13) cm3 s(-1) for triplet excitons. From detailed analysis of the light intensity dependence of the quantum yield of triplet excitons under high-density conditions, triplet excitons were mainly generated through fission from highly excited singlet states populated by singlet-singlet exciton annihilation. We estimated that 30% of the highly excited states underwent fission.

  3. The solvation structure of Mg ions in dichloro complex solutions from first-principles molecular dynamics and simulated X-ray absorption spectra.

    PubMed

    Wan, Liwen F; Prendergast, David

    2014-10-15

    The knowledge of Mg solvation structure in the electrolyte is requisite to understand the transport behavior of Mg ions and their dissolution/deposition mechanism at electrolyte/electrode interfaces. In the first established rechargeable Mg-ion battery system [D. Aurbach et al. Nature 2000, 407, 724], the electrolyte is of the dichloro complex (DCC) solution family, Mg(AlCl2BuEt)2/THF, resulting from the reaction of Bu2Mg and EtAlCl2 with a molar ratio of 1:2. There is disagreement in the literature regarding the exact solvation structure of Mg ions in such solutions, i.e., whether Mg(2+) is tetra- or hexacoordinated by a combination of Cl(-) and THF. In this work, theoretical insight into the solvation complexes present is provided based on first-principles molecular dynamics simulations (FPMD). Both Mg monomer and dimer structures are considered in both neutral and positively charged states. We found that, at room temperature, the Mg(2+) ion tends to be tetracoordinated in the THF solution phase instead of hexacoordinated, which is the predominant solid-phase coordination. Simulating the X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) at the Mg K-edge by sampling our FPMD trajectories, our predicted solvation structure can be readily compared with experimental measurements. It is found that when changing from tetra- to hexacoordination, the onset of X-ray absorption should exhibit at least a 1 eV blue shift. We propose that this energy shift can be used to monitor changes in the Mg solvation sphere as it migrates through the electrolyte to electrolyte/electrode interfaces and to elucidate the mechanism of Mg dissolution/deposition.

  4. Imaging ultrafast excited state pathways in transition metal complexes by X-ray transient absorption and scattering using X-ray free electron laser source

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chen, Lin X.; Shelby, Megan L.; Lestrange, Patrick J.

    2016-01-01

    This report will describe our recent studies of transition metal complex structural dynamics on the fs and ps time scales using an X-ray free electron laser source, Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Ultrafast XANES spectra at the Ni K-edge of nickel(II) tetramesitylporphyrin (NiTMP) were successfully measured for optically excited state at a timescale from 100 fs to 50 ps, providing insight into its sub-ps electronic and structural relaxation processes. Importantly, a transient reduced state Ni(I) (π, 3dx2-y2) electronic state is captured through the interpretation of a short-lived excited state absorption on the low-energy shoulder of the edge, which is aidedmore » by the computation of X-ray transitions for postulated excited electronic states. The observed and computed inner shell to valence orbital transition energies demonstrate and quantify the influence of electronic configuration on specific metal orbital energies. A strong influence of the valence orbital occupation on the inner shell orbital energies indicates that one should not use the transition energy from 1s to other orbitals to draw conclusions about the d-orbital energies. For photocatalysis, a transient electronic configuration could influence d-orbital energies up to a few eV and any attempt to steer the reaction pathway should account for this to ensure that external energies can be used optimally in driving desirable processes. NiTMP structural evolution and the influence of the porphyrin macrocycle conformation on relaxation kinetics can be likewise inferred from this study.« less

  5. Analytical approach to impurity transport studies: Charge state dynamics in tokamak plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shurygin, V. A.

    2006-08-15

    Ionization and recombination of plasma impurities govern their charge state kinetics, which is imposed upon the dynamics of ions that implies a superposition of the appropriate probabilities and causes an impurity charge state dynamics. The latter is considered in terms of a vector field of conditional probabilities and presented by a vector charge state distribution function with coupled equations of the Kolmogorov type. Analytical solutions of a diffusion problem are derived with the basic spatial and temporal dimensionless parameters. Analysis shows that the empirical scaling D{sub A}{proportional_to}n{sub e}{sup -1} [K. Krieger, G. Fussmann, and the ASDEX Upgrade Team, Nucl. Fusionmore » 30, 2392 (1990)] can be explained by the ratio of the diffusive and kinetic terms, D{sub A}/(n{sub e}a{sup 2}), being used instead of diffusivity, D{sub A}. The derived time scales of charge state dynamics are given by a sum of the diffusive and kinetic times. Detailed simulations of charge state dynamics are performed for argon impurity and compared with the reference modeling.« less

  6. Critical dynamic approach to stationary states in complex systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rozenfeld, A. F.; Laneri, K.; Albano, E. V.

    2007-04-01

    A dynamic scaling Ansatz for the approach to stationary states in complex systems is proposed and tested by means of extensive simulations applied to both the Bak-Sneppen (BS) model, which exhibits robust Self-Organised Critical (SOC) behaviour, and the Game of Life (GOL) of J. Conway, whose critical behaviour is under debate. Considering the dynamic scaling behaviour of the density of sites (ρ(t)), it is shown that i) by starting the dynamic measurements with configurations such that ρ(t=0) →0, one observes an initial increase of the density with exponents θ= 0.12(2) and θ= 0.11(2) for the BS and GOL models, respectively; ii) by using initial configurations with ρ(t=0) →1, the density decays with exponents δ= 0.47(2) and δ= 0.28(2) for the BS and GOL models, respectively. It is also shown that the temporal autocorrelation decays with exponents Ca = 0.35(2) (Ca = 0.35(5)) for the BS (GOL) model. By using these dynamically determined critical exponents and suitable scaling relationships, we also obtain the dynamic exponents z = 2.10(5) (z = 2.10(5)) for the BS (GOL) model. Based on this evidence we conclude that the dynamic approach to stationary states of the investigated models can be described by suitable power-law functions of time with well-defined exponents.

  7. Bottom-up excited state dynamics of two cinnamate-based sunscreen filter molecules.

    PubMed

    Peperstraete, Yoann; Staniforth, Michael; Baker, Lewis A; Rodrigues, Natércia D N; Cole-Filipiak, Neil C; Quan, Wen-Dong; Stavros, Vasilios G

    2016-10-12

    Methyl-E-4-methoxycinnamate (E-MMC) is a model chromophore of the commonly used commercial sunscreen agent, 2-ethylhexyl-E-4-methoxycinnamate (E-EHMC). In an effort to garner a molecular-level understanding of the photoprotection mechanisms in operation with E-EHMC, we have used time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy to explore E-MMC's and E-EHMC's excited state dynamics upon UV-B photoexcitation to the S 1 (1 1 ππ*) state in both the gas- and solution-phase. In the gas-phase, our studies suggest that the excited state dynamics are driven by non-radiative decay from the 1 1 ππ* to the S 3 (1 1 nπ*) state, followed by de-excitation from the 1 1 nπ* to the ground electronic state (S 0 ). Using both a non-polar-aprotic solvent, cyclohexane, and a polar-protic solvent, methanol, we investigated E-MMC and E-EHMC's photochemistry in a more realistic, 'closer-to-shelf' environment. A stark change to the excited state dynamics in the gas-phase is observed in the solution-phase suggesting that the dynamics are now driven by efficient E/Z isomerisation from the initially photoexcited 1 1 ππ* state to S 0 .

  8. [Dynamics of quickly absorption of the carbon source in wastewater by activated sludge].

    PubMed

    Liu, Hong-Bo; Wen, Xiang-Hua; Zhao, Fang

    2011-09-01

    In this paper, absorption characteristics of organic matter in municipal wastewater by three kinds of activated sludge (carbon-enriching, nitrification and denitrification sludge) were studied, and the absorption kinetic data was checked using three kinds of absorption kinetic equations based on Ritchie rate equation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the absorption mechanism of activated sludge to organic matter in municipal wastewater, and to identify the possibility of reclaiming organic matter by activated sludge. Results indicated that in the early 30 min, absorption process of organic matter by activated sludge was found to be mainly physical adsorption, which could be expressed by the Lagergren single-layer adsorption model. The carbon-enriching sludge had the highest adsorption capacity (COD/SS) which was 60 mg/g but the adsorption rate was lower than that of denitrification sludge. While nitrification sludge had the lowest adsorption rate and higher adsorption capacity compared with denitrification sludge, which was about 35 mg/g. The rates of the fitting index theta(0) of carbon-enriching, nitrification and denitrification sludge were 0.284, 0.777 and 0.923, respectively, which indicated that the sorbed organic matter on the surface of carbon-enriching sludge was the easiest fraction to be washed away. That is, the combination intensity of carbon-enriching sludge and organic matter was the feeblest, which was convenient for carbon-enriching sludge to release sorbed carbon. Furthermore, by fitting with Langmuir model, concentration of organic matter was found to be the key parameter influencing the adsorption capacity of activated sludge, while the influence of temperature was not obvious. The kinetic law of organic matter absorption by activated sludge was developed, which introduces a way to kinetically analyze the removing mechanism of pollutant by activated sludge and provides theoretical base for the reclaiming of nutriments in

  9. Binding energy of donor impurity states and optical absorption in the Tietz-Hua quantum well under an applied electric field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al, E. B.; Kasapoglu, E.; Sakiroglu, S.; Duque, C. A.; Sökmen, I.

    2018-04-01

    For a quantum well which has the Tietz-Hua potential, the ground and some excited donor impurity binding energies and the total absorption coefficients, including linear and third order nonlinear terms for the transitions between the related impurity states with respect to the structure parameters and the impurity position as well as the electric field strength are investigated. The binding energies were obtained using the effective-mass approximation within a variational scheme and the optical transitions between any two impurity states were calculated by using the density matrix formalism and the perturbation expansion method. Our results show that the effects of the electric field and the structure parameters on the optical transitions are more pronounced. So we can adjust the red or blue shift in the peak position of the absorption coefficient by changing the strength of the electric field as well as the structure parameters.

  10. Simulating pump-probe photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy on the attosecond timescale with time-dependent density functional theory.

    PubMed

    De Giovannini, Umberto; Brunetto, Gustavo; Castro, Alberto; Walkenhorst, Jessica; Rubio, Angel

    2013-05-10

    Molecular absorption and photoelectron spectra can be efficiently predicted with real-time time-dependent density functional theory. We show herein how these techniques can be easily extended to study time-resolved pump-probe experiments, in which a system response (absorption or electron emission) to a probe pulse is measured in an excited state. This simulation tool helps with the interpretation of fast-evolving attosecond time-resolved spectroscopic experiments, in which electronic motion must be followed at its natural timescale. We show how the extra degrees of freedom (pump-pulse duration, intensity, frequency, and time delay), which are absent in a conventional steady-state experiment, provide additional information about electronic structure and dynamics that improve characterization of a system. As an extension of this approach, time-dependent 2D spectroscopy can also be simulated, in principle, for large-scale structures and extended systems. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Reconstructing dynamic molecular states from single-cell time series.

    PubMed

    Huang, Lirong; Pauleve, Loic; Zechner, Christoph; Unger, Michael; Hansen, Anders S; Koeppl, Heinz

    2016-09-01

    The notion of state for a system is prevalent in the quantitative sciences and refers to the minimal system summary sufficient to describe the time evolution of the system in a self-consistent manner. This is a prerequisite for a principled understanding of the inner workings of a system. Owing to the complexity of intracellular processes, experimental techniques that can retrieve a sufficient summary are beyond our reach. For the case of stochastic biomolecular reaction networks, we show how to convert the partial state information accessible by experimental techniques into a full system state using mathematical analysis together with a computational model. This is intimately related to the notion of conditional Markov processes and we introduce the posterior master equation and derive novel approximations to the corresponding infinite-dimensional posterior moment dynamics. We exemplify this state reconstruction approach using both in silico data and single-cell data from two gene expression systems in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where we reconstruct the dynamic promoter and mRNA states from noisy protein abundance measurements. © 2016 The Author(s).

  12. Black Box Real-Time Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Electron Correlation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parkhill, John

    2017-06-01

    We introduce an atomistic, all-electron, black-box electronic structure code to simulate transient absorption (TA) spectra and apply it to simulate pyrazole and a GFP- chromophore derivative1. The method is an application of OSCF2, our dissipative exten- sion of time-dependent density-functional theory. We compare our simulated spectra directly with recent ultra-fast spectroscopic experiments. We identify features in the TA spectra to Pauli-blocking which may be missed without a first-principles model. An important ingredient in this method is the stationary-TDDFT correction scheme recently put forwards by Fischer, Govind, and Cramer which allows us to overcome a limitation of adiabatic TDDFT. We demonstrate that OSCF2 is able to reproduce the energies of bleaches and induced absorptions, as well as the decay of the transient spectrum, with only the molecular structure as input. We show that the treatment of electron correlation is the biggest hurdle for TA simulations, which motivates the second half of the talk a new method for realtime electron correlation. We continue to derive and propagate self-consistent electronic dynamics. Extending our derivation of OSCF2 to include electron correlation we obtain a non-linear correlated one-body equation of motion which corrects TDHF. Similar equations are known in quantum kinetic theory, but rare in electronic structure. We introduce approximations that stabilize the theory and reduce its computational cost. We compare the resulting dynamics with well-known exact and approximate theories showing improvements over TDHF. When propagated EE2 changes occupation numbers like exact theory, an important feature missing from TDHF or TDDFT. We introduce a rotating wave approximation to reduce the scaling of the model to O(N^4), and enable propagation on realistically large systems. The equation-of-motion does not rely on a pure-state model for the electronic state, and could be used to study the relationship between electron

  13. Attosecond transient absorption probing of electronic superpositions of bound states in neon. Detection of quantum beats

    DOE PAGES

    Beck, Annelise R; Bernhardt, Birgitta; Warrick, Erika R.; ...

    2014-11-07

    Electronic wavepackets composed of multiple bound excited states of atomic neon lying between 19.6 and 21.5 eV are launched using an isolated attosecond pulse. Individual quantum beats of the wavepacket are detected by perturbing the induced polarization of the medium with a time-delayed few-femtosecond near-infrared (NIR) pulse via coupling the individual states to multiple neighboring levels. All of the initially excited states are monitored simultaneously in the attosecond transient absorption spectrum, revealing Lorentzian to Fano lineshape spectral changes as well as quantum beats. The most prominent beating of the several that were observed was in the spin–orbit split 3d absorptionmore » features, which has a 40 femtosecond period that corresponds to the spin–orbit splitting of 0.1 eV. The few-level models and multilevel calculations confirm that the observed magnitude of oscillation depends strongly on the spectral bandwidth and tuning of the NIR pulse and on the location of possible coupling states.« less

  14. Theory of Transient Excited State Absorptions in Pentacene and Derivatives: Triplet-Triplet Biexciton versus Free Triplets.

    PubMed

    Khan, Souratosh; Mazumdar, Sumit

    2017-12-07

    Recent experiments in several singlet-fission materials have found that the triplet-triplet biexciton either is the primary product of photoexcitation or has a much longer lifetime than believed until now. It thus becomes essential to determine the difference in the spectroscopic signatures of the bound triplet-triplet and free triplets to distinguish between them optically. We report calculations of excited state absorptions (ESAs) from the singlet and triplet excitons and from the triplet-triplet biexciton for a pentacene crystal with the herringbone structure and for nanocrystals of bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) (TIPS)-pentacene. The triplet-triplet biexciton absorbs in both the visible and the near-infrared (NIR), while the monomer free triplet absorbs only in the visible. The intensity of the NIR absorption depends on the extent of intermolecular coupling, in agreement with observations in TIPS-pentacene nanocrystals. We predict additional weak ESA from the triplet-triplet but not from the triplet, at still lower energy.

  15. Tuning of few-electron states and optical absorption anisotropy in GaAs quantum rings.

    PubMed

    Wu, Zhenhua; Li, Jian; Li, Jun; Yin, Huaxiang; Liu, Yu

    2017-11-15

    The electronic and optical properties of a GaAs quantum ring (QR) with few electrons in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI) and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction (DSOI) have been investigated theoretically. The configuration interaction (CI) method is employed to calculate the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the multiple-electron QR accurately. Our numerical results demonstrate that the symmetry breaking induced by the RSOI and DSOI leads to an anisotropic distribution of multi-electron states. The Coulomb interaction offers additional modulation of the electron distribution and thus the optical absorption indices in the quantum rings. By tuning the magnetic/electric fields and/or electron numbers in a quantum ring, one can change its optical properties significantly. Our theory provides a new way to control the multi-electron states and optical properties of a QR by hybrid modulations or by electrical means only.

  16. Classification of Dynamical Diffusion States in Single Molecule Tracking Microscopy

    PubMed Central

    Bosch, Peter J.; Kanger, Johannes S.; Subramaniam, Vinod

    2014-01-01

    Single molecule tracking of membrane proteins by fluorescence microscopy is a promising method to investigate dynamic processes in live cells. Translating the trajectories of proteins to biological implications, such as protein interactions, requires the classification of protein motion within the trajectories. Spatial information of protein motion may reveal where the protein interacts with cellular structures, because binding of proteins to such structures often alters their diffusion speed. For dynamic diffusion systems, we provide an analytical framework to determine in which diffusion state a molecule is residing during the course of its trajectory. We compare different methods for the quantification of motion to utilize this framework for the classification of two diffusion states (two populations with different diffusion speed). We found that a gyration quantification method and a Bayesian statistics-based method are the most accurate in diffusion-state classification for realistic experimentally obtained datasets, of which the gyration method is much less computationally demanding. After classification of the diffusion, the lifetime of the states can be determined, and images of the diffusion states can be reconstructed at high resolution. Simulations validate these applications. We apply the classification and its applications to experimental data to demonstrate the potential of this approach to obtain further insights into the dynamics of cell membrane proteins. PMID:25099798

  17. Temperature dependence of the HNO3 UV absorption cross sections

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burkholder, James B.; Talukdar, Ranajit K.; Ravishankara, A. R.; Solomon, Susan

    1993-01-01

    The temperature dependence of the HNO3 absorption cross sections between 240 and 360 K over the wavelength range 195 to 350 nm has been measured using a diode array spectrometer. Absorption cross sections were determined using both (1) absolute pressure measurements at 298 K and (2) a dual absorption cell arrangement in which the absorption spectrum at various temperatures is measured relative to the room temperature absorption spectrum. The HNO3 absorption spectrum showed a temperature dependence which is weak at short wavelengths but stronger at longer wavelengths which are important for photolysis in the lower stratosphere. The 298 K absorption cross sections were found to be larger than the values currently recommended for atmospheric modeling (DeMore et al., 1992). Our absorption cross section data are critically compared with the previous measurements of both room temperature and temperature-dependent absorption cross sections. Temperature-dependent absorption cross sections of HNO3 are recommended for use in atmospheric modeling. These temperature dependent HNO3 absorption cross sections were used in a two-dimensional dynamical-photochemical model to demonstrate the effects of the revised absorption cross sections on loss rate of HNO3 and the abundance of NO2 in the stratosphere.

  18. Learning to Estimate Dynamical State with Probabilistic Population Codes

    PubMed Central

    Sabes, Philip N.

    2015-01-01

    Tracking moving objects, including one’s own body, is a fundamental ability of higher organisms, playing a central role in many perceptual and motor tasks. While it is unknown how the brain learns to follow and predict the dynamics of objects, it is known that this process of state estimation can be learned purely from the statistics of noisy observations. When the dynamics are simply linear with additive Gaussian noise, the optimal solution is the well known Kalman filter (KF), the parameters of which can be learned via latent-variable density estimation (the EM algorithm). The brain does not, however, directly manipulate matrices and vectors, but instead appears to represent probability distributions with the firing rates of population of neurons, “probabilistic population codes.” We show that a recurrent neural network—a modified form of an exponential family harmonium (EFH)—that takes a linear probabilistic population code as input can learn, without supervision, to estimate the state of a linear dynamical system. After observing a series of population responses (spike counts) to the position of a moving object, the network learns to represent the velocity of the object and forms nearly optimal predictions about the position at the next time-step. This result builds on our previous work showing that a similar network can learn to perform multisensory integration and coordinate transformations for static stimuli. The receptive fields of the trained network also make qualitative predictions about the developing and learning brain: tuning gradually emerges for higher-order dynamical states not explicitly present in the inputs, appearing as delayed tuning for the lower-order states. PMID:26540152

  19. Dynamics of Multistable States during Ongoing and Evoked Cortical Activity

    PubMed Central

    Mazzucato, Luca

    2015-01-01

    Single-trial analyses of ensemble activity in alert animals demonstrate that cortical circuits dynamics evolve through temporal sequences of metastable states. Metastability has been studied for its potential role in sensory coding, memory, and decision-making. Yet, very little is known about the network mechanisms responsible for its genesis. It is often assumed that the onset of state sequences is triggered by an external stimulus. Here we show that state sequences can be observed also in the absence of overt sensory stimulation. Analysis of multielectrode recordings from the gustatory cortex of alert rats revealed ongoing sequences of states, where single neurons spontaneously attain several firing rates across different states. This single-neuron multistability represents a challenge to existing spiking network models, where typically each neuron is at most bistable. We present a recurrent spiking network model that accounts for both the spontaneous generation of state sequences and the multistability in single-neuron firing rates. Each state results from the activation of neural clusters with potentiated intracluster connections, with the firing rate in each cluster depending on the number of active clusters. Simulations show that the model's ensemble activity hops among the different states, reproducing the ongoing dynamics observed in the data. When probed with external stimuli, the model predicts the quenching of single-neuron multistability into bistability and the reduction of trial-by-trial variability. Both predictions were confirmed in the data. Together, these results provide a theoretical framework that captures both ongoing and evoked network dynamics in a single mechanistic model. PMID:26019337

  20. Conformational dynamics of a protein in the folded and the unfolded state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fitter, Jörg

    2003-08-01

    In a quasielastic neutron scattering experiment, the picosecond dynamics of α-amylase was investigated for the folded and the unfolded state of the protein. In order to ensure a reasonable interpretation of the internal protein dynamics, the protein was measured in D 2O-buffer solution. The much higher structural flexibility of the pH induced unfolded state as compared to the native folded state was quantified using a simple analytical model, describing a local diffusion inside a sphere. In terms of this model the conformational volume, which is explored mainly by confined protein side-chain movements, is parameterized by the radius of a sphere (folded state, r=1.2 Å; unfolded state, 1.8 Å). Differences in conformational dynamics between the folded and the unfolded state of a protein are of fundamental interest in the field of protein science, because they are assumed to play an important role for the thermodynamics of folding/unfolding transition and for protein stability.

  1. First-principles C band absorption spectra of SO2 and its isotopologues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Bin; Kumar, Praveen; Kłos, Jacek; Alexander, Millard H.; Poirier, Bill; Guo, Hua

    2017-04-01

    The low-energy wing of the C ˜ B12 ←X˜ 1A1 absorption spectra for SO2 in the ultraviolet region is computed for the 32S,33S,34S and 36S isotopes, using the recently developed ab initio potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the two electronic states and the corresponding transition dipole surface. The state-resolved absorption spectra from various ro-vibrational states of SO2(X˜ 1A1 ) are computed. When contributions of these excited ro-vibrational states are included, the thermally averaged spectra are broadened but maintain their key characters. Excellent agreement with experimental absorption spectra is found, validating the accuracy of the PESs. The isotope shifts of the absorption peaks are found to increase linearly with energy, in good agreement with experiment.

  2. Auto-oligomerization and hydration of pyrrole revealed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Advanced Light Source; Schwartz, Craig P.; Uejio, Janel S.

    Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra have been measured at the carbon and nitrogen K-edges of the prototypical aromatic molecule, pyrrole, both in the gas phase and when solvated in water, and compared with spectra simulated using a combination of classical molecular dynamics and first principles density functional theory in the excited state core hole approximation. The excellent agreement enabled detailed assignments. Pyrrole is highly reactive, particularly in water, and reaction products formed by the auto-oligomerization of pyrrole are identified. The solvated spectra have been measured at two different temperatures, indicating that the final states remain largely unaffectedmore » by both hydration and temperature. This is somewhat unexpected, since the nitrogen in pyrrole can donate a hydrogen bond to water.« less

  3. Auto-oligomerization and hydration of pyrrole revealed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Schwartz, Craig P.; Uejio, Janel S.; Duffin, Andrew M.

    Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectra have been measured at the carbon and nitrogen K-edges of the prototypical aromatic molecule, pyrrole, both in the gas phase and when solvated in water, and compared with spectra simulated using a combination of classical molecular dynamics and first principles density functional theory in the excited state core hole approximation. The excellent agreement enabled detailed assignments. Pyrrole is highly reactive, particularly in water, and reaction products formed by the auto-oligomerization of pyrrole are identified. The solvated spectra have been measured at two different temperatures, indicating that the final states remain largely unaffected bymore » both hydration and temperature. This is somewhat unexpected, since the nitrogen in pyrrole can donate a hydrogen bond to water.« less

  4. Observation of Reverse Saturable Absorption of an X-ray Laser

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cho, B. I.; Cho, M. S.; Kim, M.

    A nonlinear absorber in which the excited state absorption is larger than the ground state can undergo a process called reverse saturable absorption. It is a well-known phenomenon in laser physics in the optical regime, but is more difficult to generate in the x-ray regime, where fast nonradiative core electron transitions typically dominate the population kinetics during light matter interactions. Here, we report the first observation of decreasing x-ray transmission in a solid target pumped by intense x-ray free electron laser pulses. The measurement has been made below the K-absorption edge of aluminum, and the x-ray intensity ranges are 10more » 16 –10 17 W=cm 2. It has been confirmed by collisional radiative population kinetic calculations, underscoring the fast spectral modulation of the x-ray pulses and charge states relevant to the absorption and transmission of x-ray photons. The processes shown through detailed simulations are consistent with reverse saturable absorption, which would be the first observation of this phenomena in the x-ray regime. These light matter interactions provide a unique opportunity to investigate optical transport properties in the extreme state of matters, as well as affording the potential to regulate ultrafast x-ray freeelectron laser pulses.« less

  5. Observation of Reverse Saturable Absorption of an X-ray Laser

    DOE PAGES

    Cho, B. I.; Cho, M. S.; Kim, M.; ...

    2017-08-16

    A nonlinear absorber in which the excited state absorption is larger than the ground state can undergo a process called reverse saturable absorption. It is a well-known phenomenon in laser physics in the optical regime, but is more difficult to generate in the x-ray regime, where fast nonradiative core electron transitions typically dominate the population kinetics during light matter interactions. Here, we report the first observation of decreasing x-ray transmission in a solid target pumped by intense x-ray free electron laser pulses. The measurement has been made below the K-absorption edge of aluminum, and the x-ray intensity ranges are 10more » 16 –10 17 W=cm 2. It has been confirmed by collisional radiative population kinetic calculations, underscoring the fast spectral modulation of the x-ray pulses and charge states relevant to the absorption and transmission of x-ray photons. The processes shown through detailed simulations are consistent with reverse saturable absorption, which would be the first observation of this phenomena in the x-ray regime. These light matter interactions provide a unique opportunity to investigate optical transport properties in the extreme state of matters, as well as affording the potential to regulate ultrafast x-ray freeelectron laser pulses.« less

  6. Differential absorption lidar measurements of atmospheric temperature and pressure profiles

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Korb, C. L.

    1981-01-01

    The theory and methodology of using differential absorption lidar techniques for the remote measurement of atmospheric pressure profiles, surface pressure, and temperature profiles from ground, air, and space-based platforms are presented. Pressure measurements are effected by means of high resolution measurement of absorption at the edges of the oxygen A band lines where absorption is pressure dependent due to collisional line broadening. Temperature is assessed using measurements of the absorption at the center of the oxygen A band line originating from a quantum state with high ground state energy. The population of the state is temperature dependent, allowing determination of the temperature through the Boltzmann term. The results of simulations of the techniques using Voigt profile and variational analysis are reported for ground-based, airborne, and Shuttle-based systems. Accuracies in the 0.5-1.0 K and 0.1-0.3% range are projected.

  7. Ab initio calculation of the electronic absorption spectrum of liquid water

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Martiniano, Hugo F. M. C.; Galamba, Nuno; Cabral, Benedito J. Costa, E-mail: ben@cii.fc.ul.pt

    2014-04-28

    The electronic absorption spectrum of liquid water was investigated by coupling a one-body energy decomposition scheme to configurations generated by classical and Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics (BOMD). A Frenkel exciton Hamiltonian formalism was adopted and the excitation energies in the liquid phase were calculated with the equation of motion coupled cluster with single and double excitations method. Molecular dynamics configurations were generated by different approaches. Classical MD were carried out with the TIP4P-Ew and AMOEBA force fields. The BLYP and BLYP-D3 exchange-correlation functionals were used in BOMD. Theoretical and experimental results for the electronic absorption spectrum of liquid water are inmore » good agreement. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the structure of liquid water predicted by the different models and the electronic absorption spectrum. The theoretical gas to liquid phase blue-shift of the peak positions of the electronic absorption spectrum is in good agreement with experiment. The overall shift is determined by a competition between the O–H stretching of the water monomer in liquid water that leads to a red-shift and polarization effects that induce a blue-shift. The results illustrate the importance of coupling many-body energy decomposition schemes to molecular dynamics configurations to carry out ab initio calculations of the electronic properties in liquid phase.« less

  8. Ab initio calculation of the electronic absorption spectrum of liquid water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martiniano, Hugo F. M. C.; Galamba, Nuno; Cabral, Benedito J. Costa

    2014-04-01

    The electronic absorption spectrum of liquid water was investigated by coupling a one-body energy decomposition scheme to configurations generated by classical and Born-Oppenheimer Molecular Dynamics (BOMD). A Frenkel exciton Hamiltonian formalism was adopted and the excitation energies in the liquid phase were calculated with the equation of motion coupled cluster with single and double excitations method. Molecular dynamics configurations were generated by different approaches. Classical MD were carried out with the TIP4P-Ew and AMOEBA force fields. The BLYP and BLYP-D3 exchange-correlation functionals were used in BOMD. Theoretical and experimental results for the electronic absorption spectrum of liquid water are in good agreement. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the structure of liquid water predicted by the different models and the electronic absorption spectrum. The theoretical gas to liquid phase blue-shift of the peak positions of the electronic absorption spectrum is in good agreement with experiment. The overall shift is determined by a competition between the O-H stretching of the water monomer in liquid water that leads to a red-shift and polarization effects that induce a blue-shift. The results illustrate the importance of coupling many-body energy decomposition schemes to molecular dynamics configurations to carry out ab initio calculations of the electronic properties in liquid phase.

  9. Bistability and State Transition of a Delay Differential Equation Model of Neutrophil Dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Suqi; Zhu, Kaiyi; Lei, Jinzhi

    This paper studies the existence of bistable states and control strategies to induce state transitions of a delay differential equation model of neutrophil dynamics. We seek the conditions that a stable steady state and an oscillatory state coexist in the neutrophil dynamical system. Physiologically, stable steady state represents the healthy state, while oscillatory state is usually associated with diseases such as cyclical neutropenia. We study the control strategies to induce the transitions from the disease state to the healthy state by introducing temporal perturbations to system parameters. This study is valuable in designing clinical protocols for the treatment of cyclical neutropenia.

  10. In memoriam/À la mémoire de

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Richard (Dick) Stace-Smith (1924 - 2017) was born in Creston, British Columbia. He received his B.Sc. degree in Agriculture from University of British Columbia in 1950 and Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 1954. Dick worked at the Agriculture Canada, later renamed Agriculture and Agri-Food Canad...

  11. Power of food moderates food craving, perceived control, and brain networks following a short-term post-absorptive state in older adults.

    PubMed

    Rejeski, W Jack; Burdette, Jonathan; Burns, Marley; Morgan, Ashley R; Hayasaka, Satoru; Norris, James; Williamson, Donald A; Laurienti, Paul J

    2012-06-01

    The Power of Food Scale (PFS) is a new measure that assesses the drive to consume highly palatable food in an obesogenic food environment. The data reported in this investigation evaluate whether the PFS moderates state cravings, control beliefs, and brain networks of older, obese adults following either a short-term post-absorptive state, in which participants were only allowed to consume water, or a short-term energy surfeit treatment condition, in which they consumed BOOST®. We found that the short-term post-absorptive condition, in which participants consumed water only, was associated with increases in state cravings for desired food, a reduction in participants' confidence related to the control of eating behavior, and shifts in brain networks that parallel what is observed with other addictive behaviors. Furthermore, individuals who scored high on the PFS were at an increased risk for experiencing these effects. Future research is needed to examine the eating behavior of persons who score high on the PFS and to develop interventions that directly target food cravings. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Dynamics of Water Absorption and Evaporation During Methanol Droplet Combustion in Microgravity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hicks, Michael C.; Dietrich, Daniel L.; Nayagam, Vedha; Williams, Forman A.

    2012-01-01

    The combustion of methanol droplets is profoundly influenced by the absorption and evaporation of water, generated in the gas phase as a part of the combustion products. Initially there is a water-absorption period of combustion during which the latent heat of condensation of water vapor, released into the droplet, enhances its burning rate, whereas later there is a water-evaporation period, during which the water vapor reduces the flame temperature suffciently to extinguish the flame. Recent methanol droplet-combustion experiments in ambient environments diluted with carbon dioxide, conducted in the Combustion Integrated Rack on the International Space Station (ISS), as a part of the FLEX project, provided a method to delineate the water-absorption period from the water-evaporation period using video images of flame intensity. These were obtained using an ultra-violet camera that captures the OH* radical emission at 310 nm wavelength and a color camera that captures visible flame emission. These results are compared with results of ground-based tests in the Zero Gravity Facility at the NASA Glenn Research Center which employed smaller droplets in argon-diluted environments. A simplified theoretical model developed earlier correlates the transition time at which water absorption ends and evaporation starts. The model results are shown to agree reasonably well with experiment.

  13. Exceptionally Long-Lived Charge Separated State in Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework: Implication for Photocatalytic Applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pattengale, Brian; Yang, Sizhuo; Ludwig, John

    2016-06-22

    Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) have emerged as a novel class of porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for catalysis application because of their exceptional thermal and chemical stability. Inspired by the broad absorption of ZIF-67 in UV-visible-near IR region, we explored its excited state and charge separation dynamics, properties essential for photocatalytic applications, using optical (OTA) and X-ray transient absorption (XTA) spectroscopy. OTA results show that an exceptionally long-lived excited state is formed after photoexcitation. This long-lived excited state was confirmed to be the charge separated state with ligandto-metal charge transfer character using XTA. The surprisingly long-lived charge separated state, together withmore » its intrinsic hybrid nature, all point to its potential application in heterogeneous photocatalysis and energy conversion.« less

  14. Sub-50 fs excited state dynamics of 6-chloroguanine upon deep ultraviolet excitation.

    PubMed

    Mondal, Sayan; Puranik, Mrinalini

    2016-05-18

    The photophysical properties of natural nucleobases and their respective nucleotides are ascribed to the sub-picosecond lifetime of their first singlet states in the UV-B region (260-350 nm). Electronic transitions of the ππ* type, which are stronger than those in the UV-B region, lie at the red edge of the UV-C range (100-260 nm) in all isolated nucleobases. The lowest energetic excited states in the UV-B region of nucleobases have been investigated using a plethora of experimental and theoretical methods in gas and solution phases. The sub-picosecond lifetime of these molecules is not a general attribute of all nucleobases but specific to the five primary nucleobases and a few xanthine and methylated derivatives. To determine the overall UV photostability, we aim to understand the effect of more energetic photons lying in the UV-C region on nucleobases. To determine the UV-C initiated photophysics of a nucleobase system, we chose a halogen substituted purine, 6-chloroguanine (6-ClG), that we had investigated previously using resonance Raman spectroscopy. We have performed quantitative measurements of the resonance Raman cross-section across the Bb absorption band (210-230 nm) and constructed the Raman excitation profiles. We modeled the excitation profiles using Lee and Heller's time-dependent theory of resonance Raman intensities to extract the initial excited state dynamics of 6-ClG within 30-50 fs after photoexcitation. We found that imidazole and pyrimidine rings of 6-ClG undergo expansion and contraction, respectively, following photoexcitation to the Bb state. The amount of distortions of the excited state structure from that of the ground state structure is reflected by the total internal reorganization energy that is determined at 112 cm(-1). The contribution of the inertial component of the solvent response towards the total reorganization energy was obtained at 1220 cm(-1). In addition, our simulation also yields an instantaneous response of the first

  15. Dynamic Neural State Identification in Deep Brain Local Field Potentials of Neuropathic Pain.

    PubMed

    Luo, Huichun; Huang, Yongzhi; Du, Xueying; Zhang, Yunpeng; Green, Alexander L; Aziz, Tipu Z; Wang, Shouyan

    2018-01-01

    In neuropathic pain, the neurophysiological and neuropathological function of the ventro-posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VPL) and the periventricular gray/periaqueductal gray area (PVAG) involves multiple frequency oscillations. Moreover, oscillations related to pain perception and modulation change dynamically over time. Fluctuations in these neural oscillations reflect the dynamic neural states of the nucleus. In this study, an approach to classifying the synchronization level was developed to dynamically identify the neural states. An oscillation extraction model based on windowed wavelet packet transform was designed to characterize the activity level of oscillations. The wavelet packet coefficients sparsely represented the activity level of theta and alpha oscillations in local field potentials (LFPs). Then, a state discrimination model was designed to calculate an adaptive threshold to determine the activity level of oscillations. Finally, the neural state was represented by the activity levels of both theta and alpha oscillations. The relationship between neural states and pain relief was further evaluated. The performance of the state identification approach achieved sensitivity and specificity beyond 80% in simulation signals. Neural states of the PVAG and VPL were dynamically identified from LFPs of neuropathic pain patients. The occurrence of neural states based on theta and alpha oscillations were correlated to the degree of pain relief by deep brain stimulation. In the PVAG LFPs, the occurrence of the state with high activity levels of theta oscillations independent of alpha and the state with low-level alpha and high-level theta oscillations were significantly correlated with pain relief by deep brain stimulation. This study provides a reliable approach to identifying the dynamic neural states in LFPs with a low signal-to-noise ratio by using sparse representation based on wavelet packet transform. Furthermore, it may advance closed-loop deep

  16. Dynamic Neural State Identification in Deep Brain Local Field Potentials of Neuropathic Pain

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Huichun; Huang, Yongzhi; Du, Xueying; Zhang, Yunpeng; Green, Alexander L.; Aziz, Tipu Z.; Wang, Shouyan

    2018-01-01

    In neuropathic pain, the neurophysiological and neuropathological function of the ventro-posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VPL) and the periventricular gray/periaqueductal gray area (PVAG) involves multiple frequency oscillations. Moreover, oscillations related to pain perception and modulation change dynamically over time. Fluctuations in these neural oscillations reflect the dynamic neural states of the nucleus. In this study, an approach to classifying the synchronization level was developed to dynamically identify the neural states. An oscillation extraction model based on windowed wavelet packet transform was designed to characterize the activity level of oscillations. The wavelet packet coefficients sparsely represented the activity level of theta and alpha oscillations in local field potentials (LFPs). Then, a state discrimination model was designed to calculate an adaptive threshold to determine the activity level of oscillations. Finally, the neural state was represented by the activity levels of both theta and alpha oscillations. The relationship between neural states and pain relief was further evaluated. The performance of the state identification approach achieved sensitivity and specificity beyond 80% in simulation signals. Neural states of the PVAG and VPL were dynamically identified from LFPs of neuropathic pain patients. The occurrence of neural states based on theta and alpha oscillations were correlated to the degree of pain relief by deep brain stimulation. In the PVAG LFPs, the occurrence of the state with high activity levels of theta oscillations independent of alpha and the state with low-level alpha and high-level theta oscillations were significantly correlated with pain relief by deep brain stimulation. This study provides a reliable approach to identifying the dynamic neural states in LFPs with a low signal-to-noise ratio by using sparse representation based on wavelet packet transform. Furthermore, it may advance closed-loop deep

  17. Phase diagram of single vesicle dynamical states in shear flow.

    PubMed

    Deschamps, J; Kantsler, V; Steinberg, V

    2009-03-20

    We report the first experimental phase diagram of vesicle dynamical states in a shear flow presented in a space of two dimensionless parameters suggested recently by V. Lebedev et al. To reduce errors in the control parameters, 3D geometrical reconstruction and determination of the viscosity contrast of a vesicle in situ in a plane Couette flow device prior to the experiment are developed. Our results are in accord with the theory predicting three distinctly separating regions of vesicle dynamical states in the plane of just two self-similar parameters.

  18. Photophysical properties of C60 colloids suspended in water with Triton X-100 surfactant: excited-state properties with femtosecond resolution.

    PubMed

    Clements, Andrew F; Haley, Joy E; Urbas, Augustine M; Kost, Alan; Rauh, R David; Bertone, Jane F; Wang, Fei; Wiers, Brian M; Gao, De; Stefanik, Todd S; Mott, Andrew G; Mackie, David M

    2009-06-11

    We examine the photophysics of a colloidal suspension of C(60) particles in a micellar solution of Triton X-100 and water, prepared via a new synthesis which allows high-concentration suspensions. The particle sizes are characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering and found to be somewhat polydisperse in the range of 10-100 nm. The suspension is characterized optically by UV-vis spectroscopy, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, laser flash photolysis, and z-scan. The ground-state absorbance spectrum shows a broad absorbance feature centered near 450 nm which is indicative of colloidal C(60). The transient absorption dynamics, presented for the first time with femtosecond resolution, are very similar to that of thin films of C(60) and indicate a strong quenching of the singlet excited state on short time scales and evidence of little intersystem crossing to a triplet excited state. Laser flash photolysis reveals that a triplet excited-state absorption spectrum, which is essentially identical in shape to that of molecular C(60) solutions, does indeed arise, but with much lower magnitude and somewhat shorter lifetime. Z-scan analysis confirms that the optical response of this material is dominated by nonlinear scattering.

  19. UV absorption in metal decorated boron nitride flakes: a theoretical analysis of excited states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chopra, Siddheshwar; Plasser, Felix

    2017-10-01

    The excited states of single metal atom (X = Co, Al and Cu) doped boron nitride flake (MBNF) B15N14H14-X and pristine boron nitride (B15N15H14) are studied by time-dependent density functional theory. The immediate effect of metal doping is a red shift of the onset of absorption from about 220 nm for pristine BNF to above 300 nm for all metal-doped variants with the biggest effect for MBNF-Co, which shows appreciable intensity even above 400 nm. These energy shifts are analysed by detailed wavefunction analysis protocols using visualisation methods, such as the natural transition orbital analysis and electron-hole correlation plots, as well as quantitative analysis of the exciton size and electron-hole populations. The analysis shows that the Co and Cu atoms provide strong contributions to the relevant states whereas the aluminium atom is only involved to a lesser extent.

  20. Thermal transport dynamics in the quasi-single helicity state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McKinney, I. J.; Terry, P. W.

    2017-06-01

    A dynamical model describing oscillations between multiple and single helicity configurations in the quasi-single helicity (QSH) state of the reversed field pinch [P. W. Terry and G. G. Whelan, Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 56, 094003 (2014)] is extended to include electron temperature profile dynamics. It is shown that QSH dynamics is linked to the electron temperature profile because the suppression of mode coupling between tearing modes proposed to underlie QSH also suppresses magnetic-fluctuation-induced thermal transport. Above the threshold of dominant-mode shear that marks the transition to QSH, the model produces temperature-gradient steepening in the strong shear region. Oscillations of the dominant and secondary mode amplitudes give rise to oscillations of the temperature gradient. The phasing and amplitude of temperature gradient oscillations relative to those of the dominant mode are in agreement with experiment. This provides further evidence that the model, while heuristic, captures key physical aspects of the QSH state.

  1. Measurement of Electronic States of PbS Nanocrystal Quantum Dots Using Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy: The Role of Parity Selection Rules in Optical Absorption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Diaconescu, Bogdan; Padilha, Lazaro A.; Nagpal, Prashant; Swartzentruber, Brian S.; Klimov, Victor I.

    2013-03-01

    We study the structure of electronic states in individual PbS nanocrystal quantum dots by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) using one-to-two monolayer nanocrystal films treated with 1, 2-ethanedithiols (EDT). Up to six individual valence and conduction band states are resolved for a range of quantum dot sizes. The measured states’ energies are in good agreement with calculations using the k·p four-band envelope function formalism. A comparison of STS and optical absorption spectra indicates that some of the absorption features can only be explained by asymmetric transitions involving the states of different symmetries (e.g., S and P or P and D), which points towards the relaxation of the parity selection rules in these nanostructures. STS measurements also reveal a midgap feature, which is likely similar to one observed in previous charge transport studies of EDT-treated quantum dot films.

  2. Transition metal atomic multiplets in the ligand K-edge x-ray absorption spectra and multiple oxidation states in the L2,3 emission of strongly correlated compounds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiménez-Mier, J.; Olalde-Velasco, P.; Yang, W.-L.; Denlinger, J.

    2014-07-01

    We present results that show that atomic multiplet ligand field calculations are in very good agreement with experimental x-ray absorption spectra at the L2,3 edge of transition metal (TM) di-fluorides (MF2, MCrCu). For chromium more than one TM oxidation state is needed to achieve such an agreement. We also show that signature of the TM atomic multiplet can be found at the pre-edge of the fluorine K-edge x-ray absorption spectra. TM atomic multiplet ligand field calculations with a structureless core hole show good agreement with the observed pre-edges in the experimental fluorine absorption spectra. Preliminary results for the comparison between calculated and experimental resonant x-ray emission spectra for nominal CrF2 with more than one oxidation state indicate the presence of three chromium oxidation states in the bulk.

  3. Understanding ion association states and molecular dynamics using infrared spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Masser, Hanqing

    A molecular level understanding of the ion transport mechanism within polymer electrolytes is crucial to the further development for advanced energy storage applications. This can be achieved by the identification and quantitative measurement of different ion species in the system and further relating them to the ion conductivity. In the first part of this thesis, research is presented towards understanding the ion association states (free ions, ion pairs and ion aggregates) in ionomer systems, and the correlation of ion association states, ion conduction, polymer dynamics, and morphology. Ion conductivity in ionomers can be improved by lowering glass transition temperature, increasing polymer ion solvation ability, and adjusting ionomer structural variables such as ion content, cation type and side chain structure. These effects are studied in three ionomer systems respectively, using a combination of characterization methods. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identifies and quantifies the ion association states. Dielectric Spectroscopy (DRS) characterizes ion conductivity and polymer and ion dynamics. X-ray scattering reveals changes in morphology. The influence of a cation solvating plasticizer on a polyester ionomer is systematically investigated with respect to ion association states, ion and polymer dynamics and morphology. A decrease in the number ratio of ion aggregates with increased plasticizer content and a slight increase at elevated temperature are observed in FTIR. Similar results are also detected by X-ray scattering. As determined from dielectric spectroscopy, ion conductivity increases with plasticizer content, in accordance with the decrease in glass transition temperature. Research on copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) based ionomers further develops an understanding of the trade-off between ion solvation and segmental dynamics. Upon the incorporation of PTMO, the majority of the PTMO

  4. Invisible Electronic States and Their Dynamics Revealed by Perturbations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Merer, Anthony J.

    2011-06-01

    Sooner or later everyone working in the field of spectroscopy encounters perturbations. These can range in size from a small shift of a single rotational level to total destruction of the vibrational and rotational patterns of an electronic state. To some workers perturbations are a source of terror, but to others they are the most fascinating features of molecular spectra, because they give information about molecular dynamics, and about states that would otherwise be invisible as a result of unfavorable selection rules. An example of the latter is the essentially complete characterization of the tilde{b}^3A_2 state of SO_2 from the vibronic perturbations it causes in the tilde{a}^3B_1 state. The S_1-trans state of acetylene is a beautiful example of dynamics in action. The level patterns of the three bending vibrations change dramatically with increasing vibrational excitation as a result of the vibrational angular momentum and the approach to the isomerization barrier. Several vibrational levels of the S_1-cis isomer, previously thought to be unobservable, can now be assigned. They obtain their intensity through interactions with nearby levels of the trans isomer.

  5. On the transient dynamics of piezoelectric-based, state-switched systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lopp, Garrett K.; Kelley, Christopher R.; Kauffman, Jeffrey L.

    2018-01-01

    This letter reports on the induced mechanical transients for piezoelectric-based, state-switching approaches utilizing both experimental tests and a numerical model that more accurately captures the dynamics associated with a switch between stiffness states. Currently, switching models instantaneously dissipate the stored piezoelectric voltage, resulting in a discrete change in effective stiffness states and a discontinuity in the system dynamics during the switching event. The proposed model allows for a rapid but continuous voltage dissipation and the corresponding variation between stiffness states, as one sees in physical implementations. This rapid variation in system stiffness when switching at a point of non-zero strain leads to high-frequency, large-amplitude transients in the system acceleration response. Utilizing a fundamental piezoelectric bimorph, a comparison between the numerical and experimental results reveals that these mechanical transients are much stronger than originally anticipated and masked by measurement hardware limitations, thus highlighting the significance of an appropriate system model governing the switch dynamics. Such a model enables designers to analyze systems that incorporate piezoelectric-based state switching with greater accuracy to ensure that these transients do not degrade the intended performance. Finally, if the switching does create unacceptable transients, controlling the duration of voltage dissipation enables control over the frequency content and peak amplitudes associated with the switch-induced acceleration transients.

  6. CuTaS 3 : Intermetal d–d Transitions Enable High Solar Absorption

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Heo, Jaeseok; Yu, Liping; Altschul, Emmeline

    To realize the fundamental limits of photovoltaic device efficiency, solar absorbers must exhibit strong absorption and abrupt absorption onsets. Ideally, onsets to maximum absorption (a > 105 cm-1) occur over a few tenths of an electronvolt. First-principles calculations predict CuTaS3 represents a potentially new class of materials with such absorption characteristics. Narrow metallic d bands in both the initial and final states present high joint densities of states and, therefore, strong absorption. Specifically, a mixture of metal d (Cu1+, d10) and S p characterizes states near the valence band maximum, and metal d (Ta5+, d0) dominates near the conduction bandmore » minimum. Optical absorption measurements on thin films confirm the abrupt onset to strong absorption a > 105 cm-1 at Eg + 0.4 eV (Eg = 1.0 eV). Theoretical CuTaS3 solar cell efficiency is predicted to be 28% for a 300 nm film based on the metric of spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency, which exceeds that of CuInSe2. This sulfide may offer new opportunities to discover and develop a new class of mixed d-element solar absorbers.« less

  7. Atmospheric pressure and temperature profiling using near IR differential absorption lidar

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Korb, C. L.; Schwemmer, G. K.; Dombrowski, M.; Weng, C. Y.

    1983-01-01

    The present investigation is concerned with differential absorption lidar techniques for remotely measuring the atmospheric temperature and pressure profile, surface pressure, and cloud top pressure-height. The procedure used in determining the pressure is based on the conduction of high-resolution measurements of absorption in the wings of lines in the oxygen A band. Absorption with respect to these areas is highly pressure sensitive in connection with the mechanism of collisional line broadening. The method of temperature measurement utilizes a determination of the absorption at the center of a selected line in the oxygen A band which originates from a quantum state with high ground state energy.

  8. Nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics: modeling photophysics in organic conjugated materials.

    PubMed

    Nelson, Tammie; Fernandez-Alberti, Sebastian; Roitberg, Adrian E; Tretiak, Sergei

    2014-04-15

    To design functional photoactive materials for a variety of technological applications, researchers need to understand their electronic properties in detail and have ways to control their photoinduced pathways. When excited by photons of light, organic conjugated materials (OCMs) show dynamics that are often characterized by large nonadiabatic (NA) couplings between multiple excited states through a breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation. Following photoexcitation, various nonradiative intraband relaxation pathways can lead to a number of complex processes. Therefore, computational simulation of nonadiabatic molecular dynamics is an indispensable tool for understanding complex photoinduced processes such as internal conversion, energy transfer, charge separation, and spatial localization of excitons. Over the years, we have developed a nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics (NA-ESMD) framework that efficiently and accurately describes photoinduced phenomena in extended conjugated molecular systems. We use the fewest-switches surface hopping (FSSH) algorithm to treat quantum transitions among multiple adiabatic excited state potential energy surfaces (PESs). Extended molecular systems often contain hundreds of atoms and involve large densities of excited states that participate in the photoinduced dynamics. We can achieve an accurate description of the multiple excited states using the configuration interaction single (CIS) formalism with a semiempirical model Hamiltonian. Analytical techniques allow the trajectory to be propagated "on the fly" using the complete set of NA coupling terms and remove computational bottlenecks in the evaluation of excited-state gradients and NA couplings. Furthermore, the use of state-specific gradients for propagation of nuclei on the native excited-state PES eliminates the need for simplifications such as the classical path approximation (CPA), which only uses ground-state gradients. Thus, the NA-ESMD methodology

  9. Two-photon absorption by spectrally shaped entangled photons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oka, Hisaki

    2018-03-01

    We theoretically investigate two-photon excitation by spectrally shaped entangled photons with energy anticorrelation in terms of how the real excitation of an intermediate state affects two-photon absorption by entangled photons. Spectral holes are introduced in the entangled photons around the energy levels of an intermediate state so that two-step excitation via the real excitation of the intermediated state can be suppressed. Using a three-level atomic system as an example, we show that the spectral holes well suppress the real excitation of the intermediate state and recover two-photon absorption via a virtual state. Furthermore, for a short pulse close to a monocycle, we show that the excitation efficiency by the spectrally shaped entangled photons can be enhanced a thousand times as large as that by uncorrelated photons.

  10. Mental states as macrostates emerging from brain electrical dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Allefeld, Carsten; Atmanspacher, Harald; Wackermann, Jiří

    2009-03-01

    Psychophysiological correlations form the basis for different medical and scientific disciplines, but the nature of this relation has not yet been fully understood. One conceptual option is to understand the mental as "emerging" from neural processes in the specific sense that psychology and physiology provide two different descriptions of the same system. Stating these descriptions in terms of coarser- and finer-grained system states (macro- and microstates), the two descriptions may be equally adequate if the coarse-graining preserves the possibility to obtain a dynamical rule for the system. To test the empirical viability of our approach, we describe an algorithm to obtain a specific form of such a coarse-graining from data, and illustrate its operation using a simulated dynamical system. We then apply the method to an electroencephalographic recording, where we are able to identify macrostates from the physiological data that correspond to mental states of the subject.

  11. Unexpected solvent effects on the UV/Vis absorption spectra of o-cresol in toluene and benzene: in contrast with non-aromatic solvents

    PubMed Central

    Zheng, Dong; Yuan, Xiang-Ai; Ma, Haibo; Li, Xiaoxiong; Wang, Xizhang; Liu, Ziteng

    2018-01-01

    Cresol is a prototype molecule in understanding intermolecular interactions in material and biological systems, because it offers different binding sites with various solvents and protonation states under different pH values. It is found that the UV/Vis absorption spectra of o-cresol in aromatic solvents (benzene, toluene) are characterized by a sharp peak, unlike the broad double-peaks in 11 non-aromatic solvents. Both molecular dynamics simulations and electronic structure calculations revealed the formation of intermolecular π-complexation between o-cresol and aromatic solvents. The thermal movements of solvent and solute molecules render the conformations of o-cresol changing between trans and cis isomers. The π-interaction makes the cis configuration a dominant isomer, hence leading to the single keen-edged UV/Vis absorption peak at approximately 283 nm. The free conformation changes between trans and cis in aqueous solution rationalize the broader absorption peaks in the range of 260–280 nm. The pH dependence of the UV/Vis absorption spectra in aqueous solutions is also rationalized by different protonation states of o-cresol. The explicit solvent model with long-ranged interactions is vital to describe the effects of π-complexation and electrostatic interaction on the UV/Vis absorption spectra of o-cresol in toluene and alkaline aqueous (pH > 10.3) solutions, respectively. PMID:29657794

  12. Unexpected solvent effects on the UV/Vis absorption spectra of o-cresol in toluene and benzene: in contrast with non-aromatic solvents.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Dong; Yuan, Xiang-Ai; Ma, Haibo; Li, Xiaoxiong; Wang, Xizhang; Liu, Ziteng; Ma, Jing

    2018-03-01

    Cresol is a prototype molecule in understanding intermolecular interactions in material and biological systems, because it offers different binding sites with various solvents and protonation states under different pH values. It is found that the UV/Vis absorption spectra of o -cresol in aromatic solvents (benzene, toluene) are characterized by a sharp peak, unlike the broad double-peaks in 11 non-aromatic solvents. Both molecular dynamics simulations and electronic structure calculations revealed the formation of intermolecular π-complexation between o -cresol and aromatic solvents. The thermal movements of solvent and solute molecules render the conformations of o -cresol changing between trans and cis isomers. The π-interaction makes the cis configuration a dominant isomer, hence leading to the single keen-edged UV/Vis absorption peak at approximately 283 nm. The free conformation changes between trans and cis in aqueous solution rationalize the broader absorption peaks in the range of 260-280 nm. The pH dependence of the UV/Vis absorption spectra in aqueous solutions is also rationalized by different protonation states of o -cresol. The explicit solvent model with long-ranged interactions is vital to describe the effects of π-complexation and electrostatic interaction on the UV/Vis absorption spectra of o -cresol in toluene and alkaline aqueous (pH > 10.3) solutions, respectively.

  13. Absorption fluids data survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Macriss, R. A.; Zawacki, T. S.

    Development of improved data for the thermodynamic, transport and physical properties of absorption fluids were studied. A specific objective of this phase of the study is to compile, catalog and coarse screen the available US data of known absorption fluid systems and publish it as a first edition document to be distributed to manufacturers, researchers and others active in absorption heat pump activities. The methodology and findings of the compilation, cataloguing and coarse screening of the available US data on absorption fluid properties and presents current status and future work on this project are summarized. Both in house file and literature searches were undertaken to obtain available US publications with pertinent physical, thermodynamic and transport properties data for absorption fluids. Cross checks of literature searches were also made, using available published bibliographies and literature review articles, to eliminate secondary sources for the data and include only original sources and manuscripts. The properties of these fluids relate to the liquid and/or vapor state, as encountered in normal operation of absorption equipment employing such fluids, and to the crystallization boundary of the liquid phase, where applicable. The actual data were systematically classified according to the type of fluid and property, as well as temperature, pressure and concentration ranges over which data were available. Data were sought for 14 different properties: Vapor-Liquid Equilibria, Crystallization Temperature, Corrosion Characteristics, Heat of Mixing, Liquid-Phase-Densities, Vapor-Liquid-Phase Enthalpies, Specific Heat, Stability, Viscosity, Mass Transfer Rate, Heat Transfer Rate, Thermal Conductivity, Flammability, and Toxicity.

  14. X-ray absorption in insulators with non-Hermitian real-time time-dependent density functional theory.

    PubMed

    Fernando, Ranelka G; Balhoff, Mary C; Lopata, Kenneth

    2015-02-10

    Non-Hermitian real-time time-dependent density functional theory was used to compute the Si L-edge X-ray absorption spectrum of α-quartz using an embedded finite cluster model and atom-centered basis sets. Using tuned range-separated functionals and molecular orbital-based imaginary absorbing potentials, the excited states spanning the pre-edge to ∼20 eV above the ionization edge were obtained in good agreement with experimental data. This approach is generalizable to TDDFT studies of core-level spectroscopy and dynamics in a wide range of materials.

  15. Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    MacKenzie, D.I.; Nichols, J.D.; Seamans, M.E.; Gutierrez, R.J.

    2009-01-01

    Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and correct state classification, caused by imperfect detection. We first show the relationships between independently published approaches to the modeling of multistate occupancy. We then extend the pattern-based modeling to the case of sampling over multiple seasons or years in order to estimate state transition probabilities associated with system dynamics. The methodology and its potential for addressing relevant ecological questions are demonstrated using both maximum likelihood (occupancy and successful reproduction dynamics of California Spotted Owl) and Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation approaches (changes in relative abundance of green frogs in Maryland). Just as multistate capture?recapture modeling has revolutionized the study of individual marked animals, we believe that multistate occupancy modeling will dramatically increase our ability to address interesting questions about ecological processes underlying population-level dynamics.

  16. Dynamic-load-enabled ultra-low power multiple-state RRAM devices.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xiang; Chen, I-Wei

    2012-01-01

    Bipolar resistance-switching materials allowing intermediate states of wide-varying resistance values hold the potential of drastically reduced power for non-volatile memory. To exploit this potential, we have introduced into a nanometallic resistance-random-access-memory (RRAM) device an asymmetric dynamic load, which can reliably lower switching power by orders of magnitude. The dynamic load is highly resistive during on-switching allowing access to the highly resistive intermediate states; during off-switching the load vanishes to enable switching at low voltage. This approach is entirely scalable and applicable to other bipolar RRAM with intermediate states. The projected power is 12 nW for a 100 × 100 nm(2) device and 500 pW for a 10 × 10 nm(2) device. The dynamic range of the load can be increased to allow power to be further decreased by taking advantage of the exponential decay of wave-function in a newly discovered nanometallic random material, reaching possibly 1 pW for a 10×10 nm(2) nanometallic RRAM device.

  17. Direct and simultaneous observation of ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium

    DOE PAGES

    Zurch, Michael; Chang, Hung -Tzu; Borja, Lauren J.; ...

    2017-06-01

    Understanding excited carrier dynamics in semiconductors is crucial for the development of photovoltaics and efficient photonic devices. However, overlapping spectral features in optical pump-probe spectroscopy often render assignments of separate electron and hole carrier dynamics ambiguous. Here, ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium nanocrystalline thin films are directly and simultaneously observed by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet at the germanium M 4,5 edge. We decompose the spectra into contributions of electronic state blocking and photo-induced band shifts at a carrier density of 8 × 10 20 cm –3. Separate electron and hole relaxation times are observedmore » as a function of hot carrier energies. A first-order electron and hole decay of ~1 ps suggests a Shockley–Read–Hall recombination mechanism. Furthermore, the simultaneous observation of electrons and holes with extreme ultraviolet transient absorption spectroscopy paves the way for investigating few- to sub-femtosecond dynamics of both holes and electrons in complex semiconductor materials and across junctions.« less

  18. Direct and simultaneous observation of ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zurch, Michael; Chang, Hung -Tzu; Borja, Lauren J.

    Understanding excited carrier dynamics in semiconductors is crucial for the development of photovoltaics and efficient photonic devices. However, overlapping spectral features in optical pump-probe spectroscopy often render assignments of separate electron and hole carrier dynamics ambiguous. Here, ultrafast electron and hole dynamics in germanium nanocrystalline thin films are directly and simultaneously observed by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy in the extreme ultraviolet at the germanium M 4,5 edge. We decompose the spectra into contributions of electronic state blocking and photo-induced band shifts at a carrier density of 8 × 10 20 cm –3. Separate electron and hole relaxation times are observedmore » as a function of hot carrier energies. A first-order electron and hole decay of ~1 ps suggests a Shockley–Read–Hall recombination mechanism. Furthermore, the simultaneous observation of electrons and holes with extreme ultraviolet transient absorption spectroscopy paves the way for investigating few- to sub-femtosecond dynamics of both holes and electrons in complex semiconductor materials and across junctions.« less

  19. Excited State Structural Dynamics of Carotenoids and ChargeTransfer Systems

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Van Tassle, Aaron Justin

    This dissertation describes the development andimplementation of a visible/near infrared pump/mid-infrared probeapparatus. Chapter 1 describes the background and motivation ofinvestigating optically induced structural dynamics, paying specificattention to solvation and the excitation selection rules of highlysymmetric molecules such as carotenoids. Chapter 2 describes thedevelopment and construction of the experimental apparatus usedthroughout the remainder of this dissertation. Chapter 3 will discuss theinvestigation of DCM, a laser dye with a fluorescence signal resultingfrom a charge transfer state. By studying the dynamics of DCM and of itsmethyl deuterated isotopomer (an otherwise identical molecule), we areable to investigate the origins of the charge transfer statemore » and provideevidence that it is of the controversial twisted intramolecular (TICT)type. Chapter 4 introduces the use of two-photon excitation to the S1state, combined with one-photon excitation to the S2 state of thecarotenoid beta-apo-8'-carotenal. These 2 investigations show evidencefor the formation of solitons, previously unobserved in molecular systemsand found only in conducting polymers Chapter 5 presents an investigationof the excited state dynamics of peridinin, the carotenoid responsiblefor the light harvesting of dinoflagellates. This investigation allowsfor a more detailed understanding of the importance of structuraldynamics of carotenoids in light harvesting.« less

  20. Molecular dynamics investigation of dynamical heterogeneity and local structure in the supercooled liquid and glass states of Al

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Maozhi; Wang, Cai-Zhuang; Mendelev, Mikhail I.; Ho, Kai-Ming

    2008-05-01

    Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the structure and dynamical heterogeneity in the liquid and glass states of Al using a frequently employed embedded atom potential. While the pair correlation function of the glass and liquid states displays only minor differences, the icosahedral short-range order (ISRO) and the dynamics of the two states are very different. The ISRO is much stronger in the glass than in the liquid. It is also found that both the most mobile and the most immobile atoms in the glass state tend to form clusters, and the clusters formed by the immobile atoms are more compact. In order to investigate the local environment of each atom in the liquid and glass states, a local density is defined to characterize the local atomic packing. There is a strong correlation between the local packing density and the mobility of the atoms. These results indicate that dynamical heterogeneity in glasses is directly correlated to the local structure. We also analyze the diffusion mechanisms of atoms in the liquid and glass states. It is found that for the mobile atoms in the glass state, initially they are confined in the cages formed by their nearest neighbors and vibrating. On the time scale of β relaxation, the mobile atoms try to break up the cage confinement and hop into new cages. In the supercooled liquid states, however, atoms continuously diffuse. Furthermore, it is found that on the time scale of β relaxation, some of the mobile atoms in the glass state cooperatively hop, which is facilitated by the stringlike cluster structures. On the longer time scale, it is found that a certain fraction of atoms can simultaneously hop, although they are not nearest neighbors. Further analysis shows that these hopping atoms form big and more compact clusters than the characterized most mobile atoms. The cooperative rearrangement of these big compact clusters might facilitate the simultaneous hopping of atoms in the glass states on the long time

  1. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic characterisation of the circadian blue-light photoreceptor cryptochrome from Drosophila melanogaster (dCry)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shirdel, J.; Zirak, P.; Penzkofer, A.; Breitkreuz, H.; Wolf, E.

    2008-09-01

    The absorption and fluorescence behaviour of the circadian blue-light photoreceptor cryptochrome from Drosophila melanogaster (dCry) in a pH 8 aqueous buffer solution is studied. The flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor of dCry is identified to be present in its oxidized form (FAD ox), and the 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) cofactor is found to be hydrolyzed and oxidized to 10-formyldihydrofolate (10-FDHF). The absorption and the fluorescence behaviour of dCry is investigated in the dark-adapted (receptor) state, the light-adapted (signalling) state, and under long-time violet light exposure. Photo-excitation of FAD ox in dCry causes a reductive electron transfer to the formation of anionic FAD semiquinone (FAD rad - ), and photo-excitation of the generated FAD rad - causes an oxidative electron transfer to the back formation of FAD ox. In light adapted dCry a photo-induced equilibrium between FAD ox and FAD rad - exists. The photo-cycle dynamics of signalling state formation and recovery is discussed. Quantum yields of photo-induced signalling state formation of about 0.2 and of photo-induced back-conversion of about 0.2 are determined. A recovery of FAD rad - to FAD ox in the dark with a time constant of 1.6 min at room temperature is found.

  2. Different polarization dynamic states in a vector Yb-doped fiber laser.

    PubMed

    Li, Xingliang; Zhang, Shumin; Han, Huiyun; Han, Mengmeng; Zhang, Huaxing; Zhao, Luming; Wen, Fang; Yang, Zhenjun

    2015-04-20

    Different polarization dynamic states in an unidirectional, vector, Yb-doped fiber ring laser have been observed. A rich variety of dynamic states, including group velocity locked polarization domains and their splitting into regularly distributed multiple domains, polarization locked square pulses and their harmonic mode locking counterparts, and dissipative soliton resonances have all been observed with different operating parameters. We have also shown experimentally details of the conditions under which polarization-domain-wall dark pulses and bright square pulses form.

  3. Subcutaneous insulin absorption explained by insulin's physicochemical properties. Evidence from absorption studies of soluble human insulin and insulin analogues in humans.

    PubMed

    Kang, S; Brange, J; Burch, A; Vølund, A; Owens, D R

    1991-11-01

    To study the influence of molecular aggregation on rates of subcutaneous insulin absorption and to attempt to elucidate the mechanism of absorption of conventional soluble human insulin in humans. Seven healthy male volunteers aged 22-43 yr and not receiving any drugs comprised the study. This study consisted of a single-blind randomized comparison of equimolar dosages of 125I-labeled forms of soluble hexameric 2 Zn2+ human insulin and human insulin analogues with differing association states at pharmaceutical concentrations (AspB10, dimeric; AspB28, mixture of monomers and dimers; AspB9, GluB27, monomeric). After an overnight fast and a basal period of 1 h, 0.6 nmol/kg of either 125I-labeled human soluble insulin (Actrapid HM U-100) or 125I-labeled analogue was injected subcutaneously on 4 separate days 1 wk apart. Absorption was assessed by measurement of residual radioactivity at the injection site by external gamma-counting. The mean +/- SE initial fractional disappearance rates for the four preparations were 20.7 +/- 1.9 (hexameric soluble human insulin), 44.4 +/- 2.5 (dimeric analogue AspB10), 50.6 +/- 3.9 (analogue AspB28), and 67.4 +/- 7.4%/h (monomeric analogue AspB9, GluB27). Absorption of the dimeric analogue was significantly faster than that of hexameric human insulin (P less than 0.001); absorption of monomeric insulin analogue AspB9, GluB27 was significantly faster than that of dimeric analogue AspB10 (P less than 0.01). There was an inverse linear correlation between association state and the initial fractional disappearance rates (r = -0.98, P less than 0.02). Analysis of the disappearance data on a log linear scale showed that only the monomeric analogue had a monoexponential course throughout. Two phases in the rates of absorption were identified for the dimer and three for hexameric human insulin. The fractional disappearance rates (%/h) calculated by log linear regression analysis were monomer 73.3 +/- 6.8; dimer 44.4 +/- 2.5 from 0 to 2 h and

  4. Picosecond absorption spectroscopy of self-trapped excitons and transient Ce states in LaBr3 and LaBr3:Ce

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Peiyun; Gridin, Sergii; Ucer, K. Burak; Williams, Richard T.; Menge, Peter R.

    2018-04-01

    Picosecond time-resolved optical absorption spectra induced by two-photon interband excitation of LaBr3 are reported. The spectra are similar in general characteristics to self-trapped exciton (STE) absorption previously measured in alkali halides and alkaline-earth halides. A broad ultraviolet absorption band results from excitation of the self-trapped hole within the STE. A series of infrared and red-visible bands results from excitation of the bound outer electron within the STE similar to bands found in alkali halides corresponding to different degrees of "off-center" relaxation. Induced absorption in cerium-doped LaBr3 after band-gap excitation of the host exhibits similar STE spectra, except it decays faster on the tens-of-picoseconds scale in proportion to the Ce concentration. This is attributed to dipole-dipole energy transfer from STE to Ce3 + dopant ions. The absorption spectra were also measured after direct excitation of the Ce3 + ions with sufficient intensity to drive two- and three-photon resonantly enhanced excitation. In this case, the spectrum attributed to STEs created adjacent to Ce3 + ions decays in 1 ps suggesting dipole-dipole transfer from the nearest-neighbor separation. A transient absorption band at 2.1 eV growing with Ce concentration is found and attributed to a charge-transfer excitation of the Ce3 +* excited state responsible for scintillation in LaBr3:Ce crystals. This study concludes that the energy transport from host to activator responsible for the scintillation of LaBr3:Ce proceeds by STE creation and dipole-dipole transfer more than by sequential trapping of holes and electrons on Ce3 + ions.

  5. Dynamic Functional Connectivity States Between the Dorsal and Ventral Sensorimotor Networks Revealed by Dynamic Conditional Correlation Analysis of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

    PubMed

    Syed, Maleeha F; Lindquist, Martin A; Pillai, Jay J; Agarwal, Shruti; Gujar, Sachin K; Choe, Ann S; Caffo, Brian; Sair, Haris I

    2017-12-01

    Functional connectivity in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has received substantial attention since the initial findings of Biswal et al. Traditional network correlation metrics assume that the functional connectivity in the brain remains stationary over time. However, recent studies have shown that robust temporal fluctuations of functional connectivity among as well as within functional networks exist, challenging this assumption. In this study, these dynamic correlation differences were investigated between the dorsal and ventral sensorimotor networks by applying the dynamic conditional correlation model to rs-fMRI data of 20 healthy subjects. k-Means clustering was used to determine an optimal number of discrete connectivity states (k = 10) of the sensorimotor system across all subjects. Our analysis confirms the existence of differences in dynamic correlation between the dorsal and ventral networks, with highest connectivity found within the ventral motor network.

  6. State diagram for adhesion dynamics of deformable capsules under shear flow.

    PubMed

    Luo, Zheng Yuan; Bai, Bo Feng

    2016-08-17

    Due to the significance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of cell adhesion in biological processes and cell capture in biomedical applications, we numerically investigate the adhesion dynamics of deformable capsules under shear flow by using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model. This model is based on the coupling of the front tracking-finite element method for elastic mechanics of the capsule membrane and the adhesion kinetics simulation for adhesive interactions between capsules and functionalized surfaces. Using this model, three distinct adhesion dynamic states are predicted, such as detachment, rolling and firm-adhesion. Specifically, the effects of capsule deformability quantified by the capillary number on the transitions of these three dynamic states are investigated by developing an adhesion dynamic state diagram for the first time. At low capillary numbers (e.g. Ca < 0.0075), whole-capsule deformation confers the capsule a flattened bottom in contact with the functionalized surface, which hence promotes the rolling-to-firm-adhesion transition. It is consistent with the observations from previous studies that cell deformation promotes the adhesion of cells lying in the rolling regime. However, it is surprising to find that, at relatively high capillary numbers (e.g. 0.0075 < Ca < 0.0175), the effect of capsule deformability on its adhesion dynamics is far more complex than just promoting adhesion. High deformability of capsules makes their bottom take a concave shape with no adhesion bond formation in the middle. The appearance of this specific capsule shape inhibits the transitions of both rolling-to-firm-adhesion and detachment-to-rolling, and it means that capsule deformation no longer promotes the capsule adhesion. Besides, it is interesting to note that, when the capillary number exceeds a critical value (e.g. Ca = 0.0175), the rolling state no longer appears, since capsules exhibit large deviation from the spherical shape.

  7. Aerosol Absorption Measurements in MILAGRO.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gaffney, J. S.; Marley, N. A.; Arnott, W. P.; Paredes-Miranda, L.; Barnard, J. C.

    2007-12-01

    During the month of March 2006, a number of instruments were used to determine the absorption characteristics of aerosols found in the Mexico City Megacity and nearby Valley of Mexico. These measurements were taken as part of the Department of Energy's Megacity Aerosol Experiment - Mexico City (MAX-Mex) that was carried out in collaboration with the Megacity Interactions: Local and Global Research Observations (MILAGRO) campaign. MILAGRO was a joint effort between the DOE, NSF, NASA, and Mexican agencies aimed at understanding the impacts of a megacity on the urban and regional scale. A super-site was operated at the Instituto Mexicano de Petroleo in Mexico City (designated T-0) and at the Universidad Technologica de Tecamac (designated T-1) that was located about 35 km to the north east of the T-0 site in the State of Mexico. A third site was located at a private rancho in the State of Hidalgo approximately another 35 km to the northeast (designated T-2). Aerosol absorption measurements were taken in real time using a number of instruments at the T-0 and T-1 sites. These included a seven wavelength aethalometer, a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP), and a photo-acoustic spectrometer. Aerosol absorption was also derived from spectral radiometers including a multi-filter rotating band spectral radiometer (MFRSR). The results clearly indicate that there is significant aerosol absorption by the aerosols in the Mexico City megacity region. The absorption can lead to single scattering albedo reduction leading to values below 0.5 under some circumstances. The absorption is also found to deviate from that expected for a "well-behaved" soot anticipated from diesel engine emissions, i.e. from a simple 1/lambda wavelength dependence for absorption. Indeed, enhanced absorption is seen in the region of 300-450 nm in many cases, particularly in the afternoon periods indicating that secondary organic aerosols are contributing to the aerosol absorption. This is likely due

  8. Inferring collective dynamical states from widely unobserved systems.

    PubMed

    Wilting, Jens; Priesemann, Viola

    2018-06-13

    When assessing spatially extended complex systems, one can rarely sample the states of all components. We show that this spatial subsampling typically leads to severe underestimation of the risk of instability in systems with propagating events. We derive a subsampling-invariant estimator, and demonstrate that it correctly infers the infectiousness of various diseases under subsampling, making it particularly useful in countries with unreliable case reports. In neuroscience, recordings are strongly limited by subsampling. Here, the subsampling-invariant estimator allows to revisit two prominent hypotheses about the brain's collective spiking dynamics: asynchronous-irregular or critical. We identify consistently for rat, cat, and monkey a state that combines features of both and allows input to reverberate in the network for hundreds of milliseconds. Overall, owing to its ready applicability, the novel estimator paves the way to novel insight for the study of spatially extended dynamical systems.

  9. Towards higher stability of resonant absorption measurements in pulsed plasmas.

    PubMed

    Britun, Nikolay; Michiels, Matthieu; Snyders, Rony

    2015-12-01

    Possible ways to increase the reliability of time-resolved particle density measurements in pulsed gaseous discharges using resonant absorption spectroscopy are proposed. A special synchronization, called "dynamic source triggering," between a gated detector and two pulsed discharges, one representing the discharge of interest and another being used as a reference source, is developed. An internal digital delay generator in the intensified charge coupled device camera, used at the same time as a detector, is utilized for this purpose. According to the proposed scheme, the light pulses from the reference source follow the gates of detector, passing through the discharge of interest only when necessary. This allows for the utilization of short-pulse plasmas as reference sources, which is critical for time-resolved absorption analysis of strongly emitting pulsed discharges. In addition to dynamic source triggering, the reliability of absorption measurements can be further increased using simultaneous detection of spectra relevant for absorption method, which is also demonstrated in this work. The proposed methods are illustrated by the time-resolved measurements of the metal atom density in a high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) discharge, using either a hollow cathode lamp or another HiPIMS discharge as a pulsed reference source.

  10. Ultrafast Exciton Delocalization, Localization, and Excimer Formation Dynamics in a Highly Defined Perylene Bisimide Quadruple π-Stack.

    PubMed

    Kaufmann, Christina; Kim, Woojae; Nowak-Król, Agnieszka; Hong, Yongseok; Kim, Dongho; Würthner, Frank

    2018-03-28

    An adequately designed, bay-tethered perylene bisimide (PBI) dimer Bis-PBI was synthesized by Pd/Cu-catalyzed Glaser-type oxidative homocoupling of the respective PBI building block. This newly synthesized PBI dimer self-assembles exclusively and with high binding constants of up to 10 6 M -1 into a discrete π-stack of four chromophores. Steady-state absorption and emission spectra show the signatures of H-type excitonic coupling among the dye units. Broadband fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy (FLUPS) reveals an ultrafast dynamics in the optically excited state. An initially coherent Frenkel exciton state that is delocalized over the whole quadruple stack rapidly (τ = ∼200 fs) loses its coherence and relaxes into an excimer state. Comparison with Frenkel exciton dynamics in PBI dimeric and oligomeric H-aggregates demonstrates that in the quadruple stack coherent exciton propagation is absent due to its short length of aggregates, thereby it has only one relaxation pathway to the excimer state. Furthermore, the absence of pump-power dependence in transient absorption experiments suggests that multiexciton cannot be generated in the quadruple stack, which is in line with time-resolved fluorescence measurements.

  11. Absorption and emission spectroscopic characterisation of combined wildtype LOV1-LOV2 domain of phot from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

    PubMed

    Song, S-H; Dick, B; Zirak, P; Penzkofer, A; Schiereis, T; Hegemann, P

    2005-10-03

    An absorption and emission spectroscopic characterisation of the combined wild-type LOV1-LOV2 domain string (abbreviated LOV1/2) of phot from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is carried out at pH 8. A LOV1/2-MBP fusion protein (MBP=maltose binding protein) and LOV1/2 with a His-tag at the C-terminus (LOV1/2-His) expressed in an Escherichia coli strain are investigated. Blue-light photo-excitation generates a non-fluorescent intermediate photoproduct (flavin-C(4a)-cysteinyl adduct with absorption peak at 390 nm). The photo-cycle dynamics is studied by dark-state absorption and fluorescence measurement, by following the temporal absorption and emission changes under blue and violet light exposure, and by measuring the temporal absorption and fluorescence recovery after light exposure. The fluorescence quantum yield, phi(F), of the dark adapted samples is phi(F)(LOV1/2-His) approximately 0.15 and phi(F)(LOV1/2-MBP) approximately 0.17. A bi-exponential absorption recovery after light exposure with a fast (in the several 10-s range) and a slow component (in the near 10-min range) are resolved. The quantum yield of photo-adduct formation, phi(Ad), is extracted from excitation intensity dependent absorption measurements. It decreases somewhat with rising excitation intensity. The behaviour of the combined wildtype LOV1-LOV2 double domains is compared with the behaviour of the separate LOV1 and LOV2 domains.

  12. Resting state networks in empirical and simulated dynamic functional connectivity.

    PubMed

    Glomb, Katharina; Ponce-Alvarez, Adrián; Gilson, Matthieu; Ritter, Petra; Deco, Gustavo

    2017-10-01

    It is well-established that patterns of functional connectivity (FC) - measures of correlated activity between pairs of voxels or regions observed in the human brain using neuroimaging - are robustly expressed in spontaneous activity during rest. These patterns are not static, but exhibit complex spatio-temporal dynamics. Over the last years, a multitude of methods have been proposed to reveal these dynamics on the level of the whole brain. One finding is that the brain transitions through different FC configurations over time, and substantial effort has been put into characterizing these configurations. However, the dynamics governing these transitions are more elusive, specifically, the contribution of stationary vs. non-stationary dynamics is an active field of inquiry. In this study, we use a whole-brain approach, considering FC dynamics between 66 ROIs covering the entire cortex. We combine an innovative dimensionality reduction technique, tensor decomposition, with a mean field model which possesses stationary dynamics. It has been shown to explain resting state FC averaged over time and multiple subjects, however, this average FC summarizes the spatial distribution of correlations while hiding their temporal dynamics. First, we apply tensor decomposition to resting state scans from 24 healthy controls in order to characterize spatio-temporal dynamics present in the data. We simultaneously utilize temporal and spatial information by creating tensors that are subsequently decomposed into sets of brain regions ("communities") that share similar temporal dynamics, and their associated time courses. The tensors contain pairwise FC computed inside of overlapping sliding windows. Communities are discovered by clustering features pooled from all subjects, thereby ensuring that they generalize. We find that, on the group level, the data give rise to four distinct communities that resemble known resting state networks (RSNs): default mode network, visual network

  13. Dynamical origin of non-thermal states in galactic filaments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Di Cintio, Pierfrancesco; Gupta, Shamik; Casetti, Lapo

    2018-03-01

    Observations strongly suggest that filaments in galactic molecular clouds are in a non-thermal state. As a simple model of a filament, we study a two-dimensional system of self-gravitating point particles by means of numerical simulations of the dynamics, with various methods: direct N-body integration of the equations of motion, particle-in-cell simulations, and a recently developed numerical scheme that includes multiparticle collisions in a particle-in-cell approach. Studying the collapse of Gaussian overdensities, we find that after the damping of virial oscillations the system settles in a non-thermal steady state whose radial density profile is similar to the observed ones, thus suggesting a dynamical origin of the non-thermal states observed in real filaments. Moreover, for sufficiently cold collapses, the density profiles are anticorrelated with the kinetic temperature, i.e. exhibit temperature inversion, again a feature that has been found in some observations of filaments. The same happens in the state reached after a strong perturbation of an initially isothermal cylinder. Finally, we discuss our results in the light of recent findings in other contexts (including non-astrophysical ones) and argue that the same kind of non-thermal states may be observed in any physical system with long-range interactions.

  14. State-Resolved Metal Nanoparticle Dynamics Viewed through the Combined Lenses of Ultrafast and Magneto-optical Spectroscopies.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Tian; Herbert, Patrick J; Zheng, Hongjun; Knappenberger, Kenneth L

    2018-06-19

    Electronic carrier dynamics play pivotal roles in the functional properties of nanomaterials. For colloidal metals, the mechanisms and influences of these dynamics are structure dependent. The coherent carrier dynamics of collective plasmon modes for nanoparticles (approximately 2 nm and larger) determine optical amplification factors that are important to applied spectroscopy techniques. In the nanocluster domain (sub-2 nm), carrier coupling to vibrational modes affects photoluminescence yields. The performance of photocatalytic materials featuring both nanoparticles and nanoclusters also depends on the relaxation dynamics of nonequilibrium charge carriers. The challenges for developing comprehensive descriptions of carrier dynamics spanning both domains are multifold. Plasmon coherences are short-lived, persisting for only tens of femtoseconds. Nanoclusters exhibit discrete carrier dynamics that can persist for microseconds in some cases. On this time scale, many state-dependent processes, including vibrational relaxation, charge transfer, and spin conversion, affect carrier dynamics in ways that are nonscalable but, rather, structure specific. Hence, state-resolved spectroscopy methods are needed for understanding carrier dynamics in the nanocluster domain. Based on these considerations, a detailed understanding of structure-dependent carrier dynamics across length scales requires an appropriate combination of spectroscopic methods. Plasmon mode-specific dynamics can be obtained through ultrafast correlated light and electron microscopy (UCLEM), which pairs interferometric nonlinear optical (INLO) with electron imaging methods. INLO yields nanostructure spectral resonance responses, which capture the system's homogeneous line width and coherence dynamics. State-resolved nanocluster dynamics can be obtained by pairing ultrafast with magnetic-optical spectroscopy methods. In particular, variable-temperature variable-field (VTVH) spectroscopies allow quantification

  15. Triplet excited state spectra and dynamics of carotenoids from the thermophilic purple photosynthetic bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Niedzwiedzki, Dariusz; Kobayashi, Masayuki; Blankenship, R. E.

    Light-harvesting complex 2 from the anoxygenic phototrophic purple bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum was purified and studied by steady-state absorption, fluorescence and flash photolysis spectroscopy. Steady-state absorption and fluorescence measurements show that carotenoids play a negligible role as supportive energy donors and transfer excitation to bacteriochlorophyll-a with low energy transfer efficiency of ~30%. HPLC analysis determined that the dominant carotenoids in the complex are rhodopin and spirilloxanthin. Carotenoid excited triplet state formation upon direct (carotenoid) or indirect (bacteriochlorophyll-a Q{sub x} band) excitation shows that carotenoid triplets are mostly localized on spirilloxanthin. In addition, no triplet excitation transfer between carotenoids was observed. Suchmore » specific carotenoid composition and spectroscopic results strongly suggest that this organism optimized carotenoid composition in the light-harvesting complex 2 in order to maximize photoprotective capabilities of carotenoids but subsequently drastically suppressed their supporting role in light-harvesting process.« less

  16. Deciphering excited state evolution in halorhodopsin with stimulated emission pumping.

    PubMed

    Bismuth, Oshrat; Komm, Pavel; Friedman, Noga; Eliash, Tamar; Sheves, Mordechai; Ruhman, Sanford

    2010-03-04

    The primary photochemical dynamics of Hb. pharaonis Halorhodopsin (pHR) are investigated by femtosecond visible pump-near IR dump-hyperspectral probe spectroscopy. The efficiency of excited state depletion is deduced from transient changes in absorption, recorded with and without stimulated emission pumping (SEP), as a function of the dump delay. The concomitant reduction of photocycle population is assessed by probing the "K" intermediate difference spectrum. Results show that the cross section for stimulating emission is nearly constant throughout the fluorescent state lifetime. Probing "K" demonstrates that dumping produces a proportionate reduction in photocycle yields. We conclude that, despite its nonexponential internal conversion (IC) kinetics, the fluorescent state in pHR constitutes a single intermediate in the photocycle. This contrasts with conclusions drawn from the study of primary events in the related chloride pump from Hb. salinarum (sHR), believed to produce the "K" intermediate from a distinct short-lived subpopulation in the excited state. Our discoveries concerning internal conversion dynamics in pHR are discussed in light of recent expectations for similar excited state dynamics in both proteins.

  17. Nonconjugated Acyloxy Group Deactivates the Intramolecular Charge-Transfer State in the Carotenoid Fucoxanthin.

    PubMed

    Staleva-Musto, Hristina; Kuznetsova, Valentyna; West, Robert G; Keşan, Gürkan; Minofar, Babak; Fuciman, Marcel; Bína, David; Litvín, Radek; Polívka, Tomáš

    2018-03-22

    We used ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to study excited-state dynamics of the keto-carotenoid fucoxanthin (Fx) and its two derivatives: 19'-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (bFx) and 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hFx). These derivatives occur in some light-harvesting systems of photosynthetic microorganisms, and their presence is typically related to stress conditions. Even though the hexanoyl (butanoyl) moiety is not a part of the conjugated system of hFx (bFx), their absorption spectra in polar solvents exhibit more pronounced vibrational bands of the S 2 state than for Fx. The effect of the nonconjugated acyloxy moiety is further observed in transient absorption spectra, which for Fx exhibit characteristic features of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state in all polar solvents. For bFx and hFx, however, much weaker ICT features are detected in methanol, and the spectral markers of the ICT state disappear completely in polar, but aprotic acetonitrile. The presence of the acyloxy moiety also alters the lifetimes of the S 1 /ICT state. For Fx, the lifetimes are 60, 30, and 20 ps in n-hexane, acetonitrile, and methanol, whereas for bFx and hFx, these lifetimes yield 60, 60, and 40 ps, respectively. Testing the S 1 /ICT state lifetimes of hFx in other solvents revealed that some ICT features can be induced only in polar, protic solvents (methanol, ethanol, and ethylene glycol). Thus, bFx and hFx represent a rather rare example of a system in which a nonconjugated functional group significantly alters excited-state dynamics. By comparison with other carotenoids, we show that a keto group at the acyloxy tail, even though it is not in conjugation, affects the electron distribution along the conjugated backbone, resulting in the observed decrease of the ICT character of the S 1 /ICT state of bFx and hFx.

  18. Dynamic Influence of Emotional States on Novel Word Learning

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Jingjing; Zou, Tiantian; Peng, Danling

    2018-01-01

    Many researchers realize that it's unrealistic to isolate language learning and processing from emotions. However, few studies on language learning have taken emotions into consideration so far, so that the probable influences of emotions on language learning are unclear. The current study thereby aimed to examine the effects of emotional states on novel word learning and their dynamic changes with learning continuing and task varying. Positive, negative or neutral pictures were employed to induce a given emotional state, and then participants learned the novel words through association with line-drawing pictures in four successive learning phases. At the end of each learning phase, participants were instructed to fulfill a semantic category judgment task (in Experiment 1) or a word-picture semantic consistency judgment task (in Experiment 2) to explore the effects of emotional states on different depths of word learning. Converging results demonstrated that negative emotional state led to worse performance compared with neutral condition; however, how positive emotional state affected learning varied with learning task. Specifically, a facilitative role of positive emotional state in semantic category learning was observed but disappeared in word specific meaning learning. Moreover, the emotional modulation on novel word learning was quite dynamic and changeable with learning continuing, and the final attainment of the learned words tended to be similar under different emotional states. The findings suggest that the impact of emotion can be offset when novel words became more and more familiar and a part of existent lexicon. PMID:29695994

  19. Dynamic Influence of Emotional States on Novel Word Learning.

    PubMed

    Guo, Jingjing; Zou, Tiantian; Peng, Danling

    2018-01-01

    Many researchers realize that it's unrealistic to isolate language learning and processing from emotions. However, few studies on language learning have taken emotions into consideration so far, so that the probable influences of emotions on language learning are unclear. The current study thereby aimed to examine the effects of emotional states on novel word learning and their dynamic changes with learning continuing and task varying. Positive, negative or neutral pictures were employed to induce a given emotional state, and then participants learned the novel words through association with line-drawing pictures in four successive learning phases. At the end of each learning phase, participants were instructed to fulfill a semantic category judgment task (in Experiment 1) or a word-picture semantic consistency judgment task (in Experiment 2) to explore the effects of emotional states on different depths of word learning. Converging results demonstrated that negative emotional state led to worse performance compared with neutral condition; however, how positive emotional state affected learning varied with learning task. Specifically, a facilitative role of positive emotional state in semantic category learning was observed but disappeared in word specific meaning learning. Moreover, the emotional modulation on novel word learning was quite dynamic and changeable with learning continuing, and the final attainment of the learned words tended to be similar under different emotional states. The findings suggest that the impact of emotion can be offset when novel words became more and more familiar and a part of existent lexicon.

  20. Carbon nanorings with inserted acenes: Breaking symmetry in excited state dynamics

    DOE PAGES

    Franklin-Mergarejo, R.; Alvarez, D. Ondarse; Tretiak, S.; ...

    2016-08-10

    Conjugated cycloparaphenylene rings have unique electronic properties being the smallest segments of carbon nanotubes. Their conjugated backbones support delocalized electronic excitations, which dynamics is strongly influenced by cyclic geometry. Here we present a comparative theoretical study of the electronic and vibrational energy relaxation and redistribution in photoexcited cycloparaphenylene carbon nanorings with inserted naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene units using non-adiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics simulations. Calculated excited state structures reflect modifications of optical selection rules and appearance of low-energy electronic states localized on the acenes due to gradual departure from a perfect circular symmetry. After photoexcitation, an ultrafast electronic energy relaxation tomore » the lowest excited state is observed on the time scale of hundreds of femtoseconds in all molecules studied. Concomitantly, the efficiency of the exciton trapping in the acene raises when moving from naphthalene to anthracene and to tetracene, being negligible in naphthalene, and ~60% and 70% in anthracene and tetracene within the first 500 fs after photoexcitation. Observed photoinduced dynamics is further analyzed in details using induced molecular distortions, delocatization properties of participating electronic states and non-adiabatic coupling strengths. Lastly, our results provide a number of insights into design of cyclic molecular systems for electronic and light-harvesting applications.« less