Global Solutions for the One-Dimensional Vlasov-Maxwell System for Laser-Plasma Interaction

We analyse a reduced 1D Vlasov--Maxwell system introduced recently in the physical literature for studying laser-plasma interaction. This system can be seen as a standard Vlasov equation in which the field is split in two terms: an electrostatic field obtained from Poisson's equation and a vector potential term satisfying a nonlinear wave equation. Both nonlinearities in the Poisson and wave equations are due to the coupling with the Vlasov equation through the charge density. We show global existence of weak solutions in the non-relativistic case, and global existence of characteristic solutions in the quasi-relativistic case. Moreover, these solutions are uniquely characterised as fixed points of a certain operator. We also find a global energy functional for the system allowing us to obtain $L^p$-nonlinear stability of some particular equilibria in the periodic setting

On the harmonic Boltzmannian waves in laser-plasma interaction

We study the permanent regimes of the reduced Vlasov-Maxwell system for laser-plasma interaction. A non-relativistic and two different relativistic models are investigated. We prove the existence of solutions where the distribution function is Boltzmannian and the electromagnetic variables are time-harmonic and circularly polarized

Pentaerythritol based push–pull tetramers for organic photovoltaics

The synthesis and characterization of two tetramers based on the functionalization of a central pentaerythritol σ-linker with push–pull chromophores is reported herein. Prepared in only few steps, these original molecules exhibit interesting optical and electrochemical properties. Moreover, once evaluated as donor materials, promising power conversion efficiencies of 4.5% were reached when blended with the [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) in bulk heterojunction solar cells

A dissipative particle dynamics study of the realignment of a nanodroplet of a nematic in a weak external magnetic field

We present a dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) approach for simulating the realignment of a nematic nanodroplet suspended in an isotropic fluid following a switch in the direction of an applied external magnetic field. The interaction of the mesogens with the external field is weak relative to the inter-molecular interactions. The simulations were used to investigate the way orientational equilibrium is re-established. The results reveal that the realignment process of the nanodroplet is consistent with its fluid structure. The reorientation of the nanodroplet as a whole is found to be caused by an internal structural rearrangement rather than a coherent rotation of the centres of mass of the mesogens about the centre of the nanodroplet. The switch in the field direction furthermore is found to induce a transient spatial variation in the orientational order of the long axes of the mesogens: the orientational order parameters decreases on moving from the core of the nanodroplet to the surface in contact with the isotropic environment. The results highlight differences between the time evolution of the orientation of the long molecular axes in the field and the rotations of the centres of mass of the mesogens about the centre of the nanodroplet

Effect of side chains on the electronic and photovoltaic properties of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based molecular acceptors

Four molecular electron acceptors based on a common phthalimide end-capped diketopyrrolopyrrole pconjugated backbone, solubilized by different alkyl groups, have been synthesized. The influence of the nature and position of the solubilizing alkyl chains attached at the three constitutive blocks has been investigated. Results collected from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, solar cells fabrication and testing as well as atomic force microscopy show that the mode of substitution has negligible effect at the molecular level but strongly affects the material self-assembling properties, charge carrier transport and in turn, devices performances

Darboux polynomials for Lotka-Volterra systems in three dimensions

We consider Lotka-Volterra systems in three dimensions depending on three real parameters. By using elementary algebraic methods we classify the Darboux polynomials (also known as second integrals) for such systems for various values of the parameters, and give the explicit form of the corresponding cofactors. More precisely, we show that a Darboux polynomial of degree greater than one is reducible. In fact, it is a product of linear Darboux polynomials and first integrals.Comment: 16 page

Triphenylamine-Based Push–Pull σ–C60 Dyad As Photoactive Molecular Material for Single-Component Organic Solar Cells: Synthesis, Characterizations, and Photophysical Properties

A push–pull σ–C60 molecular dyad was synthesized via Huisgen-type click chemistry and used as photoactive material for single-component organic solar cells. Steady-state photoluminescence (PL) experiments of the dyad in solution show a significant quenching of the emission of the push–pull moiety. Spin-casting of a solution of the dyad results in homogeneous and smooth thin films, which exhibit complete PL quenching in line with ultrafast photoinduced electron-transfer in the solid state. Spectroelectrochemistry reveals the optical signatures of radical cations and radical anions. Evaluation of the charge carrier mobility by space-charge limited current measurements gives an electron-mobility of μe = 4.3 × 10–4 cm2 V–1 s–1, ca. 50 times higher than the hole-mobility. Single-component organic solar cells yield an open-circuit voltage Voc of 0.73 V and a short-circuit current density of 2.1 mA cm–2; however, a poor fill factor FF (29%) is obtained, resulting in low power conversion efficiency of only 0.4%. Combined transient absorption (TA) and time-delayed collection field (TDCF) experiments show mostly ultrafast photon-to-charge conversion and a small component of diffusion-limited exciton dissociation, revealing the presence of pure fullerene domains. Furthermore, a strong field dependence of charge generation is observed, governing the device fill factor, which is further reduced by a competition between extraction and fast recombination of separated charges