Upper bounds on absorption and scattering

A general framework for determining fundamental bounds in nanophotonics is introduced in this paper. The theory is based on convex optimization of dual problems constructed from operators generated by electromagnetic integral equations. The optimized variable is a contrast current defined within a prescribed region of a given material constitutive relations. Two power conservation constraints analogous to optical theorem are utilized to tighten the bounds and to prescribe either losses or material properties. Thanks to the utilization of matrix rank-1 updates, modal decompositions, and model order reduction techniques, the optimization procedure is computationally efficient even for complicated scenarios. No dual gaps are observed. The method is well-suited to accommodate material anisotropy and inhomogeneity. To demonstrate the validity of the method, bounds on scattering, absorption, and extinction cross sections are derived first and evaluated for several canonical regions. The tightness of the bounds is verified by comparison to optimized spherical nanoparticles and shells. The next metric investigated is bi-directional scattering studied closely on a particular example of an electrically thin slab. Finally, the bounds are established for Purcell's factor and local field enhancement where a dimer is used as a practical example.Comment: 38 pages, 16 figure

THERMAL PROPERTIES AND HOMOGENITY RANGE OF Bi24+xCo2-xO39 CERAMICS

Samples with different Bi2O3/Co2O3 ratio were prepared by ceramic route. Based on the results of DTA, XRD and SEM – EDX a section of phase diagram of the Bi–Co–O diagram in air atmosphere was calculated using the FactSage software. The sillenite structure of Bi24+xCo2-xO39 was confirmed and described. The Rietveld analysis confirmed SEM – EDX results. The heat capacity and enthalpy increments of Bi24Co2O39 were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) from 258 K to 355 K and by the drop calorimetry from 573 K to 973 K. Above room temperature the temperature dependence of the molar heat capacity in the form Cpm = (1467.87 + 0.299410 · T – 15888378 · T-2) J K-1 mol-1 was derived by least-squares method from the experimental data

Growth and Anatomical Parameters of Adventitious Roots Formed on Mung Bean Hypocotyls Are Correlated with Galactoglucomannan Oligosaccharides Structure

The effect of galactoglucomannan oligosaccharides (GGMOs) compared with chemically modified oligosaccharides, GGMOs-g (with reduced number of D-galactose side chains) and GGMOs-r (with reduced reducing ends) on mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) adventitious roots formation, elongation, and anatomical structure have been studied. All types of oligosaccharides influenced adventitious root formation in the same way: stimulation in the absence of exogenous auxin and inhibition in the presence of exogenous auxin. Both reactions are probably related with the presence/content of endogenous auxin in plant cuttings. However, the adventitious root length was inhibited by GGMOs both in the absence as well as in the presence of auxin (IBA or NAA), while GGMOs-g inhibition was significantly weaker compared with GGMOs. GGMOs-r were without significant difference on both processes, compared with GGMOs. GGMOs affected not only the adventitious root length but also their anatomy in dependence on the combination with certain type of auxin. The oligosaccharides influenced cortical cells division, which was reflected in the cortex area and in the root diameter. All processes followed were dependent on oligosaccharides chemical structure. The results suggest also that GGM-derived oligosaccharides may play an important role in adventitious roots elongation but not in their formation

High power beam profile monitor with optical transition radiation

A simple monitor has been built to measure the profile of the high power beam (800 kW) delivered by the CEBAF accelerator at Jefferson Lab. The monitor uses the optical part of the forward transition radiation emitted from a thin carbon foil. The small beam size to be measured, about 100 {mu}m, is challenging not only for the power density involved but also for the resolution the instrument must achieve. An important part of the beam instrumentation community believes the radiation being emitted into a cone of characteristic angle 1/{gamma} is originated from a region of transverse dimension roughly {lambda}{gamma}; thus the apparent size of the source of transition radiation would become very large for highly relativistic particles. This monitor measures 100 {mu}m beam sizes that are much smaller than the 3.2 mm {lambda}{gamma} limit; it confirms the statement of Rule and Fiorito that optical transition radiation can be used to image small beams at high energy. The present paper describes the instrument and its performance. The authors tested the foil in, up to 180 {mu}A of CW beam without causing noticeable beam loss, even at 800 MeV, the lowest CEBAF energy

Epidemiology of Major Trauma in Older Adults within Scotland: A national perspective from the Scottish Trauma Audit Group (STAG)

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

High current CW beam profile monitors using transisiton radiation at CEBAF

One way of measuring the profile of CEBAF`s low emittance and high power beam is to use the Optical Transition Radiation (OTR) emitted from a thin foil surface when the electron beam passes through it. We present the design of a monitor using the forward OTR emitted from a 0.25 {mu}m carbon foil. We believe that the monitor will resolve three main issues: (i) whether the max temperature of the foil stays below the melting point, (ii) whether the beam loss remains below 0. 5%, in order not to trigger the machine protection system, and (iii) whether the monitor resolution (unlike that of synchrotron radiation monitors) is better than the product {lambda}{gamma}. It seems that the most serious limitation for CEBAF is the beam loss due to beam scattering. We present results from Keil`s theory and simulations from the computer code GEANT as well as measurements with Al foils with a 45 MeV electron beam. We also present a measurement of a 3.2 GeV beam profile that is much smaller than {lambda}{gamma}, supporting Rule & Fiorito`s calculations of the OTR resolution limit due to diffraction

A novel fluorescent probe for NAD-consuming enzymes

A novel, fluorescent NAD derivative is processed as substrate by three different NAD-consuming enzymes. The new probe has been used to monitor enzymatic activity in a continuous format by changes in fluorescence and, in one case, to directly visualize alternative reaction pathways

Breakdown of the Landauer bound for information erasure in the quantum regime

A known aspect of the Clausius inequality is that an equilibrium system subjected to a squeezing \d S of its entropy must release at least an amount |\dbarrm Q|=T|\d S| of heat. This serves as a basis for the Landauer principle, which puts a lower bound $T\ln 2$ for the heat generated by erasure of one bit of information. Here we show that in the world of quantum entanglement this law is broken. A quantum Brownian particle interacting with its thermal bath can either generate less heat or even {\it adsorb} heat during an analogous squeezing process, due to entanglement with the bath. The effect exists even for weak but fixed coupling with the bath, provided that temperature is low enough. This invalidates the Landauer bound in the quantum regime, and suggests that quantum carriers of information can be much more efficient than assumed so far.Comment: 13 pages, revtex, 2 eps figure