Large area photonic crystal cavities: A local density approach

Large area photonic crystal cavities are devices of interest for photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and solid-state lighting. However, depending on their dimensions they pose a large computational challenge. Here, we use a local density approach to avoid direct simulation of the device.We capture the effect of both ideal and distorted photonic crystals in an effective mass and an effective potential. We use these to map the problem of calculating the electromagnetic field modes to solving a simple time-independent Schrödinger equation. We show that, in the case that the hole radius varies quadratically as a function of position, the eigenmodes of the photonic crystals can be described by the corresponding eigenmodes of the quantum harmonic oscillator with typical agreements well above 90%

Stress‐induced Domain Wall Motion in a Ferroelastic Mn3+ Spin Crossover Complex

Domain wall motion is detected for the first time during the transition to a ferroelastic and spin‐state ordered phase of a spin crossover complex. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction and resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS) revealed two distinct symmetry‐breaking phase transitions in the mononuclear Mn 3+ compound [Mn(3,5‐diBr‐sal 2 (323))]BPh 4 , 1. The first at 250 K, involves the space group change Cc → Pc and is thermodynamically continuous, while the second, Pc → P1 at 85 K, is discontinuous and related to spin crossover and spin‐state ordering. Stress‐induced domain wall mobility was detected as softening of the phonon modes at the Pc → P1 transition

Infections with the hepatitis B virus associated delta agent in an isolated West-African community

The occurrence of delta agent (delta) infection in the native population of the isolated Gbawein and Wroughbarh Clan region of Grand Bassa County, Liberia was studied. Sera of 97 patients with epilepsy, 73 non-epileptic relatives, and 31 non-epileptic control subjects were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and antibody to delta antigen (anti-delta). Of the 201 individuals tested 76 (37.8%) were HBsAg positive; the overall infection rate (HBsAg and anti-HBs positives) was 68.7%. No correlation with clinical disease could be established. Markers of delta infection were detected in seven index cases. All subjects with anti-delta were HBsAg positive except one, who was anti-HBs positive with a low titre of anti-delta (less than 1:10(2)), which is indicative of a recent delta infection. Mothers of six delta infected index cases were available for testing, one was found HBsAg and anti-delta positive, while the other five were anti-HBs positive and anti-delta negative. No delta infections occurred in children of HBV negative mothers. Presence of delta markers varied significantly (P less than 0.02) among HBsAg carriers of the Kpelle (18%) and the Bassa (2%) language group. A comparable difference in delta markers was observed among HBsAg carriers of the Gbawein (17%) and the Wroughbarh (4%) clan

Agroparken : het concept, de ontvangst, de praktijk

Deze verzameling van beschouwingen, interviews en aanzetten tot evaluatie is een weergave van denkbeelden en handelingen rondom het concept agroparken. InnovatieNetwerk lanceerde dit concept in 2000 om vernieuwingen in de landbouw te entamere

Agroparken : het concept, de ontvangst, de praktijk

Deze verzameling van beschouwingen, interviews en aanzetten tot evaluatie is een weergave van denkbeelden en handelingen rondom het concept agroparken. InnovatieNetwerk lanceerde dit concept in 2000 om vernieuwingen in de landbouw te entamere

Domain Wall Dynamics in a Ferroelastic Spin Crossover Complex with Giant Magnetoelectric Coupling

International audiencePinned and mobile ferroelastic domain walls are detected in response to mechanical stress in a Mn3+ complex with two-step thermal switching between the spin triplet and spin quintet forms. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy on [Mn-III(3,5-diCl-sal(2)(323))]BPh4 reveal three distinct symmetry-breaking phase transitions in the polar space group series Cc -> Pc -> P1 -> P1((1/2)). The transition mechanisms involve coupling between structural and spin state order parameters, and the three transitions are Landau tricritical, first order, and first order, respectively. The two first-order phase transitions also show changes in magnetic properties and spin state ordering in the Jahn-Teller-active Mn3+ complex. On the basis of the change in symmetry from that of the parent structure, Cc, the triclinic phases are also ferroelastic, which has been confirmed by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. Measurements of magnetoelectric coupling revealed significant changes in electric polarization at both the Pc -> P1 and P1 -> P1((1/2)) transitions, with opposite signs. All these phases are polar, while P1 is also chiral. Remanent electric polarization was detected when applying a pulsed magnetic field of 60 T in the P1 -> P1((1/2)) region of bistability at 90 K. Thus, we showcase here a rare example of multifunctionality in a spin crossover material where the strain and polarization tensors and structural and spin state order parameters are strongly coupled