Optical limiting behavior of bismuth oxide-based glass in the visible range

The authors report experimental results on the optical limiting behavior of a bismuth oxide-based glass by exciting the samples with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 and 598 nm. The results show that two-photon and free-carrier absorption processes contribute for the nonlinear absorption. Values for β, the two-photon absorption coefficient, and σe, the absorption cross section due to free carriers, were determined. The values for β and σe are dependent on the amount of bismuth oxide in the glass composition

Selection of species tolerant to the herbicide sulfentrazone with potential for phytoremediation of contaminated soils.

ABSTRACT: This paper aimed to select species with potential for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with the herbicide sulfentrazone. Eight species were evaluated: Arachis pintoi, Eleusine coracana, Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Cajanus cajan, Leucaena leucocephala, Stizolobium cinereum, and Raphanus sativus. The experiment was set-up inside a greenhouse, using pots with a capacity of 6dm3 filled with soil samples collected at a depth of 0-20cm. The experimental design was arranged into randomised blocks in a factorial scheme (8 × 5) with four replications, which consisted of the combination between the species and five doses of sulfentrazone (0, 200, 400, 800, and 1,600g ha-1). The herbicide phytotoxicity, plant heights, and dry masses of shoots and roots were evaluated. The species Cajanus cajan and Leucaena leucocephala had a higher tolerance to sulfentrazone up to a dose of 400g ha-1, showing minor symptoms of phytotoxicity and smaller decreases in plant heights and in dry matter accumulation, both in the shoots and roots, when compared to the control treatment, indicating, thus, the potential to be used for further studies on phytoremediation of sulfentrazone in soil. RESUMO: Seleção de espécies tolerantes ao herbicida sulfentrazone com potencial para a fitorremediação de solos contaminados. Este trabalho teve como objetivo selecionar espécies com potencial para a fitorremediação de solos contaminados com o herbicida sulfentrazone. Foram avaliadas oito espécies: Arachis pintoi, Eleusine coracana, Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Cajanus cajan, Leucaena leucocephala, Stizolobium cinereum e Raphanus sativus. O experimento foi instalado em casa de vegetação, com a utilização de vasos com capacidade para 6 dm3 preenchidos com porções de solo coletadas na profundidade de 0-20 cm. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 8 × 5, com quatro repetições, composto pela combinação entre as espécies e cinco doses do sulfentrazone (0, 200, 400, 800 e 1.600 g ha-1). Foram avaliadas a fitotoxicidade do herbicida, a altura de plantas e a massa da matéria seca da parte aérea e de raízes. As espécies Cajanus cajan e Leucaena leucocephala apresentaram maior tolerância ao sulfentrazone até a dose de 400 g ha-1, mostrando menores sintomas de fitotoxicidade e menores reduções na altura de plantas e no acúmulo de matéria seca, tanto na parte aérea como nas raízes, em relação ao tratamento controle, indicando, com isso, potencial de utilização para posteriores estudos de fitorremediação de sulfentrazone em solo

The monoclinic phase of PZT ceramics: Raman and phenomenological theory studies

This work reports on the first Raman detection of the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transition in PZT ceramics near morphotropic phase boundary at low temperatures. The transition is characterized by changes in the frequency of lattice modes with the temperature. The results presented here confirm the previous one recently reported by Noheda et al. using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction technique and dielectric measurements. The stability of the new phase is discussed within the framework of phenomenological Landau-Devonshire Theory.Comment: 6 pages including 4 figures, Latex, submitted to Applied Physics Letter