High quality factor nitride-based optical cavities: microdisks with embedded GaN/Al(Ga)N quantum dots

We compare the quality factor values of the whispery gallery modes of microdisks incorporating GaN quantum dots (QDs) grown on AlN and AlGaN barriers by performing room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL measurements show a large number of high Q factor (Q) resonant modes on the whole spectrum which allows us to identify the different radial mode families and to compare them with simulations. We report a considerable improvement of the Q factor which reflect the etching quality and the relatively low cavity loss by inserting QDs into the cavity. GaN/AlN QDs based microdisks show very high Q values (Q > 7000) whereas the Q factor is only up to 2000 in microdisks embedding QDs grown on AlGaN barrier layer. We attribute this difference to the lower absorption below bandgap for AlN barrier layers at the energies of our experimental investigation

Preparation and characterization of functionalized hybrid hydroxyapatite from phosphorite and its potential application to Pb2+ remediation

International audienceCalcium hydroxyapatite-aspartate (CaHAp-Asp) and calcium hydroxyapatite-glutamate (CaHAp-Glu) hybrid materials were prepared by the dissolution of Tunisian Phosphate Rocks in concentrated nitric acid and re-precipitation in basic solution in the presence of aspartic and glutamic acids. Chemical analyses, X-Ray Powder Diffraction, Infrared spectroscopy, 13C MAS-NMR spectroscopy, ThermoGravimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to characterize the materials and also the organic-inorganic interfaces. All techniques converge to the formation of hybrid organic-inorganic compounds composed of hydroxyapatite solids with organic anions incorporated at the surface. XRPD and SEM observations showed that not only was the crystallinity significantly affected by the presence of organic anions, but also the structural and morphological properties. The presence of organic anions has been confirmed by IR and 13C MS-NMR spectroscopies, and their amount has been evaluated by TG and chemical analyses. The three CaHAp, CaHAp-Asp and CaHAp-Glu materials were evaluated for Pb2+ sorption from aqueous solutions. Sorption isotherms have been analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models showing that the Pb2+ sorption capacity is increased for CaHAp-Asp and CaHAp-Glu. The comparison of the two models indicates a single active site corresponding to a homogeneous interface between Pb2+ aqueous adsorbate and the solid adsorbent surface

Projet MOPS : Système dédié à l'utilisation des signaux GNSS pour l'océanographie et la surveillance de la surface de la mer

International audienceCe papier présente la réalisation d'un système avancé de réception de signaux GNSS qui enregistre simultanément le signal direct issu d'un satellite et le signal réfléchi par la surface maritime. La réception des signaux est réalisée à l'aide de deux antennes localisées à une dizaine de mètres au dessus de la surface maritime. Cette plateforme expérimentale est constituée de plusieurs éléments : un module électronique radiofréquence RF en bande L1 (1575.42 GHz), deux convertisseurs de fréquence intermédiaire FI (70 MHz), deux modules d'acquisition et de numérisation de signaux analogiques (8 GS/s sur 10 bits et 420 MS/s sur 12 bits). Le système ainsi réalisé doit permettre d'observer les fluctuations rapides et lentes de la surface de mer à petite et grande échelle avec de bonnes précisions. La constitution de cette plateforme s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet MOPS [1] porté par l'ENSTA-Bretagne, Télécom Bretagne et l'IFREMER. Ce projet est soutenu par le GIS Europôle Mer

Experimental observation of strong light-matter coupling in ZnO microcavities: influence of large excitonic absorption

We present experimental observation of the strong light-matter coupling regime in ZnO bulk microcavities grown on silicon. Angle resolved reflectivity measurements, corroborated by transfer-matrix simulations, show that Rabi splittings in the order of 70 meV are achieved even for low finesse cavities. The impact of the large excitonic absorption, which enables a ZnO bulk-like behavior to be observed even in the strong coupling regime, is illustrated both experimentally and theoretically by considering cavities with increasing thickness

Relaxation and emission of Bragg-mode and cavity-mode polaritons in a ZnO microcavity at room temperature

The strong coupling regime in a ZnO microcavity is investigated through room temperature photoluminescence and reflectivity experiments. The simultaneous strong coupling of excitons to the cavity mode and the first Bragg mode is demonstrated at room temperature. The polariton relaxation is followed as a function of the excitation density. A relaxation bottleneck is evidenced in the Bragg-mode polariton branch. It is partly broken under strong excitation density, so that the emission from this branch dominates the one from cavity-mode polaritons

A hybrid material assembled by anthocyanins from acai fruit intercalated between niobium lamellar oxide

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials can be prepared dispersing organic species into well-defined inorganic nanoblocks. This paper describes the immobilization of natural dyes from the extract of the Brazilian acai-fruit into two types of layered hexaniobate precursors derived from H(2)K(2)Nb(6)O(17): (i) colloidal dispersion of niobate exfoliated nanoparticles and (ii) niobate pre-intercalated with tetraethylammonium cations (TEA(+)). the restacking of exfoliated particles in the presence of acai anthocyanins promotes their intercalation and produces stacked layers showing large basal spacing (ca. 50 angstrom). the TEA(+) pre-intercalated niobate provides particles with lower content of dye species than the exfoliated precursor but with higher degree of organization and regularity according to X-ray diffraction data and images obtained by electron microscopies. Vibrational (FTIR and Raman) and (13)C NMR spectroscopies indicate the presence of flavylium cations in the hybrid materials and spectral profiles characteristic of glycosylated anthocyanidins. According to thermal analysis results, the purplish hybrids materials are more stable than the free acai-dyes. One hybrid sample was heated under air up to 170 degrees C and maintained at this temperature for 240 min. No weight loss events were observed and the sample retained its original color, indicating that the intercalation of anthocyanin into hexaniobate increases its thermal stability. Considering the structural, chemical, optical and thermal properties of the synthesized hybrid materials, they might be good candidates to be investigated for future specialized applications.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Instituto do Milenio de Materiais ComplexosUniv São Paulo, Inst Quim, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Clermont Ferrand, Lab Mat Inorgan, CNRS, UMR 6002, F-63177 Clermont Ferrand, FranceUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilCAPES: 557/07FAPESP: 06/516510Web of Scienc

Active-site mTOR inhibitors augment HSV1-dICP0 infection in cancer cells via dysregulated eIF4E/4E-BP axis

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) is amongst the most clinically advanced oncolytic virus platforms. However, efficient and sustained viral replication within tumours is limiting. Rapamycin can stimulate HSV1 replication in cancer cells, but active-site dual mTORC1 and mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 and 2) inhibitors (asTORi) were shown to suppress the virus in normal cells. Surprisingly, using the infected cell protein 0 (ICP0)-deleted HSV1 (HSV1-dICP0), we found that asTORi markedly augment infection in cancer cells and a mouse mammary cancer xenograft. Mechanistically, asTORi repressed mRNA translation in normal cells, resulting in defective antiviral response but also inhibition of HSV1-dICP0 replication. asTORi also reduced antiviral response in cancer cells, however in contrast to normal cells, transformed cells and cells transduced to elevate the expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) or to silence the repressors eIF4E binding proteins (4E-BPs), selectively maintained HSV1-dICP0 protein synthesis during asTORi treatment, ultimately supporting increased viral replication. Our data show that altered eIF4E/4E-BPs expression can act to promote HSV1-dICP0 infection under prolonged mTOR inhibition. Thus, pharmacoviral combination of asTORi and HSV1 can target cancer cells displaying dysregulated eIF4E/4E-BPs axis.</div