The Crystal Structure of a Photodimer of 1,4-Epoxy-1,4-dihydronaphthalene

The crystal structure of a photodimer of l,4-epoxy-1,4-dihydronaphthalene, with empirical formula C_(20)H_(16)O_2, has been determined by the application of direct methods. Three-dimensional data were collected on a Datex-automated General Electric diffractometer to a minimum spacing of 1·0 Å. The coordinates of all atoms in the molecule, the isotropic temperature factors for the hydrogen atoms, and the anisotropic temperature factors for the other atoms were refined by the method of least squares. The final R index was 0·027. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pcɑ2_1 with ɑ = 16-52, b = 7·975 and c= 10·58 Å. Of four possible configurations, the molecule of the photodimer has the exotrans-exo configuration. Despite the lack of a center of symmetry in the space group, the molecule is centrosymmetric almost within experimental error

Enhancement of Rabi Splitting in a Microcavity with an Embedded Superlattice

We have observed a large coupling between the excitonic and photonic modes of an AlAs/AlGaAs microcavity filled with an 84-({\rm {\AA}})/20({\rm {\AA}}) GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice. Reflectivity measurements on the coupled cavity-superlattice system in the presence of a moderate electric field yielded a Rabi splitting of 9.5 meV at T = 238 K. This splitting is almost 50% larger than that found in comparable microcavities with quantum wells placed at the antinodes only. We explain the enhancement by the larger density of optical absorbers in the superlattice, combined with the quasi-two-dimensional binding energy of field-localized excitons.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR

A panel analysis of UK industrial company failure

We examine the failure determinants for large quoted UK industrials using a panel data set comprising 539 firms observed over the period 1988-93. The empirical design employs data from company accounts and is based on Chamberlain’s conditional binomial logit model, which allows for unobservable, firm-specific, time-invariant factors associated with failure risk. We find a noticeable degree of heterogeneity across the sample companies. Our panel results show that, after controlling for unobservables, lower liquidity measured by the quick assets ratio, slower turnover proxied by the ratio of debtors turnover, and profitability were linked to the higher risk of insolvency in the analysis period. The findings appear to support the proposition that the current cash-flow considerations, rather than the future prospects of the firm, determined company failures over the 1990s recession