7,427 research outputs found
Influence of surface passivation on ultrafast carrier dynamics and terahertz radiation generation in GaAs
The carrier dynamics of photoexcited electrons in the vicinity of the surface
of (NH4)2S-passivated GaAs were studied via terahertz (THz) emission
spectroscopy and optical-pump THz-probe spectroscopy. THz emission spectroscopy
measurements, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations of THz emission, revealed
that the surface electric field of GaAs reverses after passivation. The
conductivity of photoexcited electrons was determined via optical-pump
THz-probe spectroscopy, and was found to double after passivation. These
experiments demonstrate that passivation significantly reduces the surface
state density and surface recombination velocity of GaAs. Finally, we have
demonstrated that passivation leads to an enhancement in the power radiated by
photoconductive switch THz emitters, thereby showing the important influence of
surface chemistry on the performance of ultrafast THz photonic devices.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Applied Physics Letter
Existence of positive solutions of a superlinear boundary value problem with indefinite weight
We deal with the existence of positive solutions for a two-point boundary
value problem associated with the nonlinear second order equation
. The weight is allowed to change its sign. We assume
that the function is
continuous, and satisfies suitable growth conditions, so as the case
, with , is covered. In particular we suppose that is
large near infinity, but we do not require that is non-negative in a
neighborhood of zero. Using a topological approach based on the Leray-Schauder
degree we obtain a result of existence of at least a positive solution that
improves previous existence theorems.Comment: 12 pages, 4 PNG figure
Terahertz Imaging for Space Applications
The Sensor Research Laboratory (SRL) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is conducting research on terahertz (THz) imaging for space applications. The approach is two-fold: a commercial-off-the-shelf long-wave infrared (LWIR) camera using uncooled microbolometer technology has been modified with THz optics; and THz-to-IR band converter focal plane arrays have been developed to work as an attachment to the IR cameras. The small form factor of these technologies has enabled the Space System Academic Group at NPS to develop a CubeSat payload based on the THz imaging camera (TIC). The objective of this technology demonstrator is to examine the potential imaging capability in the THz range in the space environment, as THz radiation can penetrate many common gases, non-polar liquids, and non-metallic solids. In preparation for an upcoming launch opportunity in 2022, confidence testing has been performed on an engineering development unit of the TIC, and a concept of operations has been developed to capture low-resolution images in both the IR and THz ranges. There is unexplored potential for THz imaging, and this mission is a first step towards enabling additional imaging capabilities for applications such as submillimeter astronomy, space situational awareness, rendezvous and proximity operations, and possibly satellite inspection
Towards granular hydrodynamics in two-dimensions
We study steady-state properties of inelastic gases in two-dimensions in the
presence of an energy source. We generalize previous hydrodynamic treatments to
situations where high and low density regions coexist. The theoretical
predictions compare well with numerical simulations in the nearly elastic
limit. It is also seen that the system can achieve a nonequilibrium
steady-state with asymmetric velocity distributions, and we discuss the
conditions under which such situations occur.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, revtex, references added, also available from
http://arnold.uchicago.edu/?ebn
The Protective Role of Smad7 in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Mechanism and Therapeutic Potential
OBJECTIVE - Although Smad3 has been considered as a downstream mediator of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in diabetes complications, the role of Smad7 in diabetes remains largely unclear. The current study tests the hypothesis that Smad7 may play a protective role and has therapeutic potential for diabetic kidney disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Protective role of Smad7 in diabetic kidney disease was examined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice that have Smad7 gene knockout (KO) and in diabetic rats given Smad7 gene transfer using an ultrasound-microbubble-mediated technique. RESULTS - We found that mice deficient for Smad7 developed more severe diabetic kidney injury than wild-type mice as evidenced by a significant increase in microalbuminuria, renal fibrosis (collagen I, IV, and fibronectin), and renal inflammation (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1], intracellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], and macrophages). Further studies revealed that enhanced renal fibrosis and inflammation in Smad7 KO mice with diabetes were associated with increased activation of both TGF-β/Smad2/3 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. To develop a therapeutic potential for diabetic kidney disease, Smad7 gene was transferred into the kidney in diabetic rats by an ultrasound-microbubble-mediated technique. Although overexpression of renal Smad7 had no effect on levels of blood glucose, it significantly attenuated the development of microalbuminuria, TGF-β/Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis such as collagen I and IV and fibronectin accumulation and NF-κB/p65-driven renal inflammation including IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 expression and macrophage infiltration in diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS-Smad7 plays a protective role in diabetic renal injury. Overexpression of Smad7 may represent a novel therapy for the diabetic kidney complication. © 2011 by the American Diabetes Association.link_to_subscribed_fulltex
Carboxylate-Assisted C(sp^3)–H Activation in Olefin Metathesis-Relevant Ruthenium Complexes
The mechanism of C–H activation at metathesis-relevant ruthenium(II) benzylidene complexes was studied both experimentally and computationally. Synthesis of a ruthenium dicarboxylate at a low temperature allowed for direct observation of the C–H activation step, independent of the initial anionic ligand-exchange reactions. A first-order reaction supports an intramolecular concerted metalation–deprotonation mechanism with ΔG^(‡)_(298K) = 22.2 ± 0.1 kcal·mol^(–1) for the parent N-adamantyl-N′-mesityl complex. An experimentally determined ΔS^(‡) = −5.2 ± 2.6 eu supports a highly ordered transition state for carboxylate-assisted C(sp^3)–H activation. Experimental results, including measurement of a large primary kinetic isotope effect (k_(H)/k_(D) = 8.1 ± 1.7), agree closely with a computed six-membered carboxylate-assisted C–H activation mechanism where the deprotonating carboxylate adopts a pseudo-apical geometry, displacing the aryl ether chelate. The rate of cyclometalation was found to be influenced by both the electronics of the assisting carboxylate and the ruthenium ligand environment
Optomechanically-induced transparency in parity-time-symmetric microresonators
Optomechanically-induced transparency (OMIT) and the associated slowing of light provide the basis for storing photons in nanoscale devices. Here we study OMIT in parity-time (PT)-symmetric microresonators with a tunable gain-to-loss ratio. This system features a sideband-reversed, non-amplifying transparency, i.e., an inverted-OMIT. When the gain-to-loss ratio is varied, the system exhibits a transition from a PT-symmetric phase to a broken-PT-symmetric phase. This PT-phase transition results in the reversal of the pump and gain dependence of the transmission rates. Moreover, we show that by tuning the pump power at a fixed gain-to-loss ratio, or the gain-to-loss ratio at a fixed pump power, one can switch from slow to fast light and vice versa. These findings provide new tools for controlling light propagation using nanofabricated phononic devices
X-ray and Optical Study of Low Core Density Globular Clusters NGC6144 and E3
We report on the Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope
observation of two low core density globular clusters, NGC6144 and E3. By
comparing the number of X-ray sources inside the half-mass radius to those
outside, we found 6 X-ray sources within the half-mass radius of NGC6144, among
which 4 are expected to be background sources; 3 X-ray sources are also found
within the half-mass radius of E3, of which 3 is expected to be background
source. Therefore, we cannot exclude that all our sources are background
sources. However, combining the results from X-ray and optical observations, we
found that 1-2 sources in NGC6144 and 1 source in E3 are likely to be
cataclysmic variables and that 1 source in NGC6144 is an active binary, based
on the X-ray and optical properties. The number of faint X-ray sources in
NGC6144 and E3 found with Chandra and HST is higher than a prediction based on
collision frequency, but is closer to that based on mass. Our observations
strongly suggest that the compact binary systems in NGC6144 and E3 are
primordial in origin.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables, Accepted for publication in Ap
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