Standing wave vs Green's function approach to the Casimir force problem

After a short recall of our previous standing wave approach to the Casimir force problem, we consider Lifshitz's temperature Green's function method and its virtues from a physical point of view. Using his formula, specialized for perfectly reflecting mirrors, we present a quantitative discussion of the temperature effect on the attractive force

Photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) : the potential of excited-state d-block metals in medicine

The fields of phototherapy and of inorganic chemotherapy both have long histories. Inorganic photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) offers both temporal and spatial control over drug activation and has remarkable potential for the treatment of cancer. Following photoexcitation, a number of different decay pathways (both photophysical and photochemical) are available to a metal complex. These pathways can result in radiative energy release, loss of ligands or transfer of energy to another species, such as triplet oxygen. We discuss the features which need to be considered when developing a metal-based anticancer drug, and the common mechanisms by which the current complexes are believed to operate. We then provide a comprehensive overview of PACT developments for complexes of the different d-block metals for the treatment of cancer, detailing the more established areas concerning Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Pt, and Cu and also highlighting areas where there is potential for greater exploration. Nanoparticles (Ag, Au) and quantum dots (Cd) are also discussed for their photothermal destructive potential. We also discuss the potential held in particular by mixed-metal systems and Ru complexes

Aspects of Photocatalysis on Semiconductors: Photoelectrocatalysis

An overview is given of the essential processes governing heterogeneous photocatalysis on semiconductor surfaces. It is shown that the reactions on the surface of the catalyst are of electrochemical nature and can be described using electrochemical principles. This leads to a quantitative description of the processes. In combination with measurements of charge collection yields and Faradaic efficiencies, or product quantum yields, the reaction rates can be calculated when the spectral dependence of the intensity of the light source is known. Examples are given for transition metal oxide semiconductors such as titanium dioxide and tungsten trioxide

FORMAL TREATMENT OF RADIATION FIELD FLUCTUATIONS IN VACUUM

DEAIn this note the theory of electro-magnetic field fluctuations is introduced in a somewhat unconventional manner without the use of the more common creation and annihilation operators. Subsequently the example of radiation fields in vacuum is treated by a specific Green’s function method