Computation of the modal reflectivity for a partially etched mirror: application for integration of a laser diode and a waveguide

We demonstrate a fast, accurate for weak waveguiding, approximate solution to the problem of computing the modal reflection and transmission coefficients at a discontinuity between two asymmetric multilayer waveguides together with a rigorous solution to check the validity of the approximate but fast approach. The proposed algorithm is analogous to the widely used approximation proposed by Vassallo [Electron. Lett. 21, 333 (1985)] for the case when the medium after discontinuity is uniform and has a large applicability potential for optoelectronic applications. As an example, the case of optoelectronic integration between an active laser diode and a passive waveguide device is analyzed.     

The RightPages image-based electronic library for alerting and browsing

The RightPages electronic library prototype system, which gives users full online library services, is described. The prototype takes advantage of fast hardware, multimedia workstations, and broadband networks to process scientific and technical journals for users and to offer a service that: alerts them to the arrival of new journal articles matching their interest profiles; lets them immediately examine images of pages in the alerted articles and browse through other articles in the database; and enables them to order paper copies of any articles in the database. The system runs on a local area network that connects one or more scanning stations, a centralized document database server and multiple user stations running X Windows servers. The RightPages interface runs as an X Windows application on Sun workstations or X terminals. The system's image and document processing, including noise reduction, document layout analysis, text processing, and display processing are discussed.<>     

RILEM recommendation MDT. D.1—Indirect determination of the surface strength of unweathered hydraulic cement mortar by the drill energy method

RILEM RecommendationsRILEM TC 177-MDT: ‘Masonry Durability and on-site Testing’

RILEM recommendation MDT. D.1—Indirect determination of the surface strength of unweathered hydraulic cement mortar by the drill energy method     

Resonant excitation and imaging of nonequilibrium exciton spins in single core-shell GaAs-AlGaAs nanowires

Nonequilibrium spin distributions in single GaAs/AlGaAs core-shell nanowires are excited using resonant polarized excitation at 10 K. At all excitation energies, we observe strong photoluminescence polarization due to suppressed radiative recombination of excitons with dipoles aligned perpendicular to the nanowire. Excitation resonances are observed at 1- or 2-LO phonon energies above the exciton ground states. Using rate equation modeling, we show that, at the lowest energies, strongly nonequilibrium spin distributions are present and we estimate their spin relaxation rate.     

Large amplitude vibration analysis of composite beams: Simple closed-form solutions

Large amplitude vibration analysis of laminated composite beam with axially immovable ends is investigated with symmetric and asymmetric layup orientations by using the Rayleigh–Ritz (R–R) method. The displacement fields used in the analytical formulation are coupled by using the homogeneous governing static axial equilibrium equation of the beam. Geometric nonlinearity of von-Karman type is considered which accounts for the membrane stretching action of the beam. The simple closed-form solutions are presented for the nonlinear harmonic radian frequency as function of central amplitude of the beam using the R–R method. The nonlinear harmonic radian frequency results obtained from the closed-form solutions of the R–R method in general show good agreement with the results obtained from simple iterative finite element formulation. Furthermore, the closed-form expressions are corrected for the harmonic motion assumption from the available literature results on the existence of quadratic and cubic nonlinearity. It is interesting to note that the composite beams can result in asymmetric frequency vs. amplitude curves depending upon the nature of direction of displacement in contrast to isotropic beams which exhibit cubic nonlinearity only and leads to symmetric frequency vs. amplitude curves with respect to sign of the amplitude.     

Nonlinear optical processes in optically trapped InP nanowires

We report on the observation of nonlinear optical excitation and related photoluminescence from single InP semiconductor nanowires held in suspension using a gradient force optical tweezers. Photoexcitation of free carriers is achieved through absorption of infrared (1.17 eV) photons from the trapping source via a combination of two- and three-photon processes. This was confirmed by power-dependent photoluminescence measurements. Marked differences in spectral features are noted between nonlinear optical excitation and direct excitation and are related to band-filling effects. Direct observation of second harmonic generation in trapped InP nanowires confirms the presence of nonlinear optical processes.     

Photomodulated rayleigh scattering of single semiconductor nanowires: probing electronic band structure

The internal electronic structures of single semiconductor nanowires can be resolved using photomodulated Rayleigh scattering spectroscopy. The Rayleigh scattering from semiconductor nanowires is strongly polarization sensitive which allows a nearly background-free method for detecting only the light that is scattered from a single nanowire. While the Rayleigh scattering efficiency from a semiconductor nanowire depends on the dielectric contrast, it is relatively featureless as a function of energy. However, if the nanowire is photomodulated using a second pump laser beam, the internal electronic structure can be resolved with extremely high signal-to-noise and spectral resolution. The photomodulated Rayleigh scattering spectra can be understood theoretically as a first derivative of the scattering efficiency that results from a modulation of the band gap and depends sensitively on the nanowire diameter. Fits to spectral lineshapes provide both the band structure and the diameter of individual GaAs and InP nanowires under investigation.     

Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium in poultry and poultry products

Salmonella continues to be a major food safety and public health threat. In the present study, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotypes Enteritidis (SE) and Typhimurium (ST) were isolated from poultry and characterized for virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and biofilm formation. Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in poultry was 3.35%; predominant serotypes isolated were S. Enteritidis (68.1%) and S. Typhimurium (31.8%). Source-wise, Salmonella were isolated from retail market chicken meat (4.8%), live chicken at farm (2.5%), and table eggs (2.1%). Salmonella isolates produced invA gene of 284 bp (100%), spvR gene of 310 bp (77.27%), spvC gene of 571 bp (22.72%), and stn gene of 260 bp (100%) as virulence/ pathogenicity determinants. Salmonella isolates exhibited resistance to common antimicrobials; 72.7% isolates showed multiple resistance (≥3 antimicrobial class), highest resistance was observed for polymyxin-B (81.8%) followed by nalidixic acid (72.7%), colistin (59.1%), ampicillin/tetracyline (45.5%), ampicillin + sulbactam (40.9%), cefodroxil (18.2%), streptomycin (9.1%), and cefazidine/ceftriaxone-tazobactam (4.5%). Multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) index of poultry Salmonella isolates ranged from 0.11 to 0.35; wherein, 59.1% isolates showed MAR of >0.2. About 81.8% Salmonella isolates produced biofilm and were categorized as strong (13.6%), moderate (45.4%), and weak (22.7%) biofilm producers. Occurrence of antimicrobial resistant virulent Salmonella strains in poultry requires implementation of suitable strategies so as to protect the public health.