Lowest-order axial and ring mode lasing in confocal quasi-stadium laser diodes

We investigated the lasing modes of quasi-stadium laser diodes that have confocal cavity geometries, with stripe electrode contacts formed either along the cavity axis or a diamond-shaped trajectory. It was clearly demonstrated that by using narrow electrode contact patterns of 2 μm width, the lowest-order axial and ring modes were excited selectively. On the other hand, the second-lowest-order axial and ring modes were excited by using broad electrode patterns of 14 μm width. Experimentally obtained far-field patterns for lasers with broad and narrow electrode contact patterns agree very well with the simulation results obtained using an extended Fox-Li mode calculation method.     

Dualization of boolean functions using ternary decision diagrams

Dualization of Boolean functions is a fundamental problem that appears in various fields such as artificial intelligence, logic, data mining, etc. For monotone Boolean functions, many empirical researches that focus on practical efficiency have recently been done. We extend our previous work for monotone dualization and present a novel method for dualization that allows us to handle any Boolean function, including non-monotone Boolean functions. We furthermore present a variant of this method in cooperation with all solutions solver. By experiments we evaluate efficiency and characteristics of our methods.     

Lattice Strain and Dislocations in Polished Surfaces on Sapphire

Polishing of ceramics, surface defects and strain are introduced that influence the mechanical properties in the final products. In this study, the sapphire surfaces with a -plane and c -plane were polished using several kinds of diamond slurry, and the introduced damaged zones were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and TEM-CBED (convergent beam electron diffraction). It was found that the types of slip systems and strain distribution were different between the a -plane-polished and the c -plane-polished specimens. That is, the basal slip and the prism slip were mainly activated in the c - and a -plane-polished specimens to form the different damaged zones. This difference was probably due to the difference in the direction and angle from the slip plane and applied shear stress during the polishing. On the basis of these observations, the types of introduced dislocations and distribution of strain were discussed to clarify the mechanism of polishing.     

Fabrication of Highly Porous Alumina Prepared by Gelation Freezing Route with Antifreeze Protein

Macroporous alumina ceramic monolith was fabricated by the novel gelation freezing method with antifreeze protein (AFP). The gelation freezing route with AFP is a simple and efficient way to produce macrocellular ceramics with tailored and uniform pore architecture as well as high porosity.     

Improvement in Dynamic Characteristics of Circular Journal Bearings by Means of Longitudinal Microgrooves

Longitudinal microgrooves were assumed on the circular journal bearings and static and dynamic characteristics were investigated by solving the modified Reynolds equation for a rough bearing surface. It was found that the dynamic characteristics of the journal bearings were improved by longitudinal microgrooves or truncated micro-grooves on the bearing surface while the static characteristics, such as load-carrying capacity and friction coefficients, were not changed by the microgrooves. Calculations regarding the linear stability of a symmetrical rotor supported by two journal bearings were also carried out and it was found that the stable region was expanded on the stability chart by microgrooves.     

Universal Strategy for Efficient Electron Injection into Organic Semiconductors Utilizing Hydrogen Bonds

Molecular n‐dopants that can lower the electron injection barrier between organic semiconductors and electrodes are essential in present‐day organic electronics. However, the development of stable molecular n‐dopants remains difficult owing to their low ionization potential, which generally renders them unstable. It is shown that the stable bases widely used in organic synthesis as catalysts can lower the electron injection barrier similar to that in conventional n‐doping in organic optoelectronic devices. In contrast to conventional n‐doping, which is based on the electron transfer from dopants with low ionization potential, the reduction of the injection barrier caused by adding bases is determined by the formation of hydrogen bonds between the hosts and the bases, providing energy‐level‐independent electron injection. The observation of the efficient electron injection induced by hydrogen bonding affords new perspectives on the method for controlling the behavior of electrons unique to organic semiconductors.     

Behavioral responses of the ciliated protozoan Paramecium caudatum to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and its analogues

We found that the ciliated protozoan Paramecium caudatum ON-1 was repelled by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). P. caudatum was also repelled by phenoxyacetic acid, while it was attracted to benzoic acid. No significant behavioral response was detected with 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) and phenol. These results suggested that the substitution of-OH of phenol with -OCH2COOH, but not the chlorination of phenol, was important for eliciting the avoiding response to 2,4-D in P. caudatum. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that 2,4-D and phenoxyacetic acid were able to trigger the action potential in P. caudatum, whereas 2,4-DP and phenol failed to elicit electrical responses in this organism. Well test assays suggested that the avoiding reactions allowed P. caudatum to escape from the harm caused by this herbicide.     

Preparation of continuous zirconia fibres from polyzirconoxane synthesized by the facile one-pot reaction

A one-pot reaction of zirconium oxychloride octahydrate (ZOC) with ethyl acetoacetate (Hetac) in the presence of triethylamine was investigated. The reaction was carried out in molar ratios of Hetac/ZOC=1.0, 1.5, 2.0 to give highly viscous solutions with good spinnability and stability to self-condensation. Polyzirconoxanes (PZOs) were isolated as white powders by reprecipitation of the solutions with tetrahydrofuron (THF)-hexane that were soluble in acetone, methanol and THF. The molecular weight of PZO was Mn=1000–2000, and was dependent on the molar ratio and the reaction time. Dry spinning of the solution (Hetac/ZOC=1.5) containing 3mol% tris(acetylacetonato)yttrium [Y(acac)3] gave continuous precursor fibres (3.0Y–PZO). Yttria stabilized zirconia fibres of 12–18 m diameter with a tensile strength of 1.4GPa were obtained by heat treatment of the 3.0Y–PZO at 1100 or 1200 °C. The fibre consisted of submicrometre-sized particles of tetragonal crystallites. © 1998 Chapman & Hall