Continuous photodetection of resonance fluorescence

Abstract

The concept of photodetection as a continuous quantum measurement introduced by Srinivas and Davies is extended to the detection of resonance fluorescence. This is a new approach to an old subject. This is also a new development in continuous photodetection in the sense that a fermion rather than the traditional boson field is the subject of monitoring. The superoperators for the no-count and the one-count processes are postulated, following the examples of Srinivas and Davies. The probability for the m-count process is then derived on the basis of these postulates. The first two factorial moments of the photon-number distribution are calculated, which are then used to evaluate the non-classical effects in resonance fluorescence. A parameter slightly different from Mandel's is found to be more suitable indicator of photon antibunching in the transient state.     

Effect of [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester on the morphology of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) film

The change of morphology of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) film as a result of blending with [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was studied using a freeze‐dry method. A porous structure was observed as the P3HT/PCBM solution was freeze‐dried. The pore size decreased as the proportion of PCBM increased in the P3HT/PCBM blended film. Additionally, the freeze‐dried P3HT/PCBM film was more resistant to the formation of PCBM crystals than that prepared by a spin‐coating method during the thermal annealing process. Homogeneous distribution of PCBM in the freeze‐dried P3HT/PCBM film was the main reason for the reduction of large PCBM crystal formation. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Buoyancy effects on the laminar boundary layer heat transfer along vertically moving cylinders

Abstract

The effects of buoyancy forces on the laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer along vertically moving cylinders are analyzed for the cases of prescribed surface temperature and prescribed wall heat flux in power of streamwise distance. Local similarity solutions are obtained to show the effects of buoyancy parameters and the transverse curvature of the cylinder on the surface friction and heat transfer rate.     

Controlling the morphology of poly(3‐hexylthiophene)/methanofullerene film through a dynamic‐cooling and freeze‐drying process

A dynamic‐cooling and freeze‐drying (DCFD) process has been applied to the fabrication of polymer solar cells. The dynamic‐cooling process allows poly(3‐hexylthiophene) molecules to aggregate in solution into a more organized structure during the cooling process; the freeze‐drying process prevents severe agglomeration of [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) during the solvent removing process. Application of these two processes to the preparation of the poly(3‐hexylthiophene)/methanofullerene photoactive layer results in an enhanced poly(3‐hexylthiophene) aggregation and smaller PCBM agglomerates. Devices fabricated using the DCFD process generate 14% more in current density than those prepared by the spin‐coating process under AM1.5G illumination. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rapid fabrication of organic/organic photonic bandgap films with tuneable mechanical properties using blended polymer spheres

In this study, the photonic bandgap (PBG) film with tunable mechanical properties and photonic stop band was prepared by a simple and feasible approach. Colloid polymer spheres with a relatively large diameter (approximate D_n of 200 nm) and different glass transition temperatures (T_g) were blended with small polystyrene (PS) latex (D_n = 20 nm) and were subsequently casted on a substrate for 3 h at 50°C for self‐assembly of the PBG film. The monodispersed polymer spheres were synthesized by soap‐free emulsion polymerization in the boiling state. The T_g values of the spheres were predetermined based on the Fox equation, and designed to fall in the region of ?34°C to 112°C. Small PS could also be synthesized by this approach using the comonomer, sodium p‐styrenesulfonate (NaSS), to ensure the small diameter. The long‐range ordered structure constructed by embedding the small PS in the PBG film was indirectly confirmed on the basis of SEM analysis, from which the monochromatic film color was determined based on Bragg's diffraction law. Tunable film color was achieved by adjusting the diameter of the spheres, as evaluated using UV–Vis. Tunable mechanical properties of the PBG film were also achieved by varying the T_g of the spheres or the filling ratio of small PS. Based on these approaches, the ultimate tensile strength could be tuned in the region between 0.39 to 4.7 Mpa, and the relative strain could be varied from 1236% to 16%, illustrative of the excellent deformability of the film. Furthermore, by variation of these two parameters, the film properties could be changed from typical elastomer behavior to brittle plastic polymer type behavior, greatly extending the prospective application fields. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40276.     

Melting behavior of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

In this study, the melting behavior of isothermally crystallized polytri‐ methylene terephthalate (PTT) was investigated. Multiple melting behaviors in DSC heating trace were found because two populations of lamellar stacks were formed during primary crystallization and the recrystallization at heating process, respectively. This fact could be also confirmed from the result of optical microscopy observation. The Hoffman–Weeks equation was applied to obtain equilibrium melting temperature (T). The T value of PTT is about 525 K, which is 10 K higher than that reported. Combining the enthalpy of fusion from the DSC result and the degree of crystallinity from WAXD result, the value of the equilibrium‐melting enthalpy ΔH was deduced to be approximately 28.8 kJ mol^?1. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2426–2433, 2002     

A study on membrane distillation by a solar thermal‐driven system

Membrane distillation (MD) is a membrane separation process that has long been investigated in small scale laboratory studies and has the potential to become a viable tool for water desalination. MD is a separation process that combines simultaneous mass and heat transfer through a hydrophobic microporous membrane. A solar collector is used in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) to heat seawater as a temperature driving force in heat transfer to establish seawater desalting systems. The effect of the temperature difference makes the brine vaporize in the hot fluid side and condense in the cold fluid side. The optimal operating parameters on the pure water production rate will also be examined in this study. The purposes of this study are to develop the theoretical heat and mass transfer formulations, simulate heat transfer rate of solar collector with internal fins in membrane distillation, and investigate the mass‐transfer efficiency improvement in membrane distillation with the brine flow rate, solar collector efficiency, and temperature difference between both sides of membrane as parameters. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(7): 417–428, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20172     

The effect of alkyd resins on the properties of AA‐NC semi‐IPNs as binders in wood finish

Wood coatings of AA‐NC semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs), made from acid curing amino‐alkyd resins (AA) and nitrocellulose (NC), were prepared by sequential polymerization method. To investigate the effects of oil length on the properties of AA‐NC semi‐IPNs, three grades of alkyd resins (Alkyd) containing 38, 48, and 58% oil were synthesized with phthalic anhydride, glycerol, and soybean oil, employing alcoholysis method. The butylated urea formaldehyde resin (UF) and melamine formaldehyde resin (MF) were also prepared in this study. The AA‐NC semi‐IPNs were maintained at a weight ratio of AA : NC of 25 : 75, where the AA was the composition of MF : UF : Alkyd of 7.5 : 22.5 : 70 (by weight), and 10% of p‐toluene sulfonic acid solution (concentration, 25% in isopropyl alcohol) based on the weight of amino resins was added as acid catalyst. The properties of coatings such as viscosity, drying time, and gel time, and the properties of films including adhesion, hardness, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, tensile strength, released formaldehyde, lightfastness, solvent resistance, and durability were examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1923–1927, 2004     

Solving optimization problems by searching along a curve

Abstract

This paper proposes a curve for the one‐dimensional search method in optimization problems. The search is along a curve instead of a line. This curve is determined by a parameter [u] from the following three points: (1) the initial point X_o, (2) the Cauchy point X_c, (3) the Newton point X_N, and has the following four characteristics: (1) tangents to the steepest descent direction at X_o, (2) passes through X_N, (3) decreases monotonically from X_o to X_N for a quadratic function, (4) no complex computation on the parameter u. Therefore, the proposed method has the following advantages: (1) it is globally convergent, (2) it is locally q‐quadratically (or q‐superlinearly for quasi‐Newton point) convergent, (3) the search procedure is as simple as the line search method.