Search

Nonlinear optical properties of phenyl/-NH2 end-capped tetraaniline in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions are investigated as a function of the tetraaniline concentration for both doped and undoped samples. Single beam Z-scan technique with 70-ps-duration pulses at 532 nm, are employed in association with others complementary techniques such as UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence.

The degenerate nonlinear absorption spectrum was measured in the MEH-PPV/chloroform solution by using the Z-scan technique with femtosecond laser pulses. The competition between two-photon (2PA) and saturated absorption (SA) is explained with the help of energy-level diagrams.

Rhodamine 6G-doped TEOS-derived xerogels containing different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles with average diameter of about 350 nm were designed to study random laser action. Due to the decantation of TiO2 nanoparticles during the sol–gel process, the obtained xerogels samples exhibits an inhomogeneous TiO2 distribution, with a higher concentration at one of the sample surfaces. By pumping the samples at each of the surfaces at a time with a ps-laser at 532 nm, differences in the emission behavior were observed. The higher concentration of TiO2 in one side of the sample, which occurs during its preparation, was shown to play an important role in the random laser energy threshold and emission spectra, depending on what side of the sample the excitation takes place. The difference in the laser threshold shows that the way scatterers are volumetrically distributed can increase or decrease the pump energy required for laser action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excited state absorption and excited state dynamics of indocyanine‐green (ICG) dissolved in dymethyl sulfoxide were measured using white‐light continuum Z‐scan (WLCZScan) and white‐light continuum pump–probe (WLCPP) techniques. The excited state absorption spectrum, obtained through Z‐scan measurements, revealed saturable absorption (SA) for wavelengths longer than 630 nm, while reverse saturable absorption (RSA) appeared, as indicated by a band at approximately 570 nm. Both processes were modeled by a three‐energy‐level diagram, from which the excited state cross‐section values were determined. SA and RSA were also observed in pump–probe experiments, with a recovery time in the hundreds of picoseconds time scale due to the long lifetime of the first excited state of ICG. Such results contribute to the understanding of ICG optical properties, allowing application in photonics and medicine. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear absorption dynamics of oxidized cytochrome c in water solution was investigated at 532 nm with Z-scan and pump-probe techniques. The optical characterization of this compound is very important owing to its similarity with hematoporphyrin-based drugs commonly used in photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. We observed a saturable absorption process related to the excited singlet population, followed by a fast decay to the ground state. The optical excitation and subsequent relaxation were interpreted with a three-energy-level diagram, allowing the first singlet excited-state absorption cross section and lifetime determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present, a two-photon absorption (2PA) study in Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states of cytochrome c molecule in water solution, using the femtosecond Z-scan technique with pulses from 560 to 850 nm. No qualitative difference was observed in the 2PA process for the two Fe oxidation states. The 2PA cross-sections, for both samples, increase as the wavelength approaches the absorption band, in agreement with the resonant denominator in the sum-over states model, presenting a maximum value of approximately 1000 GM at about 600 nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Orthostatic intolerance occurs following immobilization in patients on Earth and in astronauts after spaceflight. Head-down tilt bedrest is a terrestrial model for weightlessness and induces orthostatic intolerance. We hypothesized that lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) or cycling followed by wearing venous constrictive thigh cuffs mitigates orthostatic intolerance after head-down tilt bedrest., Methods and Results: We enrolled 47 healthy individuals (20 women, 35±9 years) to a 30-day strict head-down tilt bedrest study. During bedrest, they were assigned to 6 hours of 25 mm Hg LBNP (n=12) per day and 1 hour of supine cycling followed by 6 hours of venous constriction through thigh cuffs 6 days per week (n=12), 6 hours of daily upright sitting (positive control, n=11), or no countermeasure (negative control, n=12). We measured orthostatic tolerance as the time to presyncope during 80° head-up tilt testing with incremental LBNP before and immediately after bedrest. We determined plasma volume with carbon monoxide rebreathing before and at the end of bedrest. After bedrest, orthostatic tolerance decreased 540±457 seconds in the control group, 539±68 seconds in the cycling group, 217±379 seconds in the LBNP group, and 289±89 seconds in the seated group ( P <0.0001 time point, P =0.009 for group differences). Supine and upright heart rate increased in all groups following bedrest. Plasma volume was only maintained in the cycling group but decreased in all others (interaction countermeasure×time point P <0.0001)., Conclusions: Six hours of moderate LBNP training was as effective as sitting in attenuating orthostatic intolerance after 30 days of head-down tilt bedrest. Daily cycling exercise followed by 6 hours of wearing venous constrictive thigh cuffs, while maintaining plasma volume, did not improve orthostatic tolerance., Registration: URL: https://www.bfarm.de/EN; Identifiers: DRKS00027643 and DRKS00030848.