Holographic gratings are recorded in azo-dye nitrobenzoxazole-labeled phospholipid thin films by use of 244-nm UV light. The gratings continue to grow for more than 1 h, even after the recording light is removed. The diffraction efficiency of these gratings shows extreme sensitivity to humidity and can increase reversibly by 2 orders of magnitude in air that is saturated with water vapor. This effect is related to the unique characteristics of phospholipid molecules that undergo hydration-dependent structural reorganization and self-assembly.

Stimulated Raman scattering with 532-nm pulsed laser light is investigated in a 7.9-microm-core step-index multimode fiber. While low-intensity pump or single-mode LP(01) excitation produces the usual stimulated Raman scattering light, mixed-mode (LP(01) + LP(02)) excitation with pump intensities of ~5 kW uniformly shifts the multiorder Stokes Raman spectrum by an amount determined by fiber parameters, thus making stimulated Raman scattering tunable. This is due to the mediating influence of the four-photon mixing in the fiber.

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The currently well-developed models for equations of state (EoSs) have been severely impacted by recent measurements of neutron stars with a small radius and/or large mass. To explain these measurements, the theory of gravitational field shielding by a scalar field is applied. This theory was recently developed in accordance with the five-dimensional (5D) fully covariant Kaluza-Klein (KK) theory that has successfully unified Einstein's general relativity and Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. It is shown that a massive, compact neutron star can generate a strong scalar field, which can significantly shield or reduce its gravitational field, thus making it more massive and more compact. The mass-radius relation developed under this type of modified gravity can be consistent with these recent measurements of neutron stars. In addition, the effect of gravitational field shielding helps explain why the supernova explosions of some very massive stars (e.g., 40 M⊙ as measured recently) actually formed neutron stars rather than black holes as expected. The EoS models, ruled out by measurements of small radius and/or large mass neutron stars according to the theory of general relativity, can still work well in terms of the 5D fully covariant KK theory with a scalar field.

Erbium doped sodium lead germano tellurite glass was prepared by the melt quenching technique. Optical characterization of the material was done using absorption and laser induced fluorescence measurements. Energy upconversion signals were observed from the sample at 415 nm and/or 546 nm under 488 or 806 nm laser excitations. Our results indicate that this material is useful for upconversion laser development. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

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