Studying the charge carrier properties in CuInS_2 films via femtosecond transient absorption and nanosecond transient photocurrents

The carrier behavior in CuInS_2 thin films at femtosecond and microsecond time scales is discussed in detail. Transient absorption data suggests that the photo-generated carriers relax rapidly accompanied by a change in energy. The photogenerated charge carriers are extracted by a bias electric field E in the nanosecond transient photocurrent system. An applied E improves the efficiency of photon conversion to charge carriers and enhances the velocity of the extracted charge carriers. In addition, there exists a threshold of illumination intensity in the extraction process of charge carriers in the CuInS_2 thin film, above which carrier recombination occurs. The corresponding loss further increases with illumination intensity and the recombination rate is almost independent of E. Our results provide useful insights into the characteristics of carriers in the CuInS_2 thin film and are important for the operation of optoelectronic devices realized with these films.

Human infection with a further evolved avian H9N2 influenza A virus in Sichuan, China

Dear Editor,Avian influenza A (H9N2) virus plays a crucial role in interspecies transmission between animals and humans due to its wide host range, adaptation in mammals and the diversified gene reassortments. Since 1990s, two lineages of H9N2 virus, A/Duck/HK/Y280/97 (Y280-like)and A/Quail/HK/G1/97 (G1) have established in domestic poultry in China and are now widespread in the

Spectral characteristics of plant communities from salt marshes:A case study from Chongming Dongtan,Yangtze estuary,China

The spectral reflectance of recently formed salt marshes at the mouth of the Yangtze River,which are undergoing invasion by Spartina alterniflora,were assessed to determine the potential utility of remotely sensed data in assessing future invasion and changes in species composition.Following a review of published research on remote sensing of salt marshes,53 locations along three transects were sampled for paired data on plant species composition and spectral reflectance using a FieldSpecTM Pro JR Field Portable Spectroradiometer.Spectral data were processed concerning reflectance,and the averaged reflectance values for each sample were reanalysed to correspond to a 12-waveband bandset of the Compact Airborne Spectral Imager.The spectral data were summarised using principal components analysis(PCA)and the relationships between the vegetation composition,and the PCA axes of spectral data were examined.The first PCA axis of the reflectance data showed a strong correlation with variability in near infrared reflectance and‘brightness’,while the second axis was correlated with visible reflectance and‘greenness’.Total vegetation cover,vegetation height,and mudflat cover were all significantly related to the first axis.The implications of this in terms of the ability of remote sensing to distinguish the various salt marsh species and in particular the invasive species S.alterniflora were discussed.Major differences in species with various physiognomies could be recognised but problems occurred in separating early colonising S.alterniflora from other species at that stage.Further work using multi-seasonal hyperspectral data might assist in solving these problems.