Reverse mode switching of the random laser emission in dye doped liquid crystals under homogeneous and inhomogeneous electric fields

We report the observation of electric field induced random lasing in a dye doped liquid crystal system. This was achieved by using a liquid crystal host with negative dielectric anisotropy doped with laser dye PM 597 in a 75 μm cell with a homeotropic alignment layer. In the absence of an applied field, only amplified spontaneous emission was observed since the liquid crystal orientation was uniform. However, application of a field resulted in a fieldinduced planar-like configuration with local nonuniformity in liquid crystal orientation. This led to random lasing in the energized state(voltage greater than a transition threshold). The onset of lasing occurs by application of either a spatially homogenous or a spatially inhomogeneous electric field across the liquid crystal. The characteristics of the emission spectra as a function of different(i) dye concentration and(ii) applied voltage were investigated using nanosecond pulsed laser excitation at 532 nm. The effects of using an inhomogeneous field were compared to the use of a homogenous field and reported. It is shown that the spatial configuration can be used to alter the emission spectra of the system. The work is used to suggest a new configuration, referred to here as"reverse mode," for liquid crystal-based random lasers. This new configuration may provide additional avenues for their use in commercial devices.

Effects of Geometric Configurations on the Performance of Reverse Flow Diverters in Reverse Flow Mode

The reverse flow diverter (RFD) consisting of a nozzle and a diffuser is a key component in pneumatic pulse jet pumps. We investigated the effects of suction gap and diffuser configurations on RFD performance during the reverse flow mode. Three suction gap configurations were examined: (1) an axisymmetrical cylinder, (2) a cuboid whose bottom plane had no half-circle groove and was level with the diffuser entrance lower border, and (3) a cuboid with a half-circle groove on the bottom plane. Among them, the second one resulted in the highest RFD pumping capacity. The effect of receiver presence before the diffuser was also examined. RFD pumping efficiency was found to be enhanced in the presence of a receiver before the diffuser when the suction gap length is small and the jet outlet velocity at the nozzle exit is high enough. Based on experimental data, a dimensionless performance curve of the suction factor q versus the ratio of Euler numbers in sections out-out and 0-0 Eu out /Eu 0 was derived. This curve is insensitive to suction gap configurations.

Types of the jump phenomenon in the angular dependence of the noncollinear exchange bias

Based on the principle of minimal energy and the coherent rotation model, two types of the jump phenomena, complete and incomplete jump phenomenon, are proved to exist in the angular dependence of the exchange bias with noncollinear unidirectional and uniaxial anisotropies. It is found that the transition between complete and incomplete jump phenomena occurs on condition that the exchange-coupling constant exceeds a critical value. Additionally, two different modes of the magnetization rotation, the whole-plane rotation, and the half-plane rotation are present in the magnetization reversal process, and they are dependent on the direction of the external field. Furthermore, the equations of the critical angle, at which orientation the exchange bias field reaches a maximum value and the coercivity disappears, are also derived in this paper. The numerical calculations in this paper are consistent with the relevant experimental observations, indicating that our method to study the angular dependence of the exchange bias as well as the magnetization reversal behaviors is valid. Our discussion about the jump phenomenon, the critical angle, and the modes of the magnetization reversal can explain the observed differences in results between different experiments.

Experimental investigations of a prototype reversible pump turbine in generating mode with water head variations

Influences of water head variations on the performances of a prototype reversible pump turbine are experimentally studied in generating mode within a wide range of load conditions(from 25% to 96% of the rated power). The pressure fluctuations of the reversible pump turbine at three different water heads(with non-dimensional values being 0.48, 0.71 and 0.90) are measured and compared based on the pressure data recorded in the whole flow passage of the turbine. Furthermore, effects of monitoring points and load variations on the impeller-induced unstable behavior(e.g. blade passing frequency and its harmonics) are quantitatively discussed. Our findings reveal that water head variations play a significant role on the pressure fluctuations and their propagation mechanisms inside the reversible pump turbine.