Asymmetric encryption by optical Kerr nonlinearities exhibited by electrochromic NiO thin films.

Herein is analyzed how an electric field can induce a band gap shift in NiO films to generate an enhancement in their third-order optical nonlinearities. An electrochromic effect seems to be responsible for changes in absorbance and modification in off-resonance nonlinear refractive index. The optical Kerr effect was determined as the dominant physical mechanism emerging from the third-order optical susceptibility processes present in a nanosecond two-wave mixing configuration at 532 nm wavelength.

Exploring design variations of the Titian Stradivari violin using a finite element model.

Because violins are traditionally hand-crafted using wood, each one is unique. This makes the design of repeatable experiments studying some aspects of its dynamic behavior unfeasible. To tackle this problem, an adjustable finite element (FE) model of a violin soundbox using the geometry and behavior of the "Titian" Stradivari was developed in this paper.

Magnetic Force Microscopy Study of Multiscale Ion-Implanted Platinum in Silica Glass, Recorded by an Ultrafast Two-Wave Mixing Configuration.

This study explores magnetization exhibited by nanoscale platinum-based structures embedded in pure silica plates. A superposition of laser pulses in the samples produced periodic linear arrangements of micro-sized structures. The samples were integrated by PtO2 microstructures (PtOΣs) with dispersed Pt oxide nanoparticles in their surroundings.

Finite element simulation based-on atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation for spruce wood microstructure analysis.

Spruce wood (picea abis) has been widely used as structural element, from buildings to musical instruments, due to its outstanding mechanical performances. The main stem transverse section exhibits growth rings formed by periodic fringes patterns, which are constituted by lamellae-tracheid arrangements. In order to improve the understanding of each wood microstructure role, the morphology and crystallinity of earlywood and latewood fibers were examined mainly using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray difracction.