Publications by authors named "R Ikuta"

In this study, we experimentally demonstrate a PPLN-based free-space to SMF (single-mode fiber) conversion system capable of efficient long-wavelength down-conversion from 518 nm, optimized for minimal loss in highly turbid water, to 1540 nm, which is ideal for low-loss transmission in standard SMF. Leveraging the nonlinear optical properties of periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), we achieve a wavelength conversion efficiency of 1.6% through difference frequency generation while maintaining a received optical signal-to-noise ratio of 10.

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We propose a modulation-free optical frequency stabilization technique using an interferometric effect between transmitted and reflected lights from a reference cavity. The property of the reflected light brings robustness of the error signal against laser intensity fluctuations as in previous stabilization methods. Due to the property of the transmitted light, the capture range for a specific locking frequency is expanded up to twice the FSR of the cavity, which we experimentally demonstrate.

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Ice formation is a critical challenge across multiple fields, from industrial applications to biological preservation. Inspired by natural antifreeze proteins, we designed and synthesized a new class of small-molecule antifreezes based on α-helical -terphenyl scaffolds with guanidine side chains. These -terphenyl guanidines , among the smallest molecules that mimic α-helical structures, exhibit potent ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity, similar to that of existing large α-helical antifreeze compounds.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new in situ measurement technique for studying metal/metal-oxide mixtures at extreme temperatures (over 2000 K) was developed to enhance nuclear safety engineering.
  • The researchers successfully conducted simultaneous XAFS-XRD measurements to track Zr oxidation and the ZrO-YO reaction over a range of temperatures (up to 2519 K), revealing significant chemical shifts.
  • The study also explored the temperature effects on local structure dynamics, comparing experimental data with theoretical models, and proposed potential applications for analyzing nuclear fuel materials like UO-Zr.
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Taste receptor cells are morphologically classified as types II and III. Type II cells form a unique type of synapses referred to as channel synapses where calcium homeostasis modulator 1 (CALHM1) together with CALHM3 forms voltage-gated channels that release the neurotransmitter, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). To validate the proposed structural model of channel synapses, the ultrastructural localization of CALHM1 in type II cells of both fungiform and circumvallate taste buds was examined.

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