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Large third-Order nonlinearity of new π-conjugated donor-acceptor polymers with substituted Thiophene and 1,3,4-Oxadiazole moieties
No full textRestricted Access.We present the synthesis of two newly designed, thiophene-based conjugated polymers (P1 and P2) carrying 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 3,4-dinaphthyloxy thiophene, and 3,4-dialkoxy thiophene moieties as potential NLO active materials. Their NLO properties have been investigated both by the Z-scan and degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) techniques using 532 nm, 7 nanosecond laser pulses. The measured β and χ(3) values for the polymers are found to be in the range of 10−11 m/W and 10−11 esu, respectively. The results indicate that they exhibit good optical-limiting behavior and are promising materials for nonlinear optical applications due to effective two-photon absorption (TPA)
Active remodeling of cortical Actin regulates spatiotemporal organization of cell surface molecules
No full textRestricted Access.Many lipid-tethered proteins and glycolipids exist as monomers and nanoclusters on the surface of living cells. The spatial distribution and dynamics of formation and breakup of nanoclusters does not reflect thermal and chemical equilibrium and is controlled by activeremodeling of the underlying corticalactin. We propose a model for nanoclustering based on active hydrodynamics, wherein cell surface molecules bound to dynamic actin are actively driven to form transient clusters. This consistently explains all of our experimental observations. Using FCS and TIRF microscopy, we provide evidence for the existence of short, dynamic, polymerizing actin filaments at the cortex, a key assumption of the theoretical framework. Our theory predicts that lipid-anchored proteins that interact with dynamic actin must exhibit anomalous concentration fluctuations, and a cell membrane protein capable of binding directly to actin can form nanoclusters. These we confirm experimentally, providing an active mechanism for molecular organization and its spatiotemporal regulation on the plasma membrane
Cylindrical cellular geometry ensures fidelity of division site placement in fission yeast
No full textRestricted Access.Successful cytokinesis requires proper assembly of the contractile actomyosin ring, its stable positioning on the cell surface and proper constriction. Over the years, many of the key molecular components and regulators of the assembly and positioning of the actomyosin ring have been elucidated. Here we show that cell geometry and mechanics play a crucial role in the stable positioning and uniform constriction of the contractile ring. Contractile rings that assemble in locally spherical regions of cells are unstable and slip towards the poles. By contrast, actomyosin rings that assemble on locally cylindrical portions of the cell under the same conditions do not slip, but uniformly constrict the cell surface. The stability of the rings and the dynamics of ring slippage can be described by a simple mechanical model. Using fluorescence imaging, we verify some of the quantitative predictions of the model. Our study reveals an intimate interplay between geometry and actomyosin dynamics, which are likely to apply in a variety of cellular contexts
Aharon-Vaidman quantum game with a Young-type photonic qutrit
No full textOpen AccessThe Aharon-Vaidman (AV) game exemplifies the advantage of using simple quantum systems to outperform classical strategies. We present an experimental test of this advantage by using a three-state quantum system (qutrit) encoded in a spatial mode of a single photon passing through three slits. The preparation of a particular state is controlled as the photon propagates through the slits by varying the number of open slits and their respective phases. The measurements are achieved by placing detectors in the specific positions in the near and far fields after the slits. This set of tools allowed us to perform tomographic reconstructions of generalized qutrit states, and to implement the quantum version of the AV game with compelling evidence of the quantum advantage
