High-energy bow tie multi-pass cells for nonlinear spectral broadening applications

Multi-pass cells have emerged as very attractive tools for spectral broadening and post-compression applications. We discuss pulse energy limitations of standard multi-pass cells considering basic geometrical scaling principles and introduce a novel energy scaling method using a multi-pass cell arranged in a bow tie geometry. Employing nonlinear pulse propagation simulations, we numerically demonstrate the compression of 125mJ, 1 ps pulses to 50 fs using a compact 2 m long setup and outline routes to extend our approach into the Joule-regime.

On the Energy Scaling Behaviour of a Singularly Perturbed Tartar Square

In this article we derive an (almost) optimal scaling law for a singular perturbation problem associated with the Tartar square. As in Winter (Eur J Appl Math 8(2):185–207, 1997), Chipot (Numer Math 83(3):325–352, 1999), our upper bound quantifies the well-known construction which is used in the literature to prove the flexibility of the Tartar square in the sense of the flexibility of approximate solutions to the differential inclusion. The main novelty of our article is the derivation of an (up to logarithmic powers matching) ansatz free lower bound which relies on a bootstrap argument in Fourier space and is related to a quantification of the interaction of a nonlinearity and a negative Sobolev space in the form of “a chain rule in a negative Sobolev space”. Both the lower and the upper bound arguments give evidence of the involved “infinite order of lamination”.

DCT Domain Detail Image Enhancement for More Resolved Images

This paper develops a detail image signal enhancement that makes images perceived as being clearer and more resolved and so more effective for higher resolution displays. We observe that the local variant signal enhancement makes images more vivid, and the more revealed granular signals harmonically embedded on the local variant signals make images more resolved. Based on this observation, we develop a method that not only emphasizes the local variant signals by scaling up the frequency energy in accordance with human visual perception, but also strengthens the granular signals by embedding the alpha-rooting enhanced frequency components. The proposed energy scaling method emphasizes the detail signals in texture images and rarely boosts noisy signals in plain images. In addition, to avoid the local ringing artifact, the proposed method adjusts the enhancement direction to be parallel to the underlying image signal direction. It was verified through subjective and objective quality evaluations that the developed method makes images perceived as clearer and highly resolved.

DCT-Domain Detail Image Enhancement for More Resolved Images

This paper develops a detail image signal enhancement that makes images perceived as clearer and more resolved and so is more effective for higher resolution displays. We observe that the local variant signal enhancement makes images more vivid, and the more revealed granular signals harmonically embedded on the local variant signals make images more resolved. Based on this observation, we develop a method that not only emphasizes the local variant signals by scaling up the frequency energy in accordance with human visual perception, but also strengths up the granular signals by embedding the alpha-rooting enhanced frequency components. The proposed energy scaling method emphasizes the detail signals in texture images and rarely boosts noisy signals in plain images. In addition, to avoid the local ringing artifact, the proposed method adjusts the enhancement direction to be parallel to the underlying image signal direction. It was verified through the subjective and objective quality evaluations that the developed method makes images perceived as clearer and highly resolved.

Achieving industrial ammonia synthesis rates at near-ambient conditions through modified scaling relations on a confined dual site

The production of ammonia through the Haber–Bosch process is regarded as one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. Despite significant efforts in optimizing the process, it still consumes 1 to 2% of the worldwide annual energy for the high working temperatures and pressures. The design of a catalyst with a high activity at milder conditions represents another challenge for this reaction. Herein, we combine density functional theory and microkinetic modeling to illustrate a strategy to facilitate low-temperature and -pressure ammonia synthesis through modified energy-scaling relationships using a confined dual site. Our results suggest that an ammonia synthesis rate two to three orders of magnitude higher than the commercial Ru catalyst can be achieved under the same reaction conditions with the introduction of confinement. Such strategies will open pathways for the development of catalysts for the Haber–Bosch process that can operate at milder conditions and present more economically viable alternatives to current industrial solutions.