Generation of high-quality terahertz OAM mode based on soft-aperture difference frequency generation.

We demonstrate the generation of high-quality tunable terahertz (THz) vortices in an eigenmode by employing soft-aperture difference frequency generation of vortex and Gaussian modes. The generated THz vortex output exhibits a high-quality orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode with a topological charge of ℓTHz = ±1 in a frequency range of 2-6 THz. The maximum average power of the THz vortex output obtained was ∼3.3 µW at 4 THz.

Effect of surfactant addition on removal of microbubbles using ultrasound.

It is difficult to control the bubble in a liquid by the external operation, because the behavior of the bubble is controlled in buoyancy and flow of liquid. On the other hand, microbubbles, whose diameter is several decades µm, stably disperse in static liquid because of their small buoyancy and electrical repulsion. When an ultrasound, whose frequency was 2.4 MHz, was irradiated, the milky white microbubbles suspended solution became rapidly clear. In this study, the effects of surfactant addition on the removal of microbubbles from a liquid in an ultrasonic field were investigated. The efficiency of removal of microbubbles decreased with surfactant addition. Surfactant type influenced the size of agglomerated microbubbles, and the efficiency of removal of microbubbles changed. The surface of microbubble was modified by surfactant adsorption, and the steric inhibition influenced the removal of microbubbles.

Effect of irradiation distance on degradation of phenol using indirect ultrasonic irradiation method.

Ultrasound is used as degradation of hazardous organic compounds. In this study, indirect ultrasonic irradiation method was applied to the degradation process of phenol, the model hazardous organic compound, and the effects of irradiation distance on radical generation and ultrasonic power were investigated. The chemical effect estimated by KI oxidation dosimetry and ultrasonic power measured by calorimetry fluctuated for the irradiation distance, and there was a relationship between the period of the fluctuation of ultrasonic effect and the wavelength of ultrasound. The degradation of phenol was considered to progress in the zero-order kinetics, before the decomposition conversion was less than 25%. Therefore, the simple kinetic model on degradation of phenol was proposed, and there was a linear relation in the degradation rate constant of phenol and the ultrasonic power inside the reactor. In addition, the kinetic model proposed in this study was applied to the former study. There was a linear relation in the degradation rate constant of phenol and ultrasonic energy in the range of frequency of 20-30 kHz in spite of the difference of equipment and sample volume. On the other hand, the degradation rate constant in the range of frequency of 200-800 kHz was much larger than that of 20-30 kHz in the same ultrasonic energy, and this behaviour was agreed with the former investigation about the dependence of ultrasonic frequency on chemical effect.

Agglomeration and rapid ascent of microbubbles by ultrasonic irradiation.

Microbubbles have some different characteristics from conventional bubbles. To apply the useful properties for gas-liquid contact operation in industry, however, a separate technology of microbubbles has to be realized. In this study, promotion of microbubble separation using ultrasound was proposed. By irradiating with ultrasound, milky white microbubbles suspended solution changed instantaneously to be clear. The interesting behavior of microbubbles observed in the ultrasonic field was investigated by microscopic and macroscopic visualizations. The rapid ascent of microbubbles was caused by their agglomeration, where the Bjerknes force of attraction and electrical repulsive force on microbubble surface acted. Ultrasonic irradiation into microbubble suspended solution was very useful for dynamic operation of microbubbles.