Time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy of self-trapped excitons in ladder type Br-bridged Pt complexes.

The out-of-phase and in-phase ladder type Br-bridged Pt complexes are investigated by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy in pico- and femtosecond time regions. The observed luminescence spectra have peaks at 0.87 and 0.94 eV in out-of-phase and in-phase materials, respectively, and are assigned to self-trapped excitons. The wave-packet oscillations in self-trapped excitons (STE) are observed in both materials. The time-evolution curves are analyzed in terms of the secondary radiation theory of strongly coupled electron-phonon system. The period and dephasing time of oscillations as well as the lifetime and spectral shape of the STE luminescence are determined. The fast dephasing or cooling of the wave-packet motion observed in the in-phase type complex is ascribed to inter-chain interactions within the ladder.

Non-thermal hot electrons ultrafastly generating hot optical phonons in graphite.

Investigation of the non-equilibrium dynamics after an impulsive impact provides insights into couplings among various excitations. A two-temperature model (TTM) is often a starting point to understand the coupled dynamics of electrons and lattice vibrations: the optical pulse primarily raises the electronic temperature T(el) while leaving the lattice temperature T(l) low; subsequently the hot electrons heat up the lattice until T(el) = T(l) is reached. This temporal hierarchy owes to the assumption that the electron-electron scattering rate is much larger than the electron-phonon scattering rate. We report herein that the TTM scheme is seriously invalidated in semimetal graphite. Time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TrPES) of graphite reveals that fingerprints of coupled optical phonons (COPs) occur from the initial moments where T(el) is still not definable. Our study shows that ultrafast-and-efficient phonon generations occur beyond the TTM scheme, presumably associated to the long duration of the non-thermal electrons in graphite.

Ultrafast time domain demonstration of bulk magnetization precession at zero magnetic field ferromagnetic resonance induced by terahertz magnetic field.

We report the first observation of sub-terahertz bulk-magnetization precession, using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The magnetization precession in gallium-substituted epsilon-iron oxide nano-ferromagnets under zero magnetic field is induced by the impulsive magnetic field of the THz wave through the gyromagnetic effect. Just at the resonance frequency, the linear to circular polarized wave conversion is realized. This is understood as the free induction decay signal radiated from a rotating magnetic dipole corresponding to the natural resonance. Furthermore, this demonstration reveals that the series of gallium-substituted epsilon-iron oxide nano-ferromagnets is very prospective for magneto-optic devices, which work at room temperature without external magnetic field, in next-generation wireless communication.

Photoinduced charge-transfer process in rubidium manganese hexacyanoferrate probed by Raman spectroscopy.

The photoinduced charge-transfer process in Rb(0.94)Mn[Fe(CN)(6)](0.98).0.2H(2)O is investigated by observing the valence states of the metal ions by Raman spectroscopy. The sample in the high-temperature phase is irradiated at the ligand to metal, CN(-)-->Fe(III) and charge-transfer band (lambda=395 nm). The Fe(III)-CN-Mn(II) pair valence state corresponding to the high-temperature configuration is totally depleted after prolonged irradiation, and the Fe(II)-CN-Mn(III) pair valence state corresponding to the low-temperature configuration appears. In addition, two kinds of CN stretching modes, ascribed to Fe(II)-CN-Mn(II) and Fe(III)-CN-Mn(III) pair valence states, are found. The photoproduction process of each pair valence states is well reproduced by a kinetic model assuming a charge transfer from Mn(II) to Fe(III). During irradiation, continuous shifts of the Raman peaks are found and ascribed to a release of the strain due to the lattice mismatching between the high-temperature and the photoinduced phases. This behavior indicates that the photoinduced phase created locally in the high-temperature-phase lattice grows up to a photoinduced phase domain. The conversion efficiency is lowered with decreasing temperature, indicating the existence of an energy barrier. We propose a model, which can explain the existence of an energy barrier in the electronic excited state.

Coherent magnetic oscillation in the spin ladder system alpha(')- NaV2O5.

We report the first observation of coherent magnetic excitations in a spin ladder system NaV2O5 by using femtosecond time-domain spectroscopy. A pronounced coherent oscillation is observed at 127 cm(-1) (nearly twice the spin gap energy) and assigned to a two-magnon bound state, based on the temperature dependence of the intensity below the charge ordering phase transition at T(C) = 34 K. This mode can be observable only when circularly polarized light is used as a pump or a probe beam, suggesting that it corresponds to a spin-flip excitation from the singlet ground state. A phonon mode strongly coupled to the spin state is also found at 303 cm(-1).

High expression of alternative transcript of granzyme M in the mouse retina.

We have isolated cDNAs to two transcripts, granzyme M and alternative granzyme M mRNA from the mouse eye. Analysis of genomic DNA revealed these transcripts were derived from alternative transcription initiations. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions revealed that both transcripts were expressed in the eye, though the alternative form was the major type. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated that alternative granzyme M mRNA localized exclusively in the photoreceptor cells in the retina and expressed only after the opening of the eye, suggesting that these transcripts are related to the maintenance of the retinal structure or functions of matured photoreceptor cells rather than the development or differentiation of retinal cells.

cDNA cloning and expression of a novel serine protease in the mouse brain.

A cDNA for a novel serine protease, termed brain type granzyme K (B-GRK) was cloned from the mouse brain. The cDNA codes a protein similar to granzyme K (GRK) but completely different at the N-terminus. Genomic Southern and PCR analysis of the gene suggests B-GRK is the alternative transcription form of GRK. B-GRK and GRK have a different organ-specific expression pattern: B-GRK is expressed in the brain, while GRK is expressed in the spleen. The recombinant fusion protein was detected in the neuro2a cells transfected with a plasmid containing B-GRK sequence. The mRNA for B-GRK/GRK was detected in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and diencephalon of the mouse brain. In situ hybridization for B-GRK/GRK revealed that several regions in the forebrain and hypothalamus express the mRNA. Developmental analysis showed that in the prenatal stage, the mRNA was expressed also in pituitary and pineal body in addition to the brain.

cDNA cloning and expression of a novel serine protease, TLSP.

A cDNA for a putative novel serine protease, TLSP, was cloned from human hippocampus cDNA with polymerase chain reaction based strategies. The putative amino acid sequence of TLSP is similar to the trypsin-type serine proteases. TLSP mRNA is expressed in keratinocytes. Overexpressed TLSP protein in neuro2a cells was detected in culture medium.