The time-dependent equation of radiative transfer is solved for a participating medium housed in an axisymmetric cylindrical enclosure by both the discrete-ordinates method and the finite volume method. Many heat transfer processes, including absorption of renewable and sustainable solar energy in a solar receiving tube for use in power plants, can be modeled in a cylindrical enclosure. Steady-...

In an attempt to optimize a high yield, high efficiency artificial photosynthetic protein we have discovered unique energy and spatial architecture limits which apply to all light-activated photosynthetic systems. We have generated an analytical solution for the time behavior of the core three cofactor charge separation element in photosynthesis, the photosynthetic cofactor triad, and explored ...

Atmospheric aerosols interact with sun light by scattering and absorbing radiation. By changing irradiance of the Earth surface, modifying cloud fractional cover and microphysical properties and a number of other mechanisms, they affect the energy balance, hydrological cycle, and planetary climate [IPCC, 2007]. In many world regions there is a growing impact of aerosols on air quality and human...

A cassette molecule, featuring direct integration of two donor BODIPY units to one acceptor BODIPY unit, was conveniently developed as the first highly "through-bond energy transfer" (TBET) laser dye. This multicolor absorbing dye exhibited highly efficient and photostable laser action under drastic pumping conditions.

Although much thinner than conventional optical interference coatings, nanometer-thick films made of optically absorbing materials can display strong interference effects. This new class of coatings shows promise for coloring and labeling, optical filters, tunable absorbers and emitters, and energy harvesting.

A light absorbing pi-conjugated oligomer-tetrafullerene nanoarray has been synthesized and its photophysical study reveals the presence of an intramolecular energy transfer. A phototovoltaic device fabricated from this nanoarray and poly(3-hexylthiophene) shows an external quantum efficiency of 15% at 500 nm.