The near edge structure of the electron energy loss spectra (ELNES) of copper and gold clusters containing up to 923 atoms are theoretically studied with the multiple scattering approach in the framework of density functional theory. Calculations are performed both in the atomic sphere approximation (ASA) and in the full potential (FP) framework and their results compared. The effects of structure relaxation of the clusters on the ELNES are assessed. Finally an example of the ELNES of a Cu-Ag core shell nanocrystal is given.

We developed an external-cavity laser diode (ECLD) for a holographic memory system with a wavelength tunability of 5 nm. To stabilize the single-mode operation, a mode-hopping detection technique using a time differential of output voltages of a single-element photodiode is proposed. By changing the drive current of the laser diode, we could obtain mode detection signals when the ECLD was in multimode operation. This result indicates that this technique is suitable for maintaining a stable single-mode operation of the ECLD.