Three-dimensional planarized diffraction structures based on surface relief gratings in azobenzene materials

The method of step-by-step formation of correlated 3D phase optical structures is presented. Surface relief gratings (SRG) recorded in azobenzene polymer layers are alternated with layers of a spacer polymer with a different refractive index. A pair of azobenzene and spacer polymers with excellent compatibility makes it possible to prepare layers of good optical quality in a stack without destruction of SRG in the previous layer. A correlated stack of six layers (three active and three spacer layers) with 2D structures of different types (linear, tetragonal, and hexagonal) were built. In this way hierarchical 3D structures with different grating periods or different shapes of SRG can be also produced, resulting in full flexibility of the structure type and grating parameters.     

Force chains,microelasticity, and macroelasticity

It has been claimed that quasistatic granular materials, as well as nanoscale materials, exhibit departures from elasticity even at small loadings. It is demonstrated, using 2D and 3D models with interparticle harmonic interactions, that such departures are expected at small scales [below O(100) particle diameters], at which continuum elasticity is invalid, and vanish at large scales. The models exhibit force chains on small scales, and force and stress distributions which agree with experimental findings. Effects of anisotropy, disorder, and boundary conditions are discussed as well.     

A post-processing method for feature sensitivity coefficients

An economical postprocessing method for estimating feature sensitivity coefficients is presented. This method uses precomputed elementary sensitivity coefficients calculated by standard methods to obtain a perturbed solution using a linear approximation to the Taylor series expansion. The perturbed solution is then used for simple feature sensitivity calculations. This approach avoids costly repetitive integrations for each model parameter and can be readily implemented with available computer codes which solve for species profiles and elementary sensitivities. The method was tested using a practical example of a CH flame profile and shown to be in good agreement with a brute-force sensitivity analysis performed for the same conditions. It is also suggested that the method can be readily extended to simultaneous sensitivity analysis of multiple responses or to sensitivity analysis with respect to a functional combination of model parameters. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Measurements of the spread in the initial electron energy in a gyrotron

An analyzer intended for measuring electron energy in gyrotrons is described. Electron energy spectra are measured in various operating modes of an experimental gyrotron. It is shown that, even when no microwave field is generated, the spread in electron energy due to the space-charge effect can be as high as several percent.