On the density expansion of spectral lineshapes

We compare two types of expansions (in the density of perturbers) of collisionally broadened spectral lineshapes. The first is the more conventional frequency-domain expansion of Fano whereas the second is made in the time domain. In the impact limit they both predict a simple lorentzian line shape but otherwise they yield very different results upon trunction. Our calculations indicate that the time-domain expansion is more adequate and should be preferred.     

Rigid backbone polymers. X. Transitions in bulk polyisocyanates

Data obtained by hot-stage cross-polarized light microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to plot a transition map for the poly(n-alkylisocyanate) homologous family. Most members had a low-temperature transition (or relaxation). The middle members of the family, with side-chain length of 4 ≤ n < 13 carbon atoms, exhibit a mesomorphic range of temperatures. Members with sidechains of n ≥ 13 in length, go directly from the low-temperature transition to the melting point without passage through a liquid crystalline state. A transition map for two homopolymers and a series of their copolymers, poly[x mol% n-butyl + (100-x)mol% p-anisole-3-propyl]isocyanate, was also prepared. The range of mesomorphicity as a function of composition and temperature is clearly indicated.     

Bayesian inference for the power law process

The power law process has been used to model reliability growth, software reliability and the failure times of repairable systems. This article reviews and further develops Bayesian inference for such a process. The Bayesian approach provides a unified methodology for dealing with both time and failure truncated data. As well as looking at the posterior densities of the parameters of the power law process, inference for the expected number of failures and the probability of no failures in some given time interval is discussed. Aspects of the prediction problem are examined. The results are illustrated with two data examples.     

Duality relations and equivalences for models with O(N) and cubic symmetry

Formal expression for high-temperature series are derived for models with O(N) and cubic symmetry, with a special form of nearest neighbor interactions on the honeycomb lattice. By deriving low-temperature series for a class of generalized solid-on-solid and cubic models, a duality relation is established. Equivalences between cubic and SOS type models are also found. In the large-N limit, the series reduce to those of the hard hexagon model.     

Spectral lineshapes of molecular clusters

The electronic spectral lineshape of an impurity molecule in a cluster is calculated. Both a rigid (solid-like) and a non-rigid (droplet-like) model for the cluster are considered and compared. The spectrum is calculated using the spectral density J(ω) which is related to the correlation function of the time-dependent enegy gap between the two electronic states. Our calculations demonstrate how the information regarding individual eigenstates is lost under the broadened lineshape envelope in large clusters.     

The design of an efficient elevator operating system

A method is developed for finding an efficient operating policy for an office building elevator system. The method was applied to a particular eleven story building in which there were four elevator shafts. A queuing model was formulated in which the characteristics of passenger arrivals and destinations were time variable. The objective involved the minimization of the weighted sum of ratios of actual to minimum possible travel time between all pairs of floors. Simulation was used to analyze several logical routing policies for each of two methods in which demand information was used to alter the elevator route. The best policy was found to be almost twice as efficient as most of the other policies which were studied and over 25 times more efficient than another seemingly logical operating policy.     

Understanding the role of oxidative etching in the polyol synthesis of Pd nanoparticles with uniform shape and size

Uniform cubooctahedral nanoparticles of Pd were synthesized using a modified polyol process. Like the silver system, the Pd nanoparticles underwent dissolution due to oxidative etching by Cl-/O2. In the early stage of etching, the twinned particles in a sample were selectively removed to leave behind uniform, single-crystal cubooctahedra. If the etching was allowed to continue, the single-crystal cubooctahedra were also attacked and partially dissolved. Understanding the role of oxidative etching is critical to the achievement of both uniform shape and size.     

Ultrasonic transcutaneous energy transfer for powering implanted devices

This paper investigates ultrasonic transcutaneous energy transfer (UTET) as a method for energizing implanted devices at power level up to a few 100 mW. We propose a continuous wave 673 kHz single frequency operation to power devices implanted up to 40 mm deep subcutaneously. The proposed UTET demonstrated an overall peak power transfer efficiency of 27% at 70 mW output power (rectified DC power at the load).The transducers consisted of PZT plane discs of 15 mm diameter and 1.3 mm thick acoustic matching layer made of graphite. The power rectifier on the implant side attained 88.5% power transfer efficiency.The proposed approach is analyzed in detail, with design considerations provided to address issues such as recommended operating frequency range, acoustic link matching, receiver’s rectifying electronics, and tissue bio-safety concerns. Global optimization and design considerations for maximum power transfer are presented and verified by means of finite element simulations and experimental results.     

3D differential game guidance

Three-dimensional guidance in the neighborhood of collision course, based on a terminal differential game, renders ellipsoidal control sets. As a result, a saddle-point contains singularities. This paper (a) generalizes previous results on linear dynamics with terminal cost and ellipsoidal control sets and (b) applies the results to the above guidance problem to include general missile and target transfer functions. We further demonstrate the construction of the isocost surfaces (tubes).     

Aromatic poly(ester carbonate)/poly-(ethylene terephthalate) alloys

When mixtures of poly(ester carbonate) (PEC) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) containing up to two-thirds of the latter are melt extruded, they produce a single-phase amorphous “alloy.” This alloy is characterized by a sharp, single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature, T_g. When annealed below T_g, the alloy remains unaltered, but when annealed above its T_g, the alloy separates into minute pure-PET crystallites and an amorphous PEC/PET phase. The thermal and dynamic mechanical behavior, crystallization kinetics, and SAXS patterns all strongly suggest the PEC-rich alloys to be solid solutions in which the PET molecules are dispersed individually or in small aggregates containing only a few PET molecules each. Calculations of the interaction parameter and assumed interfacial layer thickness tend to support this suggestion. Use of appropriate solvents allows one to selectively dissolve the PEC and recover from the alloys both PET and PEC in the original purity and molecular weights. Diffusion constants of PET molecules through the amorphous alloys were obtained from studies of PET crystallization above T_g of the alloys. The magnitude of the constants are in the range of expectation. The mechanical properties of the amorphous alloys in the glassy state do not deviate greatly from simple additivity of the respective properties of the parent polymers. However, the melt viscosity of the PEC-rich alloys and their plateau modulus above T show drastic decreases from straight additivity. A qualitative, but not quantitative, explanation of these observations is offered.