Spectral properties of a tight binding Hamiltonian with period doubling potential

We study a one dimensional tight binding hamiltonian with a potential given by the period doubling sequence. We prove that its spectrum is purely singular continuous and supported on a Cantor set of zero Lebesgue measure, for all nonzero values of the potential strength. Moreover, we obtain the exact labelling of all spectral gaps and compute their widths asymptotically for small potential strength.     

Polarization imaging for 3D inspection of highly reflective metallic objects

In the field of industrial vision, the 3D inspection of highly reflective metallic objects is still a delicate task. The specular reflections prevent the use of a 3D laser scanner, whereas the phase shifting-based 3D systems are more adapted to inspect surfaces with low curvature. This paper deals with a new automated 3D inspection system based on polarization analysis. Studying the state of polarization of the reflected light is very useful for obtaining information on the normals of the surface. An extension of the shape from polarization method from dielectric to metallic surfaces is demonstrated. Then, an improved relaxation algorithm is provided in order to reconstruct the shape from the normal field given by the polarization analysis. Finally, applications to shape defect detection are discussed and the efficiency of the system in discriminating defects on highly reflective metallic objects made by stamping and polishing is presented. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

An efficient numerical scheme for precise time integration of a diffusion-dissolution/precipitation chemical system

A numerical scheme based on an operator splitting method and a dense output event location algorithm is proposed to integrate a diffusion-dissolution/precipitation chemical initial-boundary value problem with jumping nonlinearities. The numerical analysis of the scheme is carried out and it is proved to be of order 2 in time. This global order estimate is illustrated numerically on a test case.

     

Impact of particle size on conductivity and storage capacity as derived from the core–space charge model

The impact of interfaces on variety of materials properties scales with the density of interfaces within a material. This statement holds true independent of the specific interfacial mechanism, as long as the density of interfaces is rather low. If the spacing between interfaces is being further reduced, interesting non-trivial effects are expected and have also been observed. In this paper, the ionic conductivity in ionic conductors and the storage capacity (non-stoichiometry) of mixed conductors as a function of size are considered. The discussion is based on the core–space charge model in which we assume that only the core of an interface exhibits its own defect energetics, while the energetics of the space charge layers remain unaltered (compared to the bulk). It is shown that in the case of Schottky profiles anomalous conductivity effects are predicted. As regards the non-stoichiometry effects, it is demonstrated that at sizes small compared to the Debye length the difference between a composite consisting of an ionic and an electronic conductor and a «true» mixed conductor becomes blurred. The latter effect has recently been detected in the field of Li-batteries and is here commented on.     

Radiative transfer in static and spherically symmetric distording media: from the effective geometry to a kinetic theory

In numerous new media (superfluids, Bose-Einstein condensates, nonlinear dielectrics,…) and multiple settings (accretion flows onto compact objects, optics EIT, stellar collapses, supernovae expanding envelopes, relativistic vortex flow, early Universe…) matter appears to light as an effective curved spacetime. These media that we call ‘distording media’ induce spatial modifications on the phases functions of the electromagnetic fields so that light paths become curved lines. This nonlinear optical behavior gives birth to singular effects (confinement of light, black hole effect…) which confer in the same time a local and a non-local dimension to the radiative transfer. We develop a general phenomenological theory of radiative transfer inside any static and spherically symmetric distorting media. We especially prove that the curvature of the effective spacetime plays a fundamental role in the specific intensity balance.     

Spectral and temporal characteristics of metallic nanoparticles produced by femtosecond laser pulses

We study the time of flight optical emission from titanium and tungsten nanosized particles, generated through femtosecond laser-matter interaction in vacuum, in the wavelength spectral range from 300 to 900 nm. Typical spectra consist of broadband structureless signals similar to black body emission from a macroscopic object. Nanoparticles temperature, deduced from their emission spectra, decreases drastically as a function of their time of arrival at a given distance from the target. This behaviour is seen to be independent of individual particle velocities.     

2-fold and 3-fold mixing: why 3-dot-type counterexamples are impossible in one dimension

V.A. Rohlin asked in 1949 whether 2-fold mixing implies 3-fold mixing for a stationary process (ξ_i )_i2ℤ, and the question remains open today. In 1978, F. Ledrappier exhibited a counterexample to the 2-fold mixing implies 3-fold mixing problem, the socalled 3-dot system, but in the context of stationary random fields indexed by ℤ². In this work, we first present an attempt to adapt Ledrappier's construction to the onedimensional case, which finally leads to a stationary process which is 2-fold but not 3-fold mixing conditionally to the σ-algebra generated by some factor process. Then, using arguments coming from the theory of joinings, we will give some strong obstacles proving that Ledrappier's counterexample can not be fully adapted to one-dimensional stationary processes.     

Construction and classification of complex simple Lie algebras via projective geometry

We construct the complex simple Lie algebras using elementary algebraic geometry. We use our construction to obtain a new proof of the classification of complex simple Lie algebras that does not appeal to the classification of root systems.     

Study of an identity

We solve the word problem of the identity x(yz) = (xy)(yz) by investigating a certain group describing the geometry of that identity. We also construct a concrete realization of the one-generated free algebra relative to the above identity. Received March 23, 2001; accepted in final form July 6, 2002.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">J/Ψ</Emphasis>production

For more than 25 yearsJΨ production has helped to sharpen our understanding of QCD. In proton induced reaction some observations are rather well understood while others are still unclear. The current status of the theory ofJΨ production will be sketched, paying special attention to the issues of formation time andJΨ re-interaction in a nuclear medium.