Implementation and investigation of iterative solvers in the Discrete Sources Method

The implementation of iterative methods as solvers for the Discrete Sources Method (DSM) is presented. In this method, light scattering computation linear systems with dense and relative small matrices are generated. The linear systems are traditionally solved using the QR-decomposition method. For large particles or particles with extreme geometries even this commonly stable solver can fail. In these cases, we expect that iterative methods can provide a satisfying solution nevertheless.We will present our investigation in two consecutive papers. Here, we study four different iterative solvers (RGMRES, BiCGStab, BiCGStab(l), and MinRes) considering the performance and the accuracy for typical light scattering problems. Using these iterative methods we increased the quality of a solution, especially for oblate spheroids with a higher aspect ratio. Preconditioning technique is considered in the following paper.     

Division of the energy and of the momentum of electromagnetic waves in linear media into electromagnetic and material parts

We defend a natural division of the energy density, energy flux and momentum density of electromagnetic waves in linear media in electromagnetic and material parts. In this division, the electromagnetic part of these quantities have the same form as in vacuum when written in terms of the macroscopic electric and magnetic fields, the material momentum is calculated directly from the Lorentz force that acts on the charges of the medium, the material energy is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies of the charges of the medium and the material energy flux results from the interaction of the electric field with the magnetized medium. We present reasonable models for linear dispersive non-absorptive dielectric and magnetic media that agree with this division. We also argue that the electromagnetic momentum of our division can be associated with the electromagnetic relativistic momentum, inspired on the recent work of Barnett [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104 (2010) 070401] that showed that the Abraham momentum is associated with the kinetic momentum and the Minkowski momentum is associated with the canonical momentum.     

γ-MnO2/polyaniline composites: Preparation, characterization, and applications in microwave absorption

MnO₂/doped polyaniline (PANI) is prepared by an in situ polymerization method using γ-MnO₂ as the addition agent and hydrochloric acid as the doping agent. Products are characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis, XRD, and TEM. Conductivity, electromagnetic properties, and microwave absorption properties are first discussed on the basis of structural characterization. The as-prepared products of MnO₂/PANI are partially crystalline in nature and spherical in pattern with grain sizes of 50-70 nm. MnO₂ particles are successfully decorated with doped PANI. MnO₂/PANI displays moderate electric conduction, excellent dielectric losses, and microwave absorption capabilities. Compared to pure MnO₂, the dielectric and reflection loss properties of MnO₂/PANI composites exhibit significant improvements, with an effective absorption band at 5 GHz under −10 dB and maximum reflection loss of −21 dB at 13.56 GHz. Pure MnO₂ shows an effective absorption band of 3 GHz under −10 dB and a maximum reflection loss of −14.20 dB at 11.5 GHz. Thus, MnO₂/PANI composites are found to be a promising microwave absorption material.     

Measurements of degree of sensitization (DoS) in aluminum alloys using EMAT ultrasound

Sensitization in 5XXX aluminum alloys is an insidious problem characterized by the gradual formation and growth of beta phase (Mg₂Al₃) at grain boundaries, which increases the susceptibility of alloys to intergranular corrosion (IGC) and intergranular stress-corrosion cracking (IGSCC). The degree of sensitization (DoS) is currently quantified by the ASTM G67 Nitric Acid Mass Loss Test, which is destructive and time consuming. A fast, reliable, and non-destructive method for rapid detection and the assessment of the condition of DoS in AA5XXX aluminum alloys in the field is highly desirable. In this paper, we describe a non-destructive method for measurements of DoS in aluminum alloys with an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). AA5083 aluminum alloy samples were sensitized at 100 °C with processing times varying from 7 days to 30 days. The DoS of sensitized samples was first quantified with the ASTM 67 test in the laboratory. Both ultrasonic velocity and attenuation in sensitized specimens were then measured using EMAT and the results were correlated with the DoS data. We found that the longitudinal wave velocity was almost a constant, independent of the sensitization, which suggests that the longitudinal wave can be used to determine the sample thickness. The shear wave velocity and especially the shear wave attenuation are sensitive to DoS. Relationships between DoS and the shear velocity, as well as the shear attenuation have been established. Finally, we performed the data mining to evaluate and improve the accuracy in the measurements of DoS in aluminum alloys with EMAT.     

Complex permittivity, complex permeability and microwave absorption properties of ferrite-paraffin polymer composites

We have investigated the electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ spinel ferrite (where x=0.0, 0.5 and 1.0) nanoparticles (NPs)/paraffin nanocomposite material at 8-20 GHz. Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ NPs have been synthesized by cetyltrimethylammonium assisted hydrothermal route using NaOH. A variation in complex dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability at room temperature with frequency in the range 8-20 GHz has been studied. Particles showed phase purity and crystallinity in powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. At the same time, Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ NPs demonstrated a spinel cubic structure from XRD results. A reflection loss of −46.60 dB was found at 10.5 GHz for an absorber thickness of 2 mm. Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ may be attractive candidates for EM wave absorption materials.     

Influence of Sm-substitution on structure and electromagnetic properties of Ba3−xSmxCo2Fe24O41 powders

Sm-substituted barium hexaferrites, Ba_3−xSm_xCo₂Fe₂₄O₄₁ (x=0-0.25), were prepared by a conventional ceramic sintering method. The microstructure, complex permittivity, complex permeability and static magnetic properties of the samples were studied using powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, vector network analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results reveal that by introducing a relatively small amount of Sm³⁺ instead of Ba²⁺ an important modification of both structure and high-frequency electromagnetic properties can be obtained. Doping of Sm³⁺ suppressed the grain growth and gave rise to a decrease of the grain size. As the Sm content increases, the static magnetic properties continuously increase. The real part and imaginary part of complex permittivity initially increase with Sm content, and then decreases when x>0.10. The imaginary part of complex permeability decreases after Sm³⁺ is doped. There is no obvious change in the real part of the complex permeability for different Sm contents. The reasons are discussed using electromagnetic theory.     

Electromagnetic properties and microwave absorption properties of BaTiO3-carbonyl iron composite in S and C bands

BaTiO₃ powders are prepared by sol-gel method. The carbonyl iron powder is prepared via thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl. Then BaTiO₃-carbonyl iron composite with different mixture ratios was prepared using the as-prepared material. The structure, morphology, and properties of the composites are characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a network analyzer. The complex permittivity and reflection loss of the composites have been measured at different microwave frequencies in S- and C-bands employing vector network analyzer model PNA 3629D vector. The effect of the mass ratio of BaTiO₃/carbonyl iron on the microwave loss properties of the composites is investigated. A possible microwave absorbing mechanism of BaTiO₃-carbonyl iron composite has been proposed. The BaTiO₃-carbonyl iron composite can find applications in suppression of electromagnetic interference, and reduction of radar signature.     

Electromagnetic interactions in a cluster of cylinders

We present a rigorous multiple-scattering method to calculate the interaction energies due to electromagnetic field fluctuations in a cluster of parallel cylinders. Various kinds of cluster structure with both isotropic and anisotropic materials are considered. It is shown that Casimir interactions are sensitive to the positions of the cylinders in the cluster or the structure of the system. The sign of the interaction energy cannot only be changed by tuning the parameters of anisotropic materials, it can also be caused by changing the cylinders configuration of the system.     

Light scattering computational methods for particles on substrates

Four theoretical and computational methods to describe the scattering from simple particles on substrates are presented and discussed. These methods are based on the extinction theorem, image theory, the double-interaction model, and geometrical optics (ray-tracing). We compare the four methods with measurements of scattered light from gold metallic cylinders resting on a gold metallic substrate. In particular, we analyze the co-polarized (s and p polarization) full-scan and back-scattering intensities in the far field within the plane of incidence. Advantages and disadvantages of each method as a computational and reliable tool are discussed.     

Effect of MgO additive on the high-frequency properties of Z-type hexaferrites

MgO was introduced into low-temperature sintered Z-type hexaferrites in order to improve their high-frequency electromagnetic properties. In the doped samples the major Z-type phase coexists with a small amount of W-type magnetoplumbite phase. The addition of MgO causes a decrease of the average grain size and an increase of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (K₁) and the saturation magnetization (M_s) with the increment of K₁ being larger than that of M_s. These factors result in a reduce of the initial permeability. Also, the samples with MgO additive exhibit higher Q-factor and dc resistivity. Furthermore, the introduction of MgO can decrease the dielectric constant and improve the dielectric loss tangent of the samples by reducing the electronic transition in octahedral site (B-site) between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions.