Neutron yields from massive lead and uranium targets irradiated with relativistic protons

Long-lived isotopes can be transmuted into stable or short-lived elements either by neutron captures or neutron induced fission. The need of a large excess of neutrons has led to the use of accelerator driven sources (ADS). A series of experiments were carried out at the Synchrophasotron/Nuclotron of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) Dubna, using protons of 1.0 GeV. Solid Lead and Uranium targets surrounded by paraffin moderator were irradiated. On the outer surface of the moderator a number of Solid State Track Detectors were placed to monitor neutron spatial distribution. The results showed that the maximum neutron production was reached within the range of one to two proton mean free paths in the target. Then decreasing neutron production follows the proton beam attenuation along the target. Moreover, the results showed both targets neutron production evolution along the target, to be the same. However, neutron flux per incident proton is depended on the target mass, which was found to be higher for the heavier target.     

Projectile fragmentation of O and S at 3.65 GeV/n on several targets

We investigate the charge changing collisions for ¹⁶O and ³²S beams at 3.65 GeV/n on several targets, by using Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD). Track measurements were performed by an automatic measurement system. We determined the total charge changing cross sections and the elemental cross sections for the production of fragments of charge 9 ≤ Z ≤ 14. Comparison with theoretical models as well as with experimental data are given.     

Solving project scheduling problems with a heuristic learning algorithm

We have developed an approach to implement a real time admissible heuristic search algorithm to solve project scheduling problems. This algorithm is characterised by the complete heuristic learning process: state selection, heuristic learning, and search path review. This implementation approach is based on the dynamic nature of the activity status and the resource availability of a project. It consists of states, state transition operator, heuristic estimate, and the cost of transition between states. The performance analysis shows that the accumulation of heuristic learning during the search process has led to the re-scheduling of resource dominating activities, which is a major factor in controlling the overall project completion time.     

The thermal diffusivity of natural rubber

Measurements of thermal diffusivities of peroxide-cured and sulfur-cured rubbers, over the range 0–100°C and 0–75 phr of carbon, are described. They are based on the asymptotic time dependences of heating and cooling curves, recorded following quenching of the samples into baths at various temperatures. The diffusivities are shown to depend linearly on both temperature and carbon content, to reasonable accuracies over the ranges studied. Some theory bearing on measurement techniques is presented.     

Propagation factors of Hermite–Gaussian beams in turbulent atmosphere

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral and the second-order moments of the Wigner distribution function, an analytical formulae for the propagation factors (M²-factors) of coherent and partially coherent one-dimensional Hermite–Gaussian beams in a turbulent atmosphere are derived. Evolution properties of the M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam in a turbulent atmosphere are studied numerically in detail. Our results show that the M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam increases upon propagation in a turbulent atmosphere. The M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam with larger beam order (or lower coherence) increases slower that of the Hermite–Gaussian beam with smaller beam order (or higher coherence) in a turbulent atmosphere, which means that the Hermite–Gaussian beam with a larger beam order and lower coherence is less affected by a turbulent atmosphere. Our results will be useful in long-distance free-space optical communications.     

A hybrid extragradient method for solving pseudomonotone equilibrium problems using Bregman distance

In this paper, using a hybrid extragradient method, we introduce a new iterative process for approximating a common element of the set of solutions of equilibrium problems involving pseudomonotone bifunctions and the set of common fixed points of a finite family of multi-valued Bregman relatively nonexpansive mappings in the setting of reflexive Banach spaces. For this purpose, we introduce Bregman–Lipschitz-type condition for a pseudomonotone bifunction. It seems that these results for pseudomonotone bifunctions are first in reflexive Banach spaces. This paper concludes with certain applications, where we utilize our results to study the determination of a common point of the solution set of a variational inequality problem and the fixed point set of a finite family of multi-valued relatively nonexpansive mappings. A numerical example to support our main theorem will be exhibited.     

Cohen–Macaulay Modules in Dimension >s and Results on Local Cohomology

Let (R,𝔪) be a local ring and s ≥ ?1. Using the notion of M-sequence in dimension > s, we introduce Cohen–Macaulay modules in dimension > s. Among other things concerning Cohen–Macaulay modules in dimension > s, some finiteness results of the support and the associated primes of local cohomology modules are investigated.     

Improvement of performance of tetraphenylporphyrin-based red organic light emitting diodes using WO3 and C60 buffer layers

One of the porphyrin derivatives, meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), has been synthesized and examined as an emitter material (EM) for efficient fluorescent red organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). By inserting a tungsten oxide (WO₃) layer into the interface of anode (ITO) and hole transport layer N,N′-Di-[(1-napthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl]-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (NPB) and by using fullerene (C₆₀) in contact with a LiF/Al cathode, the performance of devices was markedly improved. The current density–voltage–luminance (J–V–L) characterizations of the samples show that red OLEDs with both WO₃ and C₆₀ as buffer layers have a lower driving voltage and higher luminance compared with the devices without buffer layers. The red OLED with the configuration ITO/WO₃ (3 nm)/NPB (50 nm)/TPP (60 nm)/BPhen (30 nm)/C₆₀ (5 nm)/LiF (0.8 nm)/Al (100 nm) achieved the high luminance of 6359 cd/m² at the low driving voltage of 8 V. At a current density of 20 mA/cm², a pure red emission with CIE coordinates of (0.65; 0.35) is observed for this device. Moreover, a power efficiency of 2.07 lm/W and a current efficiency of 5.17 cd/A at 20 mA/cm² were obtained for the fabricated devices. The study of the energy level diagram of the devices revealed that the improvement in performance of the devices with buffer layers could be attributed to lowering of carrier-injecting barrier and more balanced charge injection and transport properties.     

A competitive magnet-based genetic algorithm for solving the resource-constrained project scheduling problem

This paper presents a genetic algorithm for solving the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. The innovative component of the algorithm is the use of a magnet-based crossover operator that can preserve up to two contiguous parts from the receiver and one contiguous part from the donator genotype. For this purpose, a number of genes in the receiver genotype absorb one another to have the same order and contiguity they have in the donator genotype. The ability of maintaining up to three contiguous parts from two parents distinguishes this crossover operator from the powerful and famous two-point crossover operator, which can maintain only two contiguous parts, both from the same parent. Comparing the performance of the new procedure with that of other procedures indicates its effectiveness and competence.