Wetting behavior of Al–Si–Mg alloys on Si3N4/Si substrates: optimization of processing parameters

The wetting behavior of Al–Si–Mg alloys on Si₃N₄/Si substrates has been investigated using the sessile drop technique. Based on a Taguchi experiment design, the effect of the following processing parameters on the contact angle (θ) and surface tension (σ_LV) was studied: processing time and temperature, atmosphere (Ar and N₂), substrate surface condition (with and without a silicon wafer), as well as the Mg and Si contents in the aluminium alloy. In nitrogen, non-wetting conditions prevail during the isothermal events while in argon a remarkable non-wetting to wetting transition leads to contact angles θ as low as 11±3° and a liquid surface tension σ_LV of 33± 10×10^-5 kJ/m². According to the multiple analysis of variance (Manova), the optimum conditions for minimizing the values of θ and σ_LV are as follows: temperature of 1100 °C, processing time of 90 min, argon atmosphere, no use of a silicon wafer, and the use of the Al-18% Mg-1% Si alloy. A verification test conducted under the optimized conditions resulted in a contact angle of θ=9±3° and a surface tension of σ_LV=29± 9×10^-5 kJ/m², both indicative of excellent wetting. PACS 68.03.Cd; 81.05.Bx; 68.08.Bc; 05.70.-a; 61.10.Nz     

Huygens' Principle,Dirac Operators,and Rational Solutions of the AKNS Hierarchy

We prove that rational solutions of the AKNS hierarchy of the form q=σ/τ and r=ρ/τ, where (σ,τ,ρ) are certain Schur functions, naturally yield Dirac operators of strict Huygens' type, i.e., the support of their fundamental solutions is the surface of the light-cone. This strengthens the connection between the theory of completely integrable systems and Huygens' principle by extending to the Dirac operators and the rational solutions of the AKNS hierarchy a classical result of Lagnese and Stellmacher concerning perturbations of wave operators. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000) 37K10, 35Qxx, 35B40.     

Mesonic and baryonic Regge trajectories with quantized masses

We have constructed some Regge trajectories for mesons and baryons by taking the 70 MeV spinless mass quanta as the ultimate building block for the light hadrons. In order to make masses integral multiples of seventy, small changes in masses has been made with due explanation. We have shown how a linear relationship between J and M ² is maintained by considering quantized hadron masses, which is a direct consequence of the string model and gives a strong clue for quark confinement. It has also been established that mesons and baryons have different slopes and the slopes of baryons is less than the slope of the mesons. This clearly defies the concept of universality of slopes (α ≈ 1.1 GeV²) of hadrons, which can only be achieved if the strings joining the quarks have constant string tension α = 1/(2πσ) (where σ is the string tension).     

Fusion, resonances and scattering in12C+12C reaction

The variation of fusion cross-section (σJ_fus) with energy in the¹²C+¹²C collision is linked to the underlying resonance phenomenon through the behavior of reaction cross-section (σ) of which σ_fus is taken as a part. The calculation of σ_fus is done through an energy-dependent imaginary potential in the optical model potential (OMP). Through dispersion relation, such an imaginary potential gives rise to energy-dependent real potential which is incorporated in the OMP. In our calculation, a form of potential for the nuclear part which has a soft repulsive in-built core is introduced based on similar works done earlier. The calculated results of σ_fus are used to explain the oscillatory structure, astrophysical S-factor and the decreasing trend at higher energies of the experimental σ_fus data in the case of¹²C+¹²C system with remarkable success. The potential used for fusion calculation is tested for fitting elastic scattering data at some energies and is found good in forward angles. Further improvement of the fitting of these data is obtained by incorporating a coupling potential in the surface region. About twenty resonances are observed in our calculation in the specific partial waves and some of them are found close to the experimentally identified resonances in¹²C+¹²C reaction. Thus, we provide an integrated and comprehensive analysis of fusion, resonance and scattering data in the best studied case of¹²C+¹²C reaction within the framework of optical potential model.     

A study of an air medium influence on the rectilinearity of laser ray proliferation towards the using for large distances and high-precision metrology

The influence of a turbulent air medium on a laser beam space localization precision was studied experimentally. For a helium-neon one-mode laser LGN-302 and for a solid-state multimode laser DS-670, the laser ray coordinate measurement uncertainties were determined with 1 m step for the distances up to 9 m from the laser source. It was found that the σ values at 9 m distance are equal to σ(DS-670) = 21 μm and σ(LGN-302) = 12 μm. To reduce the turbulent air medium influence on the laser ray space localization precision, the laser beam was positioned inside a heat-isolating tube. Very significant decrease of σ values was achieved at 9 m from the source: σ*(DS-670) = 2 μm and σ*(LGN-302) = 2.5 μm. The work is made within a framework of a preparation to the creation of a high-precision large-distance laser metrology to be possibly used for long linear collider component alignment. The text was submitted by the authors in English. On leave from the Institute of High Energy Physics and Informatization, Tbilisi, Georgia.     

Influence of surface interactions on the dynamics of the glass former ortho-terphenyl confined in nanoporous silica

We present results on investigations of the dynamics of the glass forming ortho-terphenyl (oTP) confined in nanoporous silica. Calorimetry experiments showed that the glass transition temperature of the confined liquid, T_gconf, has a non-trivial pore size dependence and is strongly affected by surface interactions. Fluid-wall interactions introduce gradients of structural relaxation times in the pores. The molecules at the surface of the pores are slowed down compared to those at the center of the pores. We focus here on a pore diameter range (7 σ< d < 12 σ, where σ is the molecular diameter), where a large variety of dynamical behavior were observed. Depending on surface properties of the confined media, T _gconf may be smaller or larger than the bulk one. In a quite attractive matrix with a pore size of around 7 nm, the structural relaxation times gradient is important enough to allow the observation of two glass transitions for the same liquid. Effects of fluid wall interactions on the short time dynamics at high temperature were also investigated by quasielastic neutron scattering. The self and collective motions exhibit well above the bulk melting point the same dependence on fluid-wall interactions as at T_g.     

Elastic,micro- and macroplastic properties of polycrystalline beryllium

The Young’s modulus and the internal friction of beryllium polycrystals (size grain from 6 to 60 μm) prepared by the powder metallurgy method have been studied as functions of the amplitude and temperature in the range from 100 to 873 K. The measurements have been performed using the composite piezoelectric vibrator method for longitudinal vibrations at frequencies about 100 kHz. Based on the acoustic measurements, the data have been obtained on the elastic and inelastic (microplastic) properties as functions of vibration stress amplitudes within the limits from 0.2 to 30–60 MPa. The microplastic deformation diagram is shown to become nonlinear at the amplitudes higher than 5 MPa. The beryllium mechanical characteristics (the yield strength σ _0.2, the ultimate strength σ _u , and the conventional microscopic yield strength σ _y ) obtained with various grain sizes are compared. At room temperature, all the parameters satisfactorily obey the Hall-Petch relationship, although there is no complete similarity. The temperature dependences are quite different, namely: σ _0.2(T) and σ _u (T) decrease monotonically during heating from room temperature to higher temperatures; however, σ _y (T) behaves unusually, and it has a minimum near 400 K. The different levels of stresses and the absence of similarity indicate that the scattering of the ultrasound energy and the formation of a level of the macroscopic flow stresses in beryllium occur on dislocation motion obstacles of different origins.     

The origin of thermal hadron production

Multihadron production in high energy collisions, from e⁺e^- annihilation to heavy ion interactions, shows remarkable thermal behaviour, specified by a universal “Hagedorn” temperature. We argue that this hadronic radiation is formed by tunneling through the event horizon of colour confinement, i.e., that it is the QCD counterpart of Hawking-Unruh radiation from black holes. It is shown to be emitted at a universal temperature T_H ≃ (σ/2 π)^1/2, where σ denotes the string tension. Since the event horizon does not allow information transfer, the radiation is thermal “at birth”.     

Electrostatic and optical resonances of cylinder pairs

We study the polarizability α(σ) of a pair of identical cylinders, each of dielectric constant σ and immersed in a medium of unit dielectric constant. In the case of non-touching cylinders, the spectrum of resonant solutions is shown to be discrete, whereas when the cylinders touch it is continuous, and corresponds to a branch-cut of α(σ). This behaviour is compared with that of the spectrum of ε(σ), the dielectric constant of an infinite array of cylinders. We derive a simple expression for α(σ), and use it to obtain ε(σ) for a dilute array of touching cylinder pairs. The resulting formula is shown to have properties differing from those of the widely-used Maxwell-Garnett and effective medium theories, and consequently it may prove useful in studies of solar-selective columnar cermets.     

Plasticity and strength of FCC metals with a nanotwinned submicrograined structure

The plasticizing and hardening effects associated with the existence of nanotwins with a density 1/λ (where λ is the average size (thickness) of nanotwin lamellae) in a submicrograined structure of fcc metals have been theoretically discussed in the framework of the dislocation-kinetics approach. The strength of the nanotwinned submicrocrystalline structure, which is increased as compared to the initial submicron structure, is determined, as in the case of nanograin boundaries, by the action of nanotwin boundaries as sources and barriers for moving dislocations that provide the normal Hall-Petch effect for the flow stress σ ∼ γ^−1/2. The inverse Hall-Petch effect σ ∼ γ ^p (where p > 0), as in the case of nanograin boundaries, is associated with the dislocation absorption by the twin boundaries. The related increased strain-rate sensitivity of the flow stresses is responsible for the significant increase in the uniform strain (from 2–3 to 8–9% in the case of nanotwinned copper) during tension of the specimens with nanotwinned submicrograined structures with retaining a high strength of the material.     

Evaluated cross sections of the σ(γ, nX) and σ(γ, 2nX) reactions on 112, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 124Sn isotopes

A combined analysis of experimental data on total and partial photoneutron reaction cross sections, obtained using bremsstrahlung γ-radiation and quasi-monoenergetic annihilation photon beams, was performed for nine Sn isotopes. The partial reactions σ^eval(γ, nX) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) cross sections were evaluated using an approach free of the shortcomings of experimental neutron multiplicity sorting methods. This approach involves calculations within the photonuclear reaction model, based on Fermi gas densities and considering the effects of nucleus deformation, the isospin splitting of its giant dipole resonance (GDR), and experimental data on the total photoneutron cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) = σ^exp(γ, nX) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2nX) = σ^exp(γ, n) + σ^exp(γ, np) + … + 2σ^exp(γ, 2n) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2np) + …. The evaluated σ^eval(γ, nX) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) reactions cross sections were obtained using the introduced transition multiplicity functions F ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn) = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/[σ^theor(γ, nX) + 2σ^theor(γ, 2nX) + …]; and σ^eval.(γ, 2nX) = F ^theor.σ^exp.(γ, xn) = σ^eval(γ, nX) = (1 − 2F ^theor)σ^exp(γ, xn). The evaluated partial reaction cross sections were used to assess the total photoneutron reaction cross sections σ^eval(γ, sn) = σ^eval(γ, nX) + σ^eval(γ, 2nX) + … as functions of the mass number A. The GDR features of ^{112, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 124}Sn isotopes were studied and are discussed here.     

Hydrodynamics and cell motion during the rounding of two dimensional hydra cell aggregates

Using a two dimensional experimental geometry, we study hydrodynamics and cell motion during the rounding-up of three kinds of hydra aggregates (ectodermal, endodermal and mixed). The relaxation of initially elongated aggregates toward a circular shape is exponential and the relaxation time is proportional to the aggregate size as expected from hydrodynamics laws. As for viscous liquids, aggregate rounding is driven by tissue surface tensions σ and resisted by tissue viscosity η. The ratio η/σ is the same for the three kinds of aggregates. With a reasonable value σ = 1 mN/m, we obtain an estimate larger than 10⁴ Pa s for the tissue viscosity. Cell motion during rounding is strongly cooperative and cell displacements exhibit some specific patterns in each aggregate. These results point out the role of adhesive bonds in the observed kinetics. Received 21 December 2001     

Fabrication of double- and multi-walled carbon nanotube transparent conductive films by filtration-transfer process and their property improvement by acid treatment

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and two kinds of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes were employed as raw materials to fabricate transparent conductive films (TCFs). DWCNTs constructed the densest conductive network at the same transmittance, and the corresponding TCFs showed the best performance (320 Ω/□ at 75.0% T). The ratio of dc conductivity to optical conductivity (σ _dc/σ _op) of the as-dispersed DWCNTs was 3.88. The as-obtained TCFs were dipped in HNO₃ solution to improve their performances. Attributed to the removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate molecules, reduction of film thickness, and doping with electron acceptors (such as oxygen), the surface resistance after HNO₃ treatment decreased. The σ _dc/σ _op ratio of the DWCNTs was further increased to 5.24.     

New data for the 197Au(γ, nX) and 197Au(γ, 2nX) reaction cross sections

The results from experimental and theoretical studies of the total and partial cross sections of photoneutron reactions on the ¹⁹⁷Au isotope were analyzed. The cross sections for reactions σ(γ, nX) = σ(γ, n) + σ(γ, np) + … + σ(γ, 2nX) = σ(γ, 2n) + σ(γ, 2np) + … were evaluated in the energy range 7 ≤ E _γ ≤ 30 MeV using an approach free of the shortcomings of experimental photoneutron multiplicity sorting methods. The total photoneutron reaction cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) = σ^exp(γ, nX) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2nX) + … = σ^exp(γ, n) + σ^exp(γ, np) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2n) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2np) + … were used as the initial experimental data. The contributions from the cross sections σ(γ, nX) and σ(γ, 2nX) to the cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) were separated using the multiplicity transition functions F ₁ ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 1nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn) and F ₂ ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn), calculated within an updated version of the pre-equilibrium model of photonuclear reactions. New evaluated data for both partial reaction cross sections, i.e., σ^eval (γ, 1nX) = F ₁ ^theorσ^exp(γ, xn) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) = F ₂ ^theorσ^exp(γ, xn), were obtained. The cross sections σeval(γ, nX) and σ^eval.(γ, 2nX) evaluated using the theoretically calculated functions F _1,2^theor are consistent with the Livermore data, but substantially contradict the Saclay data.     

Measurements of the total-cross-section difference ΔσL(np) at 1.39, 1.69, 1.89, and 1.99 GeV

New accurate data of the neutron-proton spin-dependent total-cross-section difference Δσ _L(np) at the neutron-beam kinetic energies 1.39, 1.69, 1.89, and 1.99 GeV are presented. In general, these data complete the measurements of energy dependence of Δσ _L(np) over the Dubna Synchrophasotron energy region. Measurements were carried out at the Synchrophasotron of the Veksler and Baldin Laboratory of High Energies of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The quasi-monochromatic neutron beam was produced by breakup of extracted polarized deuterons. The deuteron (and hence neutron) polarization direction was flipped every accelerator burst. The initial transverse (with respect to beam momentum) neutron polarization was changed to a longitudinal one and longitudinally polarized neutrons were transmitted through the large proton longitudinally polarized target. The target polarization direction was inverted after one to two days of measurements. Four different combinations of the beam and target parallel and antiparallel polarization directions, both oriented along the neutron-beam momentum, were used at each energy. A fast decrease in −Δσ _L(np) with increasing energy above 1.1 GeV and a structure in the energy dependence around 1.8 GeV, first observed from our previous data, seem to be well revealed. The new results are also compared with model predictions and with phase-shift analysis fits. The Δσ _L quantities for isosinglet state I = 0, deduced from the measured Δσ _L(np) values and known Δσ _L(pp) data, are also given. The results of the measurements of unpolarized total cross sections σ _0tot(np) at 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 GeV and σ _0tot(nC) at 1.4 and 1.5 GeV are presented as well. These data were obtained using the same apparatus and high-intensity unpolarized deuteron beams extracted either from the Synchrophasotron or from the Nuclotron. From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 68, No. 11, 2005, pp. 1858–1873. Original English Text Copyright ? 2005 by Sharov, Anischenko, Antonenko, Averichev, Azhgirey, Bartenev, Bazhanov, Belyaev, Blinov, Borisov, Borzakov, Borzunov, Bushuev, Chernenko, Chernykh, Chumakov, Dolgii, Fedorov, Fimushkin, Finger, Finger, Jr., Golovanov, Gurevich, Janata, Kirillov, Kolomiets, Komogorov, Kovalenko, Kovalev, Krasnov, Krstonoshich, Kuzmin, Ladygin, Lazarev, Lehar, de Lesquen, Liburg, Livanov, Lukhanin, Maniakov, Matafonov, Matyushevsky, Moroz, Morozov, Neganov, Nikolaevsky, Nomofilov, Panteleev, Pilipenko, Pisarev, Plis, Polunin, Prokofiev, Prytkov, Rukoyatkin, Schedrov, Schevelev, Shilov, Shindin, Slunečka, Slunečková, Starikov, Stoletov, Strunov, Svetov, Usov, Vasiliev, Volkov, Vorobiev, Yudin, Zaitsev, Zhdanov, Zhmyrov.     

Size effects under plastic deformation of microcrystals and nanocrystals

A theoretical analysis of size effects in plastically deformed crystals with transverse sizes in micro and nanometer ranges has been performed in the framework of the dislocation-kinetic approach. The analysis is based on the evolution equation of the dislocation density in these crystals and takes into account the generation of dislocations from surface dislocation sources and the escape of dislocations from the crystal through the crystal surface. It has been established that the generation of dislocations from the sources leads to a strong strain hardening of the crystal and that the escape of dislocations through the crystal surface results in a fast equilibration of these two kinetic processes. As a result, there occurs a strong “exhaustion” of strain hardening of thin crystals at the early stage of their plastic deformation in accordance with experiments. According to the theory, the flow stresses σ and transverse sizes D of microcrystals and nanocrystals are related by the expressions σ ∼ D ⁻ⁿ (n = 0.625–1.0), which are in agreement with the experiment.     

On Travelling Waves for the Stochastic Fisher–Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piscunov Equation

This paper is concerned with properties of the wave speed for the stochastically perturbed Fisher–Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piscunov (FKPP) equation. It was shown in the classical 1937 paper by Kolmogorov, Petrovsky and Piscunov that the large time behavior of the solution to the FKPP equation with Heaviside initial data is a travelling wave. In a seminal 1995 paper Mueller and Sowers proved that this also holds for a stochastically perturbed FKPP equation. The wave speed depends on the strength σ of the noise. In this paper bounds on the asymptotic behavior of the wave speed c(σ) as σ→0 and σ→∞ are obtained.     

Influence of the reagent vibration on the stereo-dynamics of the reactions D- + H2 and H- + D2

Employing the quasi-classical trajectory method and the potential energy surface of Panda and Sathyamurhy [Panda A N and Sathyamurthy N 2004 J. Chem. Phys. 121 9343], the effect of the reagent vibration on vector correlation of the ion-molecule reactions D^- + H₂ and H^- + D₂ is studied at a collision energy of 35.7 kcal/mol. Four generalized polarization-dependent differential cross sections (2π/σ)(dσ₀₀/dω_t),(2π/σ)(dσ₂₀/dω_t),(2π/σ)(dσ₂₂/dω_t), and (2π/σ)(dσ₂₀/dω_t) are presented in the centre-of-mass reference frame, separately. At the same time, the effects on the product angular distributions P(θ_r), P(φ_r) and P(θ_r,φ_r) of the title reactions are also analysed. The calculated results show that the scattering tendencies of the product HD, the alignment and the orientation of j' sensitively depend on reagent molecule vibration.     

Crystal growth,electrical and photophysical properties of Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>S layered single crystals

The Tl₂S compound was prepared in a single crystal form using a special local technique, and the obtained crystals were analysed by X-ray diffraction. For the resultant crystals, the electrical properties (electrical conductivity and Hall effect) and steady-state photoconductivity were elucidated in this work. The electrical measurements extend from 170 to 430 K, where it was found that σ _⊥ = 8.82 × 10⁻⁵ Sm⁻¹ when current flow direction makes right angle to the cleavage plane of the crystals. In the same range of temperatures, it was found that σ _‖ = 4.73 × 10⁻⁵ Sm⁻¹ when the current flow is parallel to the cleavage plane. In line with the investigated range of temperatures, the widths of the band gaps were calculated and discussed as also the results of the electrical conductivity and Hall effect measurements. In addition, the anisotropy of the electrical conductivity (σ _⊥/σ _‖) for the obtained crystals was also studied in this work. Finally the photosensitivity was calculated for different levels of illumination as a result of the photoconductivity measurements, which showed that the recombination process in Tl₂S single crystals is a monomolecular process.      

Electromagnetic polarizabilities of the nucleon and properties of the σ-meson pole contribution

The t-channel contribution to the difference of electromagnetic polarizabilities of the nucleon, (α - β)^t, can be quantitatively understood in terms of a σ-meson pole in the complex t-plane of the invariant scattering amplitude A ₁(s, t) with properties of the σ-meson as given by the quark-level Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model (NJL). Equivalently, this quantity may be understood in terms of a cut in the complex t-plane where the properties of the σ-meson are taken from the ππ → σ → ππ, γγ → σ → ππ and Nˉ → σ → ππ reactions. This equivalence may be understood as a sum rule where the properties of the σ-meson as predicted by the NJL model are related to the f ₀(600) particle observed in the three reactions. In the following, we describe details of the derivation of (α - β)^t making use of predictions of the quark-level NJL model for the σ-meson mass. An erratum to this article is available at .