Design of a suspension of a training sulky

A design study based on a modelling approach was used to optimise the characteristics of a new concept of suspension for training sulkies. The numerical model of sulky including the suspension and, in a second stage, a mechanical model of driver, allowed the definition of technical specifications. They were used to manufacture a prototype of suspension mounted on a current production model of sulky. The prototype of suspension was then tested in the lab and in a racecourse in real conditions of use.The resulting vibration exposure was assessed from vibration measurements. It was slightly lower than the limit value enacted in the European Vibration directive (1.15 m s²), but drastically reduced in comparison with the exposure measured on the original sulky (2.56 m s²). The prototype and moreover the design procedure is currently in a transfer process towards sulky manufacturers.     

Terahertz spectroscopy with a Josephson oscillator and a SINIS bolometer

The voltage response of a thin-film normal-metal hot-electron bolometer based on a SINIS (superconductor-insulator-normal metal-insulator-superconductor) structure to the radiation of a high-temperature Josephson junction in the terahertz frequency region was measured. Bolometers were integrated with planar log-periodic and double-dipole antennas, and Josephson junctions were integrated with log-periodic antennas. Measurements showed that the Josephson junction at a temperature of 260 mK was overheated by the transport current, so that its electron temperature exceeded 3 K at a bias voltage of 1 mV. The maximum response of a bolometer with a double-dipole antenna was observed at a frequency of 300 GHz, which agreed well with the calculated value. The Josephson radiation was observed at frequencies up to 1.7 THz. The voltage response of a bolometer reached 4×10⁸ V/W, and the total noise-equivalent power reached 1.5×10^?17 W/Hz^1/2.     

Characteristics of a reflex discharge in hydrogen in a magnetic field

The properties of an extensive reflex discharge of large power with one heated and one cold cathode in a magnetic field of 10 to 1500 Gauss were measured. At a neutral hydrogen pressure of 10^–4 to 10^–3 torr a plasma column was obtained which was 100 cm long, 10 cm in diameter and had a density greater than 10^–11 cm^–3. The dependence of the radial profile of the potential in the plasma was measured by a heated probe, and the temperature and electron density by Langmuir probes calibrated by a microwave interferometer.The dependence of the origin of low-frequency rotational instability on the parameters of the discharge was studied and the measured critical magnetic field was compared with theory. Apart from this low-frequency instability, intensive oscillations were also found in the discharge current in a frequency band up to 30 MHz, and the dependence of their spectrum on the magnetic field was measured.     

Stabilization of a multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser using a nonlinear silicon waveguide

We propose and demonstrate a multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser stabilized by four-wave mixing (FWM) in a nonlinear silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguide. The optical gain was provided by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier, and the wavelength selectivity was achieved by a Fabry–Pérot comb filter in the ring cavity. The FWM in the SOI waveguide was enhanced by applying a reverse-biased p-i-n diode structure to reduce free-carrier absorption. Making use of the nonlinearity of the SOI waveguide, a multiwavelength laser with six output wavelengths at 0.8 nm spacing was achieved. The power difference among modes was equalized within a range of 1.8 dB. The power fluctuation of each mode was stabilized to <0.65 dB during 20 min observation at room temperature.     

Ground state energy of a polaron in a superlattice

The ground state energy of a polaron in a superlattice was calculated using the double-time Green functions. The effective mass of the polaron along the planes perpendicular to the superlattice axis was also calculated. The dependence of the ground state energy and the effective mass along the planes perpendicular to the superlattice axis on the electron–phonon coupling constant α and on the superlattice parameters (i.e. the superlattice periodd and the bandwidth Δ) were studied. It was observed that if an infinite square-well potential is assumed, the ground state energy of the polaron decreases (i.e. becomes more negative) with increasing α and d, but increases with increasing Δ. For small values of α, the polaron ground state energy varies slowly with Δ, becoming approximately constant for large Δ. The effective mass along the planes perpendicular to the superlattice axis was found to be approximately equal to the mass of an electron for all typical values ofα , d and Δ.     

Conductance of a junction between a normal metal and a Berezinskii superconductor

The conductance of a junction between a normal metal and a superconductor having the symmetry proposed by Berezinskii is studied theoretically. The main feature of this symmetry is the odd frequency dependence of the anomalous Green’s function, which makes possible the s-wave triplet superconducting state (the Berezinskii superconductor). The Andreev reflection (which links positive and negative energies) is sensitive to the energetic symmetry; as a result, the conductance of the junction involving the Berezinskii superconductor is qualitatively different from the case of a conventional superconductor. Experimentally, the obtained results can be employed to test the possibility of the Berezinskii superconductivity proposed for Na _x CoO₂ and to identify the odd-ω component predicted for superconductor-ferromagnet systems. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Segments of a commercial Ge-doped optical fiber as a thermoluminescent dosimeter in radiotherapy

Optical fibers have been proposed as dosimeters in both diagnostic and radiotherapy applications. A commercial germanium (Ge)-doped silica fiber with a 50 μm core diameter which showed good thermoluminescence (TL) properties was selected for this study. The radiation sources used were a high dose rate brachytherapy iridium-192, MV photon and MeV electron beams from a linear accelerator. The coating of the fiber was chemically removed and then annealed at 400 °C for 1 h prior to irradiation. After irradiation, the fiber was read on a Harshaw Model 3500 TLD reader. The optical fiber had one well-defined glow peak at 327 ± 2 °C at all the radiotherapy energies. The dose response was linear within the clinical relevant dose for all these energies. Reproducibility was mainly within 4–6% (one standard deviation) for high energy photons and electrons. The fiber was found to be energy independent within the MV photon energy range. At room temperature the fading up until 1 month was around 6% which was within the 6% uncertainty of the sensitivity calibration of the fiber. Re-using the fiber four times did not significantly alter the sensitivity factor. The optical fiber was found to be dose rate as well as angular independent. Central axis depth dose curves of both 10 MV photons and 12 MeV electrons using the fiber showed relatively good agreement to standard depth dose curves in water within 4%. The Ge-doped fiber is a promising TL dosimeter but improvements have to be made to reduce the reproducibility within 3% for high energy photons and electrons.     

Optical characteristics of a transverse volume discharge in a helium-hydrogen chloride mixture

The emission characteristics of a transverse volume discharge in a He: HCl = 10: 1 mixture at a total pressure of 1–8 kPa were investigated. The plasma volume was 18 × 2.2 × 1 cm³, the interelectrode distance was d=2.2 cm, and the charging voltage of the main storage capacitor was 5–10 kV. The emission characteristics of the discharge were studied in the spectral range of 500–1000 nm. This type of discharge can be used in pulsed dry-etching plasmochemical reactors. The density of atomic chlorine radicals in the plasma was optimized in terms of the pressure of the initial working He-HCl mixture by measuring the relative radiation intensity of the Cl 837(5)-nm spectral line. The density of molecular radicals can be monitored indirectly by recording radiation from the excited chlorine-free decomposition products of HCl molecules (the H_α 656-nm line).     

Single pulse extraction from a mode-locked pulse train using a dye-laser amplifier

A new method to generate high power, short light pulses with a moderate iteration frequency is described. The pulse train of the actively mode-locked Kr laser was sent into a dye-laser amplifier pumped by a N₂ laser. The trigger of the N₂ laser was generated by dividing the modulation frequency of the mode-locking into moderately low frequency (≈ 50 Hz). Only one pulse in the input train was largely amplified by one N₂ laser pulse and the intense short pulses were generated with ≈ 50 Hz iteration.     

Acoustics and hydrodynamics of a drop impact on a water surface

Hydrodynamic and acoustic processes associated with a drop impact on a water surface were studied experimentally. Acoustic signals were detected underwater (with a hydrophone) and in air (with a microphone), the flow pattern was recorded with a high-speed camera, and the surface perturbation was monitored with a laser detector. The dimensionless parameters of flows (Reynolds, Froude, and Weber numbers) induced by the impact varied with fall height within the ranges of 5000 < Re < 20000, 20 < Fr < 350, and 70 < We < 1000. The sequence of acoustic signals incorporated an impact pulse at the moment of contact between a drop and the surface and a series of acoustic packets attributable to the resonance emission of gas cavities. The top of the impact pulse, which was detected clearly in the entire fall height range, had a complex structure with short high-frequency and longer low-frequency oscillations. The total number and the parameters of emitted acoustic packets depended to a considerable extent on the fall height. The cases of lacking, one-time, and repeated emission of packets were noted in a series of experiments performed at a constant fall height. The analysis of video data showed that the signal variability was induced by considerable differences in the scenarios of water entry of a drop, which assumed an ovoid shape at the end trajectory segment, in the mentioned experiments.     

Application of a ferroelectric plasma cathode as a high-current switch

In this paper the parameters of two types of high-current switches based on ferroelectric BaTiO₃ ignition are presented. Both types of switches showed a reliable and controllable operation with a repetition rate of several Hz. The first type is a vacuum two-electrode switch ignited by the plasma which is generated by a BaTiO₃ cathode. This type of switch was tested in the voltage range of 3-25 kV and switched current amplitude of 2-15 kA with either negative or positive polarity of the high-voltage electrode. The second type is a BaTiO₃ surface flashover strip-like switch ignited by a driving pulse which has an amplitude of several kV. It was shown that the application of the driving pulse (>10 kV) leads to the appearance of many non-complete surface discharges which transform further to a multi-channel discharge. This type of switch was tested in the voltage range of 1-25 kV and current amplitude of 0.5-15 kA. The design of the switches, their lifetime, the time jitter and the parameters of the switched current for different discharge conditions are presented. Received 5 November 2001     

The accommodation of the translational and rotational energy of a gas in a Knudsen flow past a thin wire

The paper presents the results obtained in determining the accommodation coefficients for the translational and rotational energy of gas molecules in a Knudsen flow past a thin wire. The method used was based on numerically solving the complete heat balance equation for a wire probe. The accommodation coefficients were determined for H₂, N₂, CH₄, and CO₂ on a gilded tungsten surface. For hydrogen with a quenched rotational energy, a negative accommodation coefficient of rotational energy was obtained due to the conversion of the rotational energy of incident molecules into the translational energy of reflected molecules.     

Heat transfer at a laminar free convection and separated flow past a rib in a vertical channel with isothermal walls

The results of numerical computations of a free laminar convection and heat transfer between two parallel isothermal plates in the presence of a single rib on the channel surface are presented. The investigations have been conducted for a channel with the aspect ratio AR = L/w = 10, where L is the channel height, and w is the distance between the plates. An infinitely thin adiabatic rib was located on one of the channel walls in the middle of its height. The relative rib height l/w was varied in the range 0÷0.8. The wall temperature was higher than the ambient temperature, and the Rayleigh number was varied in the range Ra = 10²÷10⁵. The main attention has been paid to the study of the influence of the rib height and the Rayleigh number on local and integral heat transfer and the Reynolds number in the channel (the convective thrust). A fundamental difference in the heat transfer over the channel height has been shown on the ribbed wall and on a smooth surface. The computational results have been compared with the case of a symmetric distribution of the ribs on the both walls with the integral height equal to a single rib.     

Synthesis and characterization of a POM-based nanocomposite as a novel magnetic photocatalyst

A novel magnetic photocatalyst, prepared by grafting polyoxometalates (POM) anions PW₁₂O₄₀³⁻ onto Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles via a layer of Ag, was synthesized and characterized. The coated Ag layer was used as an intermediate bond for anchoring POM anions onto the magnetite cores. Resulting materials have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, magnetization, and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The activity of the photocatalyst was tested by the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B. It was found that, compared to pure POM, the decolorization fraction of Rhodamine B in 2 h operation was 2.8-3.4 times higher by using the POM-based nanocomposite. ICP analysis of the concentration of Fe, W and P in treated water showed that photodissolution was minimal. In addition, as the synthesized composite possesses a magnetite core, it is possible to retrieve the photocatalyst by exerting an external magnetic field, which is easier than the recovery of conventional TiO₂ fine particles and homogeneous POM photocatalysts. The exhibited photocatalytic activity and magnetization of the novel photocatalyst provide a promising solution for the degradation of water contaminants and photocatalyst recovery.     

Effect of phase modulation of a laser pulse on the generation of a coherent totally symmetric phonon in a tellurium single crystal

The effect of phase modulation (resulting in a chirp of an ultrashort laser pulse) on the generation of a coherent A ₁ phonon in Te was studied. The amplitude of coherent oscillations was found to depend on the sign and value of the pulse chirp: the oscillation amplitude decreases as the chirp increases. For a positive chirp, this effect is twofold stronger than for a negative one. The frequency-resolved response of a bandwidth-limited pulse was studied, which revealed the difference of oscillations and the relaxation response for the Stokes and anti-Stokes frequencies. The detected phenomena can be used for coherent control of lattice dynamics.     

Resonance behaviour of a perturbed gamma gamma directional correlation in a magnetic field

Using a gaseous H₂ ⁷⁵Se source at low pressure the perturbed directional correlation of the 121–279 keVγγ cascade of⁷⁵As was measured as a function of an external magnetic field. The anisotropy shows a pronounced resonance behaviour around zero field. This effect may be understood as being due to the hyperfine interaction of the nucleus with the electronic shell of the highly charged ion formed after electron capture. The charge distribution of the As ions was estimated and the spin distribution derived from it. Then a comparison with the theory of Leisi was possible giving a qualitative agreement between theory and experiment.     

Optimum coupling of a Gaussian beam to a corner reflector with a four-wavelength antenna

The coupling of a Gaussian radiation beam to a corner reflector with a four-wavelength long wire antenna was studied theoretically and experimentally. The antenna configuration in conjunction with a Schottky barrier diode is recently used widely as a fast submillimeter wave detector. The optimum angle focusing the radiation to the antenna has been obtained and is 11° (half-width at the 8.7dB points).     

Linear dynamics of a magnetic subsystem in a quasi-Ising magnet

Microwave absorption at frequencies from 37 to 85 GHz was studied for a Dy_0.3Y_2.7Fe₅O₁₂ single crystal in pulsed magnetic fields of up to 30 T at T=4.2 K. The magnetic field was aligned with the [100] direction. For the fields above 4 T, several soft magnetic-resonance modes were observed, most of them being caused by the static phase transitions induced by a strong external magnetic field. The field-independent absorption lines away from the points of phase transition may be due to the dynamic Jahn-Teller magnetic effect.     

Shock-wave velocity of a femtosecond-laser-produced plasma

Fluorescence measurements have been used to characterize the velocity of atoms in a femtosecond-laser-produced plasma. Nanogram amounts of a copper sample were ablated by the focused radiation (λ=775 nm) of an all-solid-state laser. The laser was operated at a pulse rate of 10 Hz with an energy of 200μJ per pulse. The microplasma expanded into a defined argon atmosphere of pressures between 0.02 and 850 mbar. Atomic fluorescence was excited in the laser plume by a dye-laser pulse with the wavelength set to the line Cu I 282.4 nm. The narrowed beam of the dye-laser was directed into the plasma at different heights above the sample surface. The fluorescence radiation was measured with an échelle-spectrometer, equipped with an intensified-charge-coupled device as the detector. The velocity depends strongly on the pressure of the ambient atmosphere and the distance from the sample surface. The highest velocity found at an argon pressure of 0.02 mbar was 1.0×10⁶ cm s⁻¹.     

High power modelocking of a stigmatic bounce geometry laser using a nonlinear mirror

We report the highest average power modelocking of a novel bounce geometry laser using the nonlinear mirror (NLM) technique. A diode-side pumped Nd:YVO₄ slab lasing at 1064 nm in a spatially stigmatic bounce-oscillator configuration was modelocked using a type-I phase-matched BiBO nonlinear crystal (NLC) in a NLM arrangement, producing 12 W of self-starting, continuous-wave (CW) modelocking. The system produced a pulse duration of 14 ps at a repetition rate of 110 MHz with high long-term stability and excellent beam quality, with an M ²<1.2 and highly circular beam profile. An investigation was made of the sensitivity of modelocking as a function of air dispersion, by varying the distance between the NLC and output coupler. No optical damage was observed throughout the investigation, even when the system was operated in Q-switched modelocking regime. The system exploits the advantages of NLM modelocking for sustaining high average and peak powers without the onset of optical damage.