Investigation of the diffusion of phosphorus through a film of SiO2 by the radioactive tracer method

A solution of the diffusion equation in a double-layer system from a prompt source of diffusion is obtained, and a method is described for determining the fundamental parameters of the diffusion in a double-layer system by removing layers and measuring the overall activity of a fragment of the specimen. The diffusion of P³² at temperatures from 1100–1260°C is investigated in films of SiO₂ deposited on Si in a high-frequency electrodeless plasmotron. The diffusion coefficients in the film and the values of the segregation coefficient at the boundary of separation of the SiO₂-Si system are determined.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 29–35, May, 1976.     

Study of the x-ray photoelectron spectrum of tungsten—tungsten oxide as a function of thickness of the surface oxide layer

The photoelectron spectrum of tungsten metal using Al K_α X-rays has been studied as a function of a tungsten oxide layer on the surface. The photoelectron lines arising from the 4f shell of tungsten metal are clearly separated in energy from those coming from WO₃. The ratio of the intensities of these two sets of lines were measured for a series of metal samples which were anodized to a determined level of tungsten oxide. The data were shown to be consistent with a uniform deposition of oxide film. The escape depth, or thickness from which half the photoelectron intensity is derived, was found for a 1450 eV photoelectron to be 8.9 Å and 18.3 Å for W and WO₃, respectively.     

Influence of temperature variations on the entropy and correlation of the Grey-Level Co-occurrence Matrix from B-Mode images

In this work, the feasibility of texture parameters extracted from B-Mode images were explored in quantifying medium temperature variation. The goal is to understand how parameters obtained from the gray-level content can be used to improve the actual state-of-the-art methods for non-invasive temperature estimation (NITE). B-Mode images were collected from a tissue mimic phantom heated in a water bath. The phantom is a mixture of water, glycerin, agar-agar and graphite powder. This mixture aims to have similar acoustical properties to in vivo muscle. Images from the phantom were collected using an ultrasound system that has a mechanical sector transducer working at 3.5 MHz. Three temperature curves were collected, and variations between 27 and 44 °C during 60 min were allowed. Two parameters (correlation and entropy) were determined from Grey-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) extracted from image, and then assessed for non-invasive temperature estimation. Entropy values were capable of identifying variations of 2.0 °C. Besides, it was possible to quantify variations from normal human body temperature (37 °C) to critical values, as 41 °C. In contrast, despite correlation parameter values (obtained from GLCM) presented a correlation coefficient of 0.84 with temperature variation, the high dispersion of values limited the temperature assessment.     

A Mathematical Assessment of the Precision of Parameters in Measuring Resonance Spectra

The accurate interpretation ofin vivomagnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) spectra requires a complete understanding of the associated noise-induced errors. In this paper, we address the effect of complex correlated noise patterns on the measurement of a set ofpeakparameters. This is examined initially at the level of a single spectral analysis followed by addressing the noise-induced errors associated with determining thesignalparameters from thepeakparameters. We describe a relatively simple method for calculating these errors for any correlated noise pattern in terms of the noise standard deviation and correlation length. The results are presented in such a way that an estimate of the errors may be made from a single MRS spectrum. We also explore how, under certain circumstances, the lineshape of the signal may be determined. We then apply these results to reexamine a set ofin vivo³¹P MRS spectra obtained from rat brain prior to and following moderate fluid percussion injury. The approach outlined in this paper will demonstrate how meaningful results may be obtained from spectra where the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is quite small and where knowledge of the precise shape of the signal and the detail of the noise pattern is unknown. In essence, we show how to determine the expected errors in the spectral parameters from an estimate of the SNR from a single spectrum, thereby allowing a more discriminative interpretation of the data.     

Intensity of oscillation of spark-generated bubbles

In this paper, a new measure of bubble oscillation intensity is introduced, defined as a non-dimensional peak pressure in the first bubble pulse. An iterative method for determining the bubble size and bubble oscillation intensity from a record of the acoustic pressure wave emitted by an oscillating bubble is proposed. Using this procedure the sizes and intensities are determined for a set of pressure records obtained in recent experiments with spark-generated bubbles. It can be seen that in these experiments the bubble sizes, as defined by the first maximum bubble radius, R_M1, ranged from 12.8 to 56.4 mm, and the bubble oscillation intensities, as defined by the non-dimensional peak pressure in the first bubble pulse, p_zp1, ranged from 14.3 to 174. Data obtained in the experiments are compared with data computed in a theoretical model and it is shown that there are differences between the theory and experiment. These differences are attributed to energy losses from the real bubbles not taken into account in the theoretical model.     

Measurement of Photoionization Cross Sections of the Excited States of Titanium

实验研究了钛原子在293～321 nm波段的共振增强多光子电离. 采用激光烧蚀和超声射流相结合的实验技术来制备自由原子,由飞行时间质谱仪实现对钛原子光电离产物的检测. 从离子信号强度对和激光强度的依赖关系导出了钛原子价电子激发态的光电离截面. 实验测量的一些激发态光电离截面在0.2～6.0 Mb. 通过对⁴⁶Ti、⁴⁷Ti、⁴⁸Ti的光电离截面测量研究,没有发现明显的同位素依赖性.     

Evaluation of distribution and bioavailability of Cr,Mn, Fe,Cu, Zn and Pb in the waters of the upper course of the Lerma River

Distribution and bioavailability of Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb in the waters of the upper course of the Lerma River (UCLR), Mexico, were evaluated by means total reflection x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry. The surface water samples were collected from eight sites distributed along the flow direction of the river. Four sampling campaigns were carried out in each site during a one‐year period. The water samples were analyzed in triplicate, using a TXRF Spectrometer ‘TX‐2000 Ital Structures’ with a Si(Li) detector and a resolution of 140 eV (FWHM) at Mn Kα. A Mo tube (40 kV, 30 mA) with 17.4 KeV excitation energy was used for a counting time of 500 s. Results show that the concentration ranges of heavy metals in the water are the following: Cr, from < 5 to 56 µg/l; Mn, from 9 to 788 µg/l; Fe, from 98 to 8474 µg/l; Cu, from 10 to 225 µg/l; Zn, from 23 to 189 µg/l and Pb, from < 3 to 30 µg/l. There are significant statistical differences in the concentration of heavy metals between the different sampling sites and between the different sampling campaigns. The Pearson correlation results indicate a strong correlation between some heavy metals in the water, this significant correlation (p < 0.05) indicating a natural or/and a shared contamination source for these metals. Metal concentration in the water mostly did not exceed the guide values given by Mexican regulation for agricultural use. Only Cu, Mn and Fe in total water phase exceeded the maximum permissible limits for irrigation proposes at some sites. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopic investigation of rearrangement kinetics and phase evolution of UHMWPE during annealing

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene was investigated using in situ confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopy during annealing at 110.0 °C. Based on the Raman spectra, crystalline, amorphous, and all‐trans noncrystalline fractions were recognized to evaluate rearrangement kinetics during isothermal annealing at 110.0 °C and phase evolution during cooling from 110.0 to 30.0 °C. For the crystalline fraction, a substantial increase from 0.600 ± 0.001 to 0.639 ± 0.008 was observed during the first 24.2 min of annealing; a very gradual increase from 0.639 ± 0.001 to 0.679 ± 0.001 occurred during the following 114.6 min. For the amorphous phase fraction, conversely, a sharp decrease from 0.240 ± 0.000 to 0.213 ± 0.004 was exhibited during the first 24.2 min of annealing, and then, a flat decrease happened from 0.213 ± 0.004 to 0.192 ± 0.001 as time expanded to 138.8 min. For the all‐tans noncrystalline fraction, a gradual decrease was shown from 0.160 ± 0.000 at 0.0 min to 0.128 ± 0.001 at 138.8 min. The rearrangement rate constant K was obtained to be 0.632 by an Avrami equation. During cooling from 110.0 to 30.0 °C, there were two phase evolution regions: region 1 from 110.0 to 90.0 °C and region 2 from 90.0 to 30.0 °C. The crystal lamella thickened faster in region 1 than in region 2. The amorphous layer continually decreased in content in the combined region of 1 and 2. The all‐trans noncrystalline phase obviously decreased in region 1 and then almost maintained a constant level in region 2. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Merging of least-squares parameters: The approach of stepwise merging

It is established that two or more sets of separately merged parameters can be consolidated as a single set of parameters using a least-squares grand merge approach. The output constants of such a grand merge are identical with those derived from the equivalent single-step merge. However, the weight matrix to be used in this approach is derived not from the variance-covariance matrices of the input constants, but from the corresponding dispersion matrices. In accord with these results, it is demonstrated that, in the absence of systematic errors, confidence limits for a set of merged molecular constants are derived preferably from the dispersion matrix elements alone, V?_ii, rather than the traditional estimated variances, $\text{Θ}\text{^}{}_{\mathrm{ii}}\text{=}\text{σ}\text{^}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>M</mtext>}}{}^2\text{V}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{ii}}$, as proposed in earlier work. Stepwise merging is found to offer distinct advantages as a preferred route over a single-step merge even for straightforward cases such as a single band system. In particular, it is simpler and less expensive in computer usage to identify and reject if necessary any data which are likely to contain relative systematic error. Hence-forth, it will be straightforward, in many cases, to maintain and progressively update the known constants for a given molecule by merging the results from any new study with those from all previously reported work.     

Radio-acoustic sounding of the ionosphere

We present the results of first experiments on radio-acoustic sounding of ionosphere at the altitudes from 70 to 85 km. The sounding was performed in autumn 2006, using a horn acoustic emitter and a radar on the basis of the “Sura” facility. The emitter had an acoustic power of about 1 kW and operated in the chirp-modulation regime with frequency variation from 15.9 to 18.4 Hz. The radar transmitter operated in the pulse regime at a frequency of 9 MHz and had an average power of 30 kW. The power of the radio signal scattered from a sound wave in the ionosphere did not exceed 10⁻¹⁶ W, and the measured values of the temperature in the scattering region ranged from 190 to 225 K. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 128–133, February 2009.     

Polarization of light backscattered by small particles

We study scattering of light by wavelength-scale spherical, cubic, and spheroidal particles as well as clusters of spherical particles for equal-volume-sphere size parameters 4≤x≤10 and refractive indices 1.1≤m≤2.0. Such particles exhibit three specific features in the regime of backscattering: first, the intensity shows a backscattering peak; second, the degree of linear polarization for unpolarized incident light is negative; and, third, the depolarization ratio is double-lobed. We find that the overall characteristics of the scattering-matrix elements can be explained by an internal field composed of waves propagating in opposite directions near the particle perimeter and forming standing waves, as well as a wave propagating forward with the wavelength of the internal medium. When moving from the central axis of the particle toward its perimeter, the internal field changes from a forward-propagating wave with a wavelength dictated by the particle refractive index toward a standing wave with an apparent wavelength of the surrounding medium. The mapping of the internal field to the scattered far field is like an interference dial where rotation of the dial by a quarter of a wavelength on the particle perimeter results in a change from a destructive to constructive interference feature in the angular patterns (or vice versa). The dial is a manifestation of a well-known rule of thumb: the number of maxima or minima in the scattering-matrix elements is given by the size parameter. We explain the backscattering peak as deriving from the backward-propagating internal wave near the particle perimeter. Negative polarization follows from the spatial asymmetry of the internal fields: inside the particle, the fields are amplified near the central plane perpendicular to the polarization state of incident light, resulting in more pronounced interference effects for the perpendicular polarization than for the parallel polarization. The double-lobe feature in the depolarization results from the same internal-field structure with leading cross-polarized fields located slightly different from the copolarized fields. We discuss practical implications of these findings for the retrieval of particle sizes, shapes, and refractive indices from observations and laboratory experiments.     

Influence of High Orientational Order on the Shape of the Echo Response from a Hahn Pulse Sequence

The amplitude modulations in the simulations of the Hahn echo responses from cholestane spin labels in samples characterized by a high degree of orientational order are shown to arise from the use of “soft” pulses. Soft pulses have a limited spectral range and cover only a small portion of the CW-ESR spectra, so that not all the spins are on-resonance. The magnetization vectors of the off-resonance spins only partially tilted away from the laboratoryzaxis, the direction of the applied static magnetic field. They thus contribute oscillating components to the magnetization in thexyplane. The contribution from the off-resonance spins to the Hahn echo formation is significant in highly oriented samples, but cancels out in samples exhibiting a small degree of order. Experimental echo responses obtained from CSL molecules embedded in rigid matrices of eggPC bilayers and the liquid crystalline materials ZLI and MBBA confirm the theoretical predictions.     

A correlated-k model of radiative transfer in the near-infrared windows of Venus

We present a correlated-k-based model for generating synthetic spectra in the near-infrared window regions, from 1.0 to 2.5 μm, emitted from the deep atmosphere of Venus on the nightside. This approach is applicable for use with any near-infrared instrument, ground-based and space-borne, for analysis of the thermal emissions in this spectral range. We also approach this work with the view of using the model, in conjunction with a retrieval algorithm, to retrieve minor species from the Venus Express/VIRTIS instrument. An existing radiative-transfer model was adapted for Venusian conditions to deal with the prevailing high pressures and temperatures and other conditions. A comprehensive four-modal cloud structure model based on Pollack et al. [Near-infrared light from venus’ nightside: a spectroscopic analysis. Icarus 1993;103:1-42], using refractive indices for a 75% H₂SO₄25% H₂O mixture from Palmer and Williams [Optical constants of sulfuric acid; application to the clouds of Venus? Appl Opt 1975;14(1):208-19], was also implemented. We then utilized a Mie scattering algorithm to account for the multiple scattering effect between cloud and haze layers that occur in the Venusian atmosphere. The correlated-k model is shown to produce good agreement with ground-based spectra of Venus in the near infrared, and to match the output from a line-by-line radiative-transfer model to better than 10%.     

Capabilities of using white x-rays for the reconstruction of surface morphology from coherent reflectivity

We present a new method to reconstruct the surface profile of a sample from coherent reflectivity data of a white x-ray beam experiment. As an example the surface profile of a laterally confined silicon wafer has been reconstructed quantitatively from static speckle measurements using white coherent x-rays from a bending magnet in the energy range between 5 < E < 20 keV. As a consequence of using white radiation, speckles appear in addition to the Airy pattern caused by scattering at the entrance pinhole. Nevertheless, the surface profile of a triangularly shaped specimen was reconstructed considering sufficient oversampling between the beam-footprint and the effective sample width. For the profile reconstruction the Error-Reduction phase retrieval algorithm was modified by including the spectral illumination function and a Fresnel propagator term. The simultaneous use of different x-ray energies having different penetration depth provides information on the evolution of the surface profile from the near-surface towards the bulk. The limitations of present experiment can be overcome using white or pink radiation from a source with higher photon flux.     

Kinetic characteristics of the photoreduction of benzophenone in solid polymers in the presence of 4-halophenols

Benzophenone photoreduction in the presence of 4-halophenols (RC₆H₄OH; R = Cl, Br, and I) in a polymer glass is studied in terms of steady-state and nanosecond laser photolysis. The experimental data on the kinetics of the decay of the ketone triplet state are treated using a polychronous kinetic model in the assumption that two concurrent processes (hydrogen atom abstraction from the polymer and from the phenol) occur. The proton transfer rate constants averaged over the distribution and the parameter n that characterizes the distribution width were determined. The value of k _av for the halophenols is shown to be more than an order of magnitude higher. No heavy atom effect is observed. The reaction product composition is demonstrated to change upon addition of a halophenol. The photoreduction in glass polymers is controlled by hydrogen atom abstraction from the respective donor by triplet ketone molecules. The reaction occurs predominantly in a polymer cage, a kind of polymer nanoreactor.     

Formation of long range ordered arrangement of quantum dots with the help of lateral centripetal flow

A simple “chimney” method was used to eliminate the voids in an arrangement of quantum dots sized 2 nm on a solid substrate, which resulted in a large well ordered superlattice of area in the order more than 1 μm². Based on the principle of speeding up the interparticle interaction of nanoparticles to overcome the particle-substrate one, a lateral centripetal force originated from a glass tube acting as a chimney in a simple evaporation device is imposed. This method allows the packing process to be controlled in a mechanical force field, that is, with the same nanogold dispersion different patterns on a substrate—from separate dots to an ordered compact monolayer or even a multilayer structure—could be easily obtained.     

Fluctuation-induced escape from the basin of attraction of a quasiattractor

Noise-induced escape from the basin of attraction of a strange attractor (SA) in a periodically excited nonlinear oscillator is investigated. It is shown by numerical simulation methods that escape occurs in two steps: transfer of the system from the SA to a close-lying saddle cycle along several optimal trajectories, and a subsequent fluctuation-induced transfer from the basin of attraction of the SA along a single optimal trajectory. The possibility of using the results of this work to solve problems of the optimal control of switchings from an attractor and for constructing theoretical estimates of the escape probability is discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 11, 782–787 (10 June 1999)     

Interpretation of anomalous normal state optical conductivity of La-Sr-CuO cuprates

The observed frequency dependent optical response of hole doped cuprate La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄ superconductors, has been theoretically analysed. Starting from an effective two-dimensional (2D) interaction potential for superlattice of hole doped cuprates treated as a layered electron gas, the spectral function is formulated. Calculations of the optical conductivity σ(ω) have been made within the two-component scheme: one is the coherent Drude carriers responsible for superconductivity and the other is incoherent motion of carriers from one site to other leads to a pairing between Drude carriers. The approach accounts for the anomalies reported (frequency dependence of optical conductivity) in the optical measurements for the normal state. Estimating the effective mass from specific heat measurement and ε_∞ from band structure calculations for the low-energy charge density waves, the model has only one free parameter, the relaxation rate. The frequency dependent relaxation rates are expressed in terms of memory functions, and the coherent Drude carriers from the effective interaction potential lead to a sharp peak at zero frequency and a long tail at higher frequencies, i.e. in the infrared (IR) region. However, the hopping of carriers from one site to other (incoherent motion of doped carriers) yields a peak value in the optical conductivity centred at mid-IR (MIR) region. We find that both the Drude and hopping carriers in the superlattice of cuprates will contribute to the optical process of conduction in the CuO₂ planes and shows similar results on optical conductivity in the MIR as well as IR frequency regions as those revealed from experiments.     

Development of the Sachs Theory of Electrodynamics

The most general form of electrodynamics has been derived by Sachs [1] from the irreducible representations of the Einstein group. In this paper the Sachs theory is developed as a gauge theory with a vacuum four-current i _j . The B Cyclic Theorem O(3) electrodynamics is derived from a consideration of four-vectors appearing in the Sachs theory, and electromagnetic helicity, expressed in terms of the B ⁽³⁾ field of O(3) electrodynamics, is derived from the more general Sachs theory.     

Kinetics of radiation cooling of fullerenes

Emission from fullerene molecules excited by means of electron impact in crossed beams under conditions of single collisions between electrons and C₆₀ molecules in a kinetic energy range E _e from 25 to 100 eV was studied experimentally. Emission spectra in a wavelength range from 300 to 800 nm; the emission excitation functions and the temperature of emitting molecules as a function of E _e were measured with a resolution of 1.6–3.2 nm. The contribution to emission from ionized C ₆₀ ^+* molecules has been determined and data on the emissivity of the C ₆₀ ^+* ion have been obtained. It has been shown that the emission spectra can be well approximated with the spectral distribution of thermal emission from a black body (Planck’s formula), taking into account the lowering of emissivity for a small particle. The emission can be observed starting with electron energy of about 27 eV; the emission excitation function is of a nonresonant form, peaking at an energy of E _e ≈70 eV. As E _e is increased, the temperature of emitting particles rises and reaches its maximum value of 3100–3200 K at E _e ≈47 eV.