Resonances in 1-3 piezocomposite rings

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)/epoxy 1-3 piezocomposite rings with PZT volume fraction φ ranging from 0.58 to 0.93 have been fabricated. They have sufficiently small epoxy width (∼77–81 μm) and can be treated as effective homogeneous media. Stopband resonances (f_S1, f_S2) can be observed in the spectra and their locations are close to the theoretical predictions. Mode coupling theory and a finite element model (FEM) are applied to estimate the thickness (f_T), lateral (f_L), radial (f_R), and wall-thickness (f_W) resonances of the composite rings. As the frequencies and electromechanical coupling coefficients play a significant role in the performance of a composite transducer, it is important to know how these parameters change with φ. Good agreements are found between the experimental results and the FEM simulations. It is observed that the f_R and f_W vibrations greatly deteriorate at low values of φ. To avoid unwanted modes from coupling to f_T, the thickness and aspect ratio of the PZT elements in the rings should be optimized. By using the FEM, effects of the ring dimensions on the lateral resonances can be predicted. PACS 77.84.Lf; 81.05.-t     

Experimental and finite element modelling studies on single-layer and multi-layer 1-3 piezocomposite transducers

Finite element modelling (FEM) using ATILA code and experimental studies have been carried out on 1-3 piezocomposite transducers. FEM study was initially carried out on a piezocomposite infinite plate and then extended to transducers of finite size. The infinite-plate model results agree well with that of a simple analytical model and experiments. The acoustic performance of multi-layer finite-size piezocomposite transducers was also studied. Transducer stacks were fabricated with different number of layers. The transducer characteristics such as the electrical impedance, the transmitting voltage response (TVR) and the receiving sensitivity (RS) of the 1-3 piezocomposite transducers were evaluated as functions of frequency, ceramic volume fractions and the number of layers. TVR increases and RS decreases with increase in ceramic volume fractions. The model results are found to agree with the experimental data, especially when the number of layers is less.     

1-3型压电复合材料宽带水声换能器研究

1-3型压电复合材料换能器具有重量轻、声阻抗率低等优点,复合材料换能器带宽的拓展一般采用匹配层的方法。采用厚度振动模态理论、横向模态理论和有限元方法对1-3型压电复合材料换能器进行研究,应用ANSYS软件建立换能器的有限元模型,然后进行结构优化,最终制作了一个利用厚度振动模态和一阶横向模态的13型压电复合材料宽带换能器,其工作带宽为190~390 kHz,发送电压响应起伏不超过±2dB。研究结果表明:利用厚度振动模态和一阶横向模态可以拓展1-3型压电复合材料换能器的带宽,同时也给出了一种高频换能器实现宽带发射的方法。     

Nonlinear characterization with burst excitation of 1-3 piezocomposite transducers

Ultrasonic transducers made with 1-3 connectivity piezocomposites are frequently used in Medical applications and nondestructive testing. When the transducer is used for special applications as, for instance air-coupled transmission, it is necessary to compensate for the high difference of acoustic impedance between transducer and medium using high amplitude pulses to generate high acoustic signal. Thus, the nonlinear behavior of the transducer must be taken into account in similar application conditions. The newly developed method, which performs the nonlinear characterization with burst signal excitation near the thickness resonance frequency, is based on the measure of the current as well as the vibration velocity of the piezocomposite transducer. The current of the stationary response is measured before the end of the burst signal excitation. Burst excitation enables us to measure the nonlinear characterization without producing overheating in the transducers. The amplitude level dependence of mechanical losses tandelta(m) and the stiffness increases |Deltac/c(0)| have been studied, as well as the velocity dependence of a point of the transducer, measured with a laser vibrometer. In this method, the power level applied to the transducers can be higher than other nonlinear measurement methods, providing measurements of high accuracy.     

Thermo-mechanical stress effect on 1-3 piezocomposite power transducer performance

This paper deals with the emission performance of 1-3 piezoelectric composite power transducers made with a hard PZT (Navy III) and epoxy resins with a high glass-rubber transition temperature. Following the "dice and fill" technique, various composite transducers with 30 and 50% PZT volume fractions were fabricated with an air backing and no front matching layer with resonance operating frequencies around 500 kHz. The transducers were first evaluated under isothermal conditions, with a low emission duty cycle. Efficiencies as high as 95% were monitored as a function of the instantaneous input power up to a 60 W/cm(2) density. The effect of the polymer matrix mechanical losses and the fabrication conditions is then discussed. For the transducer thermal stability, the case of long duty cycle or continuous emission was considered in a second evaluation. In this case the transducer working temperature and axial radiated pressure were monitored as functions of the input power density up to 40 W/cm(2). It is shown that the transducer efficiency and working temperature were strongly dependent on the type of resin used but also on the PZT material, even for hard PZT compositions. A composite transducer configuration with strongly improved thermal stability was investigated demonstrating a working temperature higher than 90 degrees C and an extended power range (30-40 W/cm(2)). The composite thermal breakdown mechanism was analyzed and the effect of the curing-induced thermo-mechanical stresses on the PZT mechanical losses was considered in relation to the composite working temperature. Measurements of the composite mechanical losses versus the temperature were obtained and related to the variation of the PZT mechanical losses with the stresses due to the composite transducer temperature change. It is found that the thermally induced stress can strongly influence the PZT ceramic mechanical losses and that it can be the reason for a thermal breakdown taking place at a temperature much lower than the epoxy resin transition.     

Response of bare 1-3 piezocomposite array to localized electrical excitation

The theoretical response of a 1-3 piezocomposite plate submitted to localized electrical excitation was studied with the theory of guided waves. The theoretical modeling was based on the global matrix method, and the piezocomposite material was considered as a homogeneous medium. To validate the theoretical results, experimental displacement measurements were performed with an interferometric probe on two piezocomposite plates, one with a single element and one with an array of electrodes. The measured response on the single-element plate was mainly supported by the S0 and S3 modes of the plate. Homogenization limits of the composite in terms of frequency and wave number are defined on the basis of data from this sample. Within these limits, the piezocomposite material operates as a homogeneous medium, and comparison between theoretical and experimental results allows the equivalent electroacoustic parameters to be evaluated. A second sample was measured to study the effects of the electrode array on the electroacoustic response of the plate. Two kinds of electrical excitation were studied.     

Computational and experimental investigation of the fields generated by a 1-3 piezocomposite transducer

Large-scale three-dimensional numerical simulations using the finite-difference time domain technique are used to compute the continuous wave fields associated with a composite transducer. The interior of the transducer is made of a periodic array of square rods. This lattice causes elastic wave Bragg diffraction similar to electrons in a periodic lattice. A low frequency mode shape is assumed for the rods. This prescribed motion includes longitudinal and transverse components. It is shown that the transverse motion in the rod gives rise to shear waves causing standing waves (lateral resonances) in the polymer regions. This is also confirmed by experimental results presented here and other independent analytical and experimental work. The full-scale numerical simulation is performed on a large parallel supercomputer and permits modeling of not only the composite transducer but the radiated pressure from near to far field. In addition, cover plates and edge effects are included, unlike analytical treatments. Although only mechanical effects are included, the wave propagation approach captures many essential features.     

1-3型二维柱形凹面线聚焦换能器声场特性

设计并研制了柱面结构的1-3型复合材料凹面线聚焦换能器,在提高换能器带宽的同时,可以实现声场的线聚焦。将换能器内部PZT柱作为独立声源,应用瑞利积分和叠加原理,推导出了柱形凹面换能器总声场的理论表达式。通过仿真计算分析了换能器在聚焦线上的声场特点以及相关参数对聚焦性能的影响。对换能器参数做出合理设计,使换能器在实现线聚焦的同时,声场在聚焦线上的起伏较小,从而设计并制作出聚焦性能良好的线聚焦凹面换能器探头。实验测试结果表明采用本文方法计算得到的换能器声场与实测的声场分布基本符合,柱形凹面换能器在其几何焦点附近范围内均可实现聚焦,并在侧向上形成清晰的聚焦线,其聚焦线长度为换能器的侧向结构长度,在聚焦线上声场分布起伏较小。     

Experimental and theoretical determination of transition dipole moments of ethyl 5-(4-aminophenyl)- and 5-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-amino-2,4-dicyanobenzoate

The absorption and fluorescence transition dipole moments ( $\hat M_{ge}$ and $\hat M_{eg}$ ) for ethyl 5-(4-aminophenyl)-3-amino-2, 4-dicyanobenzoate (EAADCy) and ethyl 5-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-amino-2, 4-dicyanobenzoate (EDMAADCy) have been determined on the basis of the steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements and semiempirical quantum-chemical calculations. The values of the transition dipole moments of perpendicular and flattened forms of the investigated molecules were estimated as a function of the solvent polarity. Noted differences between the absorption and emission transition dipole moments (i.e., ${{\hat M_{ge} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\hat M_{ge} } {\hat M_{eg} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\hat M_{eg} }} \ne 1$ ) confirm that the change of the electronic and molecular structure take place in the excited state.     

Experimental and theoretical determination of the continuum absorption coefficient for xenon

The continuous absorption coefficient of xenon has been measured in a shock-tube and new calculations have been performed which take into account the gap between 7p and 7s levels. This improves the agreement between experimental values and the ones predicted by the theory of Biberman and Norman.     

Experimental determination of the helium 2(3)P(1)-1(1)S0 transition rate

We present the first experimental determination of the 2(3)P(1)-1(1)S0 transition rate in helium and compare this measurement with theoretical quantum-electrodynamic predictions. The experiment exploits the very long (approximately 1 minute) confinement times obtained for atoms magneto-optically trapped in an apparatus used to create a Bose-Einstein condensate of metastable (2(3)S1) helium. The 2(3)P(1)-1(1)S0 transition rate is measured directly from the decay rate of the cold atomic cloud following 1083 nm laser excitation from the 2(3)S1 to the 2(3)P1 state, and from accurate knowledge of the 2(3)P1 population. The value obtained is 177+/-8 s(-1), which agrees very well with theoretical predictions, and has an accuracy that compares favorably with measurements for the same transition in heliumlike ions higher in the isoelectronic sequence.     

Experimental and theoretical determination of the low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy of nanostructured ZnO

The dielectric properties of nanostructured wurtzite-type ZnO are studied by analyzing the low-loss region of the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a transmission electron microscope. Characteristic peaks at about 12 and 32 eV in the imaginary part of the dielectric function shift to lower energies as particle size decreases. A comparison of experimental EELS spectra and ab initio density-functional theory calculations (WIEN2k code) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), GGA+U and modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) is presented. The origins of interband transitions are identified in the electronic band structure by calculating the partial imaginary part of the dielectric function and the partial density of states of Zn and O.     

Experimental and theoretical evidence for long-lived molecular hydrogen anions H2- and D2-

The existence of (metastable) molecular hydrogen anions H2(-), D2(-), and H3(-) is demonstrated. These anion species were produced by sputtering of TiH2 and TiD2 targets with Cs+ ions and were identified by accelerator mass spectrometry. From the respective flight times through the spectrometer, lifetimes for H2(-) and D2(-) of at least 3 micros and 4 micros, respectively, can be inferred. Theoretical calculations within the nonlocal resonance model predict the existence of highly rotationally excited anions with lifetimes in the micros range. It is proposed that in sputtering molecular hydrogen species with high rotational and vibrational excitation are formed that are stable on the time scale of the experiment.     

Experimental and theoretical determination of the low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy of LiMn2O4

The dielectric properties of cubic spinel-type LiMn₂O₄, used as cathode material in lithium ion secondary batteries, are studied by analyzing the low-loss region of the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) spectrum in a transmission electron microscope. A comparison of experimental EELS spectra and ab initio density-functional theory calculations (WIEN2k code) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) is presented. The origins of interband transitions are identified in the electronic band structure, by calculating the partial imaginary part of the dielectric function and the partial density of states of Li, Mn and O. Good agreement with experimental spectra is observed which allowed interpreting main features of the EELS spectrum.     

Unification of 3-3-1 models

A 3-3-1 model is constructed for three families that can be embedded into a single SU(8) unified model. Assuming appropriate branching rules and symmetry-breaking pattern, a complete fermion content is found within irreducible representations of SU(8), where light Standard Model fermions, heavy 3-3-1 fermions and superheavy fermions may be distinguished.     

A serendipitous one-step conversion of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione to (E)-3-[1-(alkylthio)alkylidene]-3H-1,2-dithiole: an experimental and theoretical study

In the course of our studies on 3 $H$ -1,2-dithiole-3-thione synthesis, a serendipitous reactivity with $\alpha $ -haloketones, in the presence of excess of potassium iodide, has been observed. Instead of the expected reaction of the nucleophile in a remote point of the molecule, we have obtained a product resulted from the electrophile character of the thiocarbonyl moiety on the 3-position of the 1,2-dithiole. In order to obtain an efficient protocol in terms of energy efficiency, this methodology was studied under conventional and microwave heating with similar or better results in the latter conditions. Simplicity and great efficiency in this one-step transformation are some of the advantages of this reaction. Moreover, the results can be explained according to the Pearson’s hard and soft acid base theory.