Correlations of projectile-like fragments in heavy-ion reactions at Fermi energy

Correlations between pairs of projectile-like fragments, emitted by the system ¹⁶O$ + $¹⁹⁷Au at the laboratory bombarding energy of 515MeV, have been studied under two stipulated conditions: 1) at least one member of the pair is emitted at an angle less than the grazing angle for the system, 2) both the members of the pair are emitted at angles larger than the grazing angle. A surprisingly large difference, by more than an order of magnitude, is found between the correlations for the two cases. This observation could be explained on the basis of a simple semi-classical break-up model. Further analysis of the variation of the charge correlation function with the difference in the nuclear charges of the correlated pair showed trends which are consistent with an “inelastic break-up process”, in which the projectile breaks up at the radius of contact, in such a way that, one fragment (preferably the lighter) is emitted to one side within the grazing angle, while the other orbits around the target nucleus for a while and emerges on the other side, at a negative scattering angle, much like in a deep inelastic scattering.     

Desorption of chemisorbed Carbon on Mo(1 0 0) by noble gas ion sputtering: Validation of ground test measurements of ion engine lifetimes

We report desorption cross section measurements for one monolayer of chemisorbed carbon on a Mo(1 0 0) surface induced by sputtering with noble gas ions (Ne⁺, Ar⁺, Xe⁺) at different incident angles, ion energies, and substrate temperatures. Desorption cross sections were determined by using low-energy ion scattering (LEIS) to monitor the increase of the signal from the Mo substrate. A monolayer of p(1 × 1) carbon adatoms on the Mo(1 0 0) surface was created by dosing ethylene (C₂H₄) to the substrate at 800 K, and characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). We find that the carbon desorption cross section increases with increasing mass and energy of the impinging ions, and there is a maximum value for the desorption cross section at an incident angle for the ions of 30° from the surface plane. The desorption cross section also increases up to a substrate temperature of 300 °C. Values for the carbon desorption cross section for carbon adatoms on Mo(1 0 0) by 400-eV Xe⁺ ion sputtering are about 2 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm², which is one order of magnitude higher than those for bulk carbon samples. This information is particularly important for evaluation of ion-engine lifetimes from ground-test measurements in which contaminant carbon is deposited on Mo accelerator grids, potentially altering the sputtering rate of the Mo. Our measurements show that monolayer amounts of carbon on Mo have desorption cross sections that are two orders of magnitude higher than estimates of what would be required to reduce the Mo erosion rate, and thus ground-test measurements can be used with confidence to predict ion-engine wear in space, from this perspective.     

Effects of evolving surface morphology on yield during focused ion beam milling of carbon

We investigate evolving surface morphology during focused ion beam bombardment of C and determine its effects on sputter yield over a large range of ion dose (10¹⁷-10¹⁹ ions/cm²) and incidence angles (Θ = 0-80°). Carbon bombarded by 20 keV Ga⁺ either retains a smooth sputtered surface or develops one of two rough surface morphologies (sinusoidal ripples or steps/terraces) depending on the angle of ion incidence. For conditions that lead to smooth sputter-eroded surfaces there is no change in yield with ion dose after erosion of the solid commences. However, for all conditions that lead to surface roughening we observe coarsening of morphology with increased ion dose and a concomitant decrease in yield. A decrease in yield occurs as surface ripples increase wavelength and, for large Θ, as step/terrace morphologies evolve. The yield also decreases with dose as rippled surfaces transition to have steps and terraces at Θ = 75°. Similar trends of decreasing yield are found for H₂O-assisted focused ion beam milling. The effects of changing surface morphology on yield are explained by the varying incidence angles exposed to the high-energy beam.     

Evaluation of Ni/Mn multilayer samples with glancing-incidence and take-off X-ray fluorescence analysis

A Glancing-Incidence and Take-off X-Ray Fluorescence (GIT-XRF) apparatus with which both incident angle of primary X-ray and take-off angle of fluorescent X-rays can be controlled has been newly developed for characterizing surfaces and interfaces. Using this apparatus, Ni/Mn multilayer samples were evaluated obtaining Take-off-Angle-Dependent X-Ray Fluorescence (TAD-XRF) curves at arbitrary incident angles of primary X-ray. In particular, we could obtain information on the near surface by measuring TAD-XRF curves at the incident angle less than the critical angle of total reflection for primary X-rays.     

The frequency width of symmetric modes of an aluminum plate: manifestation of a complex slowness on a frequency spectrum

The evolution of the experimental frequency width of symmetric modes of an aluminum plate is studied as a function of the angle of incidence below the first critical angle. It is found that the frequency width predicted by resonant scattering theory, corrected for the directivity of emitter and receiver, generally explains the experimental frequency width well. However, large discrepancies remain for the frequency width of the S1 mode at angles of incidence larger than 9 degrees. It is demonstrated that these are caused by not taking into account the complex nature of the slowness of the plate mode. This suggests that there is a need for a theory that models the interaction of a beam of ultrasound, bounded in space and time, with an elastic plate.     

Upward penetration of grains through a granular medium

We study experimentally the creeping penetration of guest (percolating) grains through densely packed granular media in two dimensions. The evolution of the system of the guest grains during the penetration is studied by image analysis. To quantify the changes in the internal structure of the packing, we use Voronoï tessellation and a certain shape factor which is a clear indicator of the presence of different underlying substructures (domains). We first consider the impact of the effective gravitational acceleration on upward penetration of grains. It is found that the higher effective gravity increases the resistance to upward penetration and enhances structural organization in the system of the percolating grains. We also focus our attention on the dependence of the structural rearrangements of percolating grains on some parameters like polydispersity and the initial packing fraction of the host granular system. It is found that the anisotropy of penetration is larger in the monodisperse case than in the bidisperse one, for the same value of the packing fraction of the host medium. Compaction of initial host granular packing also increases anisotropy of penetration of guest grains. When a binary mixture of large and small guest grains is penetrated into the host granular medium, we observe size segregation patterns.     

Demonstration of sharp switching from a power-symmetric NOLM and a polarizer

We demonstrate theoretically, experimentally and numerically that a steep all-optical transfer characteristic can be obtained from a power-symmetric NOLM, including a quarter wave retarder and highly twisted fibre, followed by a polarizer. We first develop a theoretical analysis to show that, if the input polarisation is chosen linear, then for a correct choice of the wave plate and input polarisation angles the transmission grows from zero with a 4 dB/dB slope as power is increased, two times faster than can be obtained with a NOLM alone. An experimental study is then realised, which supports the theoretical results. Steep switching is demonstrated for reasonably low peak power levels that do not exceed 8 W, less than one third of the NOLM critical power. In addition, using the same setup we demonstrate the possibility to obtain a sinusoidal transmission characteristic that cancels out for a particular nonzero value of input power, which can be easily adjusted simply through rotation of the wave plate and output polarizer. This setup would be very useful in the frame of optical pulse shaping and signal processing applications, among others.     

Double scattering of ions from polycrystalline materials

In this paper double scattering of ions from polycrystalline materials has been theoretically investigated. It is shown that double collision events contribute to the yield at low energy as well as to the high energy flanks of the peaks depending on whether or not the azimuthal angle ø₁ is greater than or less than a critical angle ø_1c at a given first scattering angle θ₁. There are various combinations of first scattering angle θ₁ and second scattering angle θ₂ which give the required retained energy in two successive collisions. Scattering cross sections derived from the Bohr potential and a double interpolation sub-routine are used to calculate the scattering yield at various angles. Two systems, Ne⁺ scattered from copper and Ar⁺ scattered from gold, each at 30 keV primary energy, have been compared with experimental results.     

Combined effects of the in-plane orientation angle and the loading angle on the dynamic enhancement of honeycombs under mixed shear-compression loading

The combined effect of the loading angle (ψ) and the in-plane orientation angle (β) on the dynamic enhancement of aluminium alloy honeycombs is investigated. Experimental results are analysed on the crushing surfaces (initial peak and average crushing forces). A significant effect of the loading angle is reported. The dynamic enhancement rate depends on the loading angle until a critical loading angle (ψ_critical). Beyond, a negative dynamic enhancement rate is observed. Concerning the in-plane orientation angle β effect, it depends on the loading angle ψ under quasi-static conditions. Under dynamic conditions, a significant effect is reported independently of the loading angle ψ. Therefore, the dynamic enhancement rate depends on the combined effects of ψ and β angles. A global analysis of the buckling mechanisms allowed us to explain the combined effect of ψ and β angles on the initial peak force. The collapse mechanisms analysis explain the negative dynamic enhancement rate for large loading angles.     

Internal reflection of one-dimensional bright spatial solitons

We study the reflection of one-dimensional spatial solitons at the non-linear interface between a Kerr-type medium and a linear medium. Our study places emphasis on determining the physical conditions under which the beam reflected by the non-linear interface is still a spatial soliton. We find that for small angles of incidence an elastic internal reflection takes place, in the sense that the reflected soliton is essentially the same as the incident one. For incidence angles near a critical angle, the reflected soliton becomes less intense and its reflection angle is smaller than the angle of incidence. Finally, for spatial solitons with input angles well above the critical angle, the main part of the energy is transmitted to the linear medium, and no soliton is internally reflected.     

Research on multiple-beam interference of pointolite and measurement of minute wedge angle

The intensity distribution of pointolite interference fringes and its characters are discussed by the theory of interference on the condition of glass plate thickness being non-uniform. A novel method of measuring wedge angle of plate is deduced and improved by selecting appropriate reflectivity (R). So, the glass plate with appropriate reflectivity should be adopted to improve the measurement precision for R has a much effect on fringes. The experiments and analysis show it is suitable that R is less than 0.5. By using the equations deduced, the wedge angle was measured and its value is 3.7 ÿ 10^?4.     

Buckling in a solid Langmuir monolayer: light scattering measurements and elastic model

Above a surface pressure threshold , we detect a buckled state in the low temperature solid phase of a phospholipid monolayer spread at the air-formamide interface. Stable ripples are observed with a Brewster angle microscope, and light scattering provides measurements mNm^-1, wavelength m and amplitude of a few nm for the deformation. A model, coupling the monolayer thickness and elongation, and consistent with the monolayer texture, is also presented. Received: 18 August 1997 / Revised: 9 December 1997 / Accepted: 29 January 1998     

Wave propagation in a one-dimensional photonic crystal with metamaterial

This paper deals with the study of the transmission of electromagnetic waves through a one-dimensional multilayer periodic structure consisting of alternating slabs of negative- and positive-index media. It also focuses on the behavior of the transmission with the angle of incidence for both polarizations. The proposed structure works as a tunable p-polarization filter i.e. a filter which completely blocks the s-polarized wave but partially allows the p-polarized wave to pass through it for an angle of incidence greater than 20 ^°. For angles of incidence less than 50 ^° the structure works as a tunable edge filter.     

The adsorption of cyclic hydrocarbons on Ru(001): II. Cyclohexane

The adsorption of cyclohexane on Ru(001) at 90 K has been investigated by thermal desorption mass spectrometry, EELS, UV photoemission and LEED. Thermal desorption indicates the adsorption of the undissociated molecule first in a chemisorbed monolayer (T_d = 200 K) with subsequent formation of multilayers (T_d = 165 K) at higher exposures. The vibrational spectrum obtained by EELS is characterized by a frequency shift of the C-H stretching mode from 2920 cm^?1 (multilayer) to 2560 cm^?1 for the chemisorbed monolayer. Off-specular EELS data indicate two different electron scattering mechanisms for the C-H stretching mode. Whereas for the C-H stretching mode of the multilayer, large angle electron impact scattering is observed, the C-H soft-mode of the monolayer is largely due to small angle dipolar scattering. The He I photoelectron spectra of cyclohexane multilayers are characteristic of the undissociated molecule. A new assignment of C(2s) and the lowest C(2p) level, based on a comparison with benzene, shows that the chemisorbed monolayer is characterized by the absence of emission or broadening of the 2a_1u level. This is attributed to C_3v symmetry of the chemisorbed layer and to a possible interaction of the 2a_Iu orbital with the metal surface.     

Flutter of Finite-Span Flexible Plates in Uniform Flow

The flutter instability and response of finite-span flexible plates in uniform flow are investigated experimentally. The effects of the plate aspect ratio on its dynamic responses are mainly analyzed. A hysteretic phenomenon is observed and can be described such that the plate flutters spontaneously as the flow velocity is greater than a critical value UC and the plate returns to its stable state as the flow velocity is slowly decreased to another critical one UD. We find that the aspect ratio has a greater effect on UC than on UD. The flutter frequency decreases and the amplitude increases with the increase in the flow velocity. When the flutter instability of the plate occurs, three typical flutter modes are identified and are associated with the aspect ratio and the flow velocity.     

Fabrication of a Mono-Domain Alignment Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Device Using a Polar Self-Assembled Monolayer

A mono-domain ferroelectric liquid crystal device (FLCD) is fabricated using a novel method. The cell used in this method is an asymmetric cell, typically the combination of a polar self-assembled monolayer (SAM) for one substrate and a rubbed polyimide for the other substrate. A defect-free alignment of ferroelectric liquid crystal is fabricated without applying a dc voltage to remove degeneracy in the layer structure. The contact angles of self-assembled monolayer and PI-2942 are measured and the polarity of SAM is higher than the PI alignment. It is found that the polarity of self-assembled monolayer is a key factor in the formation of mono-domain alignment of FLC.     

Substrate induced 1D tilt-modulated state in nematic monolayers

Symmetry considerations yield the general form, up to second order terms, for the deformation elastic energy of a nematic monolayer, composed by symmetric achiral molecules, on a rigid planar substrate. The deformation energy contains an elastic contribution linear in the deformation tensor, whose elements are the spatial derivatives of the average molecular orientation. This linear Lifshitz-invariant-like term can be responsible for a ground state of the nematic monolayer periodically deformed if the relevant elastic constant is stiffer than a critical value. The wave-length of the modulation diverges at the transition threshold. We show that only large variations of the tilt angle form stable states. The effect of a destabilizing electric or magnetic field on the layer is to induce (i) the transition towards the tilt-modulated phase, while (ii) for higher enough values of the field the modulation is destroyed.     

Combinatorial study of a gold nanoparticle infusion process in a polymer film

A novel two-step process is described for infusion of gold nanoparticles (5–20 nm typical diameter) into a polymer film. The technique is demonstrated for the first time in a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). An amine-functional monomer, 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, and a free-radical photoinitiator are infused into the surface of the TPU, followed by photopolymerization. An amine-functional semi-interpenetrating network (SIPN) is created within a shallow (~100 μm) surface layer. In the second step, a gold salt, HAuCl₄·3H₂O, is infused into the SIPN from a ternary solvent mixture, and redox reaction with the immobilized amine functional groups produces Au⁰ nanoparticles. Combinatorial processing is conducted to visualize the interdependent effects of two variables, monomer soak time (t ₁) and gold salt solution soak time (t ₂). Combinatorial infusion is accomplished by creating orthogonal gradients in t ₁ and t ₂ in a square TPU plate, allowing examination of sample color, particle size, and polydispersity over a wide range of parameter space. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is employed as non-invasive means to characterize the Au⁰ particles at three locations in the plate. SAXS measurements are validated by TEM analysis of Au⁰ particle size in a reference sample. A rationale is developed for changing particle size and polydispersity through variation of simple process parameters.     

Ballistic Transport through a Strained Region on Monolayer Phosphorene

We investigate quantum transport of carriers through a strained region on monolayer phosphorene theoretically.The electron tunneling is forbidden when the incident angle exceeds a critical value. The critical angles for electrons tunneling through a strain region for different strengths and directions of the strains are different.Owing to the anisotropic effective masses, the conductance shows a strong anisotropic behavior. By tuning the Fermi energy and strain, the channels can be transited from opaque to transparent, which provides us with an efficient way to control the transport of monolayer phosphorene-based microstructures.     

Feedback control of instability waves in a transitional flat-plate boundary layer

A semi-automatic and active control of T-S waves and oblique waves in a transitional flat plate boundary layer is carried out in a wind-tunnel experiment and a numerical simulation. An array of piezo-ceramic actuators attached on a surface is used to generate counter waves that cancel the incoming instability waves. The actuator’s operating amplitudes and phases are successively updated using the velocity fluctuations monitored downstream by a rake of hotwires. Experimental results show that the system is effective in weakening these waves when their inclination angles are less than 15 degrees. However, the system encountered difficulty in controlling the waves of large inclination angles. In the numerical simulation, it is shown that the control can be accomplished much easier. The numerical results show that controllability of the large inclination angle waves can be improved by shortening the spanwise length each actuator piece. The danger of pursuing this kind of research solely by a numerical simulation is pointed out.