High frequency shear ultrasonic properties of water/sorbitol solutions

Dynamic viscoelastic properties (G′ and G′′), ultrasonic shear velocity and attenuation were measured for aqueous solutions of sorbitol at 5 MHz. For pure sorbitol, the shear ultrasonic velocity reached 1470 m s⁻¹ with a density of 1500 kg m⁻³, consequently leading to a high acoustical impedance compared with “classical” polymers (polystyrene, nylon, polyethylene, Teflon, etc.). We demonstrate that this surprisingly high shear ultrasonic velocity for a viscoelastic material was due to the fact that the glass transition begins at a concentration above 85% of sorbitol in water. Hence, pure sorbitol is an ideal coupling material for high frequency shear experiments.     

Wavelet packet based analysis of sound fields in rooms using coincident microphone arrays

This paper presents a passive analysis method for determining the spatio-temporal characteristics of sound fields in small rooms. The analysis finds an approximate directional reflectogram (ADR) which reveals the approximate arrival directions, time delays and amplitudes of the direct sound and early reflections without using a special or known sound source. A coincident microphone array is used to obtain directional recordings. The recordings are analysed by wavelet packet decomposition to determine the direction of the sound source and select wavelet packet coefficients to reconstruct the estimate of the direct sound. ADR is then computed via deconvolution using this estimate. Experiments have been carried out using synthesized recordings that were obtained from actual room impulse responses measured in two rooms for various source locations. The method estimates the source direction with a mean absolute error of about 7°. Calculated ADRs provide a good estimate of the time delays and arrival directions of acoustical reflections, whereas the amplitudes differ slightly.     

A new method to study the crystallization or chemical reaction kinetics using thermal analysis technique

In this work, a new method to study the transformation kinetics is introduced. With this method, the activation energy, E_c, for crystallization (phase transition or chemical reaction), the pre-exponential coefficient of effective overall reaction rate, k_o, and the reaction order, n, can be determined. No approximation has been used in this method. This method can be used for isothermal and non-isothermal study. It is deduced from Avrami's equation without any approximation. This new method has been tested to study the amorphous-crystalline transformation kinetics under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions in the context of glassy selenium. The source of error is discussed. The calculated values of E_c, under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions are 75.3±2.5 and 79.4±2.3 kJ/mol, respectively. The predominant crystallization mechanism of the amorphous phase of glassy selenium in isothermal or non-isothermal conditions is one-dimensional growth. The deduced values of k_o were found to be 19.4±0.9 and 20.8±0.7 s⁻¹ for isothermal and non-isothermal conditions, respectively. Resulting values of the parameter, n, are compared with values obtained from other known methods used to study the reaction kinetics in thermal analyses. The difference in the results obtained with this method and the results obtained with other known methods is acceptable or lie within the experimental error range.     

A hybrid method for the parallel computation of Green’s functions

Quantum transport models for nanodevices using the non-equilibrium Green’s function method require the repeated calculation of the block tridiagonal part of the Green’s and lesser Green’s function matrices. This problem is related to the calculation of the inverse of a sparse matrix. Because of the large number of times this calculation needs to be performed, this is computationally very expensive even on supercomputers. The classical approach is based on recurrence formulas which cannot be efficiently parallelized. This practically prevents the solution of large problems with hundreds of thousands of atoms. We propose new recurrences for a general class of sparse matrices to calculate Green’s and lesser Green’s function matrices which extend formulas derived by Takahashi and others. We show that these recurrences may lead to a dramatically reduced computational cost because they only require computing a small number of entries of the inverse matrix. Then, we propose a parallelization strategy for block tridiagonal matrices which involves a combination of Schur complement calculations and cyclic reduction. It achieves good scalability even on problems of modest size.     

Acoustic measurements and computational results on material specimens with harmonic variation of the cross section

The present work represents both an experimental and theoretical investigation of the behavior of finite cylindrical rods with harmonic variation of the cross section. The matrix method was used to compute the transfer power spectra of elastic rods with uniform circular cross section and of rods with harmonic variation of the cross section with distance. Theoretical and experimental results show that for a rod with periodical variation of the cross section, a new set of supplementary frequencies appear for which the transfer power coefficient has significant values, which are in relation with the space period of the inhomogeneity. Also, due to the radial component of the displacement certain modes are enhanced which satisfy boundary conditions on the surface and are obtained from the zeroes of Bessel functions.     

Suitability of laser Doppler velocimetry for the calibration of pressure microphones

The details of a new approach for absolute calibration of microphones, based on the direct measurement of acoustic particle velocity using laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), are presented and discussed. The calibration technique is carried out inside a tube in which plane waves propagate and closed by a rigid termination. The method developed proposes to estimate the acoustic pressure with two velocity measurements and a physical model. Minimum theoretical uncertainties on the estimated pressure and minimum measurable pressure are calculated from the Cramer Rao bounds on the estimated acoustic velocity amplitude and phase. These uncertainties and the minimum measurable pressure help to optimize the experimental set up. Acoustic pressure estimations performed with LDV are compared with acoustic pressures obtained with a reference microphone. Measurements lead to a minimum bias of 0.006 dB and a minimum uncertainty of 0.013 dB on the acoustic pressure estimation for frequencies 1360 Hz and 680 Hz.     

Wavelet Leaders: A new method to estimate the multifractal singularity spectra

Wavelet Leaders is a novel alternative based on wavelet analysis for estimating the Multifractal Spectrum. It was proposed by Jaffard and co-workers improving the usual wavelet methods. In this work, we analyze and compare it with the well known Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis. The latter is a comprehensible and well adapted method for natural and weakly stationary signals. Alternatively, Wavelet Leaders exploits the wavelet self-similarity structures combined with the Multiresolution Analysis scheme. We give a brief introduction on the multifractal formalism and the particular implementation of the above methods and we compare their effectiveness. We expose several cases: Cantor measures, Binomial Multiplicative Cascades and also natural series from a tonic-clonic epileptic seizure. We analyze the results and extract the conclusions.     

An improved particle correction procedure for the particle level set method

The particle level set method [D. Enright, R. Fedkiw, J. Ferziger, I. Mitchell, A hybrid particle level set method for improved interface capturing, J. Comput. Phys. 183 (2002) 83–116.] can substantially improve the mass conservation property of the level set method by using Lagrangian marker particles to correct the level set function in the under-resolved regions. In this study, the limitations of the particle level set method due to the errors introduced in the particle correction process are analyzed, and an improved particle correction procedure is developed based on a new interface reconstruction scheme. Moreover, the zero level set is “anchored” as the level set functions are reinitialized; hence the additional particle correction after the level set reinitialization is avoided. With this new scheme, a well-defined zero level set can be obtained and the disturbances to the interface are significantly reduced. Consequently, the particle reseeding operation will barely result in the loss of interface characteristics and can be applied as frequently as necessary. To demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method, two extreme particle reseeding strategies, one without reseeding and the other with reseeding every time step, are applied in several benchmark advection tests and the results are compared with each other. Three interfacial flow cases, a 2D surface tension driven oscillating droplet, a 2D gas bubble rising in a quiescent liquid, and a 3D drop impact onto a liquid pool are simulated to illustrate the advantages of the current method over the level set and the original particle level set methods with regard to the smoothness of geometric properties and mass conservation in real physical applications.     

Investigation of the electronic structure of the BiSBr and BiSeBr clusters by density functional method

The energy levels of valence bands (VB) of the BiSBr and BiSeBr crystals have been calculated for investigation of the photoelectron emission spectra of BiSBr, BiSeBr and BiSI crystals. The molecular model of this crystal has been used for the calculation of VB by the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method. The molecular cluster, consisting of 20 molecules of BiSBr, BiSeBr, has been used for calculations of averaged total density of states, including atom vibrations. The spectra of the averaged total density of states from VB of BiSBr and BiSeBr clusters have been compared with the experimental photoelectron emission spectra from VB of BiSI crystals. The results clarify that the atomic vibrations in A⁵B⁶C⁷ type crystals with chain structure create a smoother appearance of the averaged total density of state spectrum and the experimental X-ray photoemission spectra (XPS).     

Multiple frequency stabilization of lasers using double saturation spectroscopy

We have developed a method of stabilizing multiple lasers based on double saturation spectroscopy. Compared with other laser-stabilization methods based on conventional saturation spectroscopy, ours provides numerous reference spectra constructed with several velocity groups of atoms. Two independent laser sources can be simultaneously stabilized by using combined optical-pumping processes associated with a single Rb reference. We analyzed the stability of the feedback loop taking the correlation effect of the saturation spectra into consideration. We experimentally demonstrated two stabilized laser sources with a frequency difference of 6,109 MHz in the ⁸⁷Rb D₂ line. The results were in good agreement with theory within errors in measurement.     

A simple procedure for electroluminescent phosphor assessment

A simple assessment procedure is described which facilitates optimal selection of an electroluminescent phosphor based on the measurement of two optically deduced energies—absorption and emission. These two energies are used as input for an appraisal analysis based on a classical configuration-coordinate diagram model of the phosphor. A phosphor performance figure-of-merit is proposed as a consequence of the formulation of this assessment procedure. This procedure is then used to rationalize the relative performance of five electroluminescent phosphors (ZnS:Mn, BaAl₂S₄:Eu, SrS:Ce, SrGa₂S₄:Ce, CaGa₂S₄:Ce). Additionally, two cathodoluminescent phosphors (ZnS:Ag and ZnS:Cu) are appraised using this methodology, suggesting that this procedure may be of some utility in the evaluation of other types of phosphors.     

An approximate block Newton method for coupled iterations of nonlinear solvers: Theory and conjugate heat transfer applications

A new, approximate block Newton (ABN) method is derived and tested for the coupled solution of nonlinear models, each of which is treated as a modular, black box. Such an approach is motivated by a desire to maintain software flexibility without sacrificing solution efficiency or robustness. Though block Newton methods of similar type have been proposed and studied, we present a unique derivation and use it to sort out some of the more confusing points in the literature. In particular, we show that our ABN method behaves like a Newton iteration preconditioned by an inexact Newton solver derived from subproblem Jacobians. The method is demonstrated on several conjugate heat transfer problems modeled after melt crystal growth processes. These problems are represented by partitioned spatial regions, each modeled by independent heat transfer codes and linked by temperature and flux matching conditions at the boundaries common to the partitions. Whereas a typical block Gauss–Seidel iteration fails about half the time for the model problem, quadratic convergence is achieved by the ABN method under all conditions studied here. Additional performance advantages over existing methods are demonstrated and discussed.     

A new kind of double image encryption by using a cutting spectrum in the 1-D fractional Fourier transform domains

Based on 1-D fractional Fourier transform, we proposed an image encryption algorithm in order to hide two images simultaneously. When the fractional order is closed to 1, most energy in frequency domain is centralized in the center part of spectrum. The image can be recovered acceptable by using a half of spectrum, which locates in the middle part at x-direction or y-direction. Cutting operation is employed in order to combine two spectra. Double random phase encoding is employed for image encryption. The corresponding numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the algorithm.     

A simple GUI for modeling the optical properties of single metal nanoparticles

We present a graphical user interface, based on the modified long-wavelength approximation, to compute the optical properties of single metal nanoparticles of ellipsoidal geometry (spheres, rods, and disks). The user-friendly interface allows one to readily gauge the accuracy of results obtained using the modified long-wavelength approximation. For spherical particles, up to 10-nm diameter, we confirm that our approach yields an exact correspondence with Mie theory, and gives an approximation error of less than 15% for gold (silver) particles with diameters approaching 40 nm (26 nm). Results are shown to be sensitive to the source data for the optical constants for a given material. The modular nature of the simulation platform provides a quick and intuitive guide for optical characterization experiments.     

Locating point of impact in anisotropic fiber reinforced composite plates

The conventional triangulation technique cannot predict the point of impact in an anisotropic composite plate because the triangulation technique assumes that the wave speed is independent of the direction of propagation which is not the case for anisotropic plates. An alternative method based on the optimization scheme was proposed by Kundu et al. [T. Kundu, S. Das, K.V. Jata, Point of impact prediction in isotropic and anistropic plates from the acoustic emission data, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 122, 2007, 2057-2066] to locate the point of impact in plates by analyzing the time of arrival of the ultrasonic signals received by the passive sensors attached to the plate. In this paper, that objective function is modified further to overcome the inherent difficulties associated with multiple singularities and to maximize the efficiency of the acoustic emission data for multiple receiving sensors. With this modified objective function the impact point on an anisotropic composite plate is predicted from the acoustic emission data. Experiments are carried out by dropping steel and ping pong balls on a graphite-epoxy composite plate and recording acoustic signals by passive transducers adhesively bonded to the plate at three different locations. The impact point is predicted by the proposed method and compared with the actual location of impact.     

Green-emission and n-type conductivity of ZnO:Zn films obtained using vapor deposition method

ZnO:Zn films with strong adhesion to the substrate were obtained by evaporating ZnO powders in the mixture of N₂ and H₂. The ZnO:Zn films produced in the reductive gas showed bright green photoluminescence and n-type conductivity. After the ZnO:Zn films were re-fired in the air, the conductivity and luminescent intensity decrease to less than 1% and about 50% of the initial values, respectively. For the two different types of samples obtained in the reductive gas and in the air, respectively, their point defects showed notable difference as indicated by the measurements of electron spin resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The native defects account for the green-emission while the n-type conductivity is perhaps associated with the hydrogen doping.     

High frequency shear horizontal plate acoustic wave devices

It has been shown recently that shear horizontal acoustic waves propagating in piezoelectric plates whose thickness h is much less than the acoustic wavelength λ possess a number of attractive properties for use in sensor and signal processing applications. In order to exploit the potential benefits of these waves, however, one needs to fabricate devices on very thin plates. We have developed a suitable fabrication method which can be used to realize devices on such thin plates. In this method, the device is first fabricated on a plate of normal thickness (approximately 500 μm) and the substrate is then lapped from the back side to reduce the thickness. The technique has been utilized to realize devices on plates of thickness less than 70 μm. A shear horizontal plate acoustic wave (SH-PAW) delay line of fundamental resonant frequency greater than 25 MHz and insertion loss less than 7 dB has been realized on a 60 μm thick Y – cut, X – propagation lithium niobate substrate. The device also shows strong response near the third harmonic frequency of 75 MHz.     

A model dielectric response function for metallic nanotube ropes

We propose a model dielectric function for ropes of single-walled nanotubes distributed in a glassy graphite host medium. We study the significance of the bosonic charge excitations arising in interacting quasi-one-dimensional systems in the screening processes. We also pay special attention to the role of the intertube Coulomb interactions. In order to compare with experiments, weak relaxation processes are also considered in the relaxation-time approximation.