Size-dependent thermodynamic criterion for the thermal stability of binary immiscible metallic multilayers

With the aim of understanding the thermal stability of binary immiscible metallic multilayers, we propose a generally size-dependent thermodynamic criterion for determining the interface alloying in multilayers, with respect to the size-dependent interface energy of binary metal systems. Taking the copper/tungsten bilayer as an example, we obtain the interfacial alloying phase diagram based on the proposed thermodynamic model. Our theoretical predictions are consistent with experiments, implying that the size-dependent thermodynamic criterion of the thermal stability could be expected to be applicable to many multilayers.     

Improved result on stability analysis of discrete stochastic neural networks with time delay

This Letter investigates the problem of exponential stability for discrete stochastic time-delay neural networks. By defining a novel Lyapunov functional, an improved delay-dependent exponential stability criterion is established in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. Meanwhile, the computational complexity of the newly established stability condition is reduced because less variables are involved. Numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness and the benefits of the proposed method.     

New automatic localization technique of acoustic emission signals in thin metal plates

In acoustic emission (AE) measurement, the information of the arrival time is very important for event location, event identification and source mechanism analysis. Manual picks are time-consuming and sometimes subjective, especially in the case of large volumes of digital data. Various techniques have been presented in the literature and are routinely used in practice such as amplitude threshold, analysis of the long-term average/short-term average (LTA/STA), high-order statistics or artificial neural networks.A new automatic determination technique of the first arrival times of AE signals is presented for thin metal plates. Based on Akaike’s information criterion, proposed algorithm of the first arrival detection uses a specific characteristic function, which is sensitive to change of frequency in contrast to others such as envelope of the signal. The approach is applied to data sets of three different tests. Reliable results show the potential of our approach.     

Stability of Motion of a Nonholonomic System

Perturbation differential equations of motion of a general nonholonomic system subjected to the ideal nonholonomic constraints of Chetaev＇s type are established, and the equation of variation of energy is deduced by using the perturbation equations of the system. A criterion of the stability is obtained and an example is given to illustrate the application of the result.     

On the detection of deterministic structures in irregular signals

The recently proposed method of surrogate data gives a quantitative criterion for the decision whether a signal is either deterministically chaotic or stochastic. We apply this technique to both numerical and experimental data. It is very successful when applied to dimensions and entropies. Perhaps unexpectedly, the application to Lyapunov exponents is not straightforward.     

Stability of low-dimensionally-confined bipolarons

In the limit of strong electron-phonon coupling, we provide a unified insight into the stability criterion for bipolaron formation in low-dimensionally confined media. The model that we use consists of a pair of electrons immersed in a reservoir of bulk LO phonons and confined within an anisotropic parabolic potential box, whose barrier slopes can be tuned arbitrarily from zero to infinity. Thus, encompassing the bulk and all low-dimensional geometric configurations of general interest, we obtain an explicit tracking of the critical ratio of dielectric constants below which bipolarons can exist. Received 15 September 1999 and Received in final form 20 March 2000     

Quantum effects of periodic orbits for the kicked top

We analyze traces of powers of the time evolution operator of a periodically kicked top. Semiclassically, such traces are related to periodic orbits of the classical map. We derive the semiclassical traces in a coherent state basis and show how the periodic orbits can be recovered via a Fourier transform. A breakdown of the stationary phase approximation is detected. The quasi energy spectrum remains elusive due to lack of knowledge of sufficiently many periodic orbits. Divergencies of periodic orbit formulas are avoided by appealing to the finiteness of the quantum mechanical Hilbert space. The traces also enter the coefficients of the characteristic polynominal of the Floquet operator. Statistical properties of these coefficients give rise to a new criterion for the distinction of chaos and regular motion.     

Investigation of ruthenium Schottky contacts to n-GaAs

Ruthenium was evaporated on n-GaAs to form Schottky contacts. Initial electrical measurements revealed a near ideal Schottky behaviour with low leakage currents. The Schottky diodes exhibit good stability upon thermal aging at elevated temperatures up to 300° C. However, the diode parameters rapidly deteriorate after aging at temperatures in excess of 400° C. The room temperature (300 K) median life of the diodes, based on a failure criterion of a tenfold increase in the diode saturation current, J _riv ^s , from reverse bias current-voltage (I–V) data, was of the order of 10⁴ h.     

A stability criterion for financial markets

Using the theory of random cluster models, we give a stability criterion for financial markets with random communications between agents. Received 25 September 1999 and Received in final form 2 October 1999     

Nonlinear analysis of traffic jams in an anisotropic continuum model

This paper presents our study of the nonlinear stability of a new anisotropic continuum traffic flow model in which the dimensionless parameter or anisotropic factor controls the non-isotropic character and diffusive influence.In order to establish traffic flow stability criterion or to know the critical parameters that lead,on one hand,to a stable response to perturbations or disturbances or,on the other hand,to an unstable response and therefore to a possible congestion,a nonlinear stability criterion is derived by using a wavefront expansion technique.The stability criterion is illustrated by numerical results using the finite difference method for two different values of anisotropic parameter.It is also been observed that the newly derived stability results are consistent with previously reported results obtained using approximate linearisation methods.Moreover,the stability criterion derived in this paper can provide more refined information from the perspective of the capability to reproduce nonlinear traffic flow behaviors observed in real traffic than previously established methodologies.     

Jeans type instability for a chemotactic model of cellular aggregation

We consider an inertial model of chemotactic aggregation generalizing the Keller-Segel model and we study the linear dynamical stability of an infinite and homogeneous distribution of cells (bacteria, amoebae, endothelial cells, ...) when inertial effects are accounted for. These inertial terms model cells directional persistance. We determine the condition of instability and the growth rate of the perturbation as a function of the cell density and the wavelength of the perturbation. We discuss the differences between overdamped (Keller-Segel) and inertial models. Finally, we show the analogy between the instability criterion for biological populations and the Jeans instability criterion in astrophysics.     

Analytical model for shape anisotropy in thin-film nanostructured arrays: Interaction effects

When reducing the size of array elements and interelement separations to the nanoscale, long-range magnetostatic interactions become important. A methodology that extends the study of conventional single-element magnetostatics is presented, adding the effect of stacking nanoelements into close proximity in arrays and the consequent interaction effects. This would be very time consuming to model by micromagnetic simulations that are also very vulnerable to artifacts due to cell or boundary condition selection. The proposed method considers an analytical expression valid for short interelement separations and not very costly to evaluate by computational means. This approach allows the quantitative study of shape anisotropy in non-square-shaped arrays. It is also shown how it can be used to find anisotropy compensation conditions, where an anisotropy due to a magnetic element shape can be compensated by the shape anisotropy due to the array. The obtained results can be used to establish a criterion for the minimum number of elements to be considered for a micromagnetic simulation of an array to be realistic depending on the element size and separation.     

Numerical Instability due to Varying Time Steps in Explicit Wave Propagation and Mechanics Calculations

Explicit central-difference time integration is frequently used to solve the wave equation, and the classical criterion for numerical stability is the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy condition. Similarly, explicit integration of a spring-mass mechanical system has a stability condition. These conditions are derived under the assumption of constant time steps. This paper demonstrates the new and perhaps surprising result that numerical instability may occur when time steps vary, even though all steps are substantially less than the constant step criterion.     

Improved stability criteria for neural networks with time-varying delay

The problem of the stability analysis of neural networks with time-varying delay is considered in this Letter. By constructing a new augmented Lyapunov functional which contains a triple-integral term, an improved delay-dependent stability criterion is derived in terms of LMI using the free-weighting matrices method. The rate-range of the delay is also considered in the derivation of the criterion. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

New asymptotic stability criteria for neural networks with time-varying delay

The problem of delay-dependent asymptotic stability criteria for neural networks with time-varying delay is investigated. A new class of Lyapunov functional is constructed to derive some new delay-dependent stability criteria.The obtained criterion are less conservative because free-weighting matrices method and a convex optimization approach are considered. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Synchronization of chaotic Lur'e systems with delayed feedback control using deadzone nonlinearity

In this paper we present a synchronization method for chaotic Lur'e systems by constructing a new piecewise Lyapunov function. Using a delayed feedback control scheme, a delay-dependent stability criterion is derived for the synchronization of chaotic systems that are represented by Lur'e systems with deadzone nonlinearity. Based on the Lyapunov--Krasovskii functional and by using some properties of the nonlinearity, a new delay-dependent stabilization condition for synchronization is obtained via linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation. The criterion is less conservative than existing ones, and it will be verified through a numerical example.     

New approach to synchronization in asymmetrically coupled networks

Global exponentially synchronization in asymmetrically coupled networks is investigated in this Letter. We extend eigenvalue based method to synchronization in symmetrically coupled network to synchronization in asymmetrically coupled network. A new stability criterion of eigenvalue based is derived. In this criterion, both a term that is the second largest eigenvalue of a symmetrical matrix and a term that is the largest value of sum of column of asymmetrical coupling matrix play a key role. Comparing with existing results, the advantage of our synchronization stability result is that it can analytical be applied to the asymmetrically coupled networks and overcome the complexity on calculating eigenvalues of coupling asymmetric matrix. Therefore, this condition is very convenient to use. Moreover, a necessary condition of this synchronization stability criterion is also given by the elements of the coupling asymmetric matrix, which can conveniently be used in judging the synchronization stability condition without calculating the eigenvalues of coupling matrix.     

Formation of Charged Particle Tracks in Solids

A criterion for formation of etchable tracks in solids is suggested using the well-known concepts of ionization and thermal spikes, diffusion process with useful and justified assumptions, and present or published experimental and theoretical investigations on the same subject. The suggested criterion is useful for a wide spectrum of researchers including development and applications of track recording materials, ions implantation, sputtering and other areas, which include interactions of charged particles with solids.