Leader propagation speed and the final jump distance of 8 m long laboratory sparks

Vertical profile of the leader in long laboratory sparks was analyzed using high speed video photographs. Sparks were generated in an 8 m gap of sphere – plane electrodes with positive impulse voltage of 250/2500 μs wave form. The spatial resolution of the high speed frame camera was 19.6 mm per pixel with a time resolution of 50 μs. It was found that the average final jump distance of five sparks was about 4 m and the average electric field in the final jump region is about 5 × 10⁵ V/m the leader speed varies from 1.3 × 10⁴ m/s to 3.1 × 10⁴ m/s as it propagates toward the ground. The average leader speed of the leader was in the order of 1.8 × 10⁴ m/s. The observations show that there is a significant increase in the leader speed just before the final jump.     

Channel tortuosity of long laboratory sparks

Channel tortuosity of 50 cm long laboratory sparks were measured by analyzing a set of images taken by three cameras. The cameras were placed at a radial distance of 200 cm from the spark gap. The angle between any two cameras was 120°. The sparks were generated between a steel rod and a plane electrode. The distribution of the direction change of the channel was found to be Gaussian with a standard deviation of 15.3°. The average tortuosity of the channel defined as the mean absolute value of the direction change was 11.8±1.4°, which is smaller than the average tortuosity of natural lightning and close to the tortuosity of triggered lightning. The average tortuosity is dependent on the segment length used in calculating the direction change. A gradual increase in the average tortuosity (0.08°/cm) was seen when the sparks propagated towards the plane electrode.     

ICLAS of HDO between 13,020 and 14,115 cm

The high resolution absorption spectrum of monodeuterated water, HDO, has been recorded by Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (ICLAS) in the 13,020–14,115 cm⁻¹ region dominated by the 4ν₃ band. The achieved noise equivalent absorption (α_min10⁻⁹ cm⁻¹) allowed detecting transitions with line strengths as small as 2×10⁻²⁷ cm/molecule which is about 10 times lower than the smallest line intensities previously detected in the region.The rovibrational assignment of the spectrum was based on the results of the variational calculations of Schwenke and Partridge (SP) as well as recent calculations using a new potential energy surface performed by Voronin, Tolchenov and Tennyson (VTT). 2157 transitions involving 21 upper vibrational states were assigned to HD¹⁶O while only four bands were previously reported in the region. A set of 157 new energy levels could be derived. It includes rotational levels of several highly excited bending states, in particular the (0 11 0) pure bending state. For some states like the (1 0 3) and (0 2 3) Fermi dyad, effective Hamiltonian modelling was needed to establish the vibrational assignments of some rotational levels. VTT calculations were found to significantly improve the SP results, the rms deviation of the calculated and observed energies being decreased from 0.23 to 0.06 cm⁻¹.Finally, 79 transitions of the 4ν₃ band of the HD¹⁸O isotopologue were assigned, leading to the derivation of 48 levels, which are the most excited energy levels reported so far for this isotopologue.     

Numerical simulation of long laboratory sparks generated by positive switching impulses

A numerical methodology using two different leader channel criteria has been implemented. The methodology is based on Bondiou and Gallimberti's proposition [A. Bondiou, I. Gallimberti, Theoretical modelling of the development of the positive spark in long spark, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 27 (1994) 1252–1266]. The leader channel criteria used are Rizk engineering criterion [Rizk, A model for switching impulse leader inception and breakdown of long air gaps, IEEE Trans. Power Deliv., 4(1) (1989)] and Local thermodynamic – L.T.E. – physical concept [I. Gallimberti, The mechanism of the long spark formation, Colloque C7, J. Phys. (supplement au nro 7, Tome 40) (July 1979) C7–193]. The methodology was tested in three different cases; a deterministic case, a statistical variation and a typical constant level test. Deterministic calculation considered corona inception using stabilization corona electric field criterion of Gallimberti [I. Gallimberti, The mechanism of the long spark formation, Colloque C7, J. Phys. (supplement au nro 7, Tome 40) (July 1979) C7–193] and the leader moving as segments. The statistical simulation has two different statistical delays, one at inception and the other due to the tortuous characteristics of the leader channel. The constant level test consists of 200 positive switching impulses with the same characteristics such as maximum applied voltage, time to crest and time to fall. Time to breakdown and breakdown voltage were found based on the results obtained from the constant level test characteristics. All the numerical results presented are based on experimental conditions reported in [Les Renardières Group, Research on long gap discharges at Les Renardières, Electra N 35 (1973)] from the world class research group namely Les Renardieres Group.     

High-resolution synchrotron far-infrared spectroscopy of acrolein: The vibrational levels below 700 cm

The far-infrared spectrum of acrolein, CH₂CHCHO, is studied in the 100–360 cm⁻¹ region using continuum radiation from a synchrotron source. The combination of a very high resolution spectrometer, a long absorption path, and a low sample pressure, yields observed line widths of less than 0.0008 cm⁻¹. Observation of the ν₁₈ (157.9 cm⁻¹), and ν₁₃ (323.8 cm⁻¹) fundamental bands, together with six hot bands in the same regions, gives information on eight low-lying vibrational states of the molecule, including the Fermi and Coriolis interactions among them. Combining the present assignments with previous data on the ν₁₂ (564.34 cm⁻¹) and ν₁₇ (593.08 cm⁻¹) fundamental bands, all ten excited vibrational levels below 700 cm⁻¹ are analyzed in terms of one 1-state fit, two 2-state fits, and one 5-state fit.     

High-resolution infrared and theoretical study of four fundamental bands of gaseous 1,3,4-oxadiazole between 800 and 1600 cm

The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of gaseous 1,3,4-oxadiazole, C₂H₂N₂O, has been recorded in the 800–1600 cm⁻¹ wavenumber region with a resolution around 0.0030 cm⁻¹. The four fundamental bands ν₉(B₁; 852.5 cm⁻¹), ν₁₄(B₂; 1078.5 cm⁻¹), ν₄(A₁; 1092.6 cm⁻¹), and ν₂(A₁; 1534.9 cm⁻¹) are analyzed by the standard Watson model. Ground state rotational and quartic centrifugal distortion constants are obtained from a simultaneous fit of ground state combination differences from three of these bands and previous microwave transitions. Upper state spectroscopic constants are obtained for all four bands from single band fits using the Watson model. The ν₄ and ν₁₄ bands form a c-Coriolis interacting dyad, and the two bands are analyzed simultaneously by a model including first and second order Coriolis resonance using the ab initio predicted Coriolis coupling constant . An extended local resonance in ν₂ is explained as higher order b-Coriolis type resonance with ν₆ + ν₁₀, which is further perturbed globally by the ν₁₅ + ν₁₀ level. A fit of selected low-J transitions to a triad model including ν₂(A₁), ν₆ + ν₁₀(B₁), and ν₁₅ + ν₁₀(A₂) using an ab initio calculated Coriolis coupling constant is performed.The rotational constants, ground state quartic centrifugal distortion constants, anharmonic frequencies, and vibration–rotational constants (α-constants) predicted by quantum chemical calculations using a cc-pVTZ and TZ2P basis with B3LYP methodology, are compared with the present experimental data, where there is generally good agreement. A complete set of anharmonic frequencies and α-constants for all fundamental levels of the molecule is given.     

Long RE123 coated conductors with high critical current over 500 A/cm by IBAD/PLD technique

We have developed long RE₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7?X (RE123) coated conductors with large current capacity by the ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) and the pulsed laser deposition using hot wall heating (HW-PLD) technique. As a result, we could fabricate an 8 m-long Gd₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7?X (Gd123) coated wire with the minimum and maximum critical current (I_c) of 951 A/cm-w and 1003 A/cm-w at 77 K, 0 T, respectively, measured in 0.7 m-long sections by the standard 4-probe technique. Furthermore, we succeeded in preparation of over 600 m-long Gd123 coated wire with the uniform I_c distribution over 600 A/cm-w. It had average, maximum and minimum I_c of 665, 698, 609 A/cm-w, respectively. The n-values of the sample showed the maximum I_c and minimum I_c were 40 and 36, respectively. As a result, we set the new world record of I_c × L value as 374535 A m (= 609 A × 615 m). The in-field performance of this long wire was quite high as well; the minimum I_c exceeded 50 A/cm-w at 77 K, 3 T.     

g-factor of magnesium particles of diameter between 10 and 30 Å

ESR measurements of Mg particles smaller than about 40 Å show evidence for a quantum size effect on the g-value. The large g-shift of our bulk Mg has allowed us to follow the evolution of the g-factor as a function of particle size. The theoretical model of Myles and Buttet, which predicts a gradual change from the bulk g-value to the free electron g-value when the size decreases is in qualitative agreement with the experimental data.     

High-resolution infrared spectroscopy of NNO and NNO in the 1200–3500 cm region

We present a continuation of our investigation of the second most abundant isotopic species of nitrous oxide, ¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁶O and ¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁶O, in the infrared (IR). Our two previous contributions looked at the 3500–9000 cm⁻¹ region for ¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁶O and ¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁶O, respectively, in the 3500–9000 cm⁻¹ region. The use of highly enriched isotopologue samples in this study allowed us to go further into the IR, down to 1200 cm⁻¹. A total of 2 2742 transitions have been assigned based on the effective Hamiltonian model, with 108 of them being reported here for the first time. Rovibrational analyses of 98, 101, 8, 3, 6, 1 and 1 bands for the ¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁶O, ¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁶O, ¹⁵N¹⁵N¹⁶O, ¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁸O, ¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁸O, ¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁷O and ¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁷O isotopologues, respectively, were also performed.     

The high-resolution infrared spectrum of isoxazole vapor between 800 and 1700 cm

The Fourier transform gas-phase IR spectrum of isoxazole, C₃H₃NO, between 550 and 1700 cm⁻¹ was measured with a resolution of ca. 0.003 cm⁻¹. Ten fundamental bands in the region 800-1700 cm⁻¹ have been analyzed by the Watson Hamiltonian model to yield upper state spectroscopic constants. A number of local resonances have been identified in the bands and explained qualitatively, and the unobserved ν₁₄(A″) fundamental band has been located at 897.5(5) cm⁻¹ from its perturbation effects on the neighboring fundamentals.     

The high-resolution infrared spectrum of pyrrole between 900 and 1500 cm revisited

The Fourier transform gas-phase infrared spectrum of pyrrole, C₄H₅N, has been recorded with a resolution of ca. 0.003 cm⁻¹ in the 900-1500 cm⁻¹ spectral region. Four fundamental bands, ν₈(A₁; 1016.9 cm⁻¹), ν₂₃(B₂; 1049.1 cm⁻¹), ν₇(A₁; 1074.6 cm⁻¹), ν₂₀(B₂; 1424.4 cm⁻¹) and the overtone band 2ν₁₆(A₁; 962.7 cm⁻¹) have been analysed using the Watson model. The ν₈ and 2ν₁₆ bands are unperturbed; the ν₇ and ν₂₃ bands are locally perturbed, while the ν₂₀ band is globally perturbed by weak c-Coriolis resonance. Upper state vibrational term values, and rotational and centrifugal distortion constants, have been obtained from fits using S-reduction and I^r-representation as well as A-reduction and III^r-representation. A set of ground state rotational and centrifugal distortion constants using A-reduction was obtained from a simultaneous fit of ground state combination differences from all five bands and previous microwave and millimetre-wave data.     

The hot bands of silane between 2120 and 2270 cm

The infrared spectrum of the SiH₄ molecule has been recorded between 2040 and 2320 cm⁻¹ using the high-resolution Fourier interferometer of the Laboratoire de Photophysique Moléculaire (Orsay, France). The resolution was 5.4 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹. In this region, many lines were previously analyzed and assigned to the ν₁/ν₃ stretching dyad of ²⁸SiH₄, ²⁹SiH₄, and ³⁰SiH₄ molecules [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 143 (1990) 35]. However, several lines in the spectrum were not assigned. The results obtained in our previous study [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 197 (1999) 307] of the infrared spectrum of ²⁸SiH₄, in the bending-stretching tetrad region at 3100 cm⁻¹, enabled us to assign 204 of the observed transitions to hot bands (the ν₁ + ν₂/ν₁ + ν₄/ν₂ + ν₃/ν₃ + ν₄ bending-stretching tetrad minus the ν₂/ν₄ bending dyad). These transitions were used to refine the set of the Hamiltonian parameters of the bending-stretching tetrad. The analysis is performed using the tensorial formalism developed in Dijon for tetrahedral molecules and implemented in the STDS software (http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/LPUB/shTDS.html).     

Fourier transform measurements of SO2 absorption cross sections: II.: Temperature dependence in the 29 000–44 000 cm (227–345 nm) region

This paper is the second of a series that reports results on the measurements of the absorption cross section of SO₂ in the UV/visible region at high resolution and that investigates high temperatures in support to planetary applications. Absorption cross sections of SO₂ have been obtained in the 29 000–44 000 cm⁻¹ spectral range (227–345 nm) with a Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 2 cm⁻¹ (0.4500 cm MOPD and boxcar apodisation). Pure SO₂ samples were used and measurements were performed at room temperature (298 K) as well as at 318, 338 and 358 K. Temperature effects in this spectral region are investigated and are favorably compared to existing studies in the literature. Comparison of the absorption cross section at room temperature shows good agreement in intensity with most of the literature data, but shows that most of the latter suffer from inaccurate wavelength scale definition. Moreover, literature data are often given only on restricted spectral intervals. Combined with the data described in the first part of this series of papers on SO₂, this new data set offers the considerable advantage of covering the large spectral interval extending from 24 000 to 44 000 cm⁻¹ (227–420 nm), at the four temperatures investigated.     

N(2)O weak lines observed between 3900 and 4050 cm from long path absorption spectra

Previously unobserved nitrous oxide transitions around 2.5 μm are measured by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) analyzed by time-resolved Fourier transform (TRFT) spectrometer. With an accuracy of the order of 10⁻³ cm⁻¹, measured positions of 1637 assigned weak transitions are provided. They belong to 42 vibrational transitions, among which 33 are observed for the first time. These data are believed to be useful in particular to monitoring atmosphere purposes.     

Evaluation of probe size in STEM imaging at 30 and 60 kV

In order to estimate the probe size on the specimen surface in a newly developed low-acceleration-voltage (30–60 kV) atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we compared the intensity profiles of experimentally obtained annular dark field (ADF)-STEM images of Si–Si dumbbells and those of images simulated using a multislice method which takes chromatic aberration into account. However, the simulated ADF images at 30 and 60 kV were found not to match the corresponding experimental images. Subsequently, the simulated images were convolved with probe functions (normal distributions) of different widths until a good match was obtained between the images. This allowed the probe shapes corresponding to the experimental conditions to be determined. ADF-STEM images with chromatic aberration could then be calculated by an incoherent superposition of these probe functions over a range of energies. The full widths at half maximum for the probe functions were estimated to be 99.2 pm for 30 kV and 92.8 pm for 60 kV. The D59 diameters were calculated to be 154.0 pm for 30 kV and 127.8 pm for 60 kV. This means that the 30-kV probe has a larger tail than the 60-kV probe.     

Kinetic model for the relationship between mean diameter shortening and age reduction in glass samples

Fission tracks in glass samples are shortened when they experience thermal treatment. Consequently, the observable dimensions associated with track length also diminish. The dimension normally used to characterize track size is the mean diameter of the etched track at the surface, D. Another consequence of length shortening is the reduction of surface density, ρ, implying a reduction of the fission-track age. In this work, a kinetic model is developed to describe the relationship between fission-track mean diameter shortening and surface fission-track density reduction in glass samples, based on geometrical and etching hypotheses. The result is a two-parameter equation given by

(1)

in which h is the thickness of the layer removed during etching and n is a parameter related to the latent track geometry and etching reaction rate. The equation was compared with experimental data on Australite glass found in the literature and with fresh data on Macusanite glass presented in this work. The model fits the experimental curves quite well, showing that it describes the etching effects correctly (within its limitations). In addition, the model equation derived in this work can be very useful in age correction of partially annealed glass samples.     

30 mm wide process of GdBCO PLD/clad-type textured metal substrates

Gd₁Ba₂Cu₃O_x (GdBCO) coated conductors using bi-axially textured clad-type substrates have been developed for high temperatures superconducting (HTS) power cables. In this project, large amount of coated conductors (CCs) are necessary for the several tests of basic properties of HTS power cables and the fabrication of a 15 m long 3-in-one HTS model cable. In order to ensure an adequate amount and properties of coated conductors, the stable manufacturing technology and the high production rate at each process are required.In this report, we have newly installed a high power laser of 300 W for the PLD system, resulting in improvement of the manufacturing stability and the deposition rate for GdBCO film. In addition, we have optimized target–substrate distance in PLD process, and the uniformity of I_c distribution across 30 mm wide tapes were remarkably improved. Furthermore, the surface morphology of buffer layers were enhanced by optimizing the deposition condition using electron beam (EB) evaporation method, and the maximum I_c value for a short sample has achieved 497 A/cm at 77 K in the self-field. Based on these progresses, we are currently developing the stable manufacturing process for long CCs with over 400 A/cm.     

Far-infrared observations of the galactic Cygnus region and Mars with a 60 cm diameter balloon-borne telescope

We have introduced secondary-mirror chopping in our balloon-borne far-infrared 60 cm Ø telescope equipped with He-cooled filters and a composite silicon bolometer with an NEP of 1.3 10^–14 W/Hz^1/2 for imaging, radiometry and spectroscopy of the Cygnus region at the wavelengths 80 m, 130 m and 310 m. The modified system was flown on September 26/27, 1990 with a 380'000m³ hydrogen balloon at the CNES station at Aire/Adour, France. Observations were performed at a platform height of 39 km during 5 hrs. We made successful measurements on the complexes DR21 and S106 of the Cygnus region as well as on Mars at the wavelengths mentioned.     

The “S” curve relationship between export diversity and economic size of countries

The highly detailed international trade data among all countries in the world during 1971-2000 shows that the kinds of export goods and the logarithmic GDP (gross domestic production) of a country have an S-shaped relationship. This indicates that all countries can be divided into three stages accordingly. First, the small economies always export very few kinds of products as we expect. Second, once the economic size magnitude (log(GDP)) of a country is beyond a threshold, its export diversity may increase dramatically. However, this is not the case for large economies because a ceiling on the export diversity is observed when their logarithmic GDPs are higher than another threshold. This pattern is very stable for different years although the concrete parameters of the fitting sigmoid functions may change with time. In addition, we also discussed other relationships such as import diversity with respect to logarithmic GDP, diversity of exporters with respect to the number of export goods etc.; all of these relationships show S-shaped or power law patterns which can be derived by the “S” curve relations. Although this paper does not explain the origin of the S-shaped curve, it may provide a basic empirical fact and insights for economic diversity.     

A competition between (0 0 1) and (0 1 1) alignments in yttria stabilized zirconia thin films fabricated by ion beam assisted deposition

Biaxially textured yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin films, were deposited on glass substrates by ion beam assisted deposition method with different deposition time. As contrasts, films were also fabricated without assisting ion beam. The orientation properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction. A comparative study shows that there is a competition between (0 0 1) and (0 1 1) alignments during the growth process. Assisting ions make the films (0 0 1)-advantaged and biaxially textured. The competitive growth and the orientation development are explained by selective resputtering and anisotropic damage on growing films induced by assisting ions.