Full wave electromagnetic simulation of electrooptic high-speed probes

This paper outlines the process of modelling external electrooptic probes mounted on coplanar waveguides (CPW). The techniques used to describe the electromagnetic properties of the external probes are the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and the finite difference transmission line method (FDTLM). These full wave techniques are time domain in nature that must be Fourier transformed to describe important frequency domain characteristics such as scattering parameters. The optical retardation of the probe is related to the full wave analysis through a commonly used grid size that results in a generalized basis for a complete electrooptic system analysis including a unique definition of an electrooptic transfer function,H(). Following the field simulation, the properties of the probe (invasiveness, retardation, signal distortion and group delay) are presented. Procedures for optimizing models for probe tips are discussed and related to a first-order model that has been developed. The results indicate that these probes can be simulated successfully on moderately sized Unix work stations and that the optimization of probe models must include the full wave simulation in the definition of the necessary gradients for the optimization process.     

Computational Study of MHD Equilibrium of Noncircular Tokamak Reactor Plasmas

The MHD equilibrium and stability of noncircular tokamak plasmas limited by a separatrix is studied for reactor size systems. A typical example with a plasma current of 15.8 MA and major radius of 8.1 is presented. The required vertical field is generated by a set of discrete external coils and no conducting shell is included. The detailed equilibrium shape is calculated numerically for a vertical elongated plasma with two stagnation points symmetrically located above and below the midplane as would be required for a system with a poloidal divertor. The plasma height to width ratio is 2, the plasma shape factor is 1.6 and poloidal ? is 2.2. The plasma is locally stable. The general stability criteria with respect to quasi-rigid motions (special kink modes) are calculated numerically and found to be satisfied. Size scaling and the engineering constraints are discussed.     

Expedient synthesis of novel β-ketoesters from the Mizoroki–Heck coupling of ethyl 3-ethoxyacrylate with aryl and pyridyl halides

It is well known that β-ketoesters are useful intermediates for the synthesis of a range of heterocyclic templates. While there are many useful synthetic methods available to access these intermediates, there are still opportunities for the discovery of useful methodologies for their construction from novel starting materials. In this regard, we report on the discovery of a facile Pd-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck coupling of ethyl 3-ethoxyacrylate with aryl and heteroaryl halides to form substituted alkoxyacrylates which can be hydrolyzed to form novel aryl and heteroaryl β-ketoesters.     

A Metal–Organic Framework with Cooperative Phosphines That Permit Post‐Synthetic Installation of Open Metal Sites

PCM‐101 is a phosphine coordination material comprised of tris(p‐carboxylato)triphenylphosphine and secondary pillaring groups coordinated to [M₃(OH)]⁵⁺ nodes (M=Co, Ni). PCM‐101 has a unique topology in which R₃P: sites are arranged directly trans to one another, with a P???P separation distance dictated by the pillars. Post‐synthetic coordination of soft metals to the P: sites proceeds at room temperature to provide X‐ray quality crystals that permit full structural resolution. Addition of AuCl groups forces a large distortion of the parent framework. In contrast, CuBr undergoes insertion directly between the trans‐P sites to form dimers that mimic solution‐phase complexes, but that are geometrically strained due to steric pressure exerted by the MOF scaffold. The metalated materials are active in heterogeneous hydroaddition catalysis under mild conditions, yielding different major products compared to their molecular counterparts.     

Nonlinear programming via an exact penalty function: Global analysis

In this paper we motivate and describe an algorithm to solve the nonlinear programming problem. The method is based on an exact penalty function and possesses both global and superlinear convergence properties. We establish the global qualities here (the superlinear nature is proven in [7]). The numerical implementation techniques are briefly discussed and preliminary numerical results are given.This work is supported in part by NSERC Grant No. A8639 and the U.S. Dept. of Energy.