A model for the dynamics of loop drag by a gliding dislocation

Clusters of self-interstitial atoms are formed in metals by high-energy displacement cascades, often in the form of small dislocation loops with a perfect Burgers vector. In isolation, they are able to undergo fast, thermally activated glide in the direction of their Burgers vector, but do not move in response to a uniform stress field. The present work considers their ability to glide under the influence of the stress of a gliding dislocation. If loops can be dragged by a dislocation, it would have consequences for the effective cross-section for dislocation interaction with other defects near its glide plane. The lattice resistance to loop drag cannot be simulated accurately by the elasticity theory of dislocations, so here it is investigated in iron and copper by atomic-scale computer simulation. It is shown that a row of loops lying within a few nanometres of the dislocation slip plane can be dragged at very high speed. The drag coefficient associated with this process has been determined as a function of metal, temperature and loop size and spacing. A model for loop drag, based on the diffusivity of interstitial loops, is presented. It is tested against data obtained for the effects of drag on the stress to move a dislocation and the conditions under which a dislocation breaks away from a row of loops.     

Numerical study of nonlinear interaction between a crack and elastic waves under an oblique incidence

A Finite Element (FE) model is proposed to study the interaction between in-plane elastic waves and a crack of different orientations. The crack is modeled by an interface of unilateral contact with Coulombs friction. These contact laws are modified to take into account a pre-stress _σ0${\sigma }_0$ that closes the crack. Using the FE model, it is possible to obtain the contact stresses during wave propagation. These contact stresses provide a better understanding of the coupling between the normal and tangential behavior under oblique incidence, and explain the generation of higher harmonics. This new approach is used to analyze the evolution of the higher harmonics obtained as a function of the angle of incidence, and also as a function of the excitation level. The pre-stress condition is a governing parameter that directly changes the nonlinear phenomenon at work at the interface and therefore the harmonic generation. The diffracted fields obtained by the nonlinear and linear models are also compared.     

Conception of an experimental device for measuring the in-plane shear modulus of film materials

A freely oscillating torsional pendulum was designed and built for measuring the in-plane shear modulus of film materials. To make the work easier for the experimenter, an online computer application was also developed with the help of numeric tools (Fourier and Hillbert transforms) for data acquisition and processing. The experimental part was performed on various materials. Experiments on a brass foil (isotropic material) validated measurements achieved with this experimental device. Experiments on orthotropic materials (base papers with different basis weights) gave prominence to the good reproducibility of measurements and to the ability for using this torsional pendulum. For this kind of material (large basis weight base paper), the in-plane shear modulus seemed independent of the fiber orientation.     

The split-cavity oscillator: a high-power E-beam modulator andmicrowave source

A compact device, called a split-cavity oscillator, whose self-excited oscillating electromagnetic field converts a large-area steady electron beam into one that is highly density modulated, is described. It does this in a short beam travel length, easing both space-charge and pinching limitations. Thus, high currents are possible without requiring a magnetic guide field. Methods for converting the modulated output beam into high-power microwaves are discussed, as are ways to phase-lock several oscillators together. Analytic theory, numerical simulations, and experiments describing the device are presented     

A high-statistics determination of the Λ mean lifetime

Recent determinations of the mean lifetime of the Λ hyperon have given values significantly greater than the previously accepted world average. Using 34 000 Λ → pπ^? decays in the CERN 2m. hydrogen bubble chamber, we have measured the Λ lifetime to be (2.611 ± 0.020) × 10^?10sec.     

Pomeron dominance in a triple-Regge representation of inclusive Δ++ production in K−p and π−p reactions

Data are presented on the reactions K^?p → Δ⁺⁺ + anything at 10 and 16 GeV/c and π^?p → Δ⁺⁺ + anything at 16 GeV/c. In the K^?p reaction, scaling is observed between 10 and 16 GeV/c in the variable M²/s. The scaling occurs at relatively low values of M in marked contrast to the reaction π⁺p → Δ⁺⁺ + anything. This result can be explained by duality arguments on a triple Regge picture, since the exchanged reggeon-incident particle scattering is exotic. Comparison of the π^?p reaction, which is similarly exotic, with the K^?p reaction at the same energy gives further evidence for factorization in pomeron-dominated inclusive reactions.     

Disturbed oscillatory brain dynamics in subcortical ischemic vascular dementia

Background

This study examined the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as different n-6: n-3 ratios on spatial learning and gene expression of peroxisome- proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the hippocampus of rats. Thirty male Sprague?CDawley rats were randomly allotted into 3 groups of ten animals each and received experimental diets with different n-6: n-3 PUFA ratios of either 65:1, 22:1 or 4.5:1. After 10?weeks, the spatial memory of the animals was assessed using the Morris Water Maze test. The expression of PPAR?? and PPAR?? genes were determined using real-time PCR.

Results

Decreasing dietary n-6: n-3 PUFA ratios improved the cognitive performance of animals in the Morris water maze test along with the upregulation of PPAR?? and PPAR?? gene expression. The animals with the lowest dietary n-6: n-3 PUFA ratio presented the highest spatial learning improvement and PPAR gene expression.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that modulation of n-6: n-3 PUFA ratios in the diet may lead to increased hippocampal PPAR gene expression and consequently improved spatial learning and memory in rats.     

Selectivity of modulation interference for consonant identification in normal-hearing listeners

The present study sought to establish whether speech recognition can be disrupted by the presence of amplitude modulation (AM) at a remote spectral region, and whether that disruption depends upon the rate of AM. The goal was to determine whether this paradigm could be used to examine which modulation frequencies in the speech envelope are most important for speech recognition. Consonant identification for a band of speech located in either the low- or high-frequency region was measured in the presence of a band of noise located in the opposite frequency region. The noise was either unmodulated or amplitude modulated by a sinusoid, a band of noise with a fixed absolute bandwidth, or a band of noise with a fixed relative bandwidth. The frequency of the modulator was 4, 16, 32, or 64 Hz. Small amounts of modulation interference were observed for all modulator types, irrespective of the location of the speech band. More important, the interference depended on modulation frequency, clearly supporting the existence of selectivity of modulation interference with speech stimuli. Overall, the results suggest a primary role of envelope fluctuations around 4 and 16 Hz without excluding the possibility of a contribution by faster rates.     

A multiple-frequency hydrophone calibration technique

A method is described for comparing the sensitivity of two hydrophones over the frequency range 1-15 MHz. This technique forms the basis for the dissemination of national ultrasonic standards in the U.K. over this frequency range. A reference hydrophone is placed in an ultrasonic field and then the device being calibrated is substituted and the two output voltages are compared. This substitution method utilizes a broadband ultrasonic field produced by nonlinear propagation. Thus it is possible to cover the whole frequency range with a single measurement on each hydrophone. The overall uncertainty in the intercomparison of two hydrophones increases from +/- 4.2% at 1 MHz to +/- 8.2% at 15 MHz (95% confidence level). The method has been compared with discrete-frequency substitution, time-delay spectrometry, and absolute calibrations using the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Primary Standard Laser Interferometer. Various designs and sizes of hydrophones were compared, and agreement was within the combined random uncertainties for all the comparisons.     

The asymmetry of Ly-α and Ly-β

The asymmetry of the first two spectral lines of the Lyman series of hydrogen is calculated. Detailed profiles, which include the effects of time ordering and asymmetry, are presented for a region of the line profile from the center to the line wings, where the impact approximation for the electrons and the quasi static approximation for ions are reasonably applicable. Deviations in the line wings from “Unified theories” are of the order 0–15% for the profile parameter range considered. Such deviations should have only a minor effect on the computed asymmetry.The far red wing of both Ly-α and Ly-β is seen to dominate the blue wing. In the near wings the blue intensity becomes equal to the red intensity. From here into the line center, the blue intensity is larger than the red intensity. In the case of Ly-β, there is the expected enhancement of the blue peak and reduction of the red peak.The calculated profiles are compared with previous calculations and recent experimental results.