Parametric computation of a fuzzy set solution to a class of fuzzy linear fractional optimization problems

The class of fuzzy linear fractional optimization problems with fuzzy coefficients in the objective function is considered in this paper. We propose a parametric method for computing the membership values of the extreme points in the fuzzy set solution to such problems. We replace the exhaustive computation of the membership values—found in the literature for solving the same class of problems—by a parametric analysis of the efficiency of the feasible basic solutions to the bi-objective linear fractional programming problem through the optimality test in a related linear programming problem, thus simplifying the computation. An illustrative example from the field of production planning is included in the paper to complete the theoretical presentation of the solving approach, but also to emphasize how many real life problems may be modelled mathematically using fuzzy linear fractional optimization.     

Comparison between experimental and predicted specific absorption rate of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticle suspensions

Radio-frequency heated magnetic nanoaparticle suspensions have potential applications in cancer hyperthermia. To optimize these systems for hyperthermia applications it is important to be able to predict how their heat generation or specific absorption rate (SAR) is influenced by various factors, including nanoparticle coating or functionalization and aggregation. However, at present it is unclear how well-existing models predict experimental SAR results. Direct comparisons between predicted and measured SAR are scarce, despite an abundance of works reporting on heat generation rate of various magnetic nanoparticles suspensions. The main objective of this paper is to experimentally assess the validity of current models for SAR and extract information on the effects of coating and aggregation on heat generation rate. In this context, AC susceptibility and magnetization of suspensions of uncoated particles, as well as particles with aminosilane and carboxymethyl-dextran functionalizations, were measured. These properties were then used to predict the heat generation rate in alternating magnetic field starting from first principles, which was then compared to measured SAR. It was found that experimental SAR agrees relatively well with predictions (by a factor of two) when using experimental susceptibility values for the SAR calculation. However, for uncoated and amine-functionalized particles poor agreement (more than an order of magnitude difference) was found when the experimental susceptibility was substituted with predictions based on the Debye model. This apparent discrepancy is attributed to dipolar interactions between nanoparticles within aggregates in these samples, which enhances the imaginary part of the susceptibility and, consequently, the SAR values. The results also suggest that the thermal resistance effect of the coating has little influence on the SAR.     

Structural characterization study of nickel ferrite particles dispersed in a corrosion product deposit layer

Using X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, both EXAFS and XANES, the cation distributions in NiFe₂O₄ particles dispersed in a corrosion product deposit layer have been studied. The specimen was obtained from a selected fuel rod used in a commercial boiling water reactor plant. EXAFS data allowed the quantitative determination of specific site distributions for all transition metal cations in Ni-ferrite deposits. The results show that the analyzed NiFe₂O₄ particles do not have a totally inverted spinel structure. The relative occupancy of iron and nickel cations in the tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the spinel lattice is determined from the measured data.     

Controlling Single Molecule Conductance by a Locally Induced Chemical Reaction on Individual Thiophene Units

Among the prerequisites for the progress of single‐molecule‐based electronic devices are a better understanding of the electronic properties at the individual molecular level and the development of methods to tune the charge transport through molecular junctions. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is an ideal tool not only for the characterization, but also for the manipulation of single atoms and molecules on surfaces. The conductance through a single molecule can be measured by contacting the molecule with atomic precision and forming a molecular bridge between the metallic STM tip electrode and the metallic surface electrode. The parameters affecting the conductance are mainly related to their electronic structure and to the coupling to the metallic electrodes. Here, the experimental and theoretical analyses are focused on single tetracenothiophene molecules and demonstrate that an in situ‐induced direct desulfurization reaction of the thiophene moiety strongly improves the molecular anchoring by forming covalent bonds between molecular carbon and copper surface atoms. This bond formation leads to an increase of the conductance by about 50 % compared to the initial state.     

Cyclophane with eclipsed pyrene units enables construction of spin interfaces with chemical accuracy

Advanced functionality in molecular electronics and spintronics is orchestrated by exact molecular arrangements at metal surfaces, but the strategies for constructing such arrangements remain limited. Here, we report the synthesis and surface hybridization of a cyclophane that comprises two pyrene groups fastened together by two ferrocene pillars. Crystallographic structure analysis revealed pyrene planes separated by ∼352 pm and stacked in an eclipsed geometry that approximates the rare configuration of AA-stacked bilayer graphene. We deposited this cyclophane onto surfaces of Cu(111) and Co(111) at submonolayer coverage and studied the resulting hybrid entities with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). We found distinct characteristics of this cyclophane on each metal surface: on non-magnetic Cu(111), physisorption occurred and the two pyrene groups remained electronically coupled to each other; on ferromagnetic Co(111) nanoislands, chemisorption occurred and the two pyrene groups became electronically decoupled. Spin-polarized STM measurements revealed that the ferrocene groups had spin polarization opposite to that of the surrounding Co metal, while the pyrene stack had no spin polarization. Comparisons to the non-stacked analogue comprising only one pyrene group bolster our interpretation of the cyclophane''s STM features. The design strategy presented herein can be extended to realize versatile, three-dimensional platforms in single-molecule electronics and spintronics.

A chemical strategy for the bottom-up construction of 3D spin interfaces is presented. Scanning tunnelling microscopy reveals distinct electronic features of a cyclophane with precisely designed pi-stacking on ferromagnetic Co(111) nanoislands.     

Role of dispersion forces in the structure of graphene monolayers on Ru surfaces

Elaborate density functional theory (DFT) calculations that include the effect of van der Waals (vdW) interactions have been carried out for graphene epitaxially grown on Ru(0001). The calculations predict a reduction of structural corrugation in the observed moiré pattern of about 25% (～0.4 ?) with respect to DFT calculations without vdW corrections. The simulated STM topographies are close to the experimental ones in a wide range of bias voltage around the Fermi level.     

Yb-doped KY(WO4)2 planar waveguide laser

High-quality monoclinic KY(WO4)2 optical waveguides were grown by liquid-phase epitaxy, and laser operation of an Yb-doped KY(WO4)2 waveguide was demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. Continuous-wave laser emission near 1 microm was achieved with both surface and buried planar waveguides. An output power of 290 mW was obtained in the fundamental mode and the slope efficiency was above 80%.     

Room-temperature continuous-wave operation of Ti:sapphire buried channel-waveguide lasers fabricated via proton implantation

Fabrication and laser operation of proton-implanted Ti:sapphire buried channel waveguides is reported for the first time to our knowledge. Without any postimplantation annealing of the structures, continuous laser operation near 780 nm was demonstrated at room temperature at an absorbed pump power threshold of 230 mW. Single-transverse-mode laser emission was observed with measured beam propagation factors M(2)(x) and M(2)(y) of 1.5 and 1.2, respectively. An output power of 12.4 mW for 1 W pump power was obtained with an output coupler of 4.6% transmission at the signal wavelength. Higher output powers were measured in waveguides with larger cross sections exhibiting multimode laser emission.     

Structural characterisation and thermal stability of SnSe\GaSb stacked films

We have investigated the effect of thermal annealing on the structure of single and stacked phase change memory films based on SnSe and GaSb. Samples were prepared by pulsed laser deposition and investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Electrical resistance versus temperature investigations showed crystallisation temperatures of 292°C and 198°C for SnSe and GaSb single films, respectively. Above the transition temperature, GaSb crystallises into a face-centered cubic structure, whereas SnSe has an orthorhombic arrangement. Annealing at three temperatures (160°C, 250°C and 350°C) of the SnSe\GaSb stacked films promotes bond breaking, atom diffusion between the two layers and formation of new phases. At 160°C, GaSb films crystallise partially and no effect is observed on the crystallinity of SnSe films. After 250°C, rhombohedral SnSb emerges in addition to GaSb complete crystallisation. A major, completely new, body-centered orthorhombic unindexed quaternary Ga-Sn-Sb-Se phase formation was observed in the samples annealed at 350°C. The GaSb crystallites are fully dissolved and we have observed the formation of a minor hexagonal SnSe₂ phase. The analysis of EXAFS data, measured at Se and Ga K-edges, revealed changes in the local atomic environment as a function of the annealing temperature. A tetrahedral configuration is obtained for the Ga atoms in both as-deposited and annealed samples, whereas Se is mostly bivalent in the amorphous samples and has an octahedral arrangement in crystalline SnSe. Our results show that inter-layer diffusion should always be considered and evaluated when designing memory cells composed of stacked phase change chalcogenide films.