Robust Output Tracking Control of an Uncertain Linear System via a Modified Optimal Linear-Quadratic Method

This study investigates the robust output tracking problem for a class of uncertain linear systems. The uncertainties are assumed to be time invariant and to satisfy the matching conditions. According to the selected nominal parameters, an optimal solution with a prescribed degree of stability is determined. Then, an auxiliary input via the use of an adapting factor, connected to the nominal optimal control, is introduced to guarantee the robustness and prescribed degree of stability for the output tracking control of the uncertain linear systems. This method is very simple and effective and can reject bounded uncertainties imposed on the states. A maglev vehicle model example is given to show its effectiveness.     

Nickel as a chemical modifier for sensitivity enhancement and fast atomization processes in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cadmium in biological and environmental samples.

A systematic study of the efficiency of protons, Ni, Pd and Th as chemical modifiers for the determination of cadmium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) using fast temperature programs was made for platform atomization. A comparison was made in terms of the salt type, absorbance-time profiles and elimination of the sodium chloride interference. The results were adapted to develop a method for the ETAAS determination of cadmium in biological and environmental samples. The highest sensitivity to determine cadmium in biological and environmental samples was obtained using nickel (together with protons) as a chemical modifier. The accuracy of the method was tested by the determination of cadmium in different certified reference materials. The best detection limit and the characteristic mass of Cd were found to be 0.03 ng mL(-1) and 0.35 pg, respectively.     

Determination of Hydrogen Single Ion Activity Coefficients in Aqueous HCl Solutions at 25°C

The single ion activity coefficients of hydrogen and chloride ions in aqueous HCl solutions have been estimated at 25°C at concentrations up to 1 mol-kg^–1, using potentiometric measurements with ion-selective electrodes and appropriate calibration procedures. Two methods are described for an internal calibration of the electrodes in the extended Debye–Hückel concentration range. The results are compared to the conventional pH calibration with external buffer solutions. Since the latter calibration method does not account for the liquid junction potential E _J which arises at the reference electrode, the resulting activity coefficients are quite different in HCl solutions of higher concentration. These differences between internal and external calibration decrease significantly, when a correction for E _J is introduced into the conventional pH calibration. Hence, in solutions of higher ionic strength the accuracy of the conventional pH electrode calibration using buffer solutions is very limited, when exact H⁺ activities are required. The consistency of the results indicates that the liquid junction potentials in the examined systems calculated by the Henderson/Bates approximation are of reasonable precision.     

Surface roughness investigation of semi-conductor wafers

Conventionally, surface roughness is predominantly determined through the use of stylus instruments. However, there are certain limitations involved in the method, particularly when a test specimen, such as a silicon wafer, has a smooth mirror-like surface. Hence, it is necessary to explore alternative non-contact techniques. Light scattering has recently been gaining popularity as an optical technique to provide prompt and precise inspection of surface roughness. In this paper, the total integrated scattering (TIS) model is modified to retrieve parameters on surface micro-topography through light scattering. The applicability of the proposed modified TIS model is studied and compared with an atomic force microscope. Experimental results obtained show that the proposed technique is highly accurate for measuring surface roughness in the nanometer range.     

Study of ferroelectric switching by domain-wall induced light scattering

Measurements of 90°-scattering of weak laser light are used to investigate pulsed domain switching in ferroelectrics. The studies were performed on strontium-barium niobate (SBN) single crystals. A good agreement of the switching parameters estimated from the optical measurements with those obtained by means of conventional electrical methods proves the validity of the optical method for switching studies. Due to the limited scattering volume in all three spatial dimensions, the method facilitates local probing of the switching within the crystal bulk. In particular, local specialities of the domain density can be detected. Furthermore, the excellent time resolution inherent in optical probing techniques allows for a comprehensive study of the dynamics.     

Dispersion relations and Omnès representations for $K\to \pi \pi$ decay amplitudes

We derive dispersion relations for decay, using the Lehmann-Symanzik-Zimmermann formalism, which allows the analytic continuation of the amplitudes with respect to the momenta of the external particles. No off-shell extrapolation of the field operators is assumed. We obtain generalized Omnès representations, which incorporate the and S-wave phase shifts in the elastic region of the direct and crossed channels, according to the Watson theorem. The contribution of the inelastic final-state and initial-state interactions is parameterized by the technique of conformal mappings. We compare our results with previous dispersive treatments and indicate how the formalism can be combined with lattice calculations to yield physical predictions. Received: 14 October 2002 / Published online: 14 February 2003     

The K–nucleus cross sections in relativistic non-linear models

The K⁺−nucleus cross sections have been calculated in relativistic non-linear models taking into account the in-medium modifications of nucleons and mesons properties. More precisely, we have taken into account both the dressing of the nucleon effective mass by the scalar nuclear field in the target and the coupling of the mesons exchanged between the K⁺ and the nucleons to the polarization of the medium. First, using the most recent relativistic non-linear models, the in-medium σ, ω and ρ meson masses have been obtained in the nuclear matter rest frame. The influence of the non-linear contributions on the K⁺−nucleus cross sections has then been studied. Finally, we have compared our results with the experimental data.     

Structures and syntheses of layered and framework amine-bearing uranyl phosphate and uranyl arsenates

Two hydrated uranyl arsenates and a uranyl phosphate were synthesized by hydrothermal methods in the presence of amine structure-directing agents and their structures determined: (N₂C₆H₁₄)[(UO₂)(AsO₄)]₂(H₂O)₃, DabcoUAs, {NH(C₂H₅)₃}[(UO₂)₂(AsO₄)(AsO₃OH)], TriethUAs, and (N₂C₄H₁₂)(UO₂)[(UO₂)(PO₄)]₄(H₂O)₂, PiperUP. Intensity data were collected at room temperature using MoKα X-radiation and a CCD-based area detector. The crystal structures were refined by full-matrix least-squares techniques on the basis of F² to agreement indices (DabcoUAs, TriethUAs, PiperUP) wR₂=5.6%, 8.3%, 7.2% for all data, and R₁=2.9%, 3.3%, 4.0%, calculated for 1777, 5822, 9119 unique observed reflections (|F_o|?4σ_F), respectively. DabcoUAs is monoclinic, space group C2/m, Z=2, a=18.581(1), b=7.1897(4), c=7.1909(4) Å, β=102.886(1)°, V=936.43(9) Å³, D_calc=3.50 g/cm³. TriethUAs is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, Z=4, a=9.6359(4), b=18.4678(7), c=10.0708(4) Å, β=92.282(1)°, V=1790.7(1) Å³, D_calc=3.41 g/cm³. PiperUP is monoclinic, space group Pn, Z=2, a=9.3278(4), b=15.5529(7), c=9.6474(5) Å, β=93.266(1)°, V=1397.3(1) Å³, D_calc=4.41 g/cm³. The structure of DabcoUAs contains the autunite-type sheet formed by the sharing of vertices between uranyl square bipyramids and arsenate tetrahedra. The triethylenediammonium cations are located in the interlayer along with two H₂O groups and are disordered. Both TriethUAs and PiperUP contain sheets formed of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids and tetrahedra (arsenate and phosphate, respectively) with the uranophane sheet-anion topology. In TriethUAs, triethlyammonium cations are located in the interlayer. In PiperUP, the sheets are connected by a uranyl pentagonal bipyramid that shares corners with phosphate tetrahedra of adjacent sheets, resulting in a framework with piperazinium cations and H₂O groups in the cavities of the structure.