Eliminating graphs by means of parallel knock-out schemes

In 1997 Lampert and Slater introduced parallel knock-out schemes, an iterative process on graphs that goes through several rounds. In each round of this process, every vertex eliminates exactly one of its neighbors. The parallel knock-out number of a graph is the minimum number of rounds after which all vertices have been eliminated (if possible). The parallel knock-out number is related to well-known concepts like perfect matchings, hamiltonian cycles, and 2-factors.We derive a number of combinatorial and algorithmic results on parallel knock-out numbers: for families of sparse graphs (like planar graphs or graphs of bounded tree-width), the parallel knock-out number grows at most logarithmically with the number n of vertices; this bound is basically tight for trees. Furthermore, there is a family of bipartite graphs for which the parallel knock-out number grows proportionally to the square root of n. We characterize trees with parallel knock-out number at most 2, and we show that the parallel knock-out number for trees can be computed in polynomial time via a dynamic programming approach (whereas in general graphs this problem is known to be NP-hard). Finally, we prove that the parallel knock-out number of a claw-free graph is either infinite or less than or equal to 2.     

Structural studies of Cr-doped mullite derived from single-phase precursors

Cr-doped mullites were prepared from single-phase precursors containing up to 9.60 wt% Cr₂O₃ using a sol-gel technique followed by thermal treatment. Particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction were used to characterize the samples. Mullites were orthorhombic, space group Pbam. Cr doping caused the increase of unit-cell parameters. Strongest expansion was noticed along c-axis followed by a and b (Δc/c=0.089, Δa/a=0.061, Δb/b=0.045% per mole Cr₂O₃). A second phase, namely θ-(Al,Cr)₂O₃, was revealed by XRD in the sample containing 9.60 wt% Cr₂O₃. The structure of mullites was refined by the Rietveld method, location of Cr³⁺ was performed by the EPR spectroscopy. At low chromium doping level (Cr₂O₃ content less than ∼5 wt%) Cr³⁺ ions were substituted for Al³⁺ in the AlO₆ octahedra of the mullite structure (M1 site). For higher doping level, Cr³⁺ ions were additionally substituted for Al³⁺ in the AlO₆ octahedra of the second phase [θ-(Al,Cr)₂O₃ at 1400 °C, or α-(Al,Cr)₂O₃ at 1600 °C] which segregated in the system. Substitution of Cr³⁺ for Al³⁺ on M1 site in the mullite structure resulted in increase of average distances in (M1)O₆ octahedron and decrease of average distances in T*O₄ tetrahedron, while average distances in TO₄ tetrahedron stayed almost constant.     

Restorations of punctured languages and similarity of languages

Punctured languages are languages whose words are partial words in the sense that the letters at some positions are unknown. We investigate to which extent restoration of punctured languages is possible if the number of unknown positions or the proportion of unknown positions per word, respectively, is bounded, and we study their relationships for different boundings. The considered restoration classes coincide with similarity classes according to some kind of similarity for languages. Thus all results we can also formulate in the language of similarity. We show some hierarchies of similarity classes for each class from the Chomsky hierarchy and prove the existence of linear languages which are not δ ‐similar to any regular language for any δ < ½. For δ ≥ ½ this is unknown but it could only be possible in the case of non‐slender linear languages. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A cutting plane algorithm for a clustering problem

In this paper we consider a clustering problem that arises in qualitative data analysis. This problem can be transformed to a combinatorial optimization problem, the clique partitioning problem. We have studied the latter problem from a polyhedral point of view and determined large classes of facets of the associated polytope. These theoretical results are utilized in this paper. We describe a cutting plane algorithm that is based on the simplex method and uses exact and heuristic separation routines for some of the classes of facets mentioned before. We discuss some details of the implementation of our code and present our computational results. We mention applications from, e.g., zoology, economics, and the political sciences.     

Nanocrystalline ceramic films for efficient conversion of light into electricity

Transparent nanocrystalline films of oxide semiconductors such as TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ have been prepared on a conducting glass support employing a sol-gel procedure. The films are composed of nanometer-sized particles sintered together to allow for percolative charge carrier transport. The internal surface of these films is very high, roughness factors of the order of 1000 being readily obtained. Electric polarization was applied for forward and reverse biasing of the films and the resulting optical changes have been analyzed to derive their flat band potential. Band gap excitation of such nanocrystalline semiconductors produces electron-hole pairs which migrate through the film to be collected as electric current. Steady state photolysis and time resolved laser techniques have been applied to scrutinize the mechanism of light induced charge separation within the nanostructure. When derivatized with a suitable chromophore, TiO₂ films give extraordinary efficiencies for the conversion of incident photons into electric current, exceeding 90% for certain transition metal complexes within the wavelength range of their absorption band. The underlying physical principles of these astonishing findings will be discussed. Exploiting this discovery, we have developed a new type of photovoltaic device whose overall light to electric energy conversion yield is 10% under simulated AM 1.5 solar radiation.     

Producing and transferring low-spatial-frequency grids for measuring displacement fields with moiré and grid methods

Experimental Techniques -