An Extended Model for Establishing Dominance in Multiattribute Decisionmaking

This paper is concerned with the use of incomplete information about utilities and weights in multiattribute decisionmaking. Because of time pressure and/or lack of knowledge, a decision maker may only be able to provide incomplete information which might be expressed as a set of linear inequalities. If the decision maker's information on both weights and utilities is imprecisely identified, then the model for establishing pairwise dominance becomes a non-linear program. A method for obtaining non-dominated alternatives without solving the non-linear program is proposed using a simple weighted-additive function.     

Thick junction broadband organic photodiodes

Inorganic semiconductor‐based broadband photodetectors are ubiquitous in imaging technologies such as digital cameras and photometers. Herein a broadband organic photodiode (OPD) that has performance metrics comparable or superior to inorganic photodiodes over the same spectral range is reported. The photodiode with an active layer comprised of a poly[N‐9′‐heptadecanyl‐2,7‐carbazole‐alt‐5,5‐(4′,7′‐di‐2‐thienyl‐2′,1′,3′‐benzothiadiazole)]:[6,6]‐phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester bulk heterojunction blend had a dark current < 1 nA/cm², specific detectivity of ∼10¹³ Jones, reverse bias −3 dB frequency response of 100 kHz to 1 MHz, and state‐of‐the‐art Linear Dynamic Range for organic photodiodes of nine orders of magnitude (180 dB). The key to these performance metrics was the use of a thick junction (700 nm), which flattened the spectral response, reduced the dark current and decreased performance variations. The strategy also provides a route to large area defect free “monolithic” structures for low noise integrated photo‐sensing, position determination, or contact, non‐focal imaging.     

Design and investigation of UV image detectors

The results of investigation of optical image detectors designed for the largest problem, near-VUV, range of the spectrum are presented. The possibility of using a dual-stage image detection system to appreciably lower the sensitivity threshold and make computer data processing feasible is considered. The integration of a UV module into a wideband image detector is studied.     

Observation of insulating–insulating monoclinic structural transition in macro‐sized VO2 single crystals [Phys. Status Solidi RRL 5, No. 3, R107–R109 (2011)]

In our article, we reported the observation of monoclinic M2 to M1 structural phase transition in VO₂ single crystal near the temperature of ～49 °C. However, the re‐examination of Laue patterns reveals that previously defined monoclinic M1 and M2 phases can be interpreted as monoclinic M2 and triclinic T phases instead. Careful experimental geometry calibration and further refinement of the lattice parameter ratios and angles show that monoclinic M2 and triclinic T phases fit better with the experimental data. On the other hand, our previous misidentification of the insulating phases does NOT affect the conclusions of our article. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Study of YBa2Cu3O7−x films at various stages of their growth by medium-energy ion scattering

The initial stages in the formation and growth of yttrium-barium cuprate films have been studied in the course of magnetron sputtering of a ceramic target by combining medium-energy-ion scattering (MEIS) and scanning-electron microscopy. The growth mechanisms of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x films on MgO and substrates having the perovskite structure, SrTiO₃ and LaAlO₃, at deposition temperatures of 700–780 °C and (Ar+O₂) pressure of ∼70 Pa were found to be essentially different. Simulation of MEIS spectra (H⁺ or He⁺ ions with initial energies of 150–250 keV) and comparison of these results with experimental data revealed that in the first case a film forms from pyramid-shaped islands and, in the second, it grows by a two-dimensional layer-by-layer process starting practically with the first monolayer. For the island mechanism, MEIS permitted determination of the substrate surface coverage and showed the growth of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x phase to be paralleled by formation of epitaxial nuclei of a Cu₂O phase. After the first, initial stage in the film formation, the second stage, regular growth within reduced thicknesses of 7–15 nm, sets in. This stage is characterized by a practically complete coverage of the substrate and a stable composition. The third stage, regular growth, of an apparently helical nature, was observed to set in at thicknesses above 100 nm. In this stage, the quality of film structure in the bulk and on the surface was found to be somewhat inferior to that of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x single crystals and did not depend on substrate type. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 588–595 (April 1999)     

MRI of thermally denatured blood: methemoglobin formation and relaxation effects

Focal regions of T₁-shortening have been observed in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-monitored thermal ablations of perfused tissues. The aims of this study were two-fold: to find evidence for heat-induced conversion of hemoglobin (Hb) to methemoglobin (mHb), and to investigate the effects of heat treatment of in-vitro blood components upon their MR relaxation times. Spectrophotometric studies were performed to confirm the heat-induced formation of methemoglobin. Preparations of whole and fractionated blood, previously submitted to elevated temperatures of 40°C to 80°C, were imaged and the relaxation times were calculated. Optical absorption spectra of samples containing free Hb, heated to 60°C, showed increased light absorption at 630 nm, evident of mHb presence. Short T₁ values in whole blood (1.13 s) and packed red blood cell (0.65 s) compartments, heated at 60°C, compared to their baseline values (1.62 s and 0.83 s, respectively), were attributed to mHb formation. In relation to MRI-guided thermal interventions, these results suggest a possible explanation for observation of hyperintense regions on T₁-weighted images.     

Swallowtail band structure of the superfluid Fermi gas in an optical lattice

We investigate the energy band structure of the superfluid flow of ultracold dilute Fermi gases in a one-dimensional optical lattice along the BCS to Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) crossover within a mean-field approach. In each side of the crossover region, a loop structure (swallowtail) appears in the Bloch energy band of the superfluid above a critical value of the interaction strength. The width of the swallowtail is largest near unitarity. Across the critical value of the interaction strength, the profiles of density and pairing field change more drastically in the BCS side than in the BEC side. It is found that along with the appearance of the swallowtail, there exists a narrow band in the quasiparticle energy spectrum close to the chemical potential, and the incompressibility of the Fermi gas consequently experiences a profound dip in the BCS side, unlike in the BEC side.     

Electronic structure and spatial distribution of the spin density of shallow nitrogen donors in the SiC lattice

The discovery of unique magnetooptical properties of paramagnetic centers in silicon carbide, which make it possible to control spins of small arrays of centers of atomic sizes to single centers at room temperatures, using the techniques of optical detection of the magnetic resonance, posed a number of problems, among which one of the main ones is the creation of conditions under which spin relaxation effects are minimized. As studies of properties of spin nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond showed, the main contribution to spin relaxation is made by the interaction with nitrogen donors, being a major impurity in diamond. A similar problem exists for silicon carbide, since nitrogen donors are also basic background impurities. The objective of this work is to study the spatial distribution of the spin density of nitrogen donors in two basic silicon carbide polytypes, i.e., 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC, to use this information for minimizing the interaction of nitrogen donors with paramagnetic centers in silicon carbide. The results of the study are analyzed by magnetic resonance methods; the spin density distribution on the nearest coordination spheres of nitrogen donors occupying carbon sites in silicon carbide is determined. It is concluded that paramagnetic centers in the 4H-SiC polytype, including silicon vacancies, can be more stable to the interactions with unpaired donor electrons, since electrons are not localized on the coordination sphere closest to the paramagnetic center in this case.     

Temperature‐dependent Raman scattering study of multiferroic MnWO4

We have measured polarized Raman spectra of MnWO₄ single crystals at low temperatures, and studied the temperature dependence of the various phonon modes. From our Raman studies of the MnWO₄, a new transition temperature, ∼180 K, was found. We have completely assigned the symmetries of the 18 observed Raman modes of the MnWO₄, as expected from a group theoretical analysis. These Raman modes have been classified into three groups according to weak, intermediate and strong temperature dependence of the modes in each group. Six internal modes have been identified by their weak temperature dependence of the Raman wavenumbers. The temperature dependence of the wavenumbers of the B_g modes in Mg O bonds, modes of intermediate temperature dependence group, shows an anomalous behavior under 50 K. The phonon modes of strong temperature dependence show an anomalous change at ∼180 K in the linewidths. This is believed to be a new transition temperature which involves the changes in the inter‐WO₆ octahedra structure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.