When almost Cohen–Macaulay algebras map into big Cohen–Macaulay modules

In this article, we show that almost Cohen–Macaulay algebras are solid. Moreover, we seek for the conditions when (a) an almost Cohen–Macaulay algebra is a phantom extension and (b) when it maps into a balanced big Cohen–Macaulay module.     

Quasi-one dimensional graphite ribbon structures in the presence of a magnetic field and the on-site Coulomb correlation at half-filling

We have presented the role of the Coulomb interaction (U) and the magnetic field [(B)\vec]\vec{B} on the ground state properties of the quasi-one dimensional graphite ribbon structures at half-filling. Mean field Hartree-Fock Approximation is used to study the systems. To understand the boundary effects in graphite structures, we have compared the results of these systems with those of the square lattice ribbon structures. Studying the density of states, the Drude weight and the charge gap, we have drawn the U – B phase diagrams for the zigzag and the armchair graphite ribbons.     

A soft-segmentation visualization scheme for magnetic resonance images

Prevalent visualization tools exploit gray value distribution in images through modified histogram equalization and matching technique, referred to as the window width/window level-based method, to improve visibility and enhance diagnostic value. The window width/window level tool is extensively used in magnetic resonance (MR) images to highlight tissue boundaries during image interpretation. However, the identification of different regions and distinct boundaries between them based on gray-level distribution and displayed intensity levels is extremely difficult because of the large dynamic range of tissue intensities inherent in MR images. We propose a soft-segmentation visualization scheme to generate pixel partitions from the histogram of MR image data using a connectionist approach and then generate selective visual depictions of pixel partitions using pseudo color based on an appropriate fuzzy membership function. By applying the display scheme in clinical examples in this study, we could demonstrate additional overlapping regions between distinct tissue types in healthy and diseased areas (in the brain) that could help improve the tissue characterization ability of MR images.     

Stress in polycrystalline GaN films prepared by r.f sputtering

Undoped, Be-doped and Si-doped polycrystalline GaN films were deposited by R.F. sputtering onto fused silica substrates. The films were deposited at various deposition temperatures ranging from 300 K to 623 K and characterized by optical measurements while the microstructural information was obtained from SEM and XRD studies. The compositional study for the GaN film was carried out using SIMS. Residual stresses in these films were evaluated from the band tail of the absorption spectra as well as from direct measurements of hardness by commercially available depth sensing indentometer. It was observed that undoped GaN films had the highest hardness followed by that for Be-doped and Si-doped films. The values of hardness obtained form the above optical measurement tallied quite well with those obtained from direct indentation measurement.     

Mössbauer studies of ɛ-Fe3−x Ni x N and γ′-Fe4−y Ni y N nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline ?-Fe_3?x Ni _x N (0.0?≤?×?≤?0.8) particles are synthesized by precursor technique and nitridation of decomposed products in NH₃ (g) in the temperature range 673 K-823 K. For x?=?0.1–0.4 compositions, single phase ?-Fe_3?x Ni _x N hexagonal structure with space group P6₃/mmc is formed, while for x?=?0.5–0.8, fcc γ′-Fe_4?y Ni _y N phase is also precipitated. The room temperature Mössbauer spectrum for all the compositions shows the presence of superparamagnetic doublet, which is attributed to ?-Fe_3?x Ni _x N phase. For x?=?0.5–0.8 compositions, two additional sextets are observed corresponding to two different iron sites, the corner position (Fe^c) and the fcc position (Fe^f), in γ′-Fe_4?y Ni _y N. The added Ni atoms preferentially substitute the corner Fe^c positions. The isomer shift, quadrupole splitting and hyperfine field values are found to change with the Ni content.     

Anti-resonant reflecting photonic crystal waveguide (ARRPCW): modeling and design

In this paper, we apply an antiresonant reflecting layer concept in photonic crystal based waveguides. We have proposed a thin core ARRPCW with linear waveguide carved in it and hence calculated the transmission spectra for various length of waveguide and have shown that the longer waveguides in ARRPCW yields transmission with significantly high quality factor. Comparison of the transmission characteristics of normal conventional planar ARROW-B waveguides & ARRPCW has also been reported. The 2D FDTD numerical modeling reveals improved transmission for various lengths of planar ARROW and ARRPCW with low losses in long waveguides. Transmittance and quality factor are also calculated to confirm superior performance of the proposed design of ARROW based photonic crystal waveguide.     

Heat transfer in boundary layer stagnation-point flow towards a shrinking sheet with non-uniform heat flux

In this paper, the effect of non-uniform heat flux on heat transfer in boundary layer stagnation-point flow over a shrinking sheet is studied. The variable boundary heat fluxes are considered of two types: direct power-law variation with the distance along the sheet and inverse power-law variation with the distance. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into non linear self-similar ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by similarity transformations, and then those are solved using very efficient shooting method. The direct variation and inverse variation of heat flux along the sheet have completely different effects on the temperature distribution. Moreover, the heat transfer characteristics in the presence of non-uniform heat flux for several values of physical parameters are also found to be interesting.     

Coupling and crosstalk characteristics of hybrid silicon plasmonic waveguides

In this paper, the design and analysis of an ultracompact coupler based on a hybrid silicon plasmonic waveguide (HSPW) is proposed and its coupling and crosstalk characteristics have been theoretically investigated for the development of optical interconnects that can be realized using well-established complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible fabrication techniques. To determine the minimum horizontal separation distance and efficient coupling length for the designed coupler, the symmetric and antisymmetric supermodes are obtained and their characteristics are studied at a wavelength of 1.55 μm. Efficient light coupling is exhibited by the HSPW coupler with 75 % of power transfer between the two HSPWs with ultrashort coupling length of 2.14 μm when the separation distance is 50 nm. Further, it is shown that the crosstalk is significantly reduced with the insertion of metallic strip between the two HSPWs for realizing highly dense integrated plasmonic circuits.     

Flat Partial Connections on a Three Manifold Equipped with a Codimension One Foliation

Given a compact connected oriented three manifold, equipped with a codimension one foliation, such that the Bott connection on the normal bundle is flat, a 2-form on the space parametrizing flat partial connections on it has been constructed. This form is closed. In the special case where the foliated three manifold is a surface bundle over the circle, this 2-form is identified with a certain 2-form on the parameter space for a class of paths in the representation space for the surface group. The 2-form, in question, on the parameter space for paths is constructed from the natural symplectic form on the representation space for a surface group.