Synchronization Analysis of Coupled Noncoherent Oscillators

We present two different approaches to detect and quantify phase synchronization in the case of coupled non-phase coherent oscillators. The first one is based on the general idea of curvature of an arbitrary curve. The second one is based on recurrences of the trajectory in phase space. We illustrate both methods in the paradigmatic example of the R?ssler system in the funnel regime. We show that the second method is applicable even in the case of noisy data. Furthermore, we extend the second approach to the application of chains of coupled systems, which allows us to detect easily clusters of synchronized oscillators. In order to illustrate the applicability of this approach, we show the results of the algorithm applied to experimental data from a population of 64 electrochemical oscillators.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic study of Prussian Blue from different provenances

Ferric ferrocyanides synthesized from different sources of ferric cations and ferrocyanide anions and those derived from ferrous ferricyanide, ferrous ferrocyanide and ferric ferricyanide have been studied using Mössbauer and XRD techniques. Structural information of the effect of the provenance on the properties of the final compound is obtained. Significant correlations between isomer shift and quadrupole splitting of inner and outer iron cations have been observed.     

Effect of carbon content on the microstructure and the cracking susceptibility of Fe-based laser-clad layer

The laser cladding of Fe-based alloys on a medium carbon steel substrate was performed using a CO₂ laser and Ar shielding gas that was blown into a molten pool. The microstructure and cracking susceptibility of the laser-clad layers were studied in terms of carbon additions. Results show that the small change of the carbon content in the alloy powders can obviously change the microstructure and properties of the layers. When the carbon content is in the range of 0.3–0.4 wt.%, the decrease of the carbon content in alloy powders will increase the hardness and toughness of the layers simultaneously under the same process parameters. As a result, crack-free coatings with high hardness can be obtained. As the carbon content increases from 0.2 wt.% to 0.4 wt.%, the segregation ratio of chromium increases, while the segregation ratios of nickel, manganese, and silicon first decrease and then increase. At the same time, a new designing principle concerning the composition and microstructure has been put forward, and the principal mechanisms of strengthening and toughening of the layers are fine-grain strengthening and low carbon martensitic phase transformation strengthening.     

Basins of Attraction of Periodic Oscillations in Suspension Bridges

We consider the dynamics of the lowest order transversal vibration mode of a suspension bridge, for which the hangers are treated as one-sided springs, according to the model of Lazer and McKeena [SIAM Review 58, 1990, 537]. We analyze in particular the multi-stability of periodic attractors and the basin of attraction structure in phase space and its dependence with the model parameters. The parameter values used in numerical simulations have been estimated from a number of bridges built in the United States and in the United Kingdom, thus taking into account realistic, yet sometimes simplified, structural, aerodynamical, and physical considerations.     

Two-step cascades of 117Sn(n, 2γ) reaction and problems of describing main nuclear properties below Bn

Main properties of the excited states of ¹¹⁸Sn manifesting themselves in cascade γ decay of its compound state are studied. As in heavier nuclei studied earlier, qualitative interpretation of the whole set of observed properties of the nucleus appears to be impossible without accounting for coexistence and interaction of quasiparticle and collective nuclear excitations and their considerable influence on the main parameters of the process under study. From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 67, No. 10, 2004, pp. 1845–1849. Original English Text Copyright ? 2004 by Khitrov, Panteleev, Sukhovoj, Honzátko, Tomandl. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

A new technique for obtaining the activation energy distribution of a relaxing system

This paper describes a robust and fast fitting procedure applicable for relaxing processes that cannot be understood as a discrete sum of single processes but require an activation energy distribution. The method is based on a set of closed-form expressions that allow the computation of the relaxation parameters directly from the isochronal curves obtained experimentally. The usefulness of this method is checked by analyzing the isochronal curves given by a theoretical energy distribution and the magnetic disaccommodation spectra observed in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) samples. PACS 02.60.Ed; 75.60.Lr; 75.50.Gg