Laser Diode-Pumped Nd：LuVO4 Acousto-Optic Q-Switched Laser at 916 nm

A compact laser diode-pumped solid-state Nd：LuVO4 acousto-optic Q-switched laser is demonstrated at 916 nm of a quasi-three level for the first time. A pulse width of 130ns is observed when the pulse-repetition frequency is 10 kHz. The laser experiment shows that the Nd：Lu VO4 crystal can be used for efficient diode-pumped Q-switched lasers.     

Mechanical Characterization of Biological Membranes with Moiré Techniques and Multi-Point Simulated Annealing

This paper describes an hybrid procedure for mechanical characterization of biological membranes. The in-plane displacement field of a glutaraldehyde treated bovine pericardium patch obtained with an equi-biaxial tension test is measured with intrinsic moiré and then compared with finite element predictions. Preliminary analysis of moiré patterns observed in the experiments justifies the assumption of the constitutive model based on transversely isotropic hyperelasticity. In order to determine the 16 hyperelastic constants included in the constitutive model and the fiber orientation, the difference Ω between displacement values measured with moiré and their counterpart determined numerically is minimized by means of multi-level and multi-point simulated annealing. Results clearly demonstrate the efficiency of the identification procedure presented in this research: in fact, residual difference between experimental data and numerical values of in-plane displacements is less than 2%. In order to validate the entire identification process, another experimental test is conducted by inflating the same specimen. Out-of-plane displacements, now measured with projection moiré, are compared with predictions of a new finite element model reproducing the experimental test. The 16 hyper-elastic constants previously determined are given in input to the inflation test FE model. Remarkably, experimental and numerical results are again in excellent agreement: maximum percent error on w-displacement is less than 3%.     

Numerical integration based on trivariate C 2 quartic spline quasi-interpolants

In this paper we consider the space generated by the scaled translates of the trivariate C ² quartic box spline B defined by a set X of seven directions, that forms a regular partition of the space into tetrahedra. Then, we construct new cubature rules for 3D integrals, based on spline quasi-interpolants expressed as linear combinations of scaled translates of B and local linear functionals. We give weights and nodes of the above rules and we analyse their properties. Finally, some numerical tests and comparisons with other known integration formulas are presented.     

Measurements of Deflection and Residual Stress in Thin Films Utilizing Coherent Light Reflection/Projection Moiré Interferometry

Thin film technology is an area of great importance in current applications of opto-electronics, electronics, MEMS and computer technology. A critical issue in thin film technology is residual stresses that arise when the coating is deposited onto a substrate. Residual stresses can be very large in magnitude and have detrimental effects on the role that the thin film must play. To save development time on coating deposition processes it is important to perform accurate residual stresses measurements in situ in real time where the deposition is made. A novel optical set up is developed in this study to measure deflections and residual stresses generated in coated specimens that can be applied directly in the reactor utilized in the deposition process. Experimental results are in good agreement with other measurements carried out independently and other data reported in literature for thin films like those tested in the experiments.     

An approximated 3-d model of the Langevin transducer and its experimental validation

In this work, an approximated 3-D analytical model of the Langevin transducer is proposed. The model, improving the classical 1-D approach describing the thickness extensional mode, allows us to predict also the radial modes of both the piezoelectric ceramic disk and the loading masses; furthermore, it is able to describe the coupling between radial and thickness extensional modes. In order to validate the model, the computed frequency spectrum is compared with that obtained by measurements carried out on 13 manufactured samples of different thicknesses to diameter ratios. The comparison shows that the model predicts with quite good accuracy the resonance frequencies of the two lowest frequency modes, i.e., those of practical interest, all over the explored range. Finally, the coupling effect between thickness and radial modes on the frontal displacement is measured and discussed.     

Counterrotating disks of collisionless particles and the hoop conjecture

We construct solutions to the Einstein equations and their sources with a high asphericity using kinetic theory. In particular, we consider all the solutions associated with disk like sources of counter rotating collisionless particles, and find that the hoop conjecture is satisfied.