Completely empty pyramids on integer lattices and two-dimensional faces of multidimensional continued fractions

In this paper we develop an integer-affine classification of three-dimensional multistory, completely empty convex marked pyramids. We apply it to obtain the complete lists of compact two-dimensional faces of multidimensional continued fractions lying in planes at integer distances 2, 3, 4, …  to the origin. The faces are considered up to the action of the group of integer-linear transformations.     

Barycentric coordinates for convex sets

In this paper we provide an extension of barycentric coordinates from simplices to arbitrary convex sets. Barycentric coordinates over convex 2D polygons have found numerous applications in various fields as they allow smooth interpolation of data located on vertices. However, no explicit formulation valid for arbitrary convex polytopes has been proposed to extend this interpolation in higher dimensions. Moreover, there has been no attempt to extend these functions into the continuous domain, where barycentric coordinates are related to Green’s functions and construct functions that satisfy a boundary value problem. First, we review the properties and construction of barycentric coordinates in the discrete domain for convex polytopes. Next, we show how these concepts extend into the continuous domain to yield barycentric coordinates for continuous functions. We then provide a proof that our functions satisfy all the desirable properties of barycentric coordinates in arbitrary dimensions. Finally, we provide an example of constructing such barycentric functions over regions bounded by parametric curves and show how they can be used to perform freeform deformations.      

Influence of ionizing radiation on the magnetically sensitive properties of planar triacs

Changes in the magnetically sensitive properties of multilayer semiconductors devices, such as planar diffusion triacs, that are related to atomic-displacement-induced defects and ionization by irradiation are considered. It is shown that irradiation may significantly raise the magnetic sensitivity of the triacs. Processes and underlying mechanisms responsible for the improvement of the magnetic sensitivity under the action of a number of galvanomagnetic effects are studied.     

Ultrafast creation and annihilation of space-charge domains in a semiconductor superlattice observed by use of Terahertz fields

We report an experimental study indicating ultrafast creation and annihilation of space-charge domains in a semiconductor superlattice under the action of a THz field. Our experiment was performed for an InGaAs/InAlAs superlattice with the conduction electrons undergoing miniband transport. We applied to a superlattice a dc bias that was slightly smaller than a critical bias necessary for the formation of space-charge domains caused by a static negative differential conductivity. Additionally subjecting the superlattice to a strong THz field, resulted in a dc transport governed by the formation of domains if the frequency of the field was smaller than an upper frequency limit (~3 THz). From this frequency limit for the creation and annihilation of domains we determined the characteristic time of the domain buildup. Our analysis shows that the buildup time of domains in a wide miniband and heavily doped superlattice is limited by the relaxation time due to scattering of the miniband electrons at polar optic phonons. Our results are of importance for both an understanding of ultrafast dynamics of pattern formation in nanostructures and the development of THz electronic devices.Received: 25 March 2004, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 72.20.Ht High-field and nonlinear effects - 72.30. + q High-frequency effects; plasma effects - 73.21.Cd SuperlatticesK.N. Alekseev: Permanent address: Department of Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 3000, University of Oulu FIN-90014, Finland.     

Effective thermal conductivity of water-saturated sintered powder-metal plates

An experimental apparatus and related procedures for the determination of the effective thermal conductivity of sintered powder-metal plates saturated with distilled water at temperatures in the range 20–150°C are discussed. The apparatus and procedures are applied to two samples of sintered powder-metal plates, one made of nickel 200 and the other of stainless steel 316, with porosities of 28.10 and 46.45%, respectively, and each of nominal dimensions 127 mm × 127 mm × 6.35 mm. The experimental results are compared with corresponding predictions yielded by several correlations available in the literature. The correlations based on experimental data for packed beds of spherical particles and also porous plates made of cold-pressed (but not sintered) particles of angular shapes do not apply well to sintered powder-metal plates. A new correlation, which is based on extensions of ideas contained in earlier works and provides improved predictions, is proposed.     

Formation of Supersonic Zones and Local Separation Zones in Transonic Steady-State Flow Past Surface Roughness in the Free Interaction Regime

Within the framework of free interaction theory numerical methods are used to investigate the occurrence of supersonic zones with shocks in the outer inviscid region for flow past roughness in the lower viscous sublayer, with and without the formation of local separation zones.     

Derivation of the k–ε model for locally homogeneous turbulence by homogenization techniques

We derive the incompressible and compressible k–ε model for locally homogeneous turbulence. The model is rigorously derived on formal mathematical grounds using the MPP modelling technique. This lets us calculate by either analytical or numerical means the closure constants of the model. To cite this article: T. Chacón Rebollo, D. Franco Coronil, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 337 (2003).     

Spinors, Inflation, and Non-Singular Cyclic Cosmologies

We consider toy cosmological models in which a classical, homogeneous, spinor field provides a dominant or sub-dominant contribution to the energy-momentum tensor of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. We find that, if such a field were to exist, appropriate choices of the spinor self-interaction would generate a rich variety of behaviors, quite different from their widely studied scalar field counterparts. We first discuss solutions that incorporate a stage of cosmic inflation and estimate the primordial spectrum of density perturbations seeded during such a stage. Inflation driven by a spinor field turns out to be unappealing as it leads to a blue spectrum of perturbations and requires considerable fine-tuning of parameters. We next find that, for simple, quartic spinor self-interactions, non-singular cyclic cosmologies exist with reasonable parameter choices. These solutions might eventually be incorporated into a successful past- and future-eternal cosmological model free of singularities. In an Appendix, we discuss the classical treatment of spinors and argue that certain quantum systems might be approximated in terms of such fields.