Magnetic calorimeter for registration of small energy release

A scheme of magnetic calorimeter for registration of rare events characterized by small energy release (cosmic rays, WIMPs, solitary X-ray quanta) is proposed. The calorimeter is brought to operation by adiabatic demagnetization, and its magnetic response is measured by a quantum interferometer (SQUID, A. Barone and G. Paterno, Physics and applications of Josephson Effect). Special consideration is given to the specific features of calorimeter operation in the ferromagnetic transition region. The trigger registration of ultrasmall energy release by a ferromagnetic system in the metastable state is described.     

Continuity of the Solution Map in Parametric Affine Variational Inequalities

A systematic study of the upper semicontinuity and the lower semicontinuity of the solution map in parametric affine variational inequalities is given in this paper. Several examples are constructed to analyze the results. This work was supported by Korea Research Foundation Grant (KRF 2001-015-DP0049), the APEC Postdoctoral Fellowships Program, and the KOSEF Brain Pool Program.     

Mathematical analysis of investment systems

Investment systems are studied using a framework that emphasize their profiles (the cumulative probability distribution on all the possible percentage gains of trades) and their log return functions (the expected average return per trade in logarithmic scale as a function of the investment size in terms of the percentage of the available capital). The efficiency index for an investment system, defined as the maximum of the log return function, is proposed as a measure to compare investment systems for their intrinsic merit. This efficiency index can be viewed as a generalization of Shannon's information rate for a communication channel. Applications are illustrated.     

The solution existence of general variational inclusion problems

We propose general variational inclusion problems which are slightly different from corresponding problems considered in several recent papers in the literature and show that they are advantageous. Sufficient conditions for the solution existence are established. As applications we derive consequences for several special cases of variational inclusion problems, quasioptimization problems, equilibrium problems and implicit variational inequalities and show that they improve the results of some recent existing papers.     

Graphitic nanofillers in PMMA nanocomposites—An investigation of particle size and dispersion and their influence on nanocomposite properties

Mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of graphite/PMMA composites have been evaluated as functions of particle size and dispersion of the graphitic nanofiller components via the use of three different graphitic nanofillers: “as received graphite” (ARG), “expanded graphite,” (EG) and “graphite nanoplatelets” (GNPs) EG, a graphitic materials with much lower density than ARG, was prepared from ARG flakes via an acid intercalation and thermal expansion. Subsequent sonication of EG in a liquid yielded GNPs as thin stacks of graphitic platelets with thicknesses of ～10 nm. Solution‐based processing was used to prepare PMMA composites with these three fillers. Dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal analysis, and electrical impedance measurements were carried out on the resulting composites, demonstrating that reduced particle size, high surface area, and increased surface roughness can significantly alter the graphite/polymer interface and enhance the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the polymer matrix. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2097–2112, 2007     

Natural convections in conjugated single and double enclosures

The natural convection in single and double conjugated enclosures are numerically investigated. The single and double enclosures are formed by low conductance walls with finite thickness. The outside vertical surfaces of the conducting walls are of the third kind of boundary condition while the top and bottom outside surfaces are adiabatic. The problem studied is characterized by a dominant horizontal temperature gradient and the thermal boundary conditions at the cavity surfaces can not be specified in priori. Numerical results reveal the characteristics in such kind of enclosures and show the importance of the thermal boundary conditions on the natural convection in enclosures. It is also found that the natural convections in the conjugated double enclosures are basically the same, with a major difference in their fluid temperature levels.     

Making equation of state models predictive: Part 2: An improved PCP-SAFT equation of state

We use the PCP-SAFT equation of state, which is of the Van der Waals type and has a sound physical basis, to predict mixture properties, such as vapor–liquid and liquid–liquid equilibria, as well as excess enthalpies. We use molecular properties, such as dipole moment, quadrupole moment, polarizability and dispersion interaction coefficients, that have been determined quantum mechanically in Part I of this publication and adjust the remaining three pure compound parameters to pure compound data. We finally present a new combination rule for the dispersion energy parameter ? that is based on the quantum mechanically determined data. The predictions based on quantum mechanically determined pure compound properties along with the new combination rule show an improved performance compared to the original PCP-SAFT combination rule.     

Bending-torsion vibration of a partially submerged cylinder with an arbitrary cross-section

An analytical method is presented to investigate the bending-torsion vibration characteristics of a cylinder with an arbitrary cross-section and partially submerged in water. The compressibility and the free surface waves of the water are considered simultaneously in the analysis. The exact solution of structure–water interaction is obtained mathematically. Firstly, the analytical expression of the velocity potential of the water is derived by using the method of separation of variables. The unknown coefficients in the velocity potential are determined by the longitudinal and circumferential Fourier expansions along the outer surface of the cylinder and are expressed in the form of integral equations including the unknown dynamic bending deflection and torsional angle of the cylinder. Secondly, the force and torque acting on the cylinder per unit length, provided by the water, are obtained by integrating the water dynamic pressure along the circumference of the cylinder. The general solution of bending-torsion vibration of the cylinder under the water dynamic pressure is derived analytically. The integral equations included in the velocity potential of the water can be solved exactly. Finally, the eigenfrequency equation of cylinder–water interaction is obtained by means of the boundary conditions of the cylinder. Some numerical examples for elliptical columns partially submerged in water are provided to show the application of the present method.     

Superstring motivated gauge models based on a rank six subgroup ofE 6

We discuss gauge models based on a superstring motivated rank six subgroup ofE ₆. Lepton number is an accidental unbroken symmetry of the models which leads to an essentially stable proton. One of the neutral gauge bosons couples toB-L and may have mass below a TeV.