Developing a risk-assesment methodology in the U.K.defence industry

As a leading defence equipment company, the Dynamics Divisionof British Aerospace Defence Company (BAeDef(DD)) has experiencedthe worst effects of post-Coldwar defence cuts, a global recession,and a determination by the U.K. Government to achieve greatervalue for money in defence procurement. The major tenet of thisnew approach to defence prwurement was 'eyes on, hands off',promoting a shift of the management of project risks from theMinistry of Defence (MOD) to industry. Initial industry reactionwas sceptical but bxame increasingly compliant as tenderingrequirements included visibility of contractors' risk assessment.This paper describes the risk-assessment methodology createdby BAeDef(DD) to meet these changed conditions. The human and organizational aspects of these developments onrisk have helped create a pro-active risk-management cultureat BAeDef(DD). Continuous assessment of project risks providesthe impetus for wider thinking beyond risk-taking or risk-aversionpreferences, leading to greater realism in planning. Decisionsto implement risk resolution measures require competence incost-benefit analysis. The conditions to foster this new behaviourare better-informed senior management, with the rejection ofbad news eliminated at all levels, and the laying of a pathto becoming a learning company.     

Influence of octupole interactions on the behavior of negative-parity states at low spins

The energies of negative-parity levels based on two-particle states exhibit a nonlinear behavior at low spins versus the core-rotation energy because the alignment process has not yet been completed for them. This behavior of negative-parity levels in the low-spin region is satisfactorily described upon the inclusion of octupole-octupole interactions. This is demonstrated within the rotational model involving the Coriolis mixing of states for the even-even isotopes ^162–168Hf.     

Nonlinear-optical and micro-Raman diagnostics of thin films and nanostructures of ABO3 ferroelectrics

Ferroelectric composite two-dimensional ferroelectric/aluminum oxide nanostructures were studied. A porous aluminum oxide matrix was used as a template into which a ferroelectric precursor was introduced, followed by annealing. The prepared nanostructures were studied using optical second harmonic generation and micro-Raman scattering.     

Localising gravity in composite monopole brane worlds without bulk cosmological constant

We study a 7-dimensional brane world scenario with a Ricci-flat 3-brane residing in the core of a composite monopole defect, i.e., a defect composed of a 't Hooft–Polyakov and a global monopole. Admitting a direct interaction between the two bosonic sectors of the theory, we analyse the structure of the space–time in the limits of small, respectively large direct interaction coupling constant. For large direct interaction, the global monopole disappears from the system and leaves behind a negative cosmological constant in the bulk such that gravity-localising solutions are possible without a priori introduction of a bulk cosmological constant.     

Efficient multi and single line atomic fluorine lasers

Intense multi- and single-line laser operation is reported from semiconductively preionised atomic fluorine lasers employing an optimised capacitor transfer excitation circuitry. The performance and spectral characteristics of these lasers are discussed and compared to the characteristics of previously described atomic fluorine lasers. The efficiency of one of these lasers described, at optimum conditions, is reaching a value as high as 0.14%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest efficiency reported up date, for an atomic fluorine laser.