Time-resolved photoexcitation of the superconducting two-gap state in MgB2 thin films

Femtosecond pump-probe studies show that carrier dynamics in MgB2 films is governed by the sub-ps electron-phonon (e-ph) relaxation present at all temperatures, the few-ps e-ph process well pronounced below 70 K, and the sub-ns superconducting relaxation below T(c). The amplitude of the superconducting component versus temperature follows the superposition of the isotropic dirty gap and the three-dimensional pi gap dependences, closing at two different T(c) values. The time constant of the few-ps relaxation exhibits a double divergence at temperatures corresponding to the T(c)'s of the two gaps.     

Evaluation of semiconducting sensor materials on the basis of catalytic test reaction

Oxidative-reductive properties on the acid-base surfaces of the oxide compositions Sn-Ce-Rh-O and Zr-Mg-Y-O, active as catalysts in the ketonization of secondary alcohols were determined based on the isopropanol conversion selectivity. The kinetics of isopropanol conversion was measured in the oxygen-free atmosphere. Activation energies for both directions of conversion (dehydration to propylene and dehydrogenation to acetone) were calculated. The results were compared with the kinetics over SnO₂ and ZrO₂. Both oxide compositions, Sn-Ce-Rh-O and Zr-Mg-Y-O are oxidative-reductive catalysts containing Lewis acid centers.     

Preconditioning techniques for iterative solvers in the Discrete Sources Method

Different preconditioning techniques for the iterative method MinRes as solver for the Discrete Sources Method (DSM) are presented. This semi-analytical method is used for light scattering computations by particles in the Mie scattering regime. Its numerical schema includes a linear least-squares problem commonly solved using the QR decomposition method. This could be the subject of numerical difficulties and instabilities for very large particles or particles with extreme geometry. In these cases, we showed that iterative methods with preconditioning techniques can provide a satisfying solution.In our previous paper, we studied four different iterative solvers (RGMRES, BiCGStab, BiCGStab(l), and MinRes) considering the performance and the accuracy of a solution. Here, we study several preconditioning techniques for the MinRes method for a variety of oblate and prolate spheroidal particles of different size and geometrical aspect ratio. Using preconditioning techniques we highly accelerated the iterative process especially for particles with a higher aspect ratio.     

Implementation and investigation of iterative solvers in the Discrete Sources Method

The implementation of iterative methods as solvers for the Discrete Sources Method (DSM) is presented. In this method, light scattering computation linear systems with dense and relative small matrices are generated. The linear systems are traditionally solved using the QR-decomposition method. For large particles or particles with extreme geometries even this commonly stable solver can fail. In these cases, we expect that iterative methods can provide a satisfying solution nevertheless.We will present our investigation in two consecutive papers. Here, we study four different iterative solvers (RGMRES, BiCGStab, BiCGStab(l), and MinRes) considering the performance and the accuracy for typical light scattering problems. Using these iterative methods we increased the quality of a solution, especially for oblate spheroids with a higher aspect ratio. Preconditioning technique is considered in the following paper.     

Background noise in piezoresistive,electret condenser,and ceramic microphones

Background noise studies have been extended from air condenser microphones to piezoresistive, electret condenser, and ceramic microphones. Theoretical models of the respective noise sources within each microphone are developed and are used to derive analytical expressions for the noise power spectral density for each type. Several additional noise sources for the piezoresistive and electret microphones, beyond what had previously been considered, were applied to the models and were found to contribute significantly to the total noise power spectral density. Experimental background noise measurements were taken using an upgraded acoustic isolation vessel and data acquisition system, and the results were compared to the theoretically obtained expressions. The models were found to yield power spectral densities consistent with the experimental results. The measurements reveal that the 1/f noise coefficient is strongly correlated with the diaphragm damping resistance, irrespective of the detection technology, i.e., air condenser, piezoresistive, etc. This conclusion has profound implications upon the expected 1/f noise component of micromachined (MEMS) microphones.     

Diffractive beam splitter characterization via a power-recycled interferometer

We used the high-precision laser interferometer technique of power recycling to characterize the optical loss of an all-reflective grating beam splitter. This beam splitter was used to set up a Michelson interferometer with a power-recycling resonator with a finesse of 883. Analyzing the results obtained, we determined the beam splitter's total optical loss to be (0.193+/-0.019)%. Low loss all-reflective beam splitters might find application in future high-power laser interferometers for the detection of gravitational waves.     

On binding energy of trions in bulk materials

We study the negatively $T^{?}$ and positively $T^{+}$ charged trions in bulk materials in the effective mass approximation within the framework of a potential model. The binding energies of trions in various semiconductors are calculated by employing Faddeev equation in configuration space. Results of calculations of the binding energies for $T^{?}$ are consistent with previous computational studies and are in reasonable agreement with experimental measurements, while the $T^{+}$ is unbound for all considered cases. The mechanism of formation of the binding energy of trions is analyzed by comparing contributions of a mass-polarization term related to kinetic energy operators and a term related to the Coulomb repulsion of identical particles.     

Influence of turbulence on train noise

The subject of this paper is the long distance propagation of train noise. The sound exposure level of train noise L_AE was measured. To describe the results of measurements, a semi-analytical model was used. It takes into account the wave-front divergence, air absorption, ground effect, and the turbulence destroying the coherent nature of the ground effect. The model contains three adjustable parameters that must be estimated at the site. To verify the model, we performed measurements of L_AE at the distance D = 450 m from the train track center. The difference between the calculated and measured mean values of L_AE equals 1.3 dB.