Growth optimization and characterization of lattice-matched Al0.82In0.18N optical confinement layer for edge emitting nitride laser diodes

We present the growth optimization and the doping by the metal organic chemical vapor deposition of lattice-matched Al_0.82In_0.18N bottom optical confinement layers for edge emitting laser diodes. Due to the increasing size and density of V-shaped defects in Al_1?xIn_xN with increasing thickness, we have designed an Al_1?xIn_xN/GaN multilayer structure by optimizing the growth and thickness of the GaN interlayer. The Al_1?xIn_xN and GaN interlayers in the multilayer structure were both doped using the same SiH₄ flow, while the Si levels in both layers were found to be significantly different by SIMS. The optimized 8×(Al_0.82In_0.18N/GaN=54/6 nm) multilayer structures grown on free-standing GaN substrates were characterized by high resolution X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, along with the in-situ measurements of stress evolution during growth. Finally, lasing was obtained from the UV (394 nm) to blue (436 nm) wavelengths, in electrically injected, edge-emitting, cleaved-facet laser diodes with 480 nm thick Si-doped Al_1?xIn_xN/GaN multilayers as bottom waveguide claddings.     

Assessment of Primordial Radionuclides in Pakistani Red Bricks and Associated Radiation Doses

Specific activity of primordial radionuclides and associated radiation hazards due to 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th have been measured in backed red brick samples, collected from five highly populated areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. For the detection, analysis and data acquisition, a high purity germanium detector was used. Associated external doses were calculated using a Monte Carlo neutron photon transport code. A theoretical model to determine the gamma dose rate at 1 m height from the floor, made of bricks, was employed for the calculation of mass attenuation coefficient and self-absorption in the floor for the gamma energies of these radionuclides and their progeny. Monte Carlo simulation shows that in this study the floor, having more than an effective thickness of 15 cm, contributes very little to the external gamma dose rate. The values of the external dose rate and annual effective dose are found to be much lower than the world average as well as from other countries of the world.     

Cylindrical and spherical Gardner solitons and double layers in a dusty electronegative non-thermal plasma with two-temperature electrons

A precise theoretical investigation has been made on the cylindrical and spherical (nonplanar) Gardner solitons (GSs) and double layers (DLs) in a dusty electronegative plasma (composed of inertial positive and negative ions, Maxwellian cold electrons, non-thermal hot electrons, and negatively charged static dust). The reductive perturbation method has been used in derivation of the modified Gardner (MG) equation describing the nonlinear propagation of the dust ion-acoustic (DIA) waves. The MG equation admits solitary waves (SWs) and DLs solutions for σ around its critical value σ c (where σc is the value of σ corresponding to the vanishing of the nonlinear coefficient of the Korteweg de-Vries (K-dV) equation). The nonplanar SWs and DLs solutions are numerically analyzed and the parametric regimes for the existence of the positive as well as negative SWs and negative DLs are obtained. The basic features of nonplanar DIA SWs and DLs, which are found to be different from planar ones, are also identified. The implications of our results to different space and laboratory dusty plasma situations, are discussed.     

Trace element composition of blood in adult population in Bangladesh

The trace element composition of whole blood has been investigated in adult population in Bangladesh. The population was formed of one hundred individuals randomly selected from a working community of five hundred adults. The blood samples were freeze dried and analyzed using the external beam PIXE method. In this analysis, proton beams of 2 MeV energy and about 30 nA current were used for characteristic X-ray excitation. The concentration of eight elements, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb and Pb were determined by comparison with a calibration obtained from NBS orchard leaves. The frequency distributions of all the elements measured are presented and the results are compared with available data. This work was supported in part by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.     

The status of trace and minor elements in some Bangladeshi foodstuffs

An investigation is conducted on the status of trace and minor elements in some foodstuffs (cereals, vegetables, milk, egg and fish), commonly consumed in Bangladesh, using proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and radioisotope-induced X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. In PIXE measurements, the samples were irradiated in air with 2.0 MeV (energy on the target) protons having the beam intensity of 30 nA for characteristic X-ray excitation, while in XRF analysis, the samples were excited for 5000 seconds with a 10 mCi Cd-109 annular X-ray source. The elemental concentration of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, and Pb were determined in the samples by comparison with X-ray yield curves constructed from IAEA and NBS standard reference materials. The validity of the analytical procedures (PIXE and XRF) followed in this study has been confirmed by comparative measurements of Cu, Zn and Mn in some varieties of rice with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicate that none of the food regimes investigated here is burdened with heavy metals beyond permissible limits except five species of vegetables with chromium having the range of 0.99–3.59 mg/kg compared to the literature value of 0.0–0.36 mg/kg (dry weight basis). An average value of 0.2 mg/kg of arsenic was observed both in IRRI (n=16) and local Aman (n=12) varieties of rice and only one hen egg contained 1.7 mg/kg of lead in yolk. The zinc content in some marine fish from Bay of Bengal was reported to be 5.4–19.5 mg/kg, whereas in the present study of sweet-water fish, the level is found to be 15.2–62.1 mg/kg (fresh weight basis) for five species. In human milk, both Cu (0.12–0.25 mg/l, n=8) and Zn (0.28–1.80 mg/l, n=8) levels appear to be almost half the literature values (n=25). On the other hand formula milk has higher values of Cu (0.32–1.63 mg/kg, n=16) and Zn (5.16–19.8 mg/kg, n=16).     

Novel structure formation at the bottom surface of porous anodic alumina fabricated by single step anodization process

A simple approach for the growth of long-range highly ordered nanoporous anodic alumina film in H₂SO₄ electrolyte through a single step anodization without any additional pre-anodizing procedure is reported. Free-standing porous anodic alumina film of 180 μm thickness with through hole morphology was obtained. A simple and single step process was used for the detachment of alumina from aluminum substrate. The effect of anodizing conditions, such as anodizing voltage and time on the pore diameter and pore ordering is discussed. The metal/oxide and oxide/electrolyte interfaces were examined by high resolution scanning transmission electron microscope. The arrangement of pores on metal/oxide interface was well ordered with smaller diameters than that of the oxide/electrolyte interface. The inter-pore distance was larger in metal/oxide interface as compared to the oxide/electrolyte interface. The size of the ordered domain was found to depend strongly upon anodizing voltage and time.     

Trace elements in human fingernails: Measurement by proton-induced X-ray emission

The method of proton particle-induced X-ray emission (proton PIXE) has been employed to study the trace element composition of human fingernails. The samples were colleted from 51 subjects randomly selected from a working community of about 500 adults and they were analyzed by the thick-target external beam technique of the PIXE method. The samples were exposed to the proton beam as 1-mm thick pellets and irradiated with 2 MeV protons having 20 nA beam intensity. For 40 C irradiations, the concentration of fourteen elements, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb, were measured by comparison with a calibration obtained from the NBS orchard leaf standard (SRM 1571). Some anomalous cases have been revealed from this study and they are attributed to environmental factors. The frequency distributions of the elements are presented and the results compared with available data.This research received financial support from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, under the research contract RC/2536/RBl.     

Role of Copper Oxide on Epoxy Coatings with New Intumescent Polymer-Based Fire Retardant

Epoxy resins (EP) have been used as a thermos-setting material in the field of coating, casting, bonding agent, and laminating. However, a major drawback associated with its use is the lack of good flaming properties, and it is responsible for heavy smoke along with hazardous gases considerably limiting its uses in various fields. In this study, N-ethanolamine triazine-piperizine, a melamine polymer (ETPMP), was established as a new charring-foaming agent and was successfully synthesized with ethanolamine, piperizine, cyanuric chloride, and melamine as precursor molecules via the nucleophilic substitution reaction method. Elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis were applied to approve the synthesis of ETPMP and confirmation of its structure and characterization. The epoxy coating of intumescent flame retardant (IFR) was equipped by introducing ETPMP, ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and copper oxide (CuO) in multiple composition ratios. CuO was loaded at various amounts into the IFR-coating system as a synergistic agent. The synergistic action of CuO on IFR coatings was scientifically examined by using different analytical tests such as vertical burning test (UL-94V), limited oxygen index (LOI), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), cone calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that small changes in the amount of CuO expressively amplified the LOI results and enhanced the V-0 ratings in the UL-94V test. The TGA data clearly demonstrate that the inclusion of CuO can transform the thermal deprivation behavior of coatings with a growing char slag proportion with elevated temperatures. Information from cone calorimeter data affirmed that CuO can decrease the burning factors by total heat release (THR) together with peak heat release rate (PHRR). The SEM images indicated that CuO can enrich the power and compression of the intumescent char that restricts the movement of heat and oxygen. Our results demonstrate a positive influence of CuO on the epoxy-headed intumescent flame retardant coatings.