Modeling and waveform optimization of stick–slip micro-drives using the method of dimensionality reduction

In this paper, the dynamics of piezo-actuated stick–slip micro-drives are studied experimentally and theoretically. First, the stick–slip-based force-generating test stand is introduced, and experimental results are presented. Then, a numerical model is formulated which explicitly includes the dynamics of normal and tangential properties of the contact areas in the frictional driving elements of the drive. The contact forces are simulated using the method of dimensionality reduction. We show that the experimentally observed behavior can be described without using any fitting parameters or assuming any generalized laws of friction if the explicit contact mechanics of the frictional contacts is taken into account. Furthermore, an even simpler model of the drive is developed to get a qualitative understanding of the system. It is employed to gain a new actuation method, which reduces the vibrations of the drive’s runner and therefore enhances its performance.     

Influence of heating load on heat transfer characteristics in micro-pin-fin arrays

Experimental investigations were carried out to explore the convective heat transfer in micro pin-fins with different aspect ratios, and the influence of heating load on Nusselt numbers in micro pin-fins with liquid water as working fluid were investigated. The mechanism of convective heat transfer in micro pin-fins at different heating load were studied by 3-D numerical investigations, and the relationships of thermal physical properties change, the end wall effect and axial thermal conduction with Nu numbers in micro pin-fins were analysed. It was found that the thickness of boundary layer was decreased as much as 33.3 % attributed to the destructive effect of thermal physical properties change, and convective heat transfer in the micro pin-fin channel was more than 20 % enhanced by the flow disturbance caused by the increase of temperature difference. The discrepancy of Nu in micro pin-fin channel with different aspect ratios reached 34.59 %, and this discrepancy was reduced by the increase of heating load. The maximum value of impact factors of dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity on the Nu in micro-pin-fins reached 25.02 and 7.68 %, respectively.     

Effects of Cu2−xS phase removal on surface potential of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin-films grown by electroplating

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) has an optical band gap of 1.4–1.5 eV, which is similar to that of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS), and a high absorption coefficient (>10⁴ cm⁻¹) in the visible light region. In previous reports, CIGS thin-film solar cells have been shown to improve the performance of the device since the secondary phase is removed by Potassium cyanide (KCN) etching treatment. Therefore, in this study we applied a KCN etching treatment on CZTS and measured the effects. We confirmed the removal of Cu_2−xS via Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and Raman scattering spectroscopy. The effects of the experiment indicate that we can define with precision the location of the secondary phases, and therefore the control of the secondary phases will be easier and more efficient. Such capabilities could improve the solar cell performance of CZTS thin-films.     

A voltage-controlled chaotic oscillator based on carbon nanotube field-effect transistor for low-power embedded systems

This paper presents a compact and low-power-based discrete-time chaotic oscillator based on a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor implemented using Wong and Deng＇s well-known model. The chaotic circuit is composed of a nonlinear circuit that creates an adjustable chaos map, two sample and hold cells for capture and delay functions, and a voltage shifter that works as a buffer and adjusts the output voltage for feedback. The operation of the chaotic circuit is verified with the SPICE software package, which uses a supply voltage of 0.9 V at a frequency of 20 kHz. The time series, frequency spectra, transitions in phase space, sensitivity with the initial condition diagrams, and bifurcation phenomena are presented. The main advantage of this circuit is that its chaotic signal can be generated while dissipating approximately 7.8 μW of power, making it suitable for embedded systems where many chaos-signal generators are required on a single chip.     

Universal scheme for finite-probability perfect transfer of arbitrary multispin states through spin chains

In combination with the theories of open system and quantum recovering measurement, we propose a quantum state transfer scheme using spin chains by performing two sequential operations: a projective measurement on the spins of ‘environment’ followed by suitably designed quantum recovering measurements on the spins of interest. The scheme allows perfect transfer of arbitrary multispin states through multiple parallel spin chains with finite probability. Our scheme is universal in the sense that it is state-independent and applicable to any model possessing spin–spin interactions. We also present possible methods to implement the required measurements taking into account the current experimental technologies. As applications, we consider two typical models for which the probabilities of perfect state transfer are found to be reasonably high at optimally chosen moments during the time evolution.     

A planar Bézier profiled horn for reducing penetration force in ultrasonic cutting

An ultrasonic planar horn with a Bézier profile is developed. The first longitudinal displacement mode of the horn is exploited for high displacement amplification in order to reduce the penetration force required to enter and cut materials. The displacement amplification and stress distribution characteristics of the Bézier horn and the commonly used catenary horn are examined. The penetration force by the Bézier horn is nearly 75% of that by the catenary horn with a penetration speed of 0.25 mm/s during cutting a tissue stimulant. At a penetration speed of 0.5 mm/s, the penetration force by the Bézier horn is nearly 85% of that by the catenary horn for cutting a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) material. The decrease in the penetration force by the Bézier horn is attributed to the fact that the displacement amplification of the Bézier horn is 30% higher than that of the traditional catenary horn with the same length and end surface widths.     

Microfabrication of stacks of acoustic matching layers for 15 MHz ultrasonic transducers

This paper presents a novel method used to manufacture stacks of multiple matching layers for 15 MHz piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers, using fabrication technology derived from the MEMS industry. The acoustic matching layers were made on a silicon wafer substrate using micromachining techniques, i.e., lithography and etch, to design silicon and polymer layers with the desired acoustic properties. Two matching layer configurations were tested: a double layer structure consisting of a silicon–polymer composite and polymer and a triple layer structure consisting of silicon, composite, and polymer. The composite is a biphase material of silicon and polymer in 2-2 connectivity. The matching layers were manufactured by anisotropic wet etch of a (1 1 0)-oriented Silicon-on-Insulator wafer. The wafer was etched by KOH 40 wt%, to form 83 μm deep and 4.5 mm long trenches that were subsequently filled with Spurr’s epoxy, which has acoustic impedance 2.4 MRayl. This resulted in a stack of three layers: The silicon substrate, a silicon–polymer composite intermediate layer, and a polymer layer on the top. The stacks were bonded to PZT disks to form acoustic transducers and the acoustic performance of the fabricated transducers was tested in a pulse-echo setup, where center frequency, −6 dB relative bandwidth and insertion loss were measured. The transducer with two matching layers was measured to have a relative bandwidth of 70%, two-way insertion loss 18.4 dB and pulse length 196 ns. The transducers with three matching layers had fractional bandwidths from 90% to 93%, two-way insertion loss ranging from 18.3 to 25.4 dB, and pulse lengths 326 and 446 ns. The long pulse lengths of the transducers with three matching layers were attributed to ripple in the passband.     

Optimization of view ordering for motion artifact suppression

Motion artifacts in MRI may be reduced by optimized view ordering. Extensive simulations of view-ordering techniques were performed on high-resolution phantom images to determine the best strategy for distributing motion in k-space. Although not exhaustive, simulation results indicate that minimizing motion at the center of k-space is critical to overall image quality. For 2D imaging, using edge-center-edge view order and setting the readout direction parallel to the direction of the motion produces the sharpest point spread function and the lowest image energy error. For 3D imaging, using an edge-center-edge view order proves to be the optimum choice in general. Given these observations, several important issues regarding the measurement of motion effects are discussed.     

Rayleigh waves in an isotropic elastic half-space coated by a thin isotropic elastic layer with smooth contact

In the present paper, we are interested in the propagation of Rayleigh waves in an isotropic elastic half-space coated with a thin isotropic elastic layer. The contact between the layer and the half space is assumed to be smooth. The main purpose of the paper is to establish an approximate secular equation of the wave. By using the effective boundary condition method, an approximate, yet highly accurate secular equation of fourth-order in terms of the dimensionless thickness of the layer is derived. From the secular equation obtained, an approximate formula of third-order for the velocity of Rayleigh waves is established. The approximate secular equation and the formula for the velocity obtained in this paper are potentially useful in many practical applications.     

Transient Absorption Dynamics and Nonlinear Optical Response in Colloidal Ag2S Quantum Dots

Optics and Spectroscopy - The mechanism of the nonlinear optical response of colloidal solutions of Ag2S quantum dots passivated with thioglycolic acid molecules is considered. Appearance of...