Surface reconstructions of InGaAs alloys

The surface reconstructions of In_xGa_1−xAs alloys grown by molecular beam epitaxy on the (0 0 1) surfaces of GaAs and InAs have been studied by reflection high-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunnelling microscopy. A surface phase diagram is presented for the nominally strain-free alloy as a function of substrate temperature and alloy composition, and structural models for the commonly observed 3× reconstructions are discussed. Two new, electronically stable structural models are described that account for the transition of the In_xGa_1−xAs surface alloy from a c(4 × 4) to an asymmetric 3× reconstruction and that are fully consistent with all current experimental evidence.     

Molecular orbital momentum distributions and binding energies for nitric oxide

Binding energy spectra of the valence electrons of the open shell molecule NO have been obtained up to 55 eV at azimuthal angles of 0° and 7° using binary (e, 2e) spectroscopy at an impact energy of 1200 eV. The momentum distribution has been obtained for the least tightly bound (unpaired) electron, removal of which leads to formation of the X ¹Σ⁺ ground state of NO⁺. Momentum distributions have also been measured at 21.0 and 40.5 eV. The measured momentum distributions are compared with several literature wavefunctions of varying complexity. They are found to be in excellent agreement with those calculated using the natural spin orbital wavefunctions of Kouba and Ohrn.     

Evaluation of Commodity Trading Advisors using fixed and variable and benchmark models

This paper examines the performance of Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs) using fixed and variable benchmarking models. In order to avoid the troublesome passive and active commodity and managed futures benchmarks (indices) when examining the performance of CTAs, we innovate by using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Because this alternative class has non-linear returns due to long/short positions, and derivatives (i.e., dynamic trading strategies), DEA can alleviate the problems usually associated with these indices. The effectiveness of using benchmarking models in a DEA setting will provide investors with an alternative technique in assessing the performance and identifying efficient CTAs.     

On Design Models in Stability Problems for Corrugated Cylindrical Shells

Three design techniques for stability analysis of longitudinally corrugated cylindrical shells are examined. The first two account for the true geometry of the shell and the third one replaces the corrugated shell with an equivalent orthotropic shell using reduction formulas. The exact formulations employ classical and Timoshenko-type theories. The techniques are analyzed by an example of sinusoidally corrugated shells. It is shown that the exact formulation permits finding practically important relations for corrugation parameters, which raises considerably the specific critical loads.     

Screw dislocation in spherical particle

The elastic fields generated by a straight-line screw dislocation axially arranged in a spherical particle have been calculated and analyzed. Some features of the distribution of elastic fields in this case and in the case of a screw dislocation lying along the axis of a cylindrical whisker are similar. The elastic energies per unit dislocation length differ slightly in the two cases. This corroborates the validity of application of some of the results obtained for screw dislocations in elastic cylinders to the study of properties of screw dislocations in equiaxed particles.Authors are very indebted to dr. A. B. Lebedev for his kind support.