Stopping power of low-energy deuterons in 3He gas

The stopping power of atomic and molecular deuterons in ³He gas was measured over the range E _d = 10 to 100 keV using the ³He pressure dependence of the ³He(d,p) ⁴He reaction yield. At energies above 30 keV, the observed stopping power values are in good agreement with a standard compilation. However, near 18 keV the experimental values drop by a factor 50 below the extrapolated values of the compilation. In a simple model, the behavior is due to the minimum 1s↦2s electron excitation of the He target atoms (= 19.8 eV, corresponding to E _d = 18.2 keV), i.e. it is a quantum effect, by which the atoms become nearly transparent for the ions.     

A rigorous time domain analysis of gyrotrons

A self-consistent time domain analysis of gyrotrons is presented which allows studying multi-mode, multi-frequency operation. The electromagnetic field in the gyrotron cavity is expanded with respect to complete sets of eigenfunctions so that space charge effects are included in the analysis. Two improvements of the modal expansion inside gyrotron cavities are suggested which significantly increase the accuracy and the numerical efficiency of this method, namely, the removal of the non-uniform convergence of some field series at the coupling apertures and the estimation of the asymptotic values of some slowly converging series related to the modal analysis by a moderate number of cavity eigenfunctions. Discrete Fourier transform is used to obtain the time dependence of the electromagnetic field. The electron beam is described by a set of relativistic single particles. It is demonstrated that the strong numerical requirements of the suggested method can be overcome by using a vector computer. Two gyrotrons are investigated, namely, a low Q 35 GHz TE₀₁- and a 150 GHz TE₀₃-gyrotron. Both oscillation build-up and steady state operation are investigated including mode competition and window reflections. The simulations show that the assumption of a monofrequent steady state operation of gyrotrons, which is made by the commonly used frequency domain methods, is not always justified.     

Computation of the Reflection Coefficient of a Triangular Semiconductor Prism in a Rectangular Waveguide

In this paper we present a method to solve Maxwell's equations that enables to compute waveguide structure containing a semiconductor triangular prism. The numerical study has showed that the triangular prism in the waveguide has a wider frequency band in comparison with a square rod under equal conditions. The reflection coefficient dependencies on frequency, prism size and its permittivity have been computed. The algorithm and computer programme have been tested and compared with the numerical results and experimental data of the paper [1] with good agreement.     

A comprehensive analytical approach for policy analysis of system dynamics models

Formal tools to link system dynamics model’s structure to the system modes of behavior have recently become available. In this paper, we aim to expand the use of these tools to perform the model’s policy analysis in a more structured and formal way than the exhaustive exploratory approaches used to date. We consider how a policy intervention (a parameter change) affects a particular behavior mode by affecting the gains of particular feedback loops as well as how it affects the presence of that mode in the variable of interest. The paper demonstrates the utility of considering both of these aspects since the analysis provides an assessment of the overall impact of a policy on a variable and explains why the impact occurs in terms of structural changes in the model. Particularly in the context of larger models, this method enables a much more efficient search for leverage policies, by ranking the influence of each model parameter without the need for multiple simulation experiments.     

Investigation in thorium phosphate by NMR II-phosphorus dipolar networks

With through space and through bond experiments in two-dimensional NMR we analyze the transformation from the thorium phosphate-hydrogen phosphate hydrate (TPHPH) to the β form of the thorium phosphate diphosphate (β-TPD) in relation with the phosphorus networks. These techniques are complementary: the through space coupling gives an insight on the dipolar phosphorus networks while the through bond coupling is particularly efficient in the detection of the P₂O₇ groups. With these experiments we show that in a first step, by heating the precursor TPHPH above 250 °C, it transforms into an form of TPD. This transformation is due to the complete condensation of hydrogen phosphate groups HPO₄ into P₂O₇ entities. By heating -TPD above 950 °C it transforms into its well-known β form. The form is characterized by a hygroscopic behavior: some water molecules are present near the P₂O₇ groups that makes non-equivalent their phosphorus nuclei. PO₄ dipolar networks are always present in the form. The main effect of these PO₄ and P₂O₇ units is to give the system a channel structure and the water enters in them.     

The conserved protein kinase-A target motif in synapsin of Drosophila is effectively modified by pre-mRNA editing

Background  

Synapsins are abundant synaptic vesicle associated phosphoproteins that are involved in the fine regulation of neurotransmitter release. The Drosophila member of this protein family contains three conserved domains (A, C, and E) and is expressed in most or all synaptic terminals. Similar to mouse mutants, synapsin knock-out flies show no obvious structural defects but are disturbed in complex behaviour, notably learning and memory.     

XRR and GISAXS study of silicon oxynitride films

Thin films of silicon oxynitride have largely replaced pure silicon oxide films as gate and tunnel oxide films in modern technology due to their superior properties in terms of efficiency as boron barrier, resistance to electrical stress and high dielectric strength. A single chamber system for plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition was employed to deposit different films of SiO_xN_yH_z with 0.85 < x < 1.91. All films were previously characterized by Rutherford back-scattering and infrared spectroscopy to determine the stoichiometry and the presence of various bonding configurations of constituent atoms. We used X-ray reflectivity to determine the electron density profile across the depth, and we showed that the top layer is densified. Moreover, grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering was used to study inhomogeneities (clustering) in the films, and it is shown that plate-like inhomogeneities exist in the top and sphere-like particles at the bottom part of the film. Their shape and size depend on the stoichiometry of the films.     

Intensification of oxidation capacity using chloroalkanes as additives in hydrodynamic and acoustic cavitation reactors

The effect of the presence and absence of the chloroalkanes, dichloromethane (CH(2)Cl(2)), chloroform (CHCl(3)) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) on the extent of oxidation of aqueous I(-) to I(3)(-) has been investigated in (a) a liquid whistle reactor (LWR) generating hydrodynamic cavitation and (b) an ultrasonic probe, which produces acoustic cavitation. The aim has been to examine the intensification achieved in the extent of oxidation due to the generation of additional free radicals/oxidants in the reactor as a result of the presence of chloroalkanes. It has been observed that the extent of increase in the oxidation reaction is strongly dependent on the applied pressure in the case of the LWR. Also, higher volumes of the chloroalkanes favour the intensification and the order of effectiveness is CCl(4)>CHCl(3)>CH(2)Cl(2). However, the results with the ultrasonic probe suggest that an optimum concentration of CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3) exists beyond which there is little increase in the extent of observed intensification. For CCl(4), however, no such optimum concentration was observed and the extent of increase in the rates of oxidation reaction rose with the amount of CCl(4) added. Stage wise addition of the chloroalkanes was found to give marginally better results in the case of the ultrasonic probe as compared to bulk addition at the start of the run. Although CCl(4) is the most effective, its toxicity and carcinogenicity may mean that CH(2)Cl(2) and CHCl(3) offer a safer viable alternative and the present work should be useful in establishing the amount of chloroalkanes required for obtaining a suitable degree of intensification.     

Anodic oxide growth on Zr in neutral aqueous solution

Anodization and subsequent cathodic reactions on a thin-film sample of Zr were studied with in-situ neutron reflectometry (NR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The NR results during anodization showed the originally 485 Å thick Zr film generally behaved similar to a bulk electrode in neutral solution. The anodization ratio measured at applied potentials increased in steps of 0.5 V was somewhat higher than the value determined by coulometry, while the Pilling Bedworth ratio is in good agreement with published data. Thickening of the oxide layer, accelerated immediately after each potential increase, gradually decreased over several hours, but remained nonzero even after ～12 h. The thickened oxide eventually cracked when its thickness reached ～120 Å, causing loss of passivation. Surprisingly, neither the anodization ratio nor the Pilling Bedworth ratio showed any discontinuity at the time of oxide cracking, and the EIS behaviour remained qualitatively as before. This observation is taken as the evidence that the cracked and intact regions of the electrode behave more or less independently as parallel electrodes. When the potential was eventually switched to cathodic polarity, NR shows, as expected, that the effects of oxide cracking were irreversible. However, the electrode resistance recovered partially suggesting the cracks were rapidly plugged with newly formed oxide.     

Early Gravity-Wave Detection Experiments, 1960-1975

I discuss the experiments of Joseph Weber (1919-2000) of the University of Maryland between 1960 and 1973 that were aimed at the detection of gravity waves. He used throughout a quadratic detector to demodulate his antenna signal, which I analyze and compare to a linear detector.The latter was used by all of the other groups that entered the field. Of these, Richard Garwin and I at IBM were one of the first groups to publish, and I discuss in detail our experiments between 1973 and 1975. I then discuss the experiments that were carried out at Bell Labs-Rochester, Glasgow, Munich-Frascati,Moscow, and Tokyo. I compare the results, all of which were negative, with Webers claimed detection of large numbers of gravity-wave events, as many as seven per day. I conclude that these were not in fact gravity waves, but artifacts of his extremely hands-on data-analysis procedures, which I discuss in detail. Finally, I speculate on how this came about.