Asymptotic Analysis of the Current-Voltage Curve of a pnpn Semiconductor Device

We consider the one-dimensional steady-state semiconductor deviceequations modelling a pnpn device. There are two relevant scalingsof the equations corresponding to small and large applied voltages.In both scalings, the semiconductor equations can be consideredas singularly perturbed. It turns out that the small-voltagescaling breaks down for current values between two saturationcurrents. In that interval, the large-voltage scaling has tobe employed. For both scalings, we derive the first-order termsof an asymptotic expansion and show that the reduced problemhas a solution. An example verifies that the current-voltagecurves obtained have the expected qualitative structure.     

The effect of traffic noise on sleep of young adults in their homes

The disturbance of sleep by traffic noise is a major problem area in noise pollution. Extensive laboratory tests using multichannel electroencephalograms (EEG) have been carried out by many workers to determine the general response of people when exposed to noise during sleep. An experimental technique for obtaining results in people's homes has been developed using a simplified one-channel EEG. The responses of six people in the age range 19-24 were measured. A significant correlation was found between sleep disturbance and traffic noise when the noise is expressed in EPNdB. In the home experiments the subjects appeared to be approximately 10 dB less sensitive to noises than laboratory subjects for similar noise exposure. There also appeared to be some adaptation to the noise exposure; however, only one subject was tested for a period of 20 days and was insufficient to give definite results on adaptation.     

Network survivability analysis

Advances in fiber optic and local area network (LAN) technologies are providing system designers with many new options for interconnecting computer equipment. A recurring problem for military system designers, who are end-users of a LAN standard, is implementing LANs so that the survivability, reliability, maintainability, and availability (SRMA) of a system is maximized. LAN standards working groups are currently making design decisions about topologies, components, and protocols that directly affect the SRMA of the end-user's system. This article focuses on a new analytic technique, called “network survivability analysis,” that provides the mathematical tools needed to compare the survivability of arbitrary network topologies. For background, several network metrics are described and their limitations for LAN standards development identified. Network survivability is defined, and several token-passing ring case examples are analyzed. The primary strength of network survivability analysis is that it can be used to provide a quantitative comparison among LAN topologies without knowledge of the end-user's equipment, systems, or environments.     

The Variational Approach to the Scalar Field Theory in Curved Einstein Space

The variational approach based on the covariant quantization method for the curved Einstein space is applied.     

Localization and the integer-quantized Hall effect: Diffusion constant for high Landau levels and white noise potential

The diffusion constant and the diagonal conductivity for non-interacting electrons in a two-dimensional, disordered system are studied. A homogeneous magnetic field perpendicular to the electron system is assumed. For weak short-range random potentials and high fields the Landau quantum numbern can be used as expansion parameter. In the limit of high Landau levels the system shows metallic behaviour. Corrections for finiten decrease the conductivity and indicate localized states in the whole energy band. A breakdown of the expansion and stronger localization are observed only for the lowest Landau levels if the typical experimental length scale of the quantized Hall effect is used.     

Vascular morphology by three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging

A three-dimensional examination of blood vessels is provided using MR data from seven cases. The vascular surfaces are constructed with an algorithm that automatically follows the selected artery or vein and generates a projected three-dimensional gradient shaded image. Fast 3DFT pulse sequences were optimized to enhance the time-of-flight contrast of the intravascular region. By increasing the surface threshold value in a three-dimensional head study, the flesh of a patient's face was peeled away to demonstrate the superfacial temporal artery. Gated cardiac images show the great vessels and cardiac chambers. A three-dimensional view of the aorta shows an irregular surface in the vicinity of an adrenal tumor. 3D MR exams provide a non-invasive technique for assessing vascular morphology in a clinical setting.     

An AFM, XPS and electrochemical study of molecular electroactive monolayers formed by wet chemistry functionalization of H-terminated Si(1 0 0) with vinylferrocene

Molecular electroactive monolayers have been produced from vinylferrocene (VFC) via light-assisted surface anchoring to H-terminated n- and p-Si(1 0 0) wafers prepared via wet chemistry, in a controlled atmosphere. The resulting Si-C bound hybrids have been characterized by means of XPS and AFM. Their performance as semiconductor functionalized electrodes and their surface composition have been followed by combining electrochemical and XPS measurements on the same samples, before and after use in an electrochemical cell. White-light photoactivated anchoring at short (1 h) exposure times has resulted in a mild route, with a very limited impact on the initial quality of the silicon substrate. In fact, the functionalized Si surface results negligibly oxidized, and the C/Fe atomic ratio is close to the value expected for the pure molecular species. The VFC/Si hybrids can be described as (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe²⁺(η⁵-C₅H₄)-CH₂-CH₂-Si species, on the basis of XPS results. Electrochemical methods have been applied in order to investigate the role played by a robust, covalent Si-C anchoring mode towards substrate-molecule electronic communication, a crucial issue for a perspective development of molecular electronics devices. The response found from cyclic voltammograms for p-Si(1 0 0) functionalized electrodes, run in the dark and under illumination, has shown that the electron transfer is not limited by the number of charge carriers, confirming the occurrence of electron transfer via the Si valence band. The hybrids have shown a noticeable electrochemical stability and reversibility under cyclic voltammetry (cv), and the trend in peak current intensity vs. the scan rate was linear. The molecule-Si bond is preserved even after thousands of voltammetric cycles, although the surface coverage, evaluated from cv and XPS, decreases in the same sequence. An increasingly larger surface concentration of Fe³⁺ at the expenses of Fe²⁺ redox centers has been found at increasing number of cv’s, experimentally associated with the growth of silicon oxide. Surface SiO⁻ groups from deprotonated silanol termination, induced by the electrochemical treatments, are proposed as the associated counterions for the Fe³⁺ species. They could be responsible for the observed decrease in the electron transfer rate constant with electrode ageing.     

Extensions of Modules over Schur Algebras, Symmetric Groups and Hecke Algebras

We study the relation between the cohomology of general linear and symmetric groups and their respective quantizations, using Schur algebras and standard homological techniques to build appropriate spectral sequences. As our methods fit inside a much more general context within the theory of finite-dimensional algebras, we develop our results first in that general setting, and then specialize to the above situations. From this we obtain new proofs of several known results in modular representation theory of symmetric groups. Moreover, we reduce certain questions about computing extensions for symmetric groups and Hecke algebras to questions about extensions for general linear groups and their quantizations.     

Measurement of apex angle of the prism using total internal reflection

Total internal reflection technique is examined critically for the measurement of apex angle of the prism. Recognition of the critical boundary completely specifies the apex angle ‘A’ of the prism by keeping constant the ratio of refractive index of sample fluid (n₁=1.4) to that of glass (n₂=1.7). Recording of observations in the laboratory is dependent upon whether the apex angle ‘A’ of prism is greater than or less than or equal to critical angle ‘r_c’. The minimum value of error function ‘χ’ in the proximity of Abbe angle explain the choice of Abbe type instruments and shown invariant by relating positive ‘₊’ and the negative angle of emergence ‘₋’. Using ray-tracing technique, an expression for the length of the critical boundary ‘l’ is derived and is shown as a measure of the apex angle ‘A’ of the prism.

The choice of the realistic grazing condition leads us to two turning points for which error function ‘χ’ is minimal and yields appropriate option of the measurement of apex angle ‘A’ of the prism. It is further shown that the small error ‘ζ’ crept in the apex angle ‘A’ of the prism can lead to a significant error in the design of Pulfrich type instruments.

Experimental measurements are in-line with the predictions made.     

Influence of seeded impurities on the fusion reactor operation

In order to study the influence of seeded impurities on ITER like reactor operation the COREDIV code has been extended to include the transport of several sputtered and/or injected impurities. In the COREDIV code the core plasma is treated in the frame of 1D radial transport model whereas in the edge the 2D multifluid code EPIT is used. The EPIT code solves in the slab geometry the MHD equations for densities and velocities for all ions species as well as for electron and ion temperatures. The iteration scheme in the code leads to steady state solution of coupled core and SOL system. The numerical results for Carbon and Nickel plate and seeded impurities Silicon and Neon are presented.