Depth-profiling of organic layers on microparticles with SNMS

Summary Previous work on the quantification and localization of organically bound elements with plasma-based SNMS for the characterization of microparticles has been continued. Relative detection factors for 10 elements have been determined. Except for lead and bromine a principle proportionality to atomic ionization probabilities is shown. A moderate matrix dependence of less than 40% variation was found even when inorganic and organic materials are included. For depth calibration, erosion rates of organic materials were determined from the time interval necessary to sputter through planar single-layers and Langmuir-Blodgett multi-layer systems with known thickness, as well as from gravimetric powder measurements. Depth propagation rates were 0.7 nm·sec^–1 for polymers and 2.3 nm·sec^–1 for aromatic compounds, when 400 eV argon ion bombardment with 0.7 mA·cm^–2 was used. A depth resolution of 30 nm has been obtained. Model particles of 5 m size have been coated with fluoranthene. Inspection with SNMS revealed an incomplete coating covering only 20% of the microparticle surface with an average thickness of the partial coating of 300 nm. Subsequent characterization using laser-induced fluorimetry confirmed the amount of fluoranthene coating measured by SNMS.     

The critical exponent of degenerate parabolic systems

The Cauchy problemu _t=u +v ^p ,v _t =v +u ^q is studied, wherex R ^N , 0 <t < and ,,p andq, are positive exponents. It is proved that ifp,q 1 and 1 <pq < 1 + 2 max(p + ,q + )/n then every nontrivial non-negative solution is not global in time; whereaspq > 1 + 2 max(p + , q + )/n then there exist both positive global solutions and non-global solutions. In addition, the decaying in time of solutions tou _t,=u inR ⁿ × (0, ), an equation which occurs naturally in our study of above systems, is studied and solutions with the fastest decaying in time are constructed.     

The generation and classification of tile-k-transitive tilings of the Euclidean plane,the sphere and the hyperbolic plane

Algorithms based on the theory of Delaney-Dress symbols are discussed that can be used to recursively produce all possible equivariant types of tile-k-transitive tilings of the Euclidean plane, the sphere and the hyperbolic plane, for any (reasonable)k. A number of results can be obtained using computer implementations of the algorithms.     

LP modeling languages for personal computers: A comparison

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the modeling capabilities of seven algebraic modeling languages (ML) available today, namely, AMPL, GAMS, LINGO, LPL, MPL, PC-PROG and XPRESS-LP. In general, these MLs do an excellent job of providing an interface with which the modeler can specify an algebraically formatted linear program (LP). That is, each ML provides a substantial improvement in time and convenience over the matrix generator/report writers of the last few decades. Further, each of the MLs provides: (1) significant flexibility in model specification, instantiation and modification, (2) effective and efficient conversion from algebraic to solver format, and (3) an understandable and, for the most part, self-documenting model representation. In addition, each of the MLs is constantly being updated and upgraded to provide additional capabilities sought by practitioners and users. However, as shown in the fifteen tables provided in the body of this paper, each ML has its own set of competitive advantages. For example, the most integrated environments (i.e. those integrating the modeling language with a full-screen editor, data import capabilities and a solver) are provided by LINGO and PC-PROG. The most user-friendly interfaces are provided by MPL and PC-PROG, both of which provide window-based interfaces to create models and pop-up windows to display error messages; MPL also uses pull-down menus to specify various operations, whereas PC-PROG uses function keys for operational control. Package costs are led by a current (March, 1991) introductory offer from LINGO. Modeling effectiveness, especially with respect to flexibility in specifying arithmetic statements, is led by GAMS and LPL. Model compactness, as measured by the number of lines required to specify a model, is led by AMPL, LPL, MPL and PC-PROG; LPL, MPL and PC-PROG also provide context sensitive editors which automatically position the cursor where the error was detected. And finally, the most comprehensive user documentation is provided by GAMS, whereas GAMS, LINGO and LPL provide extensive libraries of sample models for those users who learn by example.     

Exotic differentiable structures and general relativity

We review recent developments in differential topology with special concern for their possible significance to physical theories, especially general relativity. In particular we are concerned here with the discovery of the existence of non-standard (fake or exotic) differentiable structures on topologically simple manifolds such asS ⁷, ⁴ andS ³ X ¹. Because of the technical difficulties involved in the smooth case, we begin with an easily understood toy example looking at the role which the choice of complex structures plays in the formulation of two-dimensional vacuum electrostatics. We then briefly review the mathematical formalisms involved with differentiable structures on topological manifolds, diffeomorphisms and their significance for physics. We summarize the important work of Milnor, Freedman, Donaldson, and others in developing exotic differentiable structures on well known topological manifolds. Finally, we discuss some of the geometric implications of these results and propose some conjectures on possible physical implications of these new manifolds which have never before been considered as physical models.     

Lattice size estimates for Gabor decompositions

It is shown that the Gabor frame operator for frames with lattice such thatab=1/N for some integerN1 is continuous on the modulation spaces ([9], [20]) whenever the basic functiong is a Schwartz function and (g, a, b) generates a frame forL ² (R). From this a sufficient condition on the lattice is given which guarantees that one has a Banach frame for the modulation spaces of Feichtinger.This work was supported by NSF grant # DMS-8916968 while the author was visiting Yale University.     

An algebraic approach to the planar coloring problem

We point out a general relationship between the planar coloring problem withQ colors and the Temperley-Lieb algebra with parameter . This allows us to give a complete algebraic reformulation of the four color result, and to give algebraic interpretations of various other aspects of planar colorings.Work supported in part by NSF Grant #DMS-882602, the program for Mathematics and Molecular Biology, UC Berkeley, and a visiting fellowship of the Japan Society for the promotion of science at Kyoto University, Kyoto, JapanWork supported in part by DOE Contact #DE-AC02-76ERO3075 and by a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering