Umbilic point screening in random optical fields

Umbilic points--singular points of curvature characterized by a fractional topological charge q=+/-1/2--are the most numerous of all special points in the landscape of random optical fields (speckle patterns), outnumbering maxima, minima, saddle points, and optical vortices. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first experimental evidence that positive and negative umbilic points screen one another. Theory predicts that in the absence of screening the charge variance in a bounded region is proportional to the area of the region, whereas in the presence of screening the variance is drastically reduced and is proportional to the perimeter. Our data confirm this latter prediction and provide the first estimates of the screening lengths for umbilic points of the intensity and of the amplitude (field modulus).     

Self-avoiding walks on random lattices

The properties of self-avoiding walks on dilute lattices are studied, both directly and using the replica formalism. It is shown that dilution does not affect the exponents and careful use of the Haris criterion also leads to this conclusion.     

Active to sterile neutrino mixing limits from neutral-current interactions in MINOS

Results are reported from a search for active to sterile neutrino oscillations in the MINOS long-baseline experiment, based on the observation of neutral-current neutrino interactions, from an exposure to the NuMI neutrino beam of 7.07×10(20) protons on target. A total of 802 neutral-current event candidates is observed in the Far Detector, compared to an expected number of 754 ± 28(stat) ± 37(syst) for oscillations among three active flavors. The fraction f(s) of disappearing ν(μ) that may transition to ν(s) is found to be less than 22% at the 90% C.L.     

A tangent-plane marker-particle method for the computation of three-dimensional solid surfaces evolving by surface diffusion on a substrate

We introduce a marker-particle method for the computation of three-dimensional solid surface morphologies evolving by surface diffusion. The method does not use gridding of surfaces or numerical differentiation, and applies to surfaces with finite slopes and overhangs. We demonstrate the method by computing the evolution of perturbed cylindrical wires on a substrate. We show that computed growth rates at early times agree with those predicted by the linear stability analysis. Furthermore, when the marker particles are redistributed periodically to maintain even spacing, the method can follow breakup of the wire.     

Pulse FT NMR of non-equilibrium states of half-integer spin quadrupolar nuclei in single crystals

For quadrupolar nuclei with spin quantum numbers equal to 3/2, 5/2 and 7/2, the intensities of the NMR transitions in a single crystal are examined as a function of the rf excitation flip angle. Single-quantum NMR intensities are calculated using density matrix theory beginning under various non-equilibrium conditions and are compared with those determined experimentally. As a representative spin-3/2 system, the flip-angle dependence of the ²³Na NMR intensities of a single crystal of NaNO₃ was investigated beginning with the inversion of the populations associated with one of the satellite transitions. Subsequently, the populations of both satellite transitions were inverted using highly frequency-selective hyperbolic secant pulses. Calculated and experimental intensities are in good agreement. As an example of a spin-5/2 system, the flip-angle dependence of the ²⁷Al NMR transition intensities was determined using a single crystal of sapphire, Al₂O₃, starting under different nuclear spin population conditions. The experimental trends mimicked those predicted by the density matrix calculations but the agreement was not as good as for the spin-3/2 case. Some SIMPSON simulations were also carried out to confirm the results generated by our density matrix calculations. The theoretical flip-angle behavior of the NMR transition intensities obtained from a spin-7/2 spin system is also discussed.     

Mixed-mode failure of composite laminates with cracks

The behavior of quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy laminates with cracks subjected to various biaxial-stress fields was studied experimentally. This was accomplished by uniaxial tensile loading of specimens with cracks of various orientations with the loading axis. It was found that the critical stress-intensity factor, based on a projected crack length increased by a characteristic damage dimension, is nearly constant with stress biaxiality and initial crack length. Paper was presented at V International Congress on Experimental Mechanics held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 10–15, 1984.     

A variable-gain radiating horn using groove guide

A radiating horn of continuously variable gain using groove-guide is proposed. The beam width in both planes is varied. Some experimental measurements at 100 GHz confirm the behaviour.Work carried out at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, Cardiff, U.K.     

Millimeter and submillimeter detection using Ga1?xAlxAs/GaAs heterostructures

We have shown that a Ga_1–xAl_xAs/GaAs heterostructure can be used as a sensitive tunable detector of mm-wave/sub-mm-wave radiation. The mechanism for detection requires the application of a magnetic field varying from approximately 0.2T at 94GHz (3.2mm wavelength) to 6.2T at 2500GHz (119m wavelength). The responsivity and N.E.P. at 3.2mm have been roughly estimated at 200V/W and 5×10^–11W/Hz respectively. The speed of such a detector could be several orders of magnitude greater than comparable InSb detectors.