Temperature dependence of interband transition energy in InGaAsN strain-compensated quantum-well and ridge-waveguide lasers fabricated with pulsed anodic oxidation

Ridge-waveguide InGaAsN triple-quantum-well strain-compensated lasers grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition were fabricated with pulsed anodic oxidation. The laser’s output power reached 145 mW in continuous-wave mode at room temperature for a 4-?m -stripe-width laser. Continuous-wave single longitudinal mode operation was maintained at a high injection current level with a wavelength of 1287.3 nm at room temperature. Single longitudinal mode operation at 1317.2 nm was achieved at twice the threshold current at 100 °C. The band gap of InGaAsN in the quantum wells at different temperatures was calculated and compared to the measured temperature-dependent laser wavelength.     

Direct measurement of fluid velocity gradients at a wall by PIV image processing with stereo reconstruction

Velocity gradient is typically estimated in Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) by differentiating a measured velocity field, which amplifies noise in the measured velocities. If gradients near a boundary are sought, such noise is usually greater than in bulk fluid, because of small tracer displacement, uncertainty in the effective positions of velocity vectors, intense deformation of tracer patterns, and laser reflection. We consider here a modified form of the Particle Image Distortion (PID) method todirectly calculate velocity gradients at a fixed wall, and refer it as “PIV/IG” (“Interface Gradiometry”). Results from synthetic 2D PIV images suggest our method achieves higher SNR and accuracy than velocity differentiation. Also, we have developed a procedure to reconstruct three-dimensional velocity gradient at a fixed wall the two non-zero components from PIV/IG data obtained in stereo views; these equations simplify considerably thanks to the no-slip condition. Experimental data from the bottom wall of turbulent open channel flow appear to suffer from a form of pixel locking. As with standard PIV, this underlines the importance of adequate tracer diameter in the images, sufficient seeding density, and of dynamic range of the camera sensor.     

Fluid and diffusion limits for transient sojourn times of processor sharing queues with time varying rates

We provide an approximate analysis of the transient sojourn time for a processor sharing queue with time varying arrival and service rates, where the load can vary over time, including periods of overload. Using the same asymptotic technique as uniform acceleration as demonstrated in [12] and [13], we obtain fluid and diffusion limits for the sojourn time of the M_t/M_t/1 processor-sharing queue. Our analysis is enabled by the introduction of a “virtual customer” which differs from the notion of a “tagged customer” in that the former has no effect on the processing time of the other customers in the system. Our analysis generalizes to non-exponential service and interarrival times, when the fluid and diffusion limits for the queueing process are known.     

Effect of hardness and composition gradients on Barkhausen emission in case hardened steel

The effect of gradients in hardness, structure and composition in the surface layers on magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) was investigated in two widely used low alloy steels. One material was case hardened by induction hardening. The other was case carburised. Similar hardness profiles were produced by the two treatments. It was found that the variation in structure and hardness through the case in the induction-hardened steel had a minor effect on the MBN profile. In contrast, the inhomogeneity in the case-carburised material showed up clearly. This took the form of a broadened or two-peak MBN profile. When the surface layer containing the case was removed by etching, the broadened profile was replaced by a profile with a single peak. It is concluded that the shape and position of the MBN profile is significantly affected when a gradient in microstructure is induced by a gradient in carbon content. On the other hand, a gradient in microstructure induced by heat treatment with a constant carbon level has much less affect on the MBN profile for the induction-hardened steel.     

Reductions in overshoot following intense sound exposures

Overshoot refers to the poorer detectability of brief signals presented soon after the onset of a masking noise compared to those presented after longer delays. In the present experiment, brief tonal signals were presented 2 or 190 ms following the onset of a broadband masker that was 200 ms in duration. These two conditions of signal delay were tested before and after a series of exposures to a tone intense enough to induce temporary threshold shift (TTS). The magnitude of the overshoot was reduced after the exposure when a TTS of at least 10 dB was induced, but not when smaller amounts of TTS were induced. The reduction in overshoot was due to a decrease in the masked thresholds with the 2-ms delay; masked thresholds with the 190-ms delay were not different pre- and post-exposure. The implication is that the mechanisms responsible for the normal overshoot effect are temporarily inactivated by the same stimulus manipulations that produce a mild exposure-induced hearing loss. Thus the result is the paradox that exposure to intense sounds can produce a loss of signal detectability in certain stimulus conditions and a simultaneous improvement in detectability in other stimulus conditions.     

Hyperfine magnetic fields at sp-sites in Co2YZ Heusler alloys

The systematics of hyperfine magnetic fields at sp impurities on the Z-sites in Co based Heusler alloys are investigated. New TDPAC measurements of Cd hyperfine fields are reported.     

Parametric and Non Homogeneous Semi-Markov Process for HIV Control

In AIDS control, physicians have a growing need to use pragmatically useful and interpretable tools in their daily medical taking care of patients. Semi-Markov process seems to be well adapted to model the evolution of HIV-1 infected patients. In this study, we introduce and define a non homogeneous semi-Markov (NHSM) model in continuous time. Then the problem of finding the equations that describe the biological evolution of patient is studied and the interval transition probabilities are computed. A parametric approach is used and the maximum likelihood estimators of the process are given. A Monte Carlo algorithm is presented for realizing non homogeneous semi-Markov trajectories. As results, interval transition probabilities are computed for distinct times and follow-up has an impact on the evolution of patients.      

On-line arbitrarily vertex decomposable trees

A tree T is arbitrarily vertex decomposable if for any sequence τ of positive integers adding up to the order of T there is a sequence of vertex-disjoint subtrees of T whose orders are given by τ. An on-line version of the problem of characterizing arbitrarily vertex decomposable trees is completely solved here.     

Ultrashort-pulse dual-wavelength source for digital holographic two-wavelength contouring

Digital holographic shape measurements using femtosecond laser pulses are reported. For contouring of very fast moving objects, the simultaneous generation of at least two spectrally separated ultrashort pulses is required. To deliver this particular spectral signature at high pulse energies, a chirped-pulse Ti:sapphire laser amplifier was modified to emit two spectrally separated pulses with energies above 1 μJ each. The wavelength separation of these pulses was adjustable within the 50 nm gain bandwidth, cutting out two distinct wavelength peaks by a variable double-slit assembly in a prism sequence. A Michelson-type interferometer was employed to perform the two-wavelength contouring. The phases of the holograms and the phase differences are calculated numerically, which allow us to deduce the contour lines of the topology of the object. The suitability of the light source for digital holography is demonstrated with contouring of stationary objects and the potential for high-speed applications is indicated. PACS 42.40.-i; 42.60.By     

Organic SIMS with single massive gold projectile: Ion yield enhancement by silver metallization

The yield of CN from glycine rises from one CN per projectile impact to two when the sample is covered with a nominally 1 nm thick layer of silver. These yields were obtained for bombardment with Au₄₀₀⁴⁺ projectile with 136 keV impact energy. A multitude of CN-based clusters, e.g. Ag_xO_y(CN)_z are produced concurrently. As a result, a total of three CN-based secondary ions are generated per projectile impact. The exceptionally high yield for CN is of interest for biological SIMS.