Fourier–Padé Approximants for Angelesco Systems

We study linear and nonlinear simultaneous Fourier-Pade approximation for Angelesco systems of functions and give the exact rate of convergence/divergence of the approximants in terms of the solution of associated vector equilibrium potential problems which differ for the linear and nonlinear cases.     

On the distribution of the number of retrials

We consider queuing systems where customers are not allowed to queue, instead of that they make repeated attempts, or retrials, in order to enter service after some time. We obtain the distribution of the number of retrials produced by a tagged customer, until he finds an available server.     

Synthesis of high-purity α- and β-PbO and possible applications to synthesis and processing of other lead oxide materials

Litharge, the red tetragonal form of lead oxide α-PbO and massicot, the yellow orthorhombic form β-PbO, are synthesized from lead(II) salts in aqueous media at elevated temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the size, morphology, and crystallographic structural forms of the products. The role of impurities in the experimental synthesis of the materials and microstructural variations in the final products are described. The implications of these observations regarding the synthesis of different conducting lead oxides and other related materials are discussed. PACS 71.20.Ps; 72.80.Jc; 74.62.Bf; 74.62.Dh; 75.50.Tt     

Dynamic programming in cricket: optimizing batting order for a sticky wicket

In cricket, a rain-affected pitch can make batting more difficult than normal. Several other conditions such as poor light or an initially lively pitch, may also result in difficulties for the batsmen. In this note, we refer to all of them as ‘sticky wickets’. On sticky wickets, lower order batsmen are often sent into ‘hold the fort’ until conditions improve. In this paper, a stochastic dynamic programming model is used to examine the appropriateness of this policy. The model suggests that the tactic is often optimal when the sticky wicket persists until the end of the day's play, but not often when the sticky wicket is transitory. In some circumstances, it is worthwhile, on a normal wicket near the end of the day, to send in a lower order batsman to hold the fort (a night watchman): when the wicket is sticky, this tactic is even more worthwhile.     

ZnO:Mn as a member of II-VI:Mn family

ZnO:Mn thin films are grown by the metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique. Mn (x) varies in the 0<x<0.44 range. Vegard’s law has been verified for the lattice parameters. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements prove the substitutional incorporation of Mn²⁺ on zinc sites. The behavior of the EPR line width regarding temperature is discussed. All ZnO:Mn layers show antiferromagnetic interaction and a J₁/k_B=-15 K effective exchange constant. The optical band gap of ZnO:Mn increases with the manganese concentration. Raman spectroscopy reveals a Mn-related scattering band. PACS 71.55.Gs; 75.50.Pp; 61.10.Nz; 76.30.Fc; 75.30.Et; 78.40.-q     

Self-broadening in the millimeter-wave spectrum of ozone

Self broadened widths of seven lines of ozone between 75 and 120 GHz have been measured at room temperature. The variation with temperature of the self-broadening parameter for three of these lines has been studied in the range 245–292°K.     

Oxygen-distribution imaging with a novel two-tracer laser-induced fluorescence technique

We introduce a new technique for imaging oxygen concentrations in fuel/air mixtures that takes advantage of the different responses of toluene and 3-pentanone to collisional quenching by molecular oxygen. Since laser-induced fluorescence signals from both tracers upon excitation at 248 nm are spectrally well separated, simultaneous detection is possible. The technique is first applied to instantaneous imaging in turbulent mixing processes of interacting seeded air and nitrogen flows. Received: 1 August 2001 / Revised version: 29 October 2001 / Published online: 29 November 2001     

Dynamic response of permalloy/Cu/Co magnetoresistive sandwiches

The dynamic response of trilayer magnetoresistive permalloy/Cu/Co films was studied by high-frequency permeability spectra measurements. The resonance frequency is shown to depend on the interlayer copper thickness. This dependence is related to exchange coupling between permalloy and cobalt and the interaction field is estimated using the Landau–Lifschitz–Gilbert model.     

Mode beating in spot-size converter lasers

An anomalous modulation in the wavelength spectrum has been observed in lasers with spot-size converters. This intensity modulation is shown to be caused by beating between the fundamental lasing mode and radiation modes in the taper. This results in a periodic modulation in the net gain spectrum, which causes wavelength jumps between adjacent net gain maxima, and a drive current dependent spectral width that is expected to affect system performance. The amplitude of this spectral modulation is reduced significantly by either using an angled rear-facet which reflects the beating radiation modes away from the laser axis, or by using a nonlinear, adiabatic taper.