Electrodeposition of epitaxial nickel films on GaAs

The structural and magnetic properties of Ni films grown by electrodeposition from simple sulfate solutions directly onto the (0 0 1) and (0 1 1) surfaces of n-GaAs have been studied. In-plane X-ray diffraction has been used to show that Ni grows on (0 0 1) GaAs with two different preferred epitaxial relationships: (1) perpendicular to plane (0 0 1)_Ni(0 0 1)_GaAs and preferred orientation in-plane [1 0 0]_Ni[1 1 0]_GaAs and (2) perpendicular to plane (0 1 1)_Ni(0 0 1)_GaAs and preferred orientation in-plane [1 1 1]_Ni[1 1 0]_GaAs. Nickel films grown on (0 1 1) n-GaAs show only a single preferred growth relationship: perpendicular to plane (1 1 1)_Ni(0 1 1)_GaAs and in-plane [1 1 0]_Ni[1 1 0]_GaAs. The magnetic properties were strongly dependent on the substrate orientation. The films grown on GaAs (0 0 1) showed a small but definite four-fold magnetic anisotropy in plane with the highest remanence being found along the GaAs [1 0 0] direction. In contrast, the Ni films grown on the (0 1 1) GaAs showed a pronounced uniaxial anisotropy with an anisotropy field of approximately 500 Oe.     

Quantum transport in periodically δ-doped GaAs

The Shubnikov-de Haas spectra of GaAs samples with a periodical doping with Si were measured at 4.2 K using fields of 0–14 T. From the Shubnikov-de Haas spectrum the quantum mobilities associated with individual minibands were estimated for each sample. The sheet density of Si atoms in each doping plane was fixed at approximately 2.5 × 10¹² cm^?2 in all samples and the doping period was varied in the range 40–1000 Å. The quantum mobilities obtained experimentally are compared with theoretical calculations using the random phase approximation to describe the screened interaction between electrons and charged impurities. The theory describes qualitatively the results of the experiment, i.e. an increase of the quantum mobility with the index of the miniband, and a decrease in the mobility in all minibands when the doping period is made shorter (with a weak maximum at intermediate values of the doping period). Various possible improvements of the model are suggested.     

Convergence and stability of the finite difference scheme for nonlinear parabolic systems with time delay

In this article, a class of nonlinear evolution equations – reaction–diffusion equations with time delay – is studied. By combining the domain decomposition technique and the finite difference method, the results for the existence, convergence and the stability of the numerical solution are obtained in the case of subdomain overlap and when the time-space is completely discretized. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal evolution of inverted basins: Constraints from apatite fission track thermochronology in the Cuyo Basin, Argentine Precordillera

Apatite fission track thermochronology (AFTT) was applied to derive the thermal history of formation and inversion of the oil-bearing Triassic–Cretaceous Cuyo Basin, Argentine Precordillera. The obtained central fission track ages range from 13 to 163 Ma, and the mean track lengths from 8.2 to . Based on the integration of AFTT, stratigraphic and structural data, five evolutionary phases are here proposed for the studied area: I—Late Permian cooling related to the extrusion of basement volcanics, and initial extensional regime responsible for the Cuyo Basin formation, II—Triassic–Jurassic heating linked with the filling, and consequent burial, of the Cuyo Basin, III—Jurassic–Paleogene tectonic stabilization, IV—Early Miocene heating related to the load of foreland sedimentation, V—Late Miocene rapid cooling related to the Cuyo Basin inversion. During the Late Miocene, rock units formed in different crustal levels were juxtaposed through thrust, reverse and normal faulting, resulting in contrasting old and very young central fission track ages in closely spaced samples.     

Dual-Sampling-Rate Moving-Horizon Control of a Class of Linear Systems with Input Saturation and Plant Uncertainty

Moving-horizon control is a type of sampled-data feedback control in which the control over each sampling interval is determined by the solution of an open-loop optimal control problem. We develop a dual-sampling-rate moving-horizon control scheme for a class of linear, continuous-time plants with strict input saturation constraints in the presence of plant uncertainty and input disturbances. Our control scheme has two components: a slow-sampling moving-horizon controller for a nominal plant and a fast-sampling state-feedback controller whose function is to force the actual plant to emulate the nominal plant. The design of the moving-horizon controller takes into account the nonnegligible computation time required to compute the optimal control trajectory.We prove the local stability of the resulting feedback system and illustrate its performance with simulations. In these simulations, our dual-sampling-rate controller exhibits performance that is considerably superior to its single-sampling-rate moving-horizon controller counterpart.     

An improved maximum permissible exposure meter for safety assessments of laser radiation

Current interest in laser radiation safety requires demonstration that a laser system has been designed to prevent exposure to levels of laser radiation exceeding the Maximum Permissible Exposure. In some simple systems it is possible to prove this by calculation, but in most cases it is preferable to confirm calculated results with a measurement. This measurement may be made with commercially available equipment, but there are limitations with this approach. A custom designed instrument is presented in which the full range of measurement issues have been addressed. Important features of the instrument are the design and optimisation of detector heads for the measurement task, and consideration of user interface requirements. Three designs for detector head are presented, these cover the majority of common laser types. Detector heads are designed to optimise the performance of relatively low cost detector elements for this measurement task. The three detector head designs are suitable for interfacing to photodiodes, low power thermopiles and pyroelectric detectors.

Design of the user interface was an important aspect of the work. A user interface which is designed for the specific application minimises the risk of user error or misinterpretation of the measurement results. A palmtop computer was used to provide an advanced user interface. User requirements were considered in order that the final implement was well matched to the task of laser radiation hazard audits.     

Spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide with leuco Patent Blue Violet

Hydrogen peroxide (1 × 10^?7?10^?5 mol dm^?3) was determined in aqueous solution using leuco Patent Blue Violet and peroxidase. The reagent can also be applied in the same concentration range to the ethyl acetate extraction method described previously. This allows hydrogen peroxide to be determined in the presence of a variety of species which interfere in the direct method. A reagent consisting of leuco Patent Blue Violet, peroxidase, glucose oxidase and mutarotase was also applied to the determination of glucose.