Monte Carlo study of interfacial silicon suboxide layers and oxidation kinetics

A simple simulation scheme that simultaneously describes the growth kinetics of SiO₂ films at the nanometer scale and the SiO_x/Si interface dynamics (its extent, and spatial/temporal evolution) is presented. The simulation successfully applies to experimental data in the region above and below 10 nm, reproduces the Deal and Grove linear-parabolic law and the oxide growth rate enhancement in the very thin film regime (the so-called anomalous region). According to the simulation, the oxidation is governed mainly by two processes: (a) the formation of a transition suboxide layer and (b) its subsequent drift towards the silicon bulk. We found that it is the superposition of these two processes that produces the crossover from the anomalous oxidation region behavior to the linear-parabolic law.     

Algebraic methods in quantum mechanics: from molecules to polymers

We present a brief review of algebraic techniques developed and applied in molecular spectroscopy in the last five years. We also outline perspectives for new applications of the Lie algebraic method in the first decade of the new century. Received 21 November 2001     

Metastability in the Potts model on the Cayley tree

Metastability in the ferromagneticp-state Potts model defined on the Cayley tree is discussed. It is shown that the sign of the boundary fieldH _s determines the order of the transition as well as the stability of the low-temperature phase. Lowering the temperature withH _s >0, a system withp<2 (p>2) will display a second (first)-order transition to a metastable (stable) phase. ForH _s >0 a second (first)-order transition to a metastable (stable) phase occurs ifp>2 (p<2). In this case the system also has a residual entropy which is negative forp<2.     

Diffraction in a nonlinear defocusing medium

Diffraction by a semitransparent screen is considered in the framework of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The case of a defocusing medium is investigated. The method used represents a synthesis of the method of Riemann's matrix problem and the technique of Whitham's deformations of spectral curves.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova, Vol. 179, pp. 23–31, 1989.     

The measurement of subcritical electroconvection

Under idealized conditions, electroconvection in a nematic liquid crystal sets in at a well-defined threshold of the driving ac voltage. Fluctuating convection rolls of a small amplitude below that threshold have been observed recently. The measurement of the amplitude of these fluctuations is described in detail in this paper. It is based on averaging the light intensity signals using the structure function and a quantitative analysis of the light deflection.     

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Evaluating the Efficiency of US Air Force Real-Property Maintenance Activities

The objective of this research is to evaluate a new methodology, data envelopment analysis (DEA), as a tool for measuring and evaluating the operational efficiency of US Air Force organizations. This study involves the application of DEA to locate possible inefficiencies in the performance of US Air Force real-property maintenance activities. Dynamic behaviour, as exhibited via window analyses, is reviewed along with static counterparts. The testing was done in close coordination with Air Force officials, who reviewed the results for accuracy, validity and relevance. We conclude that this type of efficiency analysis does have value for the Air Force, where it can serve as a guide to auditors, budget programmers, managers and others in measuring, evaluating and enhancing operational efficiency.     

Two modifications of the least cost per period heuristic for dynamic lot-sizing

This paper proposes two constructive heuristics for the well-known single-level uncapacitated dynamic lot-sizing problem. The proposed heuristics, called net least period cost (nLPC) and nLPC(i), are developed by modifying the average period cost concept from Silver and Meal's heuristic, commonly known as least period cost (LPC). An improved tie-breaking stopping rule and a locally optimal decision rule are proposed in the second heuristic to enhance performance. We test the effectiveness of the proposed heuristics by using 20 benchmarking test problems frequently used in the literature. Furthermore, we perform a large-scale simulation study involving three factors, 50 experimental conditions, and 100?000 randomly generated problems to evaluate the proposed heuristics against LPC and six other well-known constructive heuristics in the literature. The simulation results show that both nLPC and nLPC(i) produce average holding and setup costs lower than or equal to those of LPC in every one of the 50 experimental conditions. The proposed heuristics also outperform each of the six other heuristics evaluated in all experimental conditions, without an increase in computational requirements. Lastly, considering that both nLPC and nLPC(i) are fairly simple for practitioners to understand and that lot-sizing heuristics have been commonly used in practice, there should be a very good chance for practical applications of the proposed heuristics.     

Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer. Part 26: Formal kinetics of aldehyde and carboxylic acid formation at a constant rate

Formation of carboxylic acids at a constant rate can be easily explained. It seems to result from the formation and decomposition of α,γ-keto-hydroperoxides. Formal kinetics based on formation and decomposition of these structural units is in agreement with the experimental findings. The activation energy deduced from the calculations is negligible, in agreement with the experimental data showing the constant rate to be practically temperature independent. Comparison of the acids with the hydroperoxides and ketones formed initially shows that the rate of oxygen addition to alkyl radicals is significantly smaller than in low molecular mass liquids. The same conclusion is reached on comparing directly the acids formed on decomposition of α,γ-keto-hydroperoxides in polyethylene melt and in hexadecane. The rate of oxygen addition in polyethylene melt is closer to 2 × 10⁵ than to 6 × 10⁵ (s⁻¹) that is valid in hexadecane.It is possible to attribute the relatively small amount of aldehydes that might be formed at a constant rate to different reactions of alkoxy radicals that are not in a cage with other radicals. These alkoxy radicals result from the addition of peroxy radicals to unsaturated bonds. This addition is followed mainly by epoxide formation and simultaneous release of an alkoxy radical.