640 × 512 pixel narrow-band, four-band, and broad-band quantum well infrared photodetector focal plane arrays

A 9 μm cutoff 640 × 512 pixel hand-held quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) camera has been demonstrated with excellent imagery. A noise equivalent differential temperature (NEDT) of 10.6 mK is expected at a 65 K operating temperature with f/2 optics at a 300 K background. This focal plane array has shown background limited performance at a 72 K operating temperature with the same optics and background conditions. In this paper, we discuss the development of this very sensitive long-wavelength infrared camera based on a GaAs/AlGaAs QWIP focal plane array and its performance in quantum efficiency, NEDT, uniformity, and operability. In the second section of this paper, we discuss the first demonstration of a monolithic spatially separated four-band 640 × 512 pixel QWIP focal plane array and its performance. The four spectral bands cover 4–5.5, 8.5–10, 10–12, and 13.5–15 μm spectral regions with 640 × 128 pixels in each band. In the last section, we discuss the array performance of a 640 × 512 pixel broad-band (10–16 μm full-width at half-maximum) QWIP focal plane.     

Foams and surface rheological properties of β-casein, gliadin and glycinin

Interfacial rheological properties and their suitability for foam production and stability of two vegetable proteins were studied and compared to β-casein. Proteins used ranged from flexible to rigid/globular in the order of β-casein, gliadin and soy glycinin. Experiments were performed at pH 6.7. Network forming properties were characterised by the surface dilational modulus (determined with the ring trough) and the critical falling film length (L_still) at which a stagnant protein film will break. Gliadin had the highest dilational modulus, followed by glycinin and β-casein, whereas glycinin formed the strongest film against fracture in the overflowing cylinder. The rate of decrease in the surface tension was studied at the air–water (Wilhelmy plate method) and the oil–water interface (bursting membrane) and the dynamic surface tension during compression and expansion in the caterpillar. Gliadin had the lowest equilibrium interfacial tensions and β-casein the lowest dynamic surface tension during expansion. Hardly any foam could be formed at a concentration of 0.1 g/l by shaking. At a concentration of 1.4 g/l most foam was formed by β-casein, followed by gliadin and glycinin. It seems that in the first place the rate of adsorption is important for foam formation. For the vegetable proteins, adsorption was slow. This resulted in lower foamability, especially for glycinin.     

An Automatic Procedure for Updating the Block Size in the Block Conjugate Gradient Method for Solving Linear Systems

The paper considers the problem of constructing an efficient automatic procedure for reducing the block size in the block conjugate gradient method insuring that the resulting rate of convergence is comparable with that of the block conjugate gradient method with constant block size. The numerical results provided show that, independently of the type of distribution of the smallest eigenvalues of the preconditioned matrix, the procedure suggested always leads to a decrease of the arithmetic costs with respect to those of the block method with constant block size. Bibliography: 8 titles.     

Variations on the theme of solvability by radicals

We discuss the problem of representability and nonrepresentability of algebraic functions by radicals. We show that the Riemann surfaces of functions that are the inverses of Chebyshev polynomials are determined by their local behavior near branch points. We find lower bounds on the degrees of equations to which sufficiently general algebraic functions can be reduced by radicals. We also begin to classify rational functions of prime degree whose inverses are representable by radicals.     

Boundary Value Problems for Ordinary Differential Equations with Deviated Arguments

We discuss differential equations with nonlinear boundary conditions. We formulate sufficient conditions under which problems with deviating arguments have quasisolutions or solutions. To obtain the results, we apply the method of monotone iterations.     

A generalized square of the zeta function. The spectral decomposition. II

An estimate of the remainder in the spectral decomposition of the generalized ζ function is given, which is more precise than the known ones. This paper is a continuation of a previous paper published in one of the preceding issues. Bibliography: 1 title. __________ Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov POMI, Vol. 330, 2006, pp. 77–92.     

A differential-geometric criterion of the kinematic integrability of nonlinear differential equations

A theorem on the existence of a G-representation and a differential-geometric criterion of the kinematic integrability for nonlinear differential equations from the Λ²-G-classes is proved. Examples of zero-curvature representations and metrics for some equations of mathematical physics are presented. __________ Translated from Fundamental’naya i Prikladnaya Matematika (Fundamental and Applied Mathematics), Vol. 11, No. 1, Geometry, 2005.     

Production and properties of metal-carbon composite coatings with a nanocrystalline structure

It is suggested to produce metal-carbon composite coatings by magnetron sputtering of mosaic cathodes, which are Group IV, V, and VI metals. The mosaic structure of the cathode elements are computer-optimized for each of the metals. Reflection electron diffraction studies show that the coatings have the amorphous or nanocrystalline structures, which are thermally stable. The coatings offer specific physical properties, in particular, low friction factor and high hardness.     

Statistical properties of the nonlinear negative binomial state

In this context, we introduce and investigate the properties of the nonlinear negative binomial state (the state which interpolates between the nonlinear coherent and the number states). Mainly we concentrate on the statistical properties for such state where we have discussed two different cases of squeezing phenomenon. The first case is the normal squeezing while the second is the amplitude squared squeezing, further the second order correlation function is also considered. Our discussion have been extended to include the quasi-probability distribution functions (W-Wigner and Q-functions). The quadrature distribution and the phase properties in Pegg-Barnett formalism besides the phase variances are considered. Examination of the resonance fluorescence against the present state is given (single atom and thermodynamic limit). It has been shown that the atomic inversion is sensitive to any variation in the nonlinear negative binomial number m.