Characterization of laser sealed coatings of yttria partially stabilized zirconia

The present paper reports an experimental investigation based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) analyses of phases formed after laser sealing of plasma sprayed coatings of 8.5 wt% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ). X-ray diffraction and X-ray step-scanning analyses showed that the plasma sprayed and sealed coatings consisted mainly of t′ phase with a very small amount of monoclinic phase (m phase) in the plasma sprayed coatings. It was also found that the small amounts of m and cubic phases (c phase) present in the sealed coatings were dependent on laser processing specific energies (specific energy is equal to laser power/traverse speed x beam diameter). It was also found that rhombohedral (r) phase formed after laser sealing of coatings at higher specific energies. A direct relationship between c/a ratio of transformable tetragonal phase (t phase) produced by thermal treatment of sealed coatings and nontransformable tetragonal phase (t′ phase) and the amount of Yttria was obtained. A new equation was derived, which describes the relationship between Yttria concentration and the c/a ratio of tetragonal phases (t or t′).     

Characterization of Trimmed NURBS Surface Boundaries Using Topological Criteria

This paper presents an approach based on topology for the determination of characteristics and properties of curves used in the trimming of NURBS surfaces. Through discrete subdivision and topological criteria, a method is presented to determine characteristics of the boundary; such as whether the set of trimming curves forms a set of closed loops, whether trimming curves contain singularities or self intersections, and whether the boundary is simply connected. A surface mesh partitionning the parameter space is used, formed of isoparametric lines in both parametric directions. Topological properties of the cells of this mesh and their intersections with the trimming curves allow to localize the boundary. Topological treatment of this localization allows to define the interior and exterior of the face, and to refine the boundary localization. Singularities and self intersections of the boundary as well as voids in the face are investigated through the study of topological properties of neighbors. As an application, an algorithm for point localization is presented that very rapidly allows to determine whether a given point in parameter space lies inside, on the boundary or outside of the trimmed surface.     

Approximation diophantienne sur les courbes elliptiques à multiplication complexe

Let $\text{E}$ be an elliptic curve with complex multiplication, defined over $\text{Q}$. We consider linear forms on $\text{Lie}\text{(}\text{E}{}^{\mathrm{n}}\text{)}$ with coefficients in the CM field of $\text{E}$. Within this framework, we present a new measure of linear independence for elliptic logarithms in (logb)(loga)ⁿ. Like recent advances in this domain (works by Ably, David, Hirata-Kohno), our result is best possible in terms of the height of the linear forms (logb) while providing a better estimate in the height of algebraic points considered (loga), removing a term in logloga. To cite this article: M. Ably, É. Gaudron, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 337 (2003).     

Graphene to graphite; a layer by layer experimental measurements and density function theory calculations of electric conductivity

ABSTRACT

We measured the electric conductivity of large (25?×?50?mm) graphene films as a function of number of layers in the range of 1–20 layers. We also calculated the energy gap for such samples using density function theory. Our results showed a conductivity slightly above that of ITO for monolayer graphene and an exponential decrease as the number of graphene layers increased. Both experimental and simulation results showed a convergence of graphene into graphite at as little as 18–20 layers.     

Multiple rogue wave and solitary solutions for the generalized BK equation via Hirota bilinear and SIVP schemes arising in fluid mechanics

The multiple lump solutions method is employed for the purpose of obtaining multiple soliton solutions for the generalized Bogoyavlensky-Konopelchenko(BK) equation. The solutions obtained contain first-order, second-order, and third-order wave solutions. At the critical point,the second-order derivative and Hessian matrix for only one point is investigated, and the lump solution has one maximum value. He's semi-inverse variational principle(SIVP) is also used for the generalized BK equation. Three major cases are studied, based on two different ansatzes using the SIVP. The physical phenomena of the multiple soliton solutions thus obtained are then analyzed and demonstrated in the figures below, using a selection of suitable parameter values.This method should prove extremely useful for further studies of attractive physical phenomena in the fields of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, etc.     

PMR Determination of Camphor and Parachlorophenol in Camphorated Parachlorophenol

A PMR analytical procedure is described for the quantitation of camphor and parachlorophenol in camphorated parachlorophenol. The method is simple, rapid and accurate with standard deviations of ±1.13, ± 1.01 for camphor and ± 0.62, ± 0.89 for parachlorophenol, in standard mixtures and in camphorated parachlorophenol, respectively. The PMR spectrum, in addition, provides a very specific means for identification of camphor and parachlorophenol.     

A comparative study of cationic distribution in the systems Li1+5XM1−XO3 and Li1+XM1−XM′ XO3 (M=Nb,M′=Ti; M=Ta,M′=Ti,Zr, Sn)

Abstract

A comparative ferroelectric and NMR studies of the systems Li_1+5X M_1?XO₃ and Li_1+XM_1?XM^′ _XO₃ (M=Nb, M′=Ti M = Ta; M′=Ti, Zr, Sn) have indicated that plot of T_C versus composition can be qualitatively explained on the basis of cationic distribution. The strong drop of T_C has been found in systems with all cations in octahedral sites, whereas little change of T_C was observed along the solid solutions with Li-ions in interstitial tetrahedral sites.     

Theoretical estimates for proton-NMR spin–lattice relaxation rates of heterometallic spin rings

Heterometallic molecular chromium wheels are fascinating new magnetic materials. We reexamine the available experimental susceptibility data on MCr₇ wheels in terms of a simple isotropic Heisenberg Hamiltonian for M=Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn and find in that FeCr₇ needs to be described with an iron–chromium exchange that is different from all other cases. In a second step we model the behavior of the proton spin lattice relaxation rate as a function of applied magnetic field for low temperatures as it is measured in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. It appears that CuCr₇ and NiCr₇ show an unexpectedly reduced relaxation rate at certain level crossings.     

In-situ electrical characterisation of a photodiode during nano-structuring with a focussed ion beam

We study the fabrication and power conversion efficiency of GaAs photodiodes, which have been nano-structured and covered with colloidal quantum dots. A focussed ion beam is used to etch vertical channels into the photodiodes and the detrimental effects of this treatment are characterised in-situ during the fabrication process. A novel experimental configuration allows the electrical characterization of the photodiodes under laser illumination during the nano-fabrication process and reveals the gradual decrease of the photodiodes’ shunt resistance with increasing laterally revealed surface along the etched channels. This is interpreted as evidence for leakage currents through redeposited material and surface states on the lateral channel surface. After the fabrication step the channels are filled with colloidal quantum dots, which upon absorption of light transfer electronic excitations to the photodiode via resonance energy transfer. It is found that after the addition of quantum dots the nano-structured photodiodes show larger enhancements of the energy conversion efficiency under simulated solar irradiance than the pristine photodiodes. Nevertheless, the device degradation induced by the ion beam treatment itself cannot be compensated for.     

Angle-independent plasmonic infrared band-stop reflective filter based on the Ag/SiO₂/Ag T-shaped array

A plasmonic infrared (IR) filter assisted by localized surface plasmon polaritons (LSPPs) in a Ag/SiO?/Ag T-shaped array was theoretically and experimentally investigated. By using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, an angle-independent LSPP resonant mode caused by a Fabry-Pérot resonance in the structure was observed in agreement with the prediction from the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) simulation. The resonant wavelength of the mode can also be controlled by modifying the geometry of the T-shaped structure. Such LSPP property can be used as an IR reflection-type band-stop filter with a single spectral bandwidth and an ultrahigh immunity to incident angles.