Low-temperature epitaxial growth of the quaternary wide band gap semiconductor SiCAlN

Two compounds SiC and AlN, normally insoluble in each other below approximately 2000 degrees C, are synthesized as a single-phase solid-solution thin film by molecular beam epitaxy at 750 degrees C. The growth of epitaxial SiCAlN films with hexagonal structure takes place on 6H-SiC(0001) substrates. Two structural models for the hexagonal SiCAlN films are constructed based on first-principles total-energy density functional theory calculations, each showing agreement with the experimental microstructures observed in cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy images. The predicted fundamental band gap is 3.2 eV for the stoichiometric SiCAlN film.     

Characterization of nonyl phenol ethoxylates in sewage treatment plants by combined precursor ion scanning and multiple reaction monitoring.

A novel rapid screening technique for the profiling of nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) in sewage treatment plant (STP) influent/effluent was developed using flow injection with atmospheric pressure ionization coupled to mass spectrometric analysis by combined precursor ion scanning and multiple reaction monitoring. The technique allows for total NPE concentrations as low as 50 parts-per-trillion to be detected in STP samples.     

A distributed equivalent magnetic current based FDTD method for the calculation of E-fields induced by gradient coils

This paper evaluates a new, low-frequency finite-difference time-domain method applied to the problem of induced E-fields/eddy currents in the human body resulting from the pulsed magnetic field gradients in MRI. In this algorithm, a distributed equivalent magnetic current is proposed as the electromagnetic source and is obtained by quasistatic calculation of the empty coil's vector potential or measurements therein. This technique circumvents the discretization of complicated gradient coil geometries into a mesh of Yee cells, and thereby enables any type of gradient coil modelling or other complex low frequency sources. The proposed method has been verified against an example with an analytical solution. Results are presented showing the spatial distribution of gradient-induced electric fields in a multi-layered spherical phantom model and a complete body model.     

The (1f72)2 states in 34S

A distorted wave analysis of the ³²S(t,p) ³⁴S reaction reveals that the 0⁺ state at 5.86 MeV, the 2⁺ state at 7.80 MeV and the 4⁺ state at 8.42 MeV are the principal components of the $\text{(1}\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^2$, T = 1 multiplet.     

Finite element analysis of gradient z-coil induced eddy currents in a permanent MRI magnet

In permanent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, pulsed gradient fields induce strong eddy currents in the conducting structures of the magnet body. The gradient field for image encoding is perturbed by these eddy currents leading to MR image distortions. This paper presents a comprehensive finite element (FE) analysis of the eddy current generation in the magnet conductors. In the proposed FE model, the hysteretic characteristics of ferromagnetic materials are considered and a scalar Preisach hysteresis model is employed. The developed FE model was applied to study gradient z-coil induced eddy currents in a 0.5 T permanent MRI device. The simulation results demonstrate that the approach could be effectively used to investigate eddy current problems involving ferromagnetic materials. With the knowledge gained from this eddy current model, our next step is to design a passive magnet structure and active gradient coils to reduce the eddy current effects.     

Dithienylethene-Based Single Molecular Photothermal Linear Actuator

By employing a mechanically controllable break junction technique, we have realized an ideal single molecular linear actuator based on dithienylethene (DTE) based molecular architecture, which undergoes reversible photothermal isomerization when subjected to UV irradiation under ambient conditions. As a result, open form (compressed, UV OFF) and closed form (elongated, UV ON) of dithienylethene-based molecular junctions are achieved. Interestingly, the mechanical actuation is achieved without changing the conductance of the molecular junction around the Fermi level over several cycles, which is an essential property required for an ideal single molecular actuator. Our study demonstrates a unique example of achieving a perfect balance between tunneling width and barrier height change upon photothermal isomerization, resulting in no change in conductance but a change in the molecular length, which results in mechanical actuation at the single molecular level.