ZnO nanowire array ultraviolet photodetectors with self-powered properties

A ZnO nanowire (NW) array ultraviolet photodetector (PD) with Pt Schottky contacts has been fabricated on a glass substrate. Under UV light illumination, this PD showed a high photo-to-dark current ratio of 892 at 30 V bias. Interestingly, it was also found that this PD had a high sensitivity of 475 without external bias. This phenomenon could be explained by the asymmetric Schottky barrier height (SBH) at the two ends causing different separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, which resulted in the formation of photocurrent. It is anticipated to have potential applications in self-powered UV detection field.     

Multi-environment probability density function method for modelling turbulent combustion using realistic chemical kinetics

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool for performing turbulent combustion simulations that require finite-rate chemistry is developed and tested by modelling a series of bluff-body stabilized flames that exhibit different levels of finite-rate chemistry effects ranging from near equilibrium to near global extinction. The new modelling tool is based on the multi-environment probability density function (MEPDF) methodology and combines the following: the direct quadrature method of moments (DQMOM); the interaction-by-exchange-with-the-mean (IEM) mixing model; and realistic combustion chemistry. Using DQMOM, the MEPDF model can be derived from the transport PDF equation by depicting the joint composition PDF as a weighted summation of a finite number of multi-dimensional Dirac delta functions in the composition space. The MEPDF method with multiple reactive scalars retains the unique property of the joint PDF method of treating chemical reactions exactly. However, unlike the joint PDF methods that typically must resort to particle-based Monte-Carlo solution schemes, the MEPDF equations (i.e. the transport equations of the weighted delta-peaks) can be solved by traditional Eulerian grid-based techniques. In the current study, a pseudo time-splitting scheme is adopted to solve the MEPDF equations; the reaction source terms are computed with a highly efficient and accurate in-situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) algorithm. A 19-species reduced mechanism based on quasi-steady state assumptions is used in the simulations of the bluff-body flames. The modelling results are compared with the experimental data, including mixing, temperature, major species and important minor species such as CO and NO. Compared with simulations using a Monte-Carlo joint PDF method, the new approach shows comparable accuracy.     

The interaction between a screw dislocation and an interfacial cruciform crack and collinear linear cracks

The interaction between a screw dislocation and an interfacial cruciform crack and collinear linear cracks under loads at infinity was investigated. General solutions of complex potentials to this problem were derived by using complex potential theory. As illustrative examples, the closed form solution for a screw dislocation interacting with an interfacial cruciform crack and a linear crack is obtained. The stress intensity factor and critical stress intensity factor for dislocation emission are also calculated. The results show that the shielding effect increases with the increase of the shear modulus and the distance between the two cracks, but it decreases with the increase of dislocation azimuth and the distance between the dislocation and the cruciform crack tip. The critical loads at infinity for dislocation emission increase with the increment of the emission angle, the distance the two cracks and the vertical length of the cruciform crack.     

Edge misfit dislocation formation at the interface of a nanopore and infinite substrate with surface/interface effects

The model of an edge misfit dislocation at the interface of the hollow nanopore and the infinite substrate with surface/interface stress is investigated. Using the complex variable method, analytical solutions for complex potentials of a film due to an edge misfit dislocation located in the film with surface/interface effect are derived, and the stress fields of the film and the edge misfit dislocation formation energy can be obtained. The critical conditions for edge misfit dislocation formation are given at which the generation of an edge misfit dislocation is energetically favourable. The influence of the ratio of the shear modulus between the film and the infinite substrate, the misfit strain, the radius of the nanopore and the surface/interface stress on the critical thickness of the film is discussed.     

Concurrent formation of two different type precipitation-free zones during the initial stage of homogenization

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to study the microstructure evolution of Al–Cu–Mg alloy during the initial stage of homogenization. It was found that two types of precipitation-free zones (PFZs) can form concurrently: one near grain boundaries and the other at the grain centres. Depth profile analyses of solute concentrations and dislocation-loop distributions strongly suggested that the formations of the two type of PFZs are different, due solely and exclusively to solute and vacancy depletion, respectively. A mechanism model was proposed to explain the concurrent formation of the two different type of PFZs during the initial stage of homogenization.     

Development and Infrared Applications of Chalcogenide Glass Optical Fibers

Chalcogenide glass fibers based on sulphide, selenide, telluride, and their rare earth doped compositions are being actively pursued both at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. (NRL) and worldwide. Great strides have been made in reducing optical losses using improved chem ical purification techniques, but further improvements are needed in both purification and fiberization technology to attain the theoretical optical losses. Despite this, current singlemode and multimode chalcogenide glass fibers are enabling numerous applications. Some of these applications include laser power delivery, chemical sensing, imaging, scanning near field microscopy spectroscopy, fiber infrared (IR) sources lasers, amplifiers, and optical switches. The authors assert that the research and development of chalcogenide glasses will grow in the foreseeable future, especially with respect to improvements the optical quality of the fibers and the performance of the fibers in existing future applications.     

Near optimality of stochastic control in systems with unknown parameter processes

Stochastic control for systems with an unknown parameter is considered in this paper. The underlying problem is to minimize a functional subject to a system described by a singularly perturbed differential equation with an unknown parameter process driven by fast fluctuating random disturbances. This problem arises in the context of stochastic adaptive control, adaptive signal processing, and failure-prone manufacturing systems. Due to the nature of the wide-bandwidth noise processes, identifying the parameter process for eacht is very hard since the driving noise changes very rapidly. An alternative approach is used, and an auxiliary control problem is introduced to overcome the difficulties. By means of weak convergence methods and comparison control techniques, nearly optimal controls are obtained.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant DMS-9022139 and DMS-9224372.     

一种可拆装式的脑外科手术用磁共振成像线圈

在临床磁共振成像(MRI)应用中,射频线圈的设计是非常关键的,针对不同的应用目的,合适的线圈能获得质量更好的图像. 有的应用需要线圈提供均匀性较好的射频场,而有的应用则需要线圈在特定区域内提供高的信噪比(SNR). 但是线圈很难同时得到好的射频场（B₁场）、空间均匀性和高的SNR,需要根据实际应用情况进行折衷设计. 针对MRI在脑外科手术中的应用特点,设计并制作了一种新颖的、适用于脑外科手术的MRI接收和发射共用射频线圈. 该线圈采用可分拆式结构,在脑外科手术支架上可以进行反复组装和拆卸,减少了MRI对医生手术的影响. 仿真结果和人体成像实验表明,该线圈能产生均匀的射频场、有较高的SNR和较大的成像范围,满足脑外科手术的需要.     

An improved evaluation of the neutron background in the PandaX-Ⅱ experiment

In dark matter direct detection experiments,neutron is a serious source of background,which can mimic the dark matter-nucleus scattering signals.In this paper,we present an improved evaluation of the neutron background in the PandaX-II dark matter experiment by a novel approach.Instead of fully relying on the Monte Carlo simulation,the overall neutron background is determined from the neutron-induced high energy signals in the data.In addition,the probability of producing a dark-matter-like background per neutron is evaluated with a complete Monte Carlo generator,where the correlated emission of neutron(s)andγ(s)in the(α,n)reactions and spontaneous fissions is taken into consideration.With this method,the neutron backgrounds in the Run 9(26-ton-day)and Run 10(28-ton-day)data sets of PandaX-II are estimated to be(0.66±0.24)and(0.47±0.25)events,respectively.     

基于像差特征分析的变焦光学系统装调

提出了一种基于像差特征分析的变焦系统共轴性装调方法。针对某型20倍变焦光学系统的装调,在分析变焦光学系统装调要求的基础上,通过采用光学定心加工技术,提高变焦系统各镜组内光学元件的同轴度;采用Zygo干涉仪,检测变焦系统在长短焦位置的像差特性分布;借助CodeV软件仿真计算各光学元件在系统中的公差灵敏度分布,并确定产生像差影响的敏感光学元件;在中心偏测量仪上,完成最终光学系统像质的调整。此外,还设计了一种变焦光学系统各动组间同轴度调试装置,对变焦相机主镜筒机械内孔轴线与直线导轨的平行性进行了精确测量,保证了动组组元光轴的同轴精度。装调结果表明:变焦系统成像质量有明显改善,像面一致性得到保证,长短焦轴上传递函数值分别优于技术要求值0.45和0.55,长短焦轴外0.7视场传递函数值优于0.25和0.35,实现了高精度装调,验证了该方法的可靠性。