Extended X-ray absorption fine structure studies of thulium doped GaN epilayers

The local structure of Tm³⁺ ions incorporated into GaN epilayers was studied by means of Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure. The samples were doped either in situ during growth by Molecular Beam Epitaxy or by ion implantation of layers grown by Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition. The implantation was done at ion energy of 300 keV and different nominal fluences of 3×10¹⁵, 4×10¹⁵ cm⁻² and 5×10¹⁵ cm⁻². The concentration of Tm in the samples studied was measured by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray analysis. For the in situ doped sample with concentration of 0.5%, and for all of the implanted samples, Tm was found on the Ga site in GaN. The ion implanted sample and an in situ doped sample with a similar concentration of Tm showed the same local structure, which suggests that the lattice site occupied by Tm does not depend on the doping method. When the average Tm concentration for in situ doped samples is increased to 1.2% and 2.0%, Tm is found to occupy the Ga substitutional site and the presence of a substantial number of Tm ions in the second coordination sphere indicates dopant clustering in the films. The formation of pure TmN clusters was found in an in situ doped sample with a dopant concentration of 3.4%.     

Mouvements rigides associés à des masses positives et négatives

The Note deals with rigid solutions of the N-Body Problem, i.e. solutions with constant mutual distances between the bodies. It is shown that for these motions, the configuration is balanced in the sense of Albouy and Chenciner [Invent. Math. 131 (1998) 151–184] even when the masses are of different signs. This fact was proved only for positive masses, using the scalar product they define. A consequence of the result is the constancy of the rotation velocity. It is also shown that any configuration can generate non-planar rigid motions for certain masses. Such motions do not exist with positive masses. All the results can be generalized to systems with N charged particles. To cite this article: M. Celli, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 340 (2005).     

Optimal inspection and perfect repair

Models are developed for decision making about monitoring andmaintenance of systems whose performance through time is describedby a general stochastic process. The system is monitored andpreventive and corrective maintenance actions are carried outin response to the observed system state. The decision processis simplified by using the maximum process as a decision variable.The models developed generalize age replacement models and othersimple maintenance strategies. The approach can deal with failuresthat prevent the system functioning further, and also failuresthat are defined by regulation or economic considerations. Attentionis restricted to perfect repair and inspection, but the structureprovides the framework for further developments.     

CNDO studies of Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors II. Simple models of YBa2Cu3Ox

The electronic structure of YBa₂Cu₃O_x (x=6 and 7) is investigated using the CNDO molecular orbital method. Electronic structures of model clusters [Cu₃O₁₀]^–15, [Ba₈Cu₃O₁₀]⁺¹, [Y₈Cu₃O₁₀]⁺⁹ of the non-superconducting (x=6) and [Cu₃O₁₂]^–17, [Ba₈Cu₃O₁₂]^–1, [Y₈Cu₃O₁₂]⁺⁷ of the superconducting (x=7) phases are compared. Y and Ba layers cause a considerable electron density transfer from the central Cu(1) region.     

Succinic acid adsorption from fermentation broth and regeneration

More than 25 sorbents were tested for uptake of succinic acid from aqueous solutions. The best resins were then tested for successive loading and regeneration using hotwater. The key desired properties for an ideal sorbent are high capacity, complete stable regenerability, and specificity for the product. The best resins have a stable capacity of about 0.06 g of succinic acid/g of resin at moderate concentrations (1–5 g/L) of succinic acid. Several sorbents were tested more exhaustively for uptake of succinic acid and for successive loading and regeneration using hot water. One resin, XUS 40285, has a good stable isotherm capacity, prefers succinate over glucose, and has good capacities at both acidic and neutral pH. Succinic acid was removed from simulated media containing salts, succinic acid, acetic acid, and sugar using a packed column of sorbent resin, XUS 40285. The fermentation byproduct, acetate, was completely separated from succinate. A simple hot water regeneration successfully concentrated succinate from 10 g/L (inlet) to 40–110 g/L in the effluent. If successful, this would lower separation costs by reducing the need for chemicals for the initial purification step. Despie promising initial results of good capacity (0.06 g of succinic/g of sorbent), 70% recovery using hot water, and a recovered concentration of >100 g/L, this regeneration was not stable over 10 cycles in the column. Alternative regeneration schemes using acid and base were examined. Two (XUS 40285 and XFS-40422) showed both good stable capacities for succinic acid over 10 cycles and >95% recovery in a batch operation using a modified extraction procedure combining acid and hot water washes. These resins showed comparable results with actual broth.     

Slow-light enhanced optical detection in liquid-infiltrated photonic crystals

Slow-light enhanced optical detection in liquid-infiltrated photonic crystals is theoretically studied. Using a scattering-matrix approach and the Wigner–Smith delay time concept, we show that optical absorbance benefits both from slow-light phenomena as well as a high filling factor of the energy residing in the liquid. Utilizing strongly dispersive photonic crystal structures, we numerically demonstrate how liquid-infiltrated photonic crystals facilitate enhanced light–matter interactions, by potentially up to an order of magnitude. The proposed concept provides strong opportunities for improving existing miniaturized absorbance cells for optical detection in lab-on-a-chip systems.     

A balancing condition for weak limits of families of minimal surfaces

We prove a balancing condition for weak limits of families of embedded minimal surfaces of finite total curvature. We use it to prove compactness theorems for certain families of minimal surfaces.