Strain-induced polarization rotation in epitaxial (001) BiFeO3 thin films

Direct measurement of the remanent polarization of high quality (001)-oriented epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films shows a strong strain dependence, even larger than conventional (001)-oriented PbTiO3 films. Thermodynamic analysis reveals that a strain-induced polarization rotation mechanism is responsible for the large change in the out-of-plane polarization of (001) BiFeO3 with biaxial strain while the spontaneous polarization itself remains almost constant.     

An Eulerian hybrid WENO centered-difference solver for elastic–plastic solids

We present a finite-difference based solver for hyper-elastic and viscoplastic systems using a hybrid of the weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) schemes combined with explicit centered difference to solve the equations of motion expressed in an Eulerian formulation. By construction our approach minimizes both numerical dissipation errors and the creation of curl-constraint violating errors away from discontinuities while avoiding the calculation of hyperbolic characteristics often needed in general finite-volume schemes. As a result of the latter feature, the formulation allows for a wide range of constitutive relations and only an upper-bound on the speed of sound at each time is required to ensure a stable timestep is chosen. Several one- and two-dimensional examples are presented using a range of constitutive laws with and without additional plastic modeling. In addition we extend the reflection technique combined with ghost-cells to enforce fixed boundaries with a zero tangential stress condition (i.e. free-slip).     

Quenching cross sections of the B3Π+(Ou+) v′ = 14 level of I2 by H2, CO,and CH4

In this work the deexcitation of the B³Π⁺(O_u⁺), v′ = 14 level of I₂ after pulsed laser excitation has been studied. The quenching cross sections by collisions with I₂, H₂, CO, and CH₄ have been measured. The experimental results are 190 ± 14, 2.5 ± 0.3, 15.1 ± 0.4, and 18.0 ± 0.6 Ų, respectively. These values are compatible (within 30%) with the semiempirical scaling law of proportionality with the product of polarizability and the square root of reduced mass.     

Thermal expansion of cadmium fluoride crystals at high temperatures

The thermal expansion coefficient of cadmium fluoride crystals has been measured over the temperature range of 300 to 1070 K. The data fit well to measurements done by other authors in the range 80–300 K. At temperatures above 1070 K the thermal expansion coefficient shows an anomalous behaviour which has been attributed to the formation of cadmium oxide on the surface of the sample.     

On the Physical Origin of Long-Ranged Fluctuations in Fluids in Thermal Nonequilibrium States

Thermodynamic fluctuations in systems that are in nonequilibrium steady states are always spatially long ranged, in contrast to fluctuations in thermodynamic equilibrium. In the present paper we consider a fluid subjected to a stationary temperature gradient. Two different physical mechanisms have been identified by which the temperature gradient causes long-ranged fluctuations. One cause is the presence of couplings between fluctuating fields. Secondly, spatial variation of the strength of random forces, resulting from the local version of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, has also been shown to generate long-ranged fluctuations. We evaluate the contributions to the long-ranged temperature fluctuations due to both mechanisms. While the inhomogeneously correlated Langevin noise does lead to long-ranged fluctuations, in practice, they turn out to be negligible as compared to nonequilibrium temperature fluctuations resulting from the coupling between temperature and velocity fluctuations.     

Modelling phenolic and technological maturities of grapes by means of the multivariate relation between organoleptic and physicochemical properties

The ripeness of grapes at the harvest time is one of the most important parameters for obtaining high quality red wines. Traditionally the decision of harvesting is to be taken only after analysing sugar concentration, titratable acidity and pH of the grape juice (technological maturity). However, these parameters only provide information about the pulp ripeness and overlook the real degree of skins and seeds maturities (phenolic maturity). Both maturities, technological and phenolic, are not simultaneously reached, on the contrary they tend to separate depending on several factors: grape variety, cultivar, adverse weather conditions, soil, water availability and cultural practices. Besides, this divergence is increasing as a consequence of the climate change (larger quantities of CO₂, less rain, and higher temperatures).     

A laser system for high accuracy measurement of small apertures in mechanical parts

A simple, high accuracy small gap measurement system for rough industrial environments was designed and constructed. The system could detect apertures as small as 60 μm with less than 6 μm error in metallic parts with finite (cm range) depth. The principle is based in the transient analysis of transmitted laser intensity which is focused and swept along the region of the gap. The system is composed of a low power visible laser (semiconductor or He–Ne), focusing system, rotating mirror scanner, detection optics and amplifier, control unit for signal processing, speed control and data delivery to the process control unit.