On determining a 1-tailed upper limit for future sample HorRat values

Two formulas were developed for use in computing 1-tailed upper limits for future HorRat values obtained from the collaborative study of materials. One formula is applicable when a future sample HorRat value H [formula: see text] is computed based on a known concentration (e.g., C = spike level and RSD(R) is the sample relative reproducibility standard deviation) and the other formula is applicable when the true concentration (C) is unknown and a future sample HorRat value [formula: see text] is computed using the sample mean (e.g., y, the collaborative study overall mean for an analyte). A Monte Carlo simulation procedure was developed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software to assess the accuracy of the 2 developed formulas. Based on the degree of closeness between the simulated and calculated limits, the formulas for computing upper limits for future sample HorRat values will prove to be useful to Study Directors in determining worst case scenarios concerning a method's reproducibility precision relative to that predicted using the "Horwitz equation". We also define the current empirical HorRat limits as 1-tailed 100p% upper limits to assess the statistical consequence, in a probability sense, of their application as an analytical methods screening tool.     

Bandwidth control in a hybrid fiber acousto-optic filter

We report a bandwidth variation technique in an acousto-optic filter. Utilizing the adiabatic conversion in both optical and acoustic modes, we obtain a novel hybrid waveguide composed of serial concatenation of single-mode fiber (SMF) and two-mode hollow optical fiber (HOF). On the basis of dissimilarity in the phase-matching conditions and beat-length dispersion in SMF and HOF, the FWHM of the resonant bands is varied from 3.8 to 190 nm near the 1.5-microm region in a single device. Furthermore, we theoretically analyze the acousto-optic coupling among the guided modes in HOF, which shows good agreement with experimental observations.     

Construction of a natural partition of incomplete horseshoes

We present a method for constructing a partition of an incomplete horseshoe in a Poincare map. The partition is based only on the unstable manifolds of the outermost fixed points and eventually their limits. Consequently, this partition becomes natural from the point of view of asymptotic scattering observations. The symbolic dynamics derived from this partition coincides with the one derived from the hierarchical structure of the singularities of the scattering functions.     

Reconfigurable atom chip on a transparent ferrite-garnet film

We introduce a new choice of material for the creation of microscopic magnetic potentials for the trapping and guiding of ultracold neutral atoms. The potentials are created above a ferrimagnetic, transparent (BiYTmGd)₃(FeGa)₅O₁₂ film by patterning the magnetic-domain structure in the film with a magneto-optical recording method. Patterns with linewidth down to 2 μm have been achieved, enabling trap frequencies of the order of 100 kHz for ⁸⁷Rb atoms in the state |F=1, m_F=-1〉. The main advantages of the material are: 1) magnetic-field noise is suppressed due to the dielectricity of the material and the absence of electric currents, 2) trapped atoms can be addressed optically through the transparent film, and 3) the film can be repatterned, which enables different experiments with the same component.     

Sharp decay rates for the fastest conservative diffusions

In many diffusive settings, initial disturbances will gradually disappear and all but their crudest features — such as size and location — will eventually be forgotten. Quantifying the rate at which this information is lost is sometimes a question of central interest. Here this rate is addressed for the fastest conservative nonlinearities in the singular diffusion equation

$u_t=\mathrm{\Delta }(u^m),{(n?2)}_{+}/n<m?n/(n+2),u,t?0,\mathbf{x}\in {\mathbf{R}}^n,$

which governs the decay of any integrable, compactly supported initial density towards a characteristically spreading self-similar profile. A potential theoretic comparison technique is outlined below which establishes the sharp $1/t$ conjectured power law rate of decay uniformly in relative error, and in weaker norms such as $L^1({\mathbf{R}}^n)$. To cite this article: Y.J. Kim, R.J. McCann, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 341 (2005).     

Torsional wave experiments with a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration

For the efficient long-range nondestructive structural health inspection of pipes, guided waves have become widely used. Among the various guided wave modes, the torsional wave is most preferred since its first branch is nondispersive. Our objective in this work is to develop a new magnetostrictive transducer configuration to transmit and receive torsional waves in cylindrical waveguides. The conventional magnetostrictive transducer for the generation and measurement of torsional waves consists of solenoid coils and a nickel strip bonded circumferentially to test pipes. The strip must be premagnetized by a permanent magnet before actual measurements. Because of the premagnetization, the transducer is not suitable for the long-term on-line monitoring of pipes buried underground. To avoid the cumbersome premagnetization and to improve the transduction efficiency, we propose a new transducer configuration using several pieces of nickel strips installed at 45 degrees with respect to the pipe axis. If a static bias magnetic field is also applied, the transducer output can be substantially increased. Several experiments were conducted to study the performance of the proposed transducer configuration. The proposed transducer configuration was also applied for damage detection in an aluminum pipe.     

Thermally activated negative photoconductivity below 6 K in <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-GaAs/Al<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>As heterostructures and the effect of uniaxial compression

Thermally activated negative photoconductivity is observed in p-GaAs/Al_0.5Ga_0.5As:Be heterostructures under illumination with red light at temperatures below 6 K. As the temperature decreases, the concentration and mobility of 2D holes in the quantum well drop sharply, particularly under uniaxial compression. The phenomenon is quantitatively described under the assumption that a layer of deep donor-like traps with a low thermal activation barrier E_B = 3.0 ± 0.5 meV exists at a distance of about 7 nm from the heterojunction and that this barrier does not change with strain. Presumably, the traps may be the p-type dopant Be atoms diffusing from the active layer and occupying interstitial positions.     

Osmium tetroxide-(QN)2PHAL in an ionic liquid: a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst system for asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins

In Os-catalysed asymmetric dihydroxylation using NMO as a co-oxidant, the combination of an ionic liquid and the new bis-cinchona alkaloid 2 generated in situ from (QN)2PHAL during reaction provided a simple and practical approach to the recycling of both catalytic components (osmium tetraoxide and chiral ligand).     

Nonlinear oscillations of magnetization accompanying pulsed 90°-magnetization of garnet ferrite films with easy-plane anisotropy

Abstract Nonlinear oscillations of magnetization (with a fundamental harmonic frequency of ≈0.5 GHz) emerging during 90°-pulsed magnetization of garnet ferrite films with easy-plane anisotropy are studied. Analysis of longitudinal and transverse magnetization signals and of the magnetization vector hodograph plotted on their basis shows that the weak dependence of the oscillation intensity on duration t _f of the magnetizing magnetic field pulse (upon its variation from 0.4 to 6–8 ns), which is typical of these films, can be explained by the presence of biaxial anisotropy in the plane of actual films.     

Depth-enhanced integral imaging by use of optical path control

The image depth of integral imaging is enhanced by doubling the number of central depth planes by use of optical path control. To accomplish this, the optical path lengths are changed by controlling whether reflections occur behind the lens array. We propose three schemes that use mirrors, a combination of beam splitters and polarizers, and polarization beam splitters, respectively. In experiments we implement the systems that are completely electronically controllable, are compact, and provide two central depth planes with 50.4-mm separation.