A primer on triangle functions II

In Saminger-Platz and Sempi (Aequationes Math 76:201–240, 2008) we presented an overview of concepts, facts and results on triangle functions based on the notions of t-norm, copula, (generalized) convolution, semicopula, quasi-copula. Here, we continue our presentation. In particular, we treat the concept of duality and study a few important cases of functional equations and inequalities for triangle functions like, e.g., convolution, Cauchy’s equation, dominance, and Jensen convexity.     

Adsorption of hydrogen and of oxygen on an open metal surface-HREELS investigation at Ni(311)

The adsorption behavior of hydrogen and oxygen on the stepped Ni(311) surface has been investigated by HREELS. A series of metastable phases was found for hydrogen adsorption at low temperatures with a succession of different adsorption sites indicated by the following loss peaks: 55 and 149 meV for the threefold site, shifting with higher coverage to 65 and 155 meV, respectively; 40 and 90 meV for the fourfold site, shifting to 35 and 85 meV with coverage; and 110 and 124 meV for an additional site between close packed rows. Room temperature adsorption of hydrogen leads to the reconstruction of the surface with occupation of three- and fourfold sites, represented by loss peaks at 60 and 145 meV for the threefold site and 74 meV for the fourfold site. This phase is the thermodynamically stable one. Oxygen is most likely initially adsorbed on a bridge site (loss peak at 66 meV). The stepped surface is already oxidized at very low exposures to oxygen, as seen by the characteristic vibration for oxide islands at 55 meV and later by the Fuchs-Kliewer mode of NiO at 68 meV.     

Transport in graphene nanostructures

Graphene nanostructures are promising candidates for future nanoelectronics and solid-state quantum information technology. In this review we provide an overview of a number of electron transport experiments on etched graphene nanostructures. We briefly revisit the electronic properties and the transport characteristics of bulk, i.e., two-dimensional graphene. The fabrication techniques for making graphene nanostructures such as nanoribbons, single electron transistors and quantum dots, mainly based on a dry etching ??paper-cutting?? technique are discussed in detail. The limitations of the current fabrication technology are discussed when we outline the quantum transport properties of the nanostructured devices. In particular we focus here on transport through graphene nanoribbons and constrictions, single electron transistors as well as on graphene quantum dots including double quantum dots. These quasi-one-dimensional (nanoribbons) and quasi-zero-dimensional (quantum dots) graphene nanostructures show a clear route of how to overcome the gapless nature of graphene allowing the confinement of individual carriers and their control by lateral graphene gates and charge detectors. In particular, we emphasize that graphene quantum dots and double quantum dots are very promising systems for spin-based solid state quantum computation, since they are believed to have exceptionally long spin coherence times due to weak spin-orbit coupling and weak hyperfine interaction in graphene.     

Spectroscopy of the hyperfine structure of antiprotonic 4He and 3He

The spin magnetic moment $\mu^{\overline{p}}_{s}$ of the antiproton can be determined by comparing the measured transition frequencies in $\overline{p}^4$ He^?+? with three-body QED calculations. A comparison between the proton and antiproton can then be used as a test of CPT invariance. The highest measurement precision of the difference between the proton and the antiproton spin magnetic moments to date is 0.3%. A new experimental value of the spin magnetic moment of the antiproton was obtained as $\mu^{\overline{p}}_{s} = -2.7862(83)\mu_{N}$ , slightly better than the previously best measurement. This agrees with $\mu^{p}_{s}$ within 0.24%. In 2009, a new measurement with antiprotonic ³He has been started. A comparison between the theoretical calculations and experimental results would lead to a stronger test of the theory and address systematic errors therein. A measurement of this state will be the first HF measurement on $\overline{p}^3$ He^?+?. We report here on the new experimental setup and the first tests.     

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse-Imaging for the evaluation of the thyroid gland: a limited patient feasibility study

Purpose

Real-time tissue elastography, a qualitative elastography method, has shown promising results in the diagnostic work up of thyroid nodules. However, to our knowledge no study has evaluated a quantitative elastography method in the thyroid gland. The present study is a feasibility study evaluating Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse-Imaging, a novel quantitative elastography method in the thyroid gland.

Methods

ARFI-imaging involves the mechanical excitation of tissue using short-duration acoustic pulses to generate localized displacements in tissue. The displacements induce a lateral shear-wave propagation which is tracked using multiple laterally positioned ultrasound “tracking“ beams. Inclusion criteria were: thyroid nodules ?1 cm, non-functioning or hypo-functioning on radionuclide scanning, and cytological/histological assessment of thyroid nodule as reference method. All patients received conventional ultrasound, and examination of the thyroid gland including Power Doppler Ultrasound using a 9 MHz linear transducer, in addition real-time elastography (RTE) was performed at 9 MHz frequency and ARFI-imaging was performed at 4 MHz using Siemens (ACUSON S2000) B-mode-ARFI combination transducer.

Results

Sixty nodules in 55 patients were analyzed. Three nodules were papillary carcinoma. The stiffer the tissue the faster the shear wave propagates. The results obtained indicated that the shear wave velocity in thyroid lobes ranged between 0.5 and 4.9 m/s. The median velocity of ARFI-imaging in the healthy nodule-free thyroid gland, as well as in benign and malignant thyroid nodules was 1.98 m/s (range: 1.20-3.63 m/s), 2.02 m/s (range: 0.92-3.97 m/s), and 4.30 m/s (range: 2.40-4.50 m/s), respectively. While no significant difference in median velocity was found between healthy thyroid tissue and benign thyroid nodules, a significant difference was found between malignant thyroid nodules on the one hand and healthy thyroid tissue (p = 0.018) or benign thyroid nodules (p = 0.014) on the other hand. Specificity of ARFI-imaging for the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules was comparable with RTE (91-95%).

Conclusions

ARFI can be performed in the thyroid tissue with reliable results.     

Saturation of the all-optical Kerr effect in solids

We discuss the influence of the higher-order Kerr effect (HOKE) in wide bandgap solids at extreme intensities below the onset of optically induced damage. Using different theoretical models, we employ multiphoton absorption rates to compute the nonlinear refractive index by a Kramers-Kronig transform. Within this theoretical framework we provide an estimate for the appearance of significant deviations from the standard optical Kerr effect predicting a linear index change with intensity. We discuss the role of the observed saturation behavior in practically relevant situations, including Kerr lens mode-locking and supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fibers. Furthermore, we present experimental data from a multiwave mixing experiment in BaF2, which can be explained by the appearance of the HOKE.     

In‐Situ Measurement of Local Particle Flux Densities in a Complex Two‐Phase Flow

An optical measuring technique is presented allowing the exact in‐situ measurement of local particle flux densities in a confined channel flow by counting single particles penetrating an optically well defined measuring volume. This enables a precise flux determination up to the direct vicinity of planar walls. The measurement set‐up and its calibration as well as the whole test facility are described in detail. This measurement technique is used to study the particle transport in electrostatic precipitators. Exemplarily, results of particle flux profiles as well as precipitation, as gained from balances of parts of the precipitator channel, are presented. Furthermore, the possibility to determine particle velocity fluctuations is demonstrated.