Particle production from signature change

We consider the (massless) scalar field on 2-dimensional manifolds whose metric changes signature and which admit a spacelike isometry. Choosing the wave equation so that there will be a conserved Klein-Gordon product implicitly determines the junction conditions one needs to impose in order to obtain global solutions. The resulting mix of positive and negative frequencies produced by the presence of Euclidean regions depends only on the total width of the regions, and not on the detailed form of the metric.This essay received honorable mention in the 1991 competition of the Gravity Research Foundation.     

Selection and Scheduling of Advanced Missions for NASA Using 0-1 Integer Linear Programming

A 0-1 integer linear programme for the selection and scheduling of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions over a long planning horizon is presented. This model was formulated to allow a higher-level user-interaction with an advanced missions database currently being developed. The model implicitly considers the multi-objective nature of the problem, which results from the desire to maximize benefits in several categories as well as from the desire to minimize cost. In addition, the model allows the planner much flexibility in the selection process. This is accomplished by allowing the planner the ability to specify long- or short-term budget constraints, precursor/follow-on mission requirements, or any number of other idiosyncratic constraints which might be of importance in the decision process. Small example problems are solved in order to illustrate the approach, and areas for further research are discussed.     

The Efimov effect in a four-body system

It is shown, using a Born-Oppenheimer model, that the four-body Efimov effect may occur in a system consisting of three identical heavy particles and one light particle, if the light-heavy interaction leads to a zeroenergy two-heavy-one-light bound state.     

Surface analysis and surface measuring techniques in firearm offences

Summary When a shot is fired, the projectile and the cartridge case are released from the weapon, as well as components of the priming charge and propellant, the so-called powder-gunshot residues. In order to solve firearm offences, it is therefore very important to determine the topography of trace-bearing areas on the bullet and the cartridge case, as well as the chemical composition of gunshot residue particles. Gunshot residue particles are made visible with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and are analysed by means of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and lately also by means of wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDXS). In addition to this, analyses of these particles are displayed by means of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and depth profiles are prepared. To determine the local distributions of gunshot residue elements with regard to their quantity, the direct Zeeman atomic absorption spectroscopy (DZ-AAS) is employed. Besides the determination of the chemical composition, the topography of the trace-bearing areas on the bullet and cartridge case plays an important part. For the detection of these surfaces, light optical and electron-optical methods are employed. Moreover, the use of opto-electronical testing systems has been attracting more and more attention recently.     

线性二次型最优控制的并行算法和软件

构造了线性二次型最优控制的并行算法，介绍了这个并行算法在武汉大学“ＷＵＤＰ９１”并行分布式处理系统上试算的数值应用软件的框图．本软件适用于既定动态系统的平衡问题．对于经济系统，可通过政策控制变量来调节和改善其状态和响应．对于自治系统可找出最优控制使得消耗函数达到最小值．通过对一系列例子进行试算，结果证实，所构造的并行算法和相应的数值软件是有效的，其加速比约为７．