Axially Symmetric Boundary Value Problem Describing the Distribution of Charges in Semiconductors

We prove that bifurcation solutions to the stationary problem exist and can be extended with respect to parameter. The problem under consideration has a solution with the so-called interior transition layer phenomenon. In the nonstationary case, we establish the existence and uniqueness of a solution for any t > 0. Under certain assumptions, the nonstationary problem determines a dynamical system in some compact set. Bibliography: 9 titles.     

Trois formulations d'un modèle de plasma quasi-neutre avec courant non nul

In this Note, we propose three formulations of a model describing a quasi-neutral plasma with non-vanishing current. In order to study and compare the numerical efficiency of each formulation, two test-problems are implemented in one dimension. The first is a periodic perturbation of a uniform stationary plasma. The second is a case of plasma expansion in vacuum between two electrodes. To cite this article: P. Crispel et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 338 (2004).     

Escape Through a Small Opening: Receptor Trafficking in a Synaptic Membrane

We model the motion of a receptor on the membrane surface of a synapse as free Brownian motion in a planar domain with intermittent trappings in and escapes out of corrals with narrow openings. We compute the mean confinement time of the Brownian particle in the asymptotic limit of a narrow opening and calculate the probability to exit through a given small opening, when the boundary contains more than one. Using this approach, it is possible to describe the Brownian motion of a random particle in an environment containing domains with small openings by a coarse grained diffusion process. We use the results to estimate the confinement time as a function of the parameters and also the time it takes for a diffusing receptor to be anchored at its final destination on the postsynaptic membrane, after it is inserted in the membrane. This approach provides a framework for the theoretical study of receptor trafficking on membranes. This process underlies synaptic plasticity, which relates to learning and memory. In particular, it is believed that the memory state in the brain is stored primarily in the pattern of synaptic weight values, which are controlled by neuronal activity. At a molecular level, the synaptic weight is determined by the number and properties of protein channels (receptors) on the synapse. The synaptic receptors are trafficked in and out of synapses by a diffusion process. Following their synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum, receptors are trafficked to their postsynaptic sites on dendrites and axons. In this model the receptors are first inserted into the extrasynaptic plasma membrane and then random walk in and out of corrals through narrow openings on their way to their final destination.     

Time-resolved imaging of latent fingerprints with nanosecond resolution

Imaging of latent fingerprints using time-resolved (TR) method offers a broader platform to eliminate the unwanted background emission. In this paper, a novel TR imaging technique is demonstrated and implemented, which facilitates the detection of latent fingerprints with nanosecond resolution. Simulated experiments were carried out with two overlapping fingerprints treated with two fluorescent powders having different lifetimes in nanosecond range. The dependence of the fluorescence emission intensity in nanosecond resolution of TR imaging is also revealed.     

Hawking Radiation of Dirac Particles in a Nonuniformly Rectilinearly Accelerating Black Hole

The Hawking radiation of Dirac particles on the event horizon of a nonuniformly rectilinearly accelerating black hole is studied in this paper. First, we construct the symmetrized null tetrad from which the spin coefficients and Dirac equation are derived. Next, by proposing generalized tortoise coordinate transformation, the decoupling problem of the Dirac equation with nonzero rest mass is solved. Finally, by analytic continuation, the Hawking thermal spectrum formula of Dirac particle for nonuniformly rectilinearly accelerating black hole is obtained.     

Obituary Gilbert Grynberg (1948-2003)

We mourn the death of Professor Dr. Gilbert Grynberg, April 17, 1948 - January 27, 2003. We have lost an excellent and highly esteemed scientist, an outstanding character and a good friend. He has been a very active colleague in the merger of Zeitschrift für Physik and Journal de Physique in the early days. As one of the Co-Editors-in-Chief of The European Physical Journal D, from its start, he has formed the scienti.c standards of EPJ. Untiringly he has served our Journal with greatest dedication. We are grateful that he has been with us. The editorial board and o.ce of EPJ B Siegfried Grossmann, Denis Jérome, Antonio Paoletti     

Kinetics of oxygen exchange in strontium titanate

The kinetics of oxygen exchange are of primary importance for the application of titanates as fast resistive oxygen sensors. The sensor’s conductivity is correlated with the oxygen partial pressure pO₂ of the surrounding atmosphere: Due to oxygen surface transfer and subsequent diffusion of oxygen vacancies V _O ^·· , a pO₂ change gives rise to a conductivity change of the sample. While bulk diffusion usually occurs very fast, the surface transfer reaction becomes the rate determining step for thin samples and for low temperatures. We have shown that in the case of acceptor doped SrTiO₃ the kinetics of the surface transfer reaction can be strongly influenced through stoichiometric changes brought about by thin coatings of alkaline earth metal oxides (e.g. SrO). In contrast to the commonly used jump method (conductivity response to a sudden pO₂ change in the time domain), a model is presented which is based on the frequency-domain analysis of amplitude and phase shift of the response signal obtained from a pO₂ modulation in a fast kinetic measurement set-up. This method allows not only for measuring response times in the sub-millisecond range but also for distinguishing between behaviour either controlled by volume diffusion or by surface transfer reaction. Paper presented at the 9th EuroConference on Ionics, Ixia, Rhodes, Greece, Sept. 15 – 21, 2002.     

Penetration of radionuclides across the skin: Rat age dependent promethium permeation through skin in vitro

The composition and the permeation properties of the skin are dependent on age. In the animal models for permation studies, age affects the mechanical as well as the permeation properties significantly. The time dependence of permeation of ¹⁴⁷Pm³⁺ from aqueous solution was established by the animal skin model and the age dependence of promethium permeation through the skin was examined. The aim was to find the optimum rat skin age model for radionuclide permeation studies and to assess the relative importance of the main permeation pathways: transepidermal and transfollicular permeation. The skin from 5-day-old rats (5DR) was found to represent the optimum animal model to study transepidermal permeation of ions. The skin from 9-day-old rats (9DR) was selected to study transfollicular permeation of ions. Comparison of the permeated amounts of promethium through the skin without hairs (3 DR to 6 DR) and with hairs (7DR to 12DR) showed that the additional permation mode via follicles significantly contributed to the permeation rate and extent.