Light on dark laser addressed smectic liquid crystal projection displays

Two techniques for producing dense uniform bulk scattering in cells containing smectic A liquid crystals have been examined for use in a large area liquid crystal projection display. Textures obtained using both thermal pulses and by dynamic scattering in the smectic A phase were evaluated for their uniformity and scattering density. The conditions required for optimum scattering are described in terms of the electrical characteristics of the scattering pulses used, the effects of different surface alignment treatments and of the nematic bandwidth of the materials employed. The two techniques are compared with respect to their suitability for large area, high information content, white on black, laser addressed liquid crystal light valves.     

A test of the binaural equal-loudness-ratio hypothesis for tones

It is well known that a tone presented binaurally is louder than the same tone presented monaurally. It is less clear how this loudness ratio changes as a function of level. The present experiment was designed to directly test the Binaural Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis (BELRH), which states that the loudness ratio between equal-SPL monaural and binaural tones is independent of SPL. If true, the BELRH implies that monaural and binaural loudness functions are parallel when plotted on a log scale. Cross-modality matches between string length and loudness were used to directly measure binaural and monaural loudness functions for nine normal listeners. Stimuli were 1-kHz 200-ms tones ranging in level from 5 dB SL to 100 dB SPL. A two-way ANOVA showed significant effects of level and mode (binaural or monaural) on loudness, but no interaction between the level and mode. Consequently, no significant variations were found in the binaural-to-monaural loudness ratio across the range of levels tested. This finding supports the BELRH. In addition, the present data were found to closely match loudness functions derived from binaural level differences for equal loudness using the model proposed by Whilby et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 119, 3931-3939 (2006)].     

The Extended Probability Generating Functional,with Application to Mixing Properties of Cluster Point Processes

An extended probability generating functional (p. g. fl.) \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \bar{G}[h]\; = \;E\;\left({\exp \;\int\limits_x {\log } \;h(x)\; \times \;N(dx)} \right) $\end{document} is well-defined for any point process N on the complete separable metric space χ over the space V?₀ of measurable functions h: χ → (0, 1) such that inf x cH h(x) > 0. The distribution of N is determined uniquely by the p.g.fl. G[h] ≡ ?[h] over the smaller space V₀ of functions h ε V?₀ for which 1 — h has bounded support. Continuity results for ?[·] involving pointwise convergent sequences {h_n} V₀ or V?₀ or V? ≡ {measurable h: χ → [0, 1]} or V = {h ε V?: 1 — h has bounded support} are reviewed, and used in furnishing a complete p. g. fl. proof of the mixing property of certain stationary cluster processes.     

Parallel, fluorous open-tubular chromatography using microstructured fibers

Although commonly used in gas chromatography, open-tubular columns for liquid chromatography have seen their development hindered by a number of factors both theoretical and practical. Requiring small diameters, great lengths and specialized detection systems to achieve a proper chromatographic response, columns of this sort have largely been ignored despite the highly desirable column performance an optimized system would provide. Here, we introduce the use of microstructured fibers (MSFs) as a platform for the development of multiplexed open-tubular liquid chromatography (OTLC) columns. The multiple, parallel silica channels presented by the MSF act as a promising substrate for an OTLC column, as they have diameters near the ideal range for interactions (1–3 μm), minimize flow-induced backpressure through their many uniform paths, and increase the loading capacity compared to a single capillary channel of similar size. Additionally, with outer diameters comparable to regular fused silica capillaries, MSFs can easily be employed in conventional chromatographic systems, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. Finally, MSF columns of this type can be functionalized using silane coupling techniques to allow the introduction of a wide variety of stationary phase chemistries. While in this report we explore the potential and limitations of fluorine-functionalized MSFs as OTLC columns, other stationary phase materials could easily be substituted by choosing appropriate silanization reagents. Particular attention here will be paid to the physical and performance characteristics of the fabricated columns, as well as avenues for their improvement and implementation.     

Application of non-linear damping to vibration isolation: an experimental study

In a previous study, the authors have proved that in theory the introduction of a cubic non-linear damping can produce ideal vibration isolation such that the system force transmissibility over the resonant frequency region is modified, but the transmissibility over the non-resonant regions remain unaffected. The present study is concerned with both an experimental verification of this theoretical finding and the selection of the cubic damping characteristic parameter required to achieve a desired performance for a single degree of freedom vibration isolation system. These results provide an important basis for the design and practical application of non-linearly damped vibration isolation systems in engineering practice.     

Optically pumped CHClF2and C2H5I submillimeter wave lasers

Submillimeter wave laser action is reported for the first time in chlorodifluoromethane and ethyl iodide. Five new laser transitions have been produced by optical pumping with a chopped CO2laser.     

Quantum-Gravity Thermodynamics, Incorporating the?Theory of Exactly Soluble Active Stochastic Processes, with Applications

A re-visitation of QFT is first cited, deriving the Feynman integral from the theory of active stochastic processes (Glueck and Hueffler, Phys. Lett. B. 659(1–2):447–451, 2008; Hueffel and Kelnhofer, Phys. Lett. B 588(1–2):145–150, 2004). We factor the lie group “generator” of the inverse wavefunction over an entropy-maximizing basis. Performing term-by-term Ito-integration leads us to an analytical, evaluable trajectory for a charged particle in an arbitrary field given a Maximum-Entropy distribution. We generalize this formula to many-body electrodynamics. In theory, it is capable of predicting plasma’s thermodynamic properties from ionic spectral data and thermodynamic and optical distributions. Blessed with the absence of certain limitations (e.g., renormalization) strongly present in competing formalisms and the incorporation of research related to many different phenomena, we outline a candidate quantum gravity theory based on these developments.     

Harmonic Composition of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Emissions Associated with High-Voltage Transmission

Electric-field-strength measures of the spectrum between 10 and 200 kHz were obtained under dry conditions near a 500-kV transmission line. Comparison of the magnitudes of electric field strength between the odd and even harmonics of 60 Hz revealed a marked asymmetry. The ratio of odd to even harmonic field strength ranged from 19 to 3.3. A primary source of these emissions may be produced by components within the power systems with nonlinearities that are best described by odd functions.