An on-chip ECC circuit for correcting soft errors in DRAMs withtrench capacitors

A modified error-correcting code that can correct up to two soft errors on each row (word line) in a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chip is proposed. Double-bit soft errors frequently occur in DRAM cells with trench capacitors, when charged alpha particles impinge on the intervening space between two vertical capacitors causing plasma shorts between them. The conventional on-chip error-correcting codes (ECCs) cannot correct such double-bit word-line soft errors, which significantly increase the uncorrectable error rate (UER). An ECC circuit that uses an augmented rectangular product code to detect and correct double-bit soft errors is presented. The proposed circuit automatically corrects the addressed bit if it is faulty, and then quickly locates the other faulty bit. A comprehensive study is made to estimate improvements in soft error rate (SER) and mean time to failure (MTTF). The ability of the circuit to correct soft errors in the presence of multiple-bit errors has also been analyzed by combinatorial enumeration     

On multiple small-angle scattering

An analytical approach has been taken for analyzing the multiple scattering effects in small angle scattering (SAS) from both monodisperse and polydisperse systems. Two limiting regions, viz the Guinier region and the Porod region have been studied. A modified form of Guinier law has been deduced for the scattered intensity distribution in the region of small wave vector transfer, q. In the regionq(=|q|)→∞, it is shown that the effect of multiple scattering does not alter the Porod (q ⁻⁴) law. In the case of polydisperse systems, a correlation has been established between the size distribution of the inhomogeneities and the experimentally extractable parameters. The validity of the formalism has been examined by reinterpretation of the multiple SANS data (Hardman-Rhyne and Berk 1985) on polydisperse Al₂O₃ samples. This formalism is useful in characterizing the inhomogeneities from SAS measurements, particularly when thick samples are used.     

Quantum effects near the singularity in a general cosmological scenario

Joshi and Joshi obtained a differential equation for quantum uncertainty under some very general conditions and inferred the divergence of the uncertainty on the basis of an approximate solution. The present note exactly solves the equation and confirms the divergence.     

Optical emission diagnostics of laser-induced plasma for diamond-like film deposition

Optical emission from a laser-induced plasma plume is recorded during KrF excimer laser ablation of graphite in a gas mixture of Ar and H₂ (3%) for deposition of diamond-like thin films. At sub-GW/cm² laser intensities the spectrum is dominated by the bands of C₂ and CN. From the band intensities, the vibrational temperatures of both radicals are calculated to be 12–15×10³ K, and their concentrations are estimated to be 5×10¹⁴ cm^–3 and 2×10¹⁴ cm^–3, respectively.     

An efficient built-in self testing for random-access memory

The authors propose a test algorithm for pattern-sensitive faults in large-size RAM with high circuit density. The algorithm tests an n-bit RAM in 195√n time to detect both static and dynamic pattern-sensitive faults over the 9-neighbourhood of every memory cell. A 4 Mb RAM can be tested by the proposed algorithm several thousand times faster than the conventional sequential algorithms for detecting pattern-sensitive faults. The test speedup has been achieved by writing a test data simultaneously over many cells, and the stored data are tested simultaneously by a parallel comparator and error detector in a read operation. The existing RAM architecture has been modified very little so that the proposed technique can be implemented very easily even in switched-capacitor DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) with low intercell pitch width. The test procedure has also been applied to built-in self-testing (BIST) and is compared with other BIST implementations     

Self-referencing a single waveguide grating sensor in a micron-sized deep flow chamber for label-free biomolecular binding assays

In order to allow the design of increasingly sensitive label-free biosensors, compensation of environmental fluctuations is emerging as the dominant hurdle. The system and technique presented here utilize a unique combination of microfluidics, optical instrumentation, and image processing to provide a reference signal for each label-free biomolecular binding assay. Moreover, this reference signal is generated from the same sensor used to detect the biomolecular binding events. In this manner, the reference signal and the binding signal share nearly all common-mode noise sources (temperature, pressure, vibration, etc.) and their subtraction leaves the purest binding signal possible. Computational fluid dynamic simulations have been used to validate the flow behavior and thermal characteristics of the fluids inside the sensing region. This system has been demonstrated in simple bulk refractive index tests, as well as small molecule (biotin/streptavidin) binding experiments. The ability to perform not only simple binding but also control experiments has been discussed, indicating the wide applicability of the technique.     

Anomalous Low Thermal Conductivity of Atomically Thin InSe Probed by Scanning Thermal Microscopy

The ability of a material to conduct heat influences many physical phenomena, ranging from thermal management in nanoscale devices to thermoelectrics. Van der Waals 2D materials offer a versatile platform to tailor heat transfer due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and mechanical flexibility. Here, the nanoscale thermal properties of 2D indium selenide (InSe) are studied by scanning thermal microscopy. The high electrical conductivity, broad-band optical absorption, and mechanical flexibility of 2D InSe are accompanied by an anomalous low thermal conductivity (κ). This can be smaller than that of low-κ dielectrics, such as silicon oxide, and it decreases with reducing the lateral size and/or thickness of InSe. The thermal response is probed in free-standing InSe layers as well as layers supported by a substrate, revealing the role of interfacial thermal resistance, phonon scattering, and strain. These thermal properties are critical for future emerging technologies, such as field-effect transistors that require efficient heat dissipation or thermoelectric energy conversion with low-κ, high electron mobility 2D materials, such as InSe.     

Direct solvothermal synthesis of early transition metal nitrides

Solvothermal reactions of TaCl5 with LiNH2 in benzene result in nanocrystalline Ta3N5 at 500 or 550 degrees C. The approximately 25 nm Ta3N5 particles have a band gap of 2.08-2.10 eV. The same reactions in mesitylene resulted in a higher crystallization temperature and large amounts of carbon incorporation due to solvent decomposition. Reactions of Ta(NMe2)5 with LiNH2 under the same conditions resulted in TaN. Rocksalt-type MN phases are obtained for Zr, Hf, or Nb when their chlorides (ZrCl4, HfCl4, or NbCl5) or dialkylamides (M(NEtMe)4, M = Zr, Hf) are reacted with LiNH2 under similar conditions. With the amides, there is some evidence for nitrogen-rich compositions (HfN >1), and carbon is incorporated into the products through pyrolysis of the dialkylamide groups.     

Hydroquinone Decorated with Alkyne,Quaternary Ammonium,and Hydrophobic Motifs to Mitigate Corrosion of X-60 Mild Steel in 15 wt.% HCl

1-(6-Bromohexyloxy)-4-propargyloxybenzene upon quaternization with 3-dimethylamino-1-propanol and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine produced two new inhibitor molecules: N-[6-(4-Propargyloxyphenoxy)hexyl]-N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)ammonium bromide (PHAB) and N-[6-(4-Propargyloxyphenoxy)hexyl]-N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecylammonium bromide (PDAB), respectively, in excellent yields. The inhibitor molecules were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The inhibitors were evaluated for X-60 mild steel corrosion in 15 wt.% HCl using different electrochemical and gravimetric techniques. The potentiodynamic polarization confirms both the inhibitors as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. A low concentration (15 ppm) of PDAB has demonstrated excellent corrosion inhibition efficiencies of 97%, 98%, and 86% at 25 °C, 50 °C, and 70 °C, respectively, for 24 h exposure time. SEM and EDX spectra reveal that the adsorptions of corrosion inhibitors on X-60 mild steel create a protective film that serves as a barrier to mitigate the corrosion process. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the chemical interaction between the corrosion inhibitors and mild steel, which was predicted by the Langmuir adsorption model. Assembly of inhibitive motifs of the alkyne, π-electron-rich aromatic, quaternary ammonium and C₁₂ alkyl chain hydrophobe in PDAB has augmented its inhibiting action.