Reflection from 1D quasi-periodical structures

A theoretical investigation of 1D stationary and transient quasi-periodical dielectric structures is presented. A new approach for solving the problem of field interaction with such structures common for both stationary and transient cases, based on integral equations for the fields in transient media, is proposed. Some special cases of quasi-periodical structures with doubled quasi-periodicity are investigated numerically, showing that an additional complexity of the structure allows to obtain good filtering properties with a small number of quasi-periods. Transient structures with the same spatial dependencies, but with a time-dependent permittivity were also investigated.     

Spectra of random contractions and scattering theory for discrete-time systems

Random contractions (subunitary random matrices) appear naturally when considering quantized chaotic maps within a general theory of open linear stationary systems with discrete time. We analyze statistical properties of complex eigenvalues of generic N × N random matrices  of such a type, corresponding to systems with broken time reversal invariance. Deviations from unitarity are characterized by rank M≤N and a set of eigenvalues 0<T _i≤1, i=1,..., M of the matrix $\hat T = \hat 1 - \hat A^\dag \hat A$ . We solve the problem completely by deriving the joint probability density of N complex eigenvalues and calculating all n-point correlation functions. In the limit N?M, n, the correlation functions acquire the universal form found earlier for weakly non-Hermitian random matrices.     

A Nanometer Aerosol Size Analyzer (nASA) for Rapid Measurement of High-concentration Size Distributions

We have developed a fast-response nanometer aerosol size analyzer (nASA) that is capable of scanning 30 size channels between 3 and 100 nm in a total time of 3 s. The analyzer includes a bipolar charger (Po²¹⁰), an extended-length nanometer differential mobility analyzer (Nano-DMA), and an electrometer (TSI 3068). This combination of components provides particle size spectra at a scan rate of 0.1 s per channel free of uncertainties caused by response-time-induced smearing. The nASA thus offers a fast response for aerosol size distribution measurements in high-concentration conditions and also eliminates the need for applying a de-smearing algorithm to resulting data. In addition, because of its thermodynamically stable means of particle detection, the nASA is useful for applications requiring measurements over a broad range of sample pressures and temperatures. Indeed, experimental transfer functions determined for the extended-length Nano-DMA using the tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) technique indicate the nASA provides good size resolution at pressures as low as 200 Torr. Also, as was demonstrated in tests to characterize the soot emissions from the J85-GE engine of a T-38 aircraft, the broad dynamic concentration range of the nASA makes it particularly suitable for studies of combustion or particle formation processes. Further details of the nASA performance as well as results from calibrations, laboratory tests and field applications are presented below.     

Paroxysmal starting and stopping of circulating waves in excitable media

Levels of intracellular Ca2+ were monitored using fluorescence from Ca2+-sensitive dyes in chick embryonic heart cells cultured in an annular geometry. There was spontaneous starting and stopping of reentrant waves of activity. The results are modeled using modified FitzHugh-Nagumo equations representing pacemakers embedded in a conducting medium. These results provide a potential mechanism for spontaneous abnormal cardiac rhythms in which there are rapid heart beats (tachycardias) that repetitively start and stop.     

Surface stoichiometry and the initial oxidation of NiAl(110)

Selective oxidation of the surface of an ordered alloy requires redistribution of the atomic species in the vicinity of the surface. This process can be understood in terms of the formation and movements of point defects in the compound. On the basis of ab initio density-functional calculation we found both the creation of exchange defects near the NiAl surface and segregation of Ni vacancies to the top layer to be extremely favorable in the presence of oxygen. Scenarios for the initial oxidation of NiAl are suggested which demonstrate the appearance of an additional energy barrier on the Ni-rich side compared to the Al-rich side. The expulsion of Ni from the oxide layer as it forms is the driving force for its stability.     

High-field magnetic phases of a two-leg spin ladder: Cu2(C5H12N2)2Cl4

CHCupCl is a two-leg spin-ladder where the Cu⁺⁺ ions are coupled by superexchange. Its magnetic properties change dramatically as a function of a magnetic field. Below the critical field H_c1, there is a singlet ground state separated from the triplet excited state by an energy gap. Between H_c1 and H_c2, several magnetic phases have been observed. Above 1 K, dynamical studies reveal a disordered quantum critical phase. At lower temperatures, a 3-D ordered phase has been observed in specific heat and NMR studies. New NMR results on the 3D-ordered and quantum critical phases are presented in this short report.     

Isosceles Orthogonal Triples in Linear 2-Normed Spaces

A triple (x, y, z) in a linear 2-normed space (X, ‖.,.‖) is called an isosceles orthogonal triple, denoted |(x, y, z), if |(.,.,.) is said to be homogeneous if |(x, y, z) implies |(ax, y, z) for all real a and it is additive if |(x₁, y, z) and |(x₂, y, z) imply that |(x₁ + x₂, y, z). In addition to developing some basic properties of |(.,.,.), this paper shows that under the assumption of strict convexity, every subspace of X of dimension ≤ 3 contains an isosceles orthogonal triple. Further, if (X, ‖.,.‖) is strictly convex and |(…,.) is either homogeneous or additive, then (X, ‖.,.‖) is a 2-inner product space.     

A new doping superlattice photodetector

A new GaAs photodetector with high sensitivity in the whole 0.8–1.4m wavelength range has been fabricated from totally depleted GaAs doping superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Photoexcited electrons and holes are separated in real space by the space-charge field of the doping superlattice immediately after excitation, yielding a high quantum efficiency of this device. Because of the complete depletion, the doping superlattice behaves like a highly resistive material, which allows application of high electric field along the layers via selectiven ⁺ — andp ⁺ -electrodes. The sensitivity of this device at 1.3 m reaches more than 90% of the original band edge response at 0.85 m, and the external quantum efficiency amounts to 65% at 0.85 m. This excellent photoresponse at longer wavelengths arises from an extremely high electric field composed of the intrinsic space charge field and applied external field, and from the existence of pronounced tail states in the forbidden gap region of the superlattice.     

Vibration analysis of truncated conical shells subjected to flowing fluid

A method to predict the dynamic behaviour of anisotropic truncated conical shells conveying fluid is presented in this paper. It is a combination of finite element method and classical shell theory. The displacement functions are derived from exact solutions of Sanders’ shell equilibrium equations of conical shells. The velocity potential, Bernoulli’s equation and impermeability condition have been applied to the shell–fluid interface to obtain an explicit expression for fluid pressure which yields three forces (inertial, centrifugal, Coriolis) of the moving fluid. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper reports the first comparison made between two works which deal with conical shells subjected to internal flowing fluid effects. The results obtained by this method for conical shells with various boundary condition and geometries, in vacuum, fully-filled and when subjected to flowing fluid were compared with those of other experimental and numerical investigations and good agreement was obtained.     

Observation of methoxy species on the Si(111)(7 × 7) surface — A vibrational study

Chemisorption of methanol on the Si(111)(7 × 7) surface has been studied at ～ 300 K using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. Methanol reacts with the Si(111) surface to form the stable surface species SiOCH₃ and SiH. The methoxy species (CH₃O) is bonded to the Si surface with a covalent bond formed between its oxygen end and the dangling bond of the Si(111) surface atom. A structural model for methanol chemisorbed on the Si(111) surface is proposed.