Near-field thermoelastic imaging coupled with infrared detection

Near-field thermoelastic imaging is a simple way to investigate the thermal and coupled thermoelastic properties of materials. A few microscopes, deriving from the atomic force microscope, have been used to observe and to quantify the samples observed. But the main problem is the absolute measurement of the temperature, because surface topography and thermal expansion contributions are not easily discernible. In the proposed SThEM (scanning thermoelastic microscope), the tip is excited at the resonance frequency of the cantilever and the sample is periodically heated by the Joule effect. Thus the static contributions (drift, topography) are reduced. Moreover, a radiometric sensor, operating in the far field, has been added in order to quantify the temperature. This multi-acquisition microscope enables one to investigate small objects at the nanoscale with complementary information at the micrometric scale.     

A note about the Gaussian property of the Brownian bridge

The Gaussian property of the Brownian bridge is characterized as an application of Ramachandran's theorem in terms of the independence of the random variables that appear in the Karhunen-Loéve expansion of the process. A reference about the construction of the Brownian bridge by means of functional transformations is also included.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis

Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) we have studied thermal degradation for a system containing a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,3-bisaminomethylcylohexane (1,3-BAC). The changes of dynamic mechanical properties during thermal degradation indicated a shift of the glass transition temperature (T _g) to higher temperatures and a decrease in the peak value of the dynamic loss factor (tan δ) with an increasing of aging time. The value of dynamic storage modulus (E′) at the rubbery state showed an increase with aging time, whiteE′ at the glassy state only underwent a moderate change with increased thermal degradation. From these results it can be argued that thermal degradation during the stage prior to the onset of the severe degradation involves structural changes in the epoxy system, as further crosslinking and loss of dangling chains in the crosslinked network.     

A new technique for spatially resolved thermal lensing measurements

A new method is presented for spatially resolved thermal lensing measurements using multiple narrow probe beams and a two-dimensional array detector. The method is applied to an Er, Tm, Ho: YAG laser rod. No significant deviation from a parabolic temperature profile has been found although there is extraordinarily strong thermal lensing in the crystal. Thermo-optical constants of the material are reported.     

An analysis of the radiation reaction in a charged dumbbell

We make a thorough non-covariant analysis of the derivation of the equation of motion for a charged particle, including radiation reaction, by means of a simple model for the charge: a dumbbell. This model and our method to expand retarded quantities, based on complex-variable theory, allow us to avoid some of the usual approximations, so we can show several features of the radiation reaction problem.     

Thermal conductivity of poly(vinyl chloride)/polycaprolactone blends

Thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, and density of polyvinyl chloride/polycaprolactone (PVC/PCL) blends were measured by the laser flash method, DSC, and pycnometry, respectively. The thermal conductivity of the PVC/PCL blends was determined from the results. The miscibility of the blend and crystallinity of PCL were determined by DSC. The effect of blend structure on thermal conductivity is discussed. The phase compositions of the PVC/PCL blends are of three types depending on PCL content: i.e., up to 33%, from 33 to 70%, and above 70% PCL by weight. Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and heat capacity of the PVC/PCL blends are strongly affected by the phase composition of the blend, which changes in a complicated way with PCL content. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Towards understanding the increase in strength of thermotropic polyesters with heat treatment

Thermotropic copolyester fibers of oxynaphthoate and oxybenzoate have been subjected to conditions that promote solid-state polymerization as well as annealing. The annealing process causes the crystals to perfect with a simultaneous increase in heat of fusion and melting temperature. Solid-state polymerization, a reaction rate-controlled process, causes the polymer viscosity average molecular weight to increase by chain extension from about 14,000 g/mole to more than 87,000 g/mole with a simultaneous impressive increase in tenacity from about 10 g/d (1.2 GPa) to almost 30 g/d (3.7 GPa). To understand the changes in mechanical properties, we have modeled the fiber structure as short rod-like molecules poorly bonded to a continuous matrix of parallel molecules. Lengthening of the reinforcing molecules facilitates better transfer of load from matrix to molecules, resulting in higher tenacity fibers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On interrelation between the internal pressure and the cohesion energy density

The question about the definition of the “internal pressure” concept is being discussed. It is shown that the previously found differential relation between the cohesion energy density and the internal pressure is one of the examples of an absolutely general interrelation between definitely connected differential functions. It is ascertained that the ratio (the internal pressure divided by the cohesion energy density) is a structuresensitive parameter inherent to the calorific (thermal) equation of a liquid state.     

纯生跳跃扩散型交换期权定价公式

在假定标的资产价格服从纯生跳跃过程的条件下,研究一类多资产期权——资产权重不同的交换期权,并在风险中性的条件下建立相应的定价方程,运用条件期望等相关知识得出交换期权的解析公式。文中最后列出一些特殊纯生跳跃扩散型交换期权的定价的例子.     

Chemically controlled pattern formation in phase-separating materials

Summary The role of chemical reactions in the selection of patterns in phase-separating mixtures is presented. Linearized theory and computer simulation show that the initial long-wavelength instability characteristic of spinodal decomposition is suppressed by chemical reactions, which restrict domain growth to intermediate length scales even in the late stages of phase separation. Our findings suggest that chemical reactions may provide a novel way to stabilize and tune the steady-state morphology of phase-separating materials. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.