Electronic structures and ferroelectric properties of ABi2Ta2O9 (A=Ca, Sr, and Ba)

The electronic structures of ABi₂Ta₂O₉ (A=Ca, Sr, and Ba) were calculated by using first-principles under optimized structure. As the size of A-site cation decreases from that of Ba²⁺ to Ca²⁺, the band-gap between O 2p and Ta 5d increases from 2.0 to 2.9 eV, which responses to the stronger orbital hybridizations between Ta 5d and O 2p orbits favoring improvement of the ferroelectric property, decrease in leakage current, and increase in both spontaneous polarization and Curie temperature by the structural distortion. In contrast to CaBi₂Ta₂O₉ and SrBi₂Ta₂O₉, the hybridization between Ba 5p orbits and O 2p orbits in BaBi₂Ta₂O₉ has better structural stability.     

The dynamics of excitons and trions in resonant tunneling diodes

The aim of this work is to study the dynamic formation and dissociation of trions and excitons in double barrier resonant tunneling diodes. We propose a system of rate equations that takes into account the formation, dissociation and annihilation of these complexes inside the quantum well. From the solutions of the coupled equations, we are able to study the modulation of excitons and trions formation in the device as a function of the applied bias. The results of our model agree qualitatively with the experiments showing the viability of these rate equations system to study the dynamics of complex systems.     

Asymptotic solution of a sea--air oscillator for ENSO mechanism

The EI Ni\~{n}o/La Ni\~{n}a--Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an interannual phenomenon involved in the tropical Pacific ocean--atmosphere interactions. In this paper, a class of coupled system of the ENSO mechanism is considered. Based on a class of oscillator of ENSO model, the asymptotic solution of a corresponding problem is studied by employing the approximate method. It is proved from the results that the perturbation method can be used for analysing the sea surface temperature anomaly in the equatorial eastern Pacific and the thermocline depth anomaly of the atmosphere--ocean oscillation for the ENSO model.     

Topological Effects on the Performance of Transportation Networks

We investigate the influence of the network topology on the performance （characterized by the total system cost and maximal tratffic volume） of transportation networks, where the weights are not static （constant）, but dynamic （a function of the flow on the link）. Four classes of networks are used in the simulation, including regular networks, random networks, small-world networks and scale-free networks. The initial simulation results show that topologies play important roles on the performance of transportation networks, and random networks have better performance than other networks. Also, we find that there are distinct difference of the link flow distribution for various networks in both the distribution function form and the span between the minimum and the maximum of the link flow, explaining the difference of the performance among distinct networks. These findings will be useful in network design problems of transportation systems.     

Study of 19Na at SPIRAL

The excitation function for the elastic-scattering reaction p( ¹⁸Ne, p) ¹⁸Ne was measured with the first radioactive beam from the SPIRAL facility at the GANIL laboratory and with a solid cryogenic hydrogen target. Several broad resonances have been observed, corresponding to new excited states in the unbound nucleus ¹⁹Na. In addition, two-proton emission events have been identified and are discussed.     

Raising and Lowering of Generalized Hulthén Potential from Supersymmetry Approaches

We obtain the exact bound states of the generalized of Hulthén potential with negative energy levels using an analytic approach. In order to obtain bound states, we use the associated Jacobi differential equation. Using the supersymmetry approach to quantum mechanics, we show that these bound states, via four pairs of first order differential operators, represent four types of ladder equations. Two types of these supersymmetric structures suggest derivation of algebric solutions for the bound states using two different approaches. PACS 21.60.Cs; 21.60.Fw; 21.60.-n; 03.65.Fd; 03.65.Ge; 03.65.-w     

Regular Twists: Replicating Coulomb’s Wire-Torsion Experiments

I discuss our replication of the wire-torsion experiments that Charles Augustin Coulomb (1736–1806) reported in a session of the Paris Académie des Sciences in 1784. I first explain the nature and purpose of the replication method and then apply it to an analysis of Coulomb’s experiments. I conclude by placing Coulomb’s presentation of his memoir into its specific historical contest.     

Theoretical and experimental research on a disk-type non-contact ultrasonic motor

We developed a disk-type non-contact ultrasonic motor based on B22 vibration mode. The rotors of SU-8 photoresist are fabricated by the UV-LIGA process to control their shapes and thicknesses. So the structures of them are optimized by the experiments. It is found that the revolution speed of disk-type non-contact ultrasonic motor not only depends on the vibration amplitude of the stator, but also the weight and construction of the rotors. The maximum revolution speed of the optimal rotor is 3569 rpm at the input voltage of 20 V and the driving frequency of 45.6 kHz. The exciting principle of traveling wave is presented with theoretical equations. The electric signals applied to the piezoelectric ceramic are designed by the principle. The natural frequency and corresponding vibration mode are calculated and analyzed using finite element method. It is shown that experimental results are in good agreement with simulation, which verifies the effectiveness of the finite element model. Moreover, the levitation distance between the stator and rotor is measured by a CCD laser displacement transducer.     

Electromagnetic field distribution on a rough gold thin film: An experimental study as a function of the gold thickness

The electromagnetic field distribution on an illuminated rough gold surface has been investigated by apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy. The sample consists of an alumina substrate with a variable gold coverage ranging from 0 to 30 monolayers (ML). For such small thicknesses, the metal layer is not continuous but exhibits a certain roughness. We have studied the influence of this thickness on the electromagnetic field localization on the surface. For a gold coverage smaller than 10 equivalent monolayers, the electromagnetic field is almost uniform on the surface. For 10 and 14 ML, the field becomes inhomogeneous and isolated, localized peaks start to be visible. The width of the peaks is smaller than 50 nm. Above 14 ML, strong variations are apparent everywhere on the sample. Their amplitude tends to saturate beyond 24 ML. A complete statistical study of the sample (standard deviation, Fourier analysis) is performed.