Combined X-ray-electron imaging techniques: Limitations on lateral resolution

Capabilities of the imaging techniques, in which X-rays are converted to electrons and then the emitted electrons are registered by means of an electron microscope, are analyzed, the focus being on the factors limiting lateral resolution at the stage of electron emission. Bearing in mind the tendency to use harder synchrotron X-rays for some combined X-ray-electron microscopy methods, calculations were made for two significantly different X-ray energies: E = 1.828 keV (K-edge of Si) and E = 11.923 keV (L₃-edge of Au). By using Monte Carlo simulations of the electron trajectories beneath the surface of the sample we show that the radius of the spot from which photoelectrons are emitted could be as small as 1 nm. However, when proper account is taken of an entire electron cascade associated with the re-building of electron shells after photoelectron emission, spots more than one order of magnitude larger result, limiting the best lateral resolution to 20–30 nm.     

On a new system of nonlinear A-monotone multivalued variational inclusions

In this paper, we introduce and study a new system of nonlinear A-monotone multivalued variational inclusions in Hilbert spaces. By using the concept and properties of A-monotone mappings, and the resolvent operator technique associated with A-monotone mappings due to Verma, we construct a new iterative algorithm for solving this system of nonlinear multivalued variational inclusions associated with A-monotone mappings in Hilbert spaces. We also prove the existence of solutions for the nonlinear multivalued variational inclusions and the convergence of iterative sequences generated by the algorithm. Our results improve and generalize many known corresponding results.     

Development of a finite-element analysis methodology for the propagation of delaminations in composite structures

Analysing the collapse of skin-stiffened structures requires capturing the critical phenomenon of skin-stiffener separation, which can be considered analogous to interlaminar cracking. This paper presents the development of a numerical approach for simulating the propagation of interlaminar cracks in composite structures. A degradation methodology was introduced in MSC.Marc, which involved the modelling of a structure with shell layers connected by user-defined multiple-point constraints (MPCs). User subroutines were written that employ the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) to determine the onset of crack growth and modify the properties of the user-defined MPCs to simulate crack propagation. Methodologies for the release of failing MPCs are presented and are discussed with reference to the VCCT assumption of self-similar crack growth. The numerical results obtained by using the release methodologies are then compared with experimental data for a double-cantilever beam specimen. Based on this comparison, recommendations for the future development of the degradation model are made, especially with reference to developing an approach for the collapse analysis of fuselage-representative structures. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 15–42, January–February, 2007.     

Chemical imaging in biology and medicine using ion microscopy

The ability to quantitatively map the distribution of elements on the micrometer scale and smaller with high sensitivity and isotopic discrimination is unique to ion microscopy. The information contained in ion images can be crucial to the study of the solid state, where chemical heterogeneity is often directly related to observed behavior. The tools of digital image processing allow the extraction of quantitative information from the image data. These techniques coupled with improved instrumentation for the detection of ion images drastically increase the problem solving capabilities of the ion microscope. The use of such methods and instrumentation in the ion microscopic analyses of cell cultures and tissues of biological and biomedical relevance will be discussed.     

An improved linearization strategy for zero-one quadratic programming problems

We present a new linearized model for the zero-one quadratic programming problem, whose size is linear in terms of the number of variables in the original nonlinear problem. Our derivation yields three alternative reformulations, each varying in model size and tightness. We show that our models are at least as tight as the one recently proposed in [7], and examine the theoretical relationship of our models to a standard linearization of the zero-one quadratic programming problem. Finally, we demonstrate the efficacy of solving each of these models on a set of randomly generated test instances.     

InAs/GaSb superlattice focal plane arrays for high-resolution thermal imaging

The first fully operational mid-IR (3–5 μm) 256×256 IR-FPA camera system based on a type-II InAs/GaSb short-period superlattice showing an excellent noise equivalent temperature difference below 10 mK and a very uniform performance has been realized. We report on the development and fabrication of the detecor chip, i.e., epitaxy, processing technology and electro-optical characterization of fully integrated InAs/GaSb superlattice focal plane arrays. While the superlattice design employed for the first demonstrator camera yielded a quantum efficiency around 30%, a superlattice structure grown with a thicker active layer and an optimized V/III BEP ratio during growth of the InAs layers exhibits a significant increase in quantum efficiency. Quantitative responsivity measurements reveal a quantum efficiency of about 60% for InAs/GaSb superlattice focal plane arrays after implementing this design improvement. The paper presented there appears in Infrared Photoelectronics, edited by Antoni Rogalski, Eustace L. Dereniak, Fiodor F. Sizov, Proc. SPIE Vol. 5957, 595707 (2005).     

Comparison between Eulerian and Lagrangian semi-analytical models to simulate the pollutant dispersion in the PBL

In this work we display a numerical comparison, under statistical and computational point of view, between semi-analytical Eulerian and Lagrangian dispersion models to simulate the ground-level concentration values of a passive pollutant released from a low height source. The Eulerian approach is based on the solution of the advection–diffusion equation by the Laplace transform technique. The Lagrangian approach is based on solution of the Langevin equation through the Picard’s Iterative Method. Turbulence inputs are calculated according to a parameterization capable of generating continuous values in all stability conditions and in all heights of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL). Numerical simulations and comparisons show a good agreement between predicted and observed concentrations values. The comparison reveals the main advantages and disadvantages between the models.     

Simultaneous imaging of the structure and fluorescence of a supramolecular nanostructure formed by the coupling of π‐conjugated polymer chains in the intermolecular interaction

We fabricated a micrometer‐long supramolecular chain in which π‐conjugated polyrotaxane was coupled. A new experimental setup was designed and constructed, and the simultaneous direct imaging of the structure and fluorescent function was achieved. Furthermore, we identified the formation of a polymer intertwined network and observed novel fluorescence due to a long‐range interaction via this intertwined network over a distance of 5 μm or more without quenching over 15 min in the near field. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 801–809, 2006     

13.5—14.6MeV中子能区锗的同位素反应截面的测量

报道了在13.5—14.6MeV中子能区用活化法测得的⁷⁶Ge(n,2n)⁷⁵Ge, ⁷⁰Ge(n,2n)⁶⁹Ge, ⁷⁰Ge(n, p)⁷⁰Ga, ⁷²Ge(n,p)⁷²Ga, ⁷³Ge(n,p)⁷³Ga, ⁷²Ge(n,α)^69mZn和⁷⁴Ge(n, α)^71mZn的反应截面值. 中子注量用⁹³Nb(n,2n)^92mNb反应截面得到. 单能中子由T(d,n)⁴He反应获得. 同时还列举了已收集到的文献值以作比较.     

数字式超声成象的相干处理

本文介绍一种新的医学超声成象处理方法－相干处理。这种方法保留和利用了不同通道中信号的相干性，因此能增强图象分辩率，改进图象的质量。