Development of a “Built-in” Scanning Near Field Microscope Head for an Atomic Force Microscope System and Stress Mapping of an Al2O3/ZrO2 Eutectic Composite

We constructed a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) on a commercially available atomic force microscopy (AFM) apparatus (SPM-9500J2; Shimadzu Corp.) to measure the stress distribution in ceramic composite materials. Features of our SNOM system are: (1) a compact SNOM head substituted for the original AFM head; (2) a wide scanning range (125 × 125 μm²) inherited from the original scanner; (3) use of conventional shear-force regulation; (4) an optical system for the illumination-collection (I-C) mode; (5) excitation by a 488 nm line of an Ar-ion laser, and (6) light detection by photon counting or a polychromator equipped with an electronically cooled charge coupled device (CCD). This SNOM system was used to measure the surface structure and stress distribution of an Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ eutectic composite. We simultaneously measured topographic images and fluorescence spectra of an Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ eutectic composite. We estimated its peak intensity, peak position, and peak width from the fluorescence spectrum during scanning, which respectively correspond to the abundance of Al₂O₃, stress in the grain, and the anisotropy of that stress. Mapping images showed that the stress and its anisotropy were weaker in the center of the Al₂O₃ grain than its boundary between Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂. That observation suggests that Al₂O₃ underwent intense anisotropic stress induced by volume expansion in the phase transition of ZrO₂ from the cubic phase to the monoclinic phase during preparation.     

A Joint Integral Test for the Locations of Extrema for Brownian Motion

Let μ⁺(t) and μ⁻(t) be the locations of the maximum and minimum, respectively, of a standard Brownian motion in the interval [0,t]. We establish a joint integral test for the lower functions of μ⁺(t) and μ⁻(t), in the sense of Paul Lévy. In particular, it yields the law of the iterated logarithm for max(μ⁺(t),μ⁻(t)) as a straightforward consequence. Our result is in agreement with well-known theorems of Chung and Erdős [(1952) Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 72, 179–186.], and Csáki, F?ldes and Révész [(1987) Prob. Theory Relat. Fields 76, 477–497].      

In situ observations of domain wall motion in Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites by Lorentz microscopy and electron holography

Domain wall motion in Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites with applied magnetic fields is investigated by in situ observations with Lorentz microscopy and electron holography. It is found that both Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites have a mean grain size of approximately 10 μm and several pores with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 1.1 μm. In situ observations by Lorentz microscopy with an applied magnetic field reveals that in Mn–Zn ferrite, the domain walls move easily across the grain boundary, while in Ni–Zn ferrite, the domain walls move along the grain boundary but are pinned at the grain boundary and pores. From in situ observations of Ni–Zn ferrite by electron holography, it is clarified that domain wall pinning at the grain boundary retards a sensitive increase in magnetic flux parallel to the applied field direction, which is considered to result in high hysteresis loss.     

Long‐range dependence and performance in telecom networks

Telecommunications systems have recently undergone significant innovations. These call for suitable statistical models that can properly describe the behaviour of the input traffic in a network. Here we use fractional Brownian motion (FBM) to model cumulative traffic network, thus taking into account the possible presence of long‐range dependence in the data. A Bayesian approach is devised in such a way that we are able to: (a) estimate the Hurst parameter H of the FBM; (b) estimate the overflow probability which is a parameter measuring the quality of service of a network: (c) develop a test for comparing the null hypothesis of long‐range dependence in the data versus the alternative of short‐range dependence. In order to achieve these inferential results, we elaborate an MCMC sampling scheme whose output enables us to obtain an approximation of the quantities of interest. An application to three real datasets, corresponding to three different levels of traffic, is finally considered. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

障碍平方期权的定价

本讨论了一种变异期权——收益结构为平方的障碍期权，在股票价格服从几何布朗运动的模型下，由带单侧吸收壁的布朗运动的密度和分布函数得到连续障碍平方期权的定价公式．     

束流线性耦合效应的初步研究

在储存环的束流传输系统中,斜四极场和纵向螺线管场是引起束流线性耦合的主要原因.由于这种耦合,使得束流的幅度和发射度发生交换,引起束流横向包络的增大,严重的将造成束流损失.从Betatron运动方程出发研究了斜四极场和螺线管场存在时束流的幅度耦合效应,分析了斜四极场存在时束流发射度的变化.     

Super-Brownian motion with reflecting historical paths. II. Convergence of approximations

We prove that the sequence of finite reflecting branching Brownian motion forests defined by Burdzy and Le Gall ([1]) converges in probability to the “super-Brownian motion with reflecting historical paths.” This solves an open problem posed in [1], where only tightness was proved for the sequence of approximations. Several results on path behavior were proved in [1] for all subsequential limits–they obviously hold for the unique limit found in the present paper.Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 60H15, Secondary 35R60Supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-0071486, Israel Science Foundation Grants 12/98 and 116/01 - 10.0, and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (grant No. 2000065).     

Formula 1 – A Mathematical Microworld with CAS: Analysis of Learning Opportunities and Experiences with Students

In this article we describe a mathematical microworld for investigating car motion on a racing course and its use with a group of grade 12 students. The microworld is concerned with the mathematical construction of courses and functions which describe car motion. It is implemented in the computer algebra system, Maple^®, which provides the means to represent courses and functions symbolically and graphically. We describe the learning opportunities offered by the microworld in relation to the research literature on functions. Various facets and layers of the function concept are addressed in the microworld, and we suggest how work in the microworld might help in overcoming some well-known misconceptions.This revised version was published online in September 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quadratic Integrals of Motion for the Systems of Identical Particles

The dynamical systems of identical particles admitting quadratic integrals of motion are classified. The relevant integrals are explicitly constructed and their relation to separation of variables in Hamilton-Jacobi equation is clarified.     

Effect of maltodextrins on the surface activity of small-molecule surfactants

We report on the effect of commercially important polysaccharides (maltodextrins with variable dextrose equivalent (Paselli SA-2, MD-6 and MD-10) on the surface activity at the air–water interface of small-molecule surfactants (sms), possessing different hydrophobic–lipophilic balance ((SSL (Na⁺), the main component is a sodium salt of stearol–lactoyl lactic acid, and PGE (080), polyglycerol ester of C18 fatty acid), and widely used in food products. A marked change of the surface activity of sms was found in the presence of maltodextrins by tensiometry. The combined data of laser multiangle light scattering and mixing calorimetry have suggested that this result is governed by specific complex formation between maltodextrins and sms in aqueous medium. Measurements have been made of the molar mass, the second virial coefficient and the enthalpy of intermolecular interactions in aqueous solutions. The implication of a degree of polymerization of maltodextrins in this phenomenon was shown. The interrelation between the molecular parameters of the formed complexes and their surface activity at the air–water interface has been revealed and discussed.