Invariant discrete flows

In this paper, we investigate the evolution of joint invariants under invariant geometric flows using the theory of equivariant moving frames and the induced invariant discrete variational complex. For certain arc length preserving planar curve flows invariant under the special Euclidean group , the special linear group , and the semidirect group , we find that the induced evolution of the discrete curvature satisfies the differential‐difference mKdV, KdV, and Burgers' equations, respectively. These three equations are completely integrable, and we show that a recursion operator can be constructed by precomposing the characteristic operator of the curvature by a certain invariant difference operator. Finally, we derive the constraint for the integrability of the discrete curvature evolution to lift to the evolution of the discrete curve itself.     

Fixed-frequency and threshold molecular photoelectron spectra of S 1s, Si 1s and Cl 1s core levels

Fixed-frequency and threshold photoelectron spectra have been recorded for ionization from the S ls shells in SF₆, CS₂ and COS, the Si 1s shells in SiH₄ and SiCl₄ and the Cl 1s shell in SiCl₄ using synchrotron radiation. Fixed-frequency spectra generally showed a single strong ionization feature with associated weak satellite structure due to excited ionized states. Threshold spectra closely resembled X-ray absorption spectra but with an additional feature due to direct ionization. In cases where resonant process enhanced the NEXAFS spectrum direct ionization was not observed.     

The Design of Single Mode Large Cross-section Glass-based Waveguides for Photonic Integrated Circuits

This paper presents our recent simulation results and novel designs of single mode large cross-section glass-based waveguides for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Simulations were performed using an in-house Finite Difference (FD) based mode solver and the FD Beam propagation Method (FD-BPM). Our simulation results show that this innovative technology could provide a simplified means to couple optical energy efficiently between optical components in a single chip. This would provide the base for the future large-scale integration of optical components in PICs. The novel idea of using single mode large cross-section glass-based waveguides as an optical integration platform is an evolutionary innovative solution for the monolithic integration of optical components, in which the glass-based structures act both as waveguides and as an optical bench for integration. This allows easy and efficient optical coupling between optical components and optical fibres, removing costly and tedious alignment problems and considerably reducing optical coupling losses in PICs. We expect that the glass-based waveguide PICs technology will enable the emergence of a new generation of compact, reliable, high speed, and multifunctional devices.     

Boundedness and Dissipativity of Truncated Rotations on Uniform Planar Lattices

The finiteness of computer arithmetic can lead to some dramatic differences between the behaviour of a continuous dynamical system and a computer simulation. A thorough rigorous theoretical analysis of what may or what does happen is usually extremely difficult and to date little has been done even in relatively simple contexts. The comparative behaviour of a rotation mapping in the plane and on a uniform lattice in the plane is one such example. Simulations show that the rounding operator applied to a planar rotation mapping more or less preserves the qualitative behaviour of the original mapping, whereas the application of the truncation operator to a planar rotation can lead to quite different dynamical features. In this paper a theoretical justification of the properties of the planar rotation mappings under truncation to a, uniform integer lattice is provided, in particular properties of boundedness and dissipativity are investigated.     

Determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples. The method utilises an off-line microwave digestion stage followed by analysis using a flow injection system with detection by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

The method has been validated using two certified reference materials (DORM-1 dogfish and MESS-2 estuarine sediment) and the results agreed well with the certified values. A detection limit of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ Hg was obtained and no significant interference was observed. The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury in river sediments and canned tuna fish, and gave results in the range 0.1–3.0 mg kg⁻¹.