GaAsN/AlAs/AlGaAs double barrier quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy as an alternative to infrared absorption below 4 μm

In this work, we report on the design, growth and characterization of GaAsN/AlAs/AlGaAs double barrier quantum well infrared detectors to achieve intraband absorption below 4 μm. Due to the high effective mass of N-dilute alloys, it is common for these N-containing double barrier quantum well structures to have more than one bound state within the quantum well, enabling the possibility of achieving multispectral absorption from these confined levels to the quasi-bound. Based on a transfer matrix calculation we will study the influence of the potential parameters, in particular the well width and the introduction of a GaAs spacer layer in between the N-well and the AlAs barriers. We will compare the case in which there are two confined levels with the case in which only one level is bound, like in the conventional AlGaAs/AlAs/GaAs structures. On the basis of the simulation, we have grown and characterized some N-containing double barrier detectors. Moreover, an optimization of the post-growth annealing treatments of the GaAsN quantum well structures has also been performed. Finally, room temperature absorption measurements of both as-grown and annealed samples are presented and analyzed.     

Resonance method for IR sensing

A highly sensitive method for infrared radiation detection based on thermal resonance in an active bolometer is set forth. An active bolometer is a self-oscillating system consisting of an IR-sensitive cell in a feedback circuit of an adjustable proportional controller. The analysis of an active bolometer autonomous (dark) dynamics reveals that with a generalized gain factor A variation the system evolves from relaxation type towards oscillating and self-oscillating type. When A=A_c, where A_c is a critical value of the generalized gain factor A, the steady state loses stability through self-excited thermal oscillations. The resonance in a system weakly perturbed by IR radiation modulated at self-oscillation frequency q₀[1+exp(iω_ct)] is considered. It is shown that in a small precritical vicinity =(A−A_c)/A_c of the gain factor the amplitude of forced thermal oscillations is proportional to q₀/A_c. The D^* calculation reveals that the detection power of a passive (A=0) bolometer increases with feedback introduction by a factor of 1/||. The detection powers of feasible versions of an active bolometer are compared.     

Utilization of carbohydrates by radiation processing

Upgrading and utilization of carbohydrates such as chitosan, sodium alginate, carrageenan, cellulose, pectin have been investigated for recycling these bio-resources and reducing the environmental pollution. These carbohydrates were easily degraded by irradiation and various kinds of biological activities such as anti-microbial activity, promotion of plant growth, suppression of heavy metal stress, phytoalexins induction, etc. were induced. On the other hand, some carbohydrate derivatives, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxymethylstarch, could be crosslinked under certain radiation condition and produce the biodegradable hydrogel for medical and agricultural use.     

Indoor radon measurements in dwellings of four Saudi Arabian cities

An indoor radon survey of a total of 269 dwellings, with one dosimeter per house, distributed in four Saudi Arabian cities was carried out. The objective of this survey was to carry out indoor radon measurements of two cities in the Eastern Province, Khafji and Hafr Al-Batin and to compare this with two cities in the Western Province, Al-Madina and Taif. The survey provides additional information about indoor radon concentrations in Saudi Arabia. The results of the survey in these cities showed that the overall minimum, maximum and average radon concentration were 7,137 and 30 Bqm⁻³, respectively. The lowest average radon concentration (20 Bqm⁻³) was found in Hafr Al-Batin, while the highest average concentration was found in Khafji (40 Bqm⁻³).     

Formulation for XPS spectral change of oxides by ion bombardment as a function of sputtering time

XPS measurement revealed that the original state of TiO₂ was changed to Ti₂O₃ and TiO by ion bombardment. TiO₂ decreased and Ti₂O₃ increased at the initial stage. TiO increased at a later stage than Ti₂O₃. Each of them saturated after enough sputtering time.A formulation was proposed in order to explain the change of XPS spectra for oxides as a function of ion sputtering time. This formulation was based on reaction equations that contain two reduction processes (from TiO₂ to Ti₂O₃ and from Ti₂O₃ to TiO), and sputtering effects. Using four fitting parameters (two reduction coefficients, sputtering yield and information depth), the present formula was fitted to the experimental results. The fitting results agree satisfactorily with the experimental results. The calculation shows that the reduction coefficient from TiO₂ to Ti₂O₃ is about ten times larger than that from Ti₂O₃ to TiO. This calculation predicts that surface composition of an oxide that is changed by ion bombardment will reach a different value depending on its bulk composition. Moreover, the present formulation can determine the chemical states of compounds changed by ion bombardment.     

Closed solution to electromagnetic scattering of a plane wave by an eccentric cylinder coated with metamaterials

Closed series solution of electromagnetic scattering by an eccentric coated cylinder is achieved in matrix form. Diffracted field patterns are examined for an incident plane transverse magnetic (TM) wave. The solution is found by the classical separation of variables technique and the translational addition theorems. Wave transformation and orthogonality of the complex exponentials are employed to produce an infinite series. Numerical results are then shown by shortening the infinite series to a limited number of terms. Solutions are discussed for a dielectric or a metamaterial coating.     

表面细分技术在二维声辐射和声散射中的应用

把表面细分技术应用于求解边界积分方程，既能把CAD模型直接用于边界元分析，又能精确描述复杂的边界几何形状，实现网格自动加密和形函数自动升阶，满足误差要求。把它应用于简单的二维声辐射和声散射，结果表明对提高边界元方法的计算精度是有效的。     

High resolution staring arrays answering compact MW and LW applications

This paper overviews the electro-optical and thermal performances of different types of infrared detectors manufactured by Sofradir. The detector’s fabrication processes and detector’s performance are shortly described. New staring arrays are more compact and offer system solutions required by infrared market. Special attention is directed to some reliability advantages of new dewar design. Finally, the development trends for highest resolution infrared detector are discussed. The paper presented there appears in Infrared Photoelectronics, edited by Antoni Rogalski, Eustace L. Dereniak, Fiodor F. Sizov, Proc. SPIE Vol. 5957, 59570U (2005).     

Use of new composite materials for the determination of Cu, Cd, Mo, As, and Sb in biological samples by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

Summary  Vezetéknév     

Analysis of Radiation Phenomena in a Wedge Ended Dielectric Slab Waveguide

Radiation phenomena observed in a wedge shape ended dielectric slab waveguide are analyzed using mode matching technique. The case of transverse electric polarization (TE) being parallel to dielectric slab waveguide is assumed. In order to describe the fields in the wedge region, a stack of dielectric plates is assumed and in each layer the fields are expanded in terms of the mixed spectrum of guided and radiated modes. A similar expansion is used in the constant thickness slab waveguide while in free space medium a continuous-radiation mode expansion is used. Then a mode matching approach is applied, incorporating the orthogonality properties of mixed spectrum modes, in order to compute the wave fields inside the dielectric slab waveguide and wedge medium. Mode matching is achieved by discretizing the continuous radiation mode spectrum leading into a numerically stable solution provided a sufficient large number of points are used to convert integrals into finite summations. Numerical computations are carried out for various wedge geometries and shapes including linear and exponential profiles.