Recovery of small electromagnetic inhomogeneities from partial boundary measurementsIdentification de petites inhomogénéités diélectriques à partir de mesures partielles

We consider for the inverse problem of identifying locations and certain properties of the shapes of small dielectric inhomogeneities in a homogeneous background medium from boundary measurements on part of the boundary or dynamic boundary measurements for a finite time interval. Using as weights particular background solutions we develop asymptotic methods based on appropriate averaging of the data. To cite this article: H. Ammari, A.G. Ramm, C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 199–205.     

Artificial multiferroic heterostructures for an electric control of magnetic properties

The control of magnetism by electric fields is an important goal for future low-power spintronics devices. This partly explains the intensified recent interest for magnetoelectric multiferroic materials and heterostructures. The lack of ferro- or ferrimagnetic–ferroelectric materials with large magnetoelectric coupling between the two orders has spurred intensive research on artificial multiferroics combining ferroelectric or piezoelectric materials and ferromagnets. In this paper we review synthetically the potential of thin-film-based heterostructures in which a magnetic film is in contact with a ferroelectric or piezoelectric one to obtain an electric control of magnetic properties. This electric control either results from a strain-induced magnetoelectric coupling, a charge-driven one, or from the modulation of an interfacial exchange-bias interaction.     

Asymptotic modeling of linearly piezoelectric slender rods

The piezoelectric thin plate modeling already derived by the authors is extended to rod-like structures. Two models corresponding to sensor or actuator behavior are obtained. The conditions of existence of non-local terms in the limit models are discussed. To cite this article: T. Weller, C. Licht, C. R. Mecanique 336 (2008).     

The control of lightning using lasers: properties of streamers and leaders in the presence of laser-produced ionization

This paper summarizes the research this team has performed over the past few years investigating laboratory electrical breakdown discharges in the presence of a plasma cylinder created by a single ultrashort laser pulse. This work is part of a feasibility study about the control of lightning using laser systems. Our experimental investigations have included discharges (i) in modest (30 cm) air gaps mediated by streamers, and (ii) in large (several meters) ambient air gaps for which the discharge took place through the formation of a leader, the mechanism relevant to large scale natural discharges such as lightning. In order to understand the observations, various physical models have been used, the main results of which are discussed in this paper. To cite this article: F. Vidal et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1361–1374.     

Nonlinear phenomena in quantum thermoelectrics and heat

We review recent developments in nonlinear quantum transport through nanostructures and mesoscopic systems driven by thermal gradients or in combination with voltage biases. Low-dimensional conductors are excellent platforms for analyzing both the thermoelectric and heat dynamics beyond the linear response because, due to their small size, a small temperature difference applied across regions gives rise to large thermal biases. We offer a theoretical discussion based on the scattering approach to highlight the differences between the linear and the nonlinear regimes of transport. We discuss recent experiments on quantum dots and molecular junctions subjected to strong temperature differences. Theoretical predictions concerning the Kondo effect and heat rectification proposals are briefly examined. An important issue is the calculation of thermoelectric efficiencies including nonlinearities. Cross Seebeck effects and nonlinear spin filtering arise in superconductors and topological insulators, while mixed noises between charge and heat currents are also considered. Finally, we provide an outlook on the possible future directions of the field.     

Piezo-ElectroMechanical (PEM) structures: passive vibration control using distributed piezoelectric transducersStructures Piézo-ÉlectroMécaniques (PEM) : contrôle passif de vibrations en utilisant des transducteurs piézo-électriques distribués

A piezo-electromechanical structural member is composed of a host member, a uniformly distributed array of piezoelectric transducers and a passive electric circuit (acting as a controller) interconnecting their electric terminals. Such a circuit has to be designed to assure the most efficient transduction of mechanical into electrical energy. The needed circuits are synthesized for bars, beams and plates and the performances of the corresponding PEM structures are determined. Once suitable dissipative elements are included in the controller, it is proven that, in PEM structures, mechanical vibrations are the most efficiently damped. To cite this article: F. dell'Isola et al., C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Multiferroic RMnO3 thin films

Multiferroic materials have received an astonishing attention in the last decades due to expectations that potential coupling between distinct ferroic orders could inspire new applications and new device concepts. As a result, a new knowledge on coupling mechanisms and materials science has dramatically emerged. Multiferroic RMnO₃ perovskites are central to this progress, providing a suitable platform to tailor spin–spin and spin–lattice interactions.With views towards applications, the development of thin films of multiferroic materials have also progressed enormously and nowadays thin-film manganites are available, with properties mimicking those of bulk compounds. Here we review achievements on the growth of hexagonal and orthorhombic RMnO₃ epitaxial thin films and the characterization of their magnetic and ferroelectric properties, we discuss some challenging issues, and we suggest some guidelines for future research and developments.     

Selective multistage extraction process of biomolecules from vine shoots by a combination of biological,chemical, and physical treatments

A multistep extraction process was proposed to recover polyphenols, reducing sugars, and soluble lignin from vine shoots. A physical pretreatment by high voltage electrical discharges (HVED) was followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis and a final delignification step by alkaline hydrolysis. HVED before enzymatic hydrolysis enhanced the extraction of polyphenols (+72%), reducing sugars (+43%), and soluble lignin (+104%) as compared to control experiments (enzymatic hydrolysis). HVED also reinforced the subsequent delignification process by reducing 10% lignin content in exhausted residues. Identification and quantification of ferulic acid, resveratrol, p-coumaric acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid were carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography.