A novel composite film, comprising of hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and gold nanoparticles (GNP), was fabricated and characterized. The GNP was introduced through electrochemical deposition on IL-MWNT gel film coated glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Experiments showed that both IL and MWNTs could facilitate the GNP deposition. With GNP the composite film exhibited smaller electron transfer resistance and higher sensitivity in sensing guanine (G) and adenine (A). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the anodic peak currents were linear to the analyte concentration in the ranges of 0.008-2.0 {mu}M. The detection limits were down to nanomole level after an accumulation of 150 s on open-circuit. In addition, on the composite film coated GCE, the anodic peaks of G and A were well separated, and their response sensitivities kept almost unchanged no matter whether they coexisted or ...
A novel composite film, comprising of hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and gold nanoparticles (GNP), was fabricated and characterized. The GNP was introduced through electrochemical deposition on IL-MWNT gel film coated glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Experiments showed that both IL and MWNTs could facilitate the GNP deposition. With GNP the composite film exhibited smaller electron transfer resistance and higher sensitivity in sensing guanine (G) and adenine (A). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the anodic peak currents were linear to the analyte concentration in the ranges of 0.008-2.0 ?M. The detection limits were down to nanomole level after an accumulation of 150 s on open-circuit. In addition, on the composite film coated GCE, the anodic peaks of G and A were well separated, and their response sensitivities kept almost unchanged no matter whether they coexisted or not. ...
Although the outer surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (atomically thin cylinders of carbon) can be involved in a wide range of chemical reactions, it is generally thought that the interior surface of nanotubes is unreactive. In this study, we show that in the presence of catalytically active atoms of rhenium inserted into nanotubes, the nanotube sidewall can be engaged in chemical reactions from the inside. Aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy operated at 80?keV allows visualization of the formation of nanometre-sized hollow protrusions on the nanotube sidewall at the atomic level in real time at ambient temperature. Our direct observations and theoretical modelling demonstrate that the nanoprotrusions are formed in three stages: (i) metal-assisted d...
Impurity effects on the photon-assisted spin-polarized transport through armchair carbon nanotubes connected with ferromagnetic leads are investigated theoretically. The impurity induces one resonant state whose position depends on the impurity strength, which can break the electron-hole symmetry. Whether the impurity suppresses or enhances the spin-coherent current depends on the nanotube length. When the microwave fields are applied on the nanotube, additional small side peaks caused by the photon-assisted tunneling are found. With increasing the impurity strength, one new current peak appears under the influence of both the microwave fields and the impurity.
We have developed a process for chemical purification of carbon nanotubes for solution-processable thin-film transistors (TFTs) having high mobility. Films of the purified carbon nanotubes fabricated by simple drop coating showed carrier mobilities as high as 164 cm2V?1s?1, normalized transconductances of 0.78 Sm?1, and on/off current ratios of 106. Such high performance requires the preparation of a suspension of micrometer-long and highly purified semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Our purification process includes length and electronic-type selective trapping of SWCNTs using recycling gel filtration with a mixture of surfactants. The results provide an important milestone toward printed high-speed and large-area electronics with roll-to-roll and ink-jet device fabri...
The advent of carbon nanotubes, which are graphite layers convoluted in cylinders several nanometers in diameter and several micrometers in length, as well as the experiments on implanting metal atoms in such tubes open the way to producing nanoconductors and other materials with unique properties. For theorists, the basic challenge is interpreting and predicting the structure and properties of these systems. The linearized augmented-plane-wave method (LAPW) is one of the most accurate methods in the theory of the electronic structure of solids. A generalization of this method for quasi-two-dimensional systems, surface electronic states, and layered crystals is known. The LAPW theory for quasi-unidimensional systems, which exhibit translational symmetry in one direction, has been absent thus far. In this paper, the authors suggest a version of such a theory and use this method to calculate the ...
Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with a photosensitizer, rosebengal (RB), and folicacid (FA), an anti-cancer drug simultaneously and individually, which was characterized with various analytical instruments like Fourier Transform Iinfrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV?Vis spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR spectra confirmed the chemical modification of MWCNT. The chemical functionalization of MWCNT with RB was further supported by UV?Vis and PL spectra.
The effects of intradot electron-electron interaction on the photon-assisted Andreev tunneling of a superconductor/carbon-nanotube/superconductor system are studied by using nonequilibrium Green's function technique. The inverse supercurrent reflecting the #pi#-junction transition emerges in the spin-split energy-levels regime polarized by the Coulomb interaction. For the positive tunneling case, the supercurrent reaches its maximum when the spin-degenerate energy-levels are nearest to the Fermi surface. Conversely, for the negative tunneling case, the supercurrent reaches its maximum when two split energy-levels are symmetric with respect of the Fermi surface. The sign and the amplitude of the Andreev tunneling depend distinctly on the energy-level spacing tuned by photon-assisted tunneling. In order to fully understand the transport characteristics, the current-carrying density of states are investigated, which clearly shows the enhancement, ...
Since several years, several manufacturers of circuit breakers from various countries (South Africa, UK, The Netherlands, USA..) try to impose in accommodations a highly sensitive electronic-type of differential circuit-breaker initially devoted to industrial installations where qualified and experienced professionals are present. This technical paper presents first the principles of the classical electromechanical circuit breakers and of the electroniccircuit breaker, and then compares their relative efficiency and level of safety in residential use conditions (grounding schemes, voltage drops, rupture of the neutral conductor, rupture of the phase conductor, overvoltages). (J.S.)
Previously we have used atomic force anodisation lithography, with a self-assembled monolayer of hexadecyltrichlorosilane as a resist, to pattern silicon oxide nanostructures onto a p-type silicon (1 0 0) substrate. A condensation reaction was used to immobilise carbon nanotubes with high carboxylic acid functionality directly to the silicon oxide. A further condensation reaction using this surface attached the molecule ferrocenemethanol to the bound nanotubes. These new nanostructures were used as electrodes to observe the oxidation and reduction of ferrocene. However, because the small currents measured are near the detection limits of the electrochemical system used, important electrode kinetics could not to be obtained. A scribing approach made larger regions of oxidised silicon leading to the creation of larger scale patterned arrangements of carbon nanotubes allowing measurement of important electrochemical parameters ...
The versatile electrospinning technique was used to successfully align and disperse multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in nylon 6,6 matrix to obtain composite fibers. The morphology of the composite fibers and the dispersion of the CNTs within the fibers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. TEM analysis revealed that the CNTs were well-dispersed, separated and aligned along the fiber axis. The thermal and mechanical properties of the composite fibers were characterized as a function of weight fraction of the CNTs. Incorporation of the CNTs in the fibers resulted in an increase in glass-transition temperature (Tg) by 7degreeC, indicating that the addition of CNTs has restricted the mobility of the polymer chains a...
Medium-density polyethylene/multiwall carbon nanotube (MDPE/MWCNT) nanocomposites were produced by a mechanical milling method using a high-energy ball mill. The MDPE and MWCNTs were added to the ball mill at a constant 20:1 weight ratio of ball/powders and milled for 10 h to obtain polyethylene matrix nanocomposites reinforced with 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 weight percent of MWCNTs. To clarify the role of both MWCNT content and milling time on the morphology of MDPE, some nanocomposite samples were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope. To evaluate the role of milling on the microstructure of the nanocomposites, very thin films of MDPE/MWCNTs were prepared and studied by transmission electron microscopy. Thermal behavior of these nanocomposites was investigated by using differenti...
As portable electronics become more advanced and alternative energy demands become more prevalent, the development of advanced energy storage technologies is becoming ever more critical in today's society. In order to develop higher power and energy density batteries, innovative electrode materials that provide increased storage capacity, greater rate capabilities, and good cyclability must be developed. Nanostructured materials are gaining increased attention because of their potential to mitigate current electrode limitations. Here we report on the use of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWNTs) as the active electrode material in lithium-ion batteries. At low specific currents, these VA-MWNTs have shown high reversible specific capacities (up to 782mAhg^-^1 at 57mAg^-...
Solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection has been used for sensitive, simple, and reliable analysis of carfentrazone-ethyl residues in water. Carfentrazone-ethyl was enriched by use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), a new adsorptive material. Several conditions affecting recovery of the analyte, for example polarity and volume of eluents, pH of water samples, and sample volume, were studied. Recovery from fortified samples, linear range, and limit of detection were evaluated. The results showed that MWCNT are an efficient SPE adsorbent for preconcentration of carfentrazone-ethyl in water. Under the optimized SPE conditions, recovery of carfentrazone-ethyl from fortified water was 81.49?91.08%, with RSD from 1.66 to 8.21%. The limits of detection ...
A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2prime-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy)32+ immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy)32+ onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-...
Mesoporous films of platinized carbon nanotube-zirconia-Nafion composite have been used for the immobilization of tris(2,2prime-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) (Ru(bpy)32+) on an electrode surface to yield a solid-state electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The composite films of Pt-CNT-zirconia-Nafion exhibit much larger pore diameter (3.55 nm) than that of Nafion (2.82 nm) and thus leading to much larger ECL response for tripropylamine (TPA) because of the fast diffusion of the analyte within the films. Due to the conducting and electrocatalytic features of CNTs and Pt nanoparticles, their incorporation into the zirconia-Nafion composite films resulted in the decreased electron transfer resistance within the films. The present ECL sensor based on the Pt-CNT-zirconia-Nafion gave a lin...
Abstract Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using a melt-blending process and used to examine the effects on the composite structure and properties of replacing PBT with acrylic acid-grafted PBT (PBT-g-AA). PBT-g-AA and multihydroxyl-functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-OH) were used to improve the compatibility and dispersibility of the MWCNTs within the PBT matrix. The composites were characterized morphologically using transmission electron microscopy, and chemically using Fourier transform infrared, solid-state 13C NMR and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The antibacterial and electrical conductivity properties of the composites were also evaluated. MWCNTs or MWCNTs-OH enhanced the antibacterial activity and electric...
Abstract Electronic structures of two representative zigzag and armchair models of aluminum phosphide nanotube (AlPNT) were investigated by density functional theory calculations. The structures were optimized and the bond lengths, tip diameters, band gaps, and dipole moments were calculated. Moreover, the quadrupole coupling constants (CQ) were calculated for the Al-27 atoms of the optimized structures. The same values of AlP bond lengths were calculated for both models. The larger value of band gap of armchair model than the zigzag model indicated the stronger dielectric property for the former model. The values of CQ(27Al) were the largest for the Al atoms placed at the tips of both zigzag and armchair AlPNT than other Al atoms, which could reveal dominant role of the Al atoms placed at...
The compressive and torsional buckling behavior of carbon nanotube bundles at room temperature is examined with classical molecular dynamics simulation. The critical compressive load and stiffness of a single carbon nanotube in the bundle are found to be similar to those of individual carbon nanotubes. However, the critical torsional moment and stiffness of a single carbon nanotube in the bundle are found to be higher than those of individual carbon nanotubes. In addition, this study demonstrates that van der Waals interactions between the nanotubes in the bundle significantly affect the critical compressive load of the nanotube bundle.
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were modified with poly(hexamethylene adipamide) (also known as Nylon 66) via a controlled polymer solution crystallization method. A 'nanohybrid shish kebab' (NHSK) structure was found wherein the MWNT resembled the shish while Nylon 66 lamellar crystals formed the kebabs. These Nylon 66-functionalized MWNTs were used as precursors to prepare polymer/MWNT nanocomposites. Excellent dispersion was revealed by optical and electron microscopies. Nitric acid etching of the nanocomposites showed that MWNT formed a robust network in Nylon 66. Non-isothermal DSC results showed multiple melting peaks, which can be attributed to lamellar thickness changes upon heating. The crystallite sizes L{sub 100} and L{sup 010} of Nylon 66, determined by WAXD, decreased with increasing MWNT contents. Isothermal DSC results showed that crystallization kinetics increased first and then decreased with increasing ...
The MOS-technology allows to make tiny electronic lenses for multibeam electron systems. In the paper results of research and principles of designing of tiny magnetic electron lenses are submitted. Electronic lenses with a nonconventional configuration of tiny magnetic circuit and electronic lenses with coincident electric and magnetic fields in nonconventional tiny performance are considered
The electrochemical behavior of the anti-thalassemia and anti-HIV replication drug, deferiprone, was investigated on a carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon (GC-CNT) electrode in phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.40 (PBS). During oxidation of deferiprone, two irreversible anodic peaks, with E{sub 1}{sup 0}=452 and E{sub 2}{sup 0}=906mV, appeared, using GC-CNT. Cyclic voltammetric study indicated that the oxidation process is irreversible and diffusion controlled. The number of exchanged electrons in the electro-oxidation process was obtained, and the data indicated that deferiprone is oxidized via two two-electron steps. The results revealed that carbon nanotube (CNT) promotes the rate of oxidation by increasing the peak current, so that deferiprone is oxidized at lower potentials, which thermodynamically is more favorable. This result was confirmed by impedance measurements. The diffusion coefficient, ...
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on anatase TiO2 hollow spheres (TiO2HS)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanocomposite films are prepared by a directly mechanical mixing and doctor blade method. The prepared samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The photoelectric conversion performances of the DSSCs based on TiO2HS/CNT composite film electrodes are also compared with commercial-grade Degussa P25 TiO2 nanoparticles (P25)/CNT composite solar cells at the same film thickness. The results indicate that the photoelectric conversion efficiencies () of the TiO2HS/CNT composite DSSCs are dependent on CNT loading in the electrodes. A small amou...
We estimate the optimum electric field at the sheath edge and the minimum interval among the nanotubes to promote the growth of armchair-type nanotubes (metallic character) as a function of the tube length. On the basis of the electric charge distribution in a nanotube and the optimum electric filed E*_1 at the tip of a nanotube evaluated using the Hueckel-Poisson method, we calculate the structure of the electric field lines outside a nanotube in the sheath region. As the tube length increases, the E*_1 decreases. To maintain the chemical activity at the tip, the sheath electric field must be decreased. We show the decreasing rate of the sheath field to the tube length.
The invention relates to a pulsed laser ablation method of metals and/or dielectric films from the surface of a wafer, printed circuit board or a hybrid substrate. By utilizing a high-energy ultra-short pulses of laser light, such a method can be used to manufacture electroniccircuits and/or electro-mechanical assemblies without affecting the material adjacent to the ablation zone.
A computer program 'CPA simulator' has been designed to simulate the response parameters of a typical charge preamplifier (CPA) used in nuclear front-end electronics. The response parameters are studied considering three common connection methods between the detector and the CPA. The simulator predicts and illustrates the role and influence of the different components of the CPA and detector circuits.
Thin, lightweight, and flexible gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) based on freestanding entangled networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) decorated with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are tested as the air-breathing cathode in a zinc-air battery. The SWNT networks provide a highly porous surface for active oxygen absorption and diffusion. The high conductivity of SWNTs coupled with the catalytic activity of AgNPs for oxygen reduction leads to an improvement in the performance of the zinc-air cell. By modulating the pH value and the reaction time, different sizes of AgNPs are decorated uniformly on the SWNTs, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. AgNPs with sizes of 3-5 nm double the capacity and specific energy of a zinc-air battery as compared with bare SWNTs. The simplified, lightweight architecture shows significant advantages over conventional carbon-based GDEs in terms of weight, thickness and ...
Understanding the influence of interfacial structures on the nanoarchitecture mechanical properties is of particular importance for its mechanical applications. Due to a small size of constituting nanostructural units and a consequently high volume ratio of such interfacial regions, this question becomes crucial for the overall mechanical performance. Boron nitride bamboo-like nanotubes, called hereafter boron nitride nanobamboos (BNNBs), are composed of short BN nanotubular segments with specific interfaces at the bamboo-shaped joints. In this work, the mechanical properties of such structures are investigated by using direct in situ transmission electron microscopy tensile tests and molecular dynamics simulations. The mechanical properties and deformation behaviors are correlated with the interfacial structure under atomic resolution, and a geometry strengthening effect is clearly demonstrated. Due to the interlocked joint interfacial ...
An analysis is made of the basic principles and methods of construction of integrated optical circuits (IOC) for data processing, which are optical waveguide processors in the integrated form. A classification is provided of IOC in accordance with the nature of the input connections to optical components and in accordance with their intended function. An analysis is made of the current status of research and development of analog IOC for handling analog and digital signals, IOC for computing technology, and switching IOC. A detailed analysis is made of IOC with different functions in data processing: spectrum analyzers and correlators, analog-digital converters, circuits for identification of data sets and for encoding of signals, threshold and multistable circuits, logic and arithmetic units, and switching arrays. Descriptions are given of IOC for optically controlled data handling: bistable purely optical logic ...
The goal of this study was to evaluate topics used to troubleshoot circuit boards with known or suspected thermally intermittent components. Failure modes for thermally intermittent components are typically mechanical defects, such as cracks in solder paths or joints, or broken b...
In this paper, multilayer oxide nanorods were deposited in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) via solution infiltration followed by heat treatment. The nanorods have a core-shell structure. First, the shell (nanotube) with the thickness of about 40nm was made of TiO"2 through the hydrolysis of (NH"4)"2TiF"6. Second, silver nanoparticles with the diameter of about 3nm were added into the TiO"2 layer through thermal decomposition of AgNO"3 at elevated temperatures. Then, cylindrical cores (nanorods) of CoO and ZnO with 200nm diameter were prepared, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the structure and composition of the nanorods. UV-vis light absorption measurements in the wavelength range from 350 to...
The interaction between molecules and solid surfaces plays important roles in various applications, including catalysis, sensors, nanoelectronics, and solar cells. Surprisingly, a full understanding of molecule-surface interaction at the quantum mechanical level has not been achieved even for very simple molecules, such as water. In this mini-review, we report recent progresses and current status of studies on interaction between representative molecules and surfaces. Taking water/metal, DNA bases/carbon nanotube, and organic dye molecule/oxide as examples, we focus on the understanding on the microstructure, electronic property, and electron-ion dynamics involved in these systems obtained from first-principles quantum mechanical calculations. We find that a quantum mechanical description ...
Microprocessor based ''smart'' pressure, level, and flow transmitters were tested to determine the radiation hardness of this class of electronic instrumentation for use in reactor building applications. Commercial grade Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits used in these transmitters were found to fail at total gamma dose levels between 2500 and 10,000 rad. This results in an unacceptably short lifetime in many reactor building radiation environments. Radiation hardened integrated circuits can, in general, provide satisfactory service life for normal reactor operations when not restricted to the extremely low power budget imposed by standard 4--20 mA two-wire instrument loops. The design of these circuits will require attention to vendor radiation hardness specifications, dose rates, process control with respect to radiation hardness factors, and non-volatile programmable ...
Natural bone consists of hard nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) in a nanostructured protein-based soft hydrogel template (ie, mostly collagen). For this reason, nanostructured HA has been an intriguing coating material on traditionally used titanium for improving orthopedic applications. In addition, helical rosette nanotubes (HRNs), newly developed materials which form through the self-assembly process of DNA base pair building blocks in body solutions, are soft nanotubes with a helical architecture that mimics natural collagen. Thus, the objective of this in vitro study was for the first time to combine the promising attributes of HRNs and nanocrystalline HA on titanium and assess osteoblast (bone-forming cell) functions. Different sizes of nanocrystalline HA were synthesized in this study through a wet chemical precipitation process following either hydrothermal treatment or sintering. Transmission electron microscopy ...
A gas-diesel dual fuel engine apparatus is described having a diesel engine, a diesel fuel supply system including a diesel fuel injection pump, a gaseous fuel supply system including a gaseous fuel regulating valve, and a governing and controlling device for governing the speed of the engine through the control of fuel supplied to the engine and controlling the switchover of the operation of the engine between a diesel fuel mode and a gaseous fuel mode. The improvement of the governing and controlling device consists of: (a) at least one electronic governor means adapted to compare a speed signal representing the actual operating speed of the diesel engine with a set speed signal representing the set speed thereof; (b) a pair of electric actuator means having respective power amplifier circuits and mechanically connected to the diesel fuel injection pump and the gaseous fuel regulating valve, respectively, for the actuation thereof; (c) mode ...
A nitrogen liquefier and computer controlled valving system have been added to the Bevatron cryoliner vacuum system to cut operating costs by reducing liquid nitrogen consumption. The computer and interface electronic systems, which control the temperatures of twenty-eight liquid nitrogen circuits, have been chosen and designed to operate in the Bevatron's pulsating magnetic field. The nitrogen exhaust is routed back to a liquefier, of about five kilowatt capacity, liquefied, and rerouted through the cooling circuits. A description of the system and operating results are presented.
This document is a reference guide to the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator, and is a companion document to the Xyce Users Guide. The focus of this document is (to the extent possible) exhaustively list device parameters, solver options, parser options, and other usage details of Xyce. This document is not intended to be a tutorial. Users who are new to circuit simulation are better served by the Xyce Users Guide.
This document is a reference guide to the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator, and is a companion document to the Xyce Users' Guide. The focus of this document is (to the extent possible) exhaustively list device parameters, solver options, parser options, and other usage details of Xyce. This document is not intended to be a tutorial. Users who are new to circuit simulation are better served by the Xyce Users' Guide.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered one of the most promising materials in nanotechnology, with attractive properties for many technologic applications. The different synthesis, purification, and...Full Text Available
Titanate nanotubes were hydrothermally synthesized and their adsorption performances for lead(II) ion removal were studied. The results showed that titanate nanotubes ruptured in the adsorption process resulting in two distinct adsorption stages, thus achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 3.752mmolg^-^1 of lead(II). Furthermore, it was found that the regeneration of titanate nanotubes loaded with the lead(II) ions can be readily achieved using the saturated EDTA disodium salt aqueous solution, thereby avoiding the trouble of disposal of adsorbent. The adsorption mechanism was also discussed in detail.
The paper proposes a concept of power driver for industrial thermonuclear reactor based on inertial thermonuclear synthesis (ITS). The circuit is based on the application of free electron laser (FEL) as a energy source for thermonuclear target compression which becomes feasible due to the application of a radically new circuit of FEL-amplifier. In the project under consideration the FEL-based laser system operates on the wave length of 0.5 micrometer. The full energy of laser radiation equals 1 MJ. This energy is delivered to the target in the pulse whose length is controlled within the range of 0.1-2 ns. The laser system brightness is 4 x 10"2"2 W cm"-"2. The FEL operating pulse repetition frequency is 40 Hz, full efficiency of electricity conversion into the energy of optical radiation is 11%. 9 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
Porous SnO2 nanotubes were prepared via electrospinning followed by calcination in air. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the porous nanotubes delivered a high discharge capacity of 807mAhg^-^1 after 50cycles. Even after cycled at high rates, the electrode still retained a high fraction of its theoretical capacity. Such excellent performances of porous SnO2 nanotubes could be attributed to the porous and hollow structure which facilitated liquid electrolyte diffusion into the bulk materials and buffered large volume changes during lithium ions insertion/extraction. Furthermore, the nanoparticles of nanotubes provided the shorter diffusion length for lithium ions insertion which benefited in retaining the structural stability and good rate performance. Our results demonstrated t...
A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)_3 "2"+) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy)_3 "2"+ immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy)_3 "2"+ onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-titania-Nafion showed improved ECL sensitivity for tripropylamine (TPA) compared to the ECL sensors based on both titania-Nafion ...
A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy){sub 3} {sup 2+}) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy){sub 3} {sup 2+} immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy){sub 3} {sup 2+} onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-titania-Nafion showed improved ECL sensitivity for tripropylamine (TPA) compared to the ECL ...
The electrochemical treatment of solutions containing C.I. Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) in aqueous solutions with carbon-PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and carbon nanotube (CNT)-PTFE electrodes as cathode has been studied. The fabricated electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The amount of electrogenerated H2O2 on the surface of these electrodes was investigated, too. The results showed that the amount of H2O2 obtained with the CNT-PTFE electrode was nearly three times higher than that of carbon-PTFE electrode. The decolorization efficiency of BY2 in peroxi-coagulation process reached 62% and 96% in the first 10 min by carbon-PTFE and CNT-PTFE electrodes at 100 mA, respectively. The effect of operational parameters such as applied current, initial pH and initial dye concentration was studied in an attempt to reach higher decolorization efficiency. The degradation and mineralization of BY2 ...
Silicon is an attractive alloy-type anode material because of its highest known capacity (4200 mAh/g). However, lithium insertion into and extraction from silicon are accompanied by a huge volume change, up to 300%, which induces a strong strain on silicon and causes pulverization and rapid capacity fading due to the loss of the electrical contact between part of silicon and current collector. Si nanostructures such as nanowires, which are chemically and electrically bonded to the current collector, can overcome the pulverization problem, however, the heavy metal current collectors in these systems are larger in weight than Si active material. Herein we report a novel anode structure free of heavy metal current collectors by integrating a flexible, conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) network into a Si anode. The composite film is free-standing and has a structure similar to the steel bar reinforced concrete, where the infiltrated CNT network functions as both ...
A cylindrical multiwire drift chamber is the central detector of the AMPIR spectrometer. It has 4{pi} acceptance angle and was designed to study pion-nucleon reactions. The chamber can determine the three coordinates through the electron drift time and charge division ration. The paper describes the layout and design of the chamber, the test bench, the data output circuit, the design parameters, and the results of computer simulations and tests.
A cylindrical multiwire drift chamber is the central detector of the AMPIR spectrometer. It has 4#pi# acceptance angle and was designed to study pion-nucleon reactions. The chamber can determine the three coordinates through the electron drift time and charge division ration. The paper describes the layout and design of the chamber, the test bench, the data output circuit, the design parameters, and the results of computer simulations and tests.
A position-sensitive event-counting electronic readout system for microchannel plates (MCPs) is described that offers the advantages of high spatial resolution and fast time resolution. The technique relies upon a four-quadrant electron-collecting anode located behind the output face of the microchannel plate, so that the electron cloud from each detected event is partly intercepted by each of the four quadrants. The relative amounts of charge collected by each quadrant depend on event position, permitting each event to be localized with two ratio circuits. A prototype quadrant anode system for ion, electron, and extreme ultraviolet imaging is described. The spatial resolution achieved, approx. =10 ..mu.., allows individual MCP channels to be distinguished. (AIP)
A position-sensitive event-counting electronic readout system for microchannel plates (MCPs) is described that offers the advantages of high spatial resolution and fast time resolution. The technique relies upon a four-quadrant electron-collecting anode located behind the output face of the microchannel plate, so that the electron cloud from each detected event is partly intercepted by each of the four quadrants. The relative amounts of charge collected by each quadrant depend on event position, permitting each event to be localized with two ratio circuits. A prototype quadrant anode system for ion, electron, and extreme ultraviolet imaging is described. The spatial resolution achieved, approx. =10 #mu#, allows individual MCP channels to be distinguished.
Conventional interconnect and switching technology is rapidly becoming a critical issue in the realization of systems using high speed silicon and GaAs based technologies. In recent years clock speeds and on-chip density for VLSI/VHSIC technology has made packaging these high speed chips extremely difficult. A strong case can be made for using optical interconnects for on-chip/on-wafer, chip-to-chip and board-to-board high speed communications. GaAs integrated optoelectronic circuits (IOC's) are being developed in a number of laboratories for performing Input/Output functions at all levels. In this paper integrated optoelectronic materials, electronics and optoelectronic devices are presented. IOC's are examined from the standpoint of what it takes to fabricate the devices and what performance can be expected.
FELs require tight control of the amplitudes and phase of the fields in two linear accelerator tanks to obtain stable lasing. The accelerator control loops must establish constant, stable, repeatable amplitudes and phases of the rf fields and must have excellent bandwidth to control high-frequency noise components. A model of the feedback loops has been developed that agrees well with measurements and allows easy substitution of components and circuits, thus reducing breadboarding requirements. The model permits both frequency and time-domain analysis. The accelerator control scheme and model are described and the control of noise in feedback loops is discussed, showing how low-frequency-noise components (errors) can be corrected, but high-frequency-noise components (errors) are actually amplified by the feedback circuit. Measurements of noise in both open- and closed-loop modes is shown and comparison is made with results from the model ...
The Energy crisis happens to be one of the greatest challenges we are facing today. In this view, much effort has been made in developing new, cost effective, environmentally friendly energy conversion and storage devices. The performance of such devices is fundamentally related to material properties. Hence, innovative materials engineering is important in solving the energy crisis problem. One such innovation in materials engineering is porous materials for energy storage. Porous electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) offer a high degree of electrolyte-electrode wettability, thus enhancing the electrochemical activity within the material. Among the porous materials, mesoporous materials draw special attention, owing to shorter diffusion lengths for Li+ and electronic movement. Nanostructured mesoporous materials also offer better packing density compared to their nanostructured counterparts such as nanopowders, nanowires, ...
Microelectronic failure analysis (FA) has been an integral part of the development of state-of-the-art integrated circuits. FA of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) is moving from its infancy stage to assume an important role in the successful design, fabrication, performance and reliability analysis for this new technology. In previous work, the authors focused on the application of several techniques developed for integrated circuit analysis to an earlier version of a surface micromachined microengine fabricated at Sandia. Recently, they have identified important new failure modes in binary counters that incorporate a newer design of the microengine, using a subset of integrated circuit failure analysis techniques including optical microscopy, focused ion beam (FIB) techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The primary failure mode they have identified is ...
This document is a reference guide to the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator, and is a companion document to the Xyce Users Guide. The focus of this document is (to the extent possible) exhaustively list device parameters, solver options, parser options, and other usage details of Xyce. This document is not intended to be a tutorial. Users who are new to circuit simulation are better served by the Xyce Users Guide. The Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator has been written to support, in a rigorous manner, the simulation needs of the Sandia National Laboratories electrical designers. It is targeted specifically to run on large-scale parallel computing platforms but also runs well on a variety of architectures including single processor workstations. It also aims to support a variety of devices and models specific to Sandia needs. This document is intended to complement the Xyce Users Guide. It contains comprehensive, detailed ...
Porous SnO{sub 2} nanotubes were prepared via electrospinning followed by calcination in air. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the porous nanotubes delivered a high discharge capacity of 807 mAh g{sup -1} after 50 cycles. Even after cycled at high rates, the electrode still retained a high fraction of its theoretical capacity. Such excellent performances of porous SnO{sub 2} nanotubes could be attributed to the porous and hollow structure which facilitated liquid electrolyte diffusion into the bulk materials and buffered large volume changes during lithium ions insertion/extraction. Furthermore, the nanoparticles of nanotubes provided the shorter diffusion length for lithium ions insertion which benefited in retaining the structural stability and good rate performance. Our results demonstrated that this simple method could be extended for the synthesis of porous metal oxide ...
A newly developed 220 Mbps free-space 4-ary pulse position modulation (PPM) direct detection optical communication system is described. High speed GaAs integrated circuits were used to construct the PPM encoder and receiver electroniccircuits. Both PPM slot and word timing recovery were provided in the PPM receiver. The optical transmitter consisted of an AlGaAs laser diode (Mitsubishi ML5702A, lambda=821nm) and a high speed driver unit. The photodetector consisted of a silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) (RCA30902S) preceded by an optical interference filter (delta lambda=10nm). Preliminary tests showed that the self-synchronized PPM receiver could achieve a receiver bit error rate of less than 10(exp -6) at 25 nW average received optical signal power or 360 photons per transmitted information bit. The relatively poor receiver sensitivity was believed to be caused by the insufficient electronic ...
Both the increased complexity of integrated circuits, resulting in six or more levels of integration, and the increasing use of flip-chip packaging have driven the development of integrated circuit (IC) failure analysis tools that can be applied to the backside of the chip. Among these new approaches are focused ion beam (FIB) tools and processes for performing chip edits/repairs from the die backside. This paper describes the use of backside FIB for a failure analysis application rather than for chip repair. Specifically, they used FIB technology to prepare an IC for inspection of voided metal interconnects (lines) and vias. Conventional FIB milling was combined with a super-enhanced gas assisted milling process that uses XeF{sub 2} for rapid removal of large volumes of bulk silicon. This combined approach allowed removal of the TiW underlayer from a large number of Ml lines simultaneously, enabling rapid localization and plan view imaging of ...
A method for encapsulating and immobilizing waste for disposal. Waste, preferably, biologically, chemically and radioactively hazardous, and especially electronic wastes, such as circuit boards, are placed in a crucible and heated by microwaves to a temperature in the range of approximately 300{degrees}C to 800{degrees}C to incinerate organic materials, then heated further to a temperature in the range of approximately 1100{degrees}C to 1400{degrees}C at which temperature glass formers present in the waste will cause it to vitrify. Glass formers, such as borosilicate glass, quartz or fiberglass can be added at the start of the process to increase the silicate concentration sufficiently for vitrification.
An electronic computer circuit is described for producing an output voltage proportional to the product or quotient of tbe voltages of a pair of input signals. ln essence, the disclosed invention provides a computer having two channels adapted to receive separate input signals and each having amplifiers with like fixed amplification factors and like negatlve feedback amplifiers. One of the channels receives a constant signal for comparison purposes, whereby a difference signal is produced to control the amplification factors of the variable feedback amplifiers. The output of the other channel is thereby proportional to the product or quotient of input signals depending upon the relation of input to fixed signals in the first mentioned channel.
Energy and angular double-differential cross-section (DDX) data of fragment production reactions by neutrons or protons are very scarce due to experimental difficulties of fragment detection. We adopted a Bragg curve spectrometer (BCS), which is a gridded-ionization chamber that can identify fragments on the basis of the Bragg peak value. We have been developing the BCS for neutron and proton-induced reactions applying the digital waveform analysis technique to obtain better ability of particle discrimination than the analog electroniccircuit. (T. Tanaka)
The purpose of a FAAT analysis is to estimate the probability of system upset to an electromagnetic threat, for systems on which we have incomplete information. As an example of this process, we will discuss the response of part of a telephone repeater system to wideband transients. We first estimate the currents induced on above-ground and buried cables. After that, we describe the simple circuit we used to build a model of the amplifier and protective devices. Finally, we describe the scaling of the energy deposited in the electronics, including its nonlinear large-signal response, with the amplitude of the wideband waveforms.
The dissimilatory metal reducing bacterium Shewanella sp. strain HN-41 was first reported to produce novel photoactive As-S nanotubes via reduction of As(V) and S(2)O(3)(2-) under anaerobic conditions. Here we report the draft genome sequence and annotation of strain HN-41. PMID:21868804
This manual describes the use of the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator. Xyce has been designed as a SPICE-compatible, high-performance analog circuit simulator, and has been written to support the simulation needs of the Sandia National Laboratories electrical designers. This development has focused on improving capability over the current state-of-the-art in the following areas: (1) Capability to solve extremely large circuit problems by supporting large-scale parallel computing platforms (up to thousands of processors). Note that this includes support for most popular parallel and serial computers. (2) Improved performance for all numerical kernels (e.g., time integrator, nonlinear and linear solvers) through state-of-the-art algorithms and novel techniques. (3) Device models which are specifically tailored to meet Sandia's needs, including some radiation-aware devices (for Sandia users only). (4) ...
This manual describes the use of the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator. Xyce has been designed as a SPICE-compatible, high-performance analog circuit simulator, and has been written to support the simulation needs of the Sandia National Laboratories electrical designers. This development has focused on improving capability over the current state-of-the-art in the following areas: (1) Capability to solve extremely large circuit problems by supporting large-scale parallel computing platforms (up to thousands of processors). Note that this includes support for most popular parallel and serial computers; (2) Improved performance for all numerical kernels (e.g., time integrator, nonlinear and linear solvers) through state-of-the-art algorithms and novel techniques. (3) Device models which are specifically tailored to meet Sandia's needs, including some radiation-aware devices (for Sandia users only); and (4) ...
Desorption behavior of pyrene, phenanthrene and naphthalene from fullerene, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was examined. Available adsorption space of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was found to be the cylindrical external surface, neither the inner cavities nor inter-wall spaces due to impurities in the CNTs and restricted spaces (0.335 nm) of the MWCNTs, respectively. Desorption hysteresis was observed for fullerene but not for CNTs. Deformation-rearrangement was proposed to explain the hysteresis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for fullerene, due to the formation of closed interstitial spaces in spherical fullerene aggregates. However, long, cylindrical carbon nanotubes could not form such closed interstitial spaces in their aggregates due to their length, thus showing no significant hysteresis. High adsorption capacity and reversible adsorption ...
The radiation hardening studies started in the mid decade 1960-1970. To survive the different military or space radiative environment, a new engineering science was born, to understand the degradation of electronics components. The different solutions to improve the electronic behavior in such environments have been named 'radiation hardening' of the technologies. Improvement of existing technologies, and qualification methods have been widely studied. However, on the other hand, specific technologies were developed: the Silicon On Insulator technologies for CMOS or Bipolar. The HSOI3HD technology offers today the highest hardening level for the integration density of hundreds of thousand transistors on the same silicon. Full complex systems could be produced on a single die with a technological radiation hardening and no more system hardening.
As lithium battery technology sets out to bridge the gap between portable electronics and the electrical automotive industry, cathode materials still stand as the bottleneck regarding performances. In the realm of highly attractive polyanion-type structures as high-voltage cathode materials, the sulfate group (SO4)^2^- possesses an acknowledged superiority over other contenders in terms of open circuit voltage arising from the inductive effect of strong covalent S-O bonds. In parallel, novel lithium insertion mechanisms are providing alternatives to traditional intercalation, enabling reversible multi-electron processes securing high capacities. Combining both of these advantageous features, we report here the successful electrochemical reactivity of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O...
The latest electroniccircuit technology that can be used for the electric railway traction system fed by an AC/DC dual power line was developed. This system consists of reverse conducting GTO thyristors, microprocessors, and DSP`s. In the AC power supply line section, the line converter is controlled by PWM technology to secure a high power factor and reduce the higher harmonic generation of an input current as far as possible. The line converter and motor converter use reverse conducting GTO thyristors. Since these converters are cooled using a heat pipe cooler, they are reduced in size and weight. The electric grounding point of the main power circuit is set to the negative side of the DC line for AC and DC line sections. Therefore, the AC/DC selector switch was simplified in structure. Moreover, the DC input for the auxiliary power supply can be obtained from multiple line converters using diodes. As the result of the ...
Organic electronic devices using a pentacene have improved importantly in the last several years. We fabricated pentacene organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with dielectric SiO{sub 2} and ferroelectric Pb(Zr{sub 0.3},Ti{sub 0.7})O{sub 3} (PZT) gate insulators. The organic devices using SiO{sub 2} and PZT films had the field-effect mobility of approximately 0.1 and 0.004 cm{sup 2}/V s, respectively. The drain current in the transfer curve of pentacene/PZT transistors showed a hysteresis behavior originated in a ferroelectric polarization switching. In order to investigate the polarization effect of PZT gate dielectrics in a logic circuit, the simple voltage inverter using SiO{sub 2} and PZT films was fabricated and measured by an output-input measurement. The gain of inverter at the poling-down state was approximately 7.2 and it was three times larger than the value measured at the poling-up state.
Surface oxide films were grown on 99.99% copper and brass (copper-zinc alloy, Cu77Zn21Al2) in 0.1 mol L{sup -1} borax solution at open circuit potential and were characterized using various experimental techniques. The composition of the passive films formed in situ on the different materials was studied using differential reflectance spectroscopy. The thickness of the oxide layers on copper and brass was compared by chronopotentiometric curves and potentiodynamic reductions. The electrical properties of each oxide were analyzed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Their influence on the oxygen reduction reaction was also investigated using voltammetry hydrodynamic tools such as the rotating disk electrode. The results show that the incorporation of Zn to Cu in brass changes the composition and the thickness of the surface film. The films grown on brass tend to be thicker but less resistive and Zn compounds incorporate to the film. This is supported ...
The Los Alamos FEL requires tight control of the amplitudes and phases of the fields in two linear accelerator tanks to obtain stable lasing. The accelerator control loops must establish constant, stable, repeatable amplitudes and phases of the rf fields and must have excellent bandwidth to control high-frequency noise components. A model of the feedback loops has been developed that agrees well with measurements and allows easy substitution of components and circuits, thus reducing breadboarding requirements. The model permits both frequency and time-domain analysis. This paper describes the accelerator control scheme and our model and discusses the control of noise in feedback loops, showing how low-frequency-noise components (errors) can be corrected, but high-frequency-noise components (errors) are actually amplified by the feedback circuit. Measurements of noise in both open- and closed-loop modes are shown and comparison is made with ...
Novel hybrid organic/inorganic nanocomposites made of metal oxide and conjugated polymer nanocomposite and its application in bulk-heterojunction solar cells were studied. The composite was composed of different concentrations of strontium titanate (SrTiO_3) and polyaniline doped phosphoric acid. The optimum concentration of strontium titanate was found to be 0.2 v/v. An inorganic-organic photovoltaic device with a structure of Ag/Pani-H_3PO_4-SrTiO_3/Al has been fabricated. The ideality factor value of the diode was found to be 1.8. This n value of the diode implies a deviation from ideal junction behaviour. The barrier height #phi#_b value for the diode was found to be 0.56 eV. The Ag/Pani-H_3PO_4-SrTiO_3/Al diode shows a photovoltaic behaviour with a maximum open-circuit voltage V_o_c of 2.49 V, and short-circuit current I_s_c of 5.6 mA under light illumination #lambda# = 460 nm. The conversion efficiency was found to be 5.2%. It is ...
Objectives1. We will use reduction of lysosomal stability as an indicator of cell injury induced by C-60 fullerenes and carbon nanotubes in the liver analogue or digestive gland (hepatopancreas) of marine mussels. Molluscan hepatopancreatic digestive cells are key to normal function and are a sensitive key interface with the environment. Reduction of lysosomal stability is mechanistically linked with impaired health of the whole animal. 2. We will also test the hepatopancreatic digestive cells for evide [continued...]DescriptionNanotechnology is a major innovative scientific and economic growth area, which may present a variety of hazards for environmental and human health. The surface properties and very small size of nanoparticles and nanotubes provides surfaces that may bind and transport toxic chemical pollutants, as well as possibly being toxic in their own right by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is a wealth of evidence ...
This patent describes a display unit of a speedometer for an automobile, comprising: a constant speed running circuit capable of producing output signals indicative of a desired car speed; an actual car speed operational circuit capable of producing output signals indicative of actual car speed; a comparing circuit for comparing the amplitudes of the output signals of the constant speed running operational circuit and the actual car speed operational circuit; bar graph decoders receiving the output signals from the constant speed running operational circuit and the actual car speed operational circuit; an EX-OR circuit having inputs coupled to respective bar graph decoders and having an output; and OR circuit having inputs coupled to respective bar graph decoders and having an output; selector means ...
This report describes the work carried out to analyze and design a circuit for use in 1200 kV gas insulated substations. The first part of the project was devoted to a thorough analysis of the requirements for the circuit breaker from the standpoint of the electrical system in which it would operate. A conceptual design was selected and all of the components of the circuit breaker were designed, modeled and verified. Finally a plan was prepared for the construction of a complete circuit breaker.
Tubular membrane structures are widespread in eukaryotic cells, but the mechanisms underlying their formation and stability are not well understood. Previous work has focused on tube extrusion from...Full Text Available
Effects of dopant and coating carbon nanotube on anodic performance of Si were studied for metallic anode Li ion rechargeable battery with large capacity. Although the large Li intercalation capacity higher than 1500mAhg{sup -1} is exhibited on pure Si, it decreased drastically with increasing cycle number. Increasing the electrical conductivity by doping Cr or B is effective for increasing the initial capacity and the cycle stability of Si for Li intercalation. Coating semiconductive Si with the carbon nanotube by decomposition of hydrocarbon is effective for increasing the cycle stability, though the initial Li intercalation capacity slightly decreased. Conducting binder is also important for increasing the cycle stability and it was found that Li intercalation capacity higher than 1500mAhg{sup -1} can be sustained by using poly vinyliden fruolide. Consequently, reversible Li intercalation capacity of 1500mAhg{sup -1} was successfully ...
As lithium battery technology sets out to bridge the gap between portable electronics and the electrical automotive industry, cathode materials still stand as the bottleneck regarding performances. In the realm of highly attractive polyanion-type structures as high-voltage cathode materials, the sulfate group (SO{sub 4}){sup 2-} possesses an acknowledged superiority over other contenders in terms of open circuit voltage arising from the inductive effect of strong covalent S-O bonds. In parallel, novel lithium insertion mechanisms are providing alternatives to traditional intercalation, enabling reversible multi-electron processes securing high capacities. Combining both of these advantageous features, we report here the successful electrochemical reactivity of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO{sub 4}.5H{sub 2}O) with respect to lithium insertion via a two-electron displacement reaction entailing the ...
In this study, Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) / Hydroxylapatite (HAp) composites were made to improve mechanical properties by using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. Slurry 6 mol of CaHPO4#centre dot#2H2O (DCPD), 4 mol calcium hydroxide and MWCNTs were mixed and sintered by using SPS at 5-120 MPa pressure, 1200-1250 deg. C and in vacuum or N2 atmosphere. The fracture toughness of sintered MWCNTs/HAp composites was increased.
A carbon nanotube (CNT) tip, which assembled on the sharp end of a Si tip by dielectrophoresis, was structurally modified using focused ion beam (FIB). We described the imaging characterization of the FIB-modified CNT tip in noncontact AFM mode in terms of wear, deep trench accessibility, and imaging resolution. Compared to a conventional Si tip, the FIB-modified CNT tip was superior, especially for prolonged scanning over 10 h. We conclude that modified CNT tips have the potential to obtain high-quality images of nanoscale structures.
SnO{sub 2}-carbon nanotube (CNT) composite sheets are synthesized using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) to uniformly load a monolayer of SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles onto the surfaces of CNTs and CNT bundles within cross-stacked CNT sheets. When they are used as high-capacity (over 850 mA h g{sup -1}) and binder-free anodes in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, they exhibit good cycle performance. (Abstract Copyright [2009], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
A familiar power inverter circuit, combined with a ferroresonant transformer and a simple control circuit, provides the basis for an economically attractive modular family of DC to DC converters. The circuit is readily adaptable to a wide range of input voltages and single or multiple output voltages.
Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with 8 mol% Y was deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering onto oxidized (100) silicon substrates. It was possible to switch film texture from (111) to (200) by applying a strong RF substrate bias. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the film deposited under bias is porous and exhibits nanoscaled grains, whereas the film deposited without bias is dense and columnar. The ionic conductivity as a function of temperature revealed an activation energy of 1.04 eV. The mechanical stress could be tuned to low values by thermal post-annealing. Using the dense (111) film as electrolyte layer, and the porous (200) film as an interlayer to a porous Pt anode, an open circuit voltage of 0.85 V was obtained in a micro machined fuel cell structure.
The introduction of tolerance to radiation (''radiation-hardness'') into large electronic systems is one of the major tasks to which this Handbook will be put. The practices recommended here for inculcating radiation-tolerance in equipment require advanced physical modeling techniques, precise engineering procedures, and firm assurance procedures. The degree to which these procedures should be used in an equipment project can be measured by the severity of the raw radiation environment, the desired reliability of the system, and the requirement of that project for radiation-sensitive technologies. The balance of device/circuit design versus shielding will depend on whether the radiation is highly penetrating -- as in isotope handling or military environments -- or readily attenuated, as in space. In this chapter the authors have attempted to summarize the essential features of the radiation hardening of large assemblies of equipment and how ...
Recently, we have found the anomalous degradation of electrical performance in silicon solar cells irradiated with charged particles in a high-fluence region. This anomalous phenomenon has two typical features, which are sudden-drop-down of electrical performances in a high-fluence region and slight recovery of the short circuit current I{sub SC} just before the sudden-drop-down. These features cannot be understood by a conventional model coming from the decrease of minority-carriers life-time. We introduce this anomalous degradation of the electrical performance in Si solar cells irradiated with electrons or protons. We also report the result of simulation for the fluence dependence of the I{sub SC}, and discuss the mechanism of this anomalous phenomenon. (author)
A high voltage self-blowing circuit breaker with closing resistors is equipped with an auxiliary contact inserted in the trip control circuit of an electrical circuit breaker. The auxiliary contact is actuated by the mechanical control rod of the circuit breaker in such a way as to prevent any operator closing error. A high-speed mechanism is inserted in the link system connecting the control rod and the auxiliary contact, with dead travel to delay closing of the auxiliary contact when a closing operation takes place and to prevent a tripping order from being transmitted too early. Such an early transmission would be liable to cause a flashover on the inserter contacts and damage to the circuit breaker.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved installation having a pressurized fluid circuit incorporating fluidic brakes for restricting fluid flow through a breach of the installation. (author).
The FEL electron linac consists of three buncher cavities: two accelerator cavities and a deflection cavity, each with its own phase-coherent rf source. All sources will be pulsed for 100 ..mu..s at a 1-pps rate. The phase and amplitude stability requirements are +-1/2/sup 0/, and +-1/2%. There are two subharmonic bunchers, each requiring 5 kW at 108.33 MHz. All remaining cavities operate at 1300 MHz. The fundamental buncher requires 5 kW, whereas each of the accelerating cavities requires at least 3 MW. The deflection cavity requires up to 100 kW, which is coupled from one of the accelerator cavity rf sources. Prominent features of the rf system are the phase and amplitude control circuits and the multimegawatt klystron amplifiers. Three L3707 klystrons were obtained from the AMRAD radar site at White Sands, which was decommissioned in the early 1970s. The tubes originally were designed to produce 10-MW, 10-..mu..s pulses. Each tube has ...
The FEL electron linac consists of three buncher cavities: two accelerator cavities and a deflection cavity, each with its own phase-coherent rf source. All sources will be pulsed for 100 #mu#s at a 1-pps rate. The phase and amplitude stability requirements are +-1/2_0, and +-1/2%. There are two subharmonic bunchers, each requiring 5 kW at 108.33 MHz. All remaining cavities operate at 1300 MHz. The fundamental buncher requires 5 kW, whereas each of the accelerating cavities requires at least 3 MW. The deflection cavity requires up to 100 kW, which is coupled from one of the accelerator cavity rf sources. Prominent features of the rf system are the phase and amplitude control circuits and the multimegawatt klystron amplifiers. Three L3707 klystrons were obtained from the AMRAD radar site at White Sands, which was decommissioned in the early 1970s. The tubes originally were designed to produce 10-MW, 10-#mu#s pulses. Each tube has delivered over ...
The FEL electron linac consists of three buncher cavities: two accelerator cavities and a deflection cavity, each with its own phase-coherent rf source. All sources will be pulsed for 100 #mu#s at a 1-pps rate. The phase and amplitude stability requirements are + or - 1/2"0, and + or - 1/2%. There are two subharmonic bunchers, each requiring 5 kW at 108.33 MHz. All remaining cavities operate at 1300 MHz. The fundamental buncher requires 5 kW, whereas each of the accelerating cavities requires at least 3 MW. The deflection cavity requires up to 100 kW, which is coupled from one of the accelerator cavity rf sources. Prominent features of the rf system are the phase and amplitude control circuits and the multimegawatt klystron amplifiers. Three L3707 klystrons were obtained from the AMRAD radar site at White Sands, which was decommissioned in the early 1970s. The tubes originally were designed to produce 10-MW, 10-#mu#s pulses. Each tube has ...
Useful bipolar transistor action over the full temperature range from 78 to 823K has been demonstrated for mesa-isolated, liquid-phase epitaxial n/sup +/npn, GaP/Al/sub 0/ /sub 35/Ga/sub 0/ /sub 65/P/GaP/GaP structures. This represents both the highest temperature and the widest temperature range (745K) over which useful solid-state transistor action has ever been demonstrated in any III-V compound semiconductor system. These results imply that the GaP/Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/P chemical system is an excellent materials candidate in which to base a technology for high-temperature electronics and the results also imply the very real possibility of functional solid-state devices and circuits at temperatures in excess of 500/sup 0/C.
This is a multi-color 230-page textbook covering analog electronics at the upper-division level. Text material is intended for a full-year sequence at 2-3 credits per term. Topics include: amplifier thermal considerations; class A IC output stage; class B complementary amplifier; class A and Class B single-ended amplifiers; feedback amplifiers; gain margin and phase margin; compensation; oscillators (Wien-bridge, Hartley, Colpitts, Pierce); piezoelectric crystals, single-pole circuits; single-pole pulse response; single-pole rectangular wave response; comparators; Schmitt triggers; 555 timers; multivibrators; RC attenuators; compensated attenuators; principles of dc-dc conversion; capacitor-based converters; buck converter; boost converter; buck-boost converter. The text is in Adobe Acrobat 4.0 format, complete with Acrobat index. Large font size allows the text to be used with overhead transparencies, on screen with an Acrobat Reader, or in ...
The water and steam circuits of steam generators in pressurized-water nuclear power plants are described together with the mechanism of denting, and the corrosion of spacer plates that leads to cracks in tubes by constriction. The different chemical specifications applicable to the water of the secondary circuit of the generators in normal operation and on first commissioning are listed. The results obtained and the measurements of chemical values taken in operation on the water in the secondary circuits of steam generators at Fessenheim and Bugey are presented.
The water and steam circuits of steam generators in pressurized-water nuclear power plants are described together with the mechanism of denting, and the corrosion of spacer plates that leads to cracks in tubes by constriction. The different chemical specifications applicable to the water of the secondary circuit of the generators in normal operation and on first commissioning are listed. The results obtained and the measurements of chemical values taken in operation on the water in the secondary circuits of steam generators at Fessenheim and Bugey are presented.
The reliability of an electrical power system is influenced by the operation of circuit-breaker (CB). A good indicator of circuit-breaker condition is its switching time. Based on it some of the critical circuit-breaker irregularities can be detected and removed before they develop to a failure. In this paper, the evaluation of time measurements (timings) in case of different failures will be carried out for two circuit-breaker solutions, i.e. with spring and hydraulic drive. Moreover, the relationships between switching time and failure type/location will be derived. Thereby, the influence of failure trend will also be taken into account. (author)
Circuit breakers are essential components of every type and size of power system, and their maintenance is a matter of prime importance. This article provides a list of typical circuit breaker maintenance routines for each type of insulating medium and each type of breaker mechanism, and offers a number of useful tips to ensure the success of a circuit breaker maintenance program. It also suggests sources of information about maintenance programs for circuit breakers such as the National Electrical Testing Association's Maintenance Specifications, and companies that specialize in this type of service. 3 tabs.
Recently we have found that carbon nano-materials have ability to recognize softer actinides(III). In this presentation, separation of americium(III) from lanthanides(III) by chromatography with carbon nano-materials, such as carbon nano-tubes and graphite, has been investigated by batch adsorption experiments and chromatography. The separation factor (SF) between americium(III) and lanthanide(III) was about 2 in the range of pH from 1 to 4 by using carbon nano-tube, graphite and activated charcoal. The separation factor depended on the diameter of carbon nano-tubes. Smaller one, 3-20 nm diameter, showed the best selectivity for americium(III), which separation factor was about 2.0, although larger one, 40-70 nm, showed almost no selectivity. The same behavior has been observed by using graphite powder and activated charcoal although acid- or alkali pretreated activated charcoal which generally has acidic functional group ...
Functionalization of carbon nanotubes is very challenging for their applications. The paper here describes a new method to functionalize multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as specific affinity adsorbents. MWCNTs were acid purified and pretreated with (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (APTES) in order to introduce abundant amino groups on the surface of MWCNTs. After the conversion of amino groups to carboxyl groups by succinic acid anhydride, MWCNTs were attached to protein A or aminodextran using 1-ethyl-3,3' (dimethylamion)-propylcarbodiimide as a biofunctional crosslinker. The incorporation of aminodextran as a spacer arm noticeably increased the binding capacity of the APTES-modified MWCNTs for protein A. The application of affinity MWCNTs for purification of immunoglobulin G was then evaluated. The affinity of MWCNTs with AMD spacer exhibited a high adsorption capacity of {approx}361 {mu}g IgG/mg MWCNT (wet basis). About 75% of ...
The buckling behaviors of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) under torsion are investigated by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The effect of length on the torsional buckling behaviors of DWCNTs is examined for the first time. The simulation results show that the DWCNTs experience gradual or simultaneous buckling deformations depending on their lengths. In addition, the effect of the inner tube in a DWCNT on its torsional buckling behavior is also examined. The presence of the inner tube triggers van der Waals (vdW) interactions between it and the outer tube and thus leads to a stiffening effect of the DWCNT against torsional deformation. Whether the ends of the inner tube are free or fixed and whether it is subject to a torque or not, the critical torque and the critical torsional angle of the outer tube are only marginally affected.
We prepared macromer-grafted polymers (MGPs) containing suitable polymer side chains for improving solubility and pyrene units for improving adsorption on multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) surfaces, and demonstrated that these MGPs act as MWCNT solubilizers that improve solubility of MWCNTs in typically poor solvents such as alkanes and that improve flowability of polymer/MWCNT composites. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-MGPs, synthesized using PDMS macromers and pyrene-containing monomers, improved solubility of MWCNTs not only in chloroform but also in hexane, which is a poor solvent for MWCNTs. Moreover, the addition of PDMS-MGP-adsorbed MWCNTs (MWCNT/PDMS-MGPs) to epoxy resin monomers or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) drastically reduced the viscosity of the obtained epoxy resin mo...
We demonstrate a novel cross-sectional deformation, called the radial corrugation, of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) under hydrostatic pressure. Theoretical analyses based on the continuum elastic approximation have revealed that MWNTs consisting of more than ten concentric walls undergo elastic deformations at critical pressure Formula Not Shown , above which the circular shape of the cross-section becomes radially corrugated. Various corrugation modes have been observed by tuning the innermost tube diameter and the number of constituent walls, which is a direct consequence of the core-shell structure of MWNTs. Cross-sectional views of MWNT under high hydrostatic pressure: elliptic deformation with the mode index n = 2 (left), and radial corrugations with n = 5 (center), and n = 6 ...
This illustrated final report for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) presents the results of a project concerning a new, highly active oxygen reduction electrode for PEM fuel cell and zinc/air battery applications. The goal of this project was, according to the authors, to increase the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction by lowering the activation polarisation through the right choice of catalyst and by lowering the concentration polarisation. In this work, carbon nanotubes are used as support material. The use of these nanotubes grown on perovskites is discussed. Theoretical considerations regarding activation polarisation are discussed and alternatives to the use of platinum are examined. The results of experiments carried out are presented in graphical and tabular form. The paper is completed with a comprehensive list of references.
Abstract Aims: To develop a new nano composite of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with enhanced antimicrobial activity. Methods and Results: A novel antimicrobial nanocomposite [MWNT epilson polylysine (MEPs)] was synthesized via covalent attachment of epilson polylysine on MWNTs with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the coupling agent. UV visible spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT IR) investigations indicate that MEPs is stable, with epilson polylysine leaching effectively eliminated. When compared to MWNTs, the new nano composite MEPs exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activities. In 20 mg l 1 suspensions, significant increases of 72 1, 64 5 and 69% against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus can be observed. The deposited film of MEPs...
Abstract Dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in various surfactant solutions have been systematically evaluated as additives in MEEKC. The compounds examined were catechins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Compared with zwitterionic and neutral surfactants, the addition of anionic dispersion seemed to be better at separating the three types of analytes in microemulsion system. In order to achieve low operating currents, an in situ-synthesized surfactant system based on the combination of a long-chain alkyl acid with an organic base was used in MEEKC. The optimized buffer contained 0.5% (57-mM) ethyl acetate, 0.6% (30-mM) lauric acid, 4.0% (666-mM) propanol, 50-mM Tris solution, and 4.5-mg/L the dispersion of SWNTs. Under optimized conditions, the established method was ap...
The efficiency of two thin-film diffusion barriers to be used in silicide/aluminum metallization schemes for silicon integrated circuits were evaluated. Control samples of Si/CoSi{sub 2}/Al and Si/Pd{sub 2}Si/Al, and test samples of Si/CoSi{sub 2}/Ta{sub 2}N/Al, Si/CoSi{sub 2}/W/Al and Si/Pd{sub 2}Si/Ta{sub 2}N/Al were used for sheet resistance, X-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering, and Auger-electron spectroscopic measurements. TEM studies were carried out on representative samples to examine the nature of the interfaces. Results from the analytical tests indicated that all three types of test samples are resistant to gross diffusion and intermixing of Co, Pd, Al and Si. They also showed that in the control samples, annealing causes interdiffusion of these species, necessitating the presence of a diffusion barrier. For test contacts, results demonstrated that although diffusion barriers may be successful in preventing metallurgical ...
In this paper, a time-domain equivalent circuit method is applied to solve dispersion of coupled-cavity travelling-wave tube (CCTWT). First, the time-domain circuit equations of CCTWT coupled-cavity chain are deduced from the equivalent circuit model. Then, the equations are solved numerically by fourth-order Runge-Kutta method and a program CTTDCP is developed using MATLAB. Last, a L-band CCTWT is calculated using CTTDCP and the cavity pass-band of this tube is computed to be 1.08-1.48 GHz, which is consistent with the experimental results and the simulation results of electromagnetic code and demonstrates the validity of the time-domain equivalent circuit method. In addition, a new design method which uses the equivalent circuit method and electromagnetic simulation together to optimize the cold cavity characteristics of CCTWT is proposed. (authors)
This paper presents the results of the degree of irreversible changes of dielectric properties of vacuum circuit breakers with CuCr and CuBi contacts before and after short-circuit breaking operations. Tests of dielectric properties were performed on four different types of switching vacuum chamber with RMF electrodes in the form of a spiral disk with slots. The paper describes the configuration of measuring system for determining the dielectric properties of circuit breakers with DC, AC and pulse voltage. It also describes the measuring procedure. The results were analyzed and the experimentally obtained random variable breakdown voltage is found to belong to Weibull distribution in all cases. Based on these results it was found that for the vacuum circuit breakers with CuCr contacts and ...
Breaker failure relaying has been generally achieved through the use of a current monitoring relay to determine whether current continues to flow into a fault after a breaker has been instructed to interrupt the circuit. If current continues to flow after a predefined period of time, the circuit breaker is considered to have failed. Steps must then be taken to trip the next set of upstream breakers in the power system to remove the faulted circuit and prevent system damage. However, with industrial power systems, this may be the utility`s breakers on the feeding transmission line. Regardless, breaker failure schemes must be designed to isolate both the faulted circuit and the failed circuit breaker. This paper discusses a new and innovative method of protecting a circuit breaker from the failure described above, plus other failures that go unprotected with ...
The AZSh protective circuit breakers developed by the VNIIVEh Institute and the Prokop'evsk plant for mine automation will replace a number of circuit breaker systems used in underground coal mines in the USSR. The standardized AZSh circuit breaker generation consists of 3 basic types: the AZSh-1, the AZSh-2 and the AZSh-3 systems for power systems with 380 or 660 V voltage. Block scheme of the AZSh system is given. Its specifications are discussed. The AZSh circuit breakers are used for protection of transformer stations from overload and heating as well as for automatic shutdown of energy supply to a power system in emergency situations. Design, basic elements and operation of the AZSh-1, the AZSh-2 and the AZSh-3 protective circuit breakers is evaluated. Commercial production of the AZSh started in 1983.
Nanoimprinting is a fast-growing technique for nanoscale patterning. One of the remaining issues in nanoimprinting is the removal of the residual layer after nanoimprinting. Traditionally the residual layer is removed by an oxygen reactive-ion etching (RIE) step. The need for a vacuum environment and dedicated equipment in this step lowers the throughput and increases the cost of the nanoimprinting process. It also prevents the possibility of patterning isolated functional polymers because oxygen RIE destroys the functional materials. In this work, novel nanoimprinting schemes are developed to nondestructively remove the residual layer in thermal nanoimprinting by solvent developing and dewetting. Combined with a transfer-bonding technique, three-dimensional polymer scaffolds are achieved. The techniques developed here eliminate the RIE step in thermal nanoimprinting and are compatible with roller nanoimprinting for large-scale patterning of polymer micro- or nanostructures. The ...
The volume examines the scientific interfaces and technological applications of physics. Twelve areas are dealt with: biological physics--biophysics, the brain, and theoretical biology; the physics-chemistry interface--instrumentation, surfaces, neutron and synchrotron radiation, polymers, organic electronic materials; materials science; geophysics--tectonics, the atmosphere and oceans, planets, drilling and seismic exploration, and remote sensing; computational physics--complex systems and applications in basic research; mathematics--field theory and chaos; microelectronics--integrated circuits, miniaturization, future trends; optical information technologies--fiber optics and photonics; instrumentation; physics applications to energy needs and the environment; national security--devices, weapons, and arms control; medical physics--radiology, ultrasonics, NMR, and photonics. An executive summary and many chapters contain recommendations ...
Piezoelectric ceramics for acoustic applications have been prepared by mixing the piezoelectric phase Pb{sub 1-1.5x}La{sub x}{open_square}{sub x/2}(Ti{sub 1-y}Zr{sub y})O{sub 3} (PLZT) with variable fractions of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. The samples are in form of pellets and polarized at high temperature. After thermal treatment, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have been used to determine the phase and morphological modifications. The morphotropic PLZT initial phase disproportionates into modified PLZT and ZrO{sub 2} phases. Using electrical impedance spectroscopy, the resonance frequencies of the composite system have been determined and analyzed. As the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} volume fractions increase, the resonance frequency and the amplitude of the electrical response both decrease. An interpretation of the role of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} additions is proposed in terms of phase and microstructure modifications. Using LRC electrical equivalent ...
Protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) based on proton-conducting electrolytes have attracted much attention because of many advantages, such as low activation energy and high energy efficiency. A stable, easily sintered perovskite oxide BaCe_0_._5Zr_0_._3Y_0_._1_6Zn_0_._0_4O_3_-_#delta# (BCZYZ) as electrolyte for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with Sm_0_._5Sr_0_._5CoO_3_-_#delta# (SSC) composite cathode is investigated. By fabricating thin membrane BCZYZ electrolyte (#approx#20 #mu#m) synthesized by a modified Pechini method on NiO-BCZYZ anode support, PCMFCs are assembled and tested by selecting SSC perovskite cathode with high mixed ionic and electronic conductivities. An open-circuit potential of 1.015 V, a maximal power density of 528 mW cm"-"2, and a low polarization resistance of the electrodes of 0.15 #OMEGA# cm"2 is achieved at 700 "oC. The results indicate that BCZYZ proton-conducting electrolyte with SSC ...
The purpose of this paper is to compare the techniques and results obtained when a general industrial or commercial building power electrical system is prepared using the US National Electrical Code{copyright} (NEC) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards. The final design offer the reader the possibility of making an initial comparison and analyzation of the two methods based of their overall effectiveness (sizing, protection, co-ordination of protective devices with components etc.), safety and cost. In order to make such a comparison a specific example was developed and limited in detail to avoid complexity in this study. The power source selected will be a delta-wye utility supplied transformer feeding various load groups such as lighting and motor circuits (possibly through associated transformers). Relevant NE Code references, IEC standards, and appropriate justifications will be made at various points. Since this paper is for ...
Progress in the development of high-efficiency GaAs solar cells on low-cost, large-area, large-grain, optical-grade polycrystalline Ge substrates is described in this paper. First, we present results on the growth of specular GaAs-AlGaAs layers, across the various crystalline orientations of a polycrystalline Ge substrate, by metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Second, we present the preliminary optimization of minority-carrier properties of GaAs-AlGaAs structures on poly-Ge substrates towards the improvement of GaAs solar cells. We have demonstrated comparable minority-carrier lifetimes in GaAs double-hetero structures grown on optical-grade poly-Ge substrates and electronic-grade single-crystal Ge substrates. In addition, we describe device-structure optimization that have led us to achieve a open-circuit voltage of {approximately}1 Volt in a GaAs solar cell on poly-Ge and to improve our previous best efficiency from ...
The comprehension of passivity and its protective character against corrosion is closely connected with the electronic properties of passive films. Passive films formed anodically on carbon steel in borate/boric acid solution, pH 9.2, have been characterised by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Mott-Schottky plots and impedance measurements were made on films formed at different potentials and times. The investigation allowed the determination of the semiconductive properties of the films. The results of the capacitance response indicate that the passive films behave like highly doped n-type semiconductors, showing that the passive film properties are dominated by iron. The value of donors density (N {sub D}) for the passive film is of the order of 10{sup 21} cm{sup -3} and decreases with increasing formation time and potential, indicating that defects decrease with increasing film thickness. Based on the information about the physical phenomena, an ...
The comprehension of passivity and its protective character against corrosion is closely connected with the electronic properties of passive films. Passive films formed anodically on carbon steel in borate/boric acid solution, pH 9.2, have been characterised by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Mott-Schottky plots and impedance measurements were made on films formed at different potentials and times. The investigation allowed the determination of the semiconductive properties of the films. The results of the capacitance response indicate that the passive films behave like highly doped n-type semiconductors, showing that the passive film properties are dominated by iron. The value of donors density (N _D) for the passive film is of the order of 10"2"1 cm"-"3 and decreases with increasing formation time and potential, indicating that defects decrease with increasing film thickness. Based on the information about the physical phenomena, an equivalent ...
In a PWR type reactor, a primary coolant circuit system using a steam generator is adopted in order to accelerate depressurization of a primary coolant circuit upon small rupture LOCA in which the pressure of the primary coolant circuit is moderately depressurized. A secondary coolant circuit depressurization valve is disposed to a main steam pipeline. The valve has a performance of automatically opening to remove heat by evaporation of water stored in SG for a short period of time when the pressure in the primary circuit is decreased to about 50kg/cm[sup 2] upon occurrence of LOCA or the like. Then, the secondary side of the SG is depressurized to about atmospheric pressure and gravitational water injection from a condensate tank is started. Further, a gas vent valve is disposed to a water chamber of the steam generator. The valve has a performance of automatically opening to ...
The installation procedure, the fabrication, fitting up, positioning, adjustment and welding of piping, examinations, hydrostatics testing and insulation of piping for reactor primary circuit piping of Daya Bay Nuclear power Plant are briefly described.
Use of geothermal resources for generating electricity is briefly analyzed. Results obtained from optimization of the thermodynamic cycle implemented in the secondary coolant circuit of a binary geothermal power station and the parameters of its primary heat carrier circuit are presented.
This talk sketches out the main parameters (technology, circuit design) that have an influence on the hardening of digital CMOS integrated circuits. For each technology the more common defects are mentioned. General design rules are proposed to prevent or limit those defects. (D.L.). 2 refs., 2 figs.
Premature circuit clotting is a major problem in daily practice of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), increasing blood loss, workload, and costs. Early clotting is related to bioincompatibility,...Full Text Available
A universal CAMAC-coincidence circuit is described. All basic parameters are controlled in a wide range from the CAMAC dataway: the coincidence resolving time (2tau) from 1 ns to 10 #mu#s and the anticoincidence resolving time from 10 ns to 10 #mu#s. (Auth.).
Three dimensional rotatory modes of oscillations in a one-dimensional chain of rodlike charged particles or dust grains in a plasma are investigated. The dispersion characteristics of the modes are analyzed. The stability of different equilibrium orientations of the rods, phase transitions between the different equilibria, and a critical dependence on the relative strength of the confining potential are analyzed. The relations of these processes with liquid crystals, nanotubing, and plasma coating are discussed.
A bottom-up approach is used here to combine carbon nanotubes synthesized by CVD and organically capped platinum nanoparticles electrocatalyst exhibiting a direct electrochemical activity towards oxygen reduction. Both nano-objects are handled in liquid suspension and are associated together in a controlled way. The nanocomposite liquid dispersions can be precisely controlled in terms of platinum nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes weight ratios (NP/NT) which correspond to different coverages of nanotubes by nanoparticles. Electrodes with low to ultra-low platinum loadings can then be prepared on porous fuel cell carbon supports by filtration. The direct electrochemical activity towards aqueous oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of electrodes with platinum loadings ranging from about 1 to 60 {mu}g/cm{sup 2} is reported without any activation step in order to keep the features of the nanoparticles intact. Before that, we studied ...
... in artificial intelligence, human physiology and biomedical prosthesis. ... central and peripheral nerve systems [1 ... CMOS circuit interface for multiplexed ...
Puffer gas circuit breaker used widely in interrupters with from middle capacity to large capacity does not keep away from reacting force of the puffer with high functions in principle and there is a limit in low operation. In this study, aiming at low operation of the interrupters, in order to clarify the basic motions of hybrid circuit interrupter that is the combination of thermal puffer gas circuit breaker and vacuum circuit breaker, the interrupting ability of simple thermal puffer gas breaker and the voltage sharing characteristics in the cases of series connection with the vacuum circuit breaker are studied. The results of the study are as follows. In comparing terminal short circuit accident interrupting ability of single flow typed thermal puffer gas breaker with that of double flow typed thermal puffer gas breaker, the interrupting ability of the ...
Accelerated aging tests such as high temperature burn-in, which are in current use on Bendix Kansas City Division's (BKC) purchased small and medium scale integrated circuits, were evaluated to determine if they are effective and necessary to ensure the required reliability. A theoretical analysis, a literature search, and a study of lot acceptance results were used to assess the value of integrated circuit burn-in.
An electrical circuit testing device is provided, comprising a case, a digital voltage level testing circuit with a display means, a switch to initiate measurement using the device, a non-shorting switching means for selecting pre-determined electrical wiring configurations to be tested in an outlet, a terminal block, a five-pole electrical plug mounted on the case surface and a set of adapters that can be used for various multiple-pronged electrical outlet configurations for voltages from 100 600 VAC from 50 100 Hz.
A lock out assembly for a circuit breaker which consists of a generally step-shaped unitary base with an aperture in the small portion of the step-shaped base and a roughly S shaped retaining pin which loops through the large portion of the step-shaped base. The lock out assembly is adapted to fit over a circuit breaker with the handle switch projecting through the aperture, and the retaining pin projecting into an opening of the handle switch, preventing removal.
Resistive analogous meters for spatial and time characteristics in ocean agitation are most often used in practical oceanography in coastal zones but are based on bridge circuits determined to have shortcomings in their linearity range. This shortcoming is eliminated in the circuit of an instrument developed in an oceanographic laboratory (IMIO, Vana). Principle and block circuits are indicated, and static calibration curves are presented as are the correlative functions in the frequency spectrums obtained with the help of sea agitation recorded at a fixed point and at a depth of 6 meters.
The generation and control of quantum states of light constitute fundamental tasks in cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). The superconducting realization of cavity QED, circuit QED, enables on-chip microwave photonics, where superconducting qubits control and measure individual photon states. A long-standing issue in cavity QED is the coherent transfer of photons between two or more resonators. Here, we use circuit QED to implement a three-resonator architecture on a single chip, where the resonators are interconnected by two superconducting phase qubits. We use this circuit to shuffle one- and two-photon Fock states between the three resonators, and demonstrate qubit-mediated vacuum Rabi swaps between two resonators. This illustrates the potential for using multi-resonator circuits as photon quantum registries and for creating multipartite entanglement between delocalized bosonic modes.
Neutron-induced soft error rates (SER`s) of subhalf-micron CMOS SRAM and Latch circuits were studied both experimentally and analytically to investigate cosmic ray neutron-induced soft errors (SE`s). Because the neutron beam used in the measurement has an energy spectrum similar to that of sea-level atmospheric neutrons, the SER data corresponds to those induced by cosmic ray neutrons. The {alpha}-particle induced SER`s were also measured for comparison with the neutron-induced SER`s. Neutron-induced SE`s occurred in both circuits. On the other hand, {alpha}-induced SE`s occurred in SRAM, but not in the Latch circuit. The measured SER`s agreed with simulated results. The authors discussed the significance of how cosmic ray neutrons affects CMOS circuits at ground level.
Abstract During extracorporeal life support (ECLS), a large portion of the hemodynamic energy is lost to various components of the circuit. Minimization of this loss in the circuit leads to better vital organ perfusion and decreases the risk of systemic inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the hemodynamic properties of differing lengths of tubing in a simulated neonatal ECLS circuit. The neonatal ECLS circuit used in this study included a Capiox Baby RX05 oxygenator (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), a Rotaflow centrifugal pump (MAQUET Cardiopulmonary AG, Hirrlingen, Germany), and a heater and cooler unit. An 8 Fr Biomedicus arterial and a 10 Fr Biomedicus venous cannula were connected to the pseudopatient. One fourth inch tubing was used for both the arterial and the venous line. A ...
An energy saving dc-dc converter circuit is disclosed having two energy efficient means which operate in tandem, an energy conserving means and a voltage doubling means. These energy efficient means are applied in combination with elements commonly found in dc-dc converter circuits, namely an ac voltage generator, a transformer for stepping up the generated ac voltage, and means for storing the converted dc voltage. The energy conserving means is connected to the dc voltage storage means. It comprises a resettable inhibit circuit which cuts off the provision of dc voltage for conversion for a predetermined interval when the output of the converter exceeds a predetermined level. The voltage doubling means is reponsive to outputs of the inhibit circuit of the energy conserving means and the ac voltage generator. It provides a phase inverted waveform of the generated ac voltage on one of two leads to the ...
Logic Programming languages and combinational circuit synthesis tools share a common "combinatorial search over logic formulae" background. This paper attempts to reconnect the two fields with a fresh look at Prolog encodings for the combinatorial objects involved in circuit synthesis. While benefiting from Prolog's fast unification algorithm and built-in backtracking mechanism, efficiency of our search algorithm is ensured by using parallel bitstring operations together with logic variable equality propagation, as a mapping mechanism from primary inputs to the leaves of candidate Leaf-DAGs implementing a combinational circuit specification. After an exhaustive expressiveness comparison of various minimal libraries, a surprising first-runner, Strict Boolean Inequality "<" together with constant function "1" also turns out to have small transistor-count implementations, competitive to NAND-only or NOR-only libraries. As a ...
A highly efficiency partial smoothing method is proposed to be used for inverters for 40W class household fluorescent inverters. In this system, the input current from the commercial AC power source is accumulated in a capacitor with comparatively small capacity as the electric charge, and then the lamp circuit is driven by the inverter utilizing the charging voltage of the capacitor and the charging voltage of the separately prepared partial smoothing capacitor. By this method, the RF harmonic components in the supply current can be decreased to improve the power factor with no complicated feedback controlling device. In addition, comparatively small capacity coils and capacitors can be used. The structure of the circuit and the operation of this proposed method are described, and the operational characteristic of the prototype circuit and the result of analysis are shown. Furthermore, problems and improving method of the ...
Object: To smoothly control automatic water supply for realizing stable operation of a nuclear reactor by providing a flow rate limiting signal selection circuit and a preferential circuit in a water supply control device for a nuclear reactor wherein the speed of a recirculation pump may be changed in two-steps. Structure: Opening angle signals for a water supply regulating valve are controlled by a nuclear reactor water level signal, a vapor flow rate signal and a supplied water flow rate signal through an adder and an adjuster in response to a predetermined water level setting signal. When the water in the reactor is maintained at a predetermined level, a selection circuit receives a water pump condition signal for selecting one of the signals from a supplied water rate limiting signal generator generating signals for indicating whether one or two water supply pumps are operated. A low value preferential ...
A Vacuum Circuit Breaker demonstrated its ability to interrupt short circuits with faster than normal rates of rise of Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) at levels greater than those produced by most transformer secondary faults. Two recent exploratory test programs evaluated the interrupting ability of a 15kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker containing interrupters of the rotating arc type with contacts made from a Chromium-Copper powder metal mixture. The interrupting conditions covered a wide range of currents from 10% to 130% of the 28kA rated short circuit current of the tested circuit breaker and a wide range of TRV rates of rise, including the relatively slow rate of rise, normally used in testing and found in most indoor circuit breaker applications; two faster rates of rise equaling and exceeding those found in a known power plant transformer secondary protection ...
TaC-4wt.% CNT composites were synthesized using spark plasma sintering. Two kinds of CNTs, having long (10-20mm) and short (1-3mm) length, were dispersed by wet chemistry and spray drying techniques respectively. Spark plasma sintering was carried out at 1850^oC at pressures of 100, 255 and 363MPa. Addition of CNTs leads to an increase in the density of 100MPa sample from 89% to 95%. Short CNTs are more effective in increasing the density of the composites whereas long CNTs are more effective grain growth inhibitors. The longer CNTs are more effective in increasing the fracture toughness and an increase up to 60% was observed for 363MPa sample. Hardness and elastic modulus are found to increase by 22% and 18% respectively for 100MPa samples by addition of long CNTs. Raman spectroscopy, SEM...
Simple and low cost biosensor based on screen-printed electrode for sensitive detection of some alkylphenols was developed, by entrapment of HRP in a nanocomposite gel based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF(6)]) ionic liquid. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, CV and EIS studies demonstrate the interaction between SWCNTs and ionic liquid. The nanocomposite gel, SWCNT-[BMIM][PF(6)] provides to the modified sensor a considerable enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen peroxide reduction. The HRP based biosensor exhibits high sensitivity and good stability, allowing a detection of the alkylphenols at an applied potential of -0.2V vs. Ag/AgCl, in linear range from 5.5 to 97.7?M for 4-t-octylphenol and respectively, between 5.5 and 140?M for 4-n-nonylphenol, with a response time of about 5s. The detection limit was 1.1?M for 4-t-octylphenol, and respectively 0.4?M for 4-n-nonylphenol (S/N=3). ...
Conventional gas-filled high voltage circuit breakers have the disadvantages of needing means to compress the arc-extinguishing gas and means for storing a significant amount of energy for operating the breaker. This invention has the object of providing a circuit breaker which does not need a gas compression means and whose energy of operation is very low. The principle of operation used in this circuit breaker consists of creating an arc voltage higher than that of the network. The difficulty of creating a high enough arc voltage in the SF{sub 6} gas normally used in a circuit breaker is resolved according to the invention by dividing the initial arc into a large number of elementary arcs by means of metal plates. The arc voltage of each elementary arc is from 20 to 40 volts, depending on the type of metal used. In a particular embodiment, the circuit breaker contains means for ...
Model construction of the laboratory scale superconducting fault current limiter circuit (SFCL) has been performed. The SFCL is fault current limiter and used as electric network security. It mainly consists of a copper coil, a superconducting ring and an iron core that are concentrically arranged. The SFCL circuit is essentially a transformer where the secondary windings are being replaced by the ring of YBa_2Cu_3O_7_-_x superconductor (HTS). The ring has critical transition temperature Tc = 92 K and critical current Ic = 3.61 A. Characterization of the SFCL circuit is simulated by ANSYS version 5.4 software. The SFCL circuit consists of load and transformer impedances. The results show that the inductions of magnet field flux in the iron core of primer windings and ring disappear to one other before fault state. It means that impedance of the transformer is zero. After the condition a ...
This paper presents a novel organization of switch capacitor charge pump circuits based on voltage doubler structures. Each voltage doubler takes a DC input and outputs a doubled DC voltage. By cascading voltage doublers the output voltage increases up to 2 times. A two-phase voltage doubler and a multiphase voltage doubler structures are discussed and design considerations are presented. A simulator working in the Q-V realm was used for simplified circuit level simulation. In order to evaluate the power delivered by a charge pump, a resistive load is attached to the output of the charge pump and an equivalent capacitance is evaluated. To avoid the short circuit during switching, a clock pair generator is used to achieve multi-phase non-overlapping clock pairs. This paper also identifies optimum loading conditions for different configurations of the charge pumps. The proposed charge-pump circuit is ...
The steady state ampacity is calculated for mixed electric power underground cable circuits in a single trench or ductbank. The methodology presented in this paper can be applied to any practical number of balanced, three phase circuits (each in trefoil, pipe or conduit) of different voltage classes, cable sizes, load currents and cable systems to located anywhere within a single trench or ductbank. The different thermal resistivities of the backfill or ductbank and the surrounding soil are taken into consideration. A practical example for 10 circuits in a trench is provided.
Sandia National Laboratories has erected a research oriented, 34- meter diameter, Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine near Bushland, Texas. This machine, designated the Sandia 34-m VAWT Test Bed, is equipped with a large array of strain gauges that have been placed at critical positions about the blades. This manuscript details a series of four-point bend experiments that were conducted to validate the output of the blade strain gauge circuits. The output of a particular gauge circuit is validated by comparing its output to equivalent gauge circuits (in this stress state) and to theoretical predictions. With only a few exceptions, the difference between measured and predicted strain values for a gauge circuit was found to be of the order of the estimated repeatability for the measurement system.
A device made of amorphous silicon which exhibits inductive properties at certain voltage biases and in certain frequency ranges in described. Devices of the type described can be made in integrated circuit form.
... Those functions are fundamental routines to build a power model for more complex circuits or functional blocks. ... 21 of 54 6. Memory Power Model ...
A laser beam apparatus and method for analyzing, inter alia, the current versus voltage curve at the point of illumination on a solar cell and the open circuit voltage of a solar cell. The apparatus incorporates a lock-in amplifier, and a laser beam light chopper which permits the measurement of the AC current of the solar cell at an applied DC voltage at the position on the solar cell where the cell is illuminated and a feedback scheme which permits the direct scanning measurements of the open circuit voltage. The accuracy of the measurement is a function of the intensity and wavelength of the laser light with respect to the intensity and wavelength distribution of sunlight and the percentage the dark current is at the open circuit voltage to the short circuit current of the solar cell.
We used neuropsychological tasks to investigate integrity of brain circuits linking orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala (orbitofrontal-amygdala), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus...Full Text Available
Trends in front-end-of-line technology are discussed. At the chip level, many of the important parameters are published in the National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors in 1994. At the device and circuit level, both bipolar and CMOS are scalable. However, the large standby power of bipolar circuits severely limits the integration level of bipolar chips. The inherently low standby power of CMOS, on the contrary, allows the integration level of CMOS circuits to continue increasing with scaling. In reality, both the electric field and power density of CMOS devices have been gradually rising over the generations owing to non-scaling effects of thermal voltage and silicon bandgap. As power supply voltage reaches 1.5V and below, circuit performance can only be gained at the expense of higher active or standby power of the chip. Implications of device scaling on contact and silicide technology are ...
Arc distortion can lead to the measuring signal deformation and, consequently, to the erroneous identification or localisation of the fault. In the paper, a study on the short circuit loop resistance and reactance is presented referring to the algorithms using correlation between the sine and cosine functions as well as the least-square method (LSM). In the study, both the static and the dynamic models of the short circuit arc have been employed. The very advantageous features of the LSM-based algorithm have been underlined regarding accuracy of estimation of the short circuit mesh parameters (including the arc voltage at the location where the fault occurs) as well as susceptibility to the presence of a non-periodic short circuit current component. (Author)
Comparative indices are given for the efficiency of phase control of remote-controlled self-compensating high-voltage transmission lines, including a consideration of the power transfer effect between high-voltage line circuits. A description is given of certain circuit variations for performing the technical means of regulating phase shift, and their characteristics which make it possible to evaluate the effect of the phase regulators on the electrical transmission system are also given. An examination is made of problems concerned with the design of lines, relay protection, computation of transfer processes and dynamic stability as well as the computation of over-voltage when shutting off short circuits during amplified electromagnetic ties between line circuits.
We investigate the behavior of a circuit QED device when the resonator is initially populated with a mesoscopic coherent field. The strong coupling between the cavity and the qubit produces an entangled state involving mesoscopic quasi-pointer states with respect to cavity dissipation. The overlap of the associated field components results in collapse and revivals for the Rabi oscillation. Although qubit relaxation and dephasing do not preserve these states, a simple analytical description of the dissipative dynamics of the circuit QED device including cavity relaxation as well as qubit dissipation is obtained from the Monte-Carlo approach. Explicit predictions for the spontaneous and induced Rabi oscillation signals are derived and sucessfully compared with exact calculations. We show that these interesting effects could be observed with a 10 photon field in forthcoming circuit QED experiments.
Corrosion failures in circuits of foreign NPPs are considered. According to American statistics there are more corrosion failures in two-circuit NPPs than in NPPs with one circuit. Steam generators mostly suffer from ''corrosion denting''. Lately pitting corrosion becomes a potentially serious problem. Steam generator vertical tubes are mainly subjected to this corrosion type. Attention is drawn to intercrystalline corrosion. The causes of corrosion are described. The problem of optimization of structural materials is discussed to reduce corrosion failures as well as other methods of decreasing corrosion failures. Organization of nondestructive testing, increased requirements to water and steam purity are of great importance.
The major degradation mechanisms acting during the aging of selected WWER-440/213 primary circuit facilities were assessed critically. The analysis gave evidence that such mechanisms include radiation and fatigue damage of the reactor pressure vessel (effect of the neutron flow, cyclic fatigue promoted by the corrosive medium, effect of thermal aging), corrosion-mechanical and thermo-mechanical (fatigue) damage of the steam generator (stress corrosion cracking, erosion corrosion, thermal aging, wear), thermal and dynamic aging of the pressurizer, and corrosion-mechanical damage of the primary circuit piping (thermal aging, corrosion). (J.B.). 5 tabs., 1 fig., 62 refs.
Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuits, with the benefits of low power consumption, represent the state of the art technology for implantable medical devices. Three significant sources of radiation are classified as having the ability to damage or alter the behavior of implantable electronics; Secondary neutron cosmic radiation, alpha particle radiation from the device packaging and therapeutic doses(up to 70 G{gamma}) of high energy radiation used in radiation oncology. The effects of alpha particle radiation from the packaging may be eliminated by the use of polyimide or silicone rubber die coatings. The relatively low incidence of therapeutic radiation incident on an implantable device and the use of die coating leaves cosmic radiation induced secondary neutron single event upset (SEU) as the main pervasive ionising radiation threat to the reliability of implantable devices. A theoretical model which predicts the susceptibility ...
The production and characterisation of thin films made from molybdenum sulphide, molybdenum selenide, tungsten sulphide and tungsten selenide are described. The electronic properties of the thin films were examined by Hall measurements and by thermal sensors. For the MoSe[sub 2] films, the majority of the samples were n-conducting and p-conduction was only found for a few examples. All the other films (MoS[sub 2], WS[sub 2], WSe[sub 2]) were p-conducting. The electrical transport properties of the thin films are comparable to those of single crystals. With these thin films as absorber materials, it was possible for the first time to produce the polycrystalline solid n-ZnO/p-MoSe[sub 2], n-ZnO/WSe[sub 2], n-ZnO/WS[sub 2]- and n-ITO/WS[sub 2] solar cells. In spite of not yet optimized diode geometry (lateral build-up), a maximum short circuit current of I[sub SC] = 18 mA/cm[sup 2] was achieved for the MoSe[sub 2] diode. (orig.)
An x-ray diffraction approach has been developed for determination of the kinetics of growth of Pd/sub 2/Si layers. Epitaxial Pd/sub 2/Si films were grown on Si(111) substrates over a temperature range of 160-222/sup 0/C by a solid-state reaction between the substrates and the Pd overlayers. The parabolic rate equation was verified and rate constants showed Arrhenius behavior with an activation energy E/sub a/ = 1.06 eV and prefactor k/sub 0/ = 7 x 10/sup -4/ cm/sup 2//s. The low value of E/sub a/ suggests a short-circuit diffusion mechanism. It is reasonable to expect that impurities and microstructure may play important roles in the growth process. Impurity levels in the specimens were evaluated by analytic techniques suited to thin-film study: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Auger electron spectrometry. No impurities were present at concentrations approaching 1 at. %. Some O, C, and F were ...
Proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells, incorporating BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3-? (BZCY) electrolyte, NiO-BZCY anode, and Sm0.5Sr0.5CoO3-?-Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-? (SSC-SDC) cathode, were successfully fabricated by a combined co-pressing and printing technique after a one-step co-firing process at 1100, 1150, or 1200 oC. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed that the co-firing temperature significantly affected not only the density of the electrolyte membrane but the grain size and porosity of the electrodes. Influences of the co-firing temperature on the electrochemical performances of the single cells were also studied in detail. Using wet hydrogen (2% H2O) as the fuel and static air as the oxidant, the cell co-fired at 1150 oC showed the highest maximum power density (PDmax) of 552 and 370 mW cm-2 at 700 and 650 oC, respectively, while the one co-fired at 1100 oC showed the highest PDmax of 276 and 170 mWcm-2 at 600 and 550 oC, respectively. The Arrhenius ...
In this study, the corrosion behavior of commercially pure titanium (c.p. Ti), Ti-6Al-4V and five new experimental Ti-Cr alloys was evaluated through open-circuit potential (OCP) and potentiodynamic polarization measurement in an artificial saliva containing fluoride. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) was used to characterize the composition of the passive films on the alloy after potentiodynamic polarization measurement. It was found that in standard artificial saliva the OCP increases with higher Cr content in Ti-Cr alloys. In 0.5% NaF artificial saliva, the OCP decreases with decreasing Cr in Ti-Cr alloys, and all but Ti-5Cr remain consistently higher than those of c.p Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. Linear polarization results show that artificial saliva and artificial saliva containing 0.5% NaF result in different corrosion behavior in Ti-Cr alloys, c.p.Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. The Ti-Cr alloys had greater resistance to corrosion in the ...
In this study, the corrosion behavior of commercially pure titanium (c.p. Ti), Ti-6Al-4V and five new experimental Ti-Cr alloys was evaluated through open-circuit potential (OCP) and potentiodynamic polarization measurement in an artificial saliva containing fluoride. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) was used to characterize the composition of the passive films on the alloy after potentiodynamic polarization measurement. It was found that in standard artificial saliva the OCP increases with higher Cr content in Ti-Cr alloys. In 0.5% NaF artificial saliva, the OCP decreases with decreasing Cr in Ti-Cr alloys, and all but Ti-5Cr remain consistently higher than those of c.p Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. Linear polarization results show that artificial saliva and artificial saliva containing 0.5% NaF result in different corrosion behavior in Ti-Cr alloys, c.p.Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. The Ti-Cr alloys had greater resistance to corrosion in the ...
Constant pull rate tests were conducted on tensile specimens of Inconel Alloy 600, Incoloy Alloy 800, and Type 304 stainless steel in deaerated 10% NaOH solution at 288 C (550 F) with a cover gas of 5% H_2 in N_2. The pull rate used for most experiments was 3.3 x 10"-"6 cm/s, which corresponds to an initial strain rate of 3 x 10"-"6 s"-"1. The electrical potential of the specimens was controlled by a potentiostat using a nickel wire as a hydrogen reference electrode. Under open circuit conditions, Type 304 stainless steel specimens cracked rapidly, but Alloys 600 and 800 specimens exhibited only ductile fracture. However, cracks readily formed in Alloy 800 specimens at potentials in the +50 to +300 mV range and in Alloy 600 specimens at potentials in the +150 to +250 mV range. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs of some of the cracked specimen surfaces showed the transition from ductile to brittle fracture as a consequence of changes ...
Various diagnostics techniques for condition monitoring and life prediction of fluid power components and system are discussed. Though some of the techniques are very promising but may not be accepted because of increase in the instrumentation, it is planned to implement these techniques on various circuits of Fluid Power Lab for further improving and developing these for direct implementation in various fluid power circuits of power reactors. (author). 6 figs.
Fermilab is the US Tier-1 Center for CMS data storage and analysis. End-2-End (E2E) circuits are utilized to support high impact data movement into and out of the Tier-1 Center. E2E circuits have been implemented to facilitate the movement of raw experiment data from the Tier-0 Center at CERN, as well as processed data to a number of the US Tier-2 sites. Troubleshooting and monitoring of those circuits presents a significant challenge, since the circuits typically cross multiple research & education networks, each with its own management domain and customized monitoring capabilities. The perfSONAR Monitoring Project was established to facilitate development and deployment of a common monitoring infrastructure across multiple network management domains. Fermilab has deployed perfSONAR across its E2E circuit infrastructure and enhanced the product with several tools that ease the ...
A simple and continuous model for the on-state current of polysilicon thin-film transistors, suitable for implementation in circuit simulators, is presented. The model includes the potential barrier at the grain boundaries, the channel length modulation and the excess current due to impact ionization. Comparison between measured output characteristics and the model shows excellent agreement over wide range of bias voltages and for devices with different gate lengths.
When a bipolar HVDC transmission system is operating monopolar using the earth as a return path, it is often desired to divert the return current from the earth to the line from the unused pole. To do so requires either that the system be shut down temporarily or that a dc circuit breaker be used. This paper describes the development of such a new dc circuit breaker, and its application on the Pacific Intertie as a Metallic Return Transfer Breaker (MRTB).
This project is a follow-up of the first development of a 500 kV HVDC airblast circuit breaker (EPRI project 1507-3). The objective was to increase the current interrupting capability from 2200 A to 4000 A and shorten its fault clearing time. A high current 500 kV HVDC circuit breaker has been built using the passive commutation circuit. The breaker is modular in construction and can be designed for a wide variety of system conditions. More than 400 current interruptions were carried out successfully. Tests have shown that this circuit breaker is capable of interrupting more than 4000 A dc. Practical breakers with current interrupting capability of even 5500 A dc could be built. The circuit breaker operation and the fault-clearing process can be materially speeded up if the trip signal is given as soon as the fault is detected and without waiting for the current levels to come down ...
The millimeter microwave source of gyrotron-traveling-wave amplifier (gyro-TWT) is capable of generating high power coherent radiation in a broad bandwidth, while its performance is severely deteriorated by the stability problems. This paper focuses on modeling and the stability analysis of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Ka-band TE{sub 01} mode gyro-TWT based on an interaction circuit alternately loaded with lossy ceramic shells and metal rings. The propagation characteristics of the interaction circuit is analyzed first, based on which the boundary impedance method is employed to build an equivalent uniform lossy circuit. Then the stability of the interaction system is studied using linear and nonlinear theories. The analysis reveals that, due to the special waveguide structure and the dielectric loss, the propagation characteristics of the complex waveguide are similar to that of a uniform lossy ...
The millimeter microwave source of gyrotron-traveling-wave amplifier (gyro-TWT) is capable of generating high power coherent radiation in a broad bandwidth, while its performance is severely deteriorated by the stability problems. This paper focuses on modeling and the stability analysis of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Ka-band TE01 mode gyro-TWT based on an interaction circuit alternately loaded with lossy ceramic shells and metal rings. The propagation characteristics of the interaction circuit is analyzed first, based on which the boundary impedance method is employed to build an equivalent uniform lossy circuit. Then the stability of the interaction system is studied using linear and nonlinear theories. The analysis reveals that, due to the special waveguide structure and the dielectric loss, the propagation characteristics of the complex waveguide are similar to that of a uniform lossy ...
The goal of this project is to improve energy efficiency of industrial crushing and grinding operations (comminution). Mathematical models of the comminution process are being used to study methods for optimizing the product size distribution, so that the amount of excessively fine material produced can be minimized. The goal is to save energy by reducing the amount of material that is ground below the target size, while simultaneously reducing the quantity of materials wasted as ''slimes'' that are too fine to be useful. This is being accomplished by mathematical modeling of the grinding circuits to determine how to correct this problem. The approaches taken included (1) Modeling of the circuit to determine process bottlenecks that restrict flowrates in one area while forcing other parts of the circuit to overgrind the material; (2) Modeling of hydrocyclones to determine the mechanisms ...
A liquid crystal display panel (LCD) has come into use as a display device for a stationary telephone set. This LCD driving IC requires high functionality and miniaturization. At Fuji Electric Co.,Ltd., in accordance with the demand, an LCD controller driver IC was developed which incorporates an icon display circuit and a voltage generating circuit for liquid crystal. The main features are as follows. In addition to 5 x 8 (dot), 16 digits, 2 line character display, the IC is equipped with independently controllable 32 kinds of icon displays. The power supply voltage operating range is 2.4-5.5V. Additional external parts are unnecessary because of a built-in CR oscillation circuit, power supply circuit for liquid crystal, and a boosting circuit. The IC is provided with a gold bump electrode structure mountable with COG (Chip On Glass) and TAB (Tape Automated Bonding). (NEDO)
An improved lockout assembly for locking a circuit breaker in a selected off or on position is provided. The lockout assembly includes a lock block and a lock pin. The lock block has a hollow interior which fits over the free end of a switch handle of the circuit breaker. The lock block includes at least one hole that is placed in registration with a hole in the free end of the switch handle. A lock tab on the lock block serves to align and register the respective holes on the lock block and switch handle. A lock pin is inserted through the registered holes and serves to connect the lock block to the switch handle. Once the lock block and the switch handle are connected, the position of the switch handle is prevented from being changed by the lock tab bumping up against a stationary housing portion of the circuit breaker. When the lock pin installed, an apertured-end portion of the lock pin is in registration with another ...
A wet air oxidation (WAO) process was applied to four selected pharmaceuticals (metoprolol, naproxen, amoxicillin, and phenacetin) individually dissolved in ultra-pure water, varying the temperature and oxygen pressure. Due to the moderate (amoxicillin) or low (metoprolol, naproxen, and phenacetin) efficiency found in the oxidation of these pollutants, a catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) process was then tested using a platinum catalyst supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT). In this CWAO process, the pharmaceuticals were dissolved together in ultra-pure water and in four natural water matrices-a reservoir water, a groundwater, and two waters from different municipal wastewater treatment plants. On the basis of the measurements of their removals, a discussion is given of the inf...
Nanocomposites comprising nanocrystal silicon (Si), disordered carbon (DC), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) - denoted as Si/DC/MWCNTs - have been prepared by pyrolyzing the phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR) mixed with Si and MWCNTs. This nanocomposite anode material showed a discharge capacity of 1216 mAh/g in the first cycle, and a charge capacity of 711 mAh/g after 20 charge-discharge, much higher than that of Si/DC composite. It can be observed that Si particles wrapped in MWCNTs were homogeneously embedded into the matrix of the DC. The improved electrochemical performance is hypothesized to be mainly attributed to the morphology stability of the composite due to the excellent resiliency and distinct electric conductivity of the MWCNTs.
A stable chlorobenzene dispersion of conducting polyaniline (PANI) has been obtained by doping emeraldine base with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) and studied by spectrophotometric measurements in the UV-vis-IR range. The electrical properties of PANI: DBSA films obtained from the above dispersion have been investigated under different temperature and relative humidity conditions. All-organic chemoresistive devices have been developed by spin-coating the PANI: DBSA dispersion on flexible substrates, and then by depositing electrodes on the top, from a carbon nanotube conducting ink. Sensing tests performed under exposition to calibrated amounts of ammonia reveal that these simple and inexpensive sensors are able to detect ammonia at room temperature in a reliable way, with a sensitivity linearly related to concentration in the range between 5 ppm and 70 ppm.
Developing models for the electrical behavior of exploding bridgewire circuits requires high-quality data of a type not usually generated in routine tests of detonator hardware. To obtain a precise measurement of the time of bridgewire burst relative to current start, one must simultaneously record the current, i, and either di/dt or the voltage across the bridgewire. To fully develop and test a model it is also necessary to vary the bridgewire cross sections and geometry, firing circuit characteristics and charging voltage for the firing circuits over as wide a range as possible. As a part of developing an electrical model for aluminum and copper bridgewires, we have conducted parameter studies on some flat copper and aluminum bridgewires. Most of the work was done on aluminum bridgewires, with a few experiments on copper. We will report the experimental results from these studies and compare them with model predictions.
The ECP of construction materials in the water steam circuits of power plants is influenced by many parameters, including: reactions of oxidants, such as O{sub 2} or dissolved copper species; and reactions of reducing species, namely N{sub 2}H{sub 4}. Electrochemical measurements were performed to clarify the role of hydrazine for the open circuit potential in water/steam circuits. Current density electrode potential curves of the electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine and the reduction of oxygen in aqueous solutions were measured as a function of temperature in the range from room temperature to approximately 260{degrees}C. The electrode materials used were platinum, gold and Alloy 800 mod.. In addition, corrosion potentials were measured in water containing oxygen or hydrazine.
In order to suppress resonance vibrations of a rotor-shaft of rotating machinery, a rotor-shaft system elastically supported by ball bearings which are installed in electromagnetic actuators are proposed and the design method of some compensatory circuits in the controller to control the electromagnetic actuators in the system are explained. These actuators are controlled by the analog PID (proportional, integral, and derivative) controller. The compensation for nonlinearity of electromagnetic force, the negative stiffness of electromagnet, and the time lag of the coil current are discussed and the effective control circuits are proposed. The rotor-shaft system is replaced by the equivalent two-degree-of-freedom system and both impulse and frequency responses are numerically simulated for several parameters of PD-controller gain. By applying the principle of dynamic absorbers, optimum parameters are calculated. The gains of the control ...
A delta connected, resonant snubber-based, soft switching, inverter circuit achieves lossless switching during dc-to-ac power conversion and power conditioning with minimum component count and size. Current is supplied to the resonant snubber branches solely by the dc supply voltage through the main inverter switches and the auxiliary switches. Component count and size are reduced by use of a single semiconductor switch in the resonant snubber branches. Component count is also reduced by maximizing the use of stray capacitances of the main switches as parallel resonant capacitors. Resonance charging and discharging of the parallel capacitances allows lossless, zero voltage switching. In one embodiment, circuit component size and count are minimized while achieving lossless, zero voltage switching within a three-phase inverter.
Linear-optical passive (LOP) devices and photon counters are sufficient to implement universal quantum computation with single photons, and particular schemes have already been proposed. In this paper we discuss the link between the algebraic structure of LOP transformations and quantum computing. We first show how to decompose the Fock space of N optical modes in finite-dimensional subspaces that are suitable for encoding strings of qubits and invariant under LOP transformations (these subspaces are related to the spaces of irreducible unitary representations of U (N). Next we show how to design in algorithmic fashion LOP circuits which implement any quantum circuit deterministically. We also present some simple examples, such as the circuits implementing a cNOT gate and a Bell state generator/analyser.
Energy harvesting systems stimulate the development of power management for low power consumption applications. Improving the converter efficiency of power management circuits has become a significant issue in energy harvesting system design. This paper presents a variable step-down conversion ratio switched capacitor (SC) DC-DC converter to advance the converter efficiency of charge on the stored capacitor in a wireless monitoring system of orthopedic implants. The converter is designed to work at 1 MHz switching frequency and achieves 15 to 2 V conversion. Measurement results show that the converter efficiency can reach 42% including all circuit power consumption, which is much higher than previous work. (semiconductor integrated circuits)
The construction materials used in coolant systems in nuclear power plants become covered with oxide films as a result of exposure to the aqueous environment. The susceptibility of the materials to different forms of corrosion, as well as the extent of the incorporation of radioactive species on the surfaces of the primary circuit, are greatly influenced by the physical and chemical properties of these oxide films. The composition and characteristics of the oxide films in turn depend on the applied water chemistry. This work was undertaken in order to collect and evaluate the present views on the structure and behaviour of oxide films formed on iron- and nickel-based materials in aqueous environments. This survey should serve to recognise the areas in which more understanding and research effort is needed. The review begins with a discussion on the bulk oxides of iron, nickel and chromium, as well as their mixed oxides. In addition to bulk oxides, the structure and ...
The proton beam has an advantage of the sharp dose falloff in dose distribution called Bragg peak while conventional radiation therapy modalities such as photons exhibit considerable amount of exit dose. To take advantage of this property it is important to know the exact location of the distal dose falloff. An error can cause overdose to the normal tissue or underdose to the tumor volume. The only way of finding out the dose distribution in-situ in particle therapy is to measure the gammas produced by nuclear reactions with tissue materials. Two kinds of gammas can be used: one is prompt gamma and the other is coincident gamma from the positron-emission isotopes. We chose to detect prompt gammas, and developed a prompt gamma scanning system (PGS). The proton beams of the proton therapy facility at National Cancer Center were used. The gamma distribution was compared to the dose distribution measured by an ionization chamber at three different energies of 100, 150, 200 MeV's. ...
This short paper (abstract) describes the characteristics and performances of prototypes of ultra-thin lithium micro-batteries (thickness < 0.2 mm) which can be incorporated into microelectronic circuits. (J.S.)
The neuronal networks in spinal cord can produce a diverse array of motor behaviors. In aquatic vertebrates such as fishes and tadpoles, these include escape behaviors, swimming across a range...Full Text Available
In systems of fast decimal counters, there are three problems to be resolved: to study a bistable having a short switching time, to form with the aid of three bistables a circuit divisible by 5, and to normalize the input pulses. The solutions to these problems for the nonsecond scaler are presented. (J.S.R.)
It has been of interest whether and when the rearrangement of neuronal circuits can be induced after projection patterns are formed during development. Earlier studies using cats reported that the rearrangement...Full Text Available
The cognitive deficits associated with HIV-1 infection are thought to primarily reflect neuropathophysiology within the fronto-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits. Prospective memory (ProM) is...Full Text Available
Failures in cortical control of fronto-striatal neural circuits may underpin impulsive and compulsive acts. In this narrative review, we explore these behaviors from the perspective of neural processes...Full Text Available
A new 500 kV one cycle electric circuit breaker with a mininum interrupting time of 12.5 m sec is described. The breaker, associated with a 1/4 cycle relay, insures a one cycle interruption. 5 refs.
Circuit modification associated with learning and memory involves multiple events, including the addition and remotion of newborn cells trough adulthood. Adult neurogenesis and gliogenesis were mainly...Full Text Available
Recently, we demonstrated that the central ghrelin signalling system, involving the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1A), is important for alcohol reinforcement. Ghrelin targets a key mesolimbic circuit involved...Full Text Available
Results of field applications of boric acid in the secondary coolant circuits of seven PWR units for the purpose of reducing the rate of corrosion denting are reported. Based on available data at the power plants considered in this study, it was not possible to support or refute the benefit of using boric acid secondary water treatment.
A century ago, Cajal noted striking similarities between the neural circuits that underlie vision in vertebrates and flies. Over the past few decades, structural and functional studies have...Full Text Available
In the presentation the major factors determining the conditions of NCC (Natural Coolant Circulation) in the primary circuit and in particular conditions of coolant rate distribution on the horizontal tubes of PGV-1000 in NPP with VVER-1000 under NCC are considered. 5 refs.
Proprioceptive sensory signals inform the CNS of the consequences of motor acts, but effective motor planning involves internal neural systems capable of anticipating actual sensory feedback....Full Text Available
Recent studies have reported that cognitive inflexibility associated with impairments in a frontal-striatal circuit and parietal region is a core cognitive deficit of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)....Full Text Available
The paper presents the procedure of an investigation of WWER-1000 primary circuit temperature-stress field by the use of thermohydraulic computation data for a pressurized thermal shock event ''Core overcooling''. The procedure is based on a model of the plane stress state with ideal contact between wall and medium for the calculation. The computation data are calculated on the base of WWER-1000 thermohydraulic model by the RELAP5/MOD3 codes. This model was developed jointly by the Bulgarian and BNL/USA staff to provide an analytical tool for performing safety analysis. As a result of calculations by codes the computation data for temperature field law (linear laws of a few distinguished parts) and pressure of coolant at points on inner surface of WWER-1000 primary circuit equipment are received. Such calculations can be used as a base for determination of all-important load-carrying sections of the primary circuit pipes ...
Although some polymer conductors of electricity (ex. Polyanilines) are materials known for more than 100 years, only recently have the interesting chemical, electrical and optic properties of their insulating and conducting forms been recognized. Advances made in the chemistry of polymer conductors have also led to improvements in processing them. This work studies a practical application of these materials: the use of polymer conductors for the remote welding of insulating thermoplastic polymers, using energy from microwaves for the local heating of the union. Many thermoplastics (for ex. Polyethylene) do not absorb, or absorb very little, energy from microwaves. Different conductor materials (conductor polymers, carbon nanotubes), however, heavily absorb energy from microwaves with the resulting heating. In this way the welding zone can be heated without affecting the rest of the piece. Conductor polymers (polyanilines) were synthesized chemically and they were ...
High quality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have been synthesized at large scales by the method of direct evaporation of carbon black and metallic catalyst mixtures, using induction thermal plasma technology. The processing system consists mainly of an RF plasma torch, which generates a plasma jet of extremely high temperature (?15 000 K), with a high energy density and abundance of reactive species (ions and neutrals). With the present reactor system, it has been demonstrated that carbon soot product which contains approximately 40 wt% of SWNT can be continuously synthesized at the high production rate of ?100 g h-1. The processing parameters involved have been examined closely in order to evaluate their individual influences on SWNT synthesis. The results have shown that the quality and purity of the SWNT produced are critically affected by the grade of carbon black, the plasma gas composition and the metallic catalyst employed. Theoretical calculations, ...
The commercial solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers are not stable enough in organic solvent and tend to swell and strip off from the silica fiber in the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mobile phase, and therefore the application of SPME coupled online with HPLC is limited. In this study, an SPME fiber coated with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), prepared by means of electrophoretic deposition, was coupled on line to HPLC for the determination of four endocrine-disrupting compounds, i.e. bisphenol A (BPA), estrone (E(1)), 17?-ethynylestradiol (EE(2)) and octylphenol (OP), in aqueous samples. The results showed that the SWCNTs coating on the prepared fiber did not swell and strip off from the platinum fiber throughout the experiment, thus indicating a high resistance to the HPLC mobile phase, the mixture of water and acetonitrile. The SWCNTs fiber had similar (for OP) or higher (for BPA, EE(2) and E(1)) extraction efficiencies than the ...
The chemical operational concept originally established for the water-steam circuit of Angra II nuclear power plant has undergone several modifications throughout the development of the project. This work discusses the two main modifications giving special attention to the costs involved and analyses the main points and the consequences of such modifications 1 ref., 4 figs., 2 tabs.
Some examples are given of design adaptations, e.g. U-bend support, tube spacer grid, flow distribution baffle, triangular tube pitch, tube-tubeplate sheet connection, which reduce the tendency to various types of corrosion (stress corrosion cracking, tube denting, tube wastage, intergranular cracking). A basic diagram of the secondary circuit is shown. Oxygen, corrosion product and impurity control in the secondary circuit is described. (E.J.). 19 figs., 6 refs.
We present a study of the interaction between Josephson junctions in circular superconducting rings and non-classical microwaves, treating both quantum mechanically. A Hamiltonian that describes both inductive and capacitive coupling between the two systems is derived within the external field approximation. Other Hamiltonians which go beyond the external field approximation, and describe explicitly the interaction of the quantum circuit that produces the non-classical microwaves with the Josephson junction circuit, are also presented. A comparison between current experiments which use classical electromagnetic fields and the proposed experiments that use non-classical microwaves, is made. (orig.) With 6 figs., 32 refs.
This paper discusses the remote plugging of leaks in inaccessible pipework, with main reference to small leaks which frequently appear in ancillary cooling water circuits of nuclear reactors. Initially developed to cure problems of the pre-stressed concrete pressure vessels of UK reactors, the ZORIC sealant has been used to repair leaking biological shield pipework on six CANDU reactors. ZORIC is based on a water-soluble epoxy resin and an aqueous suspension of a refined mineral clay. This paper describes the evolution of the sealant, the qualification and testing program, and their application to CANDU reactor systems. 2 refs., 6 figs.
Pittston Coal Company recognized the potential economic benefit of improving process efficiency with increased capacity at it`s U.K. No. 1 Coal Preparation Plant. Accordingly, extensive research, both domestically and internationally, was conducted to select the appropriate technologies to achieve the desired circuit in the most cost effective manner while, at the same time, sacrificing neither structural integrity nor process performance. Large diameter heavy media cyclone technology was combined with highly efficient banana type screens and improved high intensity magnetic separators to create a coordinated process circuit that provided high efficiency at very high capacities in an economically attractive package.
Plans, engineering parameters, and some test results for several FFTF core and primary sodium circuit instrument systems are presented. The systems discussed include temperature, flow, pressure, leak detectors, level sensors, fuel failure monitoring, sodium impurity analysis and cover gas monitors. Since many of these instruments are similar to those used in other fast reactors around the world, only a brief description is presented for these systems. Results of recent demonstration tests of the FFTF Under-Sodium Viewing and Ranging system are also presented. (U.K.).
The mechanism of the salt concentration increase in pits and crevices formed in a steam generator due to its imperfect manufacture or to its design features is described. The probability of corrosion can be reduced by choosing a suitable steel and by securing low concentrations of salts (chlorides in particular) and corrosion products in the feedwater. Attention is paid to the distribution of salts in the water-steam circuit and to the conditions of erosion corrosion as the principal source of corrosion products in feedwater. Experience with the suppression of erosion corrosion at nuclear power plants abroad is described. (E.J.).
The purpose of the present research is to find a suitable technique to measure trace amounts of uranium and thorium and to determine the surface #alpha#-flux in silicon compound (SiO) used for fabrication of integrated circuit packaging materials. Among several commonly-used detecting techniques, it was found that neutron activation analysis (NAA) was most promising. The results from NAA show a large difference in uranium and thorium concentrations when cadmium and boron carbide shields are used, whereas #alpha#-flux measurements show a low #alpha#-activity, which corresponds to the trace amounts of uranium and thorium expected to be present in these materials. (author) 13 refs.; 6 figs.
Bunker Hill Co. v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenged EPA's right to make on-site inspections. A review of the arguments in three Circuit Court Cases shows that the inspection would be meaningless if the chemical company retained exclusive control over inspections and the generated information, but neither court held the company in contempt for refusing admission to inspectors. Industry's claim that on-site monitoring is unconstitutional and the compromises in lawsuits suggest a lack of compliance by both industry and EPA in monitoring regulations. Congress needs to rewrite less-ambiguous regulations. 59 references. (DCK)
The driving system of a Moessbauer spectrometer is described. The system comprises a minivibrator, a digital generator of the reference velocity signal, and circuits for controlling the vibrator. The reference velocity signal is stored by the control computer in an intermediate storage. The feedback in the control circuits includes correction for nonlinearity of the driving facility. A Moessbauer spectrometer which is equipped with this driving system exhibits a velocity scale nonlinearity below 0.1%. The resonance line width for sodium nitroprusside is 0.27 #+-# 0.01 mm/s. (author). 6 figs., 8 refs.
Three- and four-junction III-V devices are proposed for ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells using a new 1-eV material lattice-matched to GaAs, namely, GaInNAs. We demonstrate working prototypes of a GaInNAs-based solar cell lattice-matched to GaAs with photoresponse down to 1 eV. Under the AM1.5 direct spectrum with all the light higher in energy than the GaAs band gap filtered out, the prototypes grown with base doping of about 10{sup 17}&hthinsp;cm{sup {minus}3} have open-circuit voltages ranging from 0.35 to 0.44 V, short-circuit current densities of 1.8 mA/cm{sup 2}, and fill factors from 61{percent} to 66{percent}. To improve on the current record-efficiency tandem GaInP/GaAs solar cell by adding a GaInNAs junction, the short-circuit current density of this 1-eV cell must be significantly increased. Because these low short-circuit current densities are due to short diffusion lengths, we have ...
Probabilistic assessment methods can be used to identify specific plant vulnerabilities. Application of such methods can also facilitate selection among system design alternatives available for safety enhancements. The quality of assessment results is however strongly dependent on realistic and accurate input data for modelling of system component behaviour and failure modes during conditions to be assessed. Use of conservative input data may not lead to results providing guidance on safety upgrades. Adequate input data for probabilistic assessments seems to be lacking for at least failure modes of some electrical components when exposed to a fire. This report presents an attempt to improve the situation with respect to such input data. In order to take advantage of information in existing documentation of fire incident occurrences some of the lessons learned from the fire at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant on March 22, 1975 are discussed in this report. Also a summary of results from ...
A study of the electron beam dynamics in the linac is conducted for the FERMI free electron laser (FEL) founded for construction at the Sincrotrone Trieste.
A study of the electron beam dynamics in the linac is conducted for the FERMI free electron laser (FEL) founded for construction at the Sincrotrone Trieste
We show that, for the high electron currents used in present-day free-electron lasers, spontaneous radiation is distributed according to thermal statistics.
... iFfficiency-en- enhanced spontaneous radiation at the free-electron- ... as enhanced spontaneous radiation at the free-electron-laser wavelength. ...
The significant design features of a high-voltage dc (HVDC) circuit breaker based on the commutation concept were developed. Tests of components indicate the breaker is capable of interrupting a fault current of 10 kA on a 400 kV system and absorbing up to 10 MJ of system energy without generating more than 1.6 per unit (P.U.) voltage of the system. Interactions of the breaker with a three-terminal network were studied, using a system simulator. An ultrafast hydraulic actuator system was developed for this program which enables the breaker to initiate the current limiting process within 5 ms after receipt of a trip signal. A new hydraulic valve, operated by a repulsion coil, minimizes the delay before motion begins. Interruption will occur in series-connected vacuum interrupters. A 400 kV circuit breaker is estimated to require eight breaks in series. Only a single break was tested as part of this program because of the scale and cost required ...
We investigate the efficacy of mitigating radiation-based single event effects (SEE) within circuits incorporating SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) built with an N-Ring, a transistor-level layout-based radiation hardened by design (RHBD) technique. Previous work of single-device ion-beam induced charge collection (IBICC) studies has demonstrated significant reductions in peak collector charge collection and sensitive area for charge collection; however, few circuit studies using this technique have been performed. Transient studies performed with Sandia National Laboratory's (SNL) 36 MeV 16O microbeam on voltage references built with N-Ring SiGe HBTs have shown mixed results, with reductions in the number of large voltage disruptions in addition to new sensitive areas of low-level output voltage disturbances. Similar discrepancies between device-level IBICC results and circuit measurements are found for the ...
We report the direct molecular dynamics simulations for molecular ball bearings composed of fullerene molecules (C{sub 60} and C{sub 20}) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The comparison of friction levels indicates that fullerene ball bearings have extremely low friction (with minimal frictional forces of 5.283 x 10{sup -7} and 6.768 x 10{sup -7} nN/atom for C{sub 60} and C{sub 20} bearings) and energy dissipation (lowest dissipation per cycle of 0.013 and 0.016 meV/atom for C{sub 60} and C{sub 20} bearings). A single fullerene inside the ball bearings exhibits various motion statuses of mixed translation and rotation. The influences of the shaft's distortion on the long-ranged potential energy and normal force are discussed. The phonic dissipation mechanism leads to a non-monotonic function between the friction and the load rate for the molecular bearings.
For the purpose of digging up themes of the joint research which develop the R and D in the industrial technology field in Japan to a new stage, researchers were sent to the world representing research institutes to conduct the research survey of 'Nano-structured carbon and hydrogen absorption' and 'Development of the creation technology of nano-porous materials.' As to the former, an experiment on electrochemical hydrogen absorption of carbon materials including nanotubes was conducted by researchers dispatched, but the large absorption amount was not observed. As to the latter, visits were paid to Fraunhofer Institute and the related facilities in Germany, Princeton University, MIT, GIT and Naval Research Laboratories in the U.S., Orleans University in France, AO Research Institute (bone repair study) in Switzerland, Cambridge University and University of Bristol in the U.K., etc., and the research survey was made on the ...
Electrodeposition of tertiary alumina/yttria/carbon nanotube (Al2O3/Y2O3/CNT) nanocomposite by using pulsed current has been studied in this investigation. Coating process has been performed on nickel sulphate bath and nanostructure of obtained compound layer is examined with high precision figure analysis of SEM nanographs. The effects of process variables, i.e., Y2O3 concentration, treatment time, frequency and duty cycle, have been experimentally studied. Statistical methods are used to achieve the minimum of corrosion rate and average size of nanoparticles. Finally the contribution percentage of different effective factors is revealed and confirmation run shows the validity of obtained results. Also it has been revealed that by changing the size of nanoparticles, corrosion properties o...
The lithium storage properties of graphene nanosheet (GNS) materials as high capacity anode materials for rechargeable lithium secondary batteries (LIB) were investigated. Graphite is a practical anode material used for LIB, because of its capability for reversible lithium ion intercalation in the layered crystals, and the structural similarities of GNS to graphite may provide another type of intercalation anode compound. While the accommodation of lithium in these layered compounds is influenced by the layer spacing between the graphene nanosheets, control of the intergraphene sheet distance through interacting molecules such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) or fullerenes (C60) might be crucial for enhancement of the storage capacity. The specific capacity of GNS was found to be 540 mAh/g, which is much larger than that of graphite, and this was increased up to 730 mAh/g and 784 mAh/g, respectively, by the incorporation of macromolecules of CNT and C60 to the GNS. ...
The preS2 antigens of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which causes a serious health problem in the world, have been implicated in hepatocyte cell binding and viral penetration. Therefore, the importance of antibody production against preS2 antigen for early diagnosis of HBV has been well established. In this study, the recombinant HBV preS2 single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody was successfully expressed in E. coli with the novel cold shock vector (pCold) under the cspA promoter, and its expression level was compared with the pET vector under the T7 promoter. Additionally, a host with an oxidizing cytoplasm, E. coli trxB/gor double mutant, was used to improve the soluble expression. The anti-HBV preS2 scFv using pCold vector was successfully expressed in a soluble and functional form in ...
Effect of radiation dose and carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the mechanical properties of standard Malaysian rubber (SMR) was investigated in this study. SMR nanocomposites containing 1-7 phr CNT were prepared using the solvent casting method and the nanocomposites were radiated at doses of 50-200 kGy. The change in mechanical properties, especially, tensile strength (Ts), elongation at break (Eb), hardness and tensile modulus at 100% elongation (M{sub 100}) were studied as a function of radiation dose. The structure and morphology of reinforced natural rubber was investigated by FESEM, TEM and AFM in order to gain further evidence on the radiation-induced crosslinking. It was found that the Ts, M{sub 100} and the hardness of the SMR/CNT nanocomposites significantly increased with radiation dose; the elongation at break exhibited an increase up to 100 kGy, and a downward trend thereafter. Results on gel fraction further confirmed the crosslinking of SMR/CNT ...
The recent attempt to degassify a self contained liquid filled (SCLF) cable in Ontario Hydro is described. In September 1989, there was a high pressure alarm on one phase of a SCLF 115 kV cable circuit. The direct buried cable circuit is about 1,890 m long with two joints and was installed in 1968. Oil samples from the cable had 10 to 12% gas content with high levels of hydrogen, methane, and ethane, and very low levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and acetylene. From these results it was concluded that the gas was generated by low energy electrical discharges and the paper insulation was not degraded. Various utilities and cable manufacturers were contacted to find if they had experienced similar problems. The cable duct oil was flushed and gasified and the successive oil samples were analyzed in order to locate the gassing site. The joints were examined and oil samples were taken through holes drilled in the cable sheath. From the test ...
Process control transmitters that incorporate digital signal processing could be used advantageously in nuclear power plants; however, because such transmitters are too sensitive to radiation, they are not used. The Electric Power Research Institute sponsored work at Sandia National Laboratories under EPRI contract RP2614-58 to determine why SMART transmitters fail when exposed to radiation and to design and demonstrate SMART transmitter circuits that could tolerate radiation. The term ''SMART'' denotes transmitters that contain digital logic. Tests showed that transmitter failure was caused by failure of the complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS)-integrated circuits which are used extensively in commercial transmitters. Radiation-hardened replacements were not available for the radiation-sensitive CMOS circuits. A conceptual design showed that a radiation-tolerant transmitter could be constructed. A prototype for ...
Transduction method developed by the research coordinator and Prof. Muroga is one of the most popular methods to design large-scale integrated circuits, and thus used by major design tool companies in USA and Japan. The major objectives of the research is to improve capability and utilize its reusable property by combining with CAD databases. Major results of the project is as follows, (1) Improvement of Transduction method : Efficiency, capability and the maximum circuit size are improved. Error compensation method is also improved. (2) Applications to new logic elements : Transduction method is modified to cope with wired logic and FPGAs. (3) CAD databases : One of the major advantages of Transduction methods is 'reusability' of already designed circuits. It is suitable to combine with CAD databases. We design CAD databases suitable for cooperative design using Transduction method. (4) Program ...
The interrelations between the factors causing the main effects on the primary circuit coolant flow rate distribution in the horizontal steam generator pipes in reactor facilities with the WWER type reactors under the modes with natural circulation are discussed. The criterion showing the presence or absence of coolant circulation reversal in bottom rows of the steam generator pipes is obtained. It is shown that large hydraulic non-uniformity in steam generator pipes operating in parallel under coolant natural circulation leads to decreasing the heat transfer surface efficiency under reactor facility emergency cooling, restricts its servicing capabilities. The circulation reverse in steam generator pipes under coolant natural circulation mode can give unfavourable effect on separate structural elements of the steam generators and as a result it can cause additional temperature strains in metal. The conclusion on provisions for improving the conditions for coolant ...
In this paper, an improved soft switched two cell interleaved boost AC/DC converter with high power factor is proposed and investigated. A new auxiliary circuit is designed and added to two cell interleaved boost converter to reduce the switching losses. The proposed auxiliary circuit is implemented using only one auxiliary switch and a minimum number of passive components without an important increase in the cost and complexity of the converter. The main advantage of this auxiliary circuit is that it not only provides zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) for the main switches but also provides soft switching for the auxiliary switch and diodes. Though all semiconductor devices operate under soft switching, they do not have any additional voltage and current stresses. The proposed converter operates successfully in soft switching operation mode for a wide range of input voltage level and the load. In addition, it has advantages ...
A method and system for enhancing the transient stability of an intertied three-phase electric power generating system. A set of power exporting generators (10) is connected to a set of power importing generators (20). When a transient cannot be controlled by conventional stability controls, and imminent loss of synchronism is detected (such as when the equivalent rotor angle difference between the two generator sets exceeds a predetermined value, such as 150 degrees), the intertie is disconnected by circuit breakers. Then a switch (30) having a 120-degree phase rotation, or a circuit breaker having a 120-degree phase rotation is placed in the intertie. The intertie is then reconnected. This results in a 120-degree reduction in the equivalent rotor angle difference between the two generator sets, making the system more stable and allowing more time for the conventional controls to stabilize the transient.
The magnitude of electric and magnetic fields around a high voltage three-phase transmission line was studied. A three-phase transmission circuit with parallel conductors produces rotating elliptic electric and magnetic fields. This study investigated the optimum arrangement of the phase conductors to minimize the maximum value of the magnetic flux density and to minimize the intensity of the resultant electric field. Two different types of high voltage double circuit transmission lines of 400 kV were considered. The optimum arrangement of the phase conductors was determined. It was concluded that the optimum arrangement can be easily applied to already constructed high voltage transmission lines by properly interchanging the phase conductors at the substations. 10 refs., 1 tab., 4 figs.
The magnitude of electric and magnetic fields around a high voltage three-phase transmission line was studied. A three-phase transmission circuit with parallel conductors produces rotating elliptic electric and magnetic fields. This study investigated the optimum arrangement of the phase conductors to minimize the maximum value of the magnetic flux density and to minimize the intensity of the resultant electric field. Two different types of high voltage double circuit transmission lines of 400 kV were considered. The optimum arrangement of the phase conductors was determined. It was concluded that the optimum arrangement can be easily applied to already constructed high voltage transmission lines by properly interchanging the phase conductors at the substations. 10 refs., 1 tab., 4 figs.
The major goal of this contract is to define fine grid lines using laser-assisted metallization and to demonstrate the fabrication of high-efficiency cells using this process. During this period a solar cell run was completed using low-resistivity float-zone silicon. Grid lines were written by spinning silver neodecanoate solution after the Ti-Pd evaporation. This run produced cell efficiencies as high as 11.2% prior to antireflection coating and 16.6% after the AR coating. Open-circuit voltage was approx.604 mV and short-circuit current density was approx.35 mA/cmS.
It is shown that a gun similar to that in the SSPX could demonstrate the high fields required for Pulsed Spheromak reactors merely by prolonging the pulse. Important considerations are choosing the voltage to exceed ohmic losses; designing the gun to avoid wasteful short-circuiting of current within the gun; and the injection efficiency factor, f, determined by the ''sag'' in the profile of {lambda} = {mu}{sub o}j/B. Typically f = 0.75 in experiments, giving an overall efficiency > 50 % if short-circuiting is avoided. Theoretical transport models agree qualitatively with the need for a finite gradient in h to pump in helicity by current-driven tearing modes and suggest that pressure-driven resistive modes would not compete with current-driven modes during a buildup to ohmic ignition.
Focused Ion Beam (FIB) repairs and modifications to integrated circuits have been somewhat limited in the past due to the physical limitations imposed by the nodes of interest being buried under metal layers, the need for multiple layers of FIB generated interconnects, and the like. With the advent of FIB deposited INSULATOR materials, integrated circuit modifications can now be much more complex. The two primary goals of this project were (1) to determine the appropriateness of FIB insulator deposition for aiding FIB connections to metal nodes buried under power busses, and (2) development of a technique to do this. The work presented in this paper includes the development and characterization phases of adding INSULATION DEPOSITION to a FEI 611 FIB system, the problems encountered, their work around, and the aforementioned application of this technology.
Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the HL 20 roller pump (Jostra USA, Austin, TX, USA) and Rotaflow centrifugal pump (Jostra USA) on hemodynamic energy production and gaseous microemboli (GME) delivery in a simulated neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit under nonpulsatile perfusion. This study employed a simulated model of the pediatric CPB including a Jostra HL 20 heart lung machine (or a Rotaflow centrifugal pump), a Capiox BabyRX05 oxygenator (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), a Capiox pediatric arterial filter (Terumo Corporation), and inch tubing. The total volume of the experimental system was 700 mL (500 mL for the circuit and 200 mL for the pseudo neonatal patient). The hematocrit was maintained at 30% using human blood. At the beginning of each trial, a 5 ...
This report presents the data and results of a site specific case study comparing costs of an overhead line with an underground circuit traversing the same route. The costs used for the overhead line are actual numbers for a line scheduled to be built by a utility. The underground circuit costs were developed using the same criteria of line rating, contingencies, and location. Often cost comparisons between overhead and underground lines are made using figures taken from studies with widely varying assumptions. This project attempts to provide a comparison by studying the costs of overhead and underground lines following the same route and using the same design assumptions. Caution must be used, however, in extending the results of this study beyond its original intent. It is site-specific and may be representative of only one area of the country. 9 refs., 23 figs., 18 tabs.
Under operational conditions in nuclear power plants, the carbon steel components of the primary and secondary circuits react with high temperature cooling agent forming several iron oxides and oxyhydroxides. These deposits can result in tubes' constrictions, pitting and intergranular corrosion and finally to heat transfer reducing and increasing of radiation fields around the circuits, as well. The descaling process involves the chemical dissolution of the corrosion deposits by means of diluted organic acidic solutions containing usually a carboxylic acid, a reductant and one or more corrosion inhibitors. To evaluate the removing rates of these superficial films two types of methods were used, the gravimetric and potentiodynamic techniques. By correlating the experimental results, we established the chemical composition of descaling solution and two models of mechanisms applicable to our specific conditions. (authors)
Concrete is the primary material for building envelopes in some parts of the world, and its ability to store heat as well as its dynamic temperature changes will not only affect the deterioration rate of the exterior wall but will also greatly influence the energy efficiency of interior air conditioning. There are many methods for measuring the inner temperature of concrete, but they often have limitations, such as indirect estimation, cable installation requirements, high cost, or heterogeneity of the sample structure. In order to measure the internal temperature of concrete, this study integrated a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) with a temperature sensor chip and embedded the device in concrete structures. A Smart Temperature Information Material (STIM) was thus developed. Thi...
The design and operating principle of a small (50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height) ???-73C vacuum spark gap are described. It is shown that it can be efficiently switched using a control circuit with a low (?900 V) supply voltage, which is based on an inductive energy storage and a diode opening switch that forms a high-voltage igniting pulse with a rise time of nanosecond duration. The ???-73C switching process is investigated at different rise times of igniting voltage pulses and different igniting current amplitudes. The results of tests of the spark gap operating in regimes of switching current pulses with an amplitude of 12 kA and a rise time of 800 ns are presented.
Readout integrated circuits (ROICs) for focal plane arrays (FPAs) have become increasingly complex to meet the needs of modern infrared systems. BAE Systems has pioneered a number of advanced signal processing architectures for FPA ROICs. Demonstrated signal processing capabilities of BAE Systems FPAs include analog-to-digital conversion, offset subtraction, individual pixel automatic gain compensation, transient noise suppression, on-FPA defect deselection, reconfigurable pixels, spatial neural network processing and subframe noise averaging. BAE Systems FPA advanced signal processing is not just for demonstrations, but is used in many of their deliverable FPAs, improving real system performance.
Atoms in very high Rydberg states, 100 approx-lt n approx-lt 1100, are used to investigate electron-molecule interactions at electron energies extending down to a few microelectronvolts. At such energies the cross section for electron capture by CCl_4 is observed to vary inversely with electron velocity, indicative of an s-wave process. Studies with the polar target CH_3Cl suggest that dipole-supported states may be important in inelastic electron-polar molecule scattering at very low electron energies.
The upgrading of several 69 kV pipe-type cable feeders on the Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCo) transmission cable system is discussed. The methods used for the ampacity calculation are described. The fluid circulation approach required to meet the feeder emergency load requirements are discussed. For the feeders that were in service for approximately 40 years, a system life evaluation was performed.
The brochure reports on the construction and method of operation of heat pumps: - Efficiency and temperature difference - output figure - circuit processes - saving of primary energy - monovalent and bivalent plants - absorber, earth collectors - heat recovery. (HW) [Deutsch] Die Broschuere berichtet ueber den Aufbau und die Wirkungsweise von Waermepumpen: - Wirkungsgrad und Temperaturdifferenz - Leistungszahl - Kreisprozesse - Einsparung von Primaerenergie - monovalente und bivalente Anlagen - Absorber, Erdkollektoren - Waermerueckgewinnung. (HW)
A new fabrication process is being developed which significantly improves the efficiency of metal-semiconductor solar cells. The resultant effect, a marked increase in the open-circuit voltage, is produced by the addition of an interfacial layer oxide on the semiconductor. Cells using gold on n-type gallium arsenide have been made in small areas (0.17 sq cm) with conversion efficiencies of 15% in terrestrial sunlight.
In order to meet the needs of remote servicing performed in nuclear power plants, in fuel reprocessing plants and in atomic research centers three companies: - STMI, subsidiary of CEA, EDF and SGN, specialized in decontamination and dismantling, - La Calhene, subsidiary of CEA and SGN, specialized in robotics, - Inspectronic, manufacturer of closed circuit television cameras, have combined to create the Visionic Society, the main objectives of which are observation by television and inspections in radioactive environment.
Statistical data on individual types of foreign NPPs including reliability and safety indices are given. It is noted that capacity factors (CF) in 1985 were higher for PWRs. Japan has the highest CF-98.5% in the world. One of main causes of NPP shutdown remains the primary circuit equipment failure in connection with different corrosion types (intercrystalline, pitting, denting-corrosion etc.). Effect of all volatile treatment on enhancement of NPP reliabiity is shown. Technical BWR characteristics are presented.
A CMOS programmable picture processor with its own photodiode array is presented. The circuit is novel in that it includes an instruction set that permits most low-level picture processing operations. The chip is a parallel machine with a processing unit for each picture element. Images are binarized and are processed line by line. An experimental chip has been designed and is under fabrication. 2 references.
Executive summaryForewordPublic awareness of solid-state chemistry, or more broadly solid-state science and technology rapidly grew along with the transistor revolution and the development of the integrated circuit. We are now at the half-way point in the solid state century [Scientific American The Solid-State Century 1997;8(1) [special issue
We demonstrate that expression of the UGA1, CAN1, GAP1, PUT1, PUT2, PUT4, and DAL4 genes is sensitive to nitrogen catabolite repression. The expression of all these genes, with the exception of UGA1...Full Text Available
This paper reviews the mill flowsheet applied at the COMINAK uranium mill (Compagnie Miniere d'Akouta) in Niger. For ore treatment, it focuses on the major improvements to the operations using sulfonitric pugging and solids/liquid separation using belt filter double filtration after leaching. The precipitation circuits have been improved with molybdenum elimination through caustic washing of the yellow cake. (author)
A program was undertaken to radiation harden an existing power integrated circuit technology (BCDMOS) to total dose, gamma dot, SEU, and neutrons. Efforts have centered around hardening and optimizing our CMOS, DMOS, and NPN devices. Initial results indicate a substantial improvement in hardness over our existing commercial technology.
This paper is a tutorial discussion of the basic principles of ground relaying for high voltage and extra high voltage transmission lines. Three different HV configurations are considered: Long lines, lines with a weak mid-point station, and mutually-coupled lines. Application criteria for EHV circuits are also discussed, and specific setting calculations are included where appropriate.
Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 is a key transcription factor for the regulation of lipogenic enzyme genes in the liver. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) selectively suppress hepatic...Full Text Available
An optimization criterion accounting for the energy and material consumption is defined. The allowed limits of the variations in the technological factors are discussed and the optimization criterion values within these limits are calculated. The analysis presented, demonstrating the significance of the chosen factors for the production cost-price, is of great practical importance. (orig.).
In this paper the possibility of using the test facility PACTEL concerning the investigations of thermal hydraulic special features of the primary coolant circuit acting under natural circulation is under consideration. It is suggested to study a stratification phenomenon of a coolant in upper plenum of a reactor and also a horizontal steam generator (HSG) hot collector temperature regime. For such investigations the facility must be modified. It is shown that this work is not large and expensive, as the facility is a lightly suitable unit for different researches. (orig.)
In this paper the possibility of using the test facility PACTEL concerning the investigations of thermal hydraulic special features of the primary coolant circuit acting under natural circulation is under consideration. It is suggested to study a stratification phenomenon of a coolant in upper plenum of a reactor and also a horizontal steam generator (HSG) hot collector temperature regime. For such investigations the facility must be modified. It is shown that this work is not large and expensive, as the facility is a lightly suitable unit for different researches. (orig.)
The paper discusses the role of the Life Management Programme in ensuring a safe operation of the Dukovany nuclear power plant. The Programme involves the following major items: (i) primary circuit materials degradation assessment, (ii) pipeline damage control by the Flow Assisted Corrosion Monitoring and Prediction Programme, and (iii) the DIALIFE diagnostic system. (author)
The European Research and Development Program on decay heat removal by natural convection for the European Fast Reactor (EFR) covers the calculational methods and the model experiments performed for code validation. The studies concentrate on important physical effects of the cooling modes within the primary system and the direct reactor cooling circuits and include fundamental tests as well as reactor experiments. (author)
AC/DC voltage standards based entirely on solid-state references used as secondary, working, or transfer standards is widespread, although metrological performance is typically defined only via comparison with a higher level standard. The present report shows the improvements of the output metrological characteristics of an ac/dc calibrator by establishing three internal hierarchical levels of dc voltage references and by constant calibration of ac measuring circuits.
Investigation of selective emitter solar cells has been undertaken using both device fabrication and accurate two-dimensional simulation program. Our results show that selective emitter solar cells exhibit a relatively low fill factor because of minority carriers crowding at the lateral junction. It is also found that carrier recombination in the space-charge region of the lateral junction limits open-circuit voltage improvements
The Focused-Ion-Beam (FIB) is a powerful tool for fast, precision cross-sectioning and inspection of submicron defects in multilayered integrated circuit devices. However, the low contrast between the layers in FIB cross-sections can make the feature of interest difficult to observe, which has become a limitation for FIB cross-sectioning. A technique using plasma etch to decorate the FIB cross-sections has proven to be a simple solution to overcome this limitation.
This document describes the High Performance Electrical Modeling and Simulation (HPEMS) Global Verification Test Suite (VERTS). The VERTS is a regression test suite used for verification of the electrical circuit simulation codes currently being developed by the HPEMS code development team. This document contains descriptions of the Tier I test cases.
This document describes the High Performance Electrical Modeling and Simulation (HPEMS) Global Verification Test Suite (VERTS). The VERTS is a regression test suite used for verification of the electrical circuit simulation codes currently being developed by the HPEMS code development team. This document contains descriptions of the Tier I test cases.
The Guarantee Outline presents the technical demands of design and contents of assessment for radiation hardening in satellite engineering in China. It includes the basis of design in space environment of polar orbit, the contents of design for general radiation hardening, the requirements and assessments of the single-board computer, the requirements of design for circuits (including hardware and software), the choices and assessments for devices, and the primary stipulations for the requirements of design and assessments against the phenomenon of charge and discharge.
The fabrication of a Prototype 275/sup 0/C Geothermal Temperature Tool is reviewed. This tool fabrication uses hybrid circuits that were developed at Sandia National Laboratories and are now being built at Teledyne Philbrick. To achieve high-temperature operation, the standard military specification hybrid technology was modified in fabrication processes and materials.
Statistical detail is given of the electricity generation and transmission systems in the UK. Breakdown by type of station, by fuel and the proportion generated by others apart from the generating or area boards is presented. Figures are provided for the various high voltage transmission lines in terms of route and circuit length as well as the number of towers and the capacity of mains transformers.
A critical element of a retinal prosthesis is the stimulating electrode array, which is placed in close proximity to the retina. It is via this retinal-electrode interface that a retinal prosthesis electrically stimulates nerve cells to produce the perception of light. The impedance load seen by the current driver consists of the tissue resistance and the complex electrode impedance. The results in this paper show that the tissue resistance of the retina is significantly greater than that of the vitreous humor in the eye. Circuit models of the electrode-retina interface are used to parameterize the different contributors to the overall impedance.
Rapidly developing changes in the short-circuiting current (Isc), conductance (G), and potential (PD) of turtle bladders in Na-rich or Na-free media are seen after the mucosal addition, at 10 nM, of...Full Text Available
The design of a 345-kV prefabricated capacitive-graded joint for oil-filled cables and the manufacture and testing of prototype joints are described. Tests on prototype No. 4 demonstrated the adequacy of the printed circuit design. It was not possible to consistently obtain high-quality capacitive sheets and substantial effort is required to remedy this problem. Advantages of these prefabricated joints are summarized, and specific recommendations are made for further development of the concept.
Purpose: To ensure continuous operation for condensate desalters with the control device for desalter group in a nuclear power plant by automatically averaging the operation interval between each of the desalters. Constitution: Electroconduction meters are provided at the inlet and the outlet for each of the desalters. The conduction rates at the inlet and outlet are compared to determine the re-generation timing of the condensate desalter. Limiting set value for each of the equipments in the cleanup systems is changed by using a mathematical operation circuit to average the operation interval between each of the desalters. (Ikeda, J.).
There is a crescent interest in the scientific community in the study of natural circulation phenomenon. New generation of compact nuclear reactors uses the natural circulation of the fluid as a system of cooling and of residual heat removal in case of accident or shutdown. The objective of this paper is to present a study through the comparison of experimental data and numerical simulation for the natural circulation phenomenon in one and two-phase flow regime. An experimental circuit built with glass tubes is used for the experiments. Thus, it allows the thermal hydraulic phenomena visualization. There is an electric heater as the heat source, a heat exchanger as the heat sink and an expansion tank to accommodate fluid density excursions. The circuit instrumentation consists of thermocouples and pressure meters to better keep track of the flow and heat transfer phenomena. Instrumentation data acquisition is performed through a computer ...
Customized reference tubes reduced sensitivity discrepancies able to be observed from one probe to the other, due to the gain setting adjustment required for a pre-definite level in amplitude response of the artificial notch. The use of a reference circuit in place of a reference part, makes characterization of the probe matched to its generator more accurate: - the material dependence is cancelled during the compensation process, - the reference signal can be adjusted more accurately in amplitude and phase response, - the manufacturing cost is reduced compared to the one necessary for machining the reference part, - the amplitude and phase response of the reference circuit can be simply modelled by using the transformer relations, such as one can appreciate the variations of the probe definition parameters and its connexion to the generator, and makes them optimal for use. The method proposed by ALSTOM for the characterization of the condenser ...
There is a short description of DINAMIKA-5 code and calculation results for some conditions with level drop in the volume of the secondary circuit during RCP disconnection and decrease of feedwater flowrate at NPP units with VVER-1000 reactors. (orig.) (3 refs., 9 figs.).
A new technique is described in this paper for a general active radio frequency (RF) filter trap that can be used for suppressing noise or interference on high voltage (HV) transmission lines. The technique exploits the Miller effect of an RF amplifier in conjunction with a special sensing circuit, and is potentially far more economical to implement than conventional techniques that use passive HV filter components.
An e.p.r. spectrum of the reduced form of the electron-transport component (X), thought to be the primary electron acceptor of Photosystem I, was obtained. By using line-shape simulations of this component...Full Text Available
The existence of a narrow peak of electron state density in A-15 is explained by a strong electron-phonon interaction that brings about the polaron narrowing of zone. In the supposition of weak and intermediate bond, the analytical expression for the critical transition temperature is found that corre lates Tsub(c) with phonon spectrum. The model permits to explain Tsub(c) correlation with the number of electrons per atom, temperature direction of resistance, value and temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility and electron thermal capacity.
The existence of a narrow peak of electron state density in A-15 is explained by a strong electron-phonon interaction that brings about the polaron narrowing of zone. In the supposition of weak and intermediate bond, the analytical expression for the critical transition temperature is found that corre lates Tsub(c) with phonon spectrum. The model permits to explain Tsub(c) correlation with the number of electrons per atom, temperature direction of resistance, value and temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility and electron tehrmal capacity.
We study two correlated electrons in a nearest-neighbour tight-binding chain, with both on-site and nearest-neighbour interaction. Both the cases of parallel and antiparallel spin are considered. In addition to the free electron band for two electrons, there are correlated bands with positive or negative energy, depending on whether the interaction parameters are repulsive or attractive. Electrons form bound states, with amplitudes that decay exponentially with separation. Conditions for such states to be filled at low temperatures are discussed.
A new magnetic electron microscope, UEMB-100, was designed with an increased electron-optical parameter. The electron-optical system consists of an electron canon (the high voltage is supplied by armored lead) and condensed, objective, intermediate, and projection lenses. In contrast to other native apparatuses, the microscope has a high resolving property (up to 20A) snnd great universality. (tr-auth)
Conversion electron studies of medium-heavy to heavy nuclear mass systems are important where the internal conversion process begins to dominate over gamma-ray emission. The use of a segmented detector array sensitive to conversion electrons has been used to study multiple conversion electron cascades from nuclear transitions. The application of the silicon array for conversion electron detection (SACRED) for in-beam measurements has successfully been implemented. (orig.). With 2 figs.
An electron accelerator unit is described for electron beam therapy, comprising: a source of an electron beam; means for finally directing at least a portion of the beam to a therapy site, the directing means being mechanically independent of, and electrically isolated from, the source, and having a target area; and means for aligning the source with the directing means, the aligning means comprising means for projecting at least one beam of light from the source toward the target area.
An electron accelerator unit is described for electron beam therapy, comprising: a source of an electron beam; means for finally directing at least a portion of the beam to a therapy site, the directing means being mechanically independent of, and electrically isolated from, the source, and having a target area; and means for aligning the source with the directing means, the aligning means comprising means for projecting at least one beam of light from the source toward the target area.
The electron beam ion source (EBIS) at Texas A and M University was constructed and is currently undergoing tests on the injection and transmission of the electron beam through the solenoid. Results of computer simulation of the electron beam are presented, as well as measurements of electron beam profiles using a pinhole beam analyzer.
A multi-group neutron-gamma cross-section library in DTF-IV format is supplemented with electron production matrix to generate a coupled neutron-gamma-electron library. This is realized by estimating the contributions from Compton scattering, pair production and photoelectric effect to the electron production cross-sections. A novel application of this new library, which involves transport of neutrons, gammas and electrons, for estimating the Compton current due to a pulse of radiation in air is discussed.
A multi-group neutron-gamma cross-section library in DTF-IV format is supplemented with electron production matrix to generate a coupled neutron-gamma-electron library. This is realized by estimating the contributions from Compton scattering, pair production and photoelectric effect to the electron production cross-sections. A novel application of this new library, which involves transport of neutrons, gammas and electrons, for estimating the Compton current due to a pulse of radiation in air is discussed.
Photosynthetic (Ps) electron transport pathways often contain multiple electron carriers with overlapping functions. Here we focus on two c-type cytochromes (cyt) in facultative phototrophic...Full Text Available
The main subject of this thesis is the study of the hardronic final state in deep-inelastic electron-proton scattering. Theexperiment described in this thesis is performed with such a high resolution that the substructure of the proton is probed by the electron beam with a resolution of less than 10{sup -15} cm. (orig./HSI).
For over 50 years, electron beams have been an important modality for providing an accurate dose of radiation to superficial cancers and disease and for limiting the dose to underlying normal tissues and structures. This review looks at many of the important contributions of physics and dosimetry to the development and utilization of electron beam therapy, including electron treatment machines, dose specification and calibration, dose measurement, electron transport calculations, treatment and treatment-planning tools, and clinical utilization, including special procedures. Also, future changes in the practice of electron therapy resulting from challenges to its utilization and from potential future technology are discussed. (review)
Using the slow electrons spectrometer one can get information on the surface structure, its element composition, chemical bonds, adsorption phenomena, electron state density and surface oscillation. We have developed the methods and created the apparatus that makes it possible to investigate the electron backscattering by solid surface. We have studied the electron scattering by the polycrystalline and monocrystalline. GaAs surface in the energy range of 0 to 9 eV. The FWHM of electron energy distribution function was 70 meV. (author).
When polarized electrons traverse a region where the laser light is focused their polarization varies even if their energy and direction of motion are not changed. This effect is due to interference of the incoming electron wave and an electron wave scattered at zero angle. Equations are obtained which determine the variation of the electron-density matrix, and their solutions are given. The change in the electron polarization depends not only on the Compton cross section but on the real part of the forward Compton amplitude as well. It should be taken into account, for example, in simulations of the e{yields}{gamma} conversion for future {gamma}{gamma} colliders. (orig.). 16 refs.
When polarized electrons traverse a region where the laser light is focused their polarization varies even if their energy and direction of motion are not changed. This effect is due to interference of the incoming electron wave and an electron wave scattered at zero angle. Equations are obtained which determine the variation of the electron-density matrix, and their solutions are given. The change in the electron polarization depends not only on the Compton cross section but on the real part of the forward Compton amplitude as well. It should be taken into account, for example, in simulations of the e#->##gamma# conversion for future #gamma##gamma# colliders. (orig.).
Studies of destruction of very-high-n (100electron model suggests that, for ultralow electron energies (#approx#80 #mu#eV--1.4 meV), the cross section #sigma#(var-epsilon) for rotationally inelastic scattering of electrons by a polar target varies approximately as 1/var-epsilon, where var-epsilon is the electron energy.
The Advanced Power Electronics Interfaces for Distributed Energy Workshop, sponsored by the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research program and organized by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, was held Aug. 24, 2006, in Sacramento, Calif. The workshop provided a forum for industry stakeholders to share their knowledge and experience about technologies, manufacturing approaches, markets, and issues in power electronics for a range of distributed energy resources. It focused on the development of advanced power electronic interfaces for distributed energy applications and included discussions of modular power electronics, component manufacturing, and power electronic applications.
Though notes in electronic medical record systems (EMRs) have advantages, they are often criticized for their unattractive and unprofessional appearance. We sought to identify notes regarded by physicians...Full Text Available
A detailed treatment is introduced to measure the dynamic stability of the relativistic electrons in a self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser (FEL) system, which includes the numerical approach of the Kolmogorov entropy (entropy-like quantity), the general equations of motion for a charged particle and the method of monitoring the simulation accuracy. Numerical experiments reveal a new phenomenon that there exists the possibility of the transition from chaotic to non-chaotic phase-space trajectories of the strongly relativistic electrons due to the effect of their self-fields. The adiabatic magnetic field of a one-dimensional wiggler may have a slight influence on the electron transportation in the absence of the FEL fields, but substantially affects the dynamic stability of the electrons in the process of the FEL interaction. Moreover, the laser fields diminish the ...
In the beam pipe of the positron damping ring of the Next Linear Collider, electrons will be created by beam interaction with the surrounding vacuum chamber wall and give rise to an electron cloud. Several solutions are possible for avoiding the electron cloud, without changing the bunch structure or the diameter of the vacuum chamber. Some of the currently available solutions for preventing this spurious electron load include reducing residual gas ionization by the beam, minimizing beam photon-induced electron production, and lowering the secondary electron yield (SEY) of the chamber wall. We will report on recent SEY measurements performed at SLAC on TiN coatings and TiZrV non-evaporable getter thin films.
The kinetic energy transferred to some elements by an electron of kinetic energy 100 to 400 kV is discussed. The displacement rates are compared to the signal generation. (DCL)
The symposium reviewed the use of electronics in mining today. Subjects covered include control systems; remote sensing; telemetry; data transmission; microprocessors and transportation systems. 15 papers have been abstracted separately.
This study investigated dose to bone tissue in electron beam therapy. Measurements were made using films and thermoluminescent dosimeters in a polystyrene phantom containing bone inhomogeneity for 15-MeV, 12-MeV, and 9-MeV electron beams. An increase in dose of approximately 18%, 12%, and 11%, for the three electron energies respectively, relative to the dose in polystyrene, was found for bone material having an electron density (relative to water) of 1.73. Measurements were also made using films for 15- and 9-Mev electrons in a phantom with a mandibular bone and teeth. A dose enhancement in bone of approximately 10% and 7%, respectively, for the two energies was found in the phantom where the electron density of bone was about 1.60. These results suggest that injury to bone is possible in those clinical situations where high doses of ...
This study investigated dose to bone tissue in electron beam therapy. Measurements were made using films and thermoluminescent dosimeters in a polystyrene phantom containing bone inhomogeneity for 15-MeV, 12-MeV, and 9-MeV electron beams. An increase in dose of approximately 18%, 12%, and 11%, for the three electron energies respectively, relative to the dose in polystyrene, was found for bone material having an electron density (relative to water) of 1.73. Measurements were also made using films for 15- and 9-Mev electrons in a phantom with a mandibular bone and teeth. A dose enhancement in bone of approximately 10% and 7%, respectively, for the two energies was found in the phantom where the electron density of bone was about 1.60. These results suggest that injury to bone is possible in those clinical situations where high doses of ...
In a positive polarity induction adder each of the induction cavities is a cathode, which emits electrons at a unique potential. These broad spectrum electrons strongly affect Magnetically Insulated Transmission Line (MITL) behavior. Electron flow decreases the cavity-to-MITL coupling efficiency, and reduces the power transport efficiency along the system. Also, the operating impedance of the MITL is lowered, reducing the diode impedance required for good coupling and good total system power efficiency. It is therefore imperative to understand the details of MITL electron flow. In previous work, measurement of MITL electron flow for a twenty-stage linear induction adder (Hermes III), operated in positive polarity, was compared with simulations. There was qualitative agreement, but some differences were noted. For example, measured electron flow in the first ...
In this two chapter report, instrumentation used to collect seismic data is described. This data acquisition system has two parts: (1) portable anolog seismic recorders and related ``hand-held-testers`` (HHT) and (2) portable digitizing units. During the anolog recording process, ground motion is sensed by a 2-Hz vertical-component seismometer. The voltage output from the seismometer is split without amplification and sent to three parallel amplifier circuit boards. Each circuit board amplifiers the seismic signal in three stages and then frequency modulates the signal. Amplification at the last two stages can be set by the user. An internal precision clock signal is also frequency modulated. The three data carrier frequencies, the clock carrier frequency, and a tape-speed compensation carrier frequency are summed and recorded on a recorded on a cassette tape. During the digitizing process, the cassette tapes are played back and the signals are ...
A series of tests has been carried out to determine the operating conditions required to remove the corrosion deposit from samples cut from Winfrith Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor (WSGHWR) primary circuit pipework by submerged water jetting. Two types of samples were used - one set subjected to the normal annual reactor decontamination using TURCO reagents, the other set having been given a LOMI treatment in addition. Tests showed that useful decontamination factors could be achieved on both types of sample, but significantly less severe operating conditions were required to decontaminate the LOMI treated samples. A decontamination factor of 10 was achieved on TURCO treated samples at 360 Bar; only 200 Bar was required to achieve the same decontamination factor on LOMI treated samples. No metal erosion of the stainless steel substrate was found to occur at these pressures. (author).
This paper presents the technical and economic studies performed by CEMIG, Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, Brazil, concerning the use of closing resistor in its extra-high voltage (EHV) breakers. The analysis emphasizes the advantages which could be achieved with the elimination of the resistor as far as costs and reliability are concerned. This evaluation was motivated by two 500 kV breaker failures resulting from the breakdown of the closing resistor operation mechanism. These occurrences resulted in operative restriction for CEMIG EHV system. The analysis demanded a review of the capability criteria of silicon carbide (Si C) gap arresters, which are still greatly used in CEMIG EHV System, and of the procedures to be applied when carrying out the transient studies. The investigation resulted in the prompt removal of closing resistors from circuit breakers in CEMIG extra-high voltage system generating an economy of approximately U$ 840,00 and an improvement ...
Prairie (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (M. pennsylvanicus) are closely related species that differ in life strategy and social behaviors, and thus provide an excellent comparative model for the study of neuronal and hormonal mechanisms underlying behavior. In the present study using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, we found that male prairie voles entered the open arms of the EPM more and remained there longer, and showed a higher level of overall locomotor activity than did male meadow voles. In addition, two weeks of social isolation induced an increase in open arm entries in prairie, but not meadow, voles. Prairie voles also had a higher level of circulating corticosterone compared to meadow voles, and the EPM test increased circulating corticosterone in prairie voles. Finally, social isolation coupled with the EPM test influenced Fos-immunoreactive expression in several brain areas, including the medial preoptic area, ventromedial hypothalamus, amygdala, and prefrontal ...
As silicon-integrated circuit technology enters the sub-100 nm realm, continued progress will depend on a fundamental understanding of the physics of materials processing. The high cost of processing experimental lots and the speed at which new devices must be brought to the market have created a new emphasis on realistic physical models incorporated in technology CAD (TCAD) simulation tools. The volume bring together materials scientists, TCAD researchers and silicon technologists to review recent developments in the integrated-circuit community and to identify key issues for future research in this field. Results of research on the physical mechanisms involved in silicon device processing is presented both from experimental and theoretical viewpoints. The application of this fundamental research to TCAD process simulation models is also addressed. Topics include: shallow junctions and transient enhanced diffusion; extended defects and ...
The danger potential for 110 kV cables, which are installed on racks and in tunnels, caused by catching fire because of arcing short circuits and mechanical overstressing by peak shortcircuit current, has been experimental analysed under Bewag network conditions. As a result, recommendations for an improved installation of 110 kV cables are given. (orig.) [Deutsch] Fuer offen gelegte 110-kV-Kabel in Raeumen, auf Fussboeden und in Schaechten wurde das von Kurzschluessen auf den Kabeln ausgehende Gefaehrdungspotential fuer die Entstehung von Kabelbraenden durch Fehlerlichtboegen und fuer eine mechanische Ueberbeanspruchung von Kabeln durch Stosskurzschlussstroeme unter Beruecksichtigung der Netzverhaeltnisse der Bewag experimentell untersucht. Im Ergebnis geben die Verfasser Empfehlungen fuer die sichere Anordnung offen gelegter 110-kV-Kabel. (orig.)
In a closed circuit formed by bypassing pipelines connected to carbon steel parts, low oxygen coolants pass there through during operation. A solution containing ions of metals more noble than iron are circulated to bring the solution into contact with the carbon steel surface of the inner wall of the parts to form a deposition membrane of the metal more noble than iron on the surface to prevent acceleration of corrosion of the carbon steel parts due to low oxygen coolants. The solution containing ions of metals more noble than iron is a solution of palladium nitrate containing ions of platinum elements. This operation is conducted under a temperature condition of from 50degC to 150degC. In addition, the metal ion concentration of the solution circulating in the closed circuit is measured, it is compared with metal ion concentration previously determined, and the results are feed back to a means for controlling water quality of the solution to ...
This study investigates the applicability of n-type TiO2 and p-type NiO on the FTO-glass (Fluorine doped tin oxide, SnO2:F) substrate of the working electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The working electrode was designed and fabricated by depositing a film of TiO2/NiO composite particles, which were prepared by mixing the Ni powder with TiO2 particles using dry mixing method, on a FTO-glass substrate using a spin coating process. The working electrode was then immersed in the solution of N-719 (Ruthenium) dye at a temperature of 70degreeC for 6h. Moreover, a thin film of platinum (Pt) was deposited on the FTO-glass substrate of the counter electrode using an E-beam evaporator. Finally, the DSSC was assembled, and the short-circuit photocurrent, the open-circuit photovoltage and...
This patent describes improvement in a system for stabilizing the operation of an electrical generator connected to a power distribution network of the type including a power system stabilizer for providing an oscillation signal having a value which normally represents generator oscillations and a modulator circuit responsive to input signals including the oscillation signal to provide a modulated output signal for varying generator excitation, means for checking for operational integrity of the power system stabilizer. It comprises: means for applying, to the power system stabilizer, a test signal of known amplitude and frequency, the test signal simulating generator oscillations and serving to produce a simulated oscillation signal for employment as the oscillation signal, means to store representations of time related values of the test signal; means to demodulate the modulated output signal to develop a demodulated signal; means to store representations of time ...
A free standing outdoor telephone booth is provided with a photovoltaic (PV) array, one or more rechargeable storage batteries and electrical control circuit which includes a temperature compensated control for limiting the supply of electrical energy from the PV array to the rechargeable battery to avoid over charging the battery, an ambient light (solar insolation) sensing circuit for controlling the electrical lamp load, to turn the lamp ON during dark ambient and OFF during light ambient conditions. In addition, the total discharge limit of the storage battery is controlled to a safe operating limit and a means is disclosed to power a fluorescent lamp at energy conserving intensities with energy derived from the rechargeable storage battery. The lamp control circuitry is preferably constituted by a high frequency power inverter with regulated output power to energize a low wattage fluorescent lamp and to dim the fluorescent lamp when the ...
Passive films formed anodically on titanium (Ti) plates in 0.5 M sulfuric acid were corroded in aqueous solutions of H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} in the dark and under illumination of a 250-W mercury lamp. The corrosion depth was determined by calculating the thickness of the oxide layers from interference patterns of reflection spectra in the visible region. Corrosion was observed at pH {le} 3, with the corrosion rate increasing exponentially with decreasing pH and achieving a maximum value at pH {approximately} 1. Photocorrosion generally was quicker than corrosion occurring in the dark in all cases (i.e., open-circuit, short-circuit, bias conditions) and increased under anodic polarization of the oxide electrode together with the photocurrent. Corrosion occurring in the dark decreased very weakly under anodic polarization. Long-term corrosion experiments indicated the initial corrosion rate for a thick anodic oxide was higher than the later rates, ...
Argentina has two operating PHWR nuclear power plants. Atucha I NPP is a pressure vessel type heavy water reactor of 360 MW e with 25 years of operation and Embalse NPP is a pressure tube type CANDU-600 reactor of 640 MW e. Atucha II, a third plant of 600 MW e of the pressure vessel type similar to Atucha I, is being constructed. NASA (Nucleoelectrica Argentina S.A.) currently operates both nuclear power plants. The National Atomic Energy Commission (Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica - CNEA) provides operational support to the plants, including research and development assistance, and actual technical services and maintenance work in different areas. The Chemistry Department, formerly the Reactor Chemistry Department has carried out project and support activities to the plants during the past 20 years. The aim of this work is to describe the present organization and the activities in reactor chemistry of the Chemistry Department. In particular, the projects to change the chemical ...
Activities are reported by the Reactor Systems Section, Research Instrument Section, and the Measurement and Controls Engineering Section. Reactor system activities include dynamic analysis, survillanc and diagnostic methods, design and evaluation, detectors, facilities support, process instrumentation development, and special assignments. Activities in the Research Instrument Section include the Navy-ORNL RADIAC development program, advanced ..gamma.. and x ray detector systems, neutron detection and subcriticality measurements, circuit development, position-sensitive detectors, stand-alone computers, environmental monitoring-detectors and systems, plant security, engineering support for fusion energy division, engineering support for accelerator physics, and communications: radio, closed-circuit tv, and computer. Activities in the Measurement and Controls Engineering Section include the AVLIS program; gas centrifuge enrichment technology ...
The behaviour of hydrogen adsorption on palladium has been investigated by a.c. impedance measurements in 0.1 M NaOH solution of pH 13 at 298 K. The electrode impedance has been measured by superimposing an a.c. voltage of 5 mV amplitude ranging between 10{sup -1} and 10{sup 4} Hz on a d.c. potential range from -0.76 to 0.44 V (standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)). The equivalent circuit representing the hydrogen adsorption reaction is proposed from the analysis of the frequency dependence of electrode admittance. The capacitance, arising from the adsorbed hydrogen, has been determined as a function of applied potential by complex non-linear least-squares curve fitting method based on the proposed equivalent circuit. As the cathodic applied potential increased from -0.36 to -0.76 V (SHE), the adsorption capacitance considerably increased owing to the enhanced coverage of hydrogen adsorbed on the palladium surface. In the applied potential range ...
Increasing the speed and complexity of semiconductor integrated circuits requires advanced processes that put extreme constraints on the level of metal contamination allowed on the surfaces of silicon wafers. Such contamination degrades the performance of the ultrathin SiO sub 2 gate dielectrics that form the heart of the individual transistors. Ultimately, reliability and yield are reduced to levels that must be improved before new processes can be put into production. It should be noted that much of this metal contamination occurs during the wet chemical etching and rinsing steps required for the manufacture of integrated circuits and industry is actively developing new processes that have already brought the metal contamination to levels beyond the measurement capabilities of conventional analytical techniques. The measurement of these extremely low contamination levels has required the use of synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray ...
Focus ion beam (FIB) technology is a commonly used tool for integrated circuit device modification, failure analysis, and a variety of other applications. However, limited reliability data of FIB altered circuit is available. This study describes the electromigration mechanism of FIB-altered Al(Cu-Si)/Ti-layered metal lines. The electromigration failures encountered resulted in Al voids at the anode end of FIB-deposited W and Al{sub 2}Cu precipitates at the cathode end. A higher frequency of Al extrusions was also observed on samples stressed at higher temperatures. These observations indicated that FIB-W was an effective blocking boundary for Al and Cu, and confirmed that Cu does electromigrate before Al. The electromigration mechanism of the FIB-altered line closely resembles the published results from two-level Al/W-line/stud interconnect studies. An activation energy of 0.66 eV, with a current exponent of 1.9 and a lognormal sigma of 0.55, ...
The corrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel was characterized with cyclic voltammetry in a eutectic Li/K and Li/Na carbonate melt under anode and cathode gas of the molten-carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). The corrosion rate of 304 steel was determined in four different environments of the MCFC with electrochemical methods and from cross-sectional analysis of corrosion layers. These four environments were open-circuit and MCFC-load conditions both under anode and cathode gas. At open-circuit conditions corrosion was more severe under the oxidizing cathode gas then under the reducing anode gas. On the contrary, at load conditions corrosion was more severe under anode than under cathode gas. The anodic polarization under anode gas enhances corrosion, whereas the high anodic polarization under cathode gas leads to anodic protection. Corrosion currents were measured with chronoamperometry and determined with Tafel extrapolation from quasi-stationary ...
Development of the Conawapa-Winnipeg power transmission complex in Manitoba includes five interrelated transmission and conversion facilities. Environmental and socio-economic assessment work done to date on one component of this system (the upgrading of the Southern Receiver System) is described. This system is composed of a network of high voltage transmission lines and station facilities serving power demand in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba. The upgrading involves three main elements: energizing a second 230 kV ac circuit on an existing tower line running from the proposed Riel Station site to the existing St. Vital Station; constructing a new double-circuit 230 kV tower line on the same existing right-of-way between St. Vital and the Riel site area; and installing an additional transformer and other necessary equipment at St. Vital and other stations affected by the upgrade. The environmental impacts of these projects are generally not ...
A continuous-time 7th-order Butterworth Gm-C low pass filter (LPF) with on-chip automatic tuning circuit has been implemented for a direct conversion DBS tuner in 0.35 mum SiGe BiCMOS technology. The filter's -3 dB cutoff frequency f{sub 0} can be tuned from 4 to 40 MHz. A novel on-chip automatic tuning scheme has been successfully realized to tune and lock the filter's cutoff frequency. Measurement results show that the filter has -0.5 dB passband gain, +-5% bandwidth accuracy, 30 nV/Hz{sup 1/2} input referred noise, -3 dBVrms passband IIP3, and 27 dBVrms stopband IIP3. The I/Q LPFs with the tuning circuit draw 13 mA (with f{sub 0} = 20 MHz) from 5 V supply, and occupy 0.5 mm{sup 2}.
In the current wind turbine generation system, there are substantial problems such as the maximum power of the wind turbine cannot be obtained under the fluctuating wind speed, high in cost and low in annual net electricity production (due to mismatch between a generator and a wind turbine). A new wind turbine generator optimized for the wind turbine output is presented in order to solve such problems. This wind turbine generator consists of a permanent magnet generator, a reactor and a rectifier, and uses neither a control circuit which requires standby electricity nor a PWM converter having a switching element. By selecting most appropriate combination of the permanent magnet generator having multiple windings and the reactor connected in series with each winding, the maximum output of the wind turbine can be obtained without using a control circuit. The new wind turbine generator was directly coupled with the straight wing non-articulated ...
Single-crystalline nanostructures often exhibit gradients of surface (and/or interface) curvature that emerge from fabrication and growth processes or from thermal fluctuations. Thus, the system-inherent capillary force can initiate morphological transformations during further processing steps or during operation at elevated temperature. Therefore and because of the ongoing miniaturization of functional structures which causes a general rise in surface-to-volume ratios, solid-state capillary phenomena will become increasingly important: On the one hand diffusion-mediated capillary processes can be of practical use in view of non-conventional nanostructure fabrication methods based on self-organization mechanisms, on the other hand they can destroy the integrity of nanostructures which can go along with the failure of functionality. Additionally, capillarity-induced shape transformations are effected and can thereby be controlled by applied fields and forces (guided or driven ...
The gel electrolyte for the zinc-air cell was prepared by mixing hydroponics gel with a 6M potassium hydroxide aqueous solution. The self-discharge of cells was characterized by measuring the open-circuit voltage. The effect of a discharge rate of 50mA constant current on cell voltage and plateau hour, as well as the voltage-current and current density-power density were measured and analysed. The electrode degradation after discharge cycling was characterized by structural and surface methods. The oxidation of the electrode surface further blocked the utilization of the Zn anode and was identified as a cause for the failure of the cell. (author)
A vortex diode has been developed as a reverse flow limiter in the primary circuit of an advanced gas cooled reactor. In addition to the development work on a prototype diode to optimise performance and geometry, measurements were also made on an available experimental diode of similar size with pressure differences up to 4 MPa and temperatures up to 600 K using nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide as the test fluids. Correlation of data from all tests was satisfactorily obtained using isentropic one-dimensional nozzle flow equations. (author).
Inhibition efficiency of some water-soluble hydrazones for C-steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid has been tested by weight loss, polarisation measurements and open circuit technique. The inhibition effect was attributed to the adsorption of the additives on the C-steel surface as supported by adsorption measurements at Pt electrode using cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical measurements indicated that all the additives behave as cathodic-type inhibitors. The data obtained fit well to both the Temkin adsorption isotherm and the kinetic-thermodynamic model. The inhibition behaviour and its order were explained with the help of the proposed skeletal representation.
By setting up a fully indicated, modern passenger car diesel engine, Mahle has created the basis for systematically testing current and future engine technologies. The experimental set-up has both an integrated high- and low-pressure EGR circuit and an open engine control unit, thus enabling efficient development of new systems under real-world conditions. The advantages of this comprehensive approach are illustrated below, using the example of different EGR technologies tested. (orig.)
This report presents the results of a study of the Japanese MLU magnetic-levitation (maglev) system. The development of the MLU system is reviewed, and the dynamic circuit model then is introduced and applied to the figure-eight-shaped null-flux coil suspension system. Three different types of figure-eight-shaped null-flux suspension systems are discussed in detail: (1) the figure-eight-shaped null-flux coil suspension system without cross-connection; (2) the combined suspension and guidance system; and (3) the combined propulsion, levitation, and guidance system. The electrodynamic-suspension maglev systems developed in Japan seem to be very promising and could result in a commercial application in the near future.
Axial offset anomaly (AOA) is caused by the deposition of crud on the fuel cladding of a PWR. When significant levels of crud build up on the cladding, boron can accumulate in the pores of the crud as a concentrated solution or solid phase, and cause the flux depression. Numerous studies have been conducted on the primary water chemistry to reduce the amount of crud in the primary circuit to avoid radioactivity buildup and unexpected power transition in the plant. However, experiments on the crud are restricted in the laboratory because the crud is a highly radioactive material. The objective of this study is to develop a test method for simulating the deposition of crud in a nuclear power plant
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are being used in space applications because of attractive attributes: good density, moderate speed, low cost, and quick turn-around time. However, these devices are susceptible to Single Event Upsets (SEUs). An approach using triple modular redundancy (TMR) and feedback was developed for flip-flop hardening in these devices. Test data showed excellent results for this circuit topology. Total dose and Single Event Effect (SEE) testing have been performed on recently released technologies. Failures are analyzed and test methodology is discussed.
Site studies for CANDU type NPP began in a careful manner since 1982 as a first part of the Nuclear Power Plant Romanian Program adopted by political and governmental authorities at the time. A team was charged to develop all packages of the necessary main studies. The first Romanian NPP CANDU 6 type reactor gone to erection on Cernavoda site, planned to have 5 units and, like Wolsong NPP, applied the same design for the nuclear island. For the BOP parts the ANSALDO-GE project was applied with a thorough concern about requirements raised by connection to NSP. The first mission of design and research multi-branch team was to adapt the NPP Cernavoda project having an open water cooling circuit 'once-through' to the new parameters of a close recirculation water cooling circuit. Also, the structural design was re-evaluated for the case of soft foundation strata instead of hard rock ones. The close recirculation water cooling ...
Innate immune responses are regulated by microorganisms and cell death, as well as by a third class of stress signal from the nervous and endocrine systems. The innate immune system also feeds back, through the production of cytokines, to regulate the function of the central nervous system (CNS), and this has effects on behaviour. These signals provide an extrinsic regulatory circuit that links physiological, social and environmental conditions, as perceived by the CNS, with transcriptional 'decision-making' in leukocytes. CNS-mediated regulation of innate immune responses optimizes total organism fitness and provides new opportunities for therapeutic control of chronic infectious, inflammatory and neuropsychiatric diseases.
In this paper, an approximate curve fitting method for photovoltaic modules is presented. The operation is based on solving a simple solar cell electrical model by a microcontroller in real time. Only four voltage and current coordinates are needed to obtain the solar module parameters and set its operation at maximum power in any conditions of illumination and temperature. Despite its simplicity, this method is suitable for low cost real time applications, as control loop reference generator in photovoltaic maximum power point circuits. The theory that supports the estimator together with simulations and experimental results are presented. (author)
This chapter is an overview of total-ionizing-dose and single-event hardening techniques and should be used as a guide to a range of research publications. It should be stressed that there is no clear and simple route to a radiation-tolerant silicon integrated circuit. What works for one fabrication process may not work for another, and there are many complex interactions within individual processes and designs. The authors have attempted to highlight the most important factors and those process changes which should bring improved hardness. The main point is that radiation-hardening as a procedure must be approached in a methodical fashion and with a good understanding of the response mechanisms involved.
A dc-to-dc converter has been designed which employs the synchronizing phenomenon in the transistor core multivibrator. In the proposed circuit, the voltage feedback is applied from the control transistor and the current feedback is applied from the main transistor. The operation of the converter is analyzed by the averaging method of the state space technique. The converter features small switching loss and is suitable for high frequency operation. An efficiency of more than 95% is obtained for 5 V, 3 A output at a switching frequency of 200 kHz.
The bibliography contains citations concerning plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and equipment. PIII is a new technique to implant plasma ions into materials for surface modification and treatment. Topics include plasma nitriding, semiconductor doping, ion energy distribution, ion dose, pulsed plasma, metal plasma, and defect passivation. References also review applications in semiconductor device and integrated circuit manufacture, silicon material fabrication, aerospace bearings, carbon coatings on metals, and ceramic coatings. (Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.) (Copyright NERAC, Inc. 1995)
This paper reported on a study in which partial discharge (PD) measurements were performed on 6 underground transmission cable circuits to determine the effectiveness of PD measurements on fluid fill cables. The cables were between 37 and 56 years old. PD activity was detected from the terminations of H11L and H3L Cable 2. However, for cables from H3L Basin TS to Mill Street junction, PD activity was detected originating from within the main cable insulation.
Monitoring and diagnostic systems are of main importance for a safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants. The author describes new developments with respect to vibration monitoring with a functional extension in the time domain for den secondary circuit, the development of a local system for the surveillance of rotating machines, the structure-borne sound monitoring with improvement of event analysis, esp. the loose part locating, leakage monitoring with a complete system for humidity measurement, and the development of a common platform for all monitoring and diagnostic systems, that allows an efficient access for comparison and cross references.
This paper presents a numerical simulation with the EUROPLEXUS fast dynamics software of a pipe whipping phenomenon occurring in the thermal hydraulic conditions of a loss of coolant accident in a PWR primary circuit. Different physical phenomena take place simultaneously during the rupture and the whipping of the pipe such as plasticity, contact, large displacements, two-phase flow regime and fluid structure interaction. Two kinds of numerical models - a simplified pipeline model and a mixed 1D/3D model - are considered and compared throughout modelling and computation. Numerical results are compared with experimental data belonging to the Aquitaine II test campaign.
Cr_2O_3 scales are found to form on Alloy 800 and a similar pure ternary alloy in air, and 1 and 50 atm. helium containing oxidizing impurities typical of those in an SGHTR. The strong temperature dependence and neglibible helium overpressure dependence indicate that gas transport through the scales is not rate controlling. Surface oxidation rates are therefore controlled by solid state diffusion and the low oxygen partial pressure dependence of the oxidation rate in Alloy 800 is ascribed to the presence of extrinsic defects in the Cr_3O_3 (due to doping by alloying elements) or to the presence of short circuit diffusion paths. (Auth.).
A conical Bragg-curve spectrometer (BCS) has been constructed. The outer case was a molded plastic cone. Printed circuit techniques were used to form an insert with inscribed equipotentials to approximate a 1/r/sup 2/ electric field shape. The charge and energy resolution were measured for elastically scattered beams of 206 MeV /sup 28/Si, 413 and 378 MeV /sup 56/Fe, and 670 MeV /sup 86/Kr ions. Performance of this detector, particularly its charge resolution, is discussed with respect to variation in solid angle.
The shot peening of the outer surface of Alloy 800 is proposed by the steam generator supplier in order to increase the stress corrosion cracking resistance of the tubes. The benefits and drawbacks of such a treatment are evaluated, focusing on the main concern i.e. a possible enhanced tendency of stress corrosion cracking at the transition of the expanded tube-to-tubesheet joint. Stress corrosion tests as well as residual stresses measurements demonstrate no significant difference between peened and unpeened tubes at that location. The other concerns such as stability of the compressive stresses, increased risk of pitting or intergranular attack and pollution of the secondary circuit by fragmented beads appear the as minor concerns.
Metallic contamination was monitored with Surface Photovoltage (SPV) technique in integrated circuit manufacturing facilities. Conventionally, Czochralski silicon bulk materials were used as monitor wafers. However, it has been observed that the diffusion length and the `Iron' concentration measured with SPV were inconsistent from run to run in one facility. The inconsistency is believed to be due to oxygen precipitate in silicon materials during the thermal cycle. By using low oxygen concentration or Float Zone wafers, metallic contaminants can be monitored more accurately and consistently.
Equivalent circuit and electrical parameters for H-doped NH_4UO_2PO_4.3H_2O self supported membranes have been determined by impedance spectroscopy. The measurements were carried out with a dry membrane, at different temperatures, and a wet membrane in contact with different electrolyte solutions. Resistance values for the dry membrane decrease with temperature increase, which agrees with the weak protonic character of the H-doped ammonium uranylphosphate. On the other hand, differences in the electrical parameters, depending on the electrolyte considered were also obtained and are attributed to different conduction mechanisms. (Author).
This paper describes the performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with 2.4 #mu#m source-drain spacing. So far these are the smallest source-drain spacing AlGaN/GaN HEMTs which have been implemented with a domestic wafer and domestic process. This paper also compares their performance with that of 4 #mu#m source-drain spacing devices. The former exhibit higher drain current, higher gain, and higher efficiency. It is especially significant that the maximum frequency of oscillation noticeably increased. (semiconductor integrated circuits)
This book discusses the progress and problems of current interest in gaseous dielectrics and their use, with special emphasis on insulation in high-voltage transmission lines and substations. Topics covered include: basic physics of gaseous dielectrics; basic mechanisms; gas decomposition, reactions and toxicity; diagnostics and field probes; gases and mixtures for GIS transformers and circuit breakers; gaseous media for discharge chemistry and etching/corona; gas engineering for pulsed power and switching; gas breakdown under steep-fronted voltages; new developments in gas-insulated equipment and gas handling; gas/insulator interface/flashover; and quality control in testing gas-insulated equipment. Contains approximately 85 papers.
The various factors that affect the open-circuit voltage ([ital V][sub oc]) of a two-terminal GaInP[sub 2]/GaAs tandem cell are examined. These include a) an anomalous problem associated with the GaAs bottom cell and b) back surface passivation of the thin GaInP[sub 2] top cell. Solutions to these problems are presented and yield tandem [ital V][sub oc]s close to the practical theoretical limits.
One year of research on validating the performance of the Cable Monitoring and Rating System (CMARS) is reported. The performance testing was conducted on underground 230-kV and 345-kV pipe type cable circuits owned by the New Jersey Public Service Electric and Gas Co. Laser temperature monitoring systems and a data acquisition system were installed. Software installation and development is discussed. The CMARS testing program is described. (LCL)
An apparatus is provided for rapidly restarting the flow of coolant through the cold electromagnetic shield of a superconducting rotor following a thermal transient episode. A vortex diode inhibits coolant flow in the undesirable reverse direction and encourages the reestablishment of a normal thermosyphon cooling loop flow quickly following the termination of a thermal transient such as that caused by transmission line faults. The present invention requires no moving parts and may therefore be permanently sealed in the superconducting rotor without risk of costly repair efforts caused by components failure.
The sensitivity of the primary circuit material was examined at the Mochovce and Dukovany NPPs. No significant sensitivity of the base material or the weld metal to the initiation of corrosion cracking was observed. Thermal aging was found to accelerate significantly the corrosion fatigue kinetics in the material of the heat affected zone. The threshold values of the double amplitudes of the stress intensity factor were below 8 MPa/m"2 for the materials examined, with a cycle asymmetry coefficient of 0.65. The tests revealed no appreciable sensitivity to general corrosion, pitting, or intergranular corrosion. (J.B.). 7 tabs., 26 figs., 11 refs.
A critical element of a retinal prosthesis is the stimulating electrode array, which is placed in close proximity to the retina. It is via this retinal-electrode interface that a retinal prosthesis electrically stimulates nerve cells to produce the perception of light. The impedance load seen by the current driver consists of the tissue resistance and the complex electrode impedance. The results in this paper show that the tissue resistance of the retina is significantly greater than that of the vitreous humor in the eye. Circuit models of the electrode-retina interface are used to parameterize the different contributors to the overall impedance. PMID:17325413
The digital AVR must have the level of redundancy and control functions that conform to the configuration of the excitation control system and to the importance of a particular generator for the user. The digital AVR is not simply a digital version of the analog AVR, but can realize sophisticated control functions that were difficult to achieve with analog circuits, thus making it possible to enhance the stability of power system by PSS (power system stabilizer). This paper describes the test results of the digital AVRs applied to power plants, their system configuration and functions, as well as the outline of an auto-tuning PSS or AT-PSS planned to be incorporated in the digital AVR in the future.
Corrosion is increasingly becoming an important factor reducing the reliability of many nuclear power plant components. The significance is evaluated of corrosion phenomena with respect to the reliability of primary circuit components of LWR's, viz., the reactor pressure vessel, primary piping, steam generator, and fuel elements. The mechanism of corrosion phenomena is explained and methods of minimizing their effects are presented. An analysis is made of the needs to solve the corrosion problems of nuclear power plants from the point of view of Czechoslovak producers and research and development activities. International cooperation is reviewed and main problems are formulated on which the solution of corrosion problems of structural materials used in WWER type nuclear power plants should be focussed. (author).
The heavy crude fraction processing is performed under very high vacuum to minimize thermal cracking which cause coke deposition and damage the equipment. The current tendency is to process heavier oil leading to higher process temperatures and consequently to greater fouling. This situation demands better knowledge fouling process by carbonization. This problem is pronounced in the residual gasoil region of a vacuum distillation unit because it obstructs the recirculation circuits and the spray system with serious environmental and economics implications. This paper review the main correlated published work related to coke generation and fouling and presents a discussion about the works. (author)
This paper describes the design of PMT readout module for detector prototype of Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment. According to the design requirements of the readout module, the basic structure of the readout module is discussed. This paper also discusses how to realize the charge measurement and time measurement and data processing using a high performance FPGA. The DAQ system including three readout modules and one trigger module are well commissioned and doing data taking now. (authors)
Mo gate Mos capacitors exhibit a negative shift of their C-V characteristic by up to 240 mV, at 125 C, in response to 1000 ppm hydrogen, in controlled nitrogen atmospheres. The experimental methods for obtaining capacitance and conductance, as a function of polarisation voltage, as well as the relevant equivalent circuits are reviewed. The single-state interface state density, at the semiconductor-dielectric interface, decreases from 2.66 x 10"1"1 cm"-"2 e-v"-"1, in pure nitrogen, to 2.5 x 10"1"1 cm"-"2 e-v"-"1 in 1000 ppm hydrogen in nitrogen mixtures, at this temperature. (Author)
Problem areas in BWRs, PWRs and PHWRs, from the viewpoint of chemistry, and the problem of fission product release in nuclear reactors are discussed. These problem areas are : fuel performance, off-normal water chemistry due to condenser leaks, the transport and deposition of the activated corrosion and fission products, denting in steam generators (in the case of PWRs), ingress of air in the cover gas helium and consequent radiolysis of D_2O in the moderator circuit (in the case of PHWRs). (M.G.B.).
Homestake Ore from the Ambrosia Lake District of New Mexico was treated in the Alkaline Leach-- Filtration Pilot Plant at Grand Junction, Colorado. Detailed information on grinding, leaching, flltration, and precipitation in connection with the processing of this ore is given. Autoclave leaching and continuous yellow cake precipitation were employed. The circuit liquors contnined organic material that was detrimental to clariflcation and precipitation and the results show that ihe ore was amenable to the Alkaline Leach--Filtration process only if a special additive was used. (auth)
A concept of a traveling wave direct energy converter (TWDEC) is developed for 14.7-MeV fusion protons based on the principle of a backward wave oscillator. Separation of fusion protons from thermal ions is accomplished by using ExB ion drift. Energy conversion rate up to 0.87 is attained by applying three-stage modulation of the proton beam. A one-dimensional particle-circuit code is developed to examine self-excitation of the traveling wave and its stability under loading. Electrostatic wave with a fixed frequency is excited spontaneously, and stability of the wave is ensured under loading. (author).
A guidance document on the instrumentation for monitoring and control of cycle chemistry for the steam-water circuits of fossil-fired and combined-cycle power plants was developed within the IAPWS Power Cycle Chemistry Working Group. This technical guidance document has been authorized by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS) at its meeting in Doorwerth, The Netherlands, 6-11 September, 2009, for issue by its Secretariat. The members of the IAPWS are: Britain and Ireland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Russia, and the United States of America, and the associate members Argentina and Brazil, Italy, and Switzerland. In order to achieve suitable chemical conditions in steam-water circuits it is essential to establish reliable monitoring of key parameters on every plant. This enables the demonstration of operation within cycle chemistry targets, and alerts the operators to ...
Commercial focused ion beam (FIB) systems are commonly used to image integrated circuits (ICS) after device processing, especially in failure analysis applications. FIB systems are also often employed to repair faults in metal lines for otherwise functioning ICS, and are being evaluated for applications in film deposition and nanofabrication. A problem that is often seen in FIB imaging and repair is that ICS can be damaged during the exposure process. This can result in degraded response or out-right circuit failure. Because FIB processes typically require the surface of an IC to be exposed to an intense beam of 30--50 keV Ga{sup +} ions, both charging and secondary radiation damage are potential concerns. In previous studies, both types of effects have been suggested as possible causes of device degradation, depending on the type of device examined and/or the bias conditions. Understanding the causes of this damage is important for ICS that ...
In a 540 MWe PHWR reactor at TAPP-4 the pressuriser has been incorporated in the PHT pressure control system to provide the necessary vapour cushion for PHT main circuit to reduce pressure variations due to transients involving swell and shrinkage. Need for the Pressuriser is due to the large inventory in PHT main circuit and relatively large heat source. The incorporation of Pressuriser is one of the modifications while upgrading from prevalent operating 220 MWe reactors to the present 540 MWe at TAPP-4. The sizing, design and selection of the 540 MWe Pressuriser has been done w.r.t swell/shrinkage requirement during normal/transient operation of the reactor. In this paper the commissioning and operating experience of the Pressuriser in conjunction with the PHT pressure control system is presented. During light water commissioning of PHT circuit some major hurdles like failure of pressuriser heaters due to faulty ...
The thermophotovoltaic (TPV) option was not selected for further deep space mission technology development in NASA for several reasons. Chief among them was the large radiator required to keep the photovoltaic cells at a sufficiently low operating temperature. This led to significant integration problems with the spacecraft and limited sensor view angles. It is clear that the issue of cell temperature is crucial for space applications because of radiator size and system impact. Many efforts have focused on matching cell band gap to appropriate emitters in the 1 to 2 {mu}m range, resulting in band gaps in the 0.5 to 0.8 eV range. However, low band gaps lead to low open circuit voltages ({approximately}0.25 to 0.45 V) caused by high intrinsic carrier concentrations (n{sub i}{sup 2}). Thus, in order to obtain high performance. Photovoltaic cell temperatures must be kept near room temperature. This leads to the inevitable consequence of very large radiators for space ...
The cross section database for electron impact excitation and electron impact ionization for hydrogen beam kinetic energies greater than 100 eV was considered, giving for each particular process a reference to a recommended publication of cross sections, as well as the accuracy or estimated accuracy. The work is motivated by the application of neutral beam injection in magnetic confinement devices, such as large tokamaks. 9 refs, 2 figs.
Electron Cyclotron Heating experiments have been performed on the TEXT tokamak using Varian gyrotron. Some degradation of electron energy confinement is observed for sawtoothing and non-sawtoothing discharges. Sharp electron temperature profiles are produced in high-q discharges by extremely localized ECH power deposition.
The electron-phonon coupling constant lambda has been calculated for vanadium. The electron energy bands and wave functions were obtained from a model augmented plane wave muffin-tin potential. The electron-phonon matrix elements were evaluated using the rigid-ion approximation and the measured phonon spectra. The results show that lambda is strongly affected by d-f scattering.
The salient features of the near-infrared free-electron laser (FEL) that is under construction at the new Darmstadt superconducting 130-MeV electron accelerator are discussed. Special attention is given to the layout and the parameters of the accelerator, the layout of the planned FEL experiment, the characteristics of the electron gun, the subharmonic chopper-buncher system, and the hybrid undulator system of the Darmstadt FEL. A comparison of the planned Darmstadt FEL with conventional lasers, with respect to the pulse and wavelength region, is presented. 15 refs.
In this note we describe a conceptual design of a part ofthe electron beam delivery system for FERMI@Elettra free electron laser(FEL) located between the end of the linac and the entrance to the FEL.This part includes the emittance diagnostic section, the electron beamswitchyard for two FELs called spreader and matching sections. The designmeets various constrains imposed by the existing and planned buildingboundaries, desire for utilization of existing equipment and demands forvarious diagnostic instruments.
The relativistic motion of an electron is numerically analyzed in a tokamak having macroscopic magnetic turbulence. Stochasticity induced by the relativistic motion overwhelms the phase averaging effect, which provides a tokamak with an effective loss mechanism for the avoidance/suppression of runaway electron generation at a major disruption. On the other hand, electrons in the KAM (Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser) region will be observed as a runaway snake. (author)
The polarization characteristics of spontaneous radiation from relativistic electrons moving through helical and planar wiggler fields are evaluated for imperfect beam injection. Maximum coherent gain in free-electron laser systems are seen to occur in optical fields having these polarization characteristics rather than those of the wiggler magnets. Coupling coefficients for an electron beam skewed at an angle to the optical mode are presented.
We report the homodyne detection of phase modulation sidebands induced on a laser beam by a coherently bunched electron beam. This provides a sensitive and nonperturbing measurement of complex Fourier time series components of the electron density. A proof-of-principle measurement of the microwave frequency component of electron density in a crossed-field device, which agrees well with a calculation of the same quantity, is reported.
A physical model of free-electron laser (FEL) amplifier with variable-parameter wiggler magnets for one-dimensional numerical simulation is presented and a numerical example is given. The wiggler parameters, efficiency of energy conversion between electron beam and laser field, laser intensity, phase-space distributions and energy spectrum of electrons are computed. The period of synchronous oscillation and saturation value of laser intensity agree with estimated one.
The authors study the nonuniformity of a-Si:H films obtained by the method of vacuum condensation, with the help of x-ray small-angle scattering (SLS) and transmission electron microscopy. Films of hydrogenated amorphous silicon are greatest interest, because the electronic properties of this material can be controlled by doping. As a result of the compensation of the ruptured bonds, and possibly, effects of melting, the properties of such films are analogous to those of singlecrystalline silicon. XLS enables a quantitative determination of the prameters of the regions of low electron density (RLD) in such objects.
During the period covered by this report research has been concerned with the study of photo-induced electron transfer reactions from porphyrins to acceptor molecules with time-resolved Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) methods. Excited-state electron transfer reactions are of importance from a fundamental point of view and in connection with applications in homogeneous and heterogeneous photosensitization, photopolymerization, and solar energy conversions. For this reason, the study of photo-induced electron transfer reactions is of considerable interest.
Using the experimentally determined cutoff energies of the muon-electron and the pion-electron conversion curves in a tachyon-bradyon model of the electron and the muon, the magnetic moments of these particles have been derived and found to be the Bohr magnetons identically. The tachyons, being bound to the bradyons and unable to drop below the speed of light, cause the bradyons to revolve in an orbit. It is this orbital motion of the charged bradyons that generates the magnetic moments.
A review of the information on the electron and phonon spectra in the A-15 compounds and Chevrel phase superconductors obtained from nuclear magnetic resonance, heat capacity, and Moessbauer effect experiments is presented. Relationships of the Fermi energy electrons and the soft phonons to the strength of the electron-phonon interaction are discussed.
A review of the information on the electron and phonon spectra in the A-15 compounds and Chevrel phase superconductors obtained from nuclear magnetic resonance, heat capacity, and Moessbauer effect experiments is presented. Relationships of the Fermi energy electrons and the soft phonons to the strength of the electron-phonon interaction are discussed.
Characterization and optimization of electron-beam parameters are important aspects of optimizing free-electron laser (FEL) performance. The visible spontaneous emission ({lambda}{approximately}650 nm) from the 5-meter long undulator of the Boeing FEL experiment can be characterized in sufficient detail with a streak/spectrometer to deduce time-resolved electron-beam spatial position and profile, micropulse duration, and energy. 7 refs., 13 figs., 2 tabs.
The original purpose of this research was an investigation into the use of slow space charge waves on weakly relativistic electron beams for ion acceleration. The work had three main objectives namely, the development of a suitable ion injector, the growth and study of the properties of slow space charge waves on an electron beam, and a combination of the two components parts into a suitable proof of principle demonstration of the wave accelerator. This work focusses on the first two of these objectives.
Spontaneous radiation emitted from relativistic electrons undergoing betatron motion in a plasma-focusing channel is analyzed, and applications to plasma wake-field accelerator experiments and to the ion-channel laser (ICL) are discussed. Important similarities and differences between a free electron laser (FEL) and an ICL are delineated. It is shown that the frequency of spontaneous radiation is a strong function of the betatron strength parameter a(beta), which plays a role similar to that of the wiggler strength parameter in a conventional FEL. For a(beta) > or approximately 1, radiation is emitted in numerous harmonics. Furthermore, a(beta) is proportional to the amplitude of the betatron orbit, which varies for every electron in the beam. The radiation spectrum emitted from an electron beam is calculated by averaging the single-electron spectrum over the ...
In this study three types of scanning electron microscopes were used for the size determination of spermatozoa of sterlet Acipenser ruthenus - high vacuum scanning electron microscope (SEM, JEOL 6300), environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM, Quanta 200 FEG), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM, JEOL 7401F) with cryoattachment Alto 2500 (Gatan) and transmission electron microscope (TEM, JEOL 1010). The use of particular microscopes was tied with different specimen preparation techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate to what degree the type of used electron microscope can influence the size of different parts of spermatozoa. For high vacuum SEM the specimen was prepared using two slightly different procedures. After chemical fixation with 2.5% glutaraldehyde...
The proposal made in this paper refers to a free electron laser FEL with small-period electromagnet undulator in SASE regime and a FEL transverse optical klystron in the amplifier regime. The relativistic electron beam source for this FEL is the 7 MeV electron linac of the National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Physics Radiation (NILPRP) in Bucharest. The paper presents the main features of the design and performance of both FELs and discusses the improvements which must be made to the accelerator in order to use it as a free electron source concerning the injection system of electrons and formation of accelerated electron beam. The findings show that this FEL can be employed as a coherent radiation source in the IR range. (author)
The properties of negative-ion beams are very important for designing negative-ion apparatus and applications of negative-ion beams, especially, electron detachment cross-sections at the interaction between negative-ion beams and gas particles in the transport system, and secondary-electron emission factors when negative ions are incident on solid surfaces. These properties of negative-ion beams were investigated experimentally as a function of the ion energy under 50 keV. The single electron detachment cross-sections are almost constant in the other of 10[sup -15] cm[sup 2] in this energy range, but double electron detachment cross-sections increase in proportion to the ion velocity and much smaller than the single one. As for the secondary-electron emission factor, the emission factors for negative-ion beam are found to be larger by 1 than those for positive-ion beams. (author).
The properties of negative-ion beams are very important for designing negative-ion apparatus and applications of negative-ion beams, especially, electron detachment cross-sections at the interaction between negative-ion beams and gas particles in the transport system, and secondary-electron emission factors when negative ions are incident on solid surfaces. These properties of negative-ion beams were investigated experimentally as a function of the ion energy under 50 keV. The single electron detachment cross-sections are almost constant in the other of 10"-"1"5 cm"2 in this energy range, but double electron detachment cross-sections increase in proportion to the ion velocity and much smaller than the single one. As for the secondary-electron emission factor, the emission factors for negative-ion beam are found to be larger by 1 than those for positive-ion beams. (author).
This article reports research findings related to converging formats, media, practices, and ideas in the process of academics' interaction with electronic texts during a research project. The findings are part of the results of a study that explored interactions of scholars in literary and historical studies with electronic texts as primary materials. Electronic texts were perceived by the study participants as fluid entities because the electronic environment promotes seamless interactions with a variety of media and formats. Working with electronic texts combines some traditional information and research practices into new patterns of information behavior. The practice called "netchaining" combines aspects of networking with information-seeking practices to establish and shape online information chains, which link sources and people. Different forms of exploration of participants' ...
In the previous paper, we have derived a dispersion relation for the free electron laser (FEL) gain in the exponential regime taking account the diffraction and electron`s betatron oscillation. Here, we compare the growth rates obtained by solving the dispersion relation with those obtained by simulation calculation for the waterbag and the Gaussian models for the electron`s transverse phase space distribution. The agreement is found to be good except for the limiting case where the Rayleigh length is much longer than the gain length (1-D limit). We also generalize the analysis to the case where the electron beam cross section is elliptical as is usually the case in storage rings, and derive the first-order dispersion relation.
In order to obtain the electronic structure of leucine (Leu) in aqueous solution, we studied three systems: Leu+7H2O, Leu+8H2O and Leu+9H2O. The results indicated that the system Leu+8H2O was the only choice which was both acceptable and doable: its computational effort was affordable, and it could simulate a main part of the solvent effect on the electronic structure of Leu in solution. Based on the system Leu+8H2O, all-electron, ab initio calculations were performed to construct an equivalent potential of water for the electronic structure of Leu with dipoles. The results showed that the main effect of water on the electronic structure of Leu was raising the occupied states about 0.0824 Ry on average, and broadening the energy gap by 11%. The water effect on the electronic structure of L...
This is the final report of a one-year, Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The main objective of this project was to engineer and procure an electron beamline compatible with the operation of a 1-kW free-electron laser (FEL). Another major task is the physics design of the electron beam line from the end of the wiggler to the electron beam dump. This task is especially difficult because electron beam is expected to have 20 kW of average power and to simultaneously have a 25% energy spread. The project goals were accomplished. The high-power electron design was completed. All of the hardware necessary for high-power operation was designed and procured.
A technique capable of measuring the electron energy fluence spectra in a scattering medium was designed. These measurements were performed by setting a bremsstrahlung conversion target on the surface of a phantom, at an intermediate depth, and at a depth equal to electron mean range. The bremsstrahlung produced by the deceleration of electrons in the target was passed through an air channel in the phantom and passed forward by a pinhole collimator into a Na(Tl) detector. The measured pulse height data were unfolded to correct for the distortion of the spectrometer system by using the FORIST unfolding code. The unfolded bremsstrahlung spectra represent the electron energy fluence spectra convolution with the bremsstrahlung produced in the target. To generate the electron energy fluence spectra, the unfolded bremsstrahlung spectra were deconvoluted by using the MAZE2 unfolding code. ...
The description and results of the study on the free-electron laser (FEL) on 100 #mu#m, representing the first line of the FIAN multipurpose radiation complex, are presented. The electron beam with the energy of 6-8 MeV, once accelerated in a racetrack microtron and extracted into the FEL injection tract, is used for exciting this FEL. The system of the electron beam transport, injection and diagnostics are described. Additional works on increasing the beam emittance up to 0.4 A for one energy spread percent are carried out. The obtained electron beam parameters assure generation of the far infrared radiation in the FEL
The most propagated mechanisms of stimulated radiation of electron beam such as Cherenkov one-particle and collective effects, ondulator and magnetic bremsshrahlung radiations, Doppler anomalous effect, Thompson and Raman scattering and radiation are discussed. Relation of spontaneous radiation mechanisms of individual electron and stimulated radiation effects in electron beams has been elucidated, grounds of linear electrodynamics of radiative beam instabilities are stated, and main mechanisms of their nonlinear stabilization are elucidated as well. Various simulated processes in electron beams are considered from the unique point of view using a simple mathematical apparatus and such physical laws as conservation and Newton laws.
Energy deposition process by relativistic fast electrons produced by ultra-intense laser pulses is discussed. The process is calculated with a two dimensional Fokker-Planck simulation code including binary and collective collisions coupled with electromagnetic field. We focused on Velocity Distribution Function (VDF) dependence in the simulation. The results show that the spread angle of the fast electrons distribution affects energy deposition area and deposited energy is concentrated in the vicinity of the propagation axis of the fast electrons. It may be also suggested that self-pinch effect of a fast electron beam causes large deposition energy. (author)
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Progress in calculating the electron-phonon parameters of transition metals has been based on either the rigid muffin-tin approximation (RMTA) or the fitted modified tight-binding approximation (FMTBA). The RMTA has been shown to be remarkably accurate for average electron-phonon properties, but there are indications that RMTA matrix elements may be too small at low momentum transfer. An attempt is made to demonstrate these assertions concerning the accuracy of RMTA and the numerous electron-phonon calculations are placed in a broader perspective by a demonstration of how they can be used to explain the trends in the strength of the electron-phonon coupling among the transition metals and the A-15 compounds. (GHT)
A study was made on the effect of 3.5 MeV electron irradiation on the properties of light-emissive structure based on GaAlAs. It is shown that a considerable decrease in the emitted light intensity as a result of electron irradiation not accompanied by changes in recombination- and electric properties of the mentioned structures. It is established by the electron-microscopy and Auger-spectroscopy meazurements that electron irradiation causes the occurrence of regions of free aluminium clusters on the external surface of the structure n-layer. The number and the sizes of the regions depend on the electron doze. It was assumed that the mentioned regions can play a role of attenuation filter for the light emitted by the structure.
The existence of a narrow peak in the electronic density of states in A-15 compounds is explained by a strong electron--phonon interaction that leads to the polaron narrowing of the band. An analytic expression relating the transition temperature T/sub c/ to the phonon spectrum is derived under the assumption of a weak and an intermediate-strength coupling. The model allows the explanation of the correlation of T/sub c/ with the number of electrons per atom, the temperature dependence of the resistance, the magnitude and temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, and the electronic specific heat.
We have constructed an apparatus to study electron impact ionization of ions which should provide additional insight into the mechanisms involved. Using multiparameter coincidence techniques, we will detect both outgoing electrons from ionization process and will be able to analyze the momenta of both particles simultaneously. Coupled with a high resolution electron gun, this information should have broad application to the difficult problem of three bodies interacting via the long range Coulomb force. If sufficient accuracy can be achieved, information regarding the relative phase of the outgoing electron wavefunctions can be obtained.
Self-magnetically insulated, high-voltage transmission lines are used in inertial confinement fusion particle accelerators in order to transmit power from the vacuum insulator to the diode. This paper describes a time-dependent 2-D code (MITL) for calculating (for planar or triplate geometries) the motion of test electrons through the tapered input or output convolutes of such lines. MITL results show that the electron canonical momentum in the direction of the flow changes as the electron passes through the convoluted geometry; it is suggested that these electrons lead to losses observed in long self-magnetically insulated lines.
In a free electron laser (FEL), the electron bunch energy profile at the undulator entrance can have temporal structures. In this paper, we derive analytical expressions for the FEL in the undulator, in the case of the electron bunch having both energy chirp and energy curvature. The FEL properties are studied analytically by convoluting a Gaussian seed laser with the FEL Green's function obtained by solving the coupled Vlasov-Maxwell equations. In particular, for different ratios of the temporal duration of the seed laser and that of the Green's function, interesting behavior is revealed.
The feasibility of a high-energy electron cooling device has been studied through tests on a prototype of the electron device. The apparatus consists of a pulsed ((20-60) keV, 2#mu#s) electron gun, a drift region 1 m long and of a depressed collector for recovering the electron energy. Tests on beam optics and energy recovery have been performed, a high-energy recovery efficiency has been attained. Experimental results are discussed in this paper.
Measurements of the expansion rate of pure-electron plasmas have been performed on the Electron Diffusion Gauge (EDG) device at background helium gas pressures in the 5 x 10(superscript -8) Torr to 1 x 10(superscript -5) Torr range, where plasma expansion due to electron-neutral collisions dominates over plasma expansion due to trap asymmetries. It is found that the expansion rate, defined as the time rate of change of the particles' mean-square radius, scales approximately linearly with pressure and inversely as the square of the magnetic field strength in this regime, in agreement with classical predictions.
Here I provide a brief overview of recent experimental gas-phase measurements using the Selected-Ion Flow Tube or SIFT technique at 294#+-#2 K with helium buffer gas at 0.35 Torr for reactions which remove electrons from the C_6_0 molecule or donate electrons to singly and multiply-charged C_6_0 cations. The results of these measurements have provided new insight into physicochemical aspects of electron transfer and have revealed the occurrence of unprecedented electron transfer reactions at thermal energies. (author).
The motivation for using a tandem electrostatic accelerator as an electron accelerator for a free electron laser (FEL) is presented. The adaptation of the HVEC EN tandem at the Weizmann Institute for this purpose, electron beam optics and nonlinear FEL computation relevant for this FEL realization are described. In the tandem configuration the terminal is held at a positive potential. The electron beam is accelerated from ground potential to the terminal in one beam tube and then decelerated down the other beam tube. The FEL wiggler and cavity are at the terminal. Due to the beam energy recovery this scheme produces a high power beam at the terminal with a small investment in electrical power. (orig.).
An alkali-like ion interaction with inner electrons of an alkali-like ion leads to a significant increase in the photoionization cross section of the outer s electron. This occurs not only for ground-state ions with one s electron in the outer shell, but also when the outer s electron is in an excited state. The reason for this amplification, in addition to coherent enhancement in summing of the correlation amplitudes, is that the zero in the direct amplitude occurs below threshold. This leads to a constructive interference with the correlation amplitude above the photoionization threshold, in contrast to a destructive interference in the case of a neutral atom with the same electronic configuration, for which the zero occurs above threshold. Results of this research were published.
A high-power microwave Free Electron Laser (FEL) experiment has been performed to study the inherent electron beam bunching that occurs in the FEL interaction. An induction linac delivered a 1 kA, 2.2 MeV electron beam to a FEL amplifier. In the process of amplifying the input signal of frequency 35 GHz to power levels of the order of 10 MW, the electron beam was bunched by the ponderomotive force. In this paper we describe the FEL experiment and the optical technique that was used to observe the bunches. Their properties as functions of the basic FEL parameters are discussed. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics.
In the case of total skin electron therapy without the beam guide, the electron beam is scattered just outside the gantry exit, dose uniformity in the field is broken, and dose is spread outside the light field. The aims of this study were to measure the mean energy of the off-axis incident electron beam without the beam guide and to establish a reference for the clinical situation. For the measurement, a 4 MeV electron beam was selected among several energies from the linear accelerator. A scintillating fiber beam energy monitor measured the mean energy of the incident electron beam. This energy monitor is a small, light-weight piece of equipment composed of a wedge absorber, scintillation fiber, and photodiode. We found the relationship between electron energy and the indicated value of the energy monitor by means of the estimation of correction factors for ...
The use of primary electron counting techniques as an alternative to the more usual parallel plate avalanche chamber that has been employed in soft x-ray scattering experiments is being investigated at the National Synchrotron Light Source. The theoretical aspects of primary electron counting and motivation behind building a primary electron counting detector are described, as well as characteristics and future improvements of the device constructed at the NSLS. The detector consists of a low electric field drift region and a low pressure multistep avalanche region which can be operated with two or three stages of electron multiplication. The device has worked well in extensive tests as a simple parallel plate avalanche chamber, providing energy resolutions of 58% and 43% at 277 and 500 eV, respectively. Operated as a primary electron counter, preliminary results show an energy ...
Several different aspects of the influence of the target backing on in-beam electron spectra following compound nuclear reactions induced by accelerated ions at tandem energies irradiating backed targets are discussed in detail. This discussion is illustrated by a few typical examples, such as "1"2C"5"+ and "3"1P"1"0"+ beams at 4 MeV/u bombarding Sn(+Be), Sn(+Au), Pb(+C) backed targets. Moreover, the relative influence of electron backscattering, electron Doppler shift and Doppler broadening as well as #delta#-electron emission on the low energy electron spectra (E_e#<=#100 keV) obtained under such conditions are investigated in the frame of the available experimental data. (orig.).
Autoionizing and Auger transitions in atomic manganese and samarium have been experimentally investigated by observation of the ejected electrons in the energy region 0 to 40 eV following electron impact excitation with incident beams in the energy range 15-500 eV. Seventy-four spectral features are tabulated for manganese and a number of new assignments have been made based on pseudo-relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations and quantum defect analysis. A similar study of samarium reveals only a number of broad features in the ejected-electron energy range 8-10 eV. Three features have been observed consistently in the ejected-electron spectrum of samarium and assigned by comparison with previous work. (author).
The authors have measured the relaxation time of hot electrons in short pulse laser-solid interactions using a picosecond time-resolved x-ray spectrometer and a time-integrated electron spectrometer. Employing laser intensities of 10{sup 17}, 10{sup 18}, and 10{sup 19} W/cm{sup 2}, they find increased laser coupling to hot electrons as the laser intensity becomes relativistic and thermalization of hot electrons at timescales on the order of 10 ps at all laser intensities. They propose a simple model based on collisional coupling and plasma expansion to describe the rapid relaxation of hot electrons. The agreement between the resulting K{sub {alpha}} time-history from this model with the experiments is best at highest laser intensity and less satisfactory at the two lower laser intensities.
This is the final report of a three-year, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The primary aim of this project is to obtain a basic scientific understanding of electrical transport processes at interfaces that contain an organic electronic material. Because of their processing advantages and the tunability of their electronic properties, organic electronic materials are revolutionizing major technological areas such as information display. We completed an investigation of the fundamental electronic excitation energies in the prototype conjugated polymer MEH-PPV. We completed a combined theoretical/experimental study of the energy relation between charged excitations in a conjugated polymer and the metal at a polymer/metal interface. We developed a theoretical model that explains injection currents at polymer/metal interfaces. We have made ...
Studies of Rydberg-atom destruction in collisions with the polar targets CH_3I and CH_2Br_2 for values of principal quantum number n in the range 100--400 are reported. Analysis of the data using the essentially-free-electron model suggests that, for ultralow electron energies (#approx#80 #mu#eV to 1 meV), the cross section #sigma#(var-epsilon) for rotationally inelastic scattering of electrons by a polar target varies approximately as 1/var-epsilon, where var-epsilon is the electron energy. The Born approximation does not predict such behavior at very low collision energies, and possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
This grant has focused on the study of several aspects of electron kinetics in low pressure plasmas. Entirely new effects arise from the fact that the electron kinetics is governed by non-local effects, in which the electron distribution function is not equilibrium with the local electric field but is governed by spatial transport effects. In this grant, we were able to demonstrate several previously un-studied effects which are a direct result of the nonlocal transport. These are: (1) The existence of a ''convective cell' in electron phase space. The phenomenon was observed and studied in CW plasma conditions. (2) The occurrence of non-collisional cooling of electrons through an effect known as ''diffusive cooling''.
Tokamaks with sufficiently strong supplementary heating develop non-Maxwellian electron velocity distributions. Because the absorption of electron cyclotron power is proportional to #nabla#_Vf, even small deviations from a Maxwellian distribution can significantly affect power deposition. Following an approach used to study microinstabilities in a plasma with an arbitrary, numerically specified, electron distribution, we have developed a computational module to study electron cyclotron power deposition in plasmas that have distributions motivated by those in actual tokamaks. Also, we compare the deposition results obtained using an energy balance approach with those obtained using a Taylor expansion of the dielectric tensor. We illustrate the limitations of the latter approach.
In a sufficiently large cluster of several polar molecules, collective interactions lead to localization or 'solvation' of electrons. The existence of the solvated electron is known since 1863 in liquid ammonia and since 1962 for liquid water. In 1984, electron localization in clusters was experimentally demonstrated in (H_2O)_N_#>=#_1_1 and (NH_3)_N_#>=#_3_4 clusters. In cooperation with K. Bowen, we recently initiated a test of the theory of electron binding by a dipole and a new ground state dipole bound dimer anion, (H_2O..NH_3), was predicted and observed. We here describe results of a search for new dipole-bound and solvated electron systems. (author).
The development and occurrence of new electron accelerators and applications are according to the human society development law, as a whole. The period of economic standstill is generating an intense creative activity in the domain of science and engineering which also resulting in great achievements in the field of electron accelerators. This paper presents the basic principle of the electron beam applications and the accelerators required characteristics for their present and potential applications in the domains: radiation sources, diagnostics, radiation processing, energetics, environment, defense and basic sciences. All these are correlated to the new generation of accelerators which, for the acceleration process, may employ electromagnetic fields generated by standard sources, atomic lasers, free electron lasers, Cerenkov effect, Smith - Purcell effect, electron beams, plasma, ...