At the occasion of the OECS conference in Madrid, we give a succinct account of some recent predictions in the spectroscopy of a quantumdot in a microcavity that remain to be observed experimentally, sometimes within the reach of the current state of the art.
In this work we study the dephasing mechanism of a double quantum-dot system, which includes two electrons and a nearby quantum point contact (QPC) as a measurement device. We obtain that the QPC-induced decoherence is on time scales of microseconds. We also find that the electrons will be delocalized after continuous measurement, irrespectively of the initial conditions, and the frequent repeated measurements will localize the system, which is consistent with the quantum Zeno effect. Further, we consider the situation that the double quantum-dot system is irradiated by a microwave field.
For coupled quantum wires and dots, tunneling effects and coherent transport for quantum computing are being studied. In 2D systems, electron-hole bilayers for exciton...
This paper reports progress in the fabrication and characterization of an array of 1nm-scale colloidal particles (i.e., quantum-dot array) that can be operated to execute nontrivial and innovative computations, possibly including quantum logic. We discuss the actual fabrication of 2-nm metal clusters as an example of possible quantumdot implementation. Innovative and unconventional paradigms underlie the different stages of this work. For example, regular array geometry is achieved by directing appropriately derivatized metal clusters to preselected locations along a stretched strand of an engineered DNA sequence.
A theoretical study of an exciton confined in a quantum ring is presented. The quantum ring is described as a two-dimensional circular quantumdot with a repulsive core, which is modelled with the help of two Gaussian functions. We have applied the variational method and investigated the evolution of the low-energy exciton spectrum with the change of the confinement potential. The calculations have been performed for the recently produced self-assembled ring-shaped InGaAs quantumdots. We have shown that the repulsive core strongly increases the radiative transition probability from the exciton ground state at the expense of the decreasing probability of the transitions from the excited states. This effect results from the orthogonality properties of the exciton wavefunctions, which are specific to the quantum-ring confinement potential. We ...
An aliphatic thiol ligand of CuInS2/ZnS core/shell quantumdots is replaced with a hydroxyl-terminated thiol ligand by utilizing `on-off state' of ligands during growth stage of the quantumdots. After the ligand-exchange, negligible differences were observed on both photoluminescence spectrum and luminescent quantum efficiency. The reason for the high retention of luminescent efficiency comes from no local agglomeration and no surface deterioration of QDs. It is also observed that 70% of initial ligands are exchanged by the replacing ligand, determined by FT-IR and 1H NMR. The proposed method provides the quantumdots with an excellent dispersibility in polar solvents, supported by identical luminescence decay characteristics of the QDs.
X-ray scattering methods suitable for the investigation of the morphology and chemical composition of self-organized quantumdots and quantum wires are reviewed. Their application is demonstrated in experimental examples showing that a combination of small angle X-ray scattering with high-resolution X-ray diffraction can reveal both the shape and the chemical composition of the self-organized objects. (author)
Cadmium sulfide particles have been synthesized in the aqueous medium using the amino acid histidine as a stabilizing agent. These particles demonstrate the phenomenon of size quantization effect. The fluorescence of histidine-stabilized CdS was found to be enhanced and quenched by the addition of DNA bases adenine and guanine, respectively. The fluorescence enhancement of CdS in the presence of adenine has been explained on the basis of interaction between the quantumdot stabilizer and the amino group of adenine. Quenching of CdS fluorescence by guanine occurs due to interaction of the substrate with the quantumdot surface.
In this work, the effects of the focus ion beam (FIB) milling process on the optical properties of semiconductor nanostructures were investigated. With this aim, a sensitive materials system based on InGaAs/GaAs quantumdots with well known and excellent optical properties was selected for the FIB treatment. The FIB technique was used to locally remove a metallic mask deposited on top of the quantumdot sample. The photoluminescence (PL) signal, collected from the circular openings, was used to infer the possible damage effects of the ion beam on the properties of the dots.
The effect of the electric field on an exciton confined in a pair of vertically coupled quantumdots is studied. We use a single-band approximation and a parabolic model potential. As a result of these idealizations, we obtain a numerically solvable model, which is used to describe the influence of the electron-hole interaction on the Stark effect for the lowest-energy photoluminescence lines. We show that for intermediate tunnel coupling between the dots this interaction leads to an anomalous Stark effect with an essential deviation of the recombination energy from the usual quadratic dependence on the electric field.
This topical review provides an overview of quantumdot micropillars and their application in cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) experiments. The development of quantumdot micropillars is motivated by the study of fundamental cQED effects in solid state and their exploitation in novel light sources. In general, light-matter interaction occurs when the dipole of an emitter couples to the ambient light field. The corresponding coupling strength is strongly enhanced in the framework of cQED when the emitter is located inside a low mode volume microcavity providing three-dimensional photon confinement on a length scale of the photon wavelength. In addition, coherent coupling between light and matter, which is essential for applications in quantum information processing, can be achieved when dissipative losses, predominantly due to photon leakage out of the ...
A quantum computer would put the latest PC to shame. Not only would such a device be faster than a conventional computer, but by exploiting the quantum-mechanical principle of superposition it could change the way we think about information processing. However, two key goals need to be met before a quantum computer becomes reality. The first is to be able to control the state of a single quantum bit (or 'qubit') and the second is to build a two-qubit gate that can produce 'entanglement' between the qubit states. (U.K.)
In this Letter, we demonstrate the application of time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements to detect solution state hybridization of streptavidin conjugate (CdSe)ZnS quantumdots (QD). The study was performed on samples containing 10nM QD incubated with 800nM DNA. We show that the rotational correlation time of QD-DNA constructs increases significantly upon hybridization with values of 330ns (QD-ssDNA) and 1.3ms (QD-dsDNA), corresponding to a diameter of 14nm and 23nm respectively. The present study opens a new modality for hybridization detection using quantumdots.
Systematic ensemble photoluminescence studies have been performed on type-I InP-quantumdots in Al_0_._2_0Ga_0_._8_0InP barriers, emitting at approximately 1.85 eV at 5 K. The influence of different barrier configurations as well as the incorporation of additional tunnel barriers on the optical properties has been investigated. The confinement energy between the dot barrier and the surrounding barrier layers, which is the sum of the band discontinuities for the valence and the conduction bands, was chosen to be approximately 190 meV by using Al_0_._5_0Ga_0_._5_0InP. In combination with 2 nm thick AlInP tunnel barriers, the internal quantum efficiency of these barrier configurations can be increased by up to a factor of 20 at elevated temperatures with respect to quantumdots without such layers. (copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) ...
A classical model is presented for magnetic field-induced Wigner crystallization in electron systems confined within two-dimensional quantumdots. In contrast to other classical models, this one does not treat an electron as a point charge; the electron density is assumed to take a Gaussian form corresponding to the lowest Landau level. Using a Monte Carlo method we have determined the equilibrium configurations as functions of the magnetic field. We have found a classical counterpart of the quantum maximum density droplet (MDD) and studied the breakdown of the MDD into a Wigner molecule as well as the transformations of the Wigner molecule shape induced by the external magnetic field. The phase diagram for the classical Wigner molecules has been presented and its qualitative agreement with previous quantum mechanical calculations has been shown.
The site-selective growth of InAs quantumdots (QDs) by a combined focused ion beam (FIB) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process has been demonstrated. An array of FIB modified spots on MBE grown GaAs was fabricated. Thereafter, an in situ annealing step followed by InAs deposition was performed. The InAs QDs were preferentially formed in the holes generated by the FIB. The influences of ion dose, annealing parameters, and InAs amount were investigated. With optimized parameters, the authors observe more than 50% single dot occupancy per holes. Photoluminescence spectra confirm the good optical quality of the QDs.
Recently, the public has become aware of keywords like ''Quantum computer'' or ''Quantum cryptography''. Regarding their potential application in solid state based quantum information processing and their overall benefit in fundamental research quantumdots have gained more and more public interest. In this context, quantumdots are often referred to as ''artificial atoms'', a term subsuming their physical properties quite nicely and emphasizing the huge potential for further investigations. The basic mechanism to be considered is the theoretical model of a two-level system. A quantumdot itself represents this kind of system quite nicely, provided that only the presence or absence of a single ...
Using standard microfabrication techniques, it is now possible to construct devices that appear to reliably manipulate electrons one at a time. These devices have potential use as building blocks in quantum computing devices, or as a standard of electrical current derived only from a frequency and the fundamental charge. To date, the error rate in semiconductor 'tuneable-barrier' pump devices, those which show most promise for high-frequency operation, have not been tested in detail. We present high-accuracy measurements of the current from an etched GaAs quantumdot pump, operated at zero source-drain bias voltage with a single ac-modulated gate at 340 MHz driving the pump cycle. By comparison with a reference current derived from primary standards, we show that the electron transfer accuracy is better than 15 parts per million. High-resolution studies of the dependence of the pump current on the ...
Low-frequency current noise and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics have been studied in InAs/GaAs self-assembled QuantumDot Infrared Photodetectors in dark conditions and under illumination, at T = 77K and T = 5K. The noise behavior is consistent with a generation-recombination fluctuation process mainly related to thermally excited charge carriers at T = 77K. At T = 5K the current noise is consistent with a mechanism of fluctuations driven by the electric field, related to tunneling rather than emission-capture of charge carriers from the QuantumDots. A very effective noise suppression mechanism, related to the tunneling regime, determines a decrease of fluctuation intensity as a function of the voltage. At T = 5K, an interesting behavior is observed in the current-voltage and noise power spectra for some of nominally identical QDIP structures in the presence of irradiation. Some devices indeed ...
Nanoscale islands of Cu2O have been synthesized on single-crystal SrTiO3 (100) substrates using oxygen plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy (OPA-MBE). Island growth location has been controlled by using an ex-situ Ga+ focused ion beam (FIB) to modify the growth surface in discrete locations prior to island synthesis. Analysis of Cu2O dot growth on unmodified substrate regions revealed an evolution of dot size and array density. Atomic force microscopy studies show that certain FIB substrate modification and MBE growth condition combinations lead to directed self-assembly of islands. Islands initially formed in the FIB-generated surface topography and filled those features before nucleating on neighboring unmodified surface regions.
Since information has been regarded os a physical entity, the field of quantum information theory has blossomed. This brings novel applications, such as quantum computation. This field has attracted the attention of numerous researchers with backgrounds ranging from computer science, mathematics and engineering, to the physical sciences. Thus, we now have an interdisciplinary field where great efforts are being made in order to build devices that should allow for the processing of information at a quantum level, and also in the understanding of the complex structure of some physical processes at a more basic level. This thesis is devoted to the theoretical study of structures at the nanometer-scale, 'nanostructures', through physical processes that mainly involve the solid-state and quantum optics, in order to propose reliable schemes for the processing of quantum ...
This paper presents a method to evaluate and improve the performance of quantumdot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs). We proposed a device model for QDIPs. The developed model accounts for the self-consistent potential distribution, features of the electron capture and transport in realistic QDIPs in dark and illumination conditions. This model taking the effect of donor charges on the spatial distribution of the electric potential in the QDIP active region. The model is used for the calculation of the dark current, photocurrent and detectivity as a function of the structural parameters such as applied voltage, doping QD density, QD layers, and temperature. It explains strong sensitivity of dark current to the density of QDs and the doping level of the active region. In order to confirm our...
InP-quantumdots (QDs) are promising sources of single-photons and as active laser medium, emitting in the red part of the visible spectrum and thus in the range of the highest sensitivity of current silicon detectors. The self assembled QDs were grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy and are embedded in between distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), afterwards the sample was processed by a Focused Ion Beam to fabricate micro-pillars. The DBRs and the high refractive index step between pillar and air results in a three dimensional mode confinement and highly directed emission and thus higher intensity. We have investigated the mode spectra by micro-photoluminescence measurements for different pillar diameters and compared the spectra with a theoretical model showing up good consistency. Q-factors up to 3600 were achieved.
Inspired by the recent realizations of quantumdot (QD)-DNA conjugation, we study the spectral density of a magnetic impurity coupled to a mesoscopic semiconducting host. Using a combination of exact diagonalization technique and an analytic approach, we demonstrate that various types of resonances occur according to the relative position of impurity levels (IL) with respect to the host levels (HL). While the usual Coulomb peaks appear when the IL lie inside a band gap, with IL approaching HL and hybridization activated, they shift nonlinearly with the repulsion strength and even undergo splitting for a strong hybridization. When IL merge into HL, multiple resonances of a comblike structure are found along with a parity effect.
Self-assembled quantumdots (QDs) are envisioned as building blocks for realization of novel nanoelectronic devices, for which the site-selective growth is highly desirable. This thesis presents a successful route toward selective positioning of self-assembled InAs QDs on patterned GaAs surface by combination of in situ focused ion beam (FIB) implantation and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technology. First, a buffer layer of GaAs was grown by MBE before a square array of holes with a pitch of 1-2 #mu#m was fabricated by FIB implantation of Ga and In, ions respectively. Later, an in-situ annealing step followed by InAs deposition was performed. The InAs QDs were preferentially formed in the holes generated by FIB. The influence of ion dose, annealing parameters and InAs amount was investigated in this work. With optimized parameters, more than 50 % single dot occupancy per hole is achieved. Furthermore, the photoluminescence ...
We present an approach for fabrication of intentionally positioned epitaxial InAs QDs in a micron sized light emitting diode. For site-selective growth, a combination of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and focused ion beam (FIB) implantation technology in an all-ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) setup has been employed. Single dot occupancy of almost 55 % on FIB patterned nano-depressions was successfully achieved. Thereafter, carrier injection and subsequent radiative recombination from the positioned InAs/GaAs self-assembled QDs was investigated by embedding these QDs in the intrinsic part of a GaAs-based micron sized p-i-n junction device. Few or single dot are expected to be electrically addressed in these devices. We report results from electroluminescence (EL) measurement which proves the single dot characteristics of our device. The EL spectra consist of sharp emission lines and their dependence on injection current shows linear ...
The synthesis of a new kind of magnetic, fluorescent multifunctional nanoparticles (~30 nm in diameter) was demonstrated, where multiple fluorescent CdTe quantumdots (QDs) are covalently linked...Full Text Available
We suggest and study designed defects in an otherwise periodic potential modulation of a two-dimensional electron gas as an alternative approach to electron spin based quantum information processing in the solid-state using conventional gate-defined quantumdots. We calculate the band structure and density of states for a periodic potential modulation, referred to as an antidot lattice, and find that localized states appear, when designed defects are introduced in the lattice. Such defect states may form the building blocks for quantum computing in a large antidot lattice, allowing for coherent electron transport between distant defect states in the lattice, and for a tunnel coupling of neighboring defect states with corresponding electrostatically controllable exchange coupling between different electron spins.
We propose a new physical implementation of spin qubits for quantum information processing, namely defect states in antidot lattices defined in the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at a semiconductor heterostructure. Calculations of the band structure of a periodic antidot lattice are presented. A point defect is created by removing a single antidot, and calculations show that localized states form within the defect, with an energy structure which is robust against thermal dephasing. The exchange coupling between two electrons residing in two tunnel-coupled defect states is calculated numerically. We find results reminiscent of double quantumdot structures, indicating that the suggested structure is a feasible physical implementation of spin qubits.
Semiconductor quantumdots (QDs) are a promising approach to realize a single-photon source. To avoid bulky and expensive laser systems for future applications, electrical excitation is desirable. InP QDs are especially suited, as they emit in the red spectral range and therefore in the optimal range of commercial detectors. Additionally, they have been shown to be capable of emitting single photons up to 80 K. Thus, we embedded InP QDs in the intrinsic region of a p-i-n diode. To form single devices, 100 #mu#m mesas were etched and supplied with electrical contacts. We investigated the electroluminescence from single QDs and performed second-order auto correlation measurements to verify single-photon emission. To prevent expensive helium cooling and reach operation above 80 K, we investigated the influence of elevated temperature on the performance of our device. Since triggered single-photon emission is required for most applications, ...
An in situ synthesis of ZnS and CdS quantumdots (QDs) in an aqueous solution of sodium hyaluronate (Hyal) produced foils emitting light on excitation with a UV light. The wavelength of emission was only slightly QDs size and more QDs concentration dependent and reached up to {approx}320 nm in the case of ZnS and {approx}400-450 nm in the case of CdS. Nanoparticles remained as non-agglomerated 10-20 nm nanoclusters. CdS/Hyal and ZnS/Hyal-QDs biocomposites were characterized using photoluminescence (PL), IR spectrometric techniques, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The absolute molecular weights, radii of gyration, R{sub g}, and thermodynamic properties of the obtained foils are given. Electric resistivity studies performed for the hyaluronic foil in the 100-1000 V range have revealed that the hyaluronate foil has very weak conducting properties and QDs only insignificantly affect those properties as QDs practically did not interact ...
We theoretically model a nuclear-state preparation scheme that increases the coherence time of a two-spin qubit in a double quantumdot. The two-electron system is tuned repeatedly across a singlet-triplet level-anticrossing with alternating slow and rapid sweeps of an external bias voltage. Using a Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg model, we find that in addition to a small nuclear polarization that weakly affects the electron spin coherence, the slow sweeps are only partially adiabatic and lead to a weak nuclear spin measurement and a nuclear-state narrowing which prolongs the electron spin coherence. This resolves some open problems brought up by a recent experiment. We also show that the electronic two-spin states singlet and triplet T_+ are promising candidates for the implementation of a qubit in GaAs double quantumdots (DQD). A coherent superposition of the two-spin states is obtained by finite time ...
For InAs-GaAs based quantumdot lasers emitting at 1300 nm, digital modulation showing an open eye pattern up to 12 Gb s{sup -1} at room temperature is demonstrated, at 10 Gb s{sup -1} the bit error rate is below 10{sup -12} at -2 dB m receiver power. Cut-off frequencies up to 20 GHz are realised for lasers emitting at 1.1 {mu}m. Passively mode-locked QD lasers generate optical pulses with repetition frequencies between 5 and 50 GHz, with a minimum Fourier limited pulse length of 3 ps. The uncorrelated jitter is below 1 ps. We use here deeply etched narrow ridge waveguide structures which show excellent performance similar to shallow mesa structures, but a circular far field at a ridge width of 1 {mu}m, improving coupling efficiency into fibres. No beam filamentation of the fundamental mode, low a-factors and strongly reduced sensitivity to optical feedback are observed. QD lasers are thus superior to QW lasers for any system or network. ...
As surface treated steel sheets, steel sheets with Zn-Fe coatings as well as double-layer steel sheets with Fe-P alloy coatings on Zn-Fe alloy coatings are often used practically. Two treatment methods, which are used to dissolve only alloy layers without dissolving steel sheets in order to find amount and composition of alloy layersr have already been reported. This report investigates the mechanisms of these methods, particularly the mechanisms to control dissolution of steel sheets. In the alkali-dissolution method, Zn-Fe alloy coatings are dissolved in a strong alkaline solution(NaOH-triethanolamine (TEA)-H{sub 2}O{sub 2}). In this case, steel sheets are insoluble because passive films are formed on the surface. In the cathodic polarization electrolysis method, alloy layers are electrolyzed({minus}l.2V) and dissolved in an ammonium nitrate-0-phen electrolyte. At this potential, dissolution of steel ...
A sum-over-histories generalized quantum theory is developed for homogeneous minisuperspace type A Bianchi cosmological models, focusing on the particular example of the classically recollapsing Bianchi type-IX universe. The decoherence functional for such universes is exhibited. We show how the probabilities of decoherent sets of alternative, coarse-grained histories of these model universes can be calculated. We consider in particular the probabilities for classical evolution defined by a suitable coarse graining. For a restricted class of initial conditions and coarse grainings we exhibit the approximate decoherence of alternative histories in which the universe behaves classically and those in which it does not. For these situations we show that the probability is near unity for the universe to recontract classically if it expands classically. We also determine the relative probabilities of quasiclassical trajectories for initial states of WKB form, recovering ...
The passive films formed in stainless steels are thin and fine oxide films, a high corrosion resistance can be provided by these films. This study formed SiO2 protective coating on the substrate of SUS 304 stainless steels by chemical vapor deposition using TEOS-O3 system. Firstly, relations of substrate temperature and deposition rate of films, chemical composition, refractive index of films were investigated. Then, the corrosion resistance of SUS 304 stainless steels coated SiO2 films was examined by activation time and an anodic polarization curve in 1 kmol[center dot]m[sup -3] HCl solution. The results were obtained as follows. Thickness of SiO2 films linearly increases with time at the deposition temperature of 473 to 673 K. Si-OH bonds would disappear above the deposition temperature of 573 K, almost perfect SiO2 films were obtained. The activation time in 1 kmol[center dot]m[sup -3] HCl solution ...
Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown Ge nanodots are found to come in a clear trimodal island distribution of huts, pyramids, and domes when grown on (001)Si at 550 deg. C. The island types appear in this order as Ge coverage increases and for a certain coverage all three types are found to coexist at this growth temperature. Previously Ge nanodots have mostly been divided into huts and domes at growth temperatures below 600 deg. C, or pyramids and domes above 600 deg. C. The (105) faceted pyramidal and elongated huts and the multifaceted domes are well known, but a distinction has not previously been seen between huts and a separate size distribution of similarly (105)-faceted pyramidal nanodots twice the size of huts, at temperatures below 600 deg. C. The 20-25 nm wide huts also appear to be the smallest obtainable self-assembled Ge dots on (001)Si, in accordance with predictions based on Si_1_-_xGe_x nanodots on (001)Si. They are about a factor of two too large ...
We present an efficient parallel algorithm and its implementation for computing the diagonal of $H^-1$ where $H$ is a 2D Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian discretized on a rectangular domain using a standard second order finite difference scheme. This type of calculation can be used to obtain an accurate approximation to the diagonal of a Fermi-Dirac function of $H$ through a recently developed pole-expansion technique \\cite{LinLuYingE2009}. The diagonal elements are needed in electronic structure calculations for quantum mechanical systems \\citeHohenbergKohn1964, KohnSham 1965,DreizlerGross1990. We show how elimination tree is used to organize the parallel computation and how synchronization overhead is reduced by passing data level by level along this tree using the technique of local buffers and relative indices. We analyze the performance of our implementation by examining its load balance and communication overhead. We show that our implementation exhibits an excellent ...
In this article, we present our consistent efforts to explore the dynamical pathways of the migration of electronic radiation by using ultrafast (picosecond/femtosecond time scales) F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. The ultrafast non-radiative energy migration from an intrinsic donor fluorophore (Tryptophan, Trp214) present in domain IIA of a transporter protein human serum albumin (HSA) to various non-covalently/covalently attached organic/inorganic chromophores including photoporphyrin IX (PPIX), polyoxovanadate [V15As6O42(H2O)]-6 clusters (denoted as V15) and CdS quantumdots (QDs) has been explored. We have also used other covalently/non-covalently attached extrinsic fluorogenic donors (NPA, ANS) in order to exploit the dynamics of resonance energy migration of an enz...
A theoretical analysis of formation and symmetry transformations is presented for Wigner molecules with N = 2,..., 20 electrons confined in quantumdots at high magnetic fields. Using the unrestricted Hartree-Fock method with the multicentre Gaussian basis, we have found that Wigner molecules with N {>=} 6 abruptly change their shape and symmetry with an associated jump in the first derivative of the ground-state energy, i.e. they undergo phase transitions. In particular, the phases of the Wigner molecules obtained just after emerging from the maximum-density droplet (MDD) phase possess a different symmetry from that formed at a high magnetic field. We show that the properties of the electron-electron interaction energy demonstrate very well both the breakdown of the MDD and the quasi-classical character of the Wigner molecule in the high magnetic field. Possible mechanisms of the MDD decay are discussed.
When a highly collimated beam of particles is aimed along the atomic rows of an aligned single crystal, the averaging effect of high speed motion results, to the lowest order of approximation, in crystal electric fields which are transverse to the atomic rows. The enormous magnitude of the crystal transverse electric fields is unsurpassed by any other known earth-bound macroscopic sources. For example, the field strengths along the <100> axis of tungsten at 77 K approach 9{center dot}10{sup 13}V/m. Thus quantum electrodynamic (QED) processes in strong fields which are thought to occur only in the extra-terrestrial environment can now be investigated in the laboratory. Here we review the results of measurements performed at the SPS facility in CERN using highly collimated beams of electrons, positrons and photons in the 20-200 GeV range, and germanium crystals cooled to 77 K with thicknesses ranging from 0.07 mm to 1.40 mm. The focus is on ...
Objectives1. To develop new photoactive materials and fabricate demonstration QD (quantumdot) solar cells. This will be achieved by:~%~1.1. Materials preparation and characterisation of QD/polymer systems~%~1.2. Optimising structures of QDs, nanorods and polymer for quantum yield and charge transfer~%~1.3 Fabricating demonstration QD/polymer solar cells and measuring power conversion efficiencies~%~2. To demonstrate multiexciton generation (MEG) and harvesting within nanostructured QDs. This will involv [continued...]DescriptionWidespread implementation of photovoltaic electricity to meet changing energy demands requires a step-change in the cost of photovoltaic power. This proposal assembles a consortium of chemists, physicists, materials scientists and electrical engineers from The University of Manchester and Imperial College London to address this need through the development of new low-cost, high-efficiency, ...
A two-year demonstration run of a 500 C/100kgf/cm{sup 2}{center_dot}g high-efficiency waste-to-energy pilot plant has been started from February 1998; this plant represents as the final stage of the NEDO project of development of a high-efficiency waste-to-energy plant. Alloy 625 (SB444) and 310 HCbN tubings were selected for the 3rd and 2nd superheater of the pilot plant, respectively, and ten kinds of conventional and new solid-wall tubings, weld overlayed tubings, composite tubings, and cermet spray coated tubings were tested. By means of 6000-hour field corrosion test in three typical domestic plants, material life and corrosion environment for superheater tubings installed in the pilot plant were evaluated. Also, the effect of alloying elements Cr, Ni, Mo, corrosion rate law, etc. were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the design conception and basic performance of the pilot plant regarding pollution control and corrosion prevention ...
Positron annihilation experiments on Fe-Cu model dilute alloys of nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels have been performed after neutron irradiation in JMTR. Nanovoids whose inner surfaces were covered by Cu atoms were clearly observed. The nanovoids transformed to ultrafine Cu precipitates by dissociating their vacancies after annealing at around 400degC. The nanovoids and the ultrafine Cu precipitates are strongly suggested to be responsible for irradiation-induced embrittlement of RPV steels. Effects of Ni, Mn and P addition on the nanovoid and Cu precipitate formations were also studied. The nanovoid formation was enhanced by Ni and P, but suppressed by Mn. The Cu precipitates after annealing around 400degC were almost free from these doping elements and hence were pure Cu in the chemical composition. Furthermore the Fermi surface of the 'embedded' Cu precipitates with a body centered cubic crystal structure was obtained from two dimensional angular ...
The University of Georgia, in collaboration with GE Global Research, has investigated the relevant quenching mechanism of phosphor coatings used in white light devices based on UV LEDs. The final goal of the project was the design and fabrication of a high-efficacy white light UV-LED device through improved geometry and optimized phosphor coatings. At the end of the research period, which was extended to seamlessly carry over the research to a follow-up program, we have demonstrated a two-fold improvement in the conversion efficiency of a white light LED device, where the increase efficacy is due to both improved phosphor quantum efficiency and lamp geometry. Working prototypes have been displayed at DOE sponsored meetings and during the final presentation at the DOE Headquarters in Washington, DC. During the first phase of the project, a fundamental understanding of quenching processes in UV-LEDs was obtained, and the ...
The University of Georgia, in collaboration with GE Global Research, has investigated the relevant quenching mechanism of phosphor coatings used in white light devices based on UV LEDs. The final goal of the project was the design and fabrication of a high-efficacy white light UV-LED device through improved geometry and optimized phosphor coatings. At the end of the research period, which was extended to seamlessly carry over the research to a follow-up program, we have demonstrated a two-fold improvement in the conversion efficiency of a white light LED device, where the increase efficacy is due to both improved phosphor quantum efficiency and lamp geometry. Working prototypes have been displayed at DOE sponsored meetings and during the final presentation at the DOE Headquarters in Washington, DC. During the first phase of the project, a fundamental understanding of quenching processes in UV-LEDs was obtained, and the ...
To improve adherent properties of electrogalvanized steel (EGS) to polymeric topcoats, the surfaces of EGS were modified by polyelectrolyte-modified zinc phosphating solution. The electrochemical reaction between phosphating solution and EGS led to the complete coverage with fully grown hopeite crystals after only 5 sec treatment, thereby improving adhesion to topcoating and providing protection of EGS against corrosion. To evaluate the ability of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) polyaryl thermoplastic coatings to protect zinc phosphate (Zn{center_dot}Ph)treated steels from corrosion in a wet, harsh environment ( 1.0 wt % H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}, 3.0 wt % NaCl and 96.0 wt % water at temperatures from 25{degrees} to 200{degree}C), we exposed them in an autoclave to attempt heating-cooling cyclic fatigue tests (1 cycle = 12 hr at 200{degrees}C + 12 hr at 25{degrees}C) up to 90 times. The major chemical reaction at the interface between the PPS and Zn in the ...
Quantum computing is a quickly growing research field. This article introduces the basic concepts of quantum computing, recent developments in quantum searching, and decoherence in a possible quantum...Full Text Available
Reductive quenching of two photoexcited ruthenium(II) complexes by an anionic electron donor, 2,2{prime}-azinobis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS{sup 2{minus}}), in aqueous solution was examined by laser flash photolysis before and after adding positively charged colloidal (250-{angstrom} diameter) alumina-coated silica particles. The kinetics and quantum yields of electron transfer with an anionic sensitizer, RuL{sub 3}{sup 4{minus}} (L = bathophenanthroline disulfonate), and a cationic one, Ru(bpy){sub 3}{sup 2+} (bpy = 2,2{prime}-bipyridine), were compared. Coadsorption of ABTS{sup 2{minus}} and RuL{sub 3}{sup 4{minus}} by the particles greatly enhanced the rate of quenching such that only the reaction occurring on the surfaces of the particles was observed. Electron transfer from ABTS{sup 2{minus}} to RuL{sub 3}{sup 4-*} occurred by a static (nondiffusional) process, and the quenching efficiency was maximal when there was close ...
In this paper coating developments for advanced gas turbine engines (diffusion aluminide coatings, overlay coatings, and ceramic thermal barrier coatings) were desorbed, a selection of current metallic coatings was made and their performance as outlined. Finally coating developments for advanced diesel engines with a view to improved turbocharging or to low heat rejection engines (adiabatic diesel concept) were dealt with. (IHOE).
Data on a technique for the detection of antigen from arthropod vectors in a dot immunobinding assay are presented. In this system, antigen present in the vector was first solubilized in sodium dodecyl...Full Text Available
The Dot/Icm type IV translocated Ankyrin B (AnkB) effector of Legionella pneumophila is modified by the host prenylation machinery that anchors it into the outer leaflet of the Legionella-containing...Full Text Available
A decreasing gravitational constant, G, coupled with angular momentum conservation is expected to increrase a planetary semimajor axis, a, as \\dot a/a=-\\dot G/G. Analysis of lunar laser ranging data strongly limits such temporal variations and constrains a local (~1 AU) scale expansion of the solar system as \\dot a/a=-\\dot G/G =-(4\\pm9)\\times10^{-13} yr^{-1}, including that due to cosmological effects.
Abstract in english We consider the three dimensional electromagnetic inverse scattering problem of determining information about a buried coated object from a knowledge of the electric and magnetic fields measured on the surface of the earth corresponding to time harmonic electric dipoles as incident fields. We assume that the buried object is a perfect conductor that is (possibly) partially coated by a thin dielectric layer. No a priori assumption is made on the extent of the coating, i.e. (more) the object can be fully coated, partially coated or not coated at all. We present an algorithm based on the linear sampling method and reciprocity gap functional for reconstructing the shape of the scattering obstacle together with an estimate of the surface impedance of the coating.
The fatigue properties of EP539LM alloy with an Al-Nb-Si fused slurry coating and a Co-Cr-Al-Y electron-beam coating are investigated experimentally in vacuum and in air at 900 C. It is found that the protective coatings reduce the fatigue life of the specimens both in vacuum and in air, with the electron-beam coating affecting the fatigue life of the alloy to a lesser degree than the fused slurry coating. The negative effect of the coatings on the fatigue life of the alloy is attributed largely to the properties of the coating material. 7 references.
Autoreactive cytotoxic CD8 T-cells (CTLs) play a key pathogenic role in the destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells resulting in type 1 diabetes. However, knowledge regarding their targets is limited, restricting the ability to monitor the course of the disease and immune interventions. In a multi-step discovery process to identify novel CTL epitopes in human preproinsulin (PPI), PPI was digested with purified human proteasomes, and resulting COOH-fragments aligned with algorithm-predicted HLA-binding peptides to yield nine potential HLA-A1, -A2, -A3 or -B7-restricted candidates. An UV-exchange method allowed the generation of a repertoire of multimers including low-affinity HLA-binding peptides. These were labeled with quantumdot-fluorochromes and encoded in a combinatorial fashion, allowing parallel and sensitive detection of specific, low-avidity T-cells. Significantly increased frequencies of T-cells against four novel PPI epitopes ...
A theoretical scheme for quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) is proposed, where a three-qubit symmetric W state functions as a quantum channel. Two legitimate communicators can transmit their secret information by using quantum teleportation and local measurements.
We discuss models of computing that are beyond classical. The primary motivation is to unearth the cause of nonclassical advantages in computation. Completeness results from computational complexity theory lead to the identification of very disparate problems, and offer a kaleidoscopic view into the realm of quantum enhancements in computation. Emphasis is placed on the `power of one qubit' model, and the boundary between quantum and classical correlations as delineated by quantum discord. A recent result by Eastin on the role of this boundary in the efficient classical simulation of quantum computation is discussed. Perceived drawbacks in the interpretation of quantum discord as a relevant certificate of quantum enhancements are addressed.
In vitro cytocompatibility and cellular interactions of lauric acid and dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles were evaluated with two different cell lines (mouse fibroblast and human cervical carcinoma). Lauric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles were less cytocompatible than dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles and cellular uptake of lauric acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles was more than that of dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles. Lesser cytocompatibility and higher uptake of lauric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles as compared to dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles may be due to different cellular interactions by coating material. Thus, coating plays an important role in modulation of biocompatibility and cellular interaction of magnetic nanoparticles.
In vitro cytocompatibility and cellular interactions of lauric acid and dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles were evaluated with two different cell lines (mouse fibroblast and human cervical carcinoma). Lauric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles were less cytocompatible than dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles and cellular uptake of lauric acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles was more than that of dextran-coated magnetite nanoparticles. Lesser cytocompatibility and higher uptake of lauric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles as compared to dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles may be due to different cellular interactions by coating material. Thus, coating plays an important role in modulation of biocompatibility and cellular interaction of magnetic nanoparticles.
Quantum computers hold the promise of solving certain computational tasks much more efficiently than classical computers. We review recent experimental advances towards a quantum computer with trapped ions. In particular, various implementations of qubits, quantum gates and some key experiments are discussed. Furthermore, we review some implementations of quantum algorithms such as a deterministic teleportation of quantum information and an error correction scheme.
A chromium-free conversion coating for magnesium alloys were described. The conversion coating could be obtained when AZ31D magnesium alloy was immersed in a solution containing a manganese salt, phosphate and an inhibitor. Corrosion resistance of the chemical conversion coating was evaluated by anodizing polarization curve and salt immersion. XRD analysis showed that the conversion coating was mainly composed of Mn{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}. The morphology of the coating is observed by using SEM. The effect of electrolyte pH and concentration of inhibitor on coating growth are investigated. (orig.)
This paper introduces recent instances of polymerizers for highly viscous liquid needed in the field of synthetic resin and synthetic fiber. A horizontal twin-shaft type polymerizer has two horizontally rotating shafts with stirring blades of spectacle-shaped type, which are arranged at a 90 [degree] phase difference. As they rotate, they scrape highly viscous liquid sticking to the surface inside the polymerizer and on the rotating shafts. This polymerizer is capable of processing highly viscous liquid up to about 2000 Pa[center dot]s. A lattice-type twisting blade polymerizer is a vertical-type reactor and features a special stirring blade capable of stirring highly viscous liquid up to 5000 Pa[center dot]s This polymerizer has no central rotating shaft so that highly viscous liquid does not stick on it. A sloped blade-type thin-film evaporator has spiral blades in the longitudinal direction of the rotor. Process liquid pushed to the inner ...
The high-energy radiation-induced degradation of an H-acid derivative azo dye, Apollofix-Red SF-28 (AR-28) was studied in aqueous solution by using pulse radiolysis with kinetic spectroscopic detection for transient measurements. Gamma radiolysis with UV-VIS spectroscopy and gradient ionpair HPLC separation with diode array detection were applied for following the destruction of AR-28 and measuring the products. The reactions of hydrated electron (e_a_q "-) and hydroxyl ("#centre dot#OH) radical were investigated separately. "#centre dot#OH reacts with the unsaturated bonds of the molecule. In the further reactions of the "#centre dot#OH adduct radicals, the AR-28 molecules partly reform with a slightly modified structure. The products formed in the first reaction of "#centre dot#OH and AR-28 molecules have also high reactivity towards the "#centre dot#OH radicals. For these reasons ...
The distribution of environmental tritium and the correlation coefficients between tritium concentrations in several environmental samples and the emissions of tritiated water vapor from Wolsong NPP 1 were studied. The annual mean concentrations of atmospheric HTO were in the range 1#centre dot#31-29#centre dot#2 Bq m"-"3 and the long-term atmospheric dilution factors were in the range 10"-"7-10"-"6 s m"-"3. Annual mean concentrations of tritium in ground water were in the range 19#centre dot#2-27#centre dot#9 Bq l"-"1 at N-1 and 64#centre dot#1-189 Bq l"-"1 at S-2, and were generally less than 0#centre dot#2% of MPC_w (222 kBq l"-"1). The concentrations of tritium in precipitation decreased exponentially with distance from Wolsong NPP 1, falling to current global levels at about 25 km off-site. The highest concentration of tritium in soil moisture was observed ...
MCrAlY coatings are widely used on hot section components of gas turbines to provide hot corrosion and/or oxidation protection by formation of an oxide layer on the surface. As the protective oxide scale exfoliates during service, aluminum from the coating diffuses outward for reformation of the protective scale. Aluminum may also diffuse inward due to the differences in composition between the coating and the substrate. Thus, the coatings degrade due to oxidation, oxide scale spallation, and inward and outward diffusion of aluminum. Service life of these coatings is controlled by the aluminum content in the coating, operating temperature and start- shutdown cycles. In-service degradation of CoCrAlY and CoNiCrAlY coatings is presented. A procedure to predict the remaining service life of coatings under oxidizing ...
Technology of plasma sputtering, structure and properties of zirconium dioxide coatings were studied. Necessity of void number increase to enhance coating heat-resistance is shown. Optimal powder particle size (20-60 #mu#m) providing optimal coating porosity was determined. Weight part of stabilizating oxide (Y_2O_3) in ZrO_2 for formation in coating of microcracks serving as barriers for macro-cracks propagation was determined.
When quantum gravity is used to discuss the big bang singularity, the most important, though rarely addressed, question is what role genuine quantum degrees of freedom play. Here, complete effective equations are derived for isotropic models with an interacting scalar to all orders in the expansions involved. The resulting coupling terms show that quantum fluctuations do not affect the bounce much. Quantum correlations, however, do have an important role and could even eliminate the bounce. How quantum gravity regularizes the big bang depends crucially on properties of the quantum state.
Apart from conventional phase transitions driven by the thermal effects, quantum phase transitions generated by quantum fluctuations have their own mechanisms that are reflected in critical phenomena. Quantum phase transitions have an origin from spontaneous symmetry breaking commonly to thermal phase transitions. Even in this case, inherent quantum fluctuations substantially modify and yield new aspects. Quantum phase transitions have, however, another mechanism caused by topology changes, which gives completely new characters. Recently, a mechanism which connects these two has been found. Proimities from first-order transitions and phase separatins as well as from multiphase coexistence also generate characteristic and unconventional quantum criticalities. Understanding novel quantum criticalities offers a firm basis of recent active ...
In order to describe quantum heat engines, here we systematically study isothermal and isochoric processes for quantum thermodynamic cycles. Based on these results the quantum versions of both the Carnot heat engine and the Otto heat engine are defined without ambiguities. We also study the properties of quantum Carnot and Otto heat engines in comparison with their classical counterparts. Relations and mappings between these two quantum heat engines are also investigated by considering their respective quantum thermodynamic processes. In addition, we discuss the role of Maxwell's demon in quantum thermodynamic cycles. We find that there is no violation of the second law, even in the existence of such a demon, when the demon is included correctly as part of the working substance of the heat engine.
PVD-chromium-nitride coated samples of substrates of the magnesium alloy AZ91hp and the roller and ball bearing steel 100Cr6 were investigated regarding structure, mechanical characteristics, adhesion and internal stresses. For the coatings the parameters layer thickness and substrate BIAS voltage were varied. Both substrate materials were coated in one lad. Results of the X-ray analysis of the internal stresses show significant differences between the coated magnesium and the coated steel substrates. In the case of the variation of the substrate BIAS voltage, for the coated steel a dependency of the internal stresses to coating parameters could be obtained. For the coated magnesium no dependency was recognizable. The coating structure was examined with scanning electron microscopy. Element depth ...
An investigation was conducted to determine the cause of coating residue found in the test gun chambers during qualification firing of 120-mm combustible cartridge case (CCC) ammunition for the MlAl/A2 main battle tank. The CCC is coated with a clear epox...
Over the past two decades, quantum computing has become a popular and promising approach to trying to solve computationally difficult problems. Missing in many descriptions of quantum computing is just how probability enters into the process. Here, we discuss some simple examples of how uncertainty and probability enter, and how this and the ideas of quantum computing challenge our interpretations of quantum mechanics. It is found that this uncertainty can lead to intrinsic decoherence, and this raises challenges for error correction. (viewpoint)
By using a laser and maser in tandem, it is possible to obtain laser action in the hot exhaust gases involved in heat engine operation. Such a "quantum afterburner" involves the internal quantum states of working gas atoms or molecules as well as the techniques of cavity quantum electrodynamics and is therefore in the domain of quantum thermodynamics. As an example, it is shown that Otto cycle engine performance can be improved beyond that of the "ideal" Otto heat engine.
This paper discusses the concept of controllable subspace for open quantum dynamical systems. It is constructively demonstrated that combining structural features of decoherence-free subspaces with the ability to perform open-loop coherent control on open quantum systems will allow decoherence-free subspaces to be controllable. This is in contrast to the observation that open quantum dynamical systems are not open-loop controllable. To a certain extent, this paper gives an alternative control theoretical interpretation on why decoherence-free subspaces can be useful for quantum computation.
A review of chemical decontamination methods for coatings indicates the following: the ease of both contamination and decontamination is a function of the radionuclide and the pH of the environment; the coating type is important in determining whether the contamination is loosely adsorbed, complexed, or contained in porous filler material; the condition of the coating is important to the decontamination factor obtained. Thus coatings can be decontaminated provided the solvent is sufficiently acid to solubilize the radionuclide and the complexant strength of the solvent is greater than that of the coating. Difficulties arise if the contamination is associated with fillers. Furthermore, though nothing has been said about temperature, decontamination of metal goes faster and, usually, with better efficiency at high temperatures. 11 references, 3 figures.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of tungsten carbide/carbon (WC/C) coating on the surface durability of casehardened steel gear. Two kinds of WC/C coatings were deposited on the ground gear pair made of chromium molybdenum steel with carburizing and quenching. One is the conventional WC/C coating, and the other is WC/C coating with about 1 ?m CrN interlayer. Here, the WC/C-coated test pinion and the WC/C-coated one with CrN interlayer are represented by WT and ST, respectively. Non-coated test pinion is represented by NT. The surface roughness along the tooth profile direction of WT and ST was almost the same as that of NT. A spur gear test was carried out with an IAE power circulating type gear test rig under EP gear oil lubricating condition. The fatal failure mo...
... Mirrors (Preprint) Ryan Conk et al. 15 September 2006 ... 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Stress Coatings for Large Scale Membrane Mirrors (Preprint) 5a. ...
A waterjet coating-removal system was developed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to remove thermal protective coatings from the ...
Ceramic coatings with high emission were fabricated on Ti6Al4V alloy by microarc oxidation (MAO) with additive FeSO4 into the electrolyte. The microstructure, chemical composition and chemical state of the coatings were determined by SEM, XRD, EDS and XPS, respectively. The bonding strength between the coating and substrate was studied by tensile strength test, together with the thermal shock resistance of the coating. The results showed that Fe content in the coating layer significantly affect its thermal emissivity. The relative content of Fe in the coatings surface increased at first and then decreased with increasing the concentration of FeSO4 in electrolytes, so does the emissivity of the coatings. The bonding strength became weaker with increasing the concentration of FeSO4. In addit...
Hexavalent chromium in corrosion preventive coating 64 ...To prevent corrosion of rims, weights can be provided with a coating. ...integrated clips brought up technical problems due to corrosion
Hard Nano-Strutural Coatings Resistant to the Extreme Conditions of Chemical, Abrasive and High Energy Media for Thermonuclear Power, Oil and Gas and Chemical Industries
Results showed that a simple yttrium coating offered more potential for ... was from 70 to 150 K (125' to 200' F) above that for the yttrium coating. ...
Quantum computers hold great promises for the future of computation. In this paper, this new kind of computing device is presented, together with a short survey of the status of research in this field. The principal algorithms are introduced, with an emphasis on the applications of quantum computing to physics. Experimental implementations are also briefly discussed.
This contribution is intended to introduce the principles of quantum computing to those who always wanted to know about quantum computing but never dared to ask. (copyright 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)
During the entire performance period, from 12 May 2003 through 31 December 2006, we have conducted theoretical and computational research on quantum control problems central to quantum computation. In particular we completed a thorough and rigorous analys...
Four inorganic hydrogen-bonded crystals with second-order nonlinear properties have been discovered: K_4LiH_3(SO_4)_4, Na_2SeO_4#centre dot#H_2SeO_3#centre dot#H_2O, Cs_1_,_5Li_1_,_5H(SO_4)_2 and NH_4HSeO_4. (author)
We prove a uniqueness result for limit cycles of the second order ODE $\\ddot x + \\sum_{j=1}^{J}f_{j}(x)\\dot x^{j} + g(x) = 0$. We extend a uniqueness result proved in \\cite{CRV}. The main tool applied is an extension of Massera theorem proved in \\cite{GS}.
Werner states are paradigmatic examples of quantum states and play an innovative role in quantum information theory. In investigating the correlating capability of Werner states, we find the curious phenomenon that quantum correlations, as quantified by the entanglement of formation, may exceed the total correlations, as measured by the quantum mutual information. Consequently, though the entanglement of formation is so widely used in quantifying entanglement, it cannot be interpreted as a consistent measure of quantum correlations per se if we accept the folklore that total correlations are measured (or rather upper bounded) by the quantum mutual information.
The results of this research centered on the experimental studies of a single superconducting persistent current qubit, the implementation of type-II algorithms using these qubits, and the proposal for adiabatic quantum computing using these qubits. The m...
Theory of quantum games is relatively new to the literature and its applications to various areas of research are being explored. It is a novel interpretation of strategies and decisions in quantum domain. In the earlier work on quantum games considerable attention was given to the resolution of dilemmas present in corresponding classical games. Two separate quantum schemes were presented by Eisert et al. and Marinatto and Weber to resolve dilemmas in Prisoners' Dilemma and Battle of Sexes games respectively. However for the latter scheme it was argued that dilemma was not resolved. We have modified the quantization scheme of Marinatto and Weber to resolve the dilemma. We have developed a generalized quantization scheme for two person non-zero sum games which reduces to the existing schemes under certain conditions. Applications of this generalized quantization scheme to quantum ...
We survey results in lattice quantum chromodynamics from groups in the USQCD Collaboration. The main focus is on physics, but many aspects of the discussion are aimed at an audience of computational physicists.
There is considerable interest in the use of silicon devices as qubits for quantum computing. The existence of nuclear spin in a silicon isotope and the complex band structure of silicon are unfavourable for this application of silicon devices. (viewpoint)
A process has been proposed to increase the efficiency of an ideal Otto cycle via a quantum heat engine that has no cooler reservoir. We show that such a process is not feasible.
A novel algebraic topology approach to supersymmetry (SUSY) and symmetry breaking in quantum field and quantum gravity theories is presented with a view to developing a wide range of physical applications. These include: controlled nuclear fusion and other nuclear reaction studies in quantum chromodynamics, nonlinear physics at high energy densities, dynamic Jahn-Teller effects, superfluidity, high temperature superconductors, multiple scattering by molecular systems, molecular or atomic paracrystal structures, nanomaterials, ferromagnetism in glassy materials, spin glasses, quantum phase transitions and supergravity. This approach requires a unified conceptual framework that utilizes extended symmetries and quantum groupoid, algebroid and functorial representations of non-Abelian higher dimensional structures pertinent to quantized spacetime topology and state space geometry of ...
Feb 13, 2005 ... Part 8 of a non-mathematical historical review of elementary quantum theory, to help explain processes in the Sun and in stars; part of an ...
This paper describes a feasibility demonstration of a thermal scanning NDE system for thermal spray coatings. Non-bonds were detected between several types of coatings and their substrates. Aluminum anti-skid coatings having very rough surfaces were included. A technique for producing known non-bond areas for calibrating and demonstrating NDE methods was developed.
The bibliography contains citations concerning the structural properties of sputtered tantalum and tantalum compounds. The preparation of thin film capacitors and resistors is described. The electrical properties of the sputtered films are also included. The influence of the substrate on the properties of the coatings is considered, including adherence of the coating to the substrate, and the effects of impurities on coating integrity. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)
Non-destructive methods for measuring the remaining anticorrosive or antioxidative ability of coatings are investigated. For anticorrosive chromium coatings the increasing ferromagnetism caused by loss of chromium is measured by a permeability probe. Measured values on blades after operation are correlated with the progress of corrosion as determined by metallographic methods. For antioxidative aluminum coatings the diminishing layer thickness is taken as indication for the exhaustion of their protection ability. The layer thickness is measured eddy current probes, especially developed for this application.
The structure and properties of composite powder coatings on the base of titanium carbide are studied. It is shown the electron-beam welding deposition of powders on the base of nickel and titanium carbide allows to produce of high-quality wear-resistant coatings which superior in density and hardness compared with sputtered ones. Changes of hardening phase volume percentage as well as composition of metal matrix make possible to control coatings hardness
Simulated atmospheric corrosion studies were performed to determine the corrosion protection provided by galvanized zinc coatings on depleted uranium, U-0.75 Ti alloy, and U-6 Nb alloys. The accelerated ASTM tests consisted of exposing the galvanized samples to aqueous and aqueous chloride environments. The test results showed that anodic protection was provided by the electronegative zinc coatings on uranium and uranium alloys. Treating zinc with chromate conversion coatings also provided more protection.
Aluminum hydroxide coating thicknesses were measured on fuel elements stored in aluminum canisters in K West Basin using specially developed eddy current probes . The results were used to estimate coating inventories for MCO fuel,loading. Brushing tests successfully demonstrated the ability to remove the coating if deemed necessary prior to MCO loading.
The effect of heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of reactive plasma sprayed TiN coatings in simulated seawater was investigated by electrochemical methods such as the corrosion potential-time curve (Ecorr-t), potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and SEM, etc. The results showed that the corrosion potential of TiN coatings increased after heat treatment; the corrosion current of the TiN coatings after heat treatment (be hereafter referred to as HT-TiN) was 13.3% of the untreated coatings (be hereafter referred to as UT-TiN), and the polarization resistance of HT-TiN was 20 times of UT-TiN, which indicated that the heat treatment had significantly increased the corrosion resistance of the coatings. The corrosion behavior of the coatings was mainly ...
The Ti and Ti-Al coatings were deposited onto hot-worked AISI H11 steel substrates and plasma nitrided at 900 C. The Ti coated samples were successfully nitrided, while cracking and delamination of the Ti-Al coating was observed during nitriding. The formation of [delta]-TiN and [epsilon]-Ti[sub 2]N phases were detected after plasma nitriding of the Ti coating. During plasma treatment of the Ti-Al coating, the initial Ti[sub 3]Al and Al phases were paartially transformed into TiAl phase. The martensite transformation of the substrate material was found. The as-deposited Ti coating has a fibrous structure, while the structure of the as-sputtered Ti-Al coating is columnar. The superficial Vickers microhardness of plasma-nitrided Ti coating was 2200 HV 0.03 and the critical load of higher than 50 N indicates very good ...
There is an increasing number of applications for hard coatings in engineering where the properties of the single-layer coating are not sufficient. One way to solve this problem is to use a multilayer coating that combines the properties of several coating materials. In this study, TiN-CrAlN and CrN-CrAlN multilayer coatings were deposited on 100Cr6 and S6-5-2 (DIN) steel substrates, by means of unbalanced magnetron sputtering. For comparison, TiN, CrN and CrAlN single-layer coatings were also prepared. For all depositions the coating temperature was below 473 K. Indentation testing, hardness measurements and scratch tests were performed to characterize the mechanical properties. The correlation between the wear behavior in rolling contact and the mechanical properties of the multilayer coatings is reported. A ball ...
In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry was employed to investigate the initial regime of rare earth metal (REM) conversion coatings formation on AZ31 magnesium alloy. Three REM salts solutions, 0.05 mol.dm"-"3 Ce(NO_3)_3, La(NO)_3 and Sm(NO)_3 solutions, were used for REM conversion coatings preparation. By deconvoluting the ellipsometric data, the surface of the fresh well-polished AZ31 magnesium alloy was found to be covered with 15.80 nm thick native (hydr)oxide film; the refractive indices and the thickness of Ce, La and Sm conversion coatings were obtained. The formation kinetics of three REM coatings follows different exponential functions and the coatings exhibit different optical properties. La conversion coating has the largest n values and the lowest k values while Sm conversion coating is just opposite. Moreover, the pH variation of ...
From a macroscopic point of view, corrosion of Zn alloy coated steel sheet occurs by the coating preceding corrosion mechanism; microscopically, however, the coated layer corrosion velocity in the tip of corrosion is different. In order to find the main factors of under-film corrosion of Zn and Zn-Fe alloy coatings in the salt water spray atmospheric exposure test, the correlation between point inflation-exfoliation width and chlorine penetration behavior, point adhesion, and the difference in chlorine penetration behavior due to alloy coating components were investigated. Consequently, the following results were obtained: 1. The better correlation was observed between chlorine penetration distance and point inflation-point exfoliation width. 2. The durability of coating against chlorine penetration improved by increase in point adhesion and Zn content in the ...
The effect of a substrate on the results of measuring tantalum coating thickness in two-layer compositions according to gamma radiation scattered by the substrate is studied. It is shown that by means of an albedo-radiometer realizing the physical model absorber-scatterer one can determine the thickness (application uniformity) of tantalum coatings up to 150-300 #mu#m depending on the substrate material (plexiglas, aluminium, iron, copper). In case of testing coatings on substrates of alloys and high-alloy steels in order to ensure high accuracy of measrurement it is expedient with the above albedo-radiometer to determine the value of the backscattered radiation flux for the substrate before coating application.
Amorphous materials in the system xLi{sub 2}S{center_dot}(100-x)SiS{sub 2}, where x ranged from 50 to 70 mol %, and (100-y) (0.6Li{sub 2}S{center_dot}0.4SiS{sub 2}){center_dot}yLi{sub 4}SiO{sub 4}, where y ranged from 0 to 10 mol %, were synthesized by mechanical milling of crystalline starting materials, Li{sub 2}S, SiS{sub 2} and Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4}. At the compositions with large amounts of Li{sup +} ions, a part of crystalline Li{sub 2}S used as a starting material remained in the milled powder samples. It was found that the milled powder samples in both systems obtained by mechanical milling exhibited high conductivities in the order of 10{sup -4}S{center_dot}cm{sup -1} at room temperature in spite of the presence of small amounts of Li{sub 2}S crystals. The conductivity values of the pelletized samples of xLi{sub 2}S{center_dot}(100-x)SiS{sub 2} powders maximized at the ...
For the protection of buried steel pipeline, it is common practice to coat the pipelines with highly insulating coating and apply a cathodic current to insulate the pipe from the aggressive environment. Cathodic current protects holidays or damaged area of coating which required less current than would be needed for an uncoated pipe, but because of the cathodic reactions evolution will be taken H{sub 2} and OH{sup -} on holidays which exposed metal to the environment place. This effect is to cause loss bond of coating around the holidays called cathodic dis-bonding. In this paper we measured cathodic dis-bonding of three types of coatings at - 1.5 V(Cu/CuSO{sub 4}) according to ASTM G8. We studied on cathodic dis-bonding resistance of petroleum-base, coal tar-base and polyethylene plastic tape coatings. After 30 days immersion in electrolyte it was found that ...
We define the Bloch spectrum of a quantum graph to be the collection of the spectra of a family of Schr\\"odinger operators parametrized by the cohomology of the quantum graph. We show that the Bloch spectrum determines the Albanese torus, the block structure and the planarity of the graph. It determines a geometric dual of a planar graph. This enables us to show that the Bloch spectrum completely determines planar 3-connected quantum graphs.
We discuss the use of active control to reduce mirror position fluctuations at the quantum level. We have shown in a recent experiment that it is possible to reduce the thermal noise of a mirror by measuring and controlling its motion with an optomechanical sensor based on a high-finesse optical cavity. This approach can be extended to lock the mirror motion at the quantum level, and to suppress the quantum effects of radiation pressure in interferometric measurements such as gravitational-wave detectors. The sensitivity improvement is furthermore independent of losses in the interferometer.
The paper is devoted to quantization of extensive games with the use of both the Marinatto-Weber and the Eisert-Wilkens-Lewenstein concept of quantum game. We revise the current conception of quantum ultimatum game and we show why the proposal is unacceptable. To support our comment, we present the new idea of the quantum ultimatum game. Our scheme also makes a point of departure for a protocol to quantize extensive games.
We study the possibility of utilizing the superfluid to Mott-insulator quantum phase transition in an array of quantum well exciton-polariton traps to generate indistinguishable single photons in a massive parallel fashion. By means of analytical and numerical methods, the device operations and system properties are examined using realistic experimental parameters. Such a deterministic, massive parallel generation may find new applications in photonic quantum information processing.
The loop quantum cosmology 'improved dynamics' of the Bianchi type IX model are studied. The action of the Hamiltonian constraint operator is obtained via techniques developed for the Bianchi type I and type II models, no new input is required. It is shown that the big bang and big crunch singularities are resolved by quantum gravity effects. We also present effective equations which provide quantum geometry corrections to the classical equations of motion.
Here we show that self-propulsion in quantum vacuum may be achieved by rotating or aggregating magneto-electric nano-particles. The back-action follows from changes in momentum of electro-magnetic zero-point fluctuations, generated in magneto-electric materials. This effect may provide new tools for investigation of the quantum nature of our world. It might also serve in the future as a "quantum wheel" to correct satellite orientation in space.
Scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM) has been applied to study focused ion beam (FIB) induced damage in silicon in dependence on ion irradiation doses from 10"1"2 cm"-"2 to 2#centre dot#10"1"6 cm"-"2. Starting from the lowest dose, SSRM detects increasing spreading resistance (SR) with increasing dose. For doses from 2#centre dot#10"1"3 cm"-"2 to 4#centre dot#10"1"4 cm"-"2, a slight decrease of SR is measured whereas for higher doses SR again slightly increases. The results are explained by physical effects like decreased carrier mobility due to increased scattering, amorphisation of silicon and precipitation of implanted Ga ions. The results clearly prove that SSRM is well suited for the fast detection of ion beam induced damage with high lateral resolution.
Formation of oxidizing and reducing radicals was studied by pulse radiolysis of [Fe(CN)_6]"4"- - BrO_3"- - CN"- system in ethylene glycol - water solvent mixture. Oxidizing #centre dot#BrO_2 and BrO radicals formed by electron scavenging with #centre dot#BrO_2"- were identified and their reactions were investigated. The reaction of hydroxyl radicals with ethylene glycol leads to formation of reactive radicals with reducing properties and of compounds which reduce slowly in dark the ferricyanide formed in the reaction of #centre dot#BrO_2 radical with ferrocyanide. (author) 21 refs.; 7 figs.
Heavy Ion Collisions at RHIC and LHC energies are potentially an interesting laboratory for the study of QED. In these collisions, a Heavy Ion in one beam sees a highly Lorentz contracted electric field due to an oncoming beam particle. The Electric field reaches a maximum value of E {approx_equal} {gamma}{sub eff} {center_dot} Z {center_dot} e/b{sup 2}, where the apparent Lorentz factor, {gamma}{sub eff} = 2 {center_dot} {gamma}{sub beam}{sup 2} - 1. The collision may be viewed in terms of a flux of photons colliding with a stationary ion target using the equivalent photon approximation, originally introduced by Fermi in 1924. We show that the cross section for Inelastic Electromagnetic Interactions of Heavy Ions are both calculable and have been measured in the first RHIC running period.
The effect of exposure to gamma rays on LPO contents in liver, spleen and kidney of mice and the anti-lipid-peroxidation of preparations of chinonin, tannic acid and squalene were reported. All these preparations were given by intragastric perfusion. For LPO, a modified method of TBA spectrophotometry was used for determination. The results show that LPO contents in tissues increased 72 h after whole-body exposure of mice to gamma rays, that in range of 0-4 Gy, there was a linear relationship between radiation doses and LPO contents, and that all three preparations were effective in reduction of the LPO content in liver, spleen and kidney of mice, with chinonin (at dose of 0.35 mg/mouse#centre dot#day) being more effective than tannic acid (at dose of 15 mg/mouse#centre dot#day) and squalene (at dose of 0.6 mg/mouse#centre dot#day).
Recently it was demonstrated that long-lived quantum coherence exists during excitation energy transport in photosynthesis. It is a valid question up to which length, time and mass scales quantum coherence may extend, how one may detect this coherence and what, if any, role it plays in the dynamics of the system. Here we suggest that the selectivity filter of ion channels may exhibit quantum coherence, which might be relevant for the process of ion selectivity and conduction. We show that quantum resonances could provide an alternative approach to ultrafast two-dimensional (2D) spectroscopy to probe these quantum coherences. We demonstrate that the emergence of resonances in the conduction of ion channels that are modulated periodically by time-dependent external electric fields can serve as signatures of quantum coherence in such a system. Assessments of ...
Very recently we have assisted to a new development of quantum information, the so-called continuous variable (CV) quantum information theory. Such a further development has been mainly due to the experimental and theoretical advantages offered by CV systems, i.e., quantum systems described by a set of observables, like position and momentum, which have a continuous spectrum of eigenvalues. According to this novel trend, quantum information protocols like quantum teleportation have been suitably extended to the CV framework. Here, we briefly review some mathematical tools relative to CV systems and we consequently develop the concepts of quantum entanglement and teleportation in the CV framework, by analogy with the qubit-based approach. Some connections between teleportation fidelity and entanglement properties of the underlying quantum ...
We study quantum Darwinism -- the redundant recording of information about a decohering system by its environment -- in zero-temperature quantum Brownian motion. An initially nonlocal quantum state leaves a record whose redundancy increases rapidly with its spatial extent. Significant delocalization (e.g., a Schroedinger's Cat state) causes high redundancy: many observers can measure the system's position without perturbing it. This explains the objective (i.e. classical) existence of einselected, decoherence-resistant pointer states of macroscopic objects.
Big Bang nucleosynthesis requires a fine balance between equations of state for photons and relativistic fermions. Several corrections to equation of state parameters arise from classical and quantum physics, which are derived here from a canonical perspective. In particular, loop quantum gravity allows one to compute quantum gravity corrections for Maxwell and Dirac fields. Although the classical actions are very different, quantum corrections to the equation of state are remarkably similar. To lowest order, these corrections take the form of an overall expansion-dependent multiplicative factor in the total density. We use these results, along with the predictions of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, to place bounds on these corrections.
The diamond norm measures the distance between two quantum channels. From an operational viewpoint, this norm measures how well we can distinguish between two channels by applying them to the input states of arbitrarily large dimensions. In this paper, we show that the diamond norm can be conveniently, and in a physically transparent way, computed by means of a Monte Carlo algorithm based on the Fano representation of quantum states and quantum operations. The effectiveness of this algorithm is illustrated for several single-qubit quantum channels.
This is the homepage of "an Australian multi-university collaboration undertaking research on the fundamental physics and technology of building, at the atomic level, a solid state quantum computer in silicon together with other high potential implementations." Although attempts to develop a quantum computer have met with limited success, the centre has substantial resources invested in advancing toward practical uses of quantum computing technology. The site provides a very good introduction to the principles and implications of quantum computing, as well as details about various research projects underway at the Australian universities. Links to conference and journal papers produced by members of the centre, many from 2003, are also provided.
Hybrid organic-inorganic coatings with phosphonate functionalities have been synthesized and evaluated as prospective surface treatments for magnesium materials. These coatings have been processed via a sol-gel route by hydrolysis and condensation of a mixture of diethylphosphonatoethyltriethoxy-silane and tetraethoxy-silane with variable molar ratios. The coatings morphology and the surface chemistry at the coating/substrate interface have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, "3"1P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The corrosion protection performance of the coatings deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31B has been examined by a group of electrochemical techniques including potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In addition, a scanning Kelvin ...
This paper describes the effects of SiC coating on the oxidation resistance of C/C composites in combusting fields, which are expected to be applied to high temperature structural materials at over 1770K. The coating methods employed were CVD and pack cementation. The time changes in weight loss of the specimens were measured at temperatures of 1770K and 1900K under the equivalence ratio of 0.9 generated by methane-air combustion, and the surface of the specimens before and after the experiment was observed by SEM. Although the weight loss of the specimens coated by the CVD method was minimal, the coating layer was easily peeled off from the substrate. On the other hand, the layer of the specimens coated by the pack cementation method was stable and adhered to the substrate, but the substrate was degraded because of penetration of oxygen through the pores in the layer. To cover the ...
In the framework of the European Fusion Technology Programme ECN participates in a NET task PSM-8 `Coatings and Surface Effects on Stainless Steel 316L`. High emissivity coatings were developed for enhanced heat transfer from graphite tiles to a Stainless Steel First Wall. Four candidate materials, Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Black Cr, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/TiO{sub 2} and TiC were tested as candidate high emissivity coatings. These coatings were manufactured by atmospheric and vacuum plasma spraying technique and the Black Chromium coatings were manufactured by a galvanic coating technique. The tests included total emissivity measurements and Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) experiments. The total emissivity of two TiC coatings at 525 K appeared to be 0.62 and 0.64. The total emissivity of the TiC and 5 wt% TiO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ...
Pseudomonas putida encodes 20 extracytoplasmic sigma factors (ECFs). In this study, we show that one of these ECFs, known as ECF-Pp12...Full Text Available
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is one of the most important prognostic and predictive factors for breast cancer patients. Recently, serum HER2...Full Text Available
The Dot/Icm-translocated Ankyrin B (AnkB) F-box effector of Legionella pneumophila is essential for intra-vacuolar proliferation and functions as a platform for the docking of polyubiquitinated...Full Text Available
Hydrogenolysis of quinoline was carried out using red mud catalyst at 390{degree}C and 450{degree}C to study denitrogenation reaction in the first stage liquefaction of coal. Quinoline was decomposed to ammonia via 1-THQ or hydrogenated to 5-THQ. The reaction rate constants obtained at 390{degree}C were k{sub 1} = 1.83 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}, k{sub 2} = 1.16 {times} 10{sup {minus}7}, and k{sub 3} = 3.24 {times} 10{sup {minus}7} mol {center dot} dm{sup {minus}3} {center dot} min{sup {minus}1} {center dot} g {center dot} {sup {minus}1}. The rate constants for hydrogenation of quinoline were in the order of hexadecane > trans-decalin > 1-methylnaphthalene. Ratios of equilibrium adsorption constant between trans-decalin and quinoline and between 1-methylnaphthalene and quinoline were found to be 0.055 and 0.155 respectively. The equilibrium constant of phenol to red mud catalyst adsorption was ...
Laboratory studies investigated the influence of dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) on microbial degradation of hexadecane in cultures with sediment-seawater suspensions. With a fermentor system, it was...Full Text Available
Thermal, electrical, and electrochemical properties were investigated for the (100-x)(0.6Li{sub 2}S{center{underscore}dot}0.4SiS{sub 2}){center{underscore}dot}xLi{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} oxysulfide glasses. The glass with x = 5 exhibited high electrical conductivity of about 10{sup {minus}3} S cm{sup {minus}1} at room temperature, high glass stability against crystallization, and good chemical stability in contact with Li metal. Cyclic voltammetry also suggested that this glass has a wide electrochemical window of more than 10 V. On the other hand, further addition of Li{sub 4}SiO{sub 4} up to 20 mol% lowered the conductivity, glass stability against crystallization, and electrochemical stability for the oxysulfide glasses.
Aberrant transglutaminase (TG) activity has been implicated in the pathology of numerous diseases including Huntington disease and Alzheimer disease. To fully characterize the role of TGs in...Full Text Available
In this paper, the influence of plasma nitriding at temperature 720 deg. C for 20 h on the surface microstructure and interface microstructure of electroplated chromium coating was investigated. In these conditions, interdiffusion, mixing and reaction phenomena of elements originating from the substrate and coating material are more likely to occur, thus increasing the bonding strength between the coating and carbon steel substrate. The change of the structures from the substrate side to the coating surface, and the effect of the substrate steel on the interface structure were studied by cross-sectional transmission electron microscope observation (XTEM). The nitride layer formed on the surface was analyzed by X-ray diffraction method (XRD). After treatment at above conditions a 6-7 {mu}m thick nitride compound layer was formed in surface region and the same thick carbide compound layer was also formed ...
In this paper, the influence of plasma nitriding at temperature 720 deg. C for 20 h on the surface microstructure and interface microstructure of electroplated chromium coating was investigated. In these conditions, interdiffusion, mixing and reaction phenomena of elements originating from the substrate and coating material are more likely to occur, thus increasing the bonding strength between the coating and carbon steel substrate. The change of the structures from the substrate side to the coating surface, and the effect of the substrate steel on the interface structure were studied by cross-sectional transmission electron microscope observation (XTEM). The nitride layer formed on the surface was analyzed by X-ray diffraction method (XRD). After treatment at above conditions a 6-7 #mu#m thick nitride compound layer was formed in surface region and the same thick carbide compound layer was also formed ...
Phosphate/chromate and accelerated chromate coatings were produced on commercially available aluminium. The Cr, P and Fe components of the conversion coatings were determined by radioactive tracer technique. The tracer technique was combined with ion-exchange and film-sectioning methods to determine the chromium(III)/total chromium ratio in the accelerated chromate coating. It was found that during the acidic dissolution of the conversion coating the chromium(III)/total chromium ratio may suffer changes. The film-forming components in the metal/bath interface are supersaturated and deposited onto the aluminium. The identified components of the accelerated chromate coatings are Cr(OH)sub(3), Cr(OH)CrOsub(4) and Crsub(4)(Fe(CN)sub(6))sub(3) and the chromium(III)/total chromium ratio was found to be cca. 2/3. (author). 11 refs.; 5 figs.
In situ composite coating of hydroxyapatite (HA)/TiO2 were produced on titanium (Ti) substrate by micro-arc oxidation coupled with electrophoretic deposition (MAO&EPD) technique with different concentrations of HA particles in the 0.2M NaOH electrolyte solution. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the hybrid coating were effected by HA concentration. The amount of HA particles incorporated into coating layer increased with increasing HA concentration used in the electrolyte solution. The corrosion behavior of the coating layer in simulated body fluids (SBF) was evaluated using a potentiodynamic polarization test. The corrosion resistance of the coated sample was increased compared to the untreated Ti sample. The in vitro bioactivity assessment showed that the MAO&EPD treated...
The electroless nickel plating/poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) composite coating (EN-plating/PLGA composite coating) was fabricated on the surface of the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) film of the magnesium alloy AZ81 to double control the corrosion and drug release in the hanks' solution. The EN-plating was fabricated on the MAO coating to improve the corrosion resistance by overlaying most pores and micro-cracks on the surface of the MAO film. Meanwhile, a double layered organic poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide)/paclitaxel (PLGA/PTX) drug releasing coating with a top layered PLGA drug controlled releasing coating on EN plating was prepared to control the drug release rate by adjusting the different lactide: glycolide (LA:GA) ratio of PLGA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the X-ray powder dif...
Assembly of icosahedral capsids of proper size and symmetry is not understood. Residue F170 in bacteriophage P22 coat protein is critical for conformational switching during assembly. Substitutions at this site cause assembly of tubes of hexamerically arranged coat protein. Intragenic suppressors of the ts phenotype of F170A and F170K coat protein mutants were isolated. Suppressors were repeatedly found in the coat protein telokin-like domain at position 285, which caused coat protein to assemble into petite procapsids and capsids. Petite capsid assembly strongly correlated to the side chain volume of the substituted amino acid. We hypothesize that larger side chains at position 285 torque the telokin-like domain, changing flexibility of the subunit and intercapsomer contacts. Thus, a sing...
Using Southern, dot-blot and 'in situ' hybridization, molecular and cytological localization of repetitive 'Lupinus lueteus' DNA sequence was shown. Under CsCl gradient centrifugation conditions CG-rich satellite fraction appeared. Dot-blot hybridization clearly indicated that 1070bp repetitive element being a member of previously described EcoRI fragments family appeared only in the main band. The use of that DNA fragment as an 'in situ' hybridization signal in the euchromatin area. (author). 26 refs, 3 figs.
This SBIR Phase I developed neutron detectors made from gallium arsenide (GaAs) p-type/ intrinsic/n-type (P-I-N) diodes grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) onto semi-insulating (S1) bulk GaAs wafers. A layer of isotonically enriched boron-10 evaporated onto the front surface serves to convert incoming neutrons into lithium ions and a 1.47 MeV alpha particle which creates electron-hole pairs that are detected by the GaAs diode. Various thicknesses of ''intrinsic'' (I) undoped GaAs were tested, as was use of a back-surface field (BSF) formed from a layer of Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}As. Schottky-barrier diodes formed from the same structures without the p+ GaAs top layer were tested as a comparison. After mesa etching and application of contacts, devices were tested in visible light before application of the boron coating. Internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the best diode near the GaAs bandedge ...
The Quantum Mechanics Conceptual Survey (QMCS) is a 12-question survey of students' conceptual understanding of quantum mechanics. It is intended to be used to measure the relative effectiveness of different instructional methods in modern physics courses. In this paper we describe the design and validation of the survey, a process that included observations of students, a review of previous literature and textbooks and syllabi, faculty and student interviews, and statistical analysis. We also discuss issues in the development of specific questions, which may be useful both for instructors who wish to use the QMCS in their classes and for researchers who wish to conduct further research of student understanding of quantum mechanics. The QMCS has been most thoroughly tested in, and is most appropriate for assessment of (as a posttest only), sophomore-level modern physics courses. We also describe testing with students in ...
We present a quantum secure direct communication scheme achieved by swapping quantum entanglement. In this scheme a set of ordered Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) pairs is used as a quantum information channel for sending secret messages directly. After insuring the safety of the quantum channel, the sender Alice encodes the secret messages directly by applying a series local operations on her particle sequences according to their stipulation. Using three EPR pairs, three bits of secret classical information can be faithfully transmitted from Alice to remote Bob without revealing any information to a potential eavesdropper. By both Alice and Bob's GHZ state measurement results, Bob is able to read out the encoded secret messages directly. The protocol is completely secure if perfect quantum channel is used, because there is not a transmission of the qubits carrying the secret message ...
A new mathematical framework is formulated to derive the effective equations of motion for the constrained quantum system which possesses an internal clock. In the realm close to classical behavior, the quantum evolution is approximated by a finite system of coupled but ordinary differential equations adhered to the weakly imposed Hamiltonian constraint. For the simplified version of loop quantum cosmology in the Bianchi I model with a free massless scalar filed, the resulting effective equations of motion affirm the bouncing scenario predicted by the previous studies: The big bang singularity is resolved and replaced by the big bounces, which take place up to three times, once in each diagonal direction, whenever the directional density approaches the critical value in the regime of Planckian density. It is also revealed that back-reaction arises from the quantum corrections and modifies the precise ...
A fully consistent linear perturbation theory for cosmology is derived in the presence of quantum corrections as they are suggested by properties of inverse volume operators in loop quantum gravity. The underlying constraints present a consistent deformation of the classical system, which shows that the discreteness in loop quantum gravity can be implemented in effective equations without spoiling space-time covariance. Nevertheless, non-trivial quantum corrections do arise in the constraint algebra. Since correction terms must appear in tightly controlled forms to avoid anomalies, detailed insights for the correct implementation of constraint operators can be gained. The procedures of this article thus provide a clear link between fundamental quantum gravity and phenomenology.
The study of quantum walk process has been widely divided into the two standard variants, the discrete-time quantum walk (DTQW) and the continuous-time quantum walk (CTQW). The connection between the two variants has been established by considering limiting value of the coin operation parameter in the DTQW and the coin degree of freedom is show to be unnecessary [26]. But the coin degree of freedom is an additional resource which can be exploited to control the dynamics of the QW process. In this paper we present a generic quantum walk (QW) model using a quantum coin-embedded unitary shift operation U_{C}. The standard version of the DTQW and the CTQW can be conveniently retrieved from this generic model retaining the features of the coin degree of freedom in both the variants.
Several metallurgical coatings have been developed that provide good tribological performances in high-temperature liquid sodium and that are relatively unaffected by neutron fluences to 6 X 10/sup 22/ n/cm/sup 2/ (E > 0.1 MeV). The coatings that have consistently provided the best tribological performance have been the nickel aluminide diffusion coatings created by the pack cementation process, chromium carbide or Tribaloy 700 trade mark (a nickel-base hardfacing alloy) applied by the detonation-gun process, and chromium carbide and other hardfacing alloy) applied by the detonation-gun process, and chromium carbide and other hardfacing materials applied by the electro-spark deposition process. The latter process is a relatively recent development for nuclear applications and is expected to find wide usage. Other coating processes, such as plasma-spray coating, sputtering, and ...
The purpose of this study was to synthesize biocompatible polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated iron oxide (PVP-IO) nanoparticles and to evaluate their efficacy as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)...Full Text Available
Duplex-coating procedures consisting of plasma nitriding and Me-C:H hard coating lead to an improved performance of the devices because the Me-C:H coating is supported by the nitrided phase and, therefore, the `eggshell-effect` is avoided. Furthermore, this support leads to a higher load-bearing capacity of the thin film. Two standard procedures (classical high-pressure plasma nitriding and unbalanced magnetron sputtering of Ti-C:H) were performed subsequently to prepare the duplex coatings on X20Cr13 ferritic stainless steel. The corrosion resistance of the steel could be improved by nitriding at 450 C compared to the untreated ferritic substrate. The roughness is determined by the nitriding step. The weakest point of the coating is the transition zone between the nitrided and the untreated substrate and not the interface between the Ti-C:H coating and the ...
The objective of this work was to evaluate the physical properties and in vivo circulation of chitosan (CH)-coated liposomes of mitoxantrone (MTO). Changes in particle size and zeta...Full Text Available
The industrial radiation processing using low energy electron beam (EB) accelerators lower than 300 keV offers high speed, safe technologies for the chemical conversion of thin layer coatings. Because of the nonselective mode of initiating chain reaction polymerization involving free radicals in synthetic coating layers and suitable substrates, the EB curing of the coatings on woods and papers has particular advantage. Hungary decided to start an up-to-date EB line to process cement-bound (CB) wood chipboards with pigmented acrylic coatings. The CB wood chipboards contain more than 60 % of portland cement and up to 40 % of wood particles. They are produced as large boads of 6 - 16 mm thickness. In their fireproof character and other aspects, they are similar to asbestos-cement boards without containing carcinagenic asbestos, and are stable against moisture and atmospheric influences. EB-cured acrylate ...
A serological trapping technique for detecting rotaviruses is described which involves coating electron microscope grids with protein A and specific rotavirus antiserum. The presence of a layer of antibodies...Full Text Available
Computer-assisted analysis revealed a striking sequence similarity between the putative 24-kDa protein (p24) encoded by open reading frame (ORF) 5 of beet yellows closterovirus and the coat protein...Full Text Available
The metal-semiconductor solar cell is a potential candidate for converting solar energy to electrical energy for space and terrestrial application. In this paper, a method for obtaining parameters of practical antireflection (AR) coatings for the metal-semiconductor solar cells is given. This method utilizes the measured equivalent index of refraction obtained from ellipsometry, since the surface to be AR coated has a multilayer structure. Both the experimental results and theoretical calculations of optical parameters for Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5/ AR coatings on Au-GaAs and Au-GaAs/sub 0.78/P/sub 0.22/ solar cells are presented for comparison. (AIP)
A report is given on an improved filler-binder mixing method in the manufacture of artificial graphite, the so-called coat-mix process. The individual graphite-filler grains are coated completely with uniform binder coatings (phenol formaldehyde resin) in a continuous process. Methanol is used as solvent for the resin. In a modified further development of the process, the use of organic solvents can be disregarded by dissolving the binder resin in caustic soda and injecting the slurry into water diluted acid. The manufacture of casting molds from coat-mix powders, their properties and industrial application are given. Finally, the advantages of using carbon bodies of coal-mix material for conversion to silicon carbide are indicated. (IHOE).
New data about the structure of high-temperature resistant metalloceramic plasma sprayed coatings in micro and nano areas are presented. Application of the new instrumental methods: transmission electron microscopy combined with selected area electron diffraction mode is possible to obtain these data. The first layer in Ni based metallic bond coat shows nanocrystalline structure. External ceramic layer based on stabilised ZrO_2 is polycrystalline and contains both cubic and tetragonal crystalline phases. Local inhomogeneities in coatings phase composition are determined. (author)
The refractory nature and high ductility of body centered cubic (bcc) phase tantalum makes it a suitable material for corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings on surfaces that are subjected to high stresses and harsh chemical and erosive environments. Sputter deposition can produce thick tantalum films but is prone to forming the brittle tetragonal beta phase of this material. Efforts aimed at forming thick bcc phase tantalum coatings in both flat plate and cylindrical geometries by high-rate triode sputtering methods are discussed. In addition to substrate temperature, the bcc-to-beta phase ratio in sputtered tantalum coatings is shown to be sensitive to other substrate surface effects.
There is increasing demand to functionalize meso- and nano-porous materials by coating and make the porous substrate biocompatible or environment friendly. However, coating on a meso-porous substrate poses great challenges, especially if the pore aspect ratio is high. In the current work the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method is used for coating Ni{sub 3}Al-based meso-porous membranes with diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers of high thickness homogeneity and adhesion. (orig.)
The theoretical principles underlying the formation of oxide and, in particular, anodic oxide coatings on metals produced by chemical oxidation, anodizing in solutions, and anodizing in cold plasmas are reviewed. The mechanisms and conditions of anodic oxidation are described, and the structure of anodic oxide coatings on aluminum, magnesium, beryllium, zinc, cadmium, iron, cobalt, nickel, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, and chromium alloys is examined. Attention is also given to various applictins of anodized coatings. 54 references.
With the deposition of PVD hard coatings on the tools applied in machining operations it is possible to achieve significant improvements in the performance and quality of the machining processes. Depending on the machined material and the operating principle, e.g. turning, milling or drilling, not only different machining parameters but also different coating materials are necessary. In interrupted cut machining of tempered steel, for example, the life time of Ti-C-N coated inserts is several times greater than the Ti-C-N coated ones. This is a result of the favourable thermophysical and tribological properties of Ti-N-C. The potential for tool protection by CrN coatings is a result of the high ductility and low internal stress of this coating materials. CrN films can be deposited with greater film thickness, still maintaining very good adhesion. This paper ...
One requirement of a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) radiator is to efficiently emit photons at high temperatures to TPV cells for conversion to electric power. Because many candidate radiator materials with adequate structural properties display low emissivity, coatings or other surface modifications are required for enhancement of emissivity. Six plasma sprayed coatings and one textured surface demonstrated adequate thermal stability and emittance values of 0.8 or greater. Promising attributes of modified surfaces are identified.
The cathodic vacuum arc provides a means of producing large currents of positive ions of a wide variety of materials. These ions can be utilized to produce coatings with improved properties such as higher density and adhesion. The processing is particularly useful in reactive deposition of ceramic coatings having excellent stoichiometry. In this review, emerging aspects of the technology are emphasized.
The method of production of xAl{sub 2}O{sub 3}-yTiO{sub 2} compositions provides for the depth distribution of coating components and specifies its mechanical properties. In case of the composition obtained by cladding, titanium is mainly concentrated at the substrate. In case of mechanical mixture or composition obtained by sintering the oxides, the depth distribution of coating components is random.
An improved coating for Advanced Gas Cooled Nuclear Reactor austenitic stainless steel fuel cans is described which, tests have shown, inhibits the deposition of carbon on the cans in carbon-containing ionising radiation environments. The coating comprises a refractory oxide which has been prepared by a vapour phase condensation method, in combination with a noble metal. (U.K.).
The method of the present invention comprises a step of previously coating a positive type resist on the surface of equipment, a step of solidifying the coated positive type resist and a step of bringing the coated equipment to circumstances for use and cleaning the positive type resist. With such procedures, the amount of radioactive materials deposited on the equipment can be reduced, and redeposition of nuclides on the surface to be cleaned can be prevented. (T.M.)
Magnetite nanoparticles with high self-heating capacity and low toxicity characteristics are a promising candidate for cancer hyperthermia treatment. In order to achieve minimum dosage to a patient, magnetic nanoparticles with high heating capacity are needed. In addition, the influence of physiological factors on the heat capacity of a material should be investigated in order to determine the feasibility. In this study, magnetite nanoparticles coated with lauric acid were prepared by co-precipitation of Fe{sup 3+}:Fe{sup 2+} in a ratio of 2:1, 5:3, 3:2, and 4:3, and the pH was controlled using NaOH. Structural and magnetization characterization by means of X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) revealed that the main species was Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and further showed that most of the nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic properties. All of the magnetic nanoparticles showed a specific absorption ...
AbstractWe combined atomistic molecular-dynamics simulations with quantum-mechanical calculations to investigate the sequence dependence of the stretching behavior of duplex DNA. Our...Full Text Available
Using a new approach to quaternion mechanics based on De Broglie waves, it is shown that such a theory describes tachyons and that the quantum theory of tachyons should be a quaternionic one. (U.K.).
We obtain a symmetry algebra for any unitary minimal model by using the representation of conformal field theories. This symmetry algebra can be interpreted as a quantum group. The generalization to non-unitary minimal models is direct. (orig.).
We obtain a symmetry algebra for any unitary minimal model by using the representation of conformal field theories. This symmetry algebra can be interpreted as a quantum group. The generalization to non-unitary minimal models is direct. (orig.).
Science and technology could be revolutionized by quantum computers, but building them from solid-state devices will not be easy. Robert W Keyes of IBM's research division outlines the challenges in scaling up the technology from lab experiments to practical devices. (U.K.)
A new model for computations is considered which combines the quantum computer with the chaotic dynamics amplifier, based on the logistic map. We discuss the satisfiability problem and argue that the problem can, in principle, be solved in polynomial time if one uses the new model for computations.
A technique is described for displaying distinct tissue layers of large blood vessel walls as well as measuring their mechanical strain. The technique is based on deuterium double-quantum-filtered (DQF)...Full Text Available
In this paper method of constructing quasi-exactly solvable models of quantum mechanics is proposed. This method is based on the use of infinite-dimensional representations of simple and semi-simple Lie algebras.
This course is based upon lectures in physics given by Professor Feynman at the California institute of technology during 1961 and 1962. This volume is dedicated to quantum physics, semiconductors, symmetry and advanced principles of physics.
A quantum computer (QC) can operate in parallel on all its possible inputs at once, but the amount of information that can be extracted from the result is limited by the phenomenon of wave function...Full Text Available
A controlled bidirectional quantum secret direct communication scheme is proposed by using a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state. In the scheme, two users can exchange their secret messages simultaneously with a set of devices under the control of a third party. The security of the scheme is analysed and confirmed.
Considered is a new type of generalized asymptotic functions, which are not functionals on some space of test functions as the Schwartz distributions. The definition of the generalized asymptotic functions is given. It is pointed out that in future the particular asymptotic functions will be used for solving some topics of quantum mechanics and quantum theory.
Violation of correspondence principle may occur for very macroscopic byt isolated quantum systems on rather short timescales as illustrated by the case of Hyperion, the chaotically tumbling moon of Saturn, for which quantum and classical predictions are expected to diverge on a timescale of approximately 20 years. Motivated by Hyperion, we review salient features of ``quantum chaos`` and show that decoherence is the essential ingredient of the classical limit, as it enables one to solve the apparent paradox caused by the breakdown of the correspondence principle for classically chaotic systems.
Two avowable quantum communication schemes are proposed. One is an avowable teleportation protocol based on the quantum cryptography. In this protocol one teleports a set of one-particle states based on the availability of an honest arbitrator, the keys and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen pairs shared by the communication parties and the arbitrator. The key point is that the fact of the teleportation can neither be disavowed by the sender nor be denied by the receiver. Another is an avowable quantum secure direct communication scheme. A one-way Hash function chosen by the communication parties helps the receiver to validate the truth of the information and to avoid disavowing for the sender.
Two avowable quantum communication schemes are proposed. One is an avowable teleportation protocol based on the quantum cryptography. In this protocol one teleports a set of one-particle states based on the availability of an honest arbitrator, the keys and the Einstein Podolsky Rosen pairs shared by the communication parties and the arbitrator. The key point is that the fact of the teleportation can neither be disavowed by the sender nor be denied by the receiver. Another is an avowable quantum secure direct communication scheme. A one-way Hash function chosen by the communication parties helps the receiver to validate the truth of the information and to avoid disavowing for the sender.
The study of randomness in low-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets is at the forefront of research in the field of strongly correlated electron systems, yet there have been relatively few experimental model systems. Complementary neutron scattering and numerical experiments demonstrate that the spin-diluted Heisenberg antiferromagnet La2Cu(1-z)(Zn,Mg)zO4 is an excellent model material for square-lattice site percolation in the extreme quantum limit of spin one-half. Measurements of the ordered moment and spin correlations provide important quantitative information for tests of theories for this complex quantum-impurity problem.
Trapped ions are a near ideal system to study quantum information processing due to the high degree of control over the ion's external confinement and internal degrees of freedom. We demonstrate the key steps necessary for trapped ion quantum computing and focus on phonon-mediated entangling gates. We highlight several key algorithms implemented over the last decade with these gates and give a detailed description of Grover's quantum database search implemented with two trapped ion qubits.
...225J Einstein, Oppenheimer, Feynman: Physics in the 20th Century Fall 2002 8.231 Physics of Solids I Fall 2002 8.251 String Theory for Undergraduates Spring 2003 8.261J Introduction to Computational Neuroscience Spring 2002 8.282J Introduction to Astronomy Spring 2003 8.321 Quantum Theory I Fall 2002 8.322 Quantum Theory II Spring 2003 8.323 Relativistic Quantum Field Theory I Spring 2003 8.324 Quantum Field Theory II ...
We study a quantum computing system using microwave photons in transmission line resonators on a superconducting chip as qubits. We show that linear optics and other controls necessary for quantum computing can be implemented by coupling to Josephson devices on the same chip. By taking advantage of the strong nonlinearities in Josephson junctions, photonic qubit interactions can be realized. We analyze the gate error rate to demonstrate that our scheme is realistic even for Josephson devices with limited decoherence times. As a conceptually innovative solution based on existing technologies, our scheme provides an integrated and scalable approach to the next key milestone for photonic qubit quantum computing.
In this talk, we explore the feasibility of quantum computation using continuous-variable systems by means of local measurements only. In the first part of the talk, we will identify crucial limitations that arise when starting from Gaussian cluster states. This is done by resorting to a Gaussian projected entangled pair picture as well as to notions of continuous-variable quantum repeater networks. In the second part, we look at instances in which these limitations can be overcome, and how suitable encodings of qubits in oscillators and feasible non-Gaussian resource states give rise to universal schemes for quantum computing.
Two mesoscopic SQUID rings which are far from each other are considered. A source of two-mode nonclassical microwaves irradiates the two rings with correlated photons. The Josephson currents are in this case quantum mechanical operators, and their expectation values with respect to the density matrix of the microwaves yield the experimentally observed currents. Classically correlated (separable) and quantum mechanically correlated (entangled) microwaves are considered, and their effect on the Josephson currents is quantified. Results for two different examples that involve microwaves in number states and coherent states are derived. It is shown that the quantum statistics of the tunnelling electron pairs through the Josephson junctions in the two rings are correlated.
In this paper, we proposed a novel quantum secure direct communication scheme with one-time pad in stabilizer formalism. Based on the reuse of qubit sequence, an efficient secure communication of secret messages without first producing a shared secret key can be achieved. One hence may find that the amount of private key needed for quantum communication is smaller than that in the general case. Therefore, the present protocol which is feasible with the present-day techniques may be applied to quantum communication with short-length encoding.
We study the all-optical time-control of the strong coupling between a single cascade three-level quantum emitter and a microcavity. We find that only specific arrival-times of the control pulses succeed in switching-off the Rabi oscillations. Depending on the arrival times of control pulses, a variety of exotic non-adiabatic cavity quantum electrodynamics effects can be observed. We show that only control pulses with specific arrival times are able to suddenly switch-off and -on first-order coherence of cavity photons, without affecting their strong coupling population dynamics. Such behavior may be understood as a manifestation of quantum complementarity.
Tungsten (W) coating on fusion candidate V-4Cr-4Ti (NIFS-HEAT-2) substrate was demonstrated with plasma spray process for the purpose of applying to protection of the plasma facing surface of a fusion blanket. Increase in plasma input power and temperature of the substrate was effective to reduce porosity of the coating, but resulted in hardening of the substrate and degradation of impact property at 77 K. The hardening seemed to be due to contamination with gaseous impurities and deformation by thermal stress during the coating process. Since all the samples showed good ductility at room temperature, further heating seems to be acceptable for the vanadium substrate. The fracture stress of the W coating was estimated from bending tests as at least 313 MPa, which well exceeds the design stress for the vanadium structure in fusion blanket. (author)
Research highlights: ? Reports a high protection system for the alloy in corrosive environment. ? Describes an interfacial process with self-healing properties. ? Reports the influence of substrate pre-treatment in the coating performance. - Abstract: In this paper the interface of poly(vinylidene fluoride) coatings prepared by the dip coating method and HF-treated AZ31 magnesium alloy was evaluated. The best performance of this system in corrosion tests compared to ground, as-received and acetic acid cleaned substrates is related to an acid-base interaction at the interface and to interfacial reactions which resulted in a self-healing process. The protectiveness of the samples was investigated using impedance and immersion tests while the coating morphology and interface stability were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and adhesion tests.
This study investigated the effect of board type (unmodified vs. MAPE modified) on the surface quality and thickness swelling-water absorption properties of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) based wood plastic composites. Additionally, two commercially available coatings (cellulosic coating and polyurethane lacquer coating) were also applied to composite surfaces and their adhesion strength, abrasion and scratch resistance, and gloss values were determined. This study showed that modification of the composites with MAPE coupling agent increased the surface smoothness and reduced the water absorption and thickness swelling of the panels. Abrasion resistance of the composites was also improved through MAPE modification. Regardless of board type, higher scratch resistance and gloss values were observed for polyurethane lacquer coated samples compared to those of cellulosic varnish ...
The effect of the coated composite surface of particles on the mechanical properties of the powder bed was investigated. Polyethylene-silica surface composite powder was prepared at several coating ratios with Hybridizer. Various tests on mechanical properties of the powder bed were carried out with the prepared powder, and the following results were obtained: The ultimate tensile strength depends only on the cohesive force between particles, and the contact probability model of composite particles led to good agreement between the experimental and calculated values. The coefficient of internal friction and cohesive shear strength were influenced due to the interlocking effect of the surface roughness of composite particles. The effects of coating particles became small with dynamic properties like angle of repose. It is possible to control the mechanical properties in a step wise fashion by changing the ...
Experiment was conducted to study the effect of gamma irradiation, growth retardants and coatings (coconut oil, mustard oil and liquid paraffin) on shelf life of winter guava fruits during storage. The results revealed that the superiority of coconut oil coating over other post harvest treatments. Physiological loss in weight (7.1%), marketable fruits retained over control (86.7%), total soluble solid (16.1%), ascorbic acid (195 mg/100 g pulp) and total sugar (10%) of fruit were positively influenced by coconut oil coating up to 12 days of storage. The treatment was found significantly effective in increasing the post harvest life of fruits for 12 days over control without adversely affecting the fruit quality. Coconut oil coating gave highest consumer acceptability while, maintaining suff...
Analysis reproducibility and detection sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis (CE) are often questioned by applied scientists, which has hindered its application as a routine method. To address these issues, a simple, precise, and reproducible dynamic coating method was developed by applying carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) dynamic coating on fused silica capillary. The proposed coating was accomplished by simply rinsing the capillary with CMC solution for 1?min in between runs, with no regeneration procedure or buffer additives needed. Electroosmotic flow could be well controlled by adjusting the pH of background electrolyte, and the adsorption of analytes onto the capillary inner wall was effectively eliminated. The main parameters of the coating condition were optimized, and extensive app...
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating could induce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) artificial ligament graft osseointegration in the bone tunnel. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits underwent artificial ligament graft transplantation in bilateral proximal tibia tunnels. One limb was implanted with HAp-coated PET graft, and the contralateral limb was implanted with non-HAp-coated PET graft as control. The rabbits were randomly sacrificed at four and eight?weeks after surgery. The loads to failure of the experimental group at eight?weeks were significantly higher than those of the control group (p?=?0.0057). Histologically, application of HAp coating induced new bone formation between graft and bone at eight?weeks compared with the controls. Rea...
Ion storage CeO{sub 2} and CeO{sub 2}/SnO{sub 2} coatings were prepared by sol-gel dip-coating method using aqueous-based process. The influence of added SnO{sub 2} in the CeO{sub 2} oxide coatings on the inserted/extracted charge was determined by chronocoulometric measurements. It was found that for 60 nm thick film the inserted/extracted charge was twice larger (Q = 10mC/cm{sup 2}) for films containing 17 mol % SnO{sub 2} if compared to pure CeO{sub 2}. The addition of SnO{sub 2} to the mixed oxides coatings on their optical properties and structural characteristics were studied.
The carbon fibers (CF) were pre-treated in two different ways: no pre-treatment, and activation in HNO3 plus application of toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). Carbon fibers have been introduced into polyurethane (PU) composite coatings. The tribological behaviors of the polyurethane composite coating filled with CF or TDI-modified CF (TDI-CF) were studied using a ring-on-block wear tester under dry sliding, and the worn surfaces of the filled PU coatings and transfer films formed on the surface of the counterpart ring sliding against the PU coating were investigated by SEM and optical microscope (OM), respectively. Owing to the effective improvement of the interfacial adhesion between the CF and polyurethane matrix, compared with the cases of untreated CF, the employment of low content TDI-CF...
The determination of residual stress (RS) in case-hardened steel gear truck synchronisers coated with thermal sprayed molybdenum was carried out using neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Two samples with different coating thicknesses (about 120 ?m and 1.4 mm) and different steel substrates (16MnCr5 and SAE4140, respectively) were investigated. Microanalysis revealed substantial porosity in both samples and some debonding was observed between the thin coating and the substrate. The bulk hardness of the SAE 4140 proved to be much higher than the 16MnCr5 and the surface case-hardening increased it by a further 20%. The full three-dimensional stress depth-profile was determined by neutron diffraction (ND) in both the coatings and the substrates, while synchrotron radiation allowed a dep...
We have developed efficient spectrally selective infrared (IR) emitters that can be utilized for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power generation by using stainless steel (SUS304) substrates coated with b- FeSi2 thin films. To develop spectrally selective emitters, we theoretically propose antireflection (AR) coatings consisting of a single layer of a dielectric material having a high refractive index (~5) and are appropriate for use with metals such as stainless steels in the IR region. This type of AR coating is fabricated by sputtering a b- FeSi2 thin film on a polished SUS304 substrate. The reflectance in the IR region is successfully reduced to less than 10%. In addition, the AR properties are stable even at 700 K in air. Therefore, metals with AR coatings of b- FeSi2 can be applied to IR em...
Abstract Introduction.- Infection is the worst complication seen with inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP). Both the American Medical Systems (AMS) and Coloplast IPP have infection retardant coatings. AMS is coated at the factory with rifampicin and minocycline (InhibiZone). The Coloplast IPP has a hydrophilic coating covalently bonded to its components that will absorb any aqueous solution before implantation and provides increased surface lubricity to decrease bacterial adherence. Aim.- We tested several antibiotic dips comparing zones of inhibition (ZOI) against five commonly infecting bacteria with coated Coloplast implants. Results were compared with those ZOI created with strips of an AMS IPP precoated with InhibiZone. Methods.- Pieces of sterile Coloplast Titan IPP were dipped in (i) ...
We analyse numerically the acoustic stop band properties of an array of orthotropic coated cylinders whose elastic parameters are deduced from a geometric transform [H. Chen, C.T. Chan, Acoustic cloaking in three dimensions using acoustic metamaterials, Appl. Phys. Lett. 91 (2007) 183518]. We find that whereas a single coated inclusion is acoustically neutral at any frequency, an array of them might display some stop bands. More precisely, an array of freely vibrating coated voids is always neutral, whereas an array of clamped coated inclusions might display a zero frequency stop band. Interestingly, an array of radially symmetric coated inclusions behaves as local Helmholtz resonators, for which the eigenfield within each cloak is obtained in closed form, leading to a frequency estimate a...
The combined processes of plasma nitriding and cathodic arc deposition of (Ti,Cr,Nb)CN coatings were applied to HSS substrates. The nitrided layers, obtained in a mixture of H2 (70%) and N2 (30%) at two different temperatures (480^oC and 510^oC), were examined for the microhardness depth profiles. Characterization of the duplex coatings was performed by investigating elemental and phase composition, texture, hardness, friction and wear. XRD and XPS analyses revealed the formation of a mixture of a carbonitride fcc solid solution, in a dominant proportion, and metallic chromium. The film hardness was measured to be ~34GPa. The duplex (Ti,Cr,Nb)CN coatings exhibited superior tribological behavior as compared to both nitrided layers and non-duplex coatings.
The propriety of the cosmic no-hair conjecture to the Bianchi-type-IX spacetime is discussed from a quantum cosmological point of view. It is shown that most, but not all, classical universes which are created quantum cosmologically are inflationary. The probability of inflation among such universes is also discussed.
The propriety of the cosmic no-hair conjecture to the Bianchi-type-IX spacetime is discussed from a quantum cosmological point of view. It is shown that most, but not all, classical universes which are created quantum cosmologically are inflationary. The probability of inflation among such universes is also discussed.
We propose two schemes for the implementation of quantum discrete Fourier transform in the ion trap system. In each scheme we design a tunable two-qubit phase gate as the main ingredient. The experimental implementation of the schemes would be an important step toward complex quantum computation in the ion trap system.
We obtain a simple derivation of the optimal quantum state estimation of a two-level system using the no-signaling principle. In particular, we show that the no-signaling principle determines the unique form of the guessing probability, independently to a given figure of merit such as the fidelity or the information gain. This proves that optimal measurements for a two-level quantum system is the same for almost all figures of merit.
Two-dimensional generalization of the original peak finding algorithm suggested earlier is given. The ideology of the algorithm emerged from the well known quantum mechanical tunneling property which enables small bodies to penetrate through narrow potential barriers. We further merge this ``quantum'' ideology with the philosophy of Particle Swarm Optimization to get the global optimization algorithm which can be called Quantum Swarm Optimization. The functionality of the newborn algorithm is tested on some benchmark optimization problems.
We report the first experimental generation and characterization of a six-photon Dicke state and demonstrate its remarkable versatility by projecting out four- and five-photon Dicke states, in addition to four-photon GHZ- and W-states. These multipartite states are studied by developing experimentally favorable characterization tools. Furthermore, we show that Dicke states have interesting applications in multiparty quantum networking protocols such as open-destination teleportation, telecloning and quantum secret sharing.
A consistent combination of quantum geometry effects rules out a large class of models of loop quantum cosmology and their critical densities as they have been used in the recent literature. In particular, the critical density at which an isotropic universe filled with a free, massless scalar field would bounce must be well below the Planck density. In the presence of anisotropy, no model of the Schwarzschild black hole interior analyzed so far is consistent.
An extremely simple and convenient method is presented for computing eigenvalues in quantum mechanics by representing position and momentum operators in matrix form. The simplicity and success of the method is illustrated by numerical results concerning eigenvalues of bound systems and resonances for Hermitian and non-Hermitian Hamiltonians as well as driven quantum systems. Various MATLAB program codes are listed. (author)
Implementation of quantum logical gates for multilevel systems is demonstrated through decoherence control under the quantum adiabatic method using simple phase modulated laser pulses. We make use of selective population inversion and Hamiltonian evolution with time to achieve such goals robustly instead of the standard unitary transformation language. (letter to the editor)
We propose a novel scheme for scalable solid state quantum computing, where superconducting microwave transmission line resonators (cavities) are arranged in a two-dimensional grid on the surface of a chip, coupling to superconducting qubits (charge or flux) at the intersections. We analyze how tasks of quantum information processing can be implemented in such a topology, including efficient two-qubit gates between any two qubits on the grid and elements of fault-tolerant computation.
The physical, chemical and mechanical properties of magnesium alloys make them attractive materials for automotive and aerospace applications. However, these materials are susceptible to corrosion and wear. This work discusses the potential of using sol-gel based coatings consisting of ZrO_2 and 15 wt.% of CeO_2. The CeO_2 component provides enhanced corrosion protection, while ZrO_2 impart corrosion as well as wear resistance. Coating deposition was performed by the dip coating technique on two magnesium alloy substrates with different surface finishes: AZ91D (as-casted, sand-blasted, and machined) and AZ31 (rolled and machined). All as-deposited coatings (xerogel coatings) were then subjected to 10 h annealing: a temperature of 180 C was applied to the AZ91D alloy and 140 C to the AZ31 alloy. Morphological and structural properties of the annealed coatings ...
A Ni3Al coating was prepared by plasma spraying technique on the surface of titanium alloy. Ni-Al mixed powders, coatings and reaction products were investigated by scanning electron microscope, EDS, DSC and XRD. A tight bonding between the coating and the substrate was formed. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the patterns showed that the coating not only had Ni3Al phase, but also had NiO and Al2O3 phase microcontent. Comparing Ni coated Al to Ni3Al at 900^oC, the diffusion was stronger and the diffusion layer was thicker. A minute pore structure was formed at 1200^oC in the front edge of solid-state reaction layer. So Ni3Al restrained the solid-state reaction of the coating with the substrate, and as a whole weakened the entry of oxygen atoms into the substrate and quenched the out-diffu...
A focused ion beam (FIB) technique was applied to cross-sectional specimen preparation to observe an interface between a plasma sprayed coating and an aluminum (Al) substrate by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface of the sprayed coating film has a roughness of several tens of microns. Sputter rates for the coating film and the substrate are greatly different. The rough surface and the difference in sputter rate cause problems in making TEM specimens with smooth side walls. The top surface of the coating film was planerized by the FIB before fabricating the TEM specimen. The interfaces were investigated by TEM and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The TEM observation revealed that there is a 10 nm thick amorphous layer at the interface between the coating film and substrate. The coating film consists of two kinds of sublayers with bright and ...
For the positive self-adjoint operators H = -#partial deriv#_i_g_i_j(x)#partial deriv# + q(x) on H triple-bond L"2(R"n) with n #>=# 3, it is shown that parallel(|x|)"-"1(#sq root#H - z)"-"1(|x| + 1)"-"1 parallel ##0"+, by imposing several conditions on g_i_j and q. In the special case g_i_j = c"2#delta#_i_j these conditions reduce to |x|#centre dot##nabla#c, (x"2 + 1)"1"+"v"a"r"-"e"p"s"i"l"o"n(|q(x)| + |x#centre dot##nabla#q|) #epsilon# L"#infinity# with the nontrapping condition (c - x#centre dot# #DELTA#c) #>=# kc, and a positivity condition C(x"2 + 1)"-"1 # 0. Results are applied to the stratified wave equation (#partial deriv#_t"2 - c"2(y)#DELTA#_z)#psi# = 0, where z = x circle-plus y #epsilon# R"k circle-plus R"m with n = k + m, and |y|(y#centre dot##nabla#_yc)#epsilon# L"#infinity#(R"m). In all cases the condition (c-y#centre dot##nabla#_yc) #<=# kc leads to a ...
Five hydrated inorganic divalent cations, Mg[sup 2+], Co[sup 2+], Ni[sup 2+], Cu[sup 2+], and Zn[sup 2+], have successfully been used as templates for the synthesis of manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-1) having the todorokite structure. The OMS-1 samples have been well characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray studies, inductively coupled plasma analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thiosulfate titration, and cyclohexane sorption. Catalytic CO oxidation and 2-propanol decomposition were carried out. Results show that these OMS-1 samples with a tunnel size of about 6.9 angstroms are crystalline and chemically pure. They have the following formulas: Mg[sub 3.17]Mn[sub 5.05]O[sub 12] [center dot] 4.52H[sub 2]O, Co[sub 1.84]Mn[sub 5.59]O[sub 12] [center dot] 3.45H[sub 2]O, Ni[sub ...
Collective dose equivalent and population dose from occupational exposures in Japan, 1988 were estimated on the basis of a nationwide survey. The survey was conducted on annual collective dose equivalents by sex, age group and type of radiation work for about 0.21 million workers except for the workers in nuclear power stations. The data on the workers in nuclear power stations were obtained from the official report of the Japan Nuclear Safety Commission. The total number of workers including nuclear power stations was estimated to be about 0.26 million. Radiation works were subdivided as follows: medical works including dental; non-atomic energy industry; research and education; atomic energy industry and nuclear power station. For the determination of effective dose equivalent and population dose, organ or tissue doses were measured with a phantom experiment. The resultant doses were compared with the doses previously calculated using a chord length technique and with data from ICRP ...
Collective dose equivalent and population dose from occupational exposures in Japan, 1988 were estimated on the basis of a nationwide survey. The survey was conducted on annual collective dose equivalents by sex, age group and type of radiation work for about 0.21 million workers except for the workers in nuclear power stations. The data on the workers in nuclear power stations were obtained from the official report of the Japan Nuclear Safety Commission. The total number of workers including nuclear power stations was estimated to be about 0.26 million. Radiation works were subdivided as follows: medical works including dental; non-atomic energy industry; research and education; atomic energy industry and nuclear power station. For the determination of effective dose equivalent and population dose, organ or tissue doses were measured with a phantom experiment. The resultant doses were compared with the doses previously calculated using a chord length technique and with data from ICRP ...
We present a strong-weak coupling duality for quantum mechanical potentials. Similarly to what happens in quantum field theory, it relates two problems with inverse couplings, leading to a mapping of the strong coupling regime into the weak one, giving information from the nonperturbative region of the parameters space. It can be used to solve exactly power-type potentials and to extract deep information about the energy spectra of polynomial ones. We present a strong-weak coupling duality for quantum mechanical potentials. Similarly to what happens in quantum field theory, it relates two problems with inverse couplings, leading to a mapping of the strong coupling regime into the weak one, giving information from the nonperturbative region of the parameters space. It can be used to solve exactly power-type potentials and to extract deep information about the energy spectra of polynomial ones.
Atomic ensembles, comprising clouds of atoms addressed by laser fields, provide an attractive system for both the storage of quantum information and the coherent conversion of quantum information between atomic and optical degrees of freedom. We describe a scheme for full-scale quantum computing with atomic ensembles, in which qubits are encoded in symmetric collective excitations of many atoms. We consider the most important sources of error-imperfect exciton-photon coupling and photon losses-and demonstrate that the scheme is extremely robust against these processes: the required photon emission and collection efficiency threshold is #approx#>86%. Our scheme uses similar methods to those already demonstrated experimentally in the context of quantum repeater schemes and yet has information processing capabilities far beyond those proposals.
This Chapter develops a realist information-theoretic interpretation of the nonclassical features of quantum probabilities. On this view, what is fundamental in the transition from classical to quantum physics is the recognition that \\emph{information in the physical sense has new structural features}, just as the transition from classical to relativistic physics rests on the recognition that space-time is structurally different than we thought. Hilbert space, the event space of quantum systems, is interpreted as a kinematic (i.e., pre-dynamic) framework for an indeterministic physics, in the sense that the geometric structure of Hilbert space imposes objective probabilistic or information-theoretic constraints on correlations between events, just as the geometric structure of Minkowski space in special relativity imposes spatio-temporal kinematic constraints on events. The interpretation of quantum ...
The unavoidable irreversible losses of power in a heat engine are found to be of quantum origin. Following thermodynamic tradition a model quantum heat engine operating by the Otto cycle is analyzed. The working medium of the model is composed of an ensemble of harmonic oscillators. A link is established between the quantum observables and thermodynamical variables based on the concept of canonical invariance. These quantum variables are sufficient to determine the state of the system and with it all thermodynamical variables. Conditions for optimal work, power and entropy production show that maximum power is a compromise between the quasistatic limit of adiabatic following on the compression and expansion branches and a sudden limit of very short time allocation to these branches. At high temperatures and quasistatic operating conditions the efficiency at maximum power coincides with the ...
Bargmann's superselection rule, which forbids the existence of superpositions of states with different mass and, therefore, implies the impossibility of describing unstable particles in non-relativistic quantum mechanics, arises as a consequence of demanding Galilean covariance of Schr\\"odinger's equation. However, the usual Galilean transformations inadequately describe the symmetries of non-relativistic quantum mechanics since they fail to take into account relativistic time contraction effects which can produce non-relativistic phases in the wavefunction. In this paper we describe the incompatibility between Bargmann's rule and Lorentz transformations in the low-velocities limit, we analyze its classical origin and we show that the Extended Galilei group characterizes better the symmetries of the theory. Furthermore, we claim that a proper description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics requires a modification of the ...
In this paper an efficient quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) scheme with authentication is presented, which is based on quantum entanglement and polarized single photons. The present protocol uses Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) pairs and polarized single photons in batches. A particle of the EPR pairs is retained in the sender's station, and the other is transmitted forth and back between the sender and the receiver, similar to the ``ping-pong'' QSDC protocol. According to the shared information beforehand, these two kinds of quantum states are mixed and then transmitted via a quantum channel. The EPR pairs are used to transmit secret messages and the polarized single photons used for authentication and eavesdropping check. Consequently, because of the dual contributions of the polarized single photons, no classical information is needed. The intrinsic efficiency and total efficiency are both 1 ...
A semirelativistic two-component extended linear augmented plane-wave k#centre dot#p method is described. In order to ensure a high accuracy of the k#centre dot#p method, it is necessary to include into the radial-basis set, which is used for the augmentation of the plane waves, functions that are neither solutions of the Schrodinger equation nor their energy derivatives. The usual scalar relativistic procedure, which is nonlinear in energy, is not applicable to such basis sets. As an alternative, we suggest an approximation to the Foldy-Wouthuysen Hamiltonian that produces an explicitly Hermitean matrix in the augmented plane wave representation. The technique is applied to the calculation of the full dielectric matrix and optical properties of palladium and platinum metals over the photon energy region up to 100 eV. Special attention is paid to the far ultraviolet absorption by the excitations of semicore Pd 4p and Pt 5p and 4f states. A ...
Safety assessments for clearance of H-beam and valves, main radioactive metal wastes in Kori nuclear power plants, were carried out to derivate a decontamination factor for satisfying the dose limits of clearance level (Maximum individual dose: 10 {mu}Sv/y, collective dose: 1 man{center_dot}Sv/y) in Korea. Maximum individual dose and collective dose were evaluated by internal dose conversion factor which based on the concept of effective dose in ICRP publication 60. The results of maximum individual dose and collective dose is 139 {mu}Sv per year and 0.166 man{center_dot}Sv per year about H-beam, and 158 {mu}Sv per year and 0.468 man{center_dot}Sv per year about valves respectively. Demand decontamination factor satisfied with, which is respectively more than 13.9 and 15.8 for satisfying clearance level.
Safety assessments for clearance of H-beam and valves, main radioactive metal wastes in Kori nuclear power plants, were carried out to derivate a decontamination factor for satisfying the dose limits of clearance level (Maximum individual dose: 10 #mu#Sv/y, collective dose: 1 man#centre dot#Sv/y) in Korea. Maximum individual dose and collective dose were evaluated by internal dose conversion factor which based on the concept of effective dose in ICRP publication 60. The results of maximum individual dose and collective dose is 139 #mu#Sv per year and 0.166 man#centre dot#Sv per year about H-beam, and 158 #mu#Sv per year and 0.468 man#centre dot#Sv per year about valves respectively. Demand decontamination factor satisfied with, which is respectively more than 13.9 and 15.8 for satisfying clearance level.
Classical control theory has played a major role in the development of present-day technologies. Likewise, recently developed quantum optimal control methods can be applied to emerging quantum technologies, e.g. quantum information processing -- until now, at the level of a few qubits. However, such methods encounter severe limits when applied to many-body quantum systems: due to the complexity of simulating the latter, existing quantum control algorithms (requiring many iterations to converge) usually fail to yield a desired final state within an acceptable computational time. In contrast, we present here a strategy for controlling a vast range of non-integrable one-dimensional systems that is efficiently applicable to quantum many-body systems, as it can be merged with state-of-the-art tensor network simulation methods like the Density Matrix Renormalization ...
There is presently considerable interest in wear resistant coatings produced using closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering technology. For example, layered films of diamond-like carbon (DLC) with tungsten or titanium additions have been widely reported. The benefit is that the mechanical properties are enhanced (e.g. giving greater toughness); also it is possible to control the stress state and enhance adhesion. Here we report the further development of this concept by the addition of TiN, TiCN and TiC layers in DLC-based composites, utilizing an additional source of electrons in the vicinity of substrate to enhance ionisation of the plasma and increase coating density. Composite coatings of ceramics TiN, TiC{sub x}N{sub y}, TiC, CrN, TiCrN, TiCrCN, TiCrC, metal doped Ti{sub x%}-DLC and their combinations were deposited on 316 stainless steel substrates. The mass flow of reactive gases into the chamber was controlled ...
Copper coatings deposited on Al-6061 substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, to prevent the retention and permeation of energetically implanted tritium in Al-6061, were evaluated by a variety of characterization techniques. The coatings, weighing in the 0.03 to 0.088 kg/m{sup 2} range, were smooth and had a fine grain structure. They contained the intermetallic phases Cu{sub 9}Al{sub 4} and CuAl{sub 2} as well as copper. The fractions of Al and Cu in any coating increased and decreased, respectively, with increasing depth below the surface. Furthermore, the fractions of Al and Cu on the coating surface decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing coating weight. There was no texture or preferred orientation in the Cu phase of the coatings. A significant amount of oxygen was also detected at the original substrate surface. Residual stress ...
Research highlights: The dental implant of titanium could be modified by anodic oxidation. It was found that incorporation of strontium ions into the matrix increase the bone formation. In this study, we try to investigate the effect of corrosion property and bioactivity on coatings containing strontium by anodic oxidation. The results suggest that coatings containing strontium on titanium by anodic oxidation has the potential to show the stability and bioactivity in the clinical use. - Abstract: Pure titanium (Ti) and titanium alloys are considered as bio-inert materials in clinical use. Bioactivity is the ability to induce bone-like apatite on the material surface. The micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technique is an effective method for improving the surface properties of titanium. The aim of this study was to investigate the bioactivity and corrosion behavior of MAO coatings containing strontium, which is beneficial for ...
High-flux neutron sources are continuing to be of interest both in Canada and internationally to support materials testing for advanced power reactors, new developments in extracted-neutron-beam applications, and commercial production of selected radioisotopes. The advanced MAPLE reactor concept has been developed to meet these needs. The advanced MAPLE reactor is a new tank-type D_2O reactor that uses rodded low-enrichment uranium fuel in a compact annular core to generate peak thermal-neutron fluxes of 1 x 10"1"9 n#centre dot#s"-"1 in a central irradiation rig with a thermal power output of 50 MW. Capital and incremental development costs are minimized by using MAPLE reactor technology to the greatest extent practicable.
Ozone production in a negative corona discharge has been studied experimentally at atmospheric pressure in mixtures of N_2O+O_2 at ambient temperature. Ozone formation was found to be dramatically reduced with increase in the content of N_2O in the mixture. The reaction of O("1D) with nitrous oxide is the most likely process reducing the rate of ozone generation. A considerable decrease in the mean discharge current at a constant voltage was also observed with increasing content of nitrous oxide in the mixture and is attributed to the formation of anions in the discharge. The low values of the calculated mobility of negative charge carriers in the drift region of the discharge is caused by the formation of O"- #centre dot# (N_2O)_n and NO"-#centre dot#(N_2O)_n cluster anions in the drift region of the negative corona discharge.
A thermal neutron imaging facility for real-time neutron radiography and computed tomography has recently been developed at the University of Texas TRIGA reactor. Extensive Monte Carlo design calculations were used to determine optimal design parameters of the neutron collimator system to avoid costly trial and error. Thermal neutron flux determined by gold foil activation is 5 {times} 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2}{center_dot}s at the primary imaging location with beam size of 22.5 cm in diameter. The collimation ratio can be varied from 125 to 235. The neutron-to-gamma ratio is 7.8 {times} 10{sup 6} n/cm{sup 2}{center_dot}mR. The facility has been tested for radiography and tomography applications and is now fully operational.
Interaction of periodic and iodic acids with propyoneamide in aqueous solutions at 25 deg C has been studied. In the system iodic acid-propyoneamide-water formation of two compounds of the composition 6C_2H_5CONH_2#centre dot#HIO_3 and C_5H_5CONH_2#centre dot#HIO_3 is ascertained, for which concentrational boundaries of formation, density, melting points are determined. The system periodic acid-propyoneamide-water is referred to the simple eutonic type. By the method of IR spectroscopy it has been shown that oxygen atom of amide carbonyl group is the centre of propyoneamide protonation by iodic acid.
Negligent hazardous waste management has resulted in real threats to public health. The Federal Government has responded to the situation with laws and regulations aimed at the producers of hazardous waste, including clinical laboratories. The Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) imposes controls on hazardous waste management through the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulate these activities through 40 CFR and 49 CFR. Most clinical laboratories can operate satellite accumulation points and accumulate, store, transport, and dispose of waste in accordance with EPA and DOT regulations. Regulations pertaining to infectious waste, sure to affect many clinical laboratories, are being developed now by he EPA. The cradle to grave tracking system mandated by the Federal Government can be supplemented by state and local authorities and poses a significant ...
Titanium alloys are characterized by poor tribological properties, and the traditional use of titanium alloys has been restricted to nontribological applications. The deposition of a well adherent diamond coating is a promising way to solve this problem. In this study, the tribological properties of diamond-coated titanium were studied using a pin-on-disk tribometer, and the results were compared with those of pure titanium and plasma nitrided titanium. The tribological behavior of pure titanium was characterized by high coefficient of friction and rapid wear of materials. Plasma nitriding improved the wear resistance only under low normal load; however, this hardened layer was not efficient in improving the wear resistance and the friction properties under high normal load. Diamond coating on pure titanium improved the wear resistance of titanium significantly. Surface profilometry measurement indicated that little or no ...
This paper describes an investigation of electrodeposited Zn-14% Ni and aluminium-based SermeTel 1140/962 coatings as possible replacements for cadmium. Slow strain rate tests were performed to measure the extent of direct hydrogen embrittlement of a high strength steel substrate as a result of the coating process and of hydrogen re-embrittlement caused by coating corrosion. The level of re-embrittlement was shown to depend on both the electrochemical potential of the coating and its barrier properties. Zn-14% Ni coatings caused the most re-embrittlement as they had the most active potential and contained through-thickness defects which left the steel exposed to hydrogen uptake. The microstructure of the high strength steel was also shown to be an important factor affecting the extent of embrittlement. AerMet 100 steel was more resistant than 300M steel and this was attributed to ...
Today, as a result of increase in oil prices, limited fossil fuel resources, environmental consideration and global warming, the methyl ester fuels have been focused on alternative fuels. Methyl ester fuels can be used more efficiently in low heat rejection engines (LHR), in which the temperature of combustion chamber is increased by creating a thermal barrier. In this study, the piston, cylinder head, exhaust and inlet valves of a diesel engine were coated with the ceramic material Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} by the plasma spray method. Thus, a thermal barrier was provided for the parts of the combustion chamber with these coatings. The effects of corn oil methyl ester that produced by the transesterification method, and No. D2 fuels' performance and exhaust emissions' rate were studied by using equal in every respect coated and uncoated engines. Tests were performed on the uncoated engine, and then ...
Several types of coatings have previously been visually identified on the surface of 105-K East and 105-K West Basins fuel elements. One type of coating (found only in K West Basin) in particular was found to be a thick translucent material that was often seen to be dislodged from the elements as flakes when the elements were handled during visual examinations (Pitner 1997). Subsequently it was determined (for one element only in a hot cell) that this material, in the dry condition, could easily be removed from the element using a scraping tool. The coating was identified as Al(OH){sub 3} through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and to be approximately 60 {micro}m thick via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, brushing under water in the basin using numerous mechanical strokes failed to satisfactorily remove these coatings in their thickest form as judged by appearance. Such brushing was done ...
This report outlines on the corrosive damage which is inherent to a high temperature environment and introduces on thermal spraying system taking an example of a gas turbine. The recent coatings by thermal spraying for high temperature environment are positively used in such applications as a hearth roll for continuous annealing, a roll for hot dipped steelplate, a solid electrolyte for fuel cell, boilers and rockets. The coating formed will be positively used because of a convenient thermal spraying and availability of various sprayable materials. This report describes the following items. Corrosive damage under the high temperature environment. Types of high temperature corrosive coating by a thermal spraying and utilization thereof. Outline of MCrAlX alloy, and merits thereof. Coating to a turbine wing by rduced pressure plasma thermal spraying. In general, it is urgently needed to establish the ...
The photon rupture method, by which oxide film and metal are removed by focused pulsed Nd-YAG laser beam irradiation, was applied to form artificial micro-pits in Zn-5 mass% Al alloy-coated steel. The zinc alloy-coated layer was removed by pulsed laser irradiation treatment for about one second in a neutral buffer solution with NaCl. The rest potential transient with the laser treatment was measured. In the early stage of the laser treatment the rest potential of zinc alloy-coated steel changed to the negative direction immediately after every irradiation of a laser pulse and then returned to the previous value. However, after the steel substrate was exposed to the solution, the rest potential moved to the positive direction immediately after every irradiation of a laser pulse and then returned to the previous value. The amplitude and duration of the potential change after the laser irradiation increased with repetition of ...
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was studied on bare brass (B), nickel coated brass (B/Ni), nickel-zinc alloy coated brass (B/NiZn, leached Zn), nickel (under layer)/nickel-zinc alloy coated (top layer) brass electrodes (B/Ni/NiZn, leached Zn) in 1 M NaOH solution using electrolysis, cathodic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Long term tests were performed in order to evaluate the electrocatalytic activity and corrosion performance of the prepared electrodes with operation time. The results showed that leached electrodes, especially B/Ni/NiZn electrode, have a smaller overpotential than the others and a good electrocatalytic activity for the HER. Its electrocatalytic activity is also stable over electrolysis time. Contrary to the HER performance, B/NiZn cannot provide an adequate corrosion protection. However, when a thin Ni layer was coated under the NiZn ...
Lower cost painting flock-like in appearance and touch feeling was developed as a new surface softening method for automobile interior plastic molded parts. The base coat with the same color as piles mixed into a top coat was first painted on the surface of a plastic molded part after cleaning, and after the top coat with less pitch mixed with piles was painted on the wet base coat and dried by a heater, excess piles were removed with suction and air blowing to produce flock-like appearance. Nylon 66 of 0.4mm in length was used as piles, and mixed into the top coat by 8.0wt% in content. This painting method was applicable to even such parts as one with a complex configuration, and one impossible to set piles on it by conventional methods because of poor durability. As a certain amount of piles with different colors were mixed into the top coat, sprinkly colored ...
The construction of networks consisting of optically interconnected processing units is a promising way to scale up quantum information processing systems. To store quantum information, single trapped atoms are among the most proven candidates. By placing them in high finesse optical resonators, a bidirectional information exchange between the atoms and photons becomes possible with, in principle, unit efficiency. Such an interface between stationary and ying qubits constitutes a possible node of a future quantum network. The results presented in this thesis demonstrate the prospects of a quantum interface consisting of a single atom trapped within the mode of a high-finesse optical cavity. In a two-step process, we distribute entanglement between the stored atom and two subsequently emitted single photons. The long atom trapping times achieved in the system together with the high photon collection ...
Researchers are developing polymer-based coating systems to reduce scaling and corrosion of air-cooled condensers that use a geothermal fluid spray for heat transfer augmentation. These coating systems act as barriers to corrosion to protect aluminum fins and steel tubing; they are formulated to resist the strong attachment of scale. Field tests have been done to determine the corrosion and scaling issues related to brine spraying and a promising organometallic polymer has been evaluated in salt spray tests.
The authors describe measurements of emittance made on samples of solar cell coverglasses incorporating new coatings both on C-7940 fused silica and on CMX ceria doped microsheet. Samples of a conventional, MgF_2 coating on the same two types of coverglass substrates were included in the measurements as controls. Measurements were made by the calorimetric method of total hemispherical emittance within a cooled chamber as well as by the more common infrared reflectance method. Emittance enhancements from 1 to 4% were measured for the new coatings.
A zinc/air battery is claimed whose performance is improved by omitting separating elements such as diaphragms etc. The cathode and anode spaces are separated by a collector with holes big enough to permit the electrons to pass freely while restraining the anode material. Further, the active material consists of a spherical care of inert material with a zinc coating. Under the zinc coating, the spherical particles have another thin coating of an electropositive material, e.g. nickel. The cell also contains means for circulating the anode suspension.
Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to investigate surface-coated magnetite-based magnetic fluids doped with TEMPOL. Two magnetic fluid samples, having magnetite nanoparticles with average diameter of 94 A and coated with different coating layers (lauric acid plus ethoxylated polyalcohol in one case and oleoylsarcosine in the other case), were doped with TEMPOL (6 mM and pH 7.4) and investigated as a function of the nanoparticle concentration. The resonance field and the resonance linewidth both scale linearly with the nanoparticle concentration.
On the basis of cylindrical roller thrust bearings it was systematically examined to what extent PVD-coatings are able to take over the function of EP/AW-additives. The bearings were tested under heavy-duty conditions in order to distinguish very fast the efficiency of different coating-substrate-systems. Several coatings were tested for their ability to protect an un-coated counterpart. So just the washers of the roller bearings were coated, the rollers stayed un-coated. Four Me-C:H-coatings showed the best performance and fulfilled the required criterion for roller bearings in the boundary friction: low loss of mass and hardly surface deviation. Material carryover from the carbonaceous coating to the 100Cr6 steel surface was developed by the Me-C:H-coatings during the tests. This mechanism was able ...
A stable BSA blocking poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannel was prepared based on in situ synthesized PDMS-gold nanoparticles composite films. The modified microchip could successfully suppress protein adsorption. The assembly was followed by contact angle, charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging, electroosmotic flow (EOF) measurements and electrophoretic separation methods. Contact angle measurements revealed the coated surface was hydrophilic, water contact angle for coated chips was 45.2^o compared to a water contact angle for native PDMS chips of 88.5^o. The coated microchips exhibited reproducible and stable EOF behavior. With FITC-labeled myoglobin incubation in the coated channel, no fluorescence was observed with CCD image, and the protein exhibited good electrophoretic effect in ...
Performance and emissions data were gathered on a normally aspirated single cylinder DI engine with various combinations of ceramic coatings installed. Thin ceramic thermal barrier coatings were applied to the piston crown and bowl, the head and valves, and the cylinder liner. The coated piston and head were run singly and in combination with the cylinder liner to investigate the effects of these different coated surfaces on emissions and performance. Coating the piston crown alone results in generally lower cylinder pressure, lower brake specific fuel consumption and lower NO(x) emission compared to the baseline engine. Soot emission is typically increased below 2000 RPM and decreased above 2000 RPM. Coating the head alone reduces cylinder pressure, but generally increases specific fuel consumption and NO(x) and soot emission. The KIVA-II code was used to model ...
drical Enclosures Using a Numerical Ray Tracing Technique. NASA. TM-I02527, 1990 . Buckley, H.: Radiation from the Interior of a Reflecting Cylinder. Philos. ...
Aluminium AA5182 coupons covered by a polyaniline film in the emeraldine base (EB) form showed increasing corrosion potential and decreasing corrosion current as a function of the thickness of the polymer layer. The cathodic reaction was proved not limited by diffusion of species inside the electrolyte solution and oxygen had no effect on the electrochemical behaviour of the coated samples. An EB coating on indium tin oxide conducting layer appeared slightly electroactive in neutral media. The IR spectra of aluminium coated samples, before and after heating in argon atmosphere, confirmed a redox reaction between the polymer film and the metal. This galvanic coupling can explain the good protective behaviour of emeraldine base against corrosion of aluminium.
COATINGS FOR THE METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR SOLAR CELLS 3S GIVEN. THIS METHOD UTILIZES THE MEASURED EQUIVALENT INDEX OF. REFRACTION OBTAINED FROM ELLIPSOMETRY ...
The mechanical stability of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films coated on nitinol vascular stents was investigated under cyclic loading condition by employing a stent crimping system. DLC films were coated on the vascular stent of a three dimensional structure by using a hybrid ion beam system with rotating jig. The cracking or delamination of the DLC coating occurred dominantly near the hinge connecting the V-shaped segments of the stent where the maximum strain was induced by a cyclic loading of contraction and extension. However the failures were significantly suppressed as the amorphous Si (a-Si) buffer layer thickness increased. Interfacial adhesion strength was estimated from the spalled crack size in the DLC coating for various values of the a-Si buffer layer thickness.
The main purpose of solid or fluid lubricants in ball-bearings is to separate the balls and races from contacting each other in so-called asperity collisions. Steel to steel contacts lead to microwelds which roughen functional rolling-contacting surfaces and deteriorate the lubricant. By using balls with a ceramic TiC coating, two goals are achieved. First, there are fewer asperity collisions because of the extreme smoothness of the high precision polished TiC coated balls. Second, if collisions do occur, there is practically no microwelding taking place, leaving the surfaces and the lubricant in good condition. Examples are given where the bearing lifetime is increased up to 10 times if the steel balls are replaced by TiC-coated balls. (orig.).
• Background and Aims The occurrence of stomata in seed coats is uncommon and there is limited information about their function(s). The aim of this study was to verify the distribution...Full Text Available
The refractory nature and high ductility of body centered cubic (bcc) phase tantalum makes it a suitable material for corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings on surfaces which are subjected to high stresses and harsh chemical and erosive environments. Sputter deposition can produce thick tantalum films but is prone to forming the brittle tetragonal beta phase of this material. Efforts aimed at forming thick bcc phase tantalum coatings in both flat plate and cylindrical geometries by high-rate triode sputtering methods are discussed. In addition to substrate temperature, the bcc-to-beta phase ratio in sputtered tantalum coatings is shown to be sensitive to other substrate surface effects.
Polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been prepared and used as an immobilization matrix for the fabrication of solid-state tris(2,2prime-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The pre-synthesized maghemite (g-Fe2O3) MNPs were coated with poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid) based on an oxidative polymerization method using KMnO4. The poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid)-coated MNPs have formed the clusters with average diameter of 200-500nm. The multilayer films of poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid)-coated MNPs were uniformly formed on the surface of a Pt electrode by an external magnet. The Ru(bpy)32+ was rapidly incorporated into the multilayer films within 5min through the electrostatic interaction between the Ru(bpy)32+ and the negatively charged c...
Herein, we demonstrate the structure of the PS colloidal crystals which were fabricated on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic Si wafers by a spin-coating technique. Monodisperse PS colloids are spin-coated onto self-assembled monolayers of 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and propyltrimethoxysilane coated Si wafers. PS spheres organized as ordered close-packed face-centered cubic structure with (111) planes on the hydrophilic surface while they gathered without the crystal structure on the hydrophobic surface. This paper also reports a simple and rapid method to fabricate the close-packed structure of hollow TiO2 spheres. The colloidal crystal of TiO2 hollow spheres was prepared using the PS sphere template on the hydrophobic surface. The mechanism for the growing multilayers of self-assembled PS p...
A test bench was designed and assembled to carry out impact tests on samples and components. The system allows simple and rapid adjustment of the test parameters, such as the shot size and air pressure, with good repeatability of the results. Tests on steel and light alloys were carried out under both as-produced condition and on thin hard-coated samples. Significant reductions in dimple dimensions were seen after coating. FE models simulating the experiments overestimated the dimple depths, although the parameter trend was satisfactorily captured. The residual stresses from coating and shot peening determined numerically are believed to have been proven effective against fatigue.
Ni-Co/SiC nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited in a modified watt type of Ni-Co bath containing 20nm SiC particles to be codeposited. Potentiodynamic polarization tests were conducted to study the effect of the SiC particulates on the electrodeposition of Ni and Co. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the morphology of the Ni-Co alloy and Ni-Co/SiC nanocomposite coatings. The distribution of the particulates in the matrix was considered by means of transmission electron microscopy. Applying nanomechanical testing instruments coupled to atomic force microscopy, mechanical properties of the alloy and composite coatings were studied and compared. The presence of 11vol.% SiC in the Ni-Co matrix increased hardness more than 60%. The average depth of scratch in the mentioned ...
Fluorocarbon polymers are used to enhance thermal stability and electrostatic protection of composite propellant compositions. A precipitation technique has been developed to coat ammonium perchlorate (AP) using a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride (HFP-VF) with the help of solvent-counter solvent method. The coated AP has been used to prepare propellant compositions in different ratio based on hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), aluminium powder along with uncoated AP and studied for viscosity build-up and visco-elastic behaviour as well as mechanical, ballistic, thermal and sensitivity properties keeping 86% solid loading. The data on viscosity build-up indicate that as the percentage of viton coated AP increases end of mix viscosity and viscosity build-up inc...
TiB{sub 2} appears to be a promising material for the wear protection in various tribological systems, e.g. the diecasting of Al. This study focuses on the development of titanium boride coatings deposited by PACVD, a deposition method which is most suitable for the coating of substrates with complex shapes. All layers analysed are very smooth and exhibit a quasi-amorphous fracture surface. XRD and TEM analysis indicate a nanocrystalline structure with grain sizes in the order of 2 nm. The diffraction patterns can well be correlated to titanium diboride. WDS reveals an over stoichiometric B/Ti ratio. The layer hardness reaches the value of 33 GPa and the critical load in scratch tests rises to 35 N. Neither 100Cr6 nor Al as a counterpart in pin-on-disk tests leads to wear of the coating. (orig.)
Plasma Technologies in Institute of Plasma Physics of the NSC KIPT are recently developed in the following directions. Material surfaces modification under their irradiation with pulsed plasma streams of different working gases. Besides traditional analysis of improvements of tribological characteristics and structural-phase changes of the modified layers recently we started investigations of material corrosions characteristic improvement under influence of pulsed plasma on the material surfaces. As to the surface coatings in arc discharges of Bulat type devices, new trends are related with multi-layers coatings, using Ti-AI-N coatings in cutting tools, using high frequency discharges or combined HF- and arc discharges for increasing the nomenclature of goods to be coated. Development of ozonators is respectively new area for IPP NSC KIPT. On the base of barrier high-frequency discharge there were ...
Amino-rich polymeric coatings are widely used in biomedical applications, since they promote adsorption of diverse biomolecules or facilitate cell growth. As a consequence, there is a growing interest in fabrication of such coatings that is focused predominantly on the optimization of the deposition process in terms of high density of primary amino groups. In addition, the nature of biomedical applications requires also sufficient stability of the films in aqueous environments. This aspect is investigated in this contribution. In particular, the effect of water and phosphate buffer saline on the coatings prepared by RF magnetron sputtering of Nylon 6,6 in Ar/N2 and N2/H2 gas mixtures is evaluated. The samples exposed to liquids are characterized by various diagnostic methods and their prop...
Corrosion behavior of deposition coated specimens prepared by the technique proposed by the authors is investigated in salt immersion tests, and also those of pure magnesium, 3N, 4N and 6N grades, and magnesium alloys, AZ31 and AZ91E, are investigated for comparison. Inhomogeneous corrosion occurs in AZ31 and AZ91E alloys when buffered solutions with pH values of 6.5 and 9.0 including 1% NaCl and a conventional 3% NaCl solution are used for immersion tests, while 6N-Mg shows homogeneous corrosion in such solutions. Corrosion behavior of the deposition coated specimen resembles that of 6N-Mg. Purification process included in the deposition coating technique provides homogeneity in microstructural and electrochemical terms, which results in improving corrosion resistance. (orig.)
In the present study, surfaces of cylinder head, piston, exhaust and inlet valve of a four-stroke, direct injection, single cylinder diesel engine were coated with molybdenum (Mo) by plasma spray method. Thus, thermal barrier characteristic was brought to these parts. Variances in performance and emission values of cotton methyl ester and 2D fuel mixtures were studied in the ceramic coated and uncoated engines under the same running conditions. Performance (6.0% for specific fuel consumption) and emission values (up to 18.0% for CO, 8.0% for smoke density) of the test fuel were improved in the coated engine compared with the uncoated engine. NO_x increase (4.5%) with the increased temperatures expected in the coated engine.
We revisited the quantum Zeno paradox, which claims that a generic quantum system prepared in a state which is not an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian operator and is continuously observed never decays. Since any perfectly isolated quantum system always interact with a vacuum field, we analyze the possibility of using this fact to solve the above mentioned conceptual problem. Therefore we discuss a two-level system or qubit-Bose field interaction Hamiltonians. We consider the quantum dynamics of this two-level system, prepared in the excited state interacting with a Bose field prepared in the Poincare invariant vacuum state. Using a first-order approximation in time-dependent perturbation theory, we evaluate the probability of spontaneous decay of the two-level system driven by the vacuum field. This probability is evaluated for a finite time interval. Using the standard argument to obtain the ...
The canonical quantum theory of gravity-quantum geometrodynamics (QG)-is applied to the homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. As a result, a framework for the quantum theory of homogeneous cosmologies is developed. We show that the theory is internally consistent and prove that it possesses the correct classical limit (the theory of general relativity). To emphasize the special role that the constraints play in this new theory, we compare it to the traditional ADM square-root and Wheeler-DeWitt quantization schemes. We show that, unlike traditional approaches, QG leads to a well-defined Schroedinger equation for the wavefunction of the universe that is inherently coupled to the expectation value of the constraint equations. This coupling to the constraints is responsible for the appearance of a coherent spacetime picture. Thus, the physical meaning of the constraints of the theory is quite different from ...
The canonical quantum theory of gravity-quantum geometrodynamics (QG)-is applied to the homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. As a result, a framework for the quantum theory of homogeneous cosmologies is developed. We show that the theory is internally consistent and prove that it possesses the correct classical limit (the theory of general relativity). To emphasize the special role that the constraints play in this new theory, we compare it to the traditional ADM square-root and Wheeler-DeWitt quantization schemes. We show that, unlike traditional approaches, QG leads to a well-defined Schroedinger equation for the wavefunction of the universe that is inherently coupled to the expectation value of the constraint equations. This coupling to the constraints is responsible for the appearance of a coherent spacetime picture. Thus, the physical meaning of the constraints of the theory is quite different from Dirac's ...
We consider the role of quantum effects in the transfer of hyrogen-like species in enzyme-catalysed reactions. This study is stimulated by claims that the observed magnitude and temperature dependence of kinetic isotope effects imply that quantum tunneling below the energy barrier associated with the transition state significantly enhances the reaction rate in many enzymes. We use a path integral approach which provides a general framework to understand tunneling in a quantum system which interacts with an environment at non-zero temperature. Here the quantum system is the active site of the enzyme and the environment is the surrounding protein and water. Tunneling well below the barrier only occurs for temperatures less than a temperature $T_0$ which is determined by the curvature of potential energy surface near the top of the barrier. We argue that for most enzymes this temperature is less than room ...
We discuss strictly efficient models for measurement-based quantum computing using physical continuous variables, such as field modes of light. Such measurement-based quantum computing (MBQC) provides a promising paradigm for quantum computation as it does not require performing unitary gates during the computation, but rather appropriate readout. Here, we introduce novel schemes for which the resource state can be reasonably and efficiently prepared, and which notably do not require having infinite squeezing or mean energy available. What is more, error correction techniques are implementable, as the logical information is stored in finite-dimensional objects grasping correlations of the quantum states. Using the ideas of computational tensor networks we discuss how to sequentially prepare suitable physical resource states with cavity QED or with non-linear optics and how to efficiently implement a ...
English abstract: In the "Intuitive Quantum Physics" course, we use graphical interpretations of mathematical equations and qualitative reasoning to develop and teach a simplified model of quantum physics. Our course contains three units: Wave physics, Development of a conceptual toolbox, and quantum physics. It also contains three key themes: wave-particle duality, the Schroedinger equation, and tunneling of quantum particles. Students learn most new material in lab-tutorials in which students work in small groups (3 to 3 people) on specially designed worksheets. Lecture reinforces the lab-tutorial content and focuses more on issues about the nature of science. Data show that students are able to learn some of the most difficult concepts in the course, and also that students learn to believe that there is a conceptually accessible structure to the physics in the course. German abstract: Im Kurs ...
This paper is about algebro-geometrical structures on a moduli space $\\CM$ of anomaly-free BV QFTs with finite number of inequivalent observables or in a finite superselection sector. We show that $\\CM$ has the structure of F-manifold -- a linear pencil of torsion-free flat connection with unity on the tangent space, in quantum coordinates. We study the notion of quantum coordinates for the family of QFTs, which determines the connection 1-form as well as every quantum correlation function of the family in terms of the 1-point functions of the initial theory. We then define free energy for an unital BV QFT and show that it is another avatar of morphism of QFT algebra. These results are consequences of the solvability of refined quantum master equation of the theory. We also introduce the notion of a QFT integral and study some properties of BV QFT equipped with a QFT integral. We show that BV QFT with ...
Based on the practical condition of the plant and in reference to advanced management experiences worldwide, Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant has established its own peculiar management system for radiation protection management and ALARA implementation. The characteristics of the system are: radiation protection training to all workers, active involvement of all managers and staffs, and whole process safety control to maintenance activities. The management philosophy of 'workers are responsible for their own radiation safety' is adopted in the plant. A strict, formalized and systematic whole staff radiation protection training, evaluation, authorization and periodically refreshing mechanism had been established and executed in the plant. In the organizational point of view, the responsibilities of line managers were specified in plant procedures, ALARA coordination organization on plant level and for specific activities were established. Meanwhile, the plant highlighted the defining, ...
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.
A comparison of nucleation and crystallization of Li{sub 2}O{sm_bullet}2SiO{sub 2} between microwave and conventional heating was investigated. Standard stereological techniques were used to evaluate the results. Nucleation and crystallization behaviors during microwave heating appeared different from conventional heating. Work is in progress to better understand the effects of microwaves on nucleation and crystallization in glass.
The fragment separator at GSI, Darmstadt, has been used to produce and separate very proton rich nuclei in the {sup 100}Sn region. By fragmentation of a {sup 112}Sn beam at 1 A{center_dot}GeV we produced nuclei along the rp-process path between {sup 77}Y and {sup 98}In. By implanting these ions into a silicon detector stack we were able to determine their halflives. Preliminary data are presented.
In order to facilitate observations of low energy nuclear reactions, a new type recoil mass-separator together with a new gas-jet target system is being developed at the tandem accelerator facility in Kyushu University. The expected mass-resolving power of the separator is 220 for a solid angle of 10 msr and the practical thickness of the gas-jet target will exceed 0.1 atm#centre dot#cm for the light elements of H and He. (author).
Using some modification of the standard fermion technique we derive factorized formula for spin operator matrix elements (form-factors) between general eigenstates of the Hamiltonian of quantum Ising chain in a transverse field of finite length. The derivation is based on the approach recently used to derive factorized formula for Z_N-spin operator matrix elements between ground eigenstates of the Hamiltonian of the Z_N-symmetric superintegrable chiral Potts quantum chain. The obtained factorized formulas for the matrix elements of Ising chain coincide with the corresponding expressions obtained by the Separation of Variables Method.
We prove that the 1984 protocol of Bennett and Brassard (BB84) for quantum key distribution is secure. We first give a key distribution protocol based on entanglement purification, which can be proven secure using methods from Lo and Chau's proof of security for a similar protocol. We then show that the security of this protocol implies the security of BB84. The entanglement purification based protocol uses Calderbank-Shor-Steane codes, and properties of these codes are used to remove the use of quantum computation from the Lo-Chau protocol. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
We present investigations of the potential between static charges from a simulation of quantum gravity coupled to an SU(2) gauge field on 6^{3}\\times 4 and 8^{3}\\times 4 simplicial lattices. In the well-defined phase of the gravity sector where geometrical expectation values are stable, we study the correlations of Polyakov loops and extract the corresponding potentials between a source and sink separated by a distance R. In the confined phase, the potential has a linear form while in the deconfined phase, a screened Coulombic behavior is found. Our results indicate that quantum gravitational effects do not destroy confinement due to non-abelian gauge fields.
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.
The theory of spontaneous decay is studied using both quantum electrodynamics (QED) and semiclassical theories of radiation. There are qualitative differences between the theories in the prediction of interference phenomena. In QED, systems which were excited with pulsed laser light do not exhibit quantum interference effects associated with lower state splittings. On the other hand, semiclassical treatments of spontaneous decay do indicate the existence of interference effects not present in QED. In addition to this, differences are found between the predictions of fluorescence intensity in the presence of lower-state level crossings under continuous excitation. (U.S.).
We propose a scheme of quantum computation with nonlinear quantum optics. Polarization states of photons are used for qubits. Photons with different frequencies represent different qubits. Single qubit rotation operation is implemented through optical elements like the Faraday polarization rotator. Photons are separated into different optical paths, or merged into a single optical path using dichromatic mirrors. The controlled-NOT gate between two qubits is implemented by the proper combination of parametric up and down conversions. This scheme has the following features: (1) No auxiliary qubits are required in the controlled-NOT gate operation; (2) No measurement is required in the course of the computation; (3) It is resource efficient and conceptually simple.
In the inflationary scenario of loop quantum cosmology (LQC) in the presence of inverse-volume corrections, we give analytic formulas for the power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations convenient to confront with observations. Since inverse-volume corrections can provide strong contributions to the running spectral indices, inclusion of terms higher than the second-order runnings in the power spectra is crucially important. Using the recent data of cosmic microwave background (CMB) and other cosmological experiments, we place bounds on the quantum corrections for a quadratic inflaton potential.
Several possibilities of the use of molecular models in quantum-chemical investigations of the structure of defect centers on the surfaces of oxides on nontransition elements have been illustrated. There has been a special discussion of the assumption of the local nature of the chemical interactions in these systems, which underlies such an approach, and of the consequent laws governing the formation of their lattices in the example cases of zeolites, kaolinites, and comparable boron- and aluminum-containing oxides. A quantum-chemical interpretation of the body of experimental data from investigations of the dehydroxylation of H forms of zeolites has been given. The structure of the Lewis acid centers formed as a result, and their chemisorption properties, have been discussed.
It is proved the mathematical theorem, that the wave function describes the statistical ensemble of particles, but not a single particle. Supposition, that the wave function describes a single particle appears to be incompatible with formalism of quantum mechanics. One discusses the reasons, why this very simple statement has not been proved mathematically for many years. The reason lies in application of the trial and error methods for construction of the quantum mechanics. Application of this method as the main tool of investigation during eighty years generated "fitting mentality" of all microwold researchers.
A problem of the catalytic activity definition for metals, binary metallic alloys, and semiconductor materials is considered within new quantum mechanical and electrodynamics approach in the electron theory of catalysis. The quantitative link between the electron structure parameters of the materials and their catalytic activity on example of simple model reactions of the following type are found: H = H+ + e, O2 + e- = O2-. Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009
An effective formalism for quantum constrained systems is presented which allows manageable derivations of solutions and observables, including a treatment of physical reality conditions without requiring full knowledge of the physical inner product. Instead of a state equation from a constraint operator, an infinite system of constraint functions on the quantum phase space of expectation values and moments of states is used. The examples of linear constraints as well as the free non-relativistic particle in parameterized form illustrate how standard problems of constrained systems can be dealt with in this framework.
We present a protocol for quantum key distribution using discrete modulation of coherent states of light. Information is encoded in the variable phase of coherent states which can be chosen from a regular discrete set ranging from binary to continuous modulation similar to phase-shift keying in classical communication. Information is decoded by simultaneous homodyne measurement of both quadratures and requires no active choice of basis. The protocol utilizes either direct or reverse reconciliation both with and without postselection. We analyze the security of the protocol and show how to enhance it by the optimal choice of all variable parameters of the quantum signal.
We analyse the capacity of a simultaneous quantum secure direct communication scheme between the central party and other M parties via M+1-particle GHZ states and swapping quantum entanglement. It is shown that the encoding scheme should be secret if other M parties wants to transmit M+1 bit classical messages to the centre party secretly. However, when the encoding scheme is announced publicly, we prove that the capacity of the scheme in transmitting the secret messages is 2 bits, no matter how large M is.
Micron-size Ni-base alloy (NBA) powders were mixed with both 1.5 wt.% (hereinafter %) micron-size CeO{sub 2} (m-CeO{sub 2}) and also 1.5% and 3.0% nano-size CeO{sub 2} (n- CeO{sub 2}) powders. These mixtures were coated on low-carbon steel (Q235) by 2.0 kW CO{sub 2} laser cladding. The effects on the microstructures, phases and electrochemical corrosion of the coatings upon the addition of m- and n- CeO{sub 2} powders to NBA (m- and n- CeO{sub 2} /NBA) have been investigated. The results showed that a smooth coating was prepared under suitable processing parameters (P= 2.0 kW, V= 180 mm min{sup -1}) by adding 1.5% n- CeO{sub 2}. In addition to the primary phases of {gamma}-Ni, Cr{sub 23} C{sub 6} and Ni{sub 3} B in the Ni-base alloy coating, CeNi{sub 3} was formed in Ni-base alloy coatings with both n- CeO{sub 2} and m-CeO{sub 2} particles, and CeNi{sub 5} appeared in the ...
We investigate the relation between the symmetries of a quantum system and its topological quantum numbers, in a general C*-algebraic framework. We prove that, under suitable assumptions on the symmetry algebra, there exists a generalization of the Bloch-Floquet transform which induces a direct-integral decomposition of the algebra of observables. Such generalized transform selects uniquely the set of "continuous sections" in the direct integral, thus yielding a Hilbert bundle. The emerging geometric structure provides some topological invariants of the quantum system. Two running examples provide an Ariadne's thread through the paper. For the sake of completeness, we review two related theorems by von Neumann and Maurin and compare them with our result.
We propose a quantum secure direct communication scheme based on non-orthogonal entangled pairs and local measurement. In this scheme, we use eight non-orthogonal entangled pairs to act as quantum channels. Due to the non-orthogonality of the quantum channels, the present protocol can availably prohibit from all kinds of valid eavesdropping and acquire a secure quantum channel. By local measurement, the sender acquires a secret random sequence. The process of encoding on the random sequence is identical to the one in one-time-pad. So the present protocol is secure. Even for a highly lossy channel, our scheme is also valid. The scheme is feasible with present-day techniques.
We analyze the driven resonantly coupled Jaynes-Cummings model in terms of a quasienergy approach by switching to a frame rotating with the external modulation frequency and by using the dressed atom picture. A quasienergy surface in phase space emerges whose level spacing is governed by a rescaled effective Planck constant. Moreover, the well-known multiphoton transitions can be reinterpreted as resonant tunneling transitions from the local maximum of the quasienergy surface. Most importantly, the driving defines a quasienergy well which is nonperturbative in nature. The quantum mechanical quasienergy state localized at its bottom is squeezed. In the Purcell limited regime, the potential well is metastable and the effective local temperature close to its minimum is uniquely determined by the squeezing factor. The activation occurs in this case via dressed spin flip transitions rather than via quantum activation as in other driven nonlinear ...
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 ...
A quantum mechanical analysis of the guided light in integrated photonics waveguides is presented. The analysis is made starting from one-dimensional (1D) guided vector modes by taking into account the modal orthonormalization property on a cross section of an optical waveguide, the vector structure of the guided optical modes and the reversal-time symmetry in order to quantize the 1D vector modes and to derive the quantum momentum operator and the Heisenberg equations. The results provide a quantum-consistent formulation of the linear and nonlinear quantum light propagations as a function of forward and backward creation and annihilation operators in integrated photonics. As an illustration, an application to an integrated nonlinear directional coupler is given, that is, both the nonlinear momentum and the Heisenberg equations of the nonlinear coupler are derived.
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.
We introduce a novel scheme for one-way quantum computing (QC) based on the use of information encoded qubits in an effective cluster state resource. With the correct encoding structure, we show that it is possible to protect the entangled resource from phase damping decoherence, where the effective cluster state can be described as residing in a decoherence-free subspace (DFS) of its supporting quantum system. One-way QC then requires either single or two-qubit adaptive measurements. As an example where this proposal can be realized, we describe an optical lattice set-up where the scheme provides robust quantum information processing. We also outline how one can adapt the model to provide protection from other types of decoherence.
AlGaInP-based quantum-well laser diodes operating at wavelengths near 680 nm have been grown by all solid source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE). The lowest room temperature threshold current densities obtained from shallow rid structures were 300 A/cm{sup 2} and 330 A/cm{sup 2} for pulsed and continuous wave operation, respectively. The dependences of the differential quantum efficiency and threshold current density on the cavity length were also studied in this preliminary SSMBE work. The internal quantum efficiency of 87--89% and the internal losses of 7--10 cm{sup {minus}1} were obtained.
The difference between the two nonclassical lights, i.e., the squeezed state and number-phase minimum uncertainty state (NUS) is discussed. The four different generation principles for NUS are described. They are: unitary evolution using self-phase modulation; nonunitary state reduction by the first kind measurement; controlled state reduction by quantum correlation measurement-feedback, and high saturated laser oscillation with suppressed-pump-noise. The constant current-driven semiconductor laser based on the last principle generated the NUS with photon number noise reduced below the standard quantum limit by 40 percent in the entire frequency region from dc to 1.1 GHz. Several applications of NUS including quantum communication, quantum mechanical computers and interferometric gravitational detection are discussed briefly. This presentation is represented by viewgraphs only.
In this paper, the superfield formulation of quantum gauge theories, recently proposed, is reviewed and developed. The extended BRS symmetry, which comes out quite naturally in this formulation, is investigated.
We show that causality constrains the sign of quartic Riemann corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action. Our constraint constitutes a restriction on candidate theories of quantum gravity.
The Arnowitt-Deser-Misner canonical formulation of general relativity is extended to the covariant brane-world theory in arbitrary dimensions. The exclusive probing of the extra dimensions makes a substantial difference, allowing for the construction of a non-constrained canonical theory. The quantum states of the brane-world geometry are defined by the Tomonaga-Schwinger equation, whose integrability conditions are determined by the classical perturbations of submanifolds contained in the Nash's differentiable embedding theorem. In principle, quantum brane-world theory can be tested by current experiments in astrophysics and by near future laboratory experiments at Tev energy. The implications to the black-hole information loss problem, to the accelerating cosmology, and to a quantum mathematical theory of four-sub manifolds are briefly commented.
In general relativity, the fields on a black hole horizon are obtained from those in the bulk by pullback and restriction. Similarly, in quantum gravity, the quantized horizon degrees of freedom should result from restricting, or pulling-back, the quantized bulk degrees of freedom. This is not yet fully realized in the - otherwise very successful - quantization of isolated horizons in loop quantum gravity. In this work we outline a setting in which the quantum horizon degrees of freedom are simply components of the quantized bulk degrees of freedom. There is no need to quantize them separately. We present evidence that for a horizon of sphere topology, the resulting horizon theory is remarkably similar to what has been found before.
A prescription is given for computing anomalous dimensions of single trace operators in SYM at strong coupling and large $N$ using a reduced model of matrix quantum mechanics. The method involves treating some parts of the operators as "BPS condensates" which, in certain limit, have a dual description as null geodesics on the $S^5$. In the gauge theory, the condensate is similar to a representative of the chiral ring and it is described by a background of commuting matrices. Excitations around these condensates correspond to excitations around this background and take the form of ``string bits" which are dual to the "giant magnons" of Hofman and Maldacena. In fact, the matrix model approach gives a {\\it quantum} description of these string configurations and explains why the infinite momentum limit suppresses the quantum effects. This method allows, not only to derive part of the classical sigma model Hamiltonian of the ...
The effective approach to quantum dynamics allows a reformulation of the Dirac quantization procedure for constrained systems in terms of an infinite-dimensional constrained system of classical type. For semiclassical approximations, the quantum constrained system can be truncated to finite size and solved by the reduced phase space or gauge-fixing methods. In particular, the classical feasibility of local internal times is directly generalized to quantum systems, overcoming the main difficulties associated with the general problem of time in the semiclassical realm. The key features of local internal times and the procedure of patching global solutions using overlapping intervals of local internal times are described and illustrated by two quantum mechanical examples. The choice of time is tantamount to a choice of gauge at the effective level and changing the clock is, therefore, equivalent to a gauge ...
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.
The quantum nature of the electromagnetic field imposes a fundamental limit on the sensitivity of optical precision measurements such as spectroscopy, microscopy, and interferometry. The so-called quantum limit is set by the zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field, which constrain the precision with which optical signals can be measured. In the world of precision measurement, laser-interferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors are the most sensitive position meters ever operated, capable of measuring distance changes on the order of 10^-18 m RMS over kilometer separations caused by GWs from astronomical sources. The sensitivity of currently operational and future GW detectors is limited by quantum optical noise. Here we demonstrate a 44% improvement in displacement sensitivity of a prototype GW detector with suspended quasi-free mirrors at frequencies where the sensitivity is shot-noise-limited, by ...
The high temperature abrasive wear resistant of the composites with different Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} volume fractions, particle coating and size were investigated and the failure action of composites under different conditions at high temperature was analyzed. The results showed that the high temperature abrasive wear resistant of composite with Ni coating and wide size and 39% volume fraction of particle is the best among all composites examined. (orig.)
PVD-coatings based on TiB{sub 2} are expected to show high wear resistance and low tendency of adhesion on metal forming tools. Coating adhesion and morphology can be modified over a wide range by varying the content of nitrogen (N{sub 2}) and the deposition parameters power and bias voltage. All coatings were deposited using commercial unbalanced magnetron equipment, the deposition was homogeneous in a volume of 400 x 400 x 400 mm{sup 3}. Hipped and hot pressed TiB{sub 2}-targets were used, nitrogen (N{sub 2}) was added as gas, Ti and Al by a solid Ti-Al-target. The tribological behaviour was tested by a pin-on-disc wear test. The coatings investigated were TiB{sub 2}, TiAlB(N), TiAl(N) and TiB{sub 2}/TiAl(N). As counterpart in the pin-on-disc wear test, 6 mm diameter spheres of steel (100Cr6), aluminium, brass and bronze were used. The experiments showed a non-uniform wear behaviour. For the ...
This rebuttal to a previous article provides new insight into the use of sprayed sealants in uranium mines. The author rejects the idea that the value of rock sealant on radon control is destroyed by changes in barometric pressure, showing that this is not necessarily true. The analyses described demonstrate that radon contamination resulting from changing barometric pressures is reduced by a rock coating. The overall use of coatings depends on their costs and effectiveness as compared with other radon control measures. 6 refs.
This Test Plan outlines the testing to be done on the Special Protective Coating (SPC) Polyurea which includes: Tank Waste Compatibility, Decontamination Factor Testing, and Adhesion Strength Testing after a sample has been exposed to Radiation.
A super-hydrophobic coating was prepared by combining a rigid base film with crater-like hemispherical holes and acicular nanoparticles. The acicular boehmite powder provides a high contact angle on the film surface. The rigid base film with crater-like hemispherical holes inhibits the rapid decrease of contact angle by surface rubbing. The combination of different roughness is an effective method for improving the abrasion resistance of super-hydrophobic films.
The effectiveness of an acrylic latex wall sealant in limiting the escape of radon from rock in underground mines is the subject of this paper. Application of the latex as a two-coat system over a fillter coat of gunite produced a reduction of radon concentration from an initial level of 80 to 100 pCi/L to a final average of 25 to 30 pCi/L under similar conditions.
Thin solid films of CeO[sub 2] and mixed CeO[sub 2]-TiO[sub 2] were prepared by the sol-gel route via the dip-coating technique. Particulate sols of ceria were made from inorganic ((NH[sub 4])[sub 2]Ce(NO[sub 3])[sub 6]) precursor which were used for preparation of CeO[sub 2] thin solid films while CeO[sub 2]-TiO[sub 2] coatings have been made by using mixed organic-inorganic (Ti(OiPr)[sub 4] and CeCl[sub 3].7H[sub 2]O) precursors. The solar transmission values (T[sub s]) of both coatings are in the range 0.6-0.8 and depend on coating thickness. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) measurements show that the CeO[sub 2]/LiOH system exhibits higher overall electrochemical reversibility when compared to the CeO[sub 2]-TiO[sub 2]/LiOH system. The CeO[sub 2]/LiOH system is also less sensitive with regard to the coating thickness. Coulometric measurements show that CeO[sub 2] exhibits a larger ...
Four subprojects were completed: development and evaluation of die coatings, accelerated die life characterization of die materials, evaluation of fluid flow and solidification modeling programs, selection and characterization of Al-based die casting alloys, and influence of die materials and coatings on die casting quality.
A portable fiber optic detector that senses the presence of specific target chemicals by electrostatically attracting the target chemical to an aromatic compound coating on an optical fiber. Attaching the target chemical to the coated fiber reduces the fluorescence so that a photon sensing detector records the reduced light level and activates an appropriate alarm or indicator.
This heat exchanger is a critical step in the development of the Externally Fired Combined Cycle power system, a direct-coal combustion power plant (gas turbine). SiC is the only material with the needed resistance to creep, thermal shock, and oxidation; however a protective coating is needed. Ten candidate materials were identified: alumina-based materials, materials stable with SiO, and low expansion materials. An initial screening study should be performed.
Coatings and sensors having both steric and chemical selectivity. Controlled porosity provides the steric selectivity, whereas chemically tailored film properties, using controlled composition or modification by coupling agents, chemical species replacement, or chemical species within pores, provide the chemical selectivity. Single or multiple layers may be provided.
Chromium nitride/Cr coating has been deposited on surface of 316L stainless steel to improve conductivity and corrosion resistance by physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology. Electrochemical behaviors of the chromium nitride/Cr coated 316L stainless steel are investigated in 0.05 M H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}+2 ppm F{sup -} simulating proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environments, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) are measured before and after potentiostatic polarization at anodic and cathodic operation potentials for PEMFC. The chromium nitride/Cr coated 316L stainless steel exhibits improved corrosion resistance and better stability of passive film either in the simulated anodic or cathodic environment. In comparison to 316L stainless steel with air-formed oxide film, the ICR between the chromium nitride/Cr coated 316L stainless steel and carbon paper is about 30 m{omega} cm{sup 2} that is ...
An industrial EB processing line is started to produce cement-bound /CB/ chipboard with radiation cured acrylic coating. The basic features of this line are presented here. The main technological parameters of coating such as: effect of oligomer- and monomer reactivity, monomer functionality, dose-rate and inerting atmosphere on the progress of curing have been discussed. The EB processed CB board is an advanced composite material for the modern lightweight architecture.
The dispersion of more than 20 vol pct submicrometer ceramic particles within a metallic matrix and the deposition of such a cermet to form a thick and tough coating presents problems. Most of the coating techniques have failed in attempting to homogeneously disperse very fine and hard particles in large amounts while avoiding their decomposition or reaction with the metal matrix during the deposition process. A simple and efficient method has been developed for producing ceramic-containing composite coatings. It consists in synthesizing cermet-based materials and in depositing them by a rapid solidification process, such as thermal spraying. Boride- and carbide-based materials have been successfully obtained by plasma spraying reactive powders comprising the basic reagents. These materials, with a microstructure of submicrometer ceramic particles dispersed in a metallic matrix, exhibit good wear-resistant properties ...
In this work a comprehensive metallophysical study was carried out for two aluminosilicide slip coatings of the systems Al-Si and Al-Nb-Si and an electron-beam Co-Cr-Al-Y coating on alloy EP-539 (17...19% Cr, 4...6% Co, 2.5...4% W, 4.5...6.5% Mo, 2...3% Ti, 3...4% Al, 1.4...2% Nb, balance Ni) after high-temperature testing. The protective properties of the coatings were evaluated from the results of laboratory tests for heat resistance at 1000/sup 0/C in the combustion products of diesel fuel with added sulfur at 970, 1000, and 1060/sup 0/C for 100 h and after full-scale tests for 150, 250, 400, and 700 h. Metallographic, hardness, x-ray, and micro x-ray studies of the coating were carried out. Layer-by-layer phase composition and the lattice spacing of the main phases were determined. X-ray analysis was carried out in an a DRON-1 diffractometer in copper K/sub ..-->../-radiation, and x-ray ...
There has been a growing interest in new laser systems for use at mid-infra-red wavelengths, driven by requirements for a number of diverse applications. Developments in mid-IR coating technology are following three major thrusts. In the first, the potential of ion-assisted process is being exploited and the technology is already becoming well established in the optical coating industry. In the second, the benefits of using gas-phase precursors are being explored, driven by the potential of avoiding the generation of second phase inclusion in the coatings with associated reduction in laser damage threshold. Research is also addressing the use of nanocomposite materials with an engineered microstructure to produce coatings with dielectric properties of choice. This paper presents a review of progress in some of these areas with special emphasis on the comparison of the properties of materials at DF laser ...
This paper introduces a new method to produce nano-composite powder for the preparation of high performance ZnO varistors. ZnO particles were coated with Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Co{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and other additives via liquid nano-coating technique. Then the prepared powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravity and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and particle size distribution. The results showed that the ZnO composite powder is homogeneously coated and ultrafine. The densification, phase composition and microstructure of ZnO varistors was studied by linear shrinkage, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM, respectively. The preliminary electrical parameters of ZnO varistors showed that the breakdown voltage V {sub b} (1 mA/cm{sup 2}) and nonlinear coefficient {alpha} is 5400 V/cm and 50, respectively, much ...
This paper presents the first results on formation and study of structure and properties of micro- and nanocomposite combined coatings. By means of modeling the deposition processes (deposition conditions, current density-discharge, plasma composition and density, voltage) we formed the three-layer nanocomposite coatings of Ti-Al-N/Ti-N/Al_2O_3. The coating composition, structure and properties were studied using physical and nuclear-physical methods. The Rutherford proton and helium ion backscattering, scanning electron microscopy with microanalysis, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, as well as nanohardness tests (hardness) were used. Measurements of wear resistance and corrosion resistance in NaCl, HCl and H_2SO_4 solutions were also performed. For testing mechanical properties such characteristics of layered structures as hardness H, elastic modulus E: H"3/E"2 etc. were measured. It is demonstrated that the formed ...
Multilayer mirror coatings which reflect extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation are a key enabling technology for EUV lithography. Mo/Si multilayers with reflectances of 67.5% at 13.4 nm are now routinely achieved and reflectances of 70 2% at 11.4 nm were obtained with MO/Be multilayers. High reflectance is achieved with careful control of substrate quality, layer thicknesses, multilayer materials, interface quality, and surface termination. Reflectance and film stress were found to be stable relative to the requirements for application to EUV lithography. The run-to-run reproducibility of the reflectance peak position was characterized to be better than 0.2%, providing the required wavelength matching among the seven multilayer-coated mirrors used in the present lithography system design. Uniformity of coating was improved to better than 0.5% across 150 mm diameter substrates. These improvements in EUV multilayer mirror ...
Non-evaporable thin film getters of various compositions have been produced by sputtering. Among about 20 materials which have been studied, the lowest activation temperature (about 180 degree C) has been displayed by a Ti-Zr-V coating obtained from a cathode made of intertwisted elemental wires. In order to optimize the vacuum properties of this film various production parameters, including the substrate temperature during coating, have been varied. The films have been characterized by pumping speed measurement, secondary electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. It has been found that the substrate coating temperature affects significantly the activation temperature, the pumping speed and the gas surface capacity. The highest pumping speed values, obtained for substrate coating temperatures of 250 degree C and 300 degree C, are clearly correlated with the increased surface roughness and porosity of ...
Infrared astronomical instruments require absorptive coatings on internal surfaces to trap scattered and stray photons. This is typically accomplished with any one of a number of black paints. Although inexpensive and simple to apply, paint has several disadvantages. Painted surfaces can be fragile, prone to shedding particles, and difficult to clean. Most importantly, the vacuum performance is poor. Recently a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process was developed to apply thick (30 {micro}m) diamond-like carbon (DLC) based protective coatings to the interior of oil pipelines. These DLC coatings show much promise as an infrared black for an ultra high vacuum environment. The coatings are very robust with excellent cryogenic adhesion. Their total infrared reflectivity of < 10% at normal incidence approaches that of black paints. We measured outgas rates of <10{sup -12} ...
The properties of polycrystalline (Ti, Al)N coatings deposited on non-nitrided, classically plasma-nitrided and low pressure plasma-nitrided AISI H11 steel samples were investigated. The plasma deposition and low pressure plasma nitriding were performed in a Z700-LH magnetron sputter ion plating unit, while a separate unit was used for plasma nitriding of specimens at a pressure of several millibars. The (Ti, Al)N coating was deposited onto all the samples using the same equipment as for the plasma deposition and low pressure plasma nitriding. For the characterization of the composite structures, the following methods were used: scratch test, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy and microhardness testing. It was found that plasma nitriding prior to coating deposition strongly affects the growth and properties of hard coatings, such as the ...
Intermetallic compound (IMC) growth at the interface between a Sn coating and a Cu substrate with or without a Ni underlayer and its related stress state was evaluated by real-time measurements using the flexure beam method. For the Sn coating without a Ni underlayer, pyramid-shaped IMC grains of Cu6Sn5 grew along the grain boundaries of Sn from the Cu substrate, especially at the triple grain boundary junctions and the IMC grains rapidly increased their volume during the initial 3?days, During this time, the IMC growth rate was 2.3??m3/day and the compressive stress in the Sn coating rapidly developed and became saturated at about ?11?MPa. In contrast, platelet IMC grains of Ni3Sn4 formed at the surface of the Ni underlayer and the IMCs grew at a rate of 1.0??m3/day for the Sn/Ni coating....
A device for detecting neutrons includes a semi-insulated bulk semiconductor substrate having opposed polished surfaces. A blocking Schottky contact comprised of a series of metals such as Ti, Pt, Au, Ge, Pd, and Ni is formed on a first polished surface of the semiconductor substrate, while a low resistivity ("ohmic") contact comprised of metals such as Au, Ge, and Ni is formed on a second, opposed polished surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, n-type low resistivity pinout contacts comprised of an Au/Ge based eutectic alloy or multi-layered Pd/Ge/Ti/Au are also formed on the opposed polished surfaces and in contact with the Schottky and ohmic contacts. Disposed on the Schottky contact is a neutron reactive film, or coating, for detecting neutrons. The coating is comprised of a hydrogen rich polymer, such as a polyolefin or paraffin; lithium or lithium fluoride; or a heavy metal fissionable material. By varying the ...
Kitchen oils (olive, soybean and butter) are selected for carbon coatings on LiFePO{sub 4}. The surface properties of LiFePO{sub 4} are unknown or vary depending on synthetic methods. The multi-functional groups of fatty acids in the oils can orient properly to cope with the variable surface properties of LiFePO{sub 4}, which can lead to dense carbon coatings. The low price and low toxicity of kitchen oils are other advantages of the coating process. LiFePO{sub 4} (D{sub 50} = 121 nm)combined with the carbon coating enhances the rate capability. Capacities at the 2C rate reach 150 mAh g{sup -1} or higher. The charge retention values of 2.0C/0.2C are between 94.4 and 98.9%. (author)
Chromium containing amorphous hydrogenated carbon films (a-C : H/Cr) have been prepared by simultaneous rf plasma activated chemical vapour deposition of methane and magnetron sputtering of a chromium target. During deposition the substrates were heated (up to 300C) and DC biased (-200 and -600 V) in order to obtain films with high chemical stability. Constant temperature tests were performed at 250C in air with coatings deposited on silicon substrates. The degradation of the coatings was monitored by Raman spectroscopy and reflectance and transmission measurements. The main degradation mechanisms are discussed and the relevant parameters which improve the durability of the coatings are presented. Furthermore, the durability of solar selective, multilayered coatings which were deposited on copper sheets was investigated. Based on accelerated aging tests at different temperature loads in air (at 220C, ...
We present a scheme for three-party simultaneous quantum secure direct communication by using EPR pairs. In the scheme, three legitimate parties can simultaneously exchange their secret messages. It is also proved to be secure against the intercept-and-resend attack, the disturbance attack and the entangled-and-measure attack.
Recently, Wang et al. proposed a three-party simultaneous quantum secure direct communication (3P-SQSDC) scheme with EPR pairs, which enables three involved parties to exchange their secret messages simultaneously by using an EPR pair. This work proposed an enhancement on Wang et al.'s scheme. With the enhancement, the communications in the improved 3P-SQSDC can be paralleled and thus improves the protocol efficiency.
The inhibitor action of unbranched polyamines on corrosion of low-carbon steel in 0.5 M sulfuric acid is studied through potentiostatic polarization curves. It is shown that the inhibitor efficiency I depends on the polyamine concentration and molecular structure. The quantum-mechanical calculations of molecular properties are accomplished through the MNDO method. Correlation between the measured I and physicochemical properties of the polyamine inhibitors in protonized and nonprotonized form is found with application of the general perturbation theory
The mathematical apparatus of quantum-mechanical angular momentum (re)coupling, developed originally to describe spectroscopic phenomena in atomic, molecular, optical and nuclear physics, is embedded in modern algebraic settings which emphasize the underlying combinatorial aspects. SU(2) recoupling theory, involving Wigner's 3nj symbols, as well as the related problems of their calculations, general properties, asymptotic limits for large entries, nowadays plays a prominent role also in quantum gravity and quantum computing applications. We refer to the ingredients of this theory-and of its extension to other Lie and quantum groups-by using the collective term of 'spin networks'. Recent progress is recorded about the already established connections with the mathematical theory of discrete orthogonal polynomials (the so-called Askey scheme), providing powerful tools based on ...
In the quantum regime information can be copied with only a finite fidelity. This fidelity gradually increases to 1 as the system becomes classical. In this Letter we show how this fact can be used to directly measure the amount of radiated power. We demonstrate how these principles can be used to build a practical primary standard.
Correlation characteristics of quantum noise on the shadow radiation image (RI) of the object under nondestructive testing are studied. Mathematical model of RI occasional distortions is derived. The model takes into account the parameters of object under testing and of radiation beam by radiation quanta flux density. The results obtained can be used as a component in the process of investigation of various radiation testing systems
A measuring-basis encrypted quantum key distribution scheme is proposed by using twelve nonorthogonal states in a four-state system and the measuring-basis encryption technique. In this scheme, two bits of classical information can be encoded on one four-state particle and the transmitted particles can be fully used.
In this paper we establish that every quantum field theory satisfying some basic axioms possesses a weak quasi Hopf algebra as gauge symmetry. We use a reconstruction theorem to find this symmetry algebra and show how it is sed to build a gauge covariant field algebra. We investigate the question of why this generality is necessary. The non-uniqueness of the reconstruction process is interpreted and a cohomological classification of possible global gauge symmetries is given. (author)
The author presents his views on the interrelation of quantum theory, space-time, Lorentz covariance and tachyons. He makes general observations on the nature of these topics and in particular on the nature of the mathematics used for their description and, without reaching any definite conclusions, points out some areas which require further critical examination. (W.D.L.).
Two crucial properties of QCD, confinement and chiral symmetry breaking, cannot be understand within the context of conventional Feynman perturbation theory. Non-perturbative phenomena enter the theory in a fundamental way at both the classical and quantum level. Over they years a coherent qualitative picture of the interplay between chiral symmetry, quantum mechanical anomalies, and the lattice has emerged and is reviewed here.
Recently, Faria et al. [Phys. Lett. A 305 (2002) 322] discussed an example in which the Heisenberg and the Schroedinger pictures of quantum mechanics gave different results. We identify the mistake in their reasoning and conclude that the example they discussed does not support the inequivalence of these two pictures.
Coherent oscillator radiation is considered. A comparison is made with classical particle radiation with gauss distribution. Decay probability for coherent state in spontaneous radiation is estimated. The method suggested for describing harmonic oscillator allows to separate the effect of classical field radiation from quantum description of particle state within the framework of a self-consistent quantum mechanical problem.
The algebra of the coefficients in the minimal representation of the A_n_-_1 quantum group, discussed by Felder and Varchenko, is given. Those coefficients are associated with the Boltzmann weights of A_n_-_1"("1") interaction-round-a-face model. The authors show that the algebra satisfies the Yang-Baxter equation. The PBW base for this algebra is also given
We present a set of exact solutions for quantum Bianchi type-IX anisotropic cosmological models (including the Taub model) of the form {Psi}={ital We}{sup {minus}{ital S}}. These solutions are spread over all values of anisotropy near the singularity, but at larger values of the radius of the universe they are strongly peaked around the {ital k}=+1 Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model.
We propose an extension of Gaussian mixture models in the statistical-mechanical point of view. The conventional Gaussian mixture models are formulated to divide all points in given data to some kinds of classes. We introduce some quantum states constructed by superposing conventional classes in linear combinations. Our extension can provide a new algorithm in classifications of data by means of linear response formulas in the statistical mechanics.
The quantum $N$-body problem is studied in the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics with a one-dimensional deformed Heisenberg algebra of the form $[\\hat x,\\hat p]=i(1+\\beta \\hat p^2)$, leading to the existence of a minimal observable length $\\sqrt\\beta$. For a generic pairwise interaction potential, analytical formulas are obtained that allow to estimate the ground-state energy of the $N$-body system by finding the ground-state energy of a corresponding two-body problem. It is first shown that, in the harmonic oscillator case, the $\\beta$-dependent term grows faster with $N$ than the $\\beta$-independent one. Then, it is argued that such a behavior should be observed also with generic potentials and for $D$-dimensional systems. In consequence, quantum $N$-body bound states might be interesting places to look at nontrivial manifestations of a minimal length since, the more particles are present, the more the ...
This thesis consists of three parts. In the first part we review the quantization of Yang-Mills theories and perturbative quantum gravity in curved spacetime. In the second part we calculate the Feynman propagators of the Faddeev-Popov ghosts for Yang-Mills theories and perturbative quantum gravity in the covariant gauge. In the third part we investigate the physical equivalence of covariant Wightman graviton two-point function with the physical graviton two-point function. The Feynman propagators of the Faddeev-Popov ghosts for Yang-Mills theories and perturbative quantum gravity in the covariant gauge are infrared (IR) divergent in de Sitter spacetime. We point out, that if we regularize these divergences by introducing a finite mass and take the zero mass limit at the end, then the modes responsible for these divergences will not contribute to loop diagrams in computations of time-ordered products in either Yang-Mills ...
The quantum behavior of the vacuum Bianchi type-IX universe with the cosmological constant is investigated in terms of the Ashtekar variables. An exact solution to the quantum Hamiltonian constraint in the holomorphic representation is given. This solution reduces to the Hartle-Hawking wave function in the spatially isotropic sector and extends in the triad representation to the classically forbidden region where the determinant of the spatial metric becomes negative. The analysis of the quantum Robertson-Walker universe indicates that if the superspace is extended to such a classically forbidden region, the holomorphic representation picks up some restricted class of solutions in general. This observation leads to a new ansatz on the boundary condition of the Universe. In particular, the behavior of the Lorentzian and Euclidean WKB orbits corresponding to the solution suggests a new picture on the semiclassical behavior of ...
The quantum behavior of the vacuum Bianchi type-IX universe with the cosmological constant is investigated in terms of the Ashtekar variables. An exact solution to the quantum Hamiltonian constraint in the holomorphic representation is given. This solution reduces to the Hartle-Hawking wave function in the spatially isotropic sector and extends in the triad representation to the classically forbidden region where the determinant of the spatial metric becomes negative. The analysis of the quantum Robertson-Walker universe indicates that if the superspace is extended to such a classically forbidden region, the holomorphic representation picks up some restricted class of solutions in general. This observation leads to a new ansatz on the boundary condition of the Universe. In particular, the behavior of the Lorentzian and Euclidean WKB orbits corresponding to the solution suggests a new picture on the semiclassical behavior of ...
We consider the spin-k/2 XXZ model in the antiferromagnetic regime using the free-field realization of the quantum affine algebra U_q(sl_2) of level k. We give a free-field realization of the type-II q-vertex operator, which describes creation and annihilation of physical particles in the model. By taking a trace of the type-I and type-II q-vertex operators over the irreducible highest-weight representation of U_q(sl_2), we also derive an integral formula for form factors in this model. Investigating the structure of poles, we obtain a residue formula for form factors, which is a lattice analog of the higher-spin extension of Smirnov's formula in the massive integrable quantum field theory. This result as well as the quantum deformation of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation for form factors shows a deep connection in the mathematical structure of the integrable lattice models and the massive integrable ...
A microscopic description of an open system is generally expressed by the Hamiltonian of the form: H{sub tot} = H{sub sys} + H{sub environ} + H{sub sys-environ}. We developed a microscopic theory of entropy and derived a general formula, so-called 'entropy-Hamiltonian relation' (EHR), that connects the entropy of the system to the interaction Hamiltonian represented by H{sub sys-environ} for a nonequilibrium open quantum system. To derive the EHR formula, we mapped the open quantum system to the representation space of the Liouville-space formulation or thermo field dynamics (TFD), and thus worked on the representation space L := H x H-tilde, where H denotes the ordinary Hilbert space while H-tilde the tilde Hilbert space conjugates to H. We show that the natural transformation (mapping) of nonequilibrium open quantum systems is accomplished within the theoretical structure of TFD. By using the obtained ...
The use of polymer matrix composites in aerospace propulsion applications is currently limited by insufficient resistance to erosion by abrasive media. Erosion resistant coatings may provide necessary protection; however, adhesion to many high temperature polymer matrix composite (PMC) materials is poor. A low pressure oxygen plasma treatment process was developed to improve adhesion of CN_x coatings to a carbon reinforced, fluorinated polymer matrix composite. Fullerene-like CN_x was selected as an erosion resistant coating for its high hardness-to-elastic modulus ratio and elastic resilience which were expected to reduce erosion from media incident at different angles (normal or glancing) relative to the surface. In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to evaluate the effect of the plasma treatment on surface chemistry, and electron microscopy was used to identify changes in the surface morphology of the PMC ...
CeO{sub 2}-coated LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel cathode was synthesized using two-step synthesis method. All the samples exhibited a pure cubic spinel structure without any impurities in the XRD patterns. The results of the electrochemical performances on CeO{sub 2}-coated electrode are compared to those of electrodes based on LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel without CeO{sub 2} coating. CeO{sub 2}-coated LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} cathode improved the cycling stability of the electrode. The capacity retention of 2 wt% CeO{sub 2}-coated LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} was more than 82% after 150 cycles between 3.0 and 4.4 V at room temperature and 82% after 40 cycles at elevated temperature of 60 C. The amounts of dissolved manganese-ions in CeO{sub 2}-coated LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} significantly are smaller than pristine LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} systems especially at elevated temperatures. ...
We have investigated the growth behaviors of high temperature compatible ZrO_2 insulation coatings on Ag and AgMg sheathed Bi_2Sr_2Ca_1Cu_2O_x superconducting tapes depending on number of dipping and thermal conditions. The coatings were fabricated on long-length superconducting tape substrates using a solution derived from Zr tetrabutoxide, solvent and chelating agent for high magnetic field magnets. The layer-on-layer growth behaviors were characterized by environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray maps and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This research showed that the ZrO_2 coatings were regularly grown on Ag-based tape substrates and coating thickness increased with increasing number of dipping. It was found that ceramic oxides formed at temperature range 450 and 550 deg. C. The final coating thickness changed between 6 and 8 #mu#m ...
The possibilities to electrodeposit thick coatings composed of nanoparticles of Sb and Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} for use as high-capacity anode materials in Li-ion batteries have been investigated. It is demonstrated that the stability of the coatings depends on their Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} concentrations as well as microstructure. The electrodeposition reactions in electrolytes with different pH and buffer capacities were studied using chronopotentiometry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements. The obtained deposits, which were characterised with XRD and SEM, were also tested as anode materials in Li-ion batteries. The influence of the pH and buffer capacity of the deposition solution on the composition and particle size of the deposits were studied and it is concluded that depositions from a poorly buffered solution of antimony-tartrate give rise to good anode materials due to the inclusion of precipitated Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} ...
Solid-state lithium batteries with a unique construction are reported in this paper. These batteries contain two kinds of lithium ion-conductive solid electrolytes, LiI-Li{sub 2}S-P{sub 2}S{sub 5} glass contacted with the anode material and Li{sub 3}PO{sub 4}-Li{sub 2}S-SiS{sub 2} glass or Li{sub 2}S-GeS{sub 2}-P{sub 2}S{sub 5} crystalline material contacted with the cathode. The former electrolyte was selected as that stable to electrochemical reduction, and the latter two to oxidation. This construction made it possible to use graphite as the anode and LiCoO{sub 2} as the cathode in the solid-state lithium battery. The energy density of the battery is 390 W h{center_dot}l{sup -1} and 160 W h{center_dot}kg{sup -1} per total volume and weight of the cathode and anode layers, respectively, which are comparable to those of commercialized Li-ion batteries.
Sediment trap fluxes of solids, organic carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in Lake Superior in 1984 and 1985. Mass fluxes from surface waters ranged from 0.14 to 1.1 g/m{sup 2}{center dot}day and increased near the lake floor due to resuspension of surficial sediment and horizontal transport in the benthic nepheloid layer. Organic matter fluxes from surface water ranged from 60 to 90 mg of C/m{sup 2}{center dot}day, with {approximately}5% of organic carbon settling from surface waters accumulating in bottom sediments. Concentrations of PCBs and PAHs are enriched 10-100 times on settling particles relative to those on suspended particles. Resultant settling fluxes are 10-100 times greater for several PCB and PAH compounds than net accumulation rates in bottom sediments, indicating the effective and rapid recycling in the benthic region. Biological packaging of organic pollutants ...
The pozzolanic behaviour of compound-activated red mud-coal gangue has been investigated through TG, DTA, XRD, FTIR and {sup 27}Al MAS NMR. From viewpoint of reaction kinetics, it is found that the pozzolanic reaction mechanism of the compound-activated red mud-coal gangue-lime system is clearly consistent with diffusion control up to 14 days, and the reaction rate constant calculated from Jander equation decreases with the increase of CaO addition in the system. The hydration products formed in the red mud coal gangue-lime systems at ambient temperature are essentially aluminous C-S-H and Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}O{sub 6} center dot xH{sub 2}O. From TG analysis results, it is thought that the high amount of Ca(OH){sub 2} in the pastes of studied system is not conducive to the continual increase of non-evaporable water content of the hydration products. Of particular interest. {sup 27}Al MAS NMR proved to be an effective technique to obtain valuable information of Al(4) ...
This paper describes the comprehensive modeling method of fluid and heat flows in the hydrological system. Based upon the concept that the hydrological system is composed of the air-water 2-phase fluids, and the rock phase, various natural processes are modeled including surface/subsurface 2-phase mass transfer, heat exchanges between fluid phases, between fluid and solid phases, and sensible/latent heat exchanges on the ground surface. A field-oriented numerical simulator is developed, in which a set of governing equations is solved for different variables on the surface and in subsurface regions, respectively. Results of an experimental study are presented, in which transient formulation of heat exchange between fluid/solid phases is examined through matching of the observation and calculated performances. (author)
This paper describes the comprehensive modeling method of fluid and heat flows in the hydrological system. Based upon the concept that the hydrological system is composed of the air-water 2-phase fluids, and the rock phase, various natural processes are modeled including surface/subsurface 2-phase mass transfer, heat exchanges between fluid phases, between fluid and solid phases, and sensible/latent heat exchanges on the ground surface. A field-oriented numerical simulator is developed, in which a set of governing equations is solved for different variables on the surface and in subsurface regions, respectively. Results of an experimental study are presented, in which transient formulation of heat exchange between fluid/solid phases is examined through matching of the observation and calculated performances. (author)
For an assessment of the future US spallation neutron source (SNS) target performance, radiation induced hardening and microstructural evolution were investigated as a function of ion dose for EC316LN stainless steel. Irradiation was carried out using 3.5 MeV Fe{sup +}, 360 keV He{sup +}, and 180 keV H{sup +} simultaneous ion-beams at 200 deg. C to simulate the damage, He and H production in the SNS target vessel wall. At low dose (< 1 dpa), the predominant defects were black dots whose number density saturated rapidly within a few dpa. This was followed by the evolution of interstitial loops whose number density saturated below 15 dpa. Although He-bubbles were not visible, severely scalloped loops suggested that the implanted He/H atoms existed in the form of small clusters. Comparison with reported neutron irradiation data showed that hardening and ductility loss occurred mostly in the black dot regime (< 1 dpa), but that good ...
For an assessment of the future US spallation neutron source (SNS) target performance, radiation induced hardening and microstructural evolution were investigated as a function of ion dose for EC316LN stainless steel. Irradiation was carried out using 3.5 MeV Fe"+, 360 keV He"+, and 180 keV H"+ simultaneous ion-beams at 200 deg. C to simulate the damage, He and H production in the SNS target vessel wall. At low dose (< 1 dpa), the predominant defects were black dots whose number density saturated rapidly within a few dpa. This was followed by the evolution of interstitial loops whose number density saturated below 15 dpa. Although He-bubbles were not visible, severely scalloped loops suggested that the implanted He/H atoms existed in the form of small clusters. Comparison with reported neutron irradiation data showed that hardening and ductility loss occurred mostly in the black dot regime (< 1 dpa), but that good ductility (>20% ...
3-["1"2"3I]Iodo-L-#alpha#-methyl tyrosine (["1"2"3I]IMT) scintigraphy of extracranial malignant tumors has been described, but little is known about the transport systems involved in ["1"2"3I]IMT uptake into extracranial tumor cells. Here, the precise kinetics of ["1"2"3I]IMT transport into human Ewing's sarcoma cells (VH-64) was determined. The apparent Michaelis constant was of high affinity value (K_m=41.7#+-#3.9 #mu#M) and maximum transport velocity amounted to V_m_a_x=20.7#+-#0.6 nmol#centre dot#mg protein"-"1#centre dot#10 min"-"1. Inhibition experiments revealed the predominance of ["1"2"3I]IMT uptake via sodium-independent system L.
Silica microspheres were deposited into two-dimensional periodic arrays and coated with a thin layer of silicon nanocrystals. The luminescence from the silicon nanocrystals coupled into the whispering gallery modes of the spheres, with Q factors that depended on a range of parameters including sphere size, position on the sphere, viewing direction, and thickness of the nanocrystal coating. Scattering from the film-sphere and/or the sphere-substrate contacts resulted in a lower Q for modes that intersect these regions. The highest Q factors obtained in this work were {approx}1500. The results suggest that silica microspheres may be promising candidates for high-Q cavities that incorporate silicon nanocrystals for cavity QED or nonlinear optical effects.
In this study, the effects of channel surface wettability, cross-sectional geometry and orientation on the two-phase flow in parallel gas channels of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are investigated. Ex situ experiments were conducted in flow channels with three different surface wettability (hydrophilically coated, uncoated, and hydrophobically coated), three cross-sectional geometries (rectangular, sinusoidal and trapezoidal), and two orientations (vertical and horizontal). Flow pattern map, individual channel flow variation due to maldistribution, pressure drop and flow visualization images were used to analyze the two-phase flow characteristics. It is found that hydrophilically coated gas channels are advantageous over uncoated or slightly hydrophobic channels regarding un...
Steel structures immersed in seawater are protected from corrosion using cathodic protection systems (sacrificial anodes or impressed current), by paint coatings or by duplex systems in which cathodic protection hinders corrosion at coating's failure sites. The main problem related to those duplex systems is how to avoid cathodic delamination due to the alkalinity generated at cathodic sites. The present paper analyses the effectiveness of red mud suspensions as pre-treatment to avoid cathodic delamination. The study was conducted using mainly electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The evolution of the electrode potential with immersion time was also recorded because it concerns the practical aspect of current density necessary to reach the protection potential. The study shows that red mud pre-treatments are effective in avoiding coating's delamination. (author)
In order to improve the well-known short operational life time of BF3 counters, three potential adsorbents for impurity gases (graphite, activated charcoal and a zirconium-aluminum mixture) were introduced into BF3 counters in the form of coating on the aluminum cathode surface. Tests in el fields revealed that a partial coating of activated charcoal provides the best result. The improvement of their operational life in el fields was about three orders of magnitude in terms of tolerable exposure. Many counters with a partial coating of activated charcoal were further tested from the following viewpoints: background noise, vibration and shock, el pulse discrimination, operational life in a neutron field and non-operational in-reactor exposure life. The results were satisfactory for reactor control and protection usage. (author).
Anti-reflective coatings made with Teflon AF2400 had the highest damage thresholds recorded for physical vapor deposited coatings at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory damage facility. Physical vapor deposited layers of Teflon AF2400, a perfluorinated amorphous polymer, maintained the bulk optical properties of a high transmittance from 200 nm to 1600 nm, and a low refractive index. In addition, the refractive index can be intentionally reduced by control of two common deposition parameters, deposition rate and substrate temperature. Scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance observations indicated that morphological changes caused the variations in the refractive index rather than compositional changes. The coatings adhered to fused silica and silicon wafers under normal laboratory handling conditions.
The formation of a porous coating is the decisive feature for the bio-compatibility of silica-free calcium phosphate glass ceramics on alloy surfaces like the #beta#-Ti structured Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr used in this work. The ceramic composition is highly important: 50CaO-40P_2O_5-7Na_2O-3TiO_2 glass powder produces a pore-free coating unable to bind hydroxyapatite, whereas 60CaO-30P_2O_5-7Na_2O-3TiO_2 glass incorporates pores from which a crystalline hydroxyapatite phase can grow over the surface from simulated body fluid (see Figure). (Abstract Copyright [2003], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
Full text: Institute for Nuclear Research, Pitesti-Mioveni, Romania in direct cooperation with the National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Magurele, Bucharest studied and prepared for coating more than 1000 tiles made of Inconel with 7-9 #mu#m of beryllium for nuclear fusion applications at JET, Culham, UK. The principles of manufacturing processes using thermal evaporation and plasma ignited in pure metal vapors as well as by Thermionic Vacuum Arc (TVA) method and the properties of the Ni and Be coatings are presented. The prepared beryllium layers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. (authors)
Apparatus for solid-phase antibody separation techniques used in radioimmunoassays is described in this invention. It consists of a rectangular prism tray with multiple wells protruding into its interior from one side. Near the base of the tray is an orifice used for creating evacuated condition within the structure. At the base of each well there is an orifice of such size and shape as to retain an aqueous liquid under given pressure conditions but permit the evacuation of this liquid at reduced pressure. The outlet of these orifices is in the shape of an inverted conical frustrum. Each of the wells contains an antibody coated disc of porous cellulose paper surrounded by a plastic support. The porous nature of the cellulose paper ensures contact between the antibody coating and the antigen. The use of antibody coated porous cellulose paper in combination with the vacuum operated apparatus simplifies the manipulative steps ...
Kawasaki Steel has constructed many facilities for 15 years to produce cold rolled products and galvanized products in Mizushima Works and Chiba Works. To efficiently and stably produce high and uniform quality products, various new control methods have been developed and applied to these new facilities. Especially, temperature control in a continuous annealing line, zinc coating control in a continuous galvanizing line or paint coating control in a multi-purpose coating line and tension control to achieve stable processing are the most advanced technologies and are introduced in this paper. (author)
In this study, a novel graphene nanosheets (GNSs) coated solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was prepared by immobilizing microwave synthesized GNSs on a stainless steel wire. Microwave synthesized GNSs were verified by X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). GNS-SPME fiber was characterized using FE-SEM and the results showed the GNS coating was homogeneous, porous, and highly adherent to the surface of the stainless steel fiber. The performance and feasibility of the GNS-SPME fiber was evaluated under one-step microwave assisted (MA) headspace (HS) SPME followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection for five organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in aqueous samples. Parameters influencing the extra...
The magnetic field strengths of most millisecond pulsars(MSP) are about $10^{8-9}$ Gauss. The accretion induced magnetic field evolution scenario here concludes that the field decay is invesely related to the accreted mass and the minimum field or bottom field stops at about $10^{8}$ Gauss if accreted with the Eddington accretion rate, which is proportionally related with the accretion rate as $\\dot{M}^{1/2}$. The possibility of the low field $\\sim 10^{7}$ Gauss MSPs has been proposed for the future radio observation.
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.
Several recent experiments on micro- (or nano-) structured samples of ferromagnetic materials are introduced. Magnetization reversal phenomena are investigated on submicron wire samples of trilayer structure using the giant magnetoresistance effect. Domain wall movements are sensitively monitored by resistivity measurements and the velocity of propagation is determined. The contribution of domain wall to the resistivity is argued from the results on artificially designed samples of a spring-magnet system. In circular dots of permalloy, the existence of vortex magnetization is confirmed and the reversal of the vortex core magnetization is studied from magnetic force microscopy measurements. (author)
Interest to thin film of metals' silicides first of all is conditioned intrinsic al them unique physical properties. On their basis of it is possible to produce extremely sophisticated devices of solid-state electronics, production which needs the controlled change of physics, chemical and electrical properties with high-level of accuracy. On the present time most are in detail investigated composition, structure and properties of three-dimensional samples of metals' silicides. In the last years the intensive are led to researches in the direction of creation and study of physical-chemical properties thin (500-1000 Angstroms) and ultrafine (100-120 Angstroms) films silicides. It has information about composition, morphology of surface and emission of properties of thin film of silicides of barium, of cobalt and of palladium, was obtained in conditions of ultra-high vacuum. Low energy ion implantation and further annealing on composition, electronic and crystalline structure of Si ...
Microporous membranes are suitable for the CO{sub 2}-MEA (monoethanolamine) system because the overall mass transfer coefficient K of the membrane is approximately 10 times larger than that of composite membranes consisting of microporous membranes and homogeneous membranes. The overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient K{center_dot} of the hollow-fiber contact is more than 5 times larger than that of a conventional packed bed, which suggests that adorption using the present method has the advantage of making the absorption more compact. 8 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.
The hot uniform aluminium plasma was produced by irradiating thin aluminium dotted foil smoothly with the 9th 0.53 ?m laser on Shenguang II laser facility. The emitted spectrum was measured from the front and tangential direction of the target with two crystal spectrometers, and the quantitative spectrum from the front of the target was obtained. The state of laser- produced plasma was simulated with the radiation hydrodynamics code MULTI-1D, and the emitted spectrum was calculated with the spectrum code of Collision-Radiation model under the simulated plasma state. The experimental spectrum accords with the simulated one. (authors)
The effect of variations of the fundamental constants on the thermonuclear rate of the triple alpha reaction, "4He(#alpha##alpha#, #gamma#)"1"2C, that bridges the gap between "4He and "1"2C is investigated. We have followed the evolution of 15 and 60 M#centre dot# zero metallicity stellar models, up to the end of core helium burning. They are assumed to be representative of the first (Population III) stars. The calculated oxygen carbon abundances resulting from helium burning can then be used to constrain the variation of the fundamental constants.
A series of dinuclear platinum(II) complexes, [(dien)Pt(NH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub n}NH{sub 2})Pt(dien)]Cl{sub 4} (dien = diethylenetriamine, n = 8, 9, 10, and 12) and their corresponding [2]rotaxanes with {alpha}-cyclodextrin ({alpha}-CD), [(dien)Pt{l_brace}NH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub n}NH{sub 2}{center_dot}{alpha}-CD{r_brace}Pt(dien)]Cl{sub 4}, have been synthesized and characterized by {sup 1}H, {sup 13}C, and {sup 195}Pt NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The rotaxanes were prepared by reacting the {l_brace}NH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub n}NH{sub 2}{center_dot}{alpha}-CD{r_brace} pseudorotaxanes with [Pt(dien)]Cl, to stopper the included linear {alpha},{omega}-diaminoalkane chains with the inert Pt(II) end groups. The kinetics of the self-assembly and dissociation of the {beta}-CD rotaxane, [(dien)Pt{l_brace}NH{sub 2}(CH{sub 2}){sub 10}NH{sub 2}{center_dot}{beta}-CD{r_brace}Pt(dien)]{sup 4+}, were investigated by ...
The gas phase high resolution spectroscopic study of weakly bound clusters can provide the information necessary to develop an intermolecular potential energy surface. This surface can then be used to better understand condensed phases. In this work, a tunable far infrared laser spectrometer is used to study weakly bound dimers produced in the newly developed continuous planar supersonic jet expansion apparatus. The water dimer is an extensively studied hydrogen bonded dimer. It undergoes several tunneling motions which result in splittings and perturbations of the rovibrational energy levels. A review is presented of much of the experimental and theoretical work done on water dimer, including a description of the combined fit of all the high resolution spectroscopic results by Coudert and Hougen. Also included is a discussion of the measurement of the K = 1 lower {yields} K = 2 lower band performed using the tunable far infrared laser/planar jet apparatus. The preliminary results from ...
Homogeneous nucleation of CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O (gypsum) based on an optical diagnostic technique was studied within a supersaturation range of 1--4 at 25--90 C. The experiments were carried out using an experimental apparatus consisting of a batch crystallizer with the related measurement devices. Signals of scattered and transmitted light coming from a He-Ne laser source were analyzed to measure the induction period (t{sub ind}), that is, the time delay necessary for homogeneous nucleation to take place. As expected from theory, it was found that t{sub ind} decreases when either temperature or supersaturation increase; from the dependence of t{sub ind} on supersaturation, it was possible to distinguish between the mechanisms of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. From the experimental data relative to homogeneous nucleation, the interfacial tension ({gamma}{sub s}) between CaSO{sub 4}{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O and the ...
An internal flooding (IF) risk assessment refers to the quantitative probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) treatment of flooding as a result of pipe and tank breaks inside the plants, as well as from other recognized flood sources. The industry consensus standard for Internal Events Probabilistic Risk Assessment (ASME-RA-Sb-2005) includes high-level and supporting technical requirements for developing internal flooding probabilistic risk assessment (IFPRA). This industry standard is endorsed in Regulatory Guide 1.200, Revision 1 as an acceptable approach for addressing the risk contribution from IF events for risk informed applications that require U.S. Nuclear Regulatory commission (NRC) approval. In 2006, EPRI published a draft report for IFPRA that addresses the requirements of the ASME PRA consensus standard and have made efforts to refine and update the final EPRI IFPRA guideline. Westinghouse has performed an IFPRA analysis for several nuclear power plants (NPPs), such as Watts ...
We present and characterize an experimental system in which we achieve the integration of an ultrahigh finesse optical cavity with a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). The conceptually novel design of the apparatus for the production of BECs features nested vacuum chambers and an in vacuo magnetic transport configuration. It grants large scale spatial access to the BEC for samples and probes via a modular and exchangeable ''science platform.'' We are able to produce 87Rb condensates of 5x106 atoms and to output couple continuous atom lasers. The cavity is mounted on the science platform on top of a vibration isolation system. The optical cavity works in the strong coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics and serves as a quantum optical detector for single atoms. This system enables us to study atom optics on a single particle level and to further develop the field of quantum atom optics. We describe the technological ...
We discuss three possible ways to address quantum physics behind chiral magnetic effect and electric charge fluctuation patterns in heavy ion collisions. The first one makes use of P-parity violation probed by local order parameters, the second considers CME in quantum measurement theory framework and the third way is to study P-odd * P-odd contributions to P-even observables. In the latter approach relevant form-factor is extracted and computed for weak magnetic field in confinement region and for free quarks in strong field regime. It is shown that the effect is negligible in the former case. We also discuss saturation effect - charge fluctuation asymmetry for free fermions reaches constant value at asymptotically large fields.
We study the dynamics of states perturbatively expanded about a harmonic system of loop quantum cosmology, exhibiting a bounce. In particular, the evolution equations for the first and second order moments of the system are analyzed. These moments back-react on the trajectories of the expectation values of the state and hence alter the energy density at the bounce. This analysis is performed for isotropic loop quantum cosmology coupled to a scalar field with a small but non-zero constant potential, hence in a regime in which the kinetic energy of matter dominates. Analytic restrictions on the existence of dynamical coherent states and the meaning of semi-classicality within these systems are discussed. A numerical investigation of the trajectories of states that remain semi-classical across the bounce demonstrates that, at least for such states, the bounce persists and that its properties are similar to the standard case, in which the moments ...
We prove an analogue of the MacMahon Master Theorem for the right quantum superalgebras. In particular, we obtain a new and simple proof of this theorem for the right quantum algebras. In the super case the theorem is then used to construct higher order Sugawara operators for the affine Lie superalgebra \\hat gl(m|n) in an explicit form. The operators are elements of a completed universal enveloping algebra of \\hat gl(m|n) at the critical level. They occur as the coefficients in the expansion of a noncommutative Berezinian and as the traces of powers of generator matrices. The same construction yields higher Hamiltonians for the Gaudin model associated with the Lie superalgebra gl(m|n).
This Resource Letter provides a guide to the literature on Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the relativistic quantum field theory of the strong interactions. Journal articles, books, and other documents are cited for the following topics: quarks and color, the parton model, Yang-Mills theory, experimental evidence for color, QCD as a color gauge theory, asymptotic freedom, QCD for heavy hadrons, QCD on the lattice, the QCD vacuum, pictures of quark confinement, early and modern applications of perturbative QCD, the determination of the strong coupling and quark masses, QCD and the hadron spectrum, hadron decays, the quark-gluon plasma, the strong nuclear interaction, and QCD's role in nuclear physics. The letter {E} after an item indicates elementary level or material of general interest to persons becoming informed in the field. The letter {I}, for intermediate level, indicates material of a somewhat more specialized nature, and the letter {A} ...
We use the semi-classical approximation in perturbative scalar quantum electrodynamics to calculate the quantum correction to the Larmor radiation formula to first order in Planck's constant in the non-relativistic approximation, choosing the initial state of the charged particle to be a momentum eigenstate. We calculate this correction in two cases: in the first case the charged particle is accelerated by a time-dependent but space-independent vector potential whereas in the second case it is accelerated by a time-independent vector potential which is a function of one spatial coordinate. We find that the corrections in these two cases are different even for a charged particle with the same classical motion. The correction in each case turns out to be non-local in time in contrast to the classical approximation.
A general quantum adiabatic theorem with and without the time-dependent orthogonalization is proven, which can be applied to understand the origin of activation energies in chemical reactions. Further proofs are also developed for the oscillating Schwinger Hamiltonian to establish the relationship between the internal (due to time-dependent eigenfunctions) and external (due to time-dependent Hamiltonian) time scales. We prove that this relationship needs to be taken as an independent quantum adiabatic approximation criterion. We give four examples, including logical expositions based on the spin-1/2 two-level system to address the gapped and gapless (due to energy level crossings) systems, as well as to understand how does this theorem allows one to study dynamical systems such as chemical reactions.
A new particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique for electromagnetic applications is proposed. The method is based on quantum mechanics rather than the Newtonian rules assumed in all previous versions of PSO, which we refer to as classical PSO. A general procedure is suggested to derive many different versions of the quantum PSO algorithm (QPSO). The QPSO is applied first to linear array antenna synthesis, which is one of the standard problems used by antenna engineers. The performance of the QPSO is compared against an improved version of the classical PSO. The new algorithm outperforms the classical one most of the time in convergence speed and achieves better levels for the cost function. As another application, the algorithm is used to find a set of infinitesimal dipoles that produces the same near and far fields of a circular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). In addition, the QPSO method is employed to find an equivalent circuit model ...
We apply a notion of static renormalization to the preparation of cluster states for quantum computing, exploiting ideas from percolation theory. Such a strategy yields a novel way to cope with the randomness of non-deterministic quantum gates. This is most relevant in the context of linear optical architectures, where probabilistic gates are inevitable. We demonstrate how to efficiently construct cluster states without the need for rerouting, thereby avoiding a massive amount of feed-forward and conditional dynamics, and furthermore show that except for a single layer of fusion measurements during the preparation, all further measurements can be shifted to the final adapted single qubit measurements. Remarkably, the cluster state preparation is achieved using essentially the same scaling in resources as if deterministic gates were available. Further, techniques to reduce the size of the required resource states will be presented.
Complex numbers are an intrinsic part of the mathematical formalism of quantum theory and are perhaps its most characteristic feature. In this article, we show that the complex nature of the quantum formalism can be derived directly from the assumption that a pair of real numbers is associated with each sequence of measurement outcomes, with the probability of this sequence being a real-valued function of this number pair. By making use of elementary symmetry conditions, and without assuming that these real number pairs have any other algebraic structure, we show that these pairs must be manipulated according to the rules of complex arithmetic. We demonstrate that these complex numbers combine according to Feynman's sum and product rules, with the modulus-squared yielding the probability of a sequence of outcomes.
A macroscopic realization of the strange virtual particles is presented. The classical Helmholtz and the quantum mechanical Schr\\"odinger equations are analogous differential equations. Their imaginary solutions are called evanescent modes in the case of elastic and electromagnetic fields. In the case of non-relativistic quantum mechanical fields they are called tunneling solutions. The imaginary solutions of this differential equation point to strange consequences: They are non local, they are not observable, and they described as virtual particles. During the last two decades QED calculations of the imaginary solutions have been experimentally confirmed for phonons, photons, and for electrons. The experimental proofs of the predictions of the non-relativistic quantum mechanics and of the Wigner phase time approach for the elastic, the electromagnetic and the Schr\\"odinger fields will be presented in this article. The ...
The problem of a spin 1 charged particle with electromagnetic polarizability, obeying a generalized 15-component quantum mechanical equation, is investigated in presence of the external Coulomb potential. With the use of the Wigner's functions techniques, separation of variables in the spherical tetrad basis is done and the 15-component radial system is given. It is shown that there exists a class of quantum states for which the additional characteristics, polarizability, does not manifest itself anyhow; at this the energy spectrum of the system coincides with the known spectrum of the scalar particle. For j=0 states, a 2-order differential equation is derived, it contains an additional potential term 1/r^{4}. In analogous approach wave functions the generalized particle are examined in presence of external Dirac monopole field. It is shown that there exists one special state with minimal conserved quantum number j_{min}. ...
The Lorentz and coordinate covariant calculus of spinors in Riemannian spacetime, which is the mathematical model for the description of the quantum mechanics of elementary particles with spin interacting with the classical gravitation field, is explored. The Dirac equation describing the interaction of neutrinos with the gravitational fields of the Robertson-Walker cosmological world models is separated, and the spectrum of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues for particular choices of the set of quantum numbers is given explicitly for the k = 0 and k = +1 models, although only the radial equations determining the final quantum number are given for the k = -1 model. The mathematical theory of the motion of a perfect fluid whose elements interact via long-range neutrino-exchange forces, as well as gravitationally, is developed. The formalism for calculating, by calculating the Bogoliubov transformation of the Fock space operators ...
Many-particle confinement (localization) is studied for a 1D system of spinless fermions with nearest-neighbour hopping and interaction, or equivalently, for an anisotropic Heisenberg spin-1/2 chain. This system is frequently used to model quantum computers with perpetually coupled qubits. We construct a bounded sequence of site energies that leads to strong single-particle confinement of all states on individual sites. We show that this sequence also leads to a confinement of all many-particle states in an infinite system for a time that scales as a high power of the reciprocal hopping integral. The confinement is achieved for strong interaction between the particles while keeping the overall bandwidth of site energies comparatively small. The results show the viability of quantum computing with time-independent qubit coupling.
In this paper we prove the existence of isomorphisms between certain non-commutative algebras that are interesting from representation theoretic perspective and arise as quantizations of certain Poisson algebras. We show that quantizations of Kleinian resolutions obtained by three different constructions are isomorphic to each other. The constructions are via symplectic reflection algebras, quantum Hamiltonian reduction, and W-algebras. Next, we prove that parabolic W-algebras in type A are isomorphic to quantum Hamiltonian reductions associated to quivers of type A. Finally, we show that the symplectic reflection algebras for wreath-products of the symmetric group and a Kleinian group are isomorphic to certain quantum Hamiltonian reductions. Our results involving W-algebras are new, while for those dealing with symplectic reflection algebras we just give new proofs. A key ingredient in our proofs is the study of ...
We report on a two-photon interference experiment in a quantum relay configuration using two picosecond regime PPLN waveguide based sources emitting paired photons at 1550 nm. The results show that the picosecond regime associated with a guided-wave scheme should have important repercussions for quantum relay implementations in real conditions, essential for improving both the working distance and the efficiency of quantum cryptography and networking systems. In contrast to already reported regimes, namely femtosecond and CW, it allows achieving a 99% net visibility two-photon interference while maintaining a high effective photon pair rate using only standard telecom components and detectors.
Entanglement swapping allows to establish entanglement between independent particles that never have interacted nor share a common past. This feature makes it an integral constituent of quantum repeaters and a promising tool for future tests of the foundations of quantum physics. Here, we demonstrate entanglement swapping with time-synchronized independent sources with a fidelity high enough to violate a Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality by more than four standard deviations. The fact that both entangled photon pairs are created by fully independent laser sources, which are only electronically connected, ensures that this technique is suitable for future long-distance entanglement swapping and quantum-repeater experiments.
We review various field theory approaches to the description of neutrino oscillations in vacuum and external fields. First we discuss a relativistic quantum mechanics based approach which involves the temporal evolution of massive neutrinos. To describe the dynamics of the neutrinos system we use exact solutions of wave equations in presence of an external field. It allows one to exactly take into account both the characteristics of neutrinos and the properties of an external field. In particular, we examine flavor oscillations an vacuum and in background matter as well as spin flavor oscillations in matter under the influence of an external electromagnetic field. Moreover we consider the situation of hypothetical nonstandard neutrino interactions with background fermions. In the case of ultrarelativistic particles we reproduce an effective Hamiltonian which is used in the standard quantum mechanical approach for the description of neutrino ...
Entanglement is the essential quantum resource for a potential speed-up of information processing, as well as for sophisticated quantum communication. Quantum information networks will be required to convey information from one place to another, by using entangled light beams. Many physical systems are under consideration as building blocks, with different merits and faults, so that hybrid systems are likely to be developed. Here we present an important tool for connecting systems that share no common resonance frequencies: we demonstrate the first direct generation of entanglement among more than two bright beams of light, all of different wavelengths (532.251 nm, 1062.102 nm, and 1066.915 nm). We also observe, for the first time, disentanglement for finite channel losses, the continuous variable counterpart to entanglement sudden death.
By assuming that not only counter-ions but DNA molecules as well are thermally distributed according to a Boltzmann law, we propose a modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, at the classical level, as a starting point to compute the effects of quantum fluctuations of the electric field on the interaction among DNA-cation complexes. The latter are modeled here as infinite one-dimensional wires (?-functions). Our goal is to single out such quantum-vacuum-driven interaction from the counterion-induced and water-related interactions. We obtain a universal, frustration-free Casimir-like (codimension 2) interaction that extensive numerical analysis show to be a good candidate to explain the formation and stability of DNA aggregates. Such Casimir energy is computed for a variety of configurations of...
The band offsets and subband levels in a double quantum well layer for a 660 nm-Ga_0_._4In_0_._6P/(Al_0_._5Ga_0_._5)_0_._5In_0_._5P quantum well laser are determined by photoreflectance using a 410 nm InGaN laser with current modulation at room temperature. The subband levels are analyzed by numerical calculation of the Schroedinger equation for the layer structure by varying the conduction band offset and compared with the measured photoreflectance spectra. The conduction band offset ratio is determined to be 0.5+0.03. (copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)
In this paper we examine the relationship between covariance and unitarity for quantum gravity in Ashtekar variables. A usual description would discard half of the original Lorentz group, in exchange for the resulting simplifications of general relativity. We start by quantizing a trivial SL(2,C) gauge theory resulting in a nonunitary covariant theory. By the addition of a total time derivative we transform this into a unitary theory of the Ashtekar description of gravity with complete accountability of the degrees of freedom. We find that covariance on the spacetime level bears a direct relationship to covariance on the level ofthe quantum fields themselves. This procedure can in principle be applied to any totally constrained system, and bears a resemblance to the Gupta--Bleuler method. Finally, we make some observation regarding the loop representation of the SL(2,C) connection.
This contribution reviews a selection of findings on atomic density functions and discusses ways for reading chemical information from them. First an expression for the density function for atoms in the multi-configuration Hartree--Fock scheme is established. The spherical harmonic content of the density function and ways to restore the spherical symmetry in a general open-shell case are treated. The evaluation of the density function is illustrated in a few examples. In the second part of the paper, atomic density functions are analyzed using quantum similarity measures. The comparison of atomic density functions is shown to be useful to obtain physical and chemical information. Finally, concepts from information theory are introduced and adopted for the comparison of density functions. In particular, based on the Kullback--Leibler form, a functional is constructed that reveals the periodicity in Mendeleev's table. Finally a quantum similarity ...
When backward time travel through wormholes is taken into account, classical physics loses its determinism and allows simulation of some quantum behaviours. We show how it is possible to simulate a non-local wavefunction reduction-type effect, i.e. we present a mechanical analogy for the collapse of the wavefunction of an entangled state of two removed particles. This situation can be seen as the simplest EPR situation, i.e. the situation where there is just one direction to measure along the spin (or the correlated properties). We present no rigorous results here, just a different point of view about something that is generally thought to be impossible: modelling a quantum indeterministic and non-local behaviour with a mechanical system.
We report on characterization of a set of AlGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) photodetectors. The model structure used in the calculation is the p-i-n heterojunction with 20 AlGaN/GaN MQW structures in i-region. The MQW structures have 2nm GaN quantum well width and 15nm AlxGa1-xN barrier width. The cutoff wavelength of the MQW photodetectors can be tuned by adjusting the well width and barrier height. Including the polarization field effects, on increasing Al mole fraction, the transition energy decreases, the total noise increases, and the responsivity has a red shift, and so the detectivity decreases and has a red shift.
Although hydrogen is the simplest of atoms, it does not form the simplest of solids or liquids. Quantum effects in these phases are considerable (a consequence of the light proton mass) and they have a demonstrable and often puzzling influence on many physical properties, including spatial order. To date, the structure of dense hydrogen remains experimentally elusive. Recent studies of the melting curve of hydrogen indicate that at high (but experimentally accessible) pressures, compressed hydrogen will adopt a liquid state, even at low temperatures. In reaching this phase, hydrogen is also projected to pass through an insulator-to-metal transition. This raises the possibility of new state of matter: a near ground-state liquid metal, and its ordered states in the quantum domain. Ordered quantum fluids are traditionally categorized as superconductors or superfluids; these respective systems feature dissipationless electrical ...
Oct 20, 1997 ... The following requirements apply to the solar array: ..... housings will be coated with material meeting the program's outgassing requirements. ... The solar array temperature testing requirements will be determined by analysis. .... The ADS also generates attitude products for the project and science team. ...
Synthetic oligoribonucleotides have been used to probe the interaction of MS2 coat protein with the translational operator of the MS2 replicase gene. We have investigated the possible formation of a...Full Text Available
In the present paper the tribological behavior of the coatings are discussed. Duplex coatings were applied on cold working steel 100Cr6. Samples were plasma nitrided at different thickness of plasma surface layers. TiN was deposited with a classic BALZERS PVD equipment and subsequent ion implantation. Ion implantation was provided with N{sup 5+} ions. The other samples were produced with IBAD technology in DANFYSIK chamber. Wear resistance and exchanges of friction coefficient were measured with on-line test using special designed tribology equipment. Following the tests, the wear zone morphology and characteristics of surface layer structure as well as important properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Scratch adhesion testing was performed using commercially available equipment. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) of the wear-scars on pins provided essential information on ...
Amperostatic coulometry was applied for the thickness measurement of Sn-Ag hot dip coatings, which comprise an extended Sn-Cu interdiffusion layer. Complementary measurements, notably weight loss, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and dynamic secondary ion mass spectroscopy were performed in order to obtain a better interpretation of the coulometry results. Based on the experimental results presented in this article, the three potential changes observed during coulometry measurements are ascribed to (i) the entire dissolution of pure Sn, (ii) the formation of a CuCl salt layer, and (iii) the surface passivation. The measurement of the pure Sn mass is well reproducible despite strong coating thickness variations detected by XRF. Several experimental problems, in particular, a coating undercutting, hamper the determination of the Sn mass in the intermetallic ...
We tried to apply a quartz crystal as a sensor by using the resonant frequency and the resistance properties of quartz crystals. Four kinds of fatty acids that have the same head groups were coated on the surfaces of the quartz crystals, and the shift of the resonant frequency and the resistance were observed based on the lengths of the tail groups. Myristic acid (C{sub 14}), palmitic acid (C{sub 16}), stearic acid (C{sub 18}), and arachidic acid (C{sub 20}) were deposited on the surfaces of quartz crystals by using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. As a result, the resonant frequency change was more sensitive to high molecular-weight fatty acids than to low molecular-weight ones. We also observed the effect of temperature on stearic acid LB films, and the response properties of quartz crystals coated with stearic-acid LB films to organic gases were investigated. As a result, the sensitivity of quartz crystals to organic gases was higher for ...
This work showed the formation of phospholipid vesicle coating on inorganic sericite surface with characterization by combining electron microscopy of FE-SEM, TEM, AFM, and qualitatively evaluated the coated phospholipid vesicle by XPS as a function of etching time. The possibility of phospholipid vesicle mobility on the surface was restrained by the chelation effect of magnesium cation. The stabilization properties of phospholipid vesicles on sericite surface were demonstrated by the various concentration of magnesium cation. The presence of magnesium was found to have a much more pronounced influence on the lipid deposition process. The Mg cation plays an important role for attaching the phospholipids with optimum concentration of 7 mM. Totally, the phospholipid vesicles coating on inorganic powder could be useful for bio-related fields such as cosmetics and drug delivery system as the key functional compounds. We hope ...
Background.The air bubbles and foam that develop during the preparation of platelet units have traditionally been considered to interact with the platelets, causing activation and...Full Text Available
An immunoassay employing 125I-labeled enterotoxin B and polystyrene tubes coated with specific antibody was used for assaying purified and crude enterotoxin. Antibody was adsorbed to untreated...Full Text Available
An antigen-antibody system of polystyrene tubes coated with immunoglobulin antibody was used for quantitating immunoglobulins. A similar radioimmunoassay method was adapted for a viral antigen-antibody...Full Text Available
Enzymes are versatile catalysts in laboratories and on an industrial scale; improving their immobilization would be beneficial to broadening their applicability and ensuring their (re)use. Lipid-coated...Full Text Available
This work analyzes the unoptimized prototype triode-sputtered, 150 microns thick tantalum coatings deposited with a 2.5 microns niobium underlayer on the bore of a large-diameter A723 steel cylinder. The coating was deposited for wear and erosion protection by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The phase determination was based on X ray diffraction analysis, wavelength dispersive X ray fluorescence analysis, energy dispersive X ray analysis, and hardness and electrical resistivity measurements. Both X ray diffraction and radius-of- curvature methods were used to determine residual stresses. A locally developed high-resolution pole figure technique was used to perform texture analysis. The post-firing, debonded coating showed alpha-tantalum, preferred 110 orientation, high surface stresses, tantalum oxides, entrapped krypton sputtering gas, interstitial oxygen, and other impurities. The surface and subsurface pole ...
Progress is reported in fabrication and coating activities being conducted for the weapons program, nuclear test program, nuclear design program, magnetic fusion program, and miscellaneous applications. (DLC)
A latex agglutination (LA) test was evaluated for the detection of human rotaviruses in stool specimens. Both antiserum and immunoglobulin G (IgG)-sensitized latex particles were used, with IgG-coated...Full Text Available
In this paper, we present experimentally determined reflection factors of mirrors based on the depleted uranium and dependence of reflection factor on time of presence of samples on air.
The display of proteins such as feed enzymes at the surface of bacterial spore systems has a great potential use for animal feed. Feed enzymes increase the digestibility of nutrients, leading to greater...Full Text Available
Magnetic particles (MAG*SEP"S"M) coated with various absorbents were evaluated for the separation and recovery of low concentrations of cesium from nuclear waste solutions. The MAG*SEP"S"M particles were coated with (1) clinoptilolite, (2) transylvanian volcanic tuff, (3) resorcinol formaldehyde, and (4) crystalline silico-titanate, and then were contacted with a Hanford supernatant simulant. Particles coated with the crystalline silico-titanate were identified by Bradtec as having the highest capacity for cesium removal under the conditions tested (variation of pH, ionic strength, cesium concentration, and absorbent/solution ratio). The MAG*SEP"S"M particles coated with resorcinol formaldehyde had high distribution ratios values and could also be used to remove cesium from Hanford supernant simulant. Gamma irradiation studies were performed on the MAG*SEP"S"M particles with a gamma dose equivalent to ...
In support of a new clinical trial designed to compare the effects of crushed fresh garlic and two types of garlic supplement tablets (enteric-coated dried fresh garlic and dried aged garlic...Full Text Available
A solid-phase radioimmunoassay employing 125I-labeled enterotoxins and polystyrene tubes coated with specific antibody has been developed for assaying the relative concentrations of antibodies...Full Text Available
This paper reports that the co-deposition of chromium and silicon into a 2.25Cr-1.0Mo-0.15C steel, alloy 800, and type 304 stainless steel has been achieved using the pack cementation process. The ferritic coating produced on the 2.25 Cr-1.0Mo steel was approximately 225 {mu}m (9 mils) thick, whereas the inward diffusion of chromium and silicon produced a two-phase structure of ferrite and austenite for type 304. Chromium and silicon were incorporated into the austenitic solid solution upon diffusion into alloy 800. All coatings had approximately 25 to 35 wt% Cr and 2 to 3% Si at the surface. Cyclic oxidation testing in air of the coated 2.25Cr-1.0Mo steel (T = 700{degrees} C) and type 304 (T = 1035{degrees} C) showed a dramatic decrease in the oxidation kinetics compared to the original uncoated alloys. The cyclic oxidation of alloy 800 was also improved.
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 ...
To maximize energy efficiency, gas turbine engines used in airplanes and for power generation operate at very high temperatures, even above the melting point of the metal alloys from which they are...Full Text Available
Strippable or temporary coatings are innovative technologies for decontamination that effectively reduce loose contamination at low cost. These coatings have become a viable option during the deactivation and decommissioning of both US Department of Energy (DOE) and commercial nuclear facilities to remove or fix loose contamination on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. The ALARA{trademark} 1146 strippable coating was demonstrated as part of the Savannah River Site LSDDP and successfully removed transferable (surface) contamination from multiple surfaces (metal and concrete) with an average decontamination factor for alpha contamination of 6.68 and an average percentage of alpha contamination removed of 85.0%. Beta contamination removed was an average DF of 5.55 and an average percentage removed of 82.0%. This paper is an Innovative Technology Summary Report designed to provide potential users with the information they ...
Extra-fine powdered activated charcoal has been used as stationary phase (coating layer) in solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The efficiency and reliability of the prepared device have been investigated for the extraction of some volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) from the headspace of water samples. Monitoring of the extracted compounds and further quantitative analysis of the real samples have been performed by capillary GC-FID. Effects of several factors such as temperature, addition of salt, and stirring speed on extraction efficiency and exposure time have been studied. Under optimum conditions, extraction recoveries for these compounds from 50 mL water were >95%. The calibration graphs were linear in the range 5 to 10{sup 4} pg mL{sup -1} and the detection limit for each BTEX compound was 1.5-2 pg mL{sup -1}. The results obtained by use of this porous layer activated charcoal ...
DNA antoantibodies in serum will bind to antigen-coated polystyrene tubes and can be detected by radiolabelled anti-immunoglobulin. The method is quantitative, gives information on the antibody class...Full Text Available
Deposition of hard coatings may influence the mechanical properties of the bulk material and its corrosion resistance. In this work we study the hardness of the coated and the back side of 100Cr6 steel plates. Electrochemical corrosion tests were performed in O{sub 2}-saturated acetate buffer of pH 5.6 at 25degC. Chromium nitride and titanium nitride coatings prepared by different physical vapour deposition processes, such as arc, thermionic arc evaporation, magnetron sputtering and ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) were compared. The results show that, for sufficient corrosion protection, chromium nitride layers have to be thicker than 500 nm. An increased nitrogen partial pressure in the evaporation chamber of the IBAD process improves the corrosion resistance significantly. The hardness of the substrates was reduced in the case of thermoionic arc evaporation only, indicating a deposition temperature of more than ...
Certain applications are described of radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis in the ore dressing industry, in the manufacture of building materials, in metallurgy, pharmacy, in the chemical, photographic and paper industries, in space exploration, in archeology and for measuring the thicknesses of thin layers of coatings. (ES).