Depth dependent elastic strain in ZnO epilayer: combined Rutherford backscattering/channeling and X-ray diffraction

A ZnO layer was grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on a sapphire (0 0 0 1) substrate. The perpendicular and parallel elastic strain of the ZnO epilayer, e(perpendicular to) = 0.19%, e(parallel to) = -0.29%, respectively, were derived by using the combination of Rutherford backscattering (RBS)/channeling and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ratio vertical bar e(parallel to)/ e(perpendicular to)vertical bar = 1.5 indicates that ZnO layer is much stiffer in the a-axis direction than in the c-axis direction. By using RBS/C, the depth dependent elastic strain was deduced. The strain is higher at the depth close to the interface and decreases towards the surface. The negative tetragonal distortion was explained by considering the lattice mismatch and thermal mismatch in ZnO thin film. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of nonlinear couplings and external magnetic field on the thermal entanglement in a two-spin-qutrit system

We investigate the effects of nonlinear couplings and external magnetic field on the thermal entanglement in a two-spin-qutrit system by applying the concept of negativity. It is found that the nonlinear couplings favor the thermal entanglement creating. Only when the nonlinear couplings vertical bar K vertical bar are larger than a certain critical value does the entanglement exist. The dependence of the thermal entanglement in this system on the magnetic field and temperature is also presented. The critical magnetic field increases with the increasing nonlinear couplings constant vertical bar K vertical bar. And for a fixed nonlinear couplings constant, the critical temperature is independent of the magnetic field B. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tunneling magnetoresistance in (Ga,Mn)As/Al-O/CoFeB hybrid structures

Tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in Ga(0.9)2Mn(0.08)As/Al-O/Co40Fe40B20 trilayer hybrid structure as a function of temperature from 10 to 50 K with magnetic field vertical bar H vertical bar <= 2000 Oe has been studied. TMR ratio of 1.6% at low fields at 10 K was achieved with the applied current of 1 mu A. The behavior of junction resistance was well explained by the tunneling resistance across the barrier. Strong bias dependences of magnetoresistance and junction resistance were presented. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3068418]

Energy momentum for randall sundrum models

We investigate the conservation law of energy momentum for Randall-Sundrum models by the general displacement transform. The energy momentum current has a superpotential and are therefore identically conserved. It is shown that for Randall-Sundrum solution, the momentum vanishes and most of the bulk energy is localized near the Planck brane. The energy density is epsilon = epsilon(0)e(-3 vertical bar y vertical bar).

Parton energy loss in heavy-ion collisions via direct-photon and charged-particle azimuthal correlations

Charged-particle spectra associated with direct photon (gamma(dir)) and pi(0) are measured in p + p and Au + Au collisions at center-of-mass energy root(S)(NN) = 200 GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A shower-shape analysis is used to partially discriminate between gamma(dir) and pi(0). Assuming no associated charged particles in the gamma(dir) direction ( near side) and small contribution from fragmentation photons (gamma(frag)), the associated charged-particle yields opposite to gamma(dir) (away side) are extracted. In central Au + Au collisions, the charged-particle yields at midrapidity (vertical bar eta vertical bar < 1) and high transverse momentum (3 < (assoc)(PT) < 16 GeV/c) associated with gamma(dir) and pi(0) (vertical bar eta vertical bar < 0.9, 8 < (trig)(PT) < 16 GeV/c) are suppressed by a factor of 3-5 compared with p + p collisions. The observed suppression of the associated charged particles is similar for gamma(dir) and pi(0) and independent of the gamma(dir) energy within uncertainties. These measurements indicate that, in the kinematic range covered and within our current experimental uncertainties, the parton energy loss shows no sensitivity to the parton initial energy, path length, or color charge.

Charged and strange hadron elliptic flow in Cu plus Cu collisions at root s(NN)=62.4 and 200 GeV

We present the results of an elliptic flow, v(2), analysis of Cu + Cu collisions recorded with the solenoidal tracker detector (STAR) at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at root s(NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV. Elliptic flow as a function of transverse momentum, v(2)(p(T)), is reported for different collision centralities for charged hadrons h(+/-) and strangeness-ontaining hadrons K-S(0), Lambda, Xi, and phi in the midrapidity region vertical bar eta vertical bar < 1.0. Significant reduction in systematic uncertainty of the measurement due to nonflow effects has been achieved by correlating particles at midrapidity, vertical bar eta vertical bar < 1.0, with those at forward rapidity, 2.5 < vertical bar eta vertical bar < 4.0. We also present azimuthal correlations in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV to help in estimating nonflow effects. To study the system-size dependence of elliptic flow, we present a detailed comparison with previously published results from Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. We observe that v(2)(p(T)) of strange hadrons has similar scaling properties as were first observed in Au + Au collisions, that is, (i) at low transverse momenta, p(T) < 2 GeV/c, v(2) scales with transverse kinetic energy, m(T) - m, and (ii) at intermediate p(T), 2 < p(T) < 4 GeV/c, it scales with the number of constituent quarks, n(q.) We have found that ideal hydrodynamic calculations fail to reproduce the centrality dependence of v(2)(p(T)) for K-S(0) and Lambda. Eccentricity scaled v(2) values, v(2)/epsilon, are larger in more central collisions, suggesting stronger collective flow develops in more central collisions. The comparison with Au + Au collisions, which go further in density, shows that v(2)/epsilon depends on the system size, that is, the number of participants N-part. This indicates that the ideal hydrodynamic limit is not reached in Cu + Cu collisions, presumably because the assumption of thermalization is not attained.

Longitudinal scaling property of the charge balance function in Au plus Au collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

We present measurements of the charge balance function, from the charged particles, for diverse pseudorapidity and transverse momentum ranges in Au + Au collisions at root S-NN = 200 GeV using the STAR detector at RHIC. We observe that the balance function is boost-invariant within the pseudorapidity coverage vertical bar-1.3, 1.3 vertical bar. The balance function properly scaled by the width of the observed pseudorapidity window does not depend on the position or size of the pseudorapidity window. This scaling property also holds for particles in different transverse momentum ranges. In addition, we find that the width of the balance function decreases monotonically with increasing transverse momentum for all centrality classes. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simple and rapid voltammetric determination of morphine at electrochemically pretreated glassy carbon electrodes

A simple and rapid method for morphine detection has been described based on electrochemical pretreatment of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) which was treated by anodic oxidation at 1.75 V, following potential cycling in the potential range from 0 V to 1.0 V vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl reference electrode. The sensitivity for morphine detection was improved greatly and the detection limit was 0.2 mu M. The reproducibility of the voltammetric measurements was usually less than 3% RSD for six replicate measurements. Moreover, this method could readily discriminate morphine from codeine. And an electrochemical detection of morphine in spiked urine sample was succeeded with satisfactory results.

Extended application of edge-to-edge matching model to HCP/HCP (alpha-Mg/MgZn2) system in magnesium alloys

In the present work, the edge-to-edge matching model has been introduced to predict the orientation relationships (OR) between the MgZn2 phase which has hexagonal close packed (HCP) structure and the HCP a-Mg matrix. Based on the crystal structures and lattice parameters only, the model has predicted the two most preferred ORs and they are: (1) [1 1 2 3](alpha-Mg) vertical bar vertical bar]1 1 2 3](alpha-Mg), (0 0 0 1)(alpha-Mg) 0.27 degrees from (0 0 0 1)(MgZn2), (1 0 1 1)(alpha-Mg) 26.18 degrees from (1 1 2 2)(MgZn2), (2) [1 0 1 0](alpha-Mg),vertical bar vertical bar[1 1 2 0](MgZn2), (0 0 0 1)(alpha-Mg) vertical bar vertical bar(0 0 0 1)(MgZn2), (1 0 1 1)(alpha-Mg) 3.28 degrees from ( 1 1 2 2)(MgZn2). Four experimental ORs have been reported in the alpha-Mg/MgZn2 system, and the most frequently reported one is ideally the OR (2). The other three experimental ORs are near versions of the OR (2). The habit plane of the OR (2) has been predicted and it agrees well with the experimental results.

White electroluminescence from a poly(N-vinylcarbazole) layer doped with CdSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots

Hybrid organic/inorganic white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated of semiconductor polymer poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) doped with CdSe/CdS core-shell semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). The device, with a structure of indium-tin-oxide (ITO)vertical bar 3,4-polyethylene-dioxythiophene- polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)vertical bar PVK:CdSe/CdS vertical bar Al, emitted a pure white light spanning the whole visible region from 400 to 800 nm. The Commission Internationale del'Eclairage coordinates (CIE) remained at x = 0.33, y = 0.34 at wide applied voltages. The maximum brightness and electroluminescence (EL) efficiency reached 180 cd m(-2) at 19 V and 0.21 cd A(-1) at current density of 2 mA cm(-2), respectively. The realization of the pure white light emission is attributed to the incomplete energy and charge transfer from PVK to CdSe/CdS core-shell QDs.

Photosynthetic performance of regenerated protoplasts from disintegrated cells of Bryopsis hypnoides (Chlorophyta)

The photosynthetic performances of regenerated protoplasts of Bryopsis hypnoides, which were incubated in seawater for 1, 6, 12, and 24 h, were studied using chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence and oxygen measurements. Results showed that for the regenerated protoplasts, the pigment content, the ratios of photosynthetic rate to respiration rate, the maximal photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield (F-v/F-m), and the effective PSII quantum yield (I broken vertical bar(PSII)) decreased gradually along with the regeneration progress, indicated that during 24 h of regeneration there was a remarkable reduction in PSII activity of those newly formed protoplasts. We assumed that during the cultivation progress the regenerated protoplasts had different photosynthetic vigor, with only some of them able to germinate and develop into mature thalli. The above results only reflected the photosynthetic features of the regenerated protoplasts at each time point as a whole, rather than the actual photosynthetic activity of individual aggregations. Further investigation suggested a relationship between the size of regenerated protoplasts and their viability. The results showed that the middle-sized group (diameter 20-60 mu m) retained the largest number of protoplasts for 24 h of growth. The changes in F-v/F-m and I broken vertical bar(PSII) of the four groups of differently sized protoplasts (i.e. < 20, 20-60, 60-100, and > 100 mu m) revealed that the protoplasts 20-60 mu m in diameter had the highest potential activity of the photosynthetic light energy absorption and conversion for several hours.

Effective response of nonlinear composite under external AC and DC electric field

A perturbation method is used to study effective response of nonlinear Kerr composites, which are subject to the constitutive relation of electric displacement and electric field, D-alpha = epsilon(alpha)E + chi(alpha)vertical bar E vertical bar(2)E. Under the external AC and DC electric field E-app = E-a (1 + sinwt), the effective nonlinear responses and local potentials are induced by the cubic nonlinearity of Kerr materials at all harmonics. As an example in three dimensions, we have investigated this kind of nonlinear composites with spherical inclusions embedded in a host. At all harmonic frequencies, the potentials in inclusion and host regions are derived. Furthermore, the formulae of the effective linear and nonlinear responses are given in the dilute limit.

Effective thermal conductivity of graded nonlinear composites with heat contact resistance

The perturbation expansion method is used to find the effective thermal conductivity of graded nonlinear composites having thermal contact resistance on the inclusion surface. As an example, we have studied the graded composites with cylindrical inclusions immersed in a homogeneous matrix. The thermal conductivity of the cylindrical inclusion is assumed to have a power-law profile of the radial distance r measured from its origin. For weakly nonlinear constitutive relations between the heat flow density q and the temperature field T, namely, q = -mu del T - chi vertical bar del T vertical bar(2) del T, in both the inclusion and the matrix regions, we have derived the temperature distributions using the perturbation expansion method. A nonlinear effective medium approximation of graded composites is proposed to estimate the effective linear and nonlinear thermal conductivities. by considering the temperature singularity on the inclusion surface due to the heat contact resistance. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Environmental Mechanics Research in China

By recalling mankind's path during past 50 years in the present article, we mainly highlight the significance of environmental issues today. In particular, two major factors leading to environment deterioration in China such as water resources and coal burning are stressed on. Present-day environmental issues are obviously interdisciplinary, of multiple scales and multi-composition in nature. Therefore, a process-based approach for environment research is absolutely necessarily. A series of sub-processes, either physical, chemical or biological, are subsequently analyzed in order to established reasonable parameterization scheme and credible comprehensive model. And we are now in a position to answer questions still open to us, improve existing somewhat empirical engineering approaches and enhance quantitative accuracy in prediction. To illustrate this process-based research approach, three typical examples associated with the Yangtze River Estuary, Loess Plateau and Tenggeli Desert environments have been dealt with respectively. A theoretical model of vertical flow field accounting for runoff and tide interaction has been established to delineate salinity and sediment motion which are responsible for the formation of mouth bar at the outlet and the ecological evolution there. A kinematic wave theory combined with the revised Green-Ampt infiltration formula is applied to the prediction of runoff generation and erosion in three types of erosion region on the Loess Plateau. Three approaches describing water motion in SPAC system in arid areas at different levels have been improved by introducing vegetation sub-models. However, we have found that the formation of a dry sandy layer and biological crust skin are additional primary causes leading to deterioration of water supply and succession of ecological system.

Instability Analysis of Nonlinear Surface Waves in a Circular Cylindrical Container Subjected to a Vertical Excitation

Singular perturbation theory of two-time scale expansions was developed both in inviscid and weak viscous fluids to investigate the motion of single surface standing wave in a liquid-filled circular cylindrical vessel, which is subject to a vertical periodical oscillation. Firstly, it is assumed that the fluid in the circular cylindrical vessel is inviscid, incompressible and the motion is irrotational, a nonlinear evolution equation of slowly varying complex amplitude, which incorporates cubic nonlinear term, external excitation and the influence of surface tension, was derived from solvability condition of high-order approximation. It shows that when forced frequency is low, the effect of surface tension on mode selection of surface wave is not important. However, when forced frequency is high, the influence of surface tension is significant, and can not be neglected. This proved that the surface tension has the function, which causes free surface returning to equilibrium location. Theoretical results much close to experimental results when the surface tension is considered. In fact, the damping will appear in actual physical system due to dissipation of viscosity of fluid. Based upon weakly viscous fluids assumption, the fluid field was divided into an outer potential flow region and an inner boundary layer region. A linear amplitude equation of slowly varying complex amplitude, which incorporates damping term and external excitation, was derived from linearized Navier-Stokes equation. The analytical expression of damping coefficient was determined and the relation between damping and other related parameters (such as viscosity, forced amplitude and depth of fluid) was presented. The nonlinear amplitude equation and a dispersion, which had been derived from the inviscid fluid approximation, were modified by adding linear damping. It was found that the modified results much reasonably close to experimental results. Moreover, the influence both of the surface tension and the weak viscosity on the mode formation was described by comparing theoretical and experimental results. The results show that when the forcing frequency is low, the viscosity of the fluid is prominent for the mode selection. However, when the forcing frequency is high, the surface tension of the fluid is prominent. Finally, instability of the surface wave is analyzed and properties of the solutions of the modified amplitude equation are determined together with phase-plane trajectories. A necessary condition of forming stable surface wave is obtained and unstable regions are illustrated. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.