Study of the processes occurring when sputtering YBa2Cu3O7-x in pure oxygen

The sputter deposition of YBa2Cu3O7-x in a de-diode was performed in pure oxygen medium and an optical spectroscopic study of the resultant discharge revealed strong emissions from both metal atoms and oxygen ions. Emission intensities were studied in pressure range from 0.5 to 3 mbar, with substrate temperatures from 150 to 850 degrees C. Raising the substrate temperature to 850 degrees C increased the number of positive ions and excited neutral atoms. Raising the pressure decreased the emission intensities of excited neutral and ionic species. The results have been compared with those obtained from Langmuir probe measurements. The rise in emission intensities of excited neutrals and ions with temperature suggested the possibility of chemically enhanced physical sputtering of YBa2Cu3O7-x. The effect of process conditions on film composition and quality is also discussed.

Influence of friction during forming processes-a study using a numerical simulation technique

Friction has an important influence in metal forming operations, as it contributes to the success or otherwise of the process. In the present investigation, the effect of friction on metal forming was studied by simulating compression tests on cylindrical Al-Mg alloy using the finite element method (FEM) technique. Three kinds of compression tests were considered wherein a constant coefficient of friction was employed at the upper die-work-piece interface. However, the coefficient of friction between the lower die-work-piece interfaces was varied in the tests. The simulation results showed that a difference in metal flow occurs near the interfaces owing to the differences in the coefficient of friction. It was concluded that the variations in the coefficient of friction between the dies and the work-piece directly affect the stress distribution and shape of the work-piece, having implications on the microstructure of the material being processed.

Thermal Degradation Processes in Poly(xylylene sulfides) Investigated by Comparative Direct Pyrolysis MS and Flash Pyrolysis GC/MS Experiments

The thermal degradation processes of two sulfur polymers, poly(xylylene sulfide) (PXM) and poly(xylylene disulfide) (PXD), were investigated in parallel by direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry (DPMS) and flash pyrolysis GC/MS (Py-GC/MS). Thermogravimetric data showed that these polymers decompose with two separate steps in the temperature ranges of 250-280 and 600-650 degrees C, leaving a high amount of residue (about 50% at 800 degrees C). The pyrolysis products detected by DPMS in the first degradation step of PXM and PXD were terminated by three types of end groups, -CH3, -CH2SH, and -CH=S, originating from thermal cleavage reactions involving a series of homolytic chain scissions followed by hydrogen transfer reactions, generating several oligomers containing some intact xylylene sulfide repeating units. The presence of pyrolysis compounds containing some stilbene-like units in the first degradation step has also been observed. Their formation has been accounted for with a parallel cleavage involving the elimination of H2S from the PXM main chains. These unsaturated units can undergo cross-linking at higher temperatures, producing the high amount of char residue observed. The thermal degradation compounds detected by DPMS in the second decomposition step at about 600-650 degrees C were constituted of condensed aromatic molecules containing dihydrofenanthrene and fenanthrene units. These compounds might be generated from the polymer chains containing stilbene units, by isomerization and dehydrogenation reactions. The pyrolysis products obtained in the Py-GC/MS of PXM and PXD at 610 degrees C are almost identical. The relative abundance in the pyrolysate and the spectral properties of the main pyrolysis products were found to be in generally good agreement with those obtained by DPMS. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also detected by Py-GC/MS but in minor amounts with respect to DPMS. This apparent discrepancy was due to the simultaneous detection of PAHs together with all pyrolysis products in the Py-GC/MS, whereas in DPMS they were detected in the second thermal degradation step without the greatest part of pyrolysis compounds generated in the first degradation step. The results obtained by DPMS and PSI-GC/MS experiments showed complementary data for the degradation of PXM and PXD and, therefore, allowed the unequivocal formulation of the thermal degradation mechanism for these sulfur-containing polymers.

Asymptotic behaviour of point processes with Markov-dependent intervals

This splitting techniques for MARKOV chains developed by NUMMELIN (1978a) and ATHREYA and NEY (1978b) are used to derive an imbedded renewal process in WOLD's point process with MARKOV-correlated intervals. This leads to a simple proof of renewal theorems for such processes. In particular, a key renewal theorem is proved, from which analogues to both BLACKWELL's and BREIMAN's forms of the renewal theorem can be deduced.

Structural origin of set-reset processes in Ge15Te83Si2 glass investigated using in situ Raman scattering and transmission electron microscopy

We report here that the structural origin of an easily reversible Ge15Te83Si2 glass can be a promising candidate for phase change random access memories. In situ Raman scattering studies on Ge15Te83Si2 sample, undertaken during the amorphous set and reset processes, indicate that the degree of disorder in the glass is reduced from off to set state. It is also found that the local structure of the sample under reset condition is similar to that in the amorphous off state. Electron microscopic studies on switched samples indicate the formation of nanometric sized particles of c-SiTe2 structure. ©2009 American Institute of Physics

Curing And Thermal Cycling Processes In Pvc Graphite Thick-Films

Abstract is not available.

On a generalized dynamic model of bi-state social interaction processes

A non-linear model, construed as a generalized version of the models put forth earlier for the study of bi-state social interaction processes, is proposed in this study. The feasibility of deriving the dynamics of such processes is demonstrated by establishing equivalence between the non-linear model and a higher order linear model.

An analytical approach to the study of a class of bi-state social interaction processes

Sufficient conditions for obtaining an equivalent linear model to classes of non-linear, bi-state, social interaction processes are derived. These parametric constraints, when satisfied, permit analytical determination of the dynamics of the non-linear process of social interaction.

Unitary Processes with Independent Increments and Representations of Hilbert Tensor Algebras

The aim of this article is to characterize unitary increment process by a quantum stochastic integral representation on symmetric Fock space. Under certain assumptions we have proved its unitary equivalence to a Hudson-Parthasarathy flow.

Two-temperature accretion around rotating black holes: a description of the general advective flow paradigm in the presence of various cooling processes to explain low to high luminous sources

We investigate viscous two-temperature accretion disc flows around rotating black holes. We describe the global solution of accretion flows with a sub-Keplerian angular momentum profile, by solving the underlying conservation equations including explicit cooling processes self-consistently. Bremsstrahlung, synchrotron and inverse Comptonization of soft photons are considered as possible cooling mechanisms. We focus on the set of solutions for sub-Eddington, Eddington and super-Eddington mass accretion rates around Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes with a Kerr parameter of 0.998. It is found that the flow, during its infall from the Keplerian to sub-Kepleria transition region to the black hole event horizon, passes through various phases of advection: the general advective paradigm to the radiatively inefficient phase, and vice versa. Hence, the flow governs a much lower electron temperature similar to 10(8)-10(9.5) K, in the range of accretion rate in Eddington units 0.01 less than or similar to (M) over dot less than or similar to 100, compared to the hot protons of temperature similar to 10(10.2)-10(11.8) K. Therefore, the solution may potentially explain the hard X-rays and gamma-rays emitted from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and X-ray binaries. We then compare the solutions for two different regimes of viscosity. We conclude that a weakly viscous flow is expected to be cooling dominated, particularly at the inner region of the disc, compared to its highly viscous counterpart, which is radiatively inefficient. With all the solutions in hand, we finally reproduce the observed luminosities of the underfed AGNs and quasars (e. g. Sgr A*) to ultraluminous X-ray sources (e. g. SS433), at different combinations of input parameters, such as the mass accretion rate and the ratio of specific heats. The set of solutions also predicts appropriately the luminosity observed in highly luminous AGNs and ultraluminous quasars (e. g. PKS 0743-67).

Effects of compressibility and heat release on entrainment processes in mixing layers

Characteristics of the process of entrainment in plane mixing layers, and the changes with compressibility and heat release, were studied using temporal DNS with simultaneous fluid packet tracking. Convective Mach numbers of the simulations are 0.15, 0.7 and 1.1. The Reynolds number is quite high (between 11 000 and 37 000 based on layer width and velocity difference), and is above the mixing transition. The study agrees with recent findings in round jets: first, engulfed fluid volume and its growth rate are both very small compared with the volume of the turbulent region and its growth rate, respectively. Secondly, most often, the process occurs close to the turbulent-nonturbulent boundaries. A new finding is that both compressibility and heat release retard the entrainment process so that it takes an O(1) time for vorticity or scalar levels to grow even after growth has been initiated. This delay is manifested as the fall in mixing layer growth rates as compressibility and heat release levels increase.

Electrical switching and in situ Raman scattering studies on the set-reset processes in Ge-Te-Si glass

Bulk Ge15Te83Si2 glass has been found to exhibit memory-type switching for 1 mA current with a threshold electric field of 7.3 kV/cm. The electrical set and reset processes have been achieved with triangular and rectangular pulses, respectively, of 1 mA amplitude. In situ Raman scattering studies indicate that the degree of disorder in Ge15Te83Si2 glass is reduced from off to set state. The local structure of the sample under reset condition is similar to that in the off state. The Raman results are consistent with the switching results which indicate that the Ge15Te83Si2 glass can be set and reset easily. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Dynamic simulation of activated sludge based wastewater treatment processes: Case studies with Titagarh Sewage Treatment Plant, India

STOAT has been extensively used for the dynamic simulation of an activated sludge based wastewater treatment plant in the Titagarh Sewage Treatment Plant, near Kolkata, India. Some alternative schemes were suggested. Different schemes were compared for the removal of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), b-COD, ammonia, nitrates etc. A combination of IAWQ#1 module with the Takacs module gave best results for the existing scenarios of the Titagarh Sewage Treatment Plant. The modified Bardenpho process was found most effective for reducing the mean b-COD level to as low as 31.4 mg/l, while the mean TSS level was as high as 100.98 mg/l as compared to the mean levels of TSS (92 62 mg/l) and b-COD (92.0 mg/l) in the existing plant. Scheme 2 gave a better scenario for the mean TSS level bringing it down to a mean value of 0.4 mg/l, but a higher mean value for the b-COD level at 54.89 mg/l. The Scheme Final could reduce the mean TSS level to 2.9 mg/l and the mean b-COD level to as low as 38.8 mg/l. The Final Scheme looks to be a technically viable scheme with respect to the overall effluent quality for the plant. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Micro-treatment options for components of organic fraction of MSW in residential areas

There is a growing interest in management of MSW through micro-treatment of organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) in many cities of India. The OFMSW fraction is high (> 80%) in many pockets within South Indian cities like Bangalore, Chikkamagalur, etc. and is largely represented by vegetable, fruit, packing and garden wastes. Among these, the last three have shown problems for easy decomposition. Fruit wastes are characterized by a large pectin supported fraction that decomposes quickly to organic acids (becomes pulpy) that eventually slow down anaerobic and aerobic decomposition processes. Paper fraction (newsprint and photocopying paper) as well as paddy straw (packing), bagasse (from cane juice stalls) and tree leaf litter (typical garden waste and street sweepings) are found in reasonably large proportions in MSW. These decompose slowly due to poor nutrients or physical state. We have examined the suitability of these substrates for micro-composting in plastic bins by tracking decomposition pattern and physical changes. It was found that fruit wastes decompose rapidly to produce organic acids and large leachate fraction such that it may need to be mixed with leachate absorbing materials (dry wastes) for good composting. Leaf litter, paddy straw and bagasse decompose to the tune of 90, 68 and 60% VS and are suitable for composting micro-treatment. Paper fractions even when augmented with 10% leaf compost failed to show appreciable decomposition in 50 days. All these feedstocks were found to have good biological methane potential (BMP) and showed promise for conversion to biogas under a mixed feed operation. Suitability of this approach was verified by operating a plug-flow type anaerobic digester where only leaf litter gathered nearby (as street sweepings) was used as feedstock. Here only a third of the BMP was realized at this scale (0.18 m(3) biogas/kg VS 0.55 m(3)/kg in BMP). We conclude that anaerobic digestion in plug-flow like digesters appear a more suitable micro-treatment option (2-10 kg VS/day) because in addition to compost it also produces biogas for domestic use nearby.

A reinforcement learning based algorithm for finite horizon Markov decision processes

We develop a simulation based algorithm for finite horizon Markov decision processes with finite state and finite action space. Illustrative numerical experiments with the proposed algorithm are shown for problems in flow control of communication networks and capacity switching in semiconductor fabrication.