Dielectric properties of concrete and their influence on radar testing

Sub-surface radar is becoming increasingly popular as an inspection method. Interpretation can be enhanced if uncertainties about the dielectric properties of the concretes under investigation are removed. The need for reliable data to identify possible variations of the dielectric properties of different concrete mixes and their condition on site has led to a systematic laboratory based experimental programme under the auspices of a major European Commission (Brite-Euram m Framework 4) funded project. Some key results from this recently completed work are presented in this paper with practical implications related to field surveys of structural concrete. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ah rights reserved.

Efficient excitation of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon-polariton waveguide modes at telecommunication wavelengths

The excitation of surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) waveguide modes in subwavelength dielectric ridges deposited on a thin gold film has been characterized and optimized at telecommunication wavelengths. The experimental data on the electromagnetic mode structure obtained using scanning near-field optical microscopy have been directly compared to full vectorial three-dimensional finite element method simulations. Two excitation geometries have been investigated where SPPs are excited outside or inside the dielectric tapered region adjoint to the waveguide. The dependence of the efficiency of the SPP guided mode excitation on the taper opening angle has been measured and modeled. Single-mode guiding and strong lateral mode confinement of dielectric-loaded SPP waveguide modes have been characterized with the near-field measurements and compared to the effective-index method model.

Optimisation and scaling of interfacial GeO2 layers for high-k gate stacks on germanium and extraction of dielectric constant of GeO2

Germanium is an attractive channel material for MOSFETs because of its higher mobility than silicon. In this paper, GeO2 has been investigated as an interfacial layer for high-kappa gate stacks on germanium. Thermally grown GeO2 layers have been prepared at 550 degrees C to minimise GeO volatilisation. GeO2 growth has been performed in both pure O-2 ambient and O-2 diluted with N-2. GeO2 thickness has been scaled down to approximately 3 nm. MOS capacitors have been fabricated using different GeO2 thicknesses with a standard high-kappa dielectric on top. Electrical properties and thermal stability have been tested up to at least 350 degrees C. The K value of GeO2 was experimentally determined to be 4.5. Interface state densities (D-it) of less than 10(12) CM-2 eV(-1) have been extracted for all devices using the conductance method.

Moisture and temperature dependence of the dielectric properties of pharmaceutical powders

The dielectric properties of pharmaceutical powder-(paracetamol, aspirin, lactose, maize starch, adipic acid) solvent (water) mixtures were measured at 2,450 MHz at a range of moisture contents (0-1.0 kg kg(-1), dry basis) and temperatures (20-70 A degrees C). The dielectric constant (epsilon'), loss factor (epsilon aEuro(3)) and penetration depth (d (p)) were found to be dependent on frequency, moisture content, temperature and powder type. For powder-water mixtures, a linear increase in the dielectric properties with moisture content was observed, whilst the temperature dependence was of quadratic form. The penetration depth was also significantly affected by temperature and moisture content. Although, epsilon aEuro(3) also increased with increasing temperature, variation with moisture content was temperature dependent. This information on dielectric properties is essential for mathematical description of the pharmaceutical product temperature history during microwave heating and for the design of microwave drying equipment.

Nonlinear scattering by anisotropic dielectric periodic structures

The combinatorial frequency generation by the periodic stacks of binary layers of anisotropic nonlinear dielectrics is examined. The products of nonlinear scattering are characterised in terms of the three-wave mixing processes. It is shown that the intensity of the scattered waves of combinatorial frequencies is strongly influenced by the constitutive and geometrical parameters of the anisotropic layers, and the frequency ratio and angles of incidence of pump waves. The enhanced efficiency of the frequency conversion at Wolf-Bragg resonances has been demonstrated for the lossless and lossy-layered structures. © 2012 O. V. Shramkova and A. G. Schuchinsky.

Three-wave Nonlinear Scattering by Quasiperiodic Dielectric Structure

The combinatorial frequency generation by a Fibonacci type quasi-periodic dielectric multilayered structure illuminated by two plane waves has been analysed. The effects of the layer parameters and Fibonacci sequence order on the properties of the combinatorial frequency waves emitted from the stacked nonlinear layers are discussed.