Stabilization of periodic orbits in a wedge billiard

This paper introduces a stabilization problem for an elementary impact control system in the plane. The rich dynamical properties of the wedge billiard, combined to the relevance of the associated stabilization problem for feedback control issues in legged robotics make it a valuable benchmark for energy-based stabilization of impact control systems.

Some remarks about periodic feedback stabilization

Periodic feedback stabilization is a very natural solution to overcome the topological obstructions which may occur when one tries to asymptotically (locally) stabilize a (locally) controllable nonlinear system around an equilibrium point. The object of this paper is to give a simple geometric interpretation of this fact, to show that one obtains a weakened form of those obstructions when periodic feedback is used, and to illustrate the success of periodic feedback stabilization on a representative system which contains a drift.

Symmetry-extended counting rules for periodic frameworks.

A symmetry-adapted version of the Maxwell rule appropriate to periodic bar-and-joint frameworks is obtained, and is further extended to body-and-joint systems. The treatment deals with bodies and forces that are replicated in every unit cell, and uses the point group isomorphic to the factor group of the space group of the framework. Explicit expressions are found for the numbers and symmetries of detectable mechanisms and states of self-stress in terms of the numbers and symmetries of framework components. This approach allows detection and characterization of mechanisms and states of self-stress in microscopic and macroscopic materials and meta-materials. Illustrative examples are described. The notion of local isostaticity of periodic frameworks is extended to include point-group symmetry.

Advanced modeling of periodic structures in SEA

The SEA properties of a periodic structure are computed from the FE analysis of a single periodic cell. The periodic theory is used in conjunction with FE so that any geometry can be considered. Some efficient algorithms have been implemented to get the subsystems intrinsic properties (modal density, damping, and equivalent mass), as well as the coupling properties of the subsystem with acoustic subsystems (radiation and transmission). Comparisons with analytical results validate the method. © (2006) by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Department of Mechanical Engineering All rights reserved.

Lifetime distribution of spontaneous emission from line antennas in two-dimensional quasi-periodic photonic crystals

We investigate the lifetime distribution functions of spontaneous emission from line antennas embedded in finite-size two-dimensional 12-fold quasi-periodic photonic crystals. Our calculations indicate that two-dimensional quasi-periodic crystals lead to the coexistence of both accelerated and inhibited decay processes. The decay behaviors of line antennas are drastically changed as the locations of the antennas are varied from the center to the edge in quasi-periodic photonic crystals and the location of transition frequency is varied.

A nanowire magnetic memory cell based on a periodic magnetic superlattice

We analyse the operation of a semiconductor nanowire-based memory cell. Large changes in the nanowire conductance result when the magnetization of a periodic array of nanoscale magnetic gates, which comprise the other key component of the memory cell, is switched between distinct configurations by an external magnetic field. The resulting conductance change provides the basis for a robust memory effect, which can be implemented in a semiconductor structure compatible with conventional semiconductor integrated circuits.

Quantum-dot growth simulation on periodic stress of substrate

InAs quantum dots (QDs) are grown on the cleaved edge of an InxGa1-xAs/GaAs supperlattice experimentally and a good linear alignment of these QDs on the surface of an InxGa1-xAs layer has been realized. The modulation effects of periodic strain on the substrate are investigated theoretically using a kinetic Monte Carlo method. Our results show that a good alignment of QDs can be achieved when the strain energy reaches 2% of the atomic binding energy. The simulation results are in excellent qualitative agreement with our experiments. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Growth of a periodic InP-based heteroepitaxial structure for a quantum cascade laser

The route to grow InP-based heteroepitaxial structure for quantum cascade laser by molecular beam epitaxy is reported. Optimized growth conditions including substrate temperature, V/III ratio, growth rates, doping levels and interface control are summarized. Double crystal Xray diffraction and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy disclose that our grown InP-based heteroepitaxial structure for quantum cascade laser has excellent periodicity and sharp interfaces. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of interaction between periodic delta-doping in both well and barrier layers on modulation of superlattice band structure

The modulation of superlattice band structure via periodic delta-doping in both well and barrier layers have been theoretically investigated, and the importance of interaction between the delta-function potentials in the well layers and those in the barrier layers on SL band structure have been revealed. It is pointed out that the energy dispersion relation Eq. (3) given in [G. Ihm, S.K. Noh, J.I. Lee, J.-S. Hwang, T.W. Kim, Phys. Rev. B 44 (1991) 6266] is an incomplete one, as the interaction between periodic delta-doping in both well and barrier layers had been overlooked. Finally, we have shown numerically that the electron states of a GaAs/Ga0.7Al0.3As superlattice can be altered more efficiently by intelligent tuning the two delta-doping's positions and heights. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth of a novel periodic structure of SiC/AlN multilayers by low pressure chemical vapour deposition

A novel 10-period SiC/AlN multilayered structure with a SiC cap layer is prepared by low pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD). The structure with total film thickness of about 1.45 mu m is deposited on a Si (111) substrate and shows good surface morphology with a smaller rms surface roughness of 5.3 nm. According to the secondary ion mass spectroscopy results, good interface of the 10 period SiC/AlN structure and periodic changes of depth profiles of C, Si, Al, N components are obtained by controlling the growth procedure. The structure exhibits the peak reflectivity close to 30% near the wavelength of 322 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of growth of the SiC/AlN periodic structure using the home-made LPCVD system.

Spin-polarized transport in one-dimensional waveguide structures with spatially periodic electric fields

We investigate theoretically spin-polarized transport in a one-dimensional waveguide structure under spatially periodic electric fields. Strong spin-polarized current can be obtained by tuning the external electric fields. It is interesting to find that the spin-dependent transmissions exhibit gaps at various electron momenta and/or gate lengths, and the gap width increases with increasing the strength of the Rashba effect. The strong spin-polarized current arises from the different transmission gaps of the spin-up and spin-down electrons. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Spin-polarized transport in one-dimensional waveguide structures with spatially-periodic electronic and magnetic fields

We investigate theoretically the spin-polarized transport in one-dimensional waveguide structure with spatially-periodic electronic and magnetic fields. The interplay of the spin-orbit interaction and in-plane magnetic field significantly modifies the spin-dependent transmission and the spin polarization. The in-plane magnetic fields increase the strength of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling effect for the electric fields along y axis and decrease this effect for reversing the electric fields, even counteract the Rashba spin-orbit coupling effect. It is very interesting to find that we may deduce the strength of the Rashba effect through this phenomenon. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

MULTIPLE PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF ASYMPTOTICALLY LINEAR HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS VIA CONLEY INDEX THEORY

In this paper we study the existence of periodic solutions of asymptotically linear Hamiltonian systems which may not satisfy the Palais-Smale condition. By using the Conley index theory and the Galerkin approximation methods, we establish the existence of at least two nontrivial periodic solutions for the corresponding systems.

Periodic bubble emission and appearance of an ordered bubble sequence (train) during condensation in a single microchannel

Condensation of steam in a single microchannel, silicon test section was investigated visually at low flow rates. The microchannel was rectangular in cross-section with a depth of 30 pm, a width of 800 mu m and a length of 5.0 mm, covered with a Pyrex glass to allow for visualization of the bubble formation process. By varying the cooling rate during condensation of the saturated water vapor, it was possible to control the shape, size and frequency of the bubbles formed. At low cooling rates using only natural air convection from the ambient environment, the flow pattern in the microchannel consisted of a nearly stable elongated bubble attached upstream (near the inlet) that pinched off into a train of elliptical bubbles downstream of the elongated bubble. It was observed that these elliptical bubbles were emitted periodically from the tip of the elongated bubble at a high frequency, with smaller size than the channel width. The shape of the emitted bubbles underwent modifications shortly after their generation until finally becoming a stable vertical ellipse, maintaining its shape and size as it flowed downstream at a constant speed. These periodically emitted elliptical bubbles thus formed an ordered bubble sequence (train). At higher cooling rates using chilled water in a copper heat sink attached to the test section, the bubble formation frequency increased significantly while the bubble size decreased, all the while forming a perfect bubble train flowing downstream of the microchannel. The emitted bubbles in this case immediately formed into a circular shape without any further modification after their separation from the elongated bubble upstream. The present study suggests that a method for controlling the size and generation frequency of microbubbles could be so developed, which may be of interest for microfluidic applications. The breakup of the elongated bubble is caused by the large Weber number at the tip of the elongated bubble induced by the maximum vapor velocity at the centerline of the microchannel inside the elongated bubble and the smaller surface tension force of water at the tip of the elongated bubble.