Modeling the Field Emission Current Fluctuation in Carbon Nanotube Thin Films

Owing to their distinct properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as promising candidate for field emission devices. It has been found experimentally that the results related to the field emission performance show variability. The design of an efficient field emitting device requires the analysis of the variabilities with a systematic and multiphysics based modeling approach. In this paper, we develop a model of randomly oriented CNTs in a thin film by coupling the field emission phenomena, the electron-phonon transport and the mechanics of single isolated CNT. A computational scheme is developed by which the states of CNTs are updated in time incremental manner. The device current is calculated by using Fowler-Nordheim equation for field emission to study the performance at the device scale.

Pricing a Shared Access Link for Fair and Efficient Operation with Variable User Data Rates

The literature on pricing implicitly assumes an "infinite data" model, in which sources can sustain any data rate indefinitely. We assume a more realistic "finite data" model, in which sources occasionally run out of data; this leads to variable user data rates. Further, we assume that users have contracts with the service provider, specifying the rates at which they can inject traffic into the network. Our objective is to study how prices can be set such that a single link can be shared efficiently and fairly among users in a dynamically changing scenario where a subset of users occasionally has little data to send. User preferences are modelled by concave increasing utility functions. Further, we introduce two additional elements: a convex increasing disutility function and a convex increasing multiplicative congestion-penally function. The disutility function takes the shortfall (contracted rate minus present rate) as its argument, and essentially encourages users to send traffic at their contracted rates, while the congestion-penalty function discourages heavy users from sending excess data when the link is congested. We obtain simple necessary and sufficient conditions on prices for fair and efficient link sharing; moreover, we show that a single price for all users achieves this. We illustrate the ideas using a simple experiment.

Discrimination of Nuclear Grade Steel Samples Subjected to Different Heat Treatment Procedures Based on Acoustic Emission (AE) Data Profiling at Crack Initiation

The present work is an attempt to study crack initiation in nuclear grade, 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel using AE as an online NDE tool. Laboratory experiments were conducted on 5 heat treated Compact Tension (CT) specimens made out of nuclear grade 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel by subjecting them to cyclic tensile load. The CT Specimens were of 12.5 mm thickness. The Acoustic emission test system was setup to acquire the data continuously during the test by mounting AE sensor on one of the surfaces of the specimen. This was done to characterize AE data pertaining to crack initiation and then discriminate the samples in terms of their heat treatment processes based on AE data. The AE signatures at crack initiation could conclusively bring to fore the heat treatment distinction on a sample to sample basis in a qualitative sense.Thus, the results obtained through these investigations establish a step forward in utilizing AE technique as an on-line measurement tool for accurate detection and understanding of crack initiation and its profile in 9Cr-1Mo nuclear grade steel subjected to different processes of heat treatment.

Fracture analysis of concrete using singular fractal functions with lattice beam network and confirmation with acoustic emission study

In the present study singular fractal functions (SFF) were used to generate stress-strain plots for quasibrittle material like concrete and cement mortar and subsequently stress-strain plot of cement mortar obtained using SFF was used for modeling fracture process in concrete. The fracture surface of concrete is rough and irregular. The fracture surface of concrete is affected by the concrete's microstructure that is influenced by water cement ratio, grade of cement and type of aggregate 11-41. Also the macrostructural properties such as the size and shape of the specimen, the initial notch length and the rate of loading contribute to the shape of the fracture surface of concrete. It is known that concrete is a heterogeneous and quasi-brittle material containing micro-defects and its mechanical properties strongly relate to the presence of micro-pores and micro-cracks in concrete 11-41. The damage in concrete is believed to be mainly due to initiation and development of micro-defects with irregularity and fractal characteristics. However, repeated observations at various magnifications also reveal a variety of additional structures that fall between the `micro' and the `macro' and have not yet been described satisfactorily in a systematic manner [1-11,15-17]. The concept of singular fractal functions by Mosolov was used to generate stress-strain plot of cement concrete, cement mortar and subsequently the stress-strain plot of cement mortar was used in two-dimensional lattice model [28]. A two-dimensional lattice model was used to study concrete fracture by considering softening of matrix (cement mortar). The results obtained from simulations with lattice model show softening behavior of concrete and fairly agrees with the experimental results. The number of fractured elements are compared with the acoustic emission (AE) hits. The trend in the cumulative fractured beam elements in the lattice fracture simulation reasonably reflected the trend in the recorded AE measurements. In other words, the pattern in which AE hits were distributed around the notch has the same trend as that of the fractured elements around the notch which is in support of lattice model. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The fluorescence of Nd3+ in lead borate and bismuth borate glasses with large stimulated emission cross section

The stimulated emission cross section σp for the 1060 nm transition of Nd3+ in lead borate and bismuth borate glasses has been determined from fluorescence measurements. The compositional dependence of σp, which has been evaluated using radiative transition probability, refractive index of the host glass, effective fluorescence linewidth, and position of the band, with PbO/Bi2O3 content is investigated. The σp values of the 1060 nm band of Nd3+ for lead borate and bismuth borate glasses are found to be in the range 2.6–5.7×10−20 cm2 at 298 K and 3.0–6.3×10−20 cm2 at 4.2 K. The σp values are comparatively large suggesting the possible utilization of these materials in laser applications.

Synthesis and characterization of self-assembled nanofiber-bundles of V(2)O(5): their electrochemical and field emission properties

High-quality self-assembled V(2)O(5) nanofiber-bundles (NBs) are synthesized by a simple and direct hydrothermal method using a vanadium(V) hydroxylamido complex as a vanadium source in the presence of HNO(3). The possible reaction pathway for the formation of V(2)O(5) NBs is discussed and demonstrated that HNO(3) functions both as an oxidizing and as an acidification agent. V(2)O(5) NBs are single-crystals of an orthorhombic phase that have grown along the [010] direction. A bundle is made of indefinite numbers of homogeneous V(2)O(5) nanofibers where nanofibers have lengths up to several micrometres and widths ranging between 20 and 50 nm. As-prepared V(2)O(5) NBs display a high electrochemical performance in a non-aqueous electrolyte as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries. Field emission properties are also investigated which shows that a low turn-on field of similar to 1.84 V mu m(-1) is required to draw the emission current density of 10 mu Lambda cm(-2).

Growth and consumption rates of the phase layers during interdiffusion in a diffusion couple with finite end member

The relations for the growth and consumption rates of a layer with finite thickness as an end member and the product phases in the interdiffusion zone are developed. We have used two different methodologies, the diffusion based and the physico-chemical approach to develop the same relations. We have shown that the diffusion based approach is rather straightforward; however, the physico-chemical approach is much more versatile than the other method. It was found that the position of the marker plane becomes vague in the second stage of the interdiffusion process in pure A thin layer/B couple, where two phases grow simultaneously.

Evidence of aggregation induced emission enhancement and keto-enol-tautomerism in a gallic acid derived salicylideneaniline gel

A novel salicylideneaniline type fluorescent organogelator based on a 3,4,5-(tri-dodecyloxy)benzoyl group immobilizes aromatic solvents. The resulting gels show enhancement in emission and thermochromic/non-photochromic behaviour during sol-to-gel transition.

Effect of gas injection on drag and surface heat transfer rates for a 30 degrees semi-apex angle blunt body flying at Mach 5.75

Effect of coolant gas injection in the stagnation region on the surface heat transfer rates and aerodynamic drag for a large angle blunt body flying at hypersonic Mach number is reported for two stagnation enthalpies. A 60° apex-angle blunt cone model is employed for this purpose with air injection at the nose through a hole of 2mm diameter. The convective surface heating rates and aerodynamic drag are measured simultaneously using surface mounted platinum thin film sensors and internally mounted accelerometer balance system, respectively. About 35–40% reduction in surface heating rates is observed in the vicinity of stagnation region whereas 15–25% reduction in surface heating rates is felt beyond the stagnation region at stagnation enthalpy of 1.6MJ/kg. The aerodynamic drag expressed in terms of drag coefficient is found to increase by 20% due to the air injection.

Portable HVAC and Pulsed Plasma Sources for Control of NOX in Diesel Engine Exhaust

In this paper studies were carried out on two compact electric discharge plasma sources for controlling nitrogen oxides (NOX) emission in diesel engine exhaust. The plasma sources consist of an old television flyback transformer to generate high frequency high voltage ac (HVAC) and an automobile ignition coil to generate the high voltage pulses (HV Pulse). The compact plasma sources are aimed at retrofitting the existing catalytic converters with electric discharge assisted cleaning technique. To enhance NOX removal efficiency cascaded plasma-adsorbent technique has been used. Studies were reported at different flow rates and load conditions of the diesel engine.

Application of Solar Powered High Voltage Discharge Plasma for NOX Removal in Diesel Engine Exhaust

This paper proposes a compact electric discharge plasma source for controlling NOX emission in diesel engine exhaust. Boost converter is used to boost to solar powered battery voltage to 24V, further an automobile ignition coil was used to generate the high voltage pulse using fly-back topology. This design is aimed at retrofitting the existing catalytic converters with pulse assisted cleaning technique. In this paper we bring out a relative comparison of discharge plasma and plasma-adsorbent process at different gas flow rates. Activated alumina was used as adsorbent. The main emphasis is laid on the development of a compact pulse source from 12V battery, which is powered by the solar, for the removal of NOX from the filtered diesel engine exhaust.