Room-temperature photoluminescence in amorphous SrTiO3-The influence of acceptor-type dopants

Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) was observed in undoped and 2 mol% Cr-, Al- and Y-doped amorphous SrTiO3 thin films. Doping increased the PL, and in the case of Cr significantly reduced the associated PL wavelength. The optical bandgaps, calculated by means of UV-vis absorption spectra, increased with crystallinity and decreased with the doping level. It was considered that yttrium and aluminum substituted Sr2+, whereas chromium replaced Ti4+. It is believed that luminescence centers are oxygen-deficient BO6 complexes, or the same centers with some other defects, such as oxygen or strontium vacancies, or BO6 complexes with some other defects placed in their neighborhood. The character of excitation and the competition for negatively charged non-bridging oxygen (NBO) among numerous types of BO6 defect complexes in doped SrTiO3 results in various broadband luminescence peak positions. The results herein reported are an indicative that amorphous titanates are sensitive to doping, which is important for the control of the electro-optic properties of these materials. The probable incorporation of Cr into the Ti site suggests that the existence of a double network former can lead to materials displaying a more intense photoluminescence.

Magnetic domain states in nano-sized Co nuclei electrodeposited onto monocrystalline silicon

In the present work, nano-sized magnetic nuclei of Co have been electrodeposited onto p-Si (111). The deposition follows a mechanism of progressive nucleation and growth controlled by diffusion. MFM studies showed that the transition between magnetic domain states is strongly dependent on the size and shape of the nuclei. A critical height h0 is defined below which the nuclei presented always a single-domain configuration. The limiting lower boundary for the single-domain state calculated from the theory is quantitatively coincident with the experimental results. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spatial distribution of characidiin fishes (Teleostei, Crenuchidae) in the Ribeirão Grande system, a tributary of Paraíba do Sul river basin, Brazil

This study analyses the spatial distribution of characidiin fishes Characidium lauroi and Characidium alipioi (Crenuchidae) in a forest stream system located in southeastern Brazil. Fish were sampled from Jury 2001 to April 2002. Collections were made with an electro-fishing device in five stream reaches of the Ribeirão Grande system. Conductivity, pH, water temperature and dissolved oxygen were measured at each site. The species have different distributions in Ribeirão Grande system. Characidium lauroi is abundant in montane-piedmont zones and Characidium alipioi occurs mainly in piedmont-plain zones. Streams' different features contribute to these species' distribution in the system.

Feeding and condition factor of characidiin fish in Ribeirão Grande system, Southeastern Brazil

Feeding, seasonal changes in visceral fat and condition factor were compared in two species of characidiin fishes, Characidium lauroi and C. alipioi from Ribeirão Grande system, southeastern Brazil. Five streams of Ribeirão Grande system were sampled (22° 47' 08 S, 45° 28' 17W). The samples were taken four times per site, from July, 2001 to April, 2002: winter (July 2001), spring (October 2001), summer (February 2002) and autumn (April 2002). Quantitative collections were made with an electro-fishing device powered by a generator with maximum capacity of 1,500 V and 8.7 A of 60 Hz alternating current. Ephemeroptera nymphs, Diptera larvae (Chironomidae, Simuliidae), Plecoptera nymphs, Trichoptera larvae (Hydroptilidae, Psychoyiidae), terrestrial insects (Coleoptera, Isoptera, Hemiptera [Heteroptera, Homoptera]), Megaloptera larvae (Corydalidae), Arachnida, Ostracoda and vegetal debris were found in both species' diets. Visceral fat declined in February, coinciding with the decline of the condition factor in both species. The increased feeding from summer to fall provides fat accumulation. During subsequent seasons, fish may utilize visceral fat reserves for maintenance and reproduction.

Robust control applications for smart truss structure

A finite element modeling of an intelligent truss structure with piezoelectric stack actuators for the purpose of active damping and structural vibration attenuation is presented. This paper concerns with the following issues aspects: the design of intelligent truss structure considering electro-mechanical coupling between the host structure and piezoelectric stack actuators; the H 2 norm approach to search for optimal placement of actuators and sensors; and finally some aspects in robust control techniques. The electro-mechanical behavior of piezoelectric elements is directly related to the successful application of the actuators in truss structures. In order to achieve the desired damping in the interested bandwidth frequency it is used the H ∞ output feedback solved by convex optimization. The constraints to be reached are written by linear matrix inequalities (LMI). The paper concludes with a numerical example, using Matlab and Simulink, in a cantilevered, 2-bay space truss structure. The results demonstrated the approach applicability.

An alternative procedure to decrease the dimension of the frequency dependent modal transformation matrices: Application in three-phase transmission lines with a vertical symmetry plane

The objective of this paper is to show an alternative representation in time domain of a non-transposed three-phase transmission line decomposed in its exact modes by using two transformation matrices. The first matrix is Clarke's matrix that is real, frequency independent, easily represented in computational transient programs (EMTP) and separates the line into Quasi-modes α, β and zero. After that, Quasi-modes α and zero are decomposed into their exact modes by using a modal transformation matrix whose elements can be synthesized in time domain through standard curve-fitting techniques. The main advantage of this alternative representation is to reduce the processing time because a frequency dependent modal transformation matrix of a three-phase line has nine elements to be represented in time domain while a modal transformation matrix of a two-phase line has only four elements. This paper shows modal decomposition process and eigenvectors of a non-transposed three-phase line with a vertical symmetry plane whose nominal voltage is 440 kV and line length is 500 km. © 2006 IEEE.

A simplified method for determining the high frequency induction motor equivalent electrical circuit parameters to be used in EMI effect

The aim of this paper is to present a simple method for determining the high frequency parameters of a three-phase induction motor to be used in studies involving variable speed drives with PWM three-phase inverters, in which it is necessary to check the effects caused to the motor by the electromagnetic interference, (EMI) in the differential mode, as well as in the common mode. The motor parameters determination is generally performed in adequate laboratories using accurate instruments, such as very expensive RLC bridges. The method proposed here consists in the identification of the motor equivalent electrical circuit parameters in rated frequency and in high frequency through characteristic tests in the laboratory, together with the use of characteristic equations and curves, shown in the references to be mentioned for determining the motor high frequency parasite capacitances and also through system simulations using dedicated software, like Pspice, determining the characteristic waveforms involved in the differential and common mode phenomena, comparing and validating the procedure through published papers [01].

Abnormal evening vertical plasma drift and effects on ESF and EIA over Brazil-South Atlantic sector during the 30 October 2003 superstorm

Equatorial F region vertical plasma drifts, spread F and anomaly responses, in the south American longitude sector during the superstorm of 30 October 2003, are analyzed using data from an array of instruments consisting of Digisondes, a VHF radar, GPS TEC and scintillation receivers in Brazil, and a Digisonde and a magnetometer in Jicamarca, Peru. Prompt penetrating eastward electric field of abnormally large intensity drove the F layer plasma up at a velocity ∼1200 ms -1 during post dusk hours in the eastern sector over Brazil. The equatorial anomaly was intensified and expanded poleward while the development of spread F/plasma bubble irregularities and GPS signal scintillations were weaker than their quiet time intensity. Significantly weaker F region response over Jicamarca presented a striking difference in the intensity of prompt penetration electric field between Peru and eastern longitudes of Brazil. The enhanced post dusk sector vertical drift over Brazil is attributed to electro-dynamics effects arising energetic particle precipitation in the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA). These extraordinary results and their longitudinal differences are presented and discussed in this paper. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.

Search for long-lived particles decaying into electron or photon pairs with the D0 detector

In this Letter we report on a search for long-lived particles that decay into final states with two electrons or photons. Such long-lived particles arise in a variety of theoretical models, such as hidden valleys and supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking. By precisely reconstructing the direction of the electromagnetic shower we are able to probe much longer lifetimes than previously explored. We see no evidence of the existence of such long-lived particles and interpret this search as a quasi model-independent limit on their production cross section, as well as a limit on a long-lived fourth generation quark. © 2008 The American Physical Society.

Ultrafast reflectivity dynamics in bis (n-butylimido) perylene thin films

Using pump-probe reflectometry, we study the ultrafast excited-state dynamics in thin films of BuPTCD, an organic semiconductor, deposited on gold nanoparticles. We observe depletion of the ground state and excited state absorption after photo-excitation. © 2008 Optical Society of America.

Variable speed refrigeration system with HPF input rectifier stage

This paper is based on the analysis and implementation of a new drive system applied to refrigeration systems, complying with the restrictions imposed by the IEC standards (Harmonic/Flicker/EMI-Electromagnetic Interference restrictions), in order to obtain high efficiency, high power factor, reduced harmonic distortion in the input current and reduced electromagnetic interference, with excellent performance in temperature control of a refrigeration prototype system (automatic control, precision and high dynamic response). The proposal is replace the single-phase motor by a three-phase motor, in the conventional refrigeration system. In this way, a proper control technique can be applied, using a closed-loop (feedback control), that will allow an accurate adjustment of the desirable temperature. The proposed refrigeration prototype uses a 0.5Hp three-phase motor and an open (Belt-Drive) Bitzer IY type compressor. The input rectifier stage's features include the reduction in the input current ripple, the reduction in the output voltage ripple, the use of low stress devices, low volume for the EMI input filter, high input power factor (PF), and low total harmonic distortion (THD) in the input current, in compliance with the IEC61000-3-2 standards. The digital controller for the output three-phase inverter stage has been developed using a conventional voltage-frequency control (scalar V/f control), and a simplified stator oriented Vector control, in order to verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed digital controls for continuous temperature control applied at the refrigerator prototype. ©2008 IEEE.

Using state-space techniques to represent frequency dependent single-phase lines directly in time domain

This paper proposes to use a state-space technique to represent a frequency dependent line for simulating electromagnetic transients directly in time domain. The distributed nature of the line is represented by a multiple 1t section network made up of the lumped parameters and the frequency dependence of the per unit longitudinal parameters is matched by using a rational function. The rational function is represented by its equivalent circuit with passive elements. This passive circuit is then inserted in each 1t circuit of the cascade that represents the line. Because the system is very sparse, it is possible to use a sparsity technique to store only nonzero elements of this matrix for saving space and running time. The model was used to simulate the energization process of a 10 km length single-phase line. ©2008 IEEE.