Detection of Brillouin scattering temperature signal in Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometer sensing system based on instantaneous frequency measurement technology

abstract {We present a simple and practical method for the single-ended distributed fiber temperature measurements using microwave (11-GHz) coherent detection and the instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) technique to detect spontaneous Brillouin backscattered signal in which a specially designed rf bandpass filter at 11 GHz is used as a frequency discriminator to transform frequency shift to intensity fluctuation. A Brillouin temperature signal can be obtained at 11 GHz over a sensing length of 10 km. The power sensitivity dependence on temperature induced by frequency shift is measured as 2.66%/K. © 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.}

Investigation of the effect of fluoride ions introduction on structural, OH- content and up-conversion luminescence properties in Er3+-doped heavy metal oxide glasses

Effect of fluoride ions introduction on structural, OH- content and up-conversion luminescence properties in Er3+-doped heavy metal oxide glasses have been investigated. Structure was investigated, indicating that fluoride has an important influence on the phonon density, maximum phonon energy of host glasses. With increasing fluoride content, the up-conversion luminescence intensity and quantum efficiencies increase notably, which could not be explained only by the maximum phonon energy change of host glasses. Our results show that, with the introduction of PbF2, the decrease of phonon density and OH- content contributes more to the enhanced up-conversion emissions than that of maximum phonon energy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and up-conversion luminescence properties in Tm (3+)/Yb3+-codoped heavy metal oxide-halide glasses

Tm3+/Yb3+-codoped heavy metal oxide-halide glasses have been synthesized by conventional melting and quenching method. Structural properties were obtained based on the Raman spectra, indicating that halide ion has an important influence on the phonon density and maximum phonon energy of host glasses. Intense blue and weak red emissions centered at 477 and 650 nm, corresponding to the transitions (1)G(4) -> H-3(6) and (1)G(4) -> H-3(4), respectively, were observed at room temperature. The possible up-conversion mechanisms are discussed and estimated. With increasing halide content, the up-conversion luminescence intensity and blue luminescence lifetimes of Tm3+ ion increase notably. Our results show that with the substitution of halide ion for oxygen ion, the decrease of phonon density and maximum phonon energy of host glasses both contribute to the enhanced up-conversion emissions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Luminescence behavior of Yb(3+)heavy-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics

Yb3+ heavy-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics were fabricated and their spectroscopic properties were investigated. The absorption bands of (YbxY0.9-xLa0.1)(2)O-3 (x = 0.05-0.15) ceramics are broad at wavelength of 900-1000 nm. The absorption cross-sections centered at 974 nm and the emission cross-sections at 1031 nm of Yb3+ ion are 0.89-1.12 x 10(-20) cm(2) and 1.05 x 10(-20) cm(2) respectively. The up-conversion luminescence intensity of Yb3+-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramics increased firstly, then decreased with the increase of Yb3+ ion content. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

HEAVY VEHICLE VIBRATION - A CASE STUDY.

A method is presented for the digital simulation of multiple degrees-of-freedom lumped parameter vibrating systems with arbitrary constitutive elements in an inertial frame of reference. The geometry of the system is treated independently of the constitutive elements and as a result nonlinear (time domain) or linearised (frequency domain) calculations may be performed using a single input description. The method is used to simulate a 3-axle rigid heavy commercial vehicle for harsh vibrating conditions. Some of the assumptions to which the calculations are sensitive are examined. Agreement between the response of a 3-dimensional whole vehicle model and measurements on the test vehicle is satisfactory.

THEORETICAL ROAD DAMAGE DUE TO DYNAMIC TYRE FORCES OF HEAVY VEHICLES. PART 2: SIMULATED DAMAGE CAUSED BY A TANDEM-AXLE VEHICLE.

The literature relating to road surface failure and design is briefly reviewed and the conventional methods for assessing the road damaging effects of dynamic tire forces are examined. A new time domain technique for analyzing dynamic tire forces and four associated road damage criteria are presented. The force criteria are used to examine the road damaging characteristics of a simple tandem-axle vehicle model for a range of speed and road roughness conditions. It is concluded that for the proposed criteria, the theoretical service life of road surfaces that are prone to fatigue failure may be reduced significantly by the dynamic component of wheel forces. The damage done to approximately five per cent of the road surface area during the passage of a theoretical model vehicle at typical highway speeds may be increased by as much as four times.

Centrifuge modelling-based verification of response spectra design methods for some vulnerable structures

Residential RC framed structures suffered heavily during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat, India. These types of structures also saw severe damage in other earthquakes such as the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake in Turkey and 921 Ji-Ji earthquake in Taiwan. In this paper the seismic response of residential structures was investigated using physical modelling. Idealised soft storey and top heavy, two degrees of freedom (2DOF) portal frame structures were developed and tested on saturated and dry sand models at 25 g using the Schofield Centre 10-m Beam Centrifuge. It was possible to recreate observed field behaviour using these models. As observed in many of the recent earthquakes, soft storey structures were found to be particularly vulnerable to seismic loads. Elastic response spectra methods are often used in the design of simple portal frame structures. The seismic risk of these structures can be significantly increased due to modifications such as removal of a column or addition of heavy water tanks on the roof. The experimental data from the dynamic centrifuge tests on such soft storey or top-heavy models was used to evaluate the predictions obtained from the response spectra. Response spectra were able to predict seismic response during small to moderate intensity earthquakes, but became inaccurate during strong earthquakes and when soil structure interaction effects became important. Re-evaluation of seismic risk of such modified structures is required and time domain analyses suggested by building codes such as IBC, UBC or NEHRP may be more appropriate. © Springer 2006.

Helminth parasites of Caspian kilka (genus Clupeonella) as bioindicators of heavy metals

In the present study, intestinal helminth parasite fauna of 398 specimens of three species of kilkas, C. engrauliformis (N= 92), C. grimmi (N= 136) and C. cultriventris (N= 170) from Babolsar harbor were investigated. Five parasite species were found including: Corynosoma strumosum (Acanthocephala), Pronoprymna ventricosa (Trematoda), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda), Raphidascaris sp. (Nematoda) and Anisakis sp. (Nematoda). The highest prevalence and abundance were observed in C. strumosum and P. ventricosa. The prevalence and abundance of C. strumosum in C. grimmi was significantly higher than C. engrauliformis. The prevalence and abundance of P. ventricosa in C. cultriventris was significantly higher than C. engrauliformis. The prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of the parasites were compared according to the sex, length group and season also effect of parasite on host growth parameters was considered. The diversity, equability, similarity, species richness, dominance Indices and specificity indices of helminth parasites of the three host species were studied. Also the lead and cadmium concentrations in the intestine, muscle, liver, kidney and gonad of kilkas and their parasites C. strumosum and P. ventricosa were measured and compared. The results revealed that lead and cadmium concentrations in C. strumosum and P. ventricosa were significantly higher than kidney, liver, intestine, gonad and muscle. The lead and cadmium concentrations of the parasites were compared according to the sex, parasitism and season.

Molecular cloning and characterization analysis of immunoglobulin M heavy chain gene in European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

In this study, the immunoglobulin M heavy chain gene of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was cloned and analyzed. The full-length cDNA of the IgM heavy chain gene (GenBank accession no. EF062515) has 2089 nucleotides encoding a putative protein of 581 amino acids. The IgM heavy chain was composed of leader peptide (L), variable domain (VH), CH1, CH2. Hinge, CH3, CH4, and C-terminus and two novel continuous putative N-glycosylation sites were found close to the second cysteine of CH3 in A. anguilla-H1 and A. anguilla-H2. The deduced amino acid sequence of the European eel IgM heavy chain constant region shared similarities to that of the Ladyfish (Elops saurus). Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Grass carp (Ctenopharingodon idella), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) with the identity of 46.1%, 39.7%, 38.9%, 32.4%, 32.3%, 31.7%, and 30.7%, respectively. The highest level of IgM gene expression was observed in the kidney, followed by the spleen, gills, liver, muscle and heart in the apparently healthy European eels. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of cadmium on chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, and photosynthetic intensity of Canna indica Linn.

The effects of cadmium (Cd2+) on growth status, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photochemical efficiency, and photosynthetic intensity were studied on Canna indica Linn. Plant specimens that were produced from a constructed wetland and precultivated hydroponically in 20 L of 1/10 Hoagland solution under greenhouse conditions for I week were exposed to cadmium in concentrations of 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mg L- Cd2+, respectively. The results show that leaves were injured in the Cd2+ solution by the third day of exposure and the injury became more serious with an increase in the applied heavy metal. Under 3.2 mg L-1 Cd2+ treatment, growth retardation, the decrease of chlorophyll content from 0.70 to 0.43 mg g(-1) FW, and a decrease in Chl a/b ratio from 2.0 to 1.2 were observed. Chl a was more sensitive than Chl b to Cd2+ stress. The decrease was the same with photochemical efficiency. Photosynthetic intensity decreased by 13.3% from 1.5X10(4) mumol m(-2)s(-1) CO2 in control to 1.3x10(4) mumol m(2)s(-1) CO2 in the treatment of 3.2 mg L-1. Because Canna species are used in heavy metal phytoremediation, these results show that C. indica can tolerate 0.4 to 0.8 mg L-1 Cd2+. Therefore, it is a potential species for phytoremediation of cadmium with some limitations only at higher concentrations.

Design of the IMP microbeam irradiation system for 100 MeV/u heavy ions

Abstract A state-of-the-art high energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation system is constructed at the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This microbeam system operates in both full current intensity mode and single ion mode. It delivers a predefined number of ions to preselected targets for research in biology and material science. The characteristic of this microbeam system is high energy and vertical irradiation. A quadrupole focusing system, in combination with a series of slits, has been designed to optimize the spatial resolution. A symmetrically achromatic system leads the beam downwards and serves simultaneously as an energy analyzer. A high gradient quadrupole triplet finally focuses a C6+ ion beam to 1 µm in the vacuum chamber within the energy range from 10 MeV/u to 100 MeV/u. In this paper, the IMP microbeam system is described in detail. A systematic investigation of the ion beam optics of this microbeam system is presented together with the associated aberrations. Comparison is made between the IMP microbeam system and the other existing systems to further discuss the performance of this microbeam. Then the optimized initial beam parameters are given for high resolution and high hitting efficiency. At last, the experiment platform is briefly introduced.

HIRFL today

HIRFL was upgraded from beginning 2000. Besides of researches on nuclear physics, atomic physics, irradiative material and biology, the cancer therapy by heavy ion and hadron physics are being developing. The injector system of SFC+SSC can provide all ions from proton to uranium with higher intensity. The Cooling Storage Ring (CSR) has accelerated beams successful. The ions C-12(6+), Ar-36(18+), Xe-129(27+) have been accelerated up 1000MeV/u, 235MeV/u with about 10(9)similar to 10(8) ions per spill respectively. The beam momentum dispersion was measured from 4x10(-3) to 2x10(-4) after cooling by the electron cooler or similar to 4x10(-4) after accelerated to 1000MeV/u without cooling. In order to improve the nuclear structure and heavy isotope research in SFC+SSC energy domain, A Wien filter was added in front of RIBLL and gas was filled in first section of RIBLL; a new spectrometry SHANS has being installed. Presently, there are two starting version experimental setups at CSR.

Vacuum window of intermediate energy heavy-ion microbeam irradiation facility

The beam must be extracted into the air through the vacuum window to irradiate the living cell. In the window design, the material and thickness must be chosen to compromise the beam spot size broadening and the window safety. The structure-static analysis on the window of different structures and materials is done with the finite element analysis method, and the deformation and the equivalent stress axe simulated. The safety of these candidates is investigated using the intensity theory. In addition, the small angle scattering and the transverse range of ions are simulated using SRIM code, including all the effects on the beam spot size broadening, such as the incident ion energy, the material and the thickness of the window and the air composing. At last, the appropriate vacuum windows are presented, including the structure, material and thickness.

Intense beam production of highly charged heavy ions by the superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source SECRAL (invited)

There has been increasing demand to provide higher beam intensity and high enough beam energy for heavy ion accelerator and some other applications, which has driven electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source to produce higher charge state ions with higher beam intensity. One of development trends for highly charged ECR ion source is to build new generation ECR sources by utilization of superconducting magnet technology. SECRAL (superconducting ECR ion source with advanced design in Lanzhou) was successfully built to produce intense beams of highly charged ion for Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL). The ion source has been optimized to be operated at 28 GHz for its maximum performance. The superconducting magnet confinement configuration of the ion source consists of three axial solenoid coils and six sextupole coils with a cold iron structure as field booster and clamping. An innovative design of SECRAL is that the three axial solenoid coils are located inside of the sextupole bore in order to reduce the interaction forces between the sextupole coils and the solenoid coils. For 28 GHz operation, the magnet assembly can produce peak mirror fields on axis of 3.6 T at injection, 2.2 T at extraction, and a radial sextupole field of 2.0 T at plasma chamber wall. During the commissioning phase at 18 GHz with a stainless steel chamber, tests with various gases and some metals have been conducted with microwave power less than 3.5 kW by two 18 GHz rf generators. It demonstrates the performance is very promising. Some record ion beam intensities have been produced, for instance, 810 e mu A of O7+, 505 e mu A of Xe20+ 306 e mu A of Xe27+, and so on. The effect of the magnetic field configuration on the ion source performance has been studied experimentally. SECRAL has been put into operation to provide highly charged ion beams for HIRFL facility since May 2007.

Ultrahigh compression of water using intense heavy ion beams: laboratory planetary physics

Intense heavy ion beams offer a unique tool for generating samples of high energy density matter with extreme conditions of density and pressure that are believed to exist in the interiors of giant planets. An international accelerator facility named FAIR (Facility for Antiprotons and Ion Research) is being constructed at Darmstadt, which will be completed around the year 2015. It is expected that this accelerator facility will deliver a bunched uranium beam with an intensity of 5x10(11) ions per spill with a bunch length of 50-100 ns. An experiment named LAPLAS (Laboratory Planetary Sciences) has been proposed to achieve a low-entropy compression of a sample material like hydrogen or water (which are believed to be abundant in giant planets) that is imploded in a multi-layered target by the ion beam. Detailed numerical simulations have shown that using parameters of the heavy ion beam that will be available at FAIR, one can generate physical conditions that have been predicted to exist in the interior of giant planets. In the present paper, we report simulations of compression of water that show that one can generate a plasma phase as well as a superionic phase of water in the LAPLAS experiments.