Investigation of magneto-structural phase transition in FeRh by reflectivity and transmittance measurements in visible and near-infrared spectral region

Magneto-structural phase transition in FeRh epitaxial layers was studied optically. It is shown that the transition between the low-temperature antiferromagnetic phase and the high-temperature ferromagnetic phase is accompanied by a rather large change of the optical response in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges. This change is consistent with ab initio calculations of reflectivity and transmittance. Phase transition temperatures in a series of FeRh films with thicknesses ranging from 6 to 100 nm is measured thereby demonstrating the utility of the method to quickly characterise samples. Spatially resolved imaging of their magnetic properties with a micrometer resolution shows that the phase transition occurs at different temperatures in different parts of the sample

Changes in the Distribution of Air Pollution Exposure in the Los Angeles Basin from 1990 to 1999

This research assesses changes in the patterns of ozone and particulate concentrations and the associations of these pollutants with socioeconomic factors from 1990 to 1999 in the South Coast Air Basin of California. The results are somewhat different in 1999 than in 1990 and suggest that demographic changes, in concert with changes in emissions and resulting air pollution patterns, determine the pattern of air pollution exposure and how exposure changes over time. (JEL) Copyright 2005 Western Economic Association International.

THE VALUE OF CLEANER AIR: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

Policymakers in the legislative and regulatory arenas face increasing public expectations that authorities will both promulgate and implement strict environmental programs. At the same time, the aggregate cost of such programs is rising and is impacting economic sectors previously untouched. In this context, a major study used an integrated interdisciplinary perspective to determine what economic benefits would result from air pollution controls. Specifically, the study developed estimates for the health benefits of reducing ozone and fine particulate matter concentrations in the nation's most polluted region-the South Coast Air Basin centering on Los Angeles. This paper presents the economic methodologies and results of that study. It also discusses how health and atmospheric sciences informed the economic assessment. Copyright 1991 Western Economic Association International.

Air pollution, health and economic benefits--Lessons from 20Â years of analysis

This paper reviews and compares two air quality benefit assessments completed for California's South Coast Air Basin in 1989 and 2008. Specifically, we separate the influence of changes in population and air quality from that of newer health concentration-response relationships and changing economic values. The dynamic interaction of key variables, including health and economic, as well as changes in population and air quality, lead to significant changes in results over time. Results show dramatic reductions in exposures to ozone and particulate concentrations between the two time periods, a continually evolving health literature, and in contrast, fairly constant real economic unit values assigned to adverse health outcomes. Such research is important because highly technical analyses of the expected benefits of proposed air quality regulatory programs have become an increasingly important component of many decision-making processes.Benefit estimation Valuation Air pollution Health