Relative potentials of concentrating and two-axis tracking flat-plate photovoltaic arrays for central-station applications

The purpose of this study is to assess the relative economic potentials of concenrating and two-axis tracking flat-plate photovoltaic arrays for central-station applications in the mid-1990's. Specific objectives of this study are to provide information on concentrator photovoltaic collector probabilistic price and efficiency levels to illustrate critical areas of R&D for concentrator cells and collectors, and to compare concentrator and flat-plate PV price and efficiency alternatives for several locations, based on their implied costs of energy. To deal with the uncertainties surrounding research and development activities in general, a probabilistic assessment of commercially achievable concentrator photovoltaic collector efficiencies and prices (at the factory loading dock) is performed. The results of this projection of concentrator photovoltaic technology are then compared with a previous flat-plate module price analysis (performed early in 1983). To focus this analysis on specific collector alternatives and their implied energy costs for different locations, similar two-axis tracking designs are assumed for both concentrator and flat-plate options

Upper critical dimension of the KPZ equation

Numerical results for the Directed Polymer model in 1+4 dimensions in various types of disorder are presented. The results are obtained for system size considerably larger than that considered previously. For the extreme strong disorder case (Min-Max system), associated with the Directed Percolation model, the expected value of the meandering exponent, zeta = 0.5 is clearly revealed, with very week finite size effects. For the week disorder case, associated with the KPZ equation, finite size effects are stronger, but the value of seta is clearly seen in the vicinity of 0.57. In systems with "strong disorder" it is expected that the system will cross over sharply from Min-Max behavior at short chains to weak disorder behavior at long chains. This is indeed what we find. These results indicate that 1+4 is not the Upper Critical Dimension (UCD) in the week disorder case, and thus 4+1 does not seem to be the upper critical dimension for the KPZ equation

The Highest Redshift Relativistic Jets

We describe our efforts to understand large-scale (10's-100's kpc) relativistic jet systems through observations of the highest-redshift quasars. Results from a VLA survey search for radio jets in ~30 z>3.4 quasars are described along with new Chandra observations of 4 selected targets.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Extragalactic Jets: Theory and Observation from Radio to Gamma Ray, Eds. T.A. Rector and D.S. De Youn

Exploratory studies of contact angle hysteresis, wetting of solidified rare gases and surface properties of mercury Final report

Contact angle hysteresis, wetting of solidified rare gases, and surface properties of mercur

Vacuum state of the quantum string without anomalies in any number of dimensions

We show that the anomalies of the Virasoro algebra are due to the asymmetric behavior of raising and lowering operators with respect to the ground state of the string. With the adoption of a symmetric vacuum we obtain a non-anomalous theory in any number of dimensions. In particular for D=4.Comment: 14 pages, LaTex, no figure

The Induced Magnetic Field of the Moon: Conductivity Profiles and Inferred Temperature

Electromagnetic induction in the moon driven by fluctuations of the interplanetary magnetic field is used to determine the lunar bulk electrical conductivity. The present data clearly show the north-south and east-west transfer function difference as well as high frequency rollover. The difference is shown to be compatible over the mid-frequency range with a noise source associated with the compression of the local remanent field by solar wind dynamic pressure fluctuations. Models for two, three, and four layer; current layer, double current layer, and core plus current layer moons are generated by inversion of the data using a theory which incorporates higher order multipoles. Core radii conductivities generally are in the range 1200 to 1300 km and 0.001 to 0.003 mhos/m; and for the conducting shell 1500 to 1700 km with 0.0001 to 0.0007 mhos/m with an outer layer taken as nonconducting. Core temperature based on available olivine data is 700 to 1000 C

Local formation of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond by swift heavy ions

We exposed nitrogen-implanted diamonds to beams of swift uranium and gold ions (~1 GeV) and find that these irradiations lead directly to the formation of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers, without thermal annealing. We compare the photoluminescence intensities of swift heavy ion activated NV- centers to those formed by irradiation with low-energy electrons and by thermal annealing. NV- yields from irradiations with swift heavy ions are 0.1 of yields from low energy electrons and 0.02 of yields from thermal annealing. We discuss possible mechanisms of NV-center formation by swift heavy ions such as electronic excitations and thermal spikes. While forming NV centers with low efficiency, swift heavy ions enable the formation of three dimensional NV- assemblies over relatively large distances of tens of micrometers. Further, our results show that NV-center formation is a local probe of (partial) lattice damage relaxation induced by electronic excitations from swift heavy ions in diamond.Comment: to be published in Journal of Applied Physic

Atomic Beams

Contains reports on two research projects