The effect of frequency on the lifetime of a surface micromachined microengine driving a load

Experiments have been performed on surface micromachined microengines driving load gears to determine the effect of the rotation frequency on median cycles to failure. The authors did observe a frequency dependence and have developed a model based on fundamental wear mechanisms and forces exhibited in resonant mechanical systems. Stressing loaded microengines caused observable wear in the rotating joints and in a few instances led to fracture of the pin joint in the drive gear

P-wave excited baryons from pion- and photo-induced hyperon production

We report evidence for $N(1710)P_{11}$, $N(1875)P_{11}$, $N(1900)P_{13}$, $\Delta(1600)P_{33}$, $\Delta(1910)P_{31}$, and $\Delta(1920)P_{33}$, and find indications that $N(1900)P_{13}$ might have a companion state at 1970\,MeV. The controversial $\Delta(1750)P_{31}$ is not seen. The evidence is derived from a study of data on pion- and photo-induced hyperon production, but other data are included as well. Most of the resonances reported here were found in the Karlsruhe-Helsinki (KH84) and the Carnegie-Mellon (CM) analyses but were challenged recently by the Data Analysis Center at GWU. Our analysis is constrained by the energy independent $\pi N$ scattering amplitudes from either KH84 or GWU. The two $\pi N$ amplitudes from KH84 or GWU, respectively, lead to slightly different $\pi N$ branching ratios of contributing resonances but the debated resonances are required in both series of fits.Comment: 22 pages, 28 figures. Some additional sets of data are adde

eta-prime Meson Production in Nucleon-Nucleon Collisions Near The Threshold

The production of $\eta'$ mesons in the reactions $pp\to pp\eta'$ and $pn\to pn\eta'$ at threshold-near energies is analyzed within a covariant effective meson-nucleon theory. The description of cross section and angular distributions of the available data in this kinematical region in the $pp$ channel is accomplished by including meson currents and nucleon currents with the resonances $S_{11}(1650)$, $P_{11}(1710)$ and $P_{13}(1720)$. Predictions for the $pn$ channel are given. The di-electron production from subsequent $\eta'$ Dalitz decay $\eta' \to \gamma \gamma^* \to\gamma e^+e^-$ is also calculated and numerical results are presented for intermediate energy and kinematics of possible experiments with HADES, CLAS and KEK-PS

Properties of baryon resonances from a multichannel partial wave analysis

Properties of nucleon and $\Delta$ resonances are derived from a multichannel partial wave analysis. The statistical significance of pion and photo-induced inelastic reactions off protons are studied in a multichannel partial-wave analysis.Comment: 12 pages, 8 Table

Nucleon resonances in the fourth resonance region

Nucleon and $\Delta$ resonances in the fourth resonance region are studied in a multichannel partial-wave analysis which includes nearly all available data on pion- and photo-induced reactions off protons. In the high-mass range, above 1850\,MeV, several alternative solutions yield a good description of the data. For these solutions, masses, widths, pole residues and photo-couplings are given. In particular, we find evidence for nucleon resonances with spin-parities $J^P=1/2^+...7/2^+$. For one set of solutions, there are four resonances forming naturally a spin-quartet of resonances with orbital angular momentum L=2 and spin S=3/2 coupling to $J=1/2,...,7/2$. Just below 1.9\,GeV we find a spin doublet of resonances with $J^P=1/2^-$ and $3/2^-$. Since a spin partner with $J^P=5/2^-$ is missing at this mass, the two resonances form a spin doublet which must have a symmetric orbital-angular-momentum wave function with L=1. For another set of solutions, the four positive-parity resonances are accompanied by mass-degenerate negative-parity partners -- as suggested by the conjecture of chiral symmetry restoration. The possibility of a $J^P=1/2^+, 3/2^+$ spin doublet at 1900\,MeV belonging to a 20-plet is discussed.Comment: 16 page

First measurement of the polarization observable E and helicity-dependent cross sections in single π0 photoproduction from quasi-free nucleons

The double-polarization observable E and the helicity-dependent cross sections σ1/2 and σ3/2 have been measured for the first time for single π0 photoproduction from protons and neutrons bound in the deuteron at the electron accelerator facility MAMI in Mainz, Germany. The experiment used a circularly polarized photon beam and a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The reaction products, recoil nucleons and decay photons from the π0 meson were detected with the Crystal Ball and TAPS electromagnetic calorimeters. Effects from nuclear Fermi motion were removed by a kinematic reconstruction of the π0N final state. A comparison to data measured with a free proton target showed that the absolute scale of the cross sections is significantly modified by nuclear final-state interaction (FSI) effects. However, there is no significant effect on the asymmetry E since the σ1/2 and σ3/2 components appear to be influenced in a similar way. Thus, the best approximation of the two helicity-dependent cross sections for the free neutron is obtained by combining the asymmetry E measured with quasi-free neutrons and the unpolarized cross section corrected for FSI effects under the assumption that the FSI effects are similar for neutrons and protons

Performance of Ultra Hard Carbon Wear Coatings on Microgears Fabricated by Liga

Stiction and friction are of concern for the reliable, long-term application of Ni-alloy micromachines. We have found that the application of a 30-70 nm hard carbon coating produces a significant reduction in the friction coefficient and wear rate of electroformed Ni substrates in reciprocating sliding contact under simulated MEMS operating conditions. To evaluate the performance of coated components, a series of 70-pm-thick microgears ranging in diameter from 0.2 to 2.2 mm were fabricated from electroformed Ni via standard LIGA processes and fixtured on posts in preparation for the coating procedure. A pulsed vacuum- arc deposition process was used to deposit a carbon coating on the gears with the plasma incident at a shallow angle to the gears' top surface. A sample bias of -2 keV was used in order to produce a coating with relatively low stress and good adhesion while maintaining high hardness. This coating process is known to be somewhat comformal to the component surfaces. The coating uniformity, particularly in the high-aspect-ratio areas between the gear teeth, was evaluated with micro-Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that the coating can be applied uniformly on the top gear surface. Between the gear teeth the coating was the same thickness as on top of the gear down to a point 50 ~m below the top surface. Below that point (i.e. between 50 and 70 Lm), the coating thickness is somewhat thinner, but is still present. These results demonstrate that it is possible to a deposit hard carbon coating on microgears to reduce friction and wear in micromachines

Ultrahard Multilayer Coatings

We have developed a new multilayer a-tC material that is thick stress-free, adherent, low friction, and with hardness and stiffness near that of diamond. The new a-tC material is deposited by J pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature, and fully stress-relieved by a short thermal anneal at 600°C. A thick multilayer is built up by repeated deposition and annealing steps. We measured 88 GPa hardness, 1100 GPa Young's modulus, and 0.1 friction coefficient (under high load). Significantly, these results are all well within the range reported for crystalline diamond. In fact, this material, if considered separate from crystalline diamond, is the 2nd hardest material known to man. Stress-free a-tC also has important advantages over thin film diamond; namely, it is smooth, processed at lower temperature, and can be grown on a much broader range of substrates. This breakthrough will enable a host of applications that we are actively pursuing in MEMs, sensors, LIGA, etc

Embryonic development of four species of palaemonid prawns (Crustacea, Decapoda): pre-naupliar, naupliar and post-naupliar periods

The embryonic development of four species of the family Palaemonidae was studied under laboratory conditions. Adults of Macrobrachium olfersi (Wiegman, 1836), Macrobrachium potiuna (Müller, 1880), Palaemon pandaliformis (Stimpson, 1871) and Palaemonetes argentinus (Nobili, 1901) were collected in Santa Catarina Island, Santa Catarina, Brazil and maintained at 26ºC. The following embryonic characters were analyzed: egg shape, yolk organization and cleavage plane, naupliar and post-naupliar appendages, stomodeum, optical lobes, eyes, telson, embryo curvature and the space occupied by the embryo in the egg. Different rates of development were observed for the four species, with M. potiuna showing the longest time of embryogenesis. The species studied followed the pattern of embryogenesis of centrolecithal eggs, enabling the identification of similar features of the development, and the establishment of eight common embryonic stages.<br>Foi estudado o desenvolvimento embrionário de quatro espécies de Palaemonidae em condições controladas de laboratório. Adultos de Macrobrachium olfersi (Wiegman, 1836), Macrobrachium potiuna (Müller, 1880), Palaemon pandaliformis (Stimpson, 1871) e Palaemonetes argentinus (Nobili, 1901) foram coletados na Ilha de Santa Catarina, SC, Brasil e mantidos à temperatura de 26ºC. Foram analisadas as seguintes características embrionárias: forma do ovo, organização do vitelo e planos de clivagem, apêndices naupliares e pós-naupliares, estomodeo, lobos ópticos, olhos, telson, curvatura do embrião e o espaço ocupado pelo embrião no ovo. Diferentes ritmos de desenvolvimento foram observados espécies, sendo que M. potiuna mostrou o maior tempo de embriogênese. As espécies seguem o padrão de embriogênese de ovos centrolécitos, sendo identificadas características similares do desenvolvimento, possibilitando o estabelecimento de oito estágios embrionários, comuns as quatro espécies