On the Importance of Displacement History in Soft-Body Contact Models

Two approaches are commonly used for handling frictional contact within the framework of the discrete element method (DEM). One relies on the complementarity method (CM) to enforce a nonpenetration condition and the Coulomb dry-friction model at the interface between two bodies in mutual contact. The second approach, called the penalty method (PM), invokes an elasticity argument to produce a frictional contact force that factors in the local deformation and relative motion of the bodies in contact. We give a brief presentation of a DEM-PM contact model that includes multi-time-step tangential contact displacement history. We show that its implementation in an open-source simulation capability called Chrono is capable of accurately reproducing results from physical tests typical of the field of geomechanics, i.e., direct shear tests on a monodisperse material. Keeping track of the tangential contact displacement history emerges as a key element of the model. We show that identical simulations using contact models that include either no tangential contact displacement history or only single-time-step tangential contact displacement history are unable to accurately model the direct shear test

Multiplexed readout of MMC detector arrays using non-hysteretic rf-SQUIDs

Metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs) are widely used for various experiments in fields ranging from atomic and nuclear physics to x-ray spectroscopy, laboratory astrophysics or material science. Whereas in previous experiments single pixel detectors or small arrays have been used, for future applications large arrays are needed. Therefore, suitable multiplexing techniques for MMC arrays are currently under development. A promising approach for the readout of large arrays is the microwave SQUID multiplexer that operates in the frequency domain and that employs non-hysteretic rf-SQUIDs to transduce the detector signals into a frequency shift of high $Q$ resonators which can be monitored by using standard microwave measurement techniques. In this paper we discuss the design and the expected performance of a recently developed and fabricated 64 pixel detector array with integrated microwave SQUID multiplexer. First experimental data were obtained characterizing dc-SQUIDs with virtually identical washer design.Comment: 6 pages, 3 Figure

Critical Galton-Watson processes: The maximum of total progenies within a large window

Consider a critical Galton-Watson process Z={Z_n: n=0,1,...} of index 1+alpha, alpha in (0,1]. Let S_k(j) denote the sum of the Z_n with n in the window [k,...,k+j), and M_m(j) the maximum of the S_k with k moving in [0,m-j]. We describe the asymptotic behavior of the expectation EM_m(j) if the window width j=j_m is such that j/m converges in [0,1] as m tends to infinity. This will be achieved via establishing the asymptotic behavior of the tail probabilities of M_{infinity}(j).Comment: 28 page

High Power Semiconductor Devices and Solid State Switches for Pulsed Discharge Applications

Based on long term experience, collected mainly with military applications like Rail Guns and Active Armour, a range of optimized semiconductor devices for pulsed applications was developed by ABB Switzerland Ltd and described in this presentation. The presented devices are optimized for pulsed discharge and fit very well for switching the short but high electrical power demand used for magnetic forming. Devices are available in different versions with silicon wafer diameters up to 120 mm and blocking voltages of over 6500V. Because of the different application requirements a differentiation is made in device technology. Depending on the discharge circuit, devices for low, medium, or high di/dt can be selected and the difference in advantages and disadvantages between both technologies will be described. To minimize the inductance between switching device and freewheeling diode, ABB can integrate this diode monolithic on the switching wafer. These so called reverse conducting devices are very common for magnetic forming applications. Thyristor structures are commercially available up to 8500V with 120 mm silicon wafers and GTO-like structures are available up to 4500V with 91 mm silicon wafers. For higher voltages or higher currents a combination of devices in series and/or parallel connection is required. The presentation will also describe the evolution of complete discharge switching modules in the range of 10kV / 50 kJ, a large discharge system of 21kV / 200kA, and a newly designed high current switch in the range of 15kV / 3MJ. The solid state switch solutions offered today and those shown in the presentation are based on a standard platform of components existing already for several years. For reliability reasons it is of great importance that the switch assemblies for high current pulsed applications are designed in cooperation with the device manufacturer who has in-depth knowledge of the switching behavior of the semiconductor components under pulsed conditions. The advantage of a complete switch assembly is that the whole unit can be tested under application conditions. ABB has a test capability up to 65 kV and 85 kJ stored energy

Home-Based Parent-Child Therapy in Low-Income African American, Caucasian, and Latino Families: A Comparative Examination of Treatment Outcomes

This study examined parent and child treatment outcomes for a home-based Parent-Child Therapy (PCT) program for 66 children from families living in poverty. African American, Caucasian, and Latino families were examined to determine if an evidence-based program would produce similar results across different ethnic groups. The results showed that caregivers across the three ethnic groups reported improved child challenging behavior, increased positive parent-child interactions, improved parental expectations, higher levels of nurturing, and less reliance on verbal and corporal punishment as a form of discipline. Practical implications for these results are discussed

Stau as the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle in R-Parity Violating SUSY Models: Discovery Potential with Early LHC Data

We investigate the discovery potential of the LHC experiments for R-parity violating supersymmetric models with a stau as the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) in the framework of minimal supergravity. We classify the final states according to their phenomenology for different R-parity violating decays of the LSP. We then develop event selection cuts for a specific benchmark scenario with promising signatures for the first beyond the Standard Model discoveries at the LHC. For the first time in this model, we perform a detailed signal over background analysis. We use fast detector simulations to estimate the discovery significance taking the most important Standard Model backgrounds into account. Assuming an integrated luminosity of 1 inverse femtobarn at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, we perform scans in the parameter space around the benchmark scenario we consider. We then study the feasibility to estimate the mass of the stau-LSP. We briefly discuss difficulties, which arise in the identification of hadronic tau decays due to small tau momenta and large particle multiplicities in our scenarios.Comment: 26 pages, 18 figures, LaTeX; minor changes, final version published in PR

The possibility of a metal insulator transition in antidot arrays induced by an external driving

It is shown that a family of models associated with the kicked Harper model is relevant for cyclotron resonance experiments in an antidot array. For this purpose a simplified model for electronic motion in a related model system in presence of a magnetic field and an AC electric field is developed. In the limit of strong magnetic field it reduces to a model similar to the kicked Harper model. This model is studied numerically and is found to be extremely sensitive to the strength of the electric field. In particular, as the strength of the electric field is varied a metal -- insulator transition may be found. The experimental conditions required for this transition are discussed.Comment: 6 files: kharp.tex, fig1.ps fig2.ps fi3.ps fig4.ps fig5.p

Time Slot Management in Attended Home Delivery

Many e-tailers providing attended home delivery, especially e-grocers, offer narrow delivery time slots to ensure satisfactory customer service. The choice of delivery time slots has to balance marketing and operational considerations, which results in a complex planning problem. We study the problem of selecting the set of time slots to offer in each of the zip codes in a service region. The selection needs to facilitate cost-effective delivery routes, but also needs to ensure an acceptable level of service to the customer. We present two fully-automated approaches that are capable of producing high-quality delivery time slot offerings in a reasonable amount of time. Computational experiments reveal the value of these approaches and the impact of the environment on the underlying trade-offs.integer programming;vehicle routing;continuous approximation;e-grocery;home delivery;time slots

Edge currents in the absence of edges

We investigate a charged two-dimensional particle in a homogeneous magnetic field interacting with a periodic array of point obstacles. We show that while Landau levels remain to be infinitely degenerate eigenvalues, between them the system has bands of absolutely continuous spectrum and exhibits thus a transport along the array. We also compute the band functions and the corresponding probability current.Comment: Final version, to appear in Phys. Lett. A; 10 LaTeX pages with 3 eps figure