146 research outputs found
Stochastic Analysis and Regeneration of Rough Surfaces
We investigate Markov property of rough surfaces. Using stochastic analysis
we characterize the complexity of the surface roughness by means of a
Fokker-Planck or Langevin equation. The obtained Langevin equation enables us
to regenerate surfaces with similar statistical properties compared with the
observed morphology by atomic force microscopy.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure
Fast visible imaging of turbulent plasma in TORPEX
Fast framing cameras constitute an important recent diagnostic development aimed at monitoring light emission from magnetically confined plasmas, and are now commonly used to study turbulence in plasmas. In the TORPEX toroidal device [A. Fasoli et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 055902 (2006)], low frequency electrostatic fluctuations associated with drift-interchange waves are routinely measured by means of extensive sets of Langmuir probes. A Photron Ultima APX-RS fast framing camera has recently been acquired to complement Langmuir probe measurements, which allows comparing statistical and spectral properties of visible light and electrostatic fluctuations. A direct imaging system has been developed, which allows viewing the light, emitted from microwave-produced plasmas tangentially and perpendicularly to the toroidal direction. The comparison of the probability density function, power spectral density, and autoconditional average of the camera data to those obtained using a multiple head electrostatic probe covering the plasma cross section shows reasonable agreement in the case of perpendicular view and in the plasma region where interchange modes dominate.This work is partly funded by the “Fonds National
Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique.
Height Fluctuations and Intermittency of Films by Atomic Force Microscopy
The spatial scaling law and intermittency of the surface roughness
by atomic force microscopy has been investigated. The intermittency of the
height fluctuations has been checked by two different methods, first, by
measuring scaling exponent of q-th moment of height-difference fluctuations
i.e. and the second, by defining generating
function and generalized multi-fractal dimension . These methods
predict that there is no intermittency in the height fluctuations. The observed
roughness and dynamical exponents can be explained by the numerical simulation
on the basis of forced Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation.Comment: 6 pages (two columns), 11 eps. figures, late
Micro helical polymeric structures produced by variable voltage direct electrospinning
Direct near field electrospinning is used to produce very long helical
polystyrene microfibers in water. The pitch length of helices can be controlled
by changing the applied voltage, allowing to produce both micro springs and
microchannels. Using a novel high frequency variable voltage electrospinning
method we found the helix formation speed and compared the experimental
buckling frequency to theoretical expressions for viscous and elastic buckling.
Finally we showed that the newmethod can be used to produce new periodic micro
and nano structures.Comment: accepted for publication in Soft Matte
Etched Glass Surfaces, Atomic Force Microscopy and Stochastic Analysis
The effect of etching time scale of glass surface on its statistical
properties has been studied using atomic force microscopy technique. We have
characterized the complexity of the height fluctuation of a etched surface by
the stochastic parameters such as intermittency exponents, roughness, roughness
exponents, drift and diffusion coefficients and find their variations in terms
of the etching time.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures
Two-Scale Kirchhoff Theory: Comparison of Experimental Observations With Theoretical Prediction
We introduce a non-perturbative two scale Kirchhoff theory, in the context of
light scattering by a rough surface. This is a two scale theory which considers
the roughness both in the wavelength scale (small scale) and in the scales much
larger than the wavelength of the incident light (large scale). The theory can
precisely explain the small peaks which appear at certain scattering angles.
These peaks can not be explained by one scale theories. The theory was assessed
by calculating the light scattering profiles using the Atomic Force Microscope
(AFM) images, as well as surface profilometer scans of a rough surface, and
comparing the results with experiments. The theory is in good agreement with
the experimental results.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure
Enhanced dynamic functional connectivity (whole-brain chronnectome) in chess experts
Multidisciplinary approaches have demonstrated that the brain is potentially modulated by the long-term acquisition and practice of specific skills. Chess playing can be considered a paradigm for shaping brain function, with complex interactions among brain networks possibly enhancing cognitive processing. Dynamic network analysis based on resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) can be useful to explore the effect of chess playing on whole-brain fluidity/dynamism (the chronnectome). Dynamic connectivity parameters of 18 professional chess players and 20 beginner chess players were evaluated applying spatial independent component analysis (sICA), sliding-time window correlation, and meta-state approaches to rs-fMRI data. Four indexes of meta-state dynamic fluidity were studied: i) the number of distinct meta-states a subject pass through, ii) the number of switches from one meta-state to another, iii) the span of the realized meta-states (the largest distance between two meta-states that subjects occupied), and iv) the total distance travelled in the state space. Professional chess players exhibited an increased dynamic fluidity, expressed as a higher number of occupied meta-states (meta-state numbers, 75.8 ± 7.9 vs 68.8 ± 12.0, p = 0.043 FDR-corrected) and changes from one meta-state to another (meta-state changes, 77.1 ± 7.3 vs 71.2 ± 11.0, p = 0.043 FDR-corrected) than beginner chess players. Furthermore, professional chess players exhibited an increased dynamic range, with increased traveling between successive meta-states (meta-state total distance, 131.7 ± 17.8 vs 108.7 ± 19.7, p = 0.0004 FDR-corrected). Chess playing may induce changes in brain activity through the modulation of the chronnectome. Future studies are warranted to evaluate if these potential effects lead to enhanced cognitive processing and if "gaming" might be used as a treatment in clinical practice
Flexible strain sensors based on electrostatically actuated graphene flakes
In this paper we present flexible strain sensors made of graphene flakes fabricated, characterized, and analyzed for the electrical actuation and readout of their mechanical vibratory response in strain-sensing applications. For a typical suspended graphene membrane fabricated with an approximate length of 10 μm, a mechanical resonance frequency around 136 MHz with a quality factor (Q) of ∼60 in air under ambient conditions was observed. The applied strain can shift the resonance frequency substantially, which is found to be related to the alteration of physical dimension and the built-in strain in the graphene flake. Strain sensing was performed using both planar and nonplanar surfaces (bending with different radii of curvature) as well as by stretching with different elongations. © 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd
- …