14,723 research outputs found
Three-dimensional carrier-dynamics simulation of terahertz emission from photoconductive switches
A semi-classical Monte Carlo model for studying three-dimensional carrier
dynamics in photoconductive switches is presented. The model was used to
simulate the process of photoexcitation in GaAs-based photoconductive antennas
illuminated with pulses typical of mode-locked Ti:Sapphire lasers. We analyzed
the power and frequency bandwidth of THz radiation emitted from these devices
as a function of bias voltage, pump pulse duration and pump pulse location. We
show that the mechanisms limiting the THz power emitted from photoconductive
switches fall into two regimes: when illuminated with short duration (<40 fs)
laser pulses the energy distribution of the Gaussian pulses constrains the
emitted power, while for long (>40 fs) pulses, screening is the primary
power-limiting mechanism. A discussion of the dynamics of bias field screening
in the gap region is presented. The emitted terahertz power was found to be
enhanced when the exciting laser pulse was in close proximity to the anode of
the photoconductive emitter, in agreement with experimental results. We show
that this enhancement arises from the electric field distribution within the
emitter combined with a difference in the mobilities of electrons and holes.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
An Entailment Relation for Reasoning on the Web
Reasoning on the Web is receiving an increasing attention because of emerging fields such as Web adaption and Semantic Web. Indeed, the advanced functionalities striven for in these fields call for reasoning capabilities. Reasoning on the Web, however, is usually done using existing techniques rarely fitting the Web. As a consequence, additional data processing like data conversion from Web formats (e.g. XML or HTML) into some other formats (e.g. classical logic terms and formulas) is often needed and aspects of the Web (e.g. its inherent inconsistency) are neglected. This article first gives requirements for an entailment tuned to reasoning on the Web. Then, it describes how classical logic’s entailment can be modified so as to enforce these requirements. Finally, it discusses how the proposed entailment can be used in applying logic programming to reasoning on the Web
High resolution Cherenkov detectors for cosmic ray isotope experiment
Cerenkov detectors are used to measure the velocity of particles in configurations designed to study the isotopic composition of galactic cosmic rays. The geometrical properties of the detector are outlined. Monte-Carlo simulations of photon propagation in a diffusive detector were undertaken. The scattering properties of diffusively reflecting white paint and of surface treatments for the radiator material were measured. It is found that the absorption of light in the radiator is an important light loss mechanism. The simulations are used to find optimal mapping techniques and data reduction strategies. The application of these techniques are discussed with respect to the large area isotopic composition experiment (ALICE) Cerenkov detector
The design of an experiment to detect low energy antiprotons
The techniques to be used in a balloon borne experiment APEX to detect 220 MeV antiprotons are described, paying particular attention to potential sources of background. Event time history is shown to be very effective in eliminating this background. Results of laboratory tests on the timing resolution which may be achieved are presented
Fatigue Life Improvement of Welded Girders with Ultrasonic Impact Treatment
The fatigue life of welded connections can be improved by a variety of post‐weld treatment methods. One of the most effective methods is ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT). This technology may be applied during shop fabrication, but the greatest benefit comes from field retrofitting applications. Tensile cyclic stress ranges drive fatigue crack initiation and growth at the weld toe. This is made worse by tensile residual stresses at the weld toe that can reach the yield strength of the base metal resulting from differential cooling of the weld metal during fabrication. This concentration of tensile residual stress can have the effect of fully tensile cyclic stress ranges even in stress reversal zones of the bridge. UIT induces yield‐strength level compressive residual stresses by cold forming the material at the weld toe. Prior research has demonstrated the effectiveness of 27 kHz UIT systems for improving the fatigue life of welded bridge girders (Fisher and Roy, 2003). The AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction Specification Commentary C11.9.1 suggests, but does not explicitly require, the use of 27 kHz systems. The existing language can be interpreted as a prohibition on other UIT systems. This report explores the effectiveness of a 20 kHz UIT system applied to transverse stiffener and cover plate termination welds. In this study, fourteen full‐scale girders with welded attachments were subjected to constant amplitude fatigue loading. The test matrix considered variables of stress range and minimum stress. Testing has shown that the 20 kHz UIT system provided equivalent effect to the 27 kHz UIT system. The treatment of the transverse stiffener welds improved the performance from Category C′ to at least Category B. The performance of the cover plate termination welds improved from Category E′ to at least Category C. The results demonstrated 20 kHz UIT as a viable option for enhancing the fatigue performance of welded bridge girders. This finding will expand the alternatives available to bridge owners seeking solutions for extending the life of their aging steel bridge inventory
Influence of surface passivation on ultrafast carrier dynamics and terahertz radiation generation in GaAs
The carrier dynamics of photoexcited electrons in the vicinity of the surface
of (NH4)2S-passivated GaAs were studied via terahertz (THz) emission
spectroscopy and optical-pump THz-probe spectroscopy. THz emission spectroscopy
measurements, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations of THz emission, revealed
that the surface electric field of GaAs reverses after passivation. The
conductivity of photoexcited electrons was determined via optical-pump
THz-probe spectroscopy, and was found to double after passivation. These
experiments demonstrate that passivation significantly reduces the surface
state density and surface recombination velocity of GaAs. Finally, we have
demonstrated that passivation leads to an enhancement in the power radiated by
photoconductive switch THz emitters, thereby showing the important influence of
surface chemistry on the performance of ultrafast THz photonic devices.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Applied Physics Letter
Supernova 1987A: Rotation and a Binary Companion
In this paper we provide a possible link between the structure of the bipolar
nebula surrounding SN1987A and the properties of its progenitor star. A Wind
Blwon Bubble (WBB) scenario is emplyed, in which a fast, tenuous wind from a
Blue Supergiant expands into a slow, dense wind, expelled during an earlier Red
Supergiant phase. The bipolar shapre develops due to a pole-to-equator density
contrast in the slow wind (ie, the slow wind forms a slow torus). We use the
Wind Compressed Disk (WCD) model of Bjorkman & Cassinelli (1992) to determine
the shape of the slow torus. In the WCD scenario, the shape of the torus is
determined by the rotation of the progenitor star. We then use a self-similar
semi-analytical method for wind blown bubble evolution to determine the shape
of the resulting bipolar nebula.
We find that the union of the wind-compressed-disk and bipolar-wind-blown-
bubble models allows us to recover the salient properties of SN1987A's
circumstellar nebula. In particular, the size, speed and density of SN1987A's
inner ring are easily reproduced in our calculations. An exploration of
parameter space shows the the red supergiant progenitor must be been rotating
at > 0.3 of its breakup speed. We conclude that the progenitor was most likely
spun up by a merger with a binary companion. Using a simple model for the
binary merger we find that the companion is likely to have had a mass > 0.5
M_sun.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figure
Structural and energetic properties of nickel clusters:
The four most stable structures of Ni clusters with from 2 to 150
have been determined using a combination of the embedded-atom method in the
version of Daw, Baskes and Foiles, the {\it variable metric/quasi-Newton}
method, and our own {\it Aufbau/Abbau} method. A systematic study of
energetics, structure, growth, and stability of also larger clusters has been
carried through without more or less severe assumptions on the initial
geometries in the structure optimization, on the symmetry, or on bond lengths.
It is shown that cluster growth is predominantly icosahedral with of
{\it fcc}, {\it tetrahedral} and {\it decahedral} growth. For the first time in
unbiased computations it is found that Ni is the multilayer (third
Mackay) icosahedron. Further, we point to an enhanced ability of {\it fcc}
clusters to compete with the icosahedral and decahedral structures in the
vicinity of N=79. In addition, it is shown that conversion from the {\it
hcp}/anti-Mackay kind of icosahedral growth to the {\it fcc}/Mackay one occurs
within a transition layer including several cluster sizes. Moreover, we present
and apply different analytical tools in studying structural and energetic
properties of such a large class of clusters. These include means for
identifying the overall shape, the occurrence of atomic shells, the similarity
of the clusters with, e.g., fragments of the {\it fcc} crystal or of a large
icosahedral cluster, and a way of analysing whether the -atom cluster can be
considered constructed from the -atom one by adding an extra atom. In
addition, we compare in detail with results from chemical-probe experiment.
Maybe the most central result is that first for clusters with above 80
general trends can be identified.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figure
Relationships between two dimensions of employee perfectionism, postwork cognitive processing, and work day functioning
This daily diary study examined relations between two distinct perfectionism dimensions and work-related cognitions experienced by employees during evening leisure time. Drawing from perseverative cognitive processing theory, we hypothesized that perfectionistic concerns would be related to work-related worry and rumination during postwork evenings. In contrast, we hypothesized that a theoretically more adaptive perfectionist dimension (perfectionistic strivings) would be associated with positively valenced self-reflections about work across consecutive evenings. A sample of 148 full-time workers completed an initial survey, which included a trait perfectionism measure, reported their work-related cognitions across four consecutive evenings of a working week, rated their sleep quality immediately upon awakening on each subsequent morning, and their daily levels of emotional exhaustion and work engagement at the end of each work day. Results showed that perfectionistic concerns were indirectly negatively associated with sleep quality and work day functioning via the tendency to worry and ruminate about work. In contrast, perfectionistic strivings were indirectly positively associated with work day engagement via the propensity to experience positive thoughts about work during evening leisure time. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed
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