Development of polymer network of phenolic and epoxies resins mixed with linseed oil: pilot study

Epoxy resin was mixed with phenolic resins in different percentages by weight. Composite 40/60 means the proportion by weight of epoxy resin is 40 percent. It was found that only composites 50/50 and 40/60 could be cured in ambient conditions. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that only these two composites form interpenetrating polymer network. The addition of linseed oil to the two resins results also in the formation of interpenetrating network irrespective of proportion by weight of the resins; the mechanical properties will only be better when the percentage by weight of epoxy resin is higher; the aim of reducing cost and at the same time maintaining the mechanical properties cannot be fully achieved because epoxy resin is much more expensive than its counterpart

An imaging gas scintillation proportional counter for the detection of subkiloelectron-volt X-rays

A large area imaging gas scintillation proportional counter (IGSPC) was constructed for use in X-ray astronomy. The IGSPC consists of a gas scintillation proportional counted (GSPC) with a micron polyprotylene window coupled to a multiwire proportional counter (MWPC) via a calcium fluoride window. Over a sensitive area of 21 cu cm the instrument has a measured energy resolution of 17.5% (FWHM) and 1.9 mm (FWHM) spatial resolution at 1.5 keV

Variable frequency microwave (VFM) processing facilities and application in processing thermoplastic matrix composites

Microwave processing of materials is a relatively new technology advancement alternative that provides new approaches for enhancing material properties as well as economic advantages through energy savings and accelerated product development. Factors that hinder the use of microwaves in materials processing are declining, so that prospect for the development of this technology seem to be very promising. The two mechanisms of orientation polarisation and interfacial space charge polarisation, together with dc conductivity, form the basis of high frequency heating. Clearly, advantages in utilising microwave technologies for processing materials include penetration radiation, controlled electric field distribution and selective and volumetric heating. However, the most commonly used facilities for microwave processing materials are of fixed frequency, e.g. 2.45 GHz. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of microwave technologies, processing methods and industrial applications, using variable frequency microwave (VFM) facilities. This is a new alternative for microwave processing

Cascade of Solitonic Excitations in a Superfluid Fermi gas: From Planar Solitons to Vortex Rings and Lines

We follow the time evolution of a superfluid Fermi gas of resonantly interacting [superscript 6]Li atoms after a phase imprint. Via tomographic imaging, we observe the formation of a planar dark soliton, its subsequent snaking, and its decay into a vortex ring, which, in turn, breaks to finally leave behind a single solitonic vortex. In intermediate stages, we find evidence for an exotic structure resembling the Φ soliton, a combination of a vortex ring and a vortex line. Direct imaging of the nodal surface reveals its undulation dynamics and its decay via the puncture of the initial soliton plane. The observed evolution of the nodal surface represents dynamics beyond superfluid hydrodynamics, calling for a microscopic description of unitary fermionic superfluids out of equilibrium.National Science Foundation (U.S.)United States. Army Research Office. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative on AtomtronicsUnited States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and EngineersUnited States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative on Exotic PhasesDavid & Lucile Packard Foundatio

Initialization by measurement of a two-qubit superconducting circuit

We demonstrate initialization by joint measurement of two transmon qubits in 3D circuit quantum electrodynamics. Homodyne detection of cavity transmission is enhanced by Josephson parametric amplification to discriminate the two-qubit ground state from single-qubit excitations non-destructively and with 98.1% fidelity. Measurement and postselection of a steady-state mixture with 4.7% residual excitation per qubit achieve 98.8% fidelity to the ground state, thus outperforming passive initialization.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, and Supplementary Information (7 figures, 1 table

Superconducting Nanowires as Nonlinear Inductive Elements for Qubits

We report microwave transmission measurements of superconducting Fabry-Perot resonators (SFPR), having a superconducting nanowire placed at a supercurrent antinode. As the plasma oscillation is excited, the supercurrent is forced to flow through the nanowire. The microwave transmission of the resonator-nanowire device shows a nonlinear resonance behavior, significantly dependent on the amplitude of the supercurrent oscillation. We show that such amplitude-dependent response is due to the nonlinearity of the current-phase relationship (CPR) of the nanowire. The results are explained within a nonlinear oscillator model of the Duffing oscillator, in which the nanowire acts as a purely inductive element, in the limit of low temperatures and low amplitudes. The low quality factor sample exhibits a "crater" at the resonance peak at higher driving power, which is due to dissipation. We observe a hysteretic bifurcation behavior of the transmission response to frequency sweep in a sample with a higher quality factor. The Duffing model is used to explain the Duffing bistability diagram. We also propose a concept of a nanowire-based qubit that relies on the current dependence of the kinetic inductance of a superconducting nanowire.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figure

Coercive Field and Magnetization Deficit in Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As Epilayers

We have studied the field dependence of the magnetization in epilayers of the diluted magnetic semiconductor Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As for 0.0135 < x < 0.083. Measurements of the low temperature magnetization in fields up to 3 T show a significant deficit in the total moment below that expected for full saturation of all the Mn spins. These results suggest that the spin state of the non-ferromagnetic Mn spins is energetically well separated from the ferromagnetism of the bulk of the spins. We have also studied the coercive field (Hc) as a function of temperature and Mn concentration, finding that Hc decreases with increasing Mn concentration as predicted theoretically.Comment: 15 total pages -- 5 text, 1 table, 4 figues. Accepted for publication in MMM 2002 conference proceedings (APL

Forage Yield and Soil Moisture Content in \u3cem\u3ePanicum Maximum\u3c/em\u3e cv. Tanzania Monoculture and in a Mixture with \u3cem\u3eLeucaena Leucocephala\u3c/em\u3e with Different Densities in Mexico

Cattle production is limited by forage availability during the dry season since water and soil fertility are the main factors limiting production. Leucaena leucocephala has good nutritive value (24-30% CP). It can stand drought and grazing and so its introduction into pastures is recommended as an alternative to forage production during the dry season. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the introduction of L. leucocephala with different densities on biomass production of P. maximum and soil water content