1,246 research outputs found
Microscale resolution fracture toughness profiling at the zirconia-porcelain interface in dental prostheses
The high failure rate of the Yttria Partially Stabilized Zirconia (YPSZ)-porcelain interface in dental prostheses is influenced by the micro-scale mechanical property variation in this region. To improve the understanding of this behavior, micro-scale fracture toughness profiling by nanoindentation micropillar splitting is reported for the first time. Sixty 5 μm diameter micropillars were machined within the first 100 μm of the interface. Berkovich nanoindentation provided estimates of the bulk fracture toughness of YPSZ and porcelain that matched the literature values closely. However, the large included tip angle prevented precise alignment of indenter with the pillar center. Cube corner indentation was performed on the remainder of the pillars and calibration between nanoindentation using different tip shapes was used to determine the associated conversion factors. YPSZ micropillars failed by gradual crack propagation and bulk values persisted to within 15 μm from the interface, beyond which scatter increased and a 10% increase in fracture toughness was observed that may be associated with grain size variation at this location. Micropillars straddling the interface displayed preferential fracture within porcelain parallel to the interface at a location where nano-voiding has previously been observed and reported. Pure porcelain micropillars exhibited highly brittle failure and a large reduction of fracture toughness (by up to ∼90%) within the first 50 μm of the interface. These new insights constitute a major advance in understanding the structure-property relationship of this important bi-material interface at the micro-scale, and will improve micromechanical modelling needed to optimize current manufacturing routes and reduce failure.</p
A comparative transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and spatially resolved micropillar compression study of the yttria partially stabilised zirconia - Porcelain interface in dental prosthesis
Recent studies into the origins of failure of yttria partially stabilised zirconia-porcelain veneered prosthesis have revealed the importance of micro-to-nano scale characterisation of this interface zone. Current understanding suggests that the heat treatment, residual stresses and varying microstructure at this location may contribute to near-interface porcelain chipping. In this study the chemical, microstructural and mechanical property variation across the interfacial zone has been characterised at two differing length scales and using three independent techniques; energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and micropillar compression. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping of the near-interface region revealed, for the first time, that the diffusional lengths of twelve principal elements are limited to within 2-6 μm of the interface. This study also revealed that 0.2-2 μm diameter zirconia grains had become detached from the bulk and were embedded in the near-interface porcelain. Transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated the presence of nanoscale spherical features, indicative of tensile creep induced voiding, within the first 0.4-1.5 μm from the interface. Within zirconia, variations in grain size and atomistic structure were also observed within the 3 μm closest to the interface. Micropillar compression was performed over a 100 μm range on either side of the interface at the spatial resolution of 5 μm. This revealed an increase in zirconia and porcelain loading modulus at close proximities (< 5 μm) to the interface and a decrease in zirconia modulus at distances between 6 and 41 μm from this location. The combination of the three experimental techniques has revealed intricate details of the microstructural, chemical and consequently mechanical heterogeneities in the YPSZ-porcelain interface, and demonstrated that the length scales typically associated with this behaviour are approximately ± 5 μm.</p
Azimuthal anisotropy and correlations in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV
We present the first measurement of directed flow () at RHIC. is
found to be consistent with zero at pseudorapidities from -1.2 to 1.2,
then rises to the level of a couple of percent over the range . The latter observation is similar to data from NA49 if the SPS rapidities
are shifted by the difference in beam rapidity between RHIC and SPS.
Back-to-back jets emitted out-of-plane are found to be suppressed more if
compared to those emitted in-plane, which is consistent with {\it jet
quenching}. Using the scalar product method, we systematically compared
azimuthal correlations from p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions. Flow and non-flow
from these three different collision systems are discussed.Comment: Quark Matter 2004 proceeding, 4 pages, 3 figure
Azimuthal anisotropy: the higher harmonics
We report the first observations of the fourth harmonic (v_4) in the
azimuthal distribution of particles at RHIC. The measurement was done taking
advantage of the large elliptic flow generated at RHIC. The integrated v_4 is
about a factor of 10 smaller than v_2. For the sixth (v_6) and eighth (v_8)
harmonics upper limits on the magnitudes are reported.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, contribution to the Quark Matter 2004 proceeding
Strange Resonance Production in p+p and Au+Au Collisions at RHIC Energies
Resonance yields and spectra from elementary p+p and Au+Au collisions at
200 GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC are presented
and discussed in terms of chemical and thermal freeze-out conditions. Thermal
models do not adequately describe the yields of the resonance production in
central Au+Au collisions. The approach to include elastic hadronic interactions
between chemical freeze-out and thermal freeze-out suggests a time of 5 fm/c.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, proceedings of the Quark Matter 2004, in Oakland,
California, to be published in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle
Physic
Identified particles at large transverse momenta in STAR in Au+Au collisions @ sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
We report measurements of the ratios of identified hadrons (pi,K,p,Lambda) in
Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV as a function of both collision
centrality and transverse momentum (p_T). Ratios of anti-baryon to baryon
yields are independent of p_T within 2<p_T <6 GeV/c indicating that, for such a
range, our measurements are inconsistent with theoretical pQCD calculations
predicting a decrease due to a stronger contribution from valence quark
scattering. For both strange and non-strange species, a strong baryon
enhancement relative to meson yields is observed as a function of collision
centrality in this intermediate p_T region, leading to p/pi and Lambda/K ratios
greater than unity. The nuclear modification factor, R_cp (central relative to
peripheral collisions), is used to illustrate the interplay between jet
quenching and hadron production. The physics implications of these measurements
are discussed with reference to different theoretical models.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of Quark Matter 2004 Conference, Jan
2004, Oakland, USA. Submitted to Journal of Physics
High- electron distributions in d+Au and p+p collisions at RHIC
We present preliminary measurements of electron and positron spectra in d+Au
and p+p collisions at GeV for GeV/c.
These measurements were carried out using the STAR Time Projection Chamber
(TPC) and the Barrel Electromagnetic calorimeter (EMC). Overall hadron
rejection factors in the range of have been achieved. In this work we
describe the measurement technique used to discriminate electrons from hadrons
and compare the results for single electron spectra with Pythia based pQCD
calculations for electrons from heavy-quark semi-leptonic decays.Comment: Quark Matter 2004 conference proceeding
Plasma Wakefield Acceleration with a Modulated Proton Bunch
The plasma wakefield amplitudes which could be achieved via the modulation of
a long proton bunch are investigated. We find that in the limit of long bunches
compared to the plasma wavelength, the strength of the accelerating fields is
directly proportional to the number of particles in the drive bunch and
inversely proportional to the square of the transverse bunch size. The scaling
laws were tested and verified in detailed simulations using parameters of
existing proton accelerators, and large electric fields were achieved, reaching
1 GV/m for LHC bunches. Energy gains for test electrons beyond 6 TeV were found
in this case.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
All-optical switching and strong coupling using tunable whispering-gallery-mode microresonators
We review our recent work on tunable, ultrahigh quality factor
whispering-gallery-mode bottle microresonators and highlight their applications
in nonlinear optics and in quantum optics experiments. Our resonators combine
ultra-high quality factors of up to Q = 3.6 \times 10^8, a small mode volume,
and near-lossless fiber coupling, with a simple and customizable mode structure
enabling full tunability. We study, theoretically and experimentally, nonlinear
all-optical switching via the Kerr effect when the resonator is operated in an
add-drop configuration. This allows us to optically route a single-wavelength
cw optical signal between two fiber ports with high efficiency. Finally, we
report on progress towards strong coupling of single rubidium atoms to an
ultra-high Q mode of an actively stabilized bottle microresonator.Comment: 20 pages, 24 figures. Accepted for publication in Applied Physics B.
Changes according to referee suggestions: minor corrections to some figures
and captions, clarification of some points in the text, added references,
added new paragraph with results on atom-resonator interactio
Correlations and Fluctuations in STAR
We report measurements for the balance function, transverse momentum
fluctuations, and net charge fluctuations from Au+Au collisions at 20, 130, and
200 GeV as well as p+p and d+Au collisions at 200 GeV using STAR at RHIC. For
Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV, we observe a narrowing of the balance function in
central collisions. We observe dynamic transverse momentum fluctuations at all
incident energies. Observables related to transverse momentum fluctuations and
net charge fluctuations are similar for peripheral Au+Au collisions and
inclusive p+p collisions while central Au+Au collisions deviate significantly
from HIJING predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Contribution to Quark Matter 2004 Proceeding
- …