56,620 research outputs found
Photothermal characterization of encapsulant materials for photovoltaic modules
A photothermal test matrix and a low cost testing apparatus for encapsulant materials of photovoltaic modules were defined. Photothermal studies were conducted to screen and rank existing as well as future encapsulant candidate materials and/or material formulations in terms of their long term physiochemical stability under accelerated photothermal aging conditions. Photothermal characterization of six candidate pottant materials and six candidate outer cover materials were carried out. Principal products of photothermal degradation are identified. Certain critical properties are also monitored as a function of photothermal aging
Multi-wavelength variability properties of Fermi blazar S5 0716+714
S5 0716+714 is a typical BL Lacertae object. In this paper we present the
analysis and results of long term simultaneous observations in the radio,
near-infrared, optical, X-ray and -ray bands, together with our own
photometric observations for this source. The light curves show that the
variability amplitudes in -ray and optical bands are larger than those
in the hard X-ray and radio bands and that the spectral energy distribution
(SED) peaks move to shorter wavelengths when the source becomes brighter, which
are similar to other blazars, i.e., more variable at wavelengths shorter than
the SED peak frequencies. Analysis shows that the characteristic variability
timescales in the 14.5 GHz, the optical, the X-ray, and the -ray bands
are comparable to each other. The variations of the hard X-ray and 14.5 GHz
emissions are correlated with zero-lag, so are the V band and -ray
variations, which are consistent with the leptonic models. Coincidences of
-ray and optical flares with a dramatic change of the optical
polarization are detected. Hadronic models do not have the same nature
explanation for these observations as the leptonic models. A strong optical
flare correlating a -ray flare whose peak flux is lower than the
average flux is detected. Leptonic model can explain this variability
phenomenon through simultaneous SED modeling. Different leptonic models are
distinguished by average SED modeling. The synchrotron plus synchrotron
self-Compton (SSC) model is ruled out due to the extreme input parameters.
Scattering of external seed photons, such as the hot dust or broad line region
emission, and the SSC process are probably both needed to explain the
-ray emission of S5 0716+714.Comment: 43 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, to be appeared in Ap
A versatile microfadometer for lightfastness testing and pigment identification
The design and experimental method for the use of a novel instrument for lightfastness measurements on artwork is presented. The new microfadometer design offers increased durability and portability over the previous, published design, broadening the scope of locations at which data can be acquired. This reduces the need for art handling or transportation in order to gain evidence-based risk assessments for the display of light-sensitive artworks. The instrument focuses a stabilized high powered xenon lamp to a spot 0.25 millimeters (FWHM) while simultaneously monitoring color change. This makes it possible to identify pigments and determine the lightfastness of materials effectively and non-destructively. With 2.59mW or 0.82 lumens (1.7 x107 lux for a 0.25mm focused spot) the instrument is capable of fading Blue Wool 1 to a measured 11 ΔEab value (using CIE standard illuminant D65) in 15 minutes. The temperature increase created by focused radiation was measured to be 3 to 4°C above room temperature. The system was stable within 0.12 ΔEab over 1 hour and 0.31 ΔEab over 7 hours. A safety evaluation of the technique is discussed which concludes that some caution should be employed when fading smooth, uniform areas of artworks. The instrument can also incorporate a linear variable filter. This enables the researcher to identify the active wavebands that cause certain degradation reactions and determine the degree of wavelength dependence of fading. Some preliminary results of fading experiments on Prussian blue samples from the paint box of J. M. W Turner (1755-1851) are presented
Intrinsic electronic superconducting phases at 60 K and 90 K in double-layer YBaCuO
We study superconducting transition temperature () of oxygen-doped
double-layer high-temperature superconductors YBaCuO (0
1) as a function of the oxygen dopant concentration
() and planar hole-doping concentration (). We find that ,
while clearly influenced by the development of the chain ordering as seen in
the plot, lies on a universal curve originating at the
critical hole concentration () = 1/16 in the plot.
Our analysis suggests that the universal behavior of () can be
understood in terms of the competition and collaboration of chemical-phases and
electronic-phases that exist in the system. We conclude that the global
superconductivity behavior of YBaCuO as a function of
doping is electronically driven and dictated by pristine electronic phases at
magic doping numbers that follow the hierarchical order based on , such as
2 , 3 and 4 . We find that there are
at least two intrinsic electronic superconducting phases of = 60 K at 2
= 1/8 and = 90 K at 3 = 3/16.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
A holistic multimodal approach to the non-invasive analysis of watercolour paintings
A holistic approach using non-invasive multimodal imaging and spectroscopic techniques to study the materials (pigments, drawing materials and paper) and painting techniques of watercolour paintings is presented. The non-invasive imaging and spectroscopic techniques include VIS-NIR reflectance spectroscopy and multispectral imaging, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The three spectroscopic techniques complement each other in pigment identification. Multispectral imaging (near infrared bands), OCT and micro-Raman complement each other in the visualisation and identification of the drawing material. OCT probes the microstructure and light scattering properties of the substrate while XRF detects the elemental composition that indicates the sizing methods and the filler content . The multiple techniques were applied in a study of forty six 19th century Chinese export watercolours from the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to examine to what extent the non-invasive analysis techniques employed complement each other and how much useful information about the paintings can be extracted to address art conservation and history questions
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