Tangential slip noise of V-ribbed belts

This paper reports the results of a study into V-ribbed belt noise generated as a result of tangential belt slip. The results of experimental studies to identify the belt operating conditions associated with belt noise are presented, together with the results of analytical studies to identify the mechanism of noise generation. It is concluded that tangential slip V-ribbed belt noise generation is controlled only by the amount of slip, and that the mechanism of noise generation is harmonic excitation of the fundamental vibration mode of the belt, with stick¿slip frictional behaviour providing the impetus for the vibratio

Automotive timing belt life laws and a user design guide

The paper presents a computer-based guide of the effect of layout and loading (tension and torque) on the timing belt life and uses it to show the sensitivity of life to changed conditions in an automotive camshaft drive. The predictions are in line with experience. The guide requires belt property information, such as the tooth and tension member stiffness, the friction coefficient between the belt lands and pulleys and the pitch difference from the pulley, in order to calculate the tooth deflections caused by the belt loadings on the various pulleys in the layout. It also requires information on how the belt life depends on the tooth deflections. Experimental data are presented on the life±deflection relations of a commercial automotive timing belt tested between 100 and 140 8C, although the bulk of the data has been obtained at 120 8C. Four different life laws have been found, depending on whether the failure-initiating deflection occurred on a driver or a driven pulley, and whether at entry to or exit from the pulley. Theoretical analysis of the tooth loading in the partial meshing state shows that, in three cases out of the four, the different life±deflection laws transform to a single relation between the life and the tooth root strain. The exception is failure caused by driven entry conditions; work is continuing to understand better the causes of failure in this circumstanc

Experimental Evidence for a Spin-Polarized Ground State in the \nu=5/2 Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

We study the \nu=5/2 even-denominator fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) over a wide range of magnetic (B) field in a heterojunction insulated gate field-effect transistor (HIGFET). The electron density can be tuned from n=0 to 7.6 \times 10^{11} cm^{-2} with a peak mobility \mu = 5.5 \times 10^6 cm^2/Vs. The \nu=5/2 state shows a strong minimum in diagonal resistance and a developing Hall plateau at magnetic fields as high as 12.6T. The strength of the energy gap varies smoothly with B-field. We interpret these observations as strong evidence for a spin-polarized ground state at \nu=5/2.Comment: new references adde

Lessons Learned from Characterization, Performance Assessment, and EPA Regulatory Review of the 1996 Actinide Source Term for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is a US Department of Energy (DOE) facility for the permanent disposal of transuranic waste from defense activities. In 1996, the DOE submitted the Title 40 CFR Part 191 Compliance Certification Application for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (CCA) to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CCA included a probabilistic performance assessment (PA) conducted by Sandia National Laboratories to establish compliance with the quantitative release limits defined in 40 CFR 191.13. An experimental program to collect data relevant to the actinide source term began around 1989, which eventually supported the 1996 CCA PA actinide source term model. The actinide source term provided an estimate of mobile dissolved and colloidal Pu, Am, U, Th, and Np concentrations in their stable oxidation states, and accounted for effects of uncertainty in the chemistry of brines in waste disposal areas. The experimental program and the actinide source term included in the CCA PA underwent EPA review lasting more than 1 year. Experiments were initially conducted to develop data relevant to the wide range of potential future conditions in waste disposal areas. Interim, preliminary performance assessments and actinide source term models provided insight allowing refinement of experiments and models. Expert peer review provided additional feedback and confidence in the evolving experimental program. By 1995, the chemical database and PA predictions of WIPP performance were considered reliable enough to support the decision to add an MgO backfill to waste rooms to control chemical conditions and reduce uncertainty in actinide concentrations, especially for Pu and Am. Important lessons learned through the characterization, PA modeling, and regulatory review of the actinide source term are (1) experimental characterization and PA should evolve together, with neither activity completely dominating the other, (2) the understanding of physical processes required to develop conceptual models is greater than can be represented in PA models, (3) experimentalists should be directly involved in model and parameter abstraction and simplification for PA, and (4) external expert review should be incorporated early in a project to increase confidence long before regulatory reviews begin

Squeezing of Atoms in a Pulsed Optical Lattice

We study the process of squeezing of an ensemble of cold atoms in a pulsed optical lattice. The problem is treated both classically and quantum-mechanically under various thermal conditions. We show that a dramatic compression of the atomic density near the minima of the optical potential can be achieved with a proper pulsing of the lattice. Several strategies leading to the enhanced atomic squeezing are suggested, compared and optimized.Comment: Latex, 9 pages, 10 figures, submitted to PR

Rotating spin-1 bosons in the lowest Landau level

We present results for the ground states of a system of spin-1 bosons in a rotating trap. We focus on the dilute, weakly interacting regime, and restrict the bosons to the quantum states in the lowest Landau level (LLL) in the plane (disc), sphere or torus geometries. We map out parts of the zero temperature phase diagram, using both exact quantum ground states and LLL mean field configurations. For the case of a spin-independent interaction we present exact quantum ground states at angular momentum $L\leq N$. For general values of the interaction parameters, we present mean field studies of general ground states at slow rotation and of lattices of vortices and skyrmions at higher rotation rates. Finally, we discuss quantum Hall liquid states at ultra-high rotation.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, RevTe

Direct characterization of photo-induced lattice dynamics in BaFe₂As₂

Ultrafast light pulses can modify electronic properties of quantum materials by perturbing the underlying, intertwined degrees of freedom. In particular, iron-based superconductors exhibit a strong coupling among electronic nematic fluctuations, spins and the lattice, serving as a playground for ultrafast manipulation. Here we use time-resolved X-ray scattering to measure the lattice dynamics of photoexcited BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$. On optical excitation, no signature of an ultrafast change of the crystal symmetry is observed, but the lattice oscillates rapidly in time due to the coherent excitation of an A$_{1g}$ mode that modulates the Fe–As–Fe bond angle. We directly quantify the coherent lattice dynamics and show that even a small photoinduced lattice distortion can induce notable changes in the electronic and magnetic properties. Our analysis implies that transient structural modification can be an effective tool for manipulating the electronic properties of multi-orbital systems, where electronic instabilities are sensitive to the orbital character of bands

Measurement of Z/gamma*+jet+X angular distributions in ppbar collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

We present the first measurements at a hadron collider of differential cross sections for Z+jet+X production in delta phi(Z, jet), |delta y(Z, jet)| and |y_boost(Z, jet)|. Vector boson production in association with jets is an excellent probe of QCD and constitutes the main background to many small cross section processes, such as associated Higgs production. These measurements are crucial tests of the predictions of perturbative QCD and current event generators, which have varied success in describing the data. Using these measurements as inputs in tuning event generators will increase the experimental sensitivity to rare signals.Comment: Published in Physics Letters B 682 (2010), pp. 370-380. 15 pages, 6 figure

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in tau final states

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson using hadronically decaying tau leptons, in 1 inverse femtobarn of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron ppbar collider. We select two final states: tau plus missing transverse energy and b jets, and tau+ tau- plus jets. These final states are sensitive to a combination of associated W/Z boson plus Higgs boson, vector boson fusion and gluon-gluon fusion production processes. The observed ratio of the combined limit on the Higgs production cross section at the 95% C.L. to the standard model expectation is 29 for a Higgs boson mass of 115 GeV.Comment: publication versio