Shape-dependence of near-field heat transfer between a spheroidal nanoparticle and a flat surface

We study the radiative heat transfer between a spheroidal metallic nanoparticle and a planar metallic sample for near- and far-field distances. In particular, we investigate the shape dependence of the heat transfer in the near-field regime. In comparison with spherical particles, the heat transfer typically varies by factors between 1/2 and 2 when the particle is deformed such that its volume is kept constant. These estimates help to quantify the deviation of the actual heat transfer recorded by a near-field scanning thermal microscope from the value provided by a dipole model which assumes a perfectly spherical sensor

Thickness-dependent thermal properties of amorphous insulating thin films measured by photoreflectance microscopy

In this work, we report on the measurement of the thermal conductivity of thin insulating films of SiO2 obtained by thermal oxidation, and Al2O3 grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), both on Si wafers. We used photoreflectance microscopy to determine the thermal properties of the films as a function of thickness in the 2 nm to 1000 nm range. The effective thermal conductivity of the Al2O3 layer is shown to decrease with thickness down to 70% for the thinnest layers. The data were analyzed upon considering that the change in the effective thermal conductivity corresponds to an intrinsic thermal conductivity associated to an additional interfacial thermal resistance. The intrinsic conductivity and interfacial thermal resistance of SiO2 were found to be equal to 0.95 W/m·K and 5.1 × 10− 9 m2K/W respectively; those of Al2O3 were found to be 1.56 W/m·K and 4.3 × 10− 9 m2K/W

The Distance to the Soft Gamma Repeater SGR 1627-41

We report millimeter observations of the line of sight to the recently discovered Soft Gamma Repeater, SGR 1627-41, which has been tentatively associated with the supernova remnant SNR G337.0-0.1 Among the eight molecular clouds along the line of sight to SGR 1627-41, we show that SNR G337.0-0.1 is probably interacting with one of the most massive giant molecular clouds (GMC) in the Galaxy, at a distance of 11 kpc from the sun. Based on the high extinction to the persistent X-ray counterpart of SGR 1627-41, we present evidence for an association of this new SGR with the SNR G337.0-0.1; they both appear to be located on the near side of the GMC. This is the second SGR located near an extraordinarily massive GMC. We suggest that SGR 1627-41 is a neutron star with a high transverse velocity (~ 1,000 \kms) escaping the young (~ 5,000 years) supernova remnant G337.0-0.1Comment: 17 pages, including 2 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Tuneable Capacitor based on dual picks profile of the sacrificial layer

In this paper, we present a novel dual gap tuneable capacitor process based on the profile of the sacrificial layer. This profile involves a tri-layer photo-resist process with only one mask level. This realization is based on a special profile of the sacrificial layer designed by two picks. The mechanism of the sacrificial layer realisation is dependent on resist thickness, resist formulation (viscosity, type of polymer and/or solvent, additives...), design of the patterned layer (size or width) and the conditions under which this layer is prepared: thermal treatment, etch back processes... In this communication we demonstrate influence of the later parameters and discuss how a dual pick profile was achieved.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/EDA-Publishing

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV and orthopaedic complications

SummaryHereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN-IV) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of unexplained fever, extensive anhidrosis, total insensitivity to pain, hypotonia, and mental retardation. The most frequent complications of this disease are corneal scarring, multiple fractures, joint deformities, osteomyelitis, and disabling self-mutilations. We reported the case of a 12-year-old boy. The goal was to discuss our decision-making and compare this case with cases described in the literature

Molecular dynamics investigations of modulated phases in organic materials

In order to apply the molecular dynamics (MD) method to simulate modulated phases in organic materials, a compensating external pressure tensor is proposed to compensate for the deficiencies of the force field applied in the simulation. MD can well reproduce modulated phases that have been measured by diffraction. Mechanisms of incommensurate modulation are revealed from the simulations. Details of the structures relating to the origins and mechanisms giving rise to the formation of modulated phases are presented

Efficacité énergétique et émissions de GES de systèmes d'élevage bovin viande en Amazonie.

L?élevage au Brésil, 1er exportateur mondial de viande, serait responsable de plus de 75% des déforestations et 19% des émissions nationales de gaz à effet de serre (GES). L?objectif de notre étude est de mettre au point une première méthode de calcul d?efficacité énergétique et d?émissions de GES des systèmes d?élevage amazoniens, en se basant sur la méthode Planète. Une révision de l?ensemble des coefficients énergétiques et des facteurs d?émission de GES ainsi que l?ajout de certaines rubriques ont permis d?élaborer un logiciel de calcul adapté au contexte régional. Six systèmes d?élevage bovin allaitants ont été étudiés lors d?enquêtes directes : un naisseur, trois engraisseurs et deux naisseurs-engraisseurs avec des troupeaux compris entre 650 et 3700 têtes, des charges instantanées variables, liées à des gestions de pâturage et des pratiques alimentaires très diversifiées. Les consommations d?énergie sont en moyenne de 9 724 MJ/t poids vif/an (min=4 019 MJ/t, max=15 243 MJ/t). Les principaux postes, responsables de 56% à 93% des consommations d?énergie, sont les achats d?aliments, la fertilisation des pâturages et l?achat de carburant (et d?animaux pour les engraisseurs). Ces systèmes d?élevage basés sur des ressources herbagères abondantes, utilisant peu d?intrants et d?infrastructures sont peu consommateurs d?énergie, comparés aux autres systèmes dans le monde. Les différences d?efficacité énergétique sont liées à l?efficacité productive végétale et animale et non au degré d?intensité d?utilisation des intrants. Les émissions de GES sont importantes, en moyenne de 19,8 t eq CO2/ t poids vif/ an (min= 11,2 t eq CO2/t, max= 40,5 t eq CO2/t). La déforestation avec un amortissement linéaire sur 20 ans représente de zéro jusqu?à 75% des émissions totales. Nous avons aussi montré l?intérêt environnemental de systèmes productifs intégrant agriculture et élevage. Ces résultats à l?échelle des exploitations participent de la prise de conscience individuelle des éleveurs et renforcent les engagements locaux pour la « déforestation zéro ». La comparaison avec d?autres systèmes d?élevage dans le monde souligne l?intérêt d?une production animale maitrisée, en matière de déforestation et d?intensification, sous les tropiques humides. Plus largement cette étude montre la validité de cette méthode et devrait permettre de généraliser ces bilans

Effects of spatial dispersion in near-field radiative heat transfer between two parallel metallic surfaces

We study the heat transfer between two parallel metallic semi-infinite media with a gap in the nanometer-scale range. We show that the near-field radiative heat flux saturates at distances smaller than the metal skin depth when using a local dielectric constant and investigate the origin of this effect. The effect of non-local corrections is analysed using the Lindhard-Mermin and Boltzmann-Mermin models. We find that local and non-local models yield the same heat fluxes for gaps larger than 2 nm. Finally, we explain the saturation observed in a recent experiment as a manifestation of the skin depth and show that heat is mainly dissipated by eddy currents in metallic bodies.Comment: Version without figures (8 figures in the complete version