Multiple wavemode scanning for near and far-side defect characterisation

The combination of ultrasonic inspections using different wavemodes can give more information than is available with single mode inspection. In this work, the response of shear and Rayleigh waves to surface-breaking defects propagating on the near-side and far-side of a sample is investigated. The directivity of shear waves generated by a racetrack coil electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) is identified and used to set an ideal separation for a pair of transmit-receive EMATs. Defects are indicated by a reduction in the transmitted Rayleigh wave amplitude, and by blocking of the shear wave. Used together, these can identify features in the bulk wave behaviour which are due to near-face surface-breaking defects, and give a full picture of both surfaces. By using a combination of the two wavemodes, the angle of propagation and length of any near-side defects can additionally be identified. A scanning method for samples is proposed

Low Temperature Superfluid Response of High-Tc Superconductors

We have reviewed our theoretical and experimental results of the low temperature superfluid response function of high temperature superconductors (HTSC). In clean high-Tc materials the in-plane superfluid density rho_s^{ab} varies linearly with temperature. The slope of this linear T term is found to scale approximately with 1/Tc which, according to the weak coupling BCS theory for a d-wave superconductor, implies that the gap amplitude scales approximately with Tc. A T^5 behavior of the out-of-plane superfluid density rho_s^c for clean tetragonal HTSC was predicted and observed experimentally in the single layer Hg-compound HgBa_2CuO_{4+delta}. In other tetragonal high-Tc compounds with relatively high anisotropy, such as Hg_2Ba_2Ca_2Cu_3O_{8+delta}, rho_s^c varies as T^2 due to disorder effects. In optimally doped YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-delta}, rho_s^c varies linearly with temperature at low temperatures, but in underdoped YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-delta}, rho_s^c varies as T^2 at low temperatures; these results are consistent with our theoretical calculations.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figure

Development and Verification of a Flight Stack for a High-Altitude Glider in Ada/SPARK 2014

SPARK 2014 is a modern programming language and a new state-of-the-art tool set for development and verification of high-integrity software. In this paper, we explore the capabilities and limitations of its latest version in the context of building a flight stack for a high-altitude unmanned glider. Towards that, we deliberately applied static analysis early and continuously during implementation, to give verification the possibility to steer the software design. In this process we have identified several limitations and pitfalls of software design and verification in SPARK, for which we give workarounds and protective actions to avoid them. Finally, we give design recommendations that have proven effective for verification, and summarize our experiences with this new language

Thermodynamic properties and phase diagrams of spin-1 quantum Ising systems with three-spin interactions

The spin-1 quantum Ising systems with three-spin interactions on two-dimensional triangular lattices are studied by mean-field method. The thermal variations of order parameters and phase diagrams are investigated in detail. The stable, metastable and unstable branches of the order parameters are obtained. According to the stable conditions at critical point, we find that the systems exhibit tricritical points. With crystal field and biquadratic interactions, the system has rich phase diagrams with single reentrant or double reentrant phase transitions for appropriate ranges of the both parameters.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

On the Origin and Survival of UHE Cosmic-Ray Nuclei in GRBs and Hypernovae

The chemical composition of the ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic rays serves as an important clue for their origin. Recent measurements of the elongation rates by the Pierre Auger Observatory hint at the possible presence of heavy or intermediate mass nuclei in the UHE cosmic rays. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and hypernovae have been suggested as possible sources of the UHE cosmic rays. Here we derive the constraints on the physical conditions under which UHE heavy nuclei, if they are accelerated in these sources, can survive in their intense photon fields. We find that in the GRB external shock and in the hypernova scenarios, UHE nuclei can easily survive photo-disintegration. In the GRB internal shock scenario, UHE nuclei can also survive, provided the dissipation radius and/or the bulk Lorentz factor of the relativistic outflow are relatively large, or if the low-energy self-absorption break in the photon spectrum of the prompt emission occurs above several KeV. In internal shocks and in the other scenarios, intermediate-mass UHE nuclei have a higher probability of survival against photo-disintegration than UHE heavy nuclei such as Fe.Comment: accepted by ApJ, references added, 12 pages, 4 figures, emulateapj styl