Strong mobility degradation in ideal graphene nanoribbons due to phonon scattering

We investigate the low-field phonon-limited mobility in armchair graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) using full-band electron and phonon dispersion relations. We show that lateral confinement suppresses the intrinsic mobility of GNRs to values typical of common bulk semiconductors, and very far from the impressive experiments on 2D graphene. Suspended GNRs with a width of 1 nm exhibit a mobility close to 500 cm^2/Vs at room temperature, whereas if the same GNRs are deposited on HfO2 mobility is further reduced to about 60 cm^2/Vs due to surface phonons. We also show the occurrence of polaron formation, leading to band gap renormalization of ~118 meV for 1 nm-wide armchair GNRs.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Atomistic quantum transport modeling of metal-graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions

We calculate quantum transport for metal-graphene nanoribbon heterojunctions within the atomistic self-consistent Schr\"odinger/Poisson scheme. Attention is paid on both the chemical aspects of the interface bonding as well the one-dimensional electrostatics along the ribbon length. Band-bending and doping effects strongly influence the transport properties, giving rise to conductance asymmetries and a selective suppression of the subband formation. Junction electrostatics and p-type characteristics drive the conduction mechanism in the case of high work function Au, Pd and Pt electrodes, while contact resistance becomes dominant in the case of Al.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Simulation of hydrogenated graphene Field-Effect Transistors through a multiscale approach

In this work, we present a performance analysis of Field Effect Transistors based on recently fabricated 100% hydrogenated graphene (the so-called graphane) and theoretically predicted semi-hydrogenated graphene (i.e. graphone). The approach is based on accurate calculations of the energy bands by means of GW approximation, subsequently fitted with a three-nearest neighbor (3NN) sp3 tight-binding Hamiltonian, and finally used to compute ballistic transport in transistors based on functionalized graphene. Due to the large energy gap, the proposed devices have many of the advantages provided by one-dimensional graphene nanoribbon FETs, such as large Ion and Ion/Ioff ratios, reduced band-to-band tunneling, without the corresponding disadvantages in terms of prohibitive lithography and patterning requirements for circuit integration

Lithuanian pension system’s reforms transformations and forecasts

The aim of this article is to describe the Lithuanian pension system, its reform process and its long-term financial sustainability. We define therefore the current reforms in the public pension system, influenced by the last economic crisis and social challenges. Also, we forecast the financial dynamics of the public pension system, in the light of raising social expenses (due to second pillar pension reforms) and of demographic trends (like ageing society and low fertility). Results reveal the long-term sustainability of the system, albeit at a cost of initial negative balances to be covered with public budget. Policy solutions could improve sustainability by encouraging and extending employment (especially for the disadvantaged) and by building trust in both public and private pension systems

To reorient is easier than to orient: An on-line algorithm for reorientation of graphs

We define an on-line (incremental) algorithm that, given a (possibly infinite) pseudo-transitive oriented graph, produces a transitive reorientation. This implies that a theorem of Ghouila-Houri is provable in RCA_0 and hence is computably true

Study of sequential semileptonic decays of b hadrons produced at the Tevatron

We present a study of rates and kinematical properties of lepton pairs contained in central jets with transverse energy E_T > 15 GeV that are produced at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We compare the data to a QCD prediction based on the HERWIG and QQ Monte Carlo generator programs.We find that the data are poorly described by the simulation, in which sequential semileptonic decays of single b quarks (b --> l c X with c --> l s X) are the major source of such lepton pairs.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures. Some typos were fixed in the text and bibliography. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

A study of boiling water flow regimes at low pressures

"A comprehensive experimental program to examine flow regimes at pressures below 100 psia for boiling of water in tubes was carried out. An electrical probe, which measures the resistance of the fluid between the centerline of the flow and the tube wall, was used to identify the various flow regimes. This probe proved to be an ideal detection device, because of its simplicity, reproducibility, and accurate representation of the flow pattern within the heated test section. The major flow regimes observed were bubbly, slug and annular flow. Under certain conditions at high flow rates, a wispy-annular flow patern was observed. The effects of mass velocity (0.2 x 10 - 2.4 x 100 lbm/hr-ft2), inlet temperature (100, 150, 2000F), exit pressure (30, 100 psia), quality (x = -10 - +7 percent), purity (9, 40 PPM NaCl; 1-3 megohm-cm), length (L/D-30, 6Q, 90), diameter 0.094, 0.242 in.), and orientation (vertical and horizontal on the flow regimes were studied. Flow regime maps on coordinates of mass velocity and quality are presented for these conditions. Bubbly and slug flow occurred primarily in the subcooled region, while fully developed annular flow was reached at equilibrium qualities between 2 and 4 percent. The transitions between the different flows were shifted to regions of increased subcooling when velocity, pressure, and heat flux increased, and when inlet temperature decreased. Purity and geometry had little affect on the flow regime boundaries.(cont.) The shifting of the transitions is related to the agglomeration point, which is that point at which the bubbles so coalesce that slug flow is first observed. The agglomeration point depends on the point of incipient boiling, the number of bubbles in the flow, and the number of collisions per bubble. These latter quantities in turn depend on velocity, temperature, pressure, and heat flux. The flow regime information obtained in this study s~hould be of value in correlating and interpreting low pressure heattransfer data. The flow regime data were found to be useful in explaining the effect of inlet temperature on burnout heat flux.Sponsored by the Solid State Sciences Division, Air Force Office of Scientific Research D.S.R

Model of critical heat flux in subcooled flow boiling

The physical phenomenon occurring before and at the critical heat flux (CHF) for subcooled flow boiling has been investigated. The first phase of this study established the basic nature of the flow structure at CHF. A photographic study of the flow in a glass annular test section was accomplished by using microflash lighting and a Polaroid camera. The results showed that the flow structure at CHF for high heat flux (1 x 106 - 5 x 106 Btu/hr-ft2), high subcooling (50-110 *F), at low pressures (less than 100 psia) was slug or froth flow depending on the mass velocity. Nucleation was shown to exist in the superheated liquid film. Pin-holes in the burned-out test sections suggested that the CHF condition was extremely localized. Flow regime studies in tubular and annular geometries, using an electrical resistance probe, provided further evidence of the slug or froth nature of the flow, and also showed that dryout of the superheated liquid film was not responsible for CHF. Since this evidence was contradictory to previously formulated models of CHF,a new model was proposed: Near the CHF condition, nucleation is present in the superheated liquid film near the surface. As a large vapor clot passes over the surface, these nucleating bubbles break the film and cause a stable dry spot which results in an increased local temperature. As the vapor finally passes the site, the dry spot is quenched by the liquid slug, and the temperature drops. At CHF, the volumetric heat generation, slug frequency, and void fraction are such that the temperature rise resulting from the dry spot is greater than the temperature drop during quenching. An unstable situation results where the temperature of this point continues to rise when each vapor clot passes the site until the Leidenfrost temperature is reached, at which point quenching is prevented and destruction is inevitable.(cont.) A new method of measuring surface wall temperatures, in conjunction with high speed (Fastax) 16 mm movies, confirmed the microscopic features of the proposed model. At CHF, the wall temperature cyclically increased with the same frequency as the slug-vapor bubble passage. Destruction finally resulted as the temperature increased beyond the Leidenfrost point. An analytical investigation based on an idealized model demonstrated that the cyclical nature of the temperature increase at CHF could be predicted with appropriate flow pattern inputs. A parametric study using the program indicated that heater thickness and heater material should affect the CHF. It was shown that the proposed model appears to be consistent with parametric trends, i.e. mass velocity, pressure, subcooling, diameter, length, and surface tension. The model indicated that the CHF for thicker walled tubes, keeping all other conditions the same, would increase. CHF tests were conducted which confirmed that thicker walled tubes (0.078 vs. 0.012 in. ) had CHF up to 58 percent higher than thin walled tubes.Sponsored by the Solid State Sciences Division, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (OAR) Sponsored by Air Forc