Probing the degenerate pattern growth of {100}<011> orientation in a directionally solidified Al-4.5 wt% Cu alloy

Degenerate pattern is a seemingly disordered morphology but it exhibits the inherently ordered crystal connected with tip-splitting and limited stability which makes it difficult to observe in the metallic system. Here we employ (100)[011] orientated planar-front seeds using directional solidification and reveal the fundamental origins of the degenerate pattern growth in an Al-4.5 wt% Cu alloy. We find that the spacing of the tip-splitting (λ) in the degenerate of the alloys followed a power law, λ∝V^−0.5, and the frequency (f) of the splitting was related to the growth velocity (V) by ƒ∝V^1.5. The dimensionless growth direction (θ/θ₀) increased monotonously and approached 0.6 with faster velocity, attributed to its anisotropy in the interface kinetics. Once growth velocity exceeded a threshold, two types of pattern transitions from degenerate to regular dendrites were proposed. One of them exhibited a random and chaotic mode and the other underwent a rotation in growth direction.     

Computational modelling of water flow inside laboratory Knelson concentrator bowl

Enhanced gravity concentrators such as Knelson concentrator (KC) are extensively used in the mineral processing industry. The complexities of KC bowl geometry and variation of feed characteristics have forced process engineers to design empirically new units using laboratory and pilot-scale Knelson concentrators. However, numerical modelling methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) provide a better insight of flow behaviour of fluid and particulate solid phases inside these processing units. This article reports findings of CFD simulations for single-phase water flow inside the laboratory KC. An available standard 7.5-cm laboratory KC bowl was numerically simulated using realisable k-ε turbulence model to resolve the turbulence dispersion of existing transitional flow regime. The effects of relative centrifugal force (RCF) intensity and bed fluidisation water flow rate on the water velocity and pressure distributions were studied. Simulations confirmed the swirling flow pattern governing inside the bowl. The results revealed that the impact of RCF intensity on the water field values is greater than that of bed fluidisation water flow rate. Both velocity and pressure variations inside the bowl rings followed a linear trend.     

Magnetic Nanoparticle Arrays Self-Assembled on Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media

We study magnetic-field directed self-assembly of magnetic nanoparticles onto templates recorded on perpendicular magnetic recording media, and quantify feature width and height as a function of assembly time. Feature widths are determined from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images, while heights are obtained with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). For short assembly times, widths were ~150 nm, while heights were ~14 nm, a single nanoparticle on average with a 10:1 aspect ratio. For long assembly times, widths approach 550 nm, while the average height grows to 3 nanoparticles, ~35 nm; a 16:1 aspect ratio. We perform magnetometry on these self-assembled structures and observe the slope of the magnetic moment vs. field curve increases with time. This increase suggests magnetic nanoparticle interactions evolve from nanoparticle–nanoparticle interactions to cluster–cluster interactions as opposed to feature–feature interactions. We suggest the aspect ratio increase occurs because the magnetic field gradients are strongest near the transitions between recorded regions in perpendicular media. If these gradients can be optimized for assembly, strong potential exists for using perpendicular recording templates to assemble complex heterogeneous materials.     

Electrochemical growth and characterization of iron doped cadmium sulfide thin films

Cadmium Sulfide and Ferrous doped Cadmium Sulfide thin films have been prepared on different substrates using an electrodeposition technique. Linear sweep voltammetric analysis has been carried out to determine deposition potential of the prepared films. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the prepared films possess polycrystalline nature with hexagonal structure. Surface morphology and film composition have been analyzed using Scanning electron microscopy and Energy dispersive analysis by X-rays. Optical absorption analysis showed that the prepared films are found to exhibit Band gap value in the range between 2.3, 2.8 eV for Cadmium Sulfide and Ferrous doped Cadmium Sulfide.     

Flow pattern identification and measurement techniques in gas-liquid-liquid three-phase flow: A review

The simultaneous flow of gas, oil, and water forms various flow patterns due to the complex interfacial relationships. Three-phase flow patterns are classified as the gas-liquid and liquid-liquid flow patterns. Pressure drop, void fraction, liquid holdup, and phase distribution are important characteristics of the three-phase flow. These characteristics are generally associated with the three-phase flow patterns. Hence, the knowledge about flow patterns can help to predict the overall behavior of the three-phase flow. Studies have been conducted to identify three-phase flow pattern and their characteristics at various superficial velocities of gas, oil, and water. The major purpose of the studies is to gather information about the three-phase co-current flow and use it for improvement of the efficiency of the flow systems. Therefore, the accuracy of the measurement technique is critical. Several types of flow pattern identification and measurement techniques have been developed to improve accuracy and provide high-quality results. In this article, classical and advanced techniques used for the three-phase flow identification and measurement have been reviewed. The survey will help the researchers working in the area of multiphase flow to choose the right technique based on the objectives of the studies.     

Marginal cost and congestion in the Italian electricity market: An indirect estimation approach

In this paper we construct an indirect measure of the supply marginal cost function for the main generators from the observed bid data in the Italian electricity market in the period 2004–2007. We compute the residual demand function for each generator, taking explicitly into account the issue of transmission line congestion. This procedure allows recovering correct zonal Lerner index and the implied measure of the marginal cost function. We find evidence of a stable U-shaped marginal cost function for three main Italian generators, but a flat function for ENEL, the former national monopolist. The policy relevance of our approach lies in the possibility to offer some empirical knowledge of the marginal cost function of each generator to the regulator to design appropriate policy measures geared to the promotion of competitive market conditions. We propose a new market surveillance mechanism, which is based on the principle of sanctioning excessive deviations from the estimated measure of the marginal cost function presented in this work.     

Study on metamerism degree evaluation based on wavelength sensitive cone weighting algorithm

Metamerism phenomenon can be used in illuminant detection to ensure the accuracy of light source. A method based on Long‐, Middle‐, Short‐ wavelength cones(LMS) weighting algorithm to evaluate metamerism degree is proposed. The chromatic relationship between the degree of metamerism mismatch and the light source is studied. Herein, the consistency between the metameric indices (MIs) and CIE1976 L*a*b* color difference ranking is analyzed by SRCC, KRCC, PLCC and RMSE. A statistically sampling method to obtain practical LMS cone fundamentals to evaluate metamerism degree is employed. The analysis results obtained show that the method based on LMS weighting algorithm has good evaluation ability and stability in simulation experiments and statistically sampling experiments, which are in line with visual characteristics of human. Proposed method meets the requirements of selecting metameric pairs used in light source detection. The analysis results have certain guiding significance.     

An ideal host-guest system to accomplish high-performance greenish yellow and hybrid white organic light-emitting diodes

Greenish yellow organic light-emitting diodes (GYOLEDs) have steadily attracted researcher's attention since they are important to our life. However, their performance significantly lags behind compared with the three primary colors based OLEDs. Herein, for the first time, an ideal host-guest system has been demonstrated to accomplish high-performance phosphorescent GYOLEDs, where the guest concentration is as low as 2%. The GYOLED exhibits a forward-viewing power efficiency of 57.0 lm/W at 1000 cd/m², which is the highest among GYOLEDs. Besides, extremely low efficiency roll-off and voltages are achieved. The origin of the high performance is unveiled and it is found that the combined mechanisms of host-guest energy transfer and direct exciton formation on the guest are effective to furnish the greenish yellow emission. Then, by dint of this ideal host-guest system, a simplified but high-performance hybrid white OLED (WOLED) has been developed. The WOLED can exhibit an ultrahigh color rendering index (CRI) of 92, a maximum total efficiency of 27.5 lm/W and a low turn-on voltage of 2.5 V (1 cd/m²), unlocking a novel avenue to simultaneously achieve simplified structure, ultrahigh CRI (>90), high efficiency and low voltage.     

基于DoG检测图像特征点的快速二进制描述子

针对SIFT描述子实时性差和传统二进制描述子对尺度、旋转和视角变化鲁棒性差的问题,本文通过优化采样模式和添加灰度差分不变量比较测试进行改进,提出了一种鲁棒性更高的二进制描述子。首先,设计了一种尺度关联、编号标记的采样模式;然后,旋转采样模式中各采样点到特定位置,确保描述子尺度、旋转不变性;接着,分析了采样点点对模式对描述子的影响,选择使用机器学习训练后的128对采样点对;最后,选择灰度值比较测试及梯度绝对值和比较测试构建二进制描述子。实验中采用DoG检测图像关键点,结果表明:本文提出的描述子在描述子构建和描述子匹配上比SIFT描述子分别快84%和67%;在有视角变化的图像匹配上,准确率比传统的二进制描述子高3%~5%,召回率平均要高30%以上。本文提出的特征点描述方法适用于时间要求高的图像匹配领域。     

叠合盆地凸起区多期复杂断裂特征及形成机制——以准噶尔盆地车排子凸起为例

以高精度三维地震资料为基础,结合构造演化恢复和区域构造背景,系统研究了准噶尔盆地车排子凸起断裂分布和形成机制。结果表明,车排子凸起发育深部和浅部2套断裂体系,深部断裂体系和浅部断裂体系分别发育3种断裂样式。车排子凸起共经历5个构造演化阶段,其中,晚二叠世挤压-逆冲控制了深部断裂体系的初始形成,晚侏罗世逆冲-走滑控制了深部断裂体系的最终定型,新近纪叠加掀斜、局部伸展控制了浅部断裂体系的形成。不同断裂体系在油气成藏过程中均起到了重要作用。其中:深部断裂体系的红车断裂是重要的油源断裂,低序级断层控制形成了石炭系火山岩优质储集体;浅部断裂体系使得油气向浅部层系运移调整,同时形成了断块圈闭、断鼻圈闭和断层-岩性圈闭等丰富的圈闭类型。