Analysis of high-Q,gallium nitride nanowire resonators in response to deposited thin films

Gallium nitride nanowires (GaN-NWs) are systems of interest for mechanical resonance-based sensors due to their small mass and, in the case of c-axis NWs, high mechanical quality (Q) factors of 10,000–100,000. We report on singly-clamped NW mechanical cantilevers of roughly 100 nm diameter and 15 μm length that resonate near 1 MHz and describe the behavior of GaN-NW resonant frequencies and Q factors following coating with various materials deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD), including alumina (Al₂O₃), ruthenium (Ru), and platinum (Pt). Changes in the GaN-NW resonant frequencies with ALD deposition clearly distinguish conformal film growth versus island film growth. Conformal films lead to a stiffening of the NW and typically increase resonant frequency, whereas island films simply increase the NW mass and cause decreased resonant frequencies. We find that conformal growth of ALD alumina leads to stiffening of ～4 kHz per nm of alumina, in agreement with previously measured material properties. Conformal growth of Ru and Pt, respectively, qualitatively confirm our analytical predictions of positive and negative resonant frequency shifts. Island growth of ALD Ru has demonstrated a decrease in resonant frequency consistent with mass loading of ～0.2 fg for a 150 ALD-cycle film, also consistent with analytical predictions. Resonant Q factors are found to decrease with ALD film growth, offering the additional possibility of studying mechanical dissipation processes associated with the ALD-NW composite structures.     

A new discrete circuit for readout of resistive sensor arrays

In this paper, we present a method that simplifies the interconnect complexity of N × M resistive sensor arrays from N × M to N + M. In this method, we propose to use two sets of interconnection lines in row–column fashion with all the sensor elements having one of their ends connected to a row line and other end to a column line. This interconnection overloading results in crosstalk among all the elements. This crosstalk causes the spreading of information over the whole array. The proposed circuit in this method takes care of this effect by minimizing the crosstalk. The circuit makes use of the concept of virtual same potential at the inputs of an operational amplifier in negative feedback to obtain a sufficient isolation among various elements. We theoretically present the suitability of the method for small/moderate sized sensor arrays and experimentally verify the predicted behavior by lock-in-amplifier based measurements on a light dependent resistor (LDR) in a 4 × 4 resistor array. Finally, we present a successful implementation of this method on a 16 × 16 imaging array of LDR.     

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of [0 0 1] and [0 1 1]-poled relaxor ferroelectric PZN–PT and PMN–PT single crystals

The properties of PZN–PT and PMN–PT single crystals of varying compositions and orientations have been investigated. Among the various compositions studied, [0 0 1]-optimally poled PZN-(6–7)%PT and PMN-30%PT exhibit superior dielectric and piezoelectric properties, with K^T ≈ 6800–8000, d₃₃ ≈ 2800 pC/N, d₃₁ ≈ −(1200–1800) pC/N for PZN-(6–7)%PT; and K^T = 7500–9000, d₃₃ = 2200–2500 pC/N and d₃₁ = −(1100–1400) pC/N for PMN-30%PT. These two compositions are also fairly resistant to over-poling. The [0 0 1]-poled electromechanical coupling factors (k₃₃, k₃₁ and k_t) are relatively insensitive to crystal composition. [0 1 1]-optimally poled PZN-7%PT single crystal also exhibits extremely high d₃₁ values of up to −4000 pC/N with k₃₁ ≈ 0.90–0.96. While [0 1 1]-poled PZN-7%PT single crystal becomes over-poled with much degraded properties when poled at and above 0.6 kV/mm, PZN-6%PT crystal shows no signs of over-poling even when poled to 2.0 kV/mm. The presence of a certain amount (i.e., 10–15%) of orthorhombic phase in a rhombohedral matrix has been found to be responsible for the superior transverse piezoelectric properties of [0 1 1]-optimally poled PZN-(6–7)%PT. The present work shows that flux-grown PZN–PT crystals exhibit superior and consistent properties and improved over-poling resistance to flux-grown PMN–PT crystals and that, for or a given crystal composition, flux-grown PMN–PT crystals exhibit superior over-poling resistance to their melt-grown counterparts.     

Spectral and chemical analysis of tropical forests: Scaling from leaf to canopy levels

Variation in the foliar chemistry of humid tropical forests is poorly understood, and airborne imaging spectroscopy could provide useful information at leaf and canopy scales. However, variation in canopy structure affects our ability to estimate foliar properties from airborne spectrometer data, yet these structural affects remain poorly quantified. Using leaf spectral (400–2500 nm) and chemical data collected from 162 Australian tropical forest species, along with partial least squares (PLS) analysis and canopy radiative transfer modeling, we determined the strength of the relationship between canopy reflectance and foliar properties under conditions of varying canopy structure.At the leaf level, chlorophylls, carotenoids and specific leaf area (SLA) were highly correlated with leaf spectral reflectance (r = 0.90–0.91). Foliar nutrients and water were also well represented by the leaf spectra (r = 0.79–0.85). When the leaf spectra were incorporated into the canopy radiative transfer simulations with an idealistic leaf area index (LAI) = 5.0, correlations between canopy reflectance spectra and leaf properties increased in strength by 4–18%. The effects of random LAI (= 3.0–6.5) variation on the retrieval of leaf properties remained minimal, particularly for pigments and SLA (r = 0.92–0.93). In contrast, correlations between leaf nitrogen (N) and canopy reflectance estimates decreased from r = 0.87 at constant LAI = 5 to r = 0.65 with randomly varying LAI = 3.0–6.5. Progressive increases in the structural variability among simulated tree crowns had relatively little effect on pigment, SLA and water predictions. However, N and phosphorus (P) were more sensitive to canopy structural variability. Our modeling results suggest that multiple leaf chemicals and SLA can be estimated from leaf and canopy reflectance spectroscopy, and that the high-LAI canopies found in tropical forests enhance the signal via multiple scattering. Finally, the two factors we found to most negatively impact leaf chemical predictions from canopy reflectance were variation in LAI and viewing geometry, which can be managed with new airborne technologies and analytical methods.     

Exploitation of aeroelastic effects for drift reduction,in an all-polymer air flow sensor

This paper presents a vibration amplitude measurement method that greatly reduces the effects of baseline resistance drift in an all-polymer piezoresistive flow sensor or microtuft. The sensor fabrication is based on flexible printed circuit board (flex-PCB) technology to enable the potential for low-cost and scalable manufacture. Drift reduction is accomplished by discriminating the flow-induced vibration (‘flutter’) amplitude of the microtuft-based sensor as a function of flow velocity. Flutter peak-to-peak amplitude is measured using a microcontroller-based custom readout circuit. The fabricated sensor with the readout circuitry demonstrated a drift error of 2.8 mV/h, which corresponds to a flow-referenced drift error of 0.2 m/s of wind velocity per hour. The sensor has a sensitivity of 14.5 mV/(m/s) with less than 1% non-linearity over the velocity range of 5–16 m/s. The proposed vibration amplitude measurement method is also applied to a sensor array with a modified structure and a reduced dimension, which demonstrated a sensitivity of 13.2 mV/(m/s) with a flow-referenced drift error of 0.03 m/s of wind velocity per hour.     

Simulation of solid thermal explosion and liquid thermal explosion of dicumyl peroxide using calorimetric technique

Dicumyl peroxide (DCPO), is produced by cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) process, is utilized as an initiator for polymerization, a prevailing source of free radicals, a hardener, and a linking agent. DCPO has caused several thermal explosion and runaway reaction accidents in reaction and storage zone in Taiwan because of its unstable reactive property. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine thermokinetic parameters including 700 J g^–1 of heat of decomposition (ΔH_d), 110 °C of exothermic onset temperature (T₀), 130 kJ mol^–1 of activation energy (E_a), etc., and to analyze the runaway behavior of DCPO in a reaction and storage zone. To evaluate thermal explosion of DCPO with storage equipment, solid thermal explosion (STE) and liquid thermal explosion (LTE) of thermal safety software (TSS) were applied to simulate storage tank under various environmental temperatures (T_e). T_e exceeding the T₀ of DCPO can be discovered as a liquid thermal explosion situation. DCPO was stored under room temperature without sunshine and was prohibited exceeding 67 °C of self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) for a tank (radius = 1 m and height = 2 m). SADT of DCPO in a box (width, length and height = 1 m, respectively) was determined to be 60 °C. The TSS was employed to simulate the fundamental thermal explosion behavior in a large tank or a drum. Results from curve fitting demonstrated that, even at the earlier stage of the reaction in the experiments, ambient temperature could elicit exothermic reactions of DCPO. To curtail the extent of the risk, relevant hazard information is quite significant and must be provided in the manufacturing process.     

Development of a novel micromirror based on surface micromaching technology

A novel 3 × 3 micromirror array is designed and successfully fabricated with multi-layer silicon surface micromaching technology. It is composed of bottom electrode, support part and mirror plate, in which a T type beam structure is used to support the mirror plate. It can provide mirror with the vertical movement and the rotation about two horizontal axes, thus enabling phase modulation and amplitude modulation for the incident light. The test results show that the maximum deflection length along the vertical direction of the mirror plate is 2 μm, while the rotation angle about X- and Y-axis are ±2.3° and ±1.45°, respectively.     

Analyzing MPI performance over 10-Gigabit ethernet

Recent work with 10-Gigabit (10 GbE) network adapters has demonstrated good performance in TCP/IP-based local- and wide-area networks (LANs and WANs). In the present work we present an evaluation of host-based 10 GbE adapters in a system-area network (SAN) in support of a cluster. This evaluation focuses on the performance of the message-passing interface (MPI) when running over a 10 GbE interconnect. We find that MPI over 10 GbE provides communications performance comparable to that of TCP alone and fairly competitive with more exotic technologies such as MPI over Quadrics. The optimization of MPI and MPI-based applications to make use of this performance, however, is a non-trivial task. Consequently, it is difficult for MPI-based applications to realize this performance when running current-generation 10 GbE hardware.     

Photonic crystal slabs with hexagonal air holes fabricated by selective area metal organic vapor phase epitaxy

It is shown that the photonic crystal slab (PCS) with hexagonal air holes has band gaps in the guided mode spectrum, which can be compared to that of the PCS with circular air holes, thus it is also a good candidate to be used for the PC devices. The PC with hexagonal air holes and a = 0.5 μm and r = 0.15 μm was fabricated successfully by selective area metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (SA-MOVPE). The vertical and smooth sidewalls are formed and the uniformity is very good. The same process was also used to fabricate a hexagonal air hole array with the width of 0.1 μm successfully. The air-bridge PCS with hexagonal air holes and a = 0.3 μm and r = 0.09 μm was also fabricated successfully by SA-MOVPE. Further optimization of the growth conditions for the sacrificial layer and the selective etching of the GaAs cap layer is also needed. Our experimental results indicate that SA-MOVPE is a promising method for fabricating PC devices and photonic nanostructures.     

Development of a wide-tuning range and high Q variable capacitor using metal-based surface micromachining process

This study aims to improve the tuning range and quality-factor (Q) of micro variable capacitors for wireless communication applications. A suspending 0.5 μm-thick gold thin-plate with two-gap structure in one-to-three ratio of spacing is designed for the maximization of tuning range. To enhance effectively the flexural rigidity of top metal-plate and improve further the tuning range of the varactor, a double-cross-type microstructure with two vertical fixed-fixed beam springs and four horizontal fixed-guided cantilever beams is introduced. Besides, a glass substrate (Corning 7740) was used to reduce substantially the power dissipation and improve the Q-factor of variable capacitor. The new glass-based double-cross-type micro variable capacitor has demonstrated many superior performances, including the wide-tuning range (2100%, at 1.0 MHz with 6.0 V), the moderate capacitance (0.56 pF, at 2.4 GHz and without DC bias), 6.5 V pull-in voltage, and the high Q-factor (40.6, at 2.4 GHz). These characteristics approximately match with the theoretical derivation or simulated results from Agilent-ADS, Ansoft-HFSS, and IntelliSuite software.     

Internet use and verbal aggression: The moderating role of parents and peers

This research investigated the influence of parent–adolescent communication quality, as perceived by the adolescents, on the relationship between adolescents’ Internet use and verbal aggression. Adolescents (N = 363, age range 10–16, M_T1 = 12.84, SD = 1.93) were examined twice with a six-month delay. Controlling for social support in general terms, moderated regression analyses showed that Internet-related communication quality with parents determined whether Internet use is associated with an increase or a decrease in adolescents’ verbal aggression scores over time. A three way interaction indicated that high Internet-related communication quality with peers can have disadvantageous effects if the communication quality with parents is low. Implications on resources and risk factors related to the effects of Internet use are discussed.     

Transforming a teacher education method course through technology: effects on preservice teachers’ technology competency

In this study, an instructional design model was employed for restructuring a teacher education course with technology. The model was applied in a science education method course, which was offered in two different but consecutive semesters with a total enrollment of 111 students in the fall semester and 116 students in the spring semester. Using tools, such as multimedia authoring tools in the fall semester and modeling software in the spring semester, teacher educators designed high quality technology-infused lessons for science and, thereafter, modeled them in classroom for preservice teachers. An assessment instrument was constructed to assess preservice teachers’ technology competency, which was measured in terms of four aspects, namely, (a) selection of appropriate science topics to be taught with technology, (b) use of appropriate technology-supported representations and transformations for science content, (c) use of technology to support teaching strategies, and (d) integration of computer activities with appropriate inquiry-based pedagogy in the science classroom. The results of a MANOVA showed that preservice teachers in the Modeling group outperformed preservice teachers’ overall performance in the Multimedia group, F = 21.534, p = 0.000. More specifically, the Modeling group outperformed the Multimedia group on only two of the four aspects of technology competency, namely, use of technology to support teaching strategies and integration of computer activities with appropriate pedagogy in the classroom, F = 59.893, p = 0.000, and F = 10.943, p = 0.001 respectively. The results indicate that the task of preparing preservice teachers to become technology competent is difficult and requires many efforts for providing them with ample of opportunities during their education to develop the competencies needed to be able to teach with technology.     

ANN based simulation and experimental verification of analytical four- and five-parameters models of PV modules

In this article, artificial neural network (ANN) is adopted to predict photovoltaic (PV) panel behaviors under realistic weather conditions. ANN results are compared with analytical four and five parameter models of PV module. The inputs of the models are the daily total irradiation, air temperature and module voltage, while the outputs are the current and power generated by the panel. Analytical models of PV modules, based on the manufacturer datasheet values, are simulated through Matlab/Simulink environment. Multilayer perceptron is used to predict the operating current and power of the PV module. The best network configuration to predict panel current had a 3–7–4–1 topology. So, this two hidden layer topology was selected as the best model for predicting panel current with similar conditions. Results obtained from the PV module simulation and the optimal ANN model has been validated experimentally. Results showed that ANN model provide a better prediction of the current and power of the PV module than the analytical models. The coefficient of determination (R²), mean square error (MSE) and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values for the optimal ANN model were 0.971, 0.002 and 0.107, respectively. A comparative study among ANN and analytical models was also carried out. Among the analytical models, the five-parameter model, with MAPE = 0.112, MSE = 0.0026 and R² = 0.919, gave better prediction than the four-parameter model (with MAPE = 0.152, MSE = 0.0052 and R² = 0.905). Overall, the 3–7–4–1 ANN model outperformed four-parameter model, and was marginally better than the five-parameter model.     

Symmetric and symplectic exponentially fitted Runge–Kutta–Nyström methods for Hamiltonian problems

The construction of symmetric and symplectic exponentially fitted modified Runge–Kutta–Nyström (SSEFRKN) methods is considered. Based on the symmetry, symplecticity, and exponentially fitted conditions, new explicit modified RKN integrators with FSAL property are obtained. The new integrators integrate exactly differential systems whose solutions can be expressed as linear combinations of functions from the set { exp(± iωt)}, ω > 0, i² = −1, or equivalently from the set { cos(ωt), sin(ωt)}. The phase properties of the new integrators are examined and their periodicity regions are obtained. Numerical experiments are accompanied to show the high efficiency and competence of the new SSEFRKN methods compared with some highly efficient nonsymmetric symplecti EFRKN methods in the literature.     

Irregular Primes and Cyclotomic Invariants to 12 Million

Computations of irregular primes and associated cyclotomic invariants were extended to all primes up to 12 million using multisectioning/convolution methods and a novel approach which originated in the study of Stickelberger codes Shokrollahi (1996). The latter idea reduces the problem to that of finding zeros of a polynomial overF_pof degree  <  (p −  1) / 2 among the quadratic nonresidues mod p. Use of fast polynomial gcd-algorithms gives anO (p log²p loglog p)-algorithm for this task. A more efficient algorithm, with comparable asymptotic running time, can be obtained by using Schönhage–Strassen integer multiplication techniques and fast multiple polynomial evaluation algorithms; this approach is particularly efficient when run on primes p for whichp −  1 has small prime factors. We also give some improvements on previous implementations for verifying the Kummer–Vandiver conjecture and for computing the cyclotomic invariants of a prime.     

The B-rich side of the B–C phase diagram

The melting behavior of ß-boron at the boron-rich side of the B–C binary phase diagram is a long standing question whether eutectic or peritectic. Floating zone experiments have been employed to determine the melting type on a series of C-containing feed-rods prepared by powder metallurgy and sinter techniques. Melting point data as a function of carbon-content clearly yielded a peritectic reaction isotherm: L+B_4+δC=(ßB). The partition coefficient of carbon is ~2.6. The experimental melting point data were used to improve the existing thermodynamic modeling of the system B–C. Relative to the thermodynamically accepted melting point of pure ßB (T_M=2075 °C), the calculated reaction isotherm is determined at 2100.6 °C, a peritectic point at 0.75 at% C and a maximum solid solubility of 1.43 at% C in (ßB) at reaction temperature. With the new melting data the refractory system Hf–B–C has been recalculated and the liquidus surface is presented. The influence of the melting behavior of (ßB) on the phase reactions in the B-rich corner of M–B–C diagrams will be discussed and demonstrated in case of the Ti–B–C system.     

Distance estimation with mixed real and virtual targets in stereoscopic displays

In this paper we investigated the accuracy of center-to-center distance perception in near field augmented reality visual targets viewed by stereoscopic glasses. One real and one virtual targets were presented in four layout or target orientations (two horizontal and two vertical, by altering the relative positions of real and virtual targets) at three different parallax conditions (on screen, 5 cm from screen and 10 cm from screen) and four levels of scaled between targets’ distance (10–20 cm, 20–30 cm, 30–40 cm and 40–50 cm). The result revealed overall underestimation with an accuracy of about 84%. Interestingly, it was noticed that the main effects of layout, parallax and center-to-center distance were significant. Generally, accuracy improves when targets put vertical, close to observers’ position and smaller separation of targets. Significant interactions among the three main factors were also reported. The results are of great importance as it provides guide for the developers to decide where to present targets depending on the need for relative accuracy of judgment. Some engineering implications of the result are also discussed in this paper.     

A moving horizon approach to input design for closed loop identification

The identification of high fidelity models is a critical element in the implementation of high performance model predictive control (MPC) applications in the industry. These controllers can vary in size with input–ouput dimensions ranging from 5 × 10 to 50 × 100. Identifying models of this scale accurately is a time consuming and demanding exercise. We present a novel approach wherein an information rich test signal is generated in closed loop by maximizing the MPC objective, as opposed to minimization that is done in the standard controller. We show that the proposed input design approach is similar to T-optimal (trace optimal) experiment design method. Our approach automatically accounts for the input and output constraints and is implemented in a moving horizon manner. It is demonstrated through simulation examples on both well and ill-conditioned processes.     

Evaluation of response characteristics of resistive oxygen sensors based on porous cerium oxide thick film using pressure modulation method

In order to reduce the response time of resistive oxygen sensors using porous cerium oxide thick film, it is important to ascertain the factors controlling response. Pressure modulation method (PMM) was used to find the rate-limiting step of sensor response. This useful method measures the amplitude of sensor output (H(f)) for the sine wave modulation of oxygen partial pressure at constant frequency (f). In PMM, “break” response time, which is minimum period in which the sensor responds precisely, can be measured. Three points were examined: (1) simulated calculations of PMM were carried out using a model of porous thick film in which spherical particles are connected in a three-dimensional network; (2) sensor response speed was experimentally measured using PMM; and (3) the diffusion coefficient and surface reaction coefficient were estimated by comparison between experiment and calculation. The plot of log f versus log H(f) in the high f region was found to have a slope of approximately −0.5 for both porous thick film and non-porous thin film, when the rate-limiting step was diffusion. Calculations showed the response time of porous thick film was 1/20 that of non-porous thin film when the grain diameter of the porous thick film was the same as the thickness of non-porous thin film. At 973 K, “break” response time (t_b) of the resistive oxygen sensor was found by experiment to be 109 ms. It was concluded that the response of the resistive oxygen sensor prepared in this study was strongly controlled by diffusion at 923–1023 K, since the experiment revealed that the slope of plot of log f versus log H(f) in the high f region was approximately −0.5. At 923–1023 K, the diffusion coefficient of oxygen vacancy in porous ceria (D_V) was expressed as follows: D_V (m²s⁻¹) = 5.78 × 10⁻⁴ exp(−1.94 eV/kT). At 1023 K, the surface reaction coefficient (K) was found to exceed 10⁻⁴ m/s.     

Evolution of structure,stability, and nonlinear optical properties of the heterodinuclear CNLin (n = 1–10) clusters

The lowest-energy structures and stabilities of the heterodinuclear clusters, CNLi_n (n = 1–10) and relevant CNLi_n⁺ (n = 1–10) cations, are studied using the density functional theory with the 6-311 + G(3df) basis set. The CNLi₆ and CNLi₅⁺ clusters are the first three-dimensional ones in the CNLi_n^0/+ series, respectively, and the CN group always caps the Li_n^0/+ moiety in the CNLi_n^0/+ (n = 1–9) configurations. The CN triple bond is found to be completely cleaved in the CNLi₁₀^0/+ clusters where the C and N atoms are bridged by two Li atoms. The CNLi_n (n = 2–10) clusters are hyperlithiated molecules with delocalized valence electrons and consequently possess low VIP values of 3.780–5.674 eV. Especially, the CNLi₈ and CNLi₁₀ molecules exhibit lower VIPs than that of Cs atom and can be regarded as heterobinuclear superalkali species. Furthermore, these two superalkali clusters show extraordinarily large first hyperpolarizabilities of 19,423 and 42,658 au, respectively. For the CNLi_n⁺ cationic species, the evolution of the energetic and electronic properties with the cluster size shows a special stability for CNLi₂⁺.