Different methods of assessing switching field distributions of magnetic recording media

The width of the switching field distribution may be measured by the Williams-Comstock parameter 1 - S* or the relative difference between coercive forces CF. These two parameters are shown to be proportional, with constant slope, for many recording tapes measured in the parallel direction. For CrO2tapes, however, the constant of proportionality is anomalously low due to excellent alignment. Measurements at an angle to the tape direction are interpreted using a simple model. The parameter CF is shown to be consistent with typical shapes of static remanence curves.     

Calculation of the switching constant of magnetic recording media

We studied the dynamic switching time in two classes of media by considering two different particle orientation distribution functions. We calculated the switching constant directly from the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation of motion, which was chosen to simulate the dynamic properties of the media. A strong linear relation between the reciprocal of the switching time and the difference between the applied and anisotropy fields is illustrated. In media for which experimental results are available, the values we obtained here agree within a factor of 2     

The identification of the switching field distribution components

A direct method for measuring the ratio of the interaction field distribution and the critical field distribution in a wide variety of longitudinal recording media is presented. The method requires only the measurement of m_p, the normalized remanence of the sample at the conclusion of the magnetizing process H_sal, -h_ci , +h_ci, where H_sat is a field large enough to saturate it and h_ci is the operative remanence coercivity. In conjunction with major loop measurements, the method obtains both the standard deviation in the interaction field distribution and the standard deviation in the critical field distribution. Experimental verification of the proposed technique is presented     

A simple method for measuring the dielectric constant of solids

This paper presents a simple method for determining the dielectric constant of a solid material. The method consists of measuring the return loss due to a slab of such material inserted into a rectangular waveguide. The dielectric slab presents a discontinuity inside the waveguide, and the electric field at each interface of the slab is described as a summation of weighted sinusoidal basis functions. The scattered magnetic field on either side of the slab is determined using the modal expansion approach. These weights are solved by using the method of moments on the boundary conditions of continuity of the tangential magnetic field at the interfaces. The component of the electric field (scattered) for the dominant TE₁₀ mode can then be determined in terms of these weights, and from this result the reflection coefficient can be theoretically evaluated. A comparison between the experimentally obtained reflection/transmission coefficient and the theoretical values provide a figure for the dielectric constant of the material     

A method and instrument for measuring the capacitance switching time of nonlinear capacitors

A device and procedure for measuring the switching time of the capacitance of nonlinear microwave capacitors, based on ferroelectric films and bulk ceramics (variconds) when acted upon by controlling electric field pulses, are considered. The method can be used to measure high-speed semiconductor varactors, microelectromechanical components and the residual polarization of capacitors based on a linear ceramic.     

A simple graphical method for measuring inherent safety

Inherently safer design (ISD) concepts have been with us for over two decades since their elaboration by Kletz [Chem. Ind. 9 (1978) 124]. Interest has really taken off globally since the early nineties after several major mishaps occurred during the eighties (Bhopal, Mexico city, Piper-alfa, Philips Petroleum, to name a few). Academic and industrial research personnel have been actively involved into devising inherently safer ways of production. The regulatory bodies have also shown deep interest since ISD makes the production safer and hence their tasks easier. Research funding has also been forthcoming for new developments as well as for demonstration projects.A natural question that arises is as to how to measure ISD characteristics of a process? Several researchers have worked on this [Trans. IChemE, Process Safety Environ. Protect. B 71 (4) (1993) 252; Inherent safety in process plant design, Ph.D. Thesis, VTT Publication Number 384, Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo, Finland, 1999; Proceedings of the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center Symposium, 2001, p. 509]. Many of the proposed methods are very elegant, yet too involved for easy adoption by the industry which is scared of yet another safety analysis regime. In a recent survey [Trans. IChemE, Process Safety Environ. Prog. B 80 (2002) 115], companies desired a rather simple method to measure ISD. Simplification is also an important characteristic of ISD. It is therefore desirable to have a simple ISD measurement procedure. The ISD measurement procedure proposed in this paper can be used to differentiate between two or more processes for the same end product. The salient steps are: Consider each of the important parameters affecting the safety (e.g., temperature, pressure, toxicity, flammability, etc.) and the range of possible values these parameters can have for all the process routes under consideration for an end product. Plot these values for each step in each process route and compare. No addition of values for disparate hazards (temperature, pressure, inventory, toxicity, flammability, etc.) is being suggested to derive an overall ISD index value since that conceals the effects of different parameters. Further, addition of numbers with different units ( degrees C for temperature, atm/bar for pressure, t for inventory, etc.) is inappropriate in scientific sense. The proposed approach has a major advantage of expanding consideration in future to incorporate economic, regulatory, pollution control and worker health aspects, as well as factors such as the experience one has or 'the comfort level' one feels with each of the processes under consideration. Additionally, it would also guide the designers and decision makers into affecting specific changes in the processes to reduce the unsafe features. We demonstrate our simple approach by using the example of six routes to make methyl methacrylate as documented by Edwards and Lawrence [Trans. IChemE, Process Safety Environ. Protect. B 71 (4) (1993) 252; Quantifying inherent safety of chemical process routes, Ph.D. Thesis, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK, 1996] and show that the decision could well have been different if addition of disparate hazards had not been done.     

A new inexpensive method for the preparation of acicular precursors for magnetic recording media

Magnetic materials meant for audio/video recording applications necessitate that polycrystalline materials be in acicular shape. So preparation of acicular precursors for magnetic storage materials assumes significance. The employment of aqueous solutions do not produce needle shape crystallites. Glycerol is one of the complexing media used for the precipitation of ferrous oxalate dihydrate. An inexpensive method using starch for preparation of acicular particles is described. The influence of an additive namely Gd on acicularity is also investigated.     

A simple method for measuring wire tension in drift tubes

Measuring the tension of wires in drift tubes after construction is an important procedure because sometimes the wires get loose after soldering. The method described here uses a simple circuit for observing the change in the Lissajous pattern of a wire resonating with an external magnetic field. The vibration of the wire causes a fundamental harmonic component in the current and results in a periodic change of the Lissajous pattern. Measurement of this fundamental harmonic signal provides a precise determination of the resonance frequency and the wire tension.     

Scientific tasks in the field of standardizing the method and instruments for measuring flows

Conclusions It is obvious that for the solution of the above problems in the field of standardization the combined effort of many people and organizations are required. However, the sooner these problems are solved the greater will be the economic benefit and the sooner will our country acquire a leading place in measuring the flow and quantity of liquids, gases, and vapors.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 7, pp. 31–34, July, 1967.     

A method of measuring the article discriminative capacity and its distribution

Scientometrics - Previous studies on scientific literature rarely considered discrimination, i.e., the extent to which the content of some research is different from that of others. This paper...     

A simple method for measuring tensile and shear bond strength of ceramic-ceramic and metal-ceramic joining

A simple method for measuring the ceramic-ceramic and metal-ceramic bond strength was presented, by which uniaxial tensile stress normal to the interface or shear stress in the interface can be produced using uniaxial compression load on a cross-bonded sample. Both tensile and shear bond strength were obtained by this testing technique for Ti₃SiC₂–TiO₂ and Ti₃SiC₂–Al₂O₃ composite as well as for glued steel samples, respectively. The novel method provided a solution for determining bond strength in solid (especially brittle) materials, and it is also demonstrated as a useful method for evaluating the tensile and shear strength of various glues. Electronic Publication     

Resistive switching in copper oxide nanorods: a bottom up approach applicable for enhanced scalability

Reversible, stable and reproducible resistive switching in a parallel network of Cu2O nanorods, observed in the present study, highlights the advantages of using nanorods in comparison to normally used thin films. Unipolar and symmetric current-voltage characteristics of the metal/insulator/metal structure consisting of Hg top contact/Copper oxide (Cu2O) nanorods/Ag bottom contact in a sandwich configuration shows electroforming at about 11 V, reproducible reset and set points at 0.53 +/- 0.03 and 4.2 +/- 0.02 V and a high OFF/ON resistance ratio > 10(3). Slope of current-voltage characteristics and current contrast in CAFM mapping indicate that filamentary conduction mechanism is responsible for resistive switching. This study sets the foundation for fabricating a nanorods based resistive random access memory device and thus a manifold increase in the device scalability.     

Multilayer films of CoCrTa for perpendicular recording media

Multilayer structures of alternate magnetic and non-magnetic CoCrTa alloys have been prepared in which the magnetic properties can be widely varied by changing the magnetic layer and interlayer thicknesses, In this way, one example has shown that enhanced perpendicular anisotropy can be achieved as demonstrated by an increase in perpendicular coercivity Hc(perp) and a decrease in longitudinal coercivity Hc(&dlor.). This condition is desirable for application in perpendicular recording media. In addition, a second example has shown that by using much thinner layers (≃15 nm) it is possible to produce a structure in which the magnetization is longitudinal with a very low coereivity of 1.5 Oe. Such soft magnetic films with high Ms and low Hc(&dlor.) can be used as underlayers for perpendicular recording media in order to enhance the efficiency of pole heads.     

A method of calculating the temperature field in multilayer media

An approximate method is developed for calculating the temperature field in composite bodies for arbitrary boundary conditions on the outer and inner boundaries.