Joule expansion imaging techniques on microlectronic devices

We have studied the electrically induced off-plane surface displacement on two microelectronic devices using scanning Joule expansion microscopy (SJEM). We present the experimental method and surface displacement results. We show that they can be successfully compared with surface displacement images obtained using an optical interferometry method. We also present thermal images using scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) technique to underline that SJEM is more adapted to higher frequency measurements. The performances of the three methods are compared.     

Identification of modal parameters and aeroelastic coefficients in bladed disk assemblies

Unknown excitation forces are applied to bladed disk assemblies leading to forced vibration responses and non-contact measurement of such vibrations are obtained using blade tip-timing signals. In the tip-timing data analysis, a set of optical probes is mounted on an engine casing and measures the times of arrival of each blade. These timings are then used to estimate the vibrations of different blades and current research focuses on analysis methods for interpretation of the measured vibration data from the limited number of probes. We present in this paper a methodology to identify the modal properties of mistuned bladed disk from tip-time data. The tip-timing measurements are under-sampled and we propose a technique to obtain a continuous signal. The subspace algorithm is then applied to the reconstituted signal for modal parameter identification. A technique to identify aeroelastic coefficients from output data only is also proposed. The main difficulties that we have to overcome are the unknown excitation forces, the very high modal density (77 eigenfrequencies in a narrow band of 1 Hz) and the signal reconstitution from under-sampled data. Numerical and experimental results are presented.     

Low threshold high-power room-temperature continuous-wave operation diode laser emitting at 2.26 /spl mu/m

Diode lasers emitting at 2.26 /spl mu/m, based on the InGaAsSb-AlGaAsSb materials system, are reported. These devices exhibit high internal quantum efficiency of 78% and low threshold current density of 184.5 A/cm/sup 2/ for a 2-mm-long cavity. Output power up to 700 mW (/spl ap/550 mW) has been obtained at 280 K (300 K) in continuous-wave operation with 100 /spl mu/m/spl times/1 mm lasers. These devices have been coated with an antireflection on the output facet and are mounted epilayer down on a copper block. The working temperature was maintained by a thermoelectric Peltier cooling element.     

Outage analysis of blind cooperative diversity

Mobile users with single antennas can still take advantage of spatial diversity through cooperative space–time‐encoded transmission. In this paper, we considered a scheme in which a relay chooses to cooperate only if its source–relay channel is of an acceptable quality, and we evaluate the usefulness of relaying when the source acts blindly and ignores the decision of the relays whether they may cooperate or not. In our study, we consider the regenerative relays in which the decisions to cooperate are based on a targeted end‐to‐end data rate R. We derived the end‐to‐end outage probability for a transmission rate R and a code rate ρ and look at a power allocation strategy between the source and the relays in order to minimize the end‐to‐end outage probability at the destination for high signal‐to‐noise ratio, by using the golden section search method. Performance results show that the computer simulations‐based results coincide with our analytical results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transient response of a rotor-AMBs system connected by a flexible mechanical coupling

In this paper, the effect of angular misalignment on the transient dynamics of a rotor-Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) system was examined with numerical analysis. A spatial model of a misaligned rotor mounted in two identical AMBs is setup to account angular misalignment with a flexible coupling having torsional and lateral flexibility. The driving rotor was powered by an electric motor in transient regime. Three models of AMBs were used with four; six and eight magnets. They were powered by bias and control current. The AMBs dynamics support parameters were modeled by stiffness and damping matrices. These were computed through an electromagnetic theory and derivation of the magnetic forces. The general equations of motion of the driven rotor were derived and solved using the Newmark time integration method. Simulation results were carried out to determine the frequency and transient responses in term of misalignment magnitude. Dynamic responses come to confirm a significant influence of the transient regime on the dynamic behavior of misaligned rotor. Simulated results also reveal that vibrations induced by angular misalignment were more important in the case of AMBs with four magnets. Spectral components of the system response were investigated, in sort to present diagnostic information about the signature of this kind of fault in transient regime.     

Process Control For Ozonation Systems: A Novel Real-Time Approach

For real-time control of ozonation processes in water works, a sequencing batch reactor was constructed to measure the ozone decay rate constant (k_O3) in short time intervals of about 15 min. The batch reactor is filled during the production process, immediately after dissolving ozone in water by a static mixer. On the basis of k_O3 and the initial ozone concentration ([O₃]₀), and the experimentally determined ratio of the concentrations of ^?OH radicals to ozone (R_ct), the degradation of micropollutants in ozone reactors (modeled as Continuously Stirred Tank Reactors - CSTRs) were calculated for compounds with known reaction rate constants with ozone and ^?OH radicals. Calculated degradation of atrazine, iopromide, benzotriazole and acesulfame are in good agreement with measured data. For acesulfame the following rate constants were determined in this study at 20 ^oC: reaction rate constant with ozone = 88 M^?1s^?1, reaction rate constant with ^?OH radical = 4.55?×?10⁹ M^?1s^?1. For the ozone reaction an activation energy of 35 kJ/mol was determined. Similarly to micropollutants, the relative inactivation of microorganisms (N/N₀) can be calculated based on the inactivation rate constant for ozone and if applicable the lag phase. The pI-value (=??logN/N₀) was introduced and implemented in the process management system to calculate online the log inactivation of reference microorganisms such as B. subtilis spores. The system was tested for variation of pH (6.5–8.5), DOC (1.2–4.2 mg/L) flowrate 3.2–12 m³/h and temperature (5.7–9 ^oC). Furthermore, a given pI-value, e.g. 1 for a 1-log inactivation of B. subtilis spores, can be set as control parameter in the process management system. The ozone gas flow is then adjusted until the set pI-value is reached. The process control concept was validated with B. subtilis spores. Generally, a good agreement was found between calculated and measured inactivation data. It was also demonstrated, that a constant ozone residual may lead to insufficient disinfection or overdosing of ozone. The new process control concept for ozonations based on onsite measurement of the ozone decay rate constant and the pI-value allows to assess disinfection and degradation processes quantitatively in real-time.     

Tunisian Pistacia atlantica Desf. Extraction Process: Impact on Chemical and Nutritional Characteristics

Plant materials have been used in different fields such as therapeutics, cosmetics, and energy for ages. Several studies have investigated seeds, whether common or not, in order to ensure a better valuation of natural resources. Among these, Pistacia atlantica Desf. has been the subject of several works on its characterization and valorization. Among the current trends in sustainable development and environmental protection, valorizing natural wild plants via green chemistry has become prevalent. One of these plants, Pistacia atlantica Desf., is a tree that grows in arid and semi-arid areas, notably in Tunisia, and produces seeds rich in oil. In this study extracting the oil from its seeds is tried by three methods (supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂), pressure, and hexane), and the efficiency of these extraction processes is compared in order to obtain the best yield and maximize its valorization in a variety of industrial fields. The obtained oil is found to be rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely linoleic and oleic acids, with a similar acidic composition among all extraction methods. The tocopherol composition of the oil is determined using high performance liquid chromatography. The total polyphenol content is determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric analysis method. The results show that the seed oil of Pistacia atlantica Desf. extracted by supercritical CO₂ gives the highest extraction yield (25%) and the lowest acidity and peroxide values with a high degree of oxidation at 232 and 270 nm. This method also gives the highest content of alpha, gamma, and delta tocopherol as well as total phenolic content compared to the other extraction methods. The composition of chlorophylls and carotenes in the seed oil of Pistacia atlantica Desf. is determined. Besides, the analysis of the sterol composition reveals that β-sitosterol is still prevailing. Among all the tested extracts, the supercritical CO₂ extract demonstrates the best antioxidant performance against the tested radicals. The oil extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) is of a higher quality compared to that extracted by pressure and by hexane. Practical applications : The Pistacia atlantica Desf. oil exhibits interesting physicochemical and biological characteristics. The type of extraction affects the quality of the major and minor components in the seeds. However, the supercritical CO₂ method produces a better oil quality with the presence of antioxidants such as tocopherols and polyphenols. In fact, it is found that the oil extracted by the three methods has an important sterolic profile with the predominance of β-sitosterol. According to the classification of vegetable oils, unsaturated fatty acids of atlas pistachio oil can be categorized as oleo linoleic oil, which enhances its nutritional value. Having these characteristics, the use of this oil can be considered in agrifood products.     

Structural and spectral investigations of Rhodamine (Rh6G) dye-silica core-shell nanoparticles

Rhodamine (Rh6G) dye-silica core-shell nanoparticles (DSCSNPs) have been prepared by the controlled hydrolysis and condensation of single silica precursor tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) using the sol-gel method. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis reveal that dye molecules are entrapped in silica (SiO₂) shell resulting into core-shell particles of ∼30 nm diameter. These particles are also characterized by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that core-shell particles are all in spherical shape and have a narrow size distribution. The fluorescent and optical properties of core-shell particles have been investigated using fluorescence and UV-Visible absorption spectra. The photoluminescence in solid or liquid medium occurs at the same wavelength. The SiO₂ shell restricts the leakage and photobleaching of dye efficiently. These core-shell nanoparticles are found to be highly luminescent and stable.     

Confocal THz Laser Microscope

We transfer the principle of the optical confocal microscope to a far-field THz imaging system based on an optically pumped gas laser emitting radiation at 2.52 THz. This results in a contrast enhancement. To illustrate the image quality improvement, we show THz images of different objects taken with the suggested scheme and compare them to images taken with other systems.