Ground state systematics and collective dipole excitations of spheroidally deformed sodium clusters in a diffuse jellium model

We solve the Kohn-Sham equations self-consistently in the local density approximation for spheroidal sodium clusters in the particle range 8 ≤ Z ≤ 40. We use a smooth fermi-like jellium density to simulate the influence of the ions in the surface region and obtain similar results as Ekardt and Penzar, but slightly different regions of prolate-to-oblate transitions. We present the systematics of potential energy curves with respect to transitions between oblate, prolate and spherical shapes. Shape transitions occur at particle numbers 12/14 (prolate/oblate), 18/20/22 (oblate/spherical/prolate) and 30/32 (prolate/oblate), which are in good agreement with experimental results. The quadrupole and hexadecupole overlap of the electron density with the jellium is investigated, showing a strong hexadecupole dependence for selected clusters. Collective dipole resonances are described in a simple sum rule approach, which reveals a double splitting according to the different resonance frequencies along the principal axes of the spheroid. The systematics of the resonance peaks for the larger clusters with Z ≥ 20 is in good agreement with experimental results.     

Solutocapillary convection in the float-zone process with a strong magnetic field

This paper treats the steady axisymmetric flow and mass transport in a cylindrical liquid bridge between the melting end of a feed rod and the solidifying end of an alloyed semiconductor crystal. There is a strong, uniform, steady, axial magnetic field. The surface tension depends on the temperature and the concentration of the species, while variations of the concentration occur because one species is rejected into the liquid during solidification. The thermocapillary and solutocapillary convections tend to cancel over part of the liquid bridge. For certain parameter ranges, there are two different stable solutions: one where the concentration gradient along the free surface leads to dominance by the solutocapillary convection and one where the mass transport due to the thermocapillary convection makes the concentration gradient along the free surface small, so that the thermocapillary convection is dominant.     

Analysis of tungsten and titanium migration during ESD contact burnout

A physical and chemical analysis of a machine model (MM) electrostatic discharge (ESD) failure in a silicon circuit was carried out. Focused ion beam (FIB) was used to make cross sections through the region of contact burnout. The resulting samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and two-dimensional (2-D) auger electron spectroscopic (AES) mapping. It is shown for the first time that both titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) migrated throughout the melted silicon filament. Large pellets of the W plug were embedded in the bulk silicon but only on the cathode side of the junction. Mechanisms are discussed to explain these phenomena. These involve the melting of titanium disilicide (TiSi/sub 2/), dissolution of Ti and W in the molten silicon and the formation of W pellets through electromigration at temperatures below /spl sim/1800 K.     

Radon and radon daughter levels in energy efficient housing

radon and radon daughter concentrations have been measured in 33 “energy-efficient” homes in a small subdivision in Kanata, Ontario. Integrated radon measurements were determined over three month periods for a year using solid state nuclear track detectors. Radon and radon daughter grab sample determinations were made during corresponding periods and confirm the distributions of the integrated radon measurements.Annual average individual home radon concentrations show an 8 fold concentration range between homes. This variability in radon concentrations is not reflected in the range of air exchange rates for the homes. A distinct seasonal variation is noted for the median values of the radon and radon daughter concentrations and the equilibrium factor F in the dwellings.     

Evaluating Liquefaction Strength of Partially Saturated Sand

A method is presented for evaluating the liquefaction strength of partially saturated sand using the compression wave velocity (P-wave velocity), a new indicator of saturation. Based on laboratory test results, an empirical correlation that relates the liquefaction strength with the pore pressure coefficient B is firstly proposed. The strength is defined as the cyclic stress ratio required to cause liquefaction at a specified number of cycles. With the aid of a theoretical relation between B and the P-wave velocity, an explicit correlation of more interest is then established between the liquefaction strength of sand and its P-wave velocity. A comparison of the predictions using this explicit correlation with laboratory measurements shows a satisfactory agreement. The significance of this method lies in that it makes it possible to evaluate the liquefaction strength of sand as affected by saturation through the measurement of P-wave velocity, which can be made not only in the laboratory but particularly in the field.     

Quality assessment of SRTM C- and X-band interferometric data: Implications for the retrieval of vegetation canopy height

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission distinguished itself as the first near-global spaceborne mission to demonstrate direct sensitivity to vertical vegetation structure. Whether this sensitivity is viewed as exploitable signal or unwanted bias, a great deal of interest exists in retrieving vegetation canopy height information from the SRTM data. This study presents a comprehensive application-specific assessment of SRTM data quality, focusing on the characterization and mitigation of two primary sources of relative vertical error: uncompensated Shuttle mast motion and random phase noise. The assessment spans four test sites located in the upper Midwestern United States and examines the dependence of data quality on both frequency, i.e., C-band vs. X-band, and the number of acquired datatakes. The results indicate that the quality of SRTM data may be higher than previously thought. Novel mitigation strategies include a knowledge-based approach to sample averaging, which has the potential to reduce phase noise error by 43 to 80%. The strategies presented here are being implemented as part of an ongoing effort to produce regional- to continental-scale estimates of vegetation canopy height within the conterminous U.S.     

Assumptions and Consequences of Treating Providers in Therapy Studies as Fixed Versus Random Effects: Reply to Crits-Christoph, Tu, and Gallop (2003) and Serlin, Wampold, and Levin (2003).

In their comments on the authors' article (see record 2003-10163-009), R. C. Serlin, B. E. Wampold, and J. R. Levin (see record 2003-10163-011) and P. Crits-Christoph, X. Tu, and R. Gallop (see record 2003-10163-010) took issue with the authors' suggestion to evaluate therapy studies with nested providers with a fixed model approach. In this rejoinder, the authors' comment on Serlin et al's critique by showing that their arguments do not apply, are based on misconceptions about the purpose and nature of statistical inference, or are based on flawed reasoning. The authors also comment on Crits-Christoph et al's critique by showing that the proposed approach is very similar to, but less inclusive than, their own suggestion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)