An Acoustic Converter Used to Measure Ionizing Radiation Energy Loss

A monitor is proposed based on ultrasonic production when ionizing radiation passes through a medium. The recording element is a 0.2 mm aluminum plate mounted in a ceramic acoustic converter AC in the form of a wedge of thickness 2 mm. The low plate thickness minimizes the beam parameter distortion, while special technology used in the AC provides high sensitivity. The device has been calibrated in the proton beam from the ITEP accelerator at 200 MeV with 2·10⁹–6·10¹⁰ particles in a pulse and a pulse length of 70 nsec.     

Analogue switch for very low-voltage applications

A new analogue switch suitable for operation at very low-voltage supply in a standard CMOS technology is presented. The proposed switch is based on 'quasi-floating-gate' transistors and has a simple and compact structure. For illustrative purposes, two sample-and-hold circuits operating from a single supply voltage close to the threshold voltage of a transistor, and using the proposed technique, are presented. Experimental results obtained from prototypes in a 1.5 /spl mu/m CMOS technology are provided.     

Preschool Competency in Context: An Investigation of the Unique Contribution of Child Competencies to Early Academic Success.

The present concurrent study combined developmental and ecological considerations to examine the unique contribution of multiple preschool competencies to an indicator of early academic success. Participants included 195 Head Start children from 32 classrooms representative of a large, urban Head Start program. Dimensional (variable-centered) analyses revealed 3 distinct classroom competency dimensions (i.e., General Classroom Competencies, Specific Approaches to Learning, and Interpersonal Classroom Behavioral Problems). The first 2 of these dimensions were found to be uniquely associated with early academic success. Findings from typological (person-centered) analyses supported the dimensional findings. Typological analyses revealed 7 profiles of classroom competency distinguished by high scores on the dimensions of General Competencies and Approaches to Learning, and these profiles were found to relate differentially to the indicator of early academic success. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hf-doped and NH/sub 3/-nitrided high-K gate dielectric thin film with least drain current degradation and flatband voltage shift

A novel technique to form high-K dielectric of HfSiON by doping base oxide with Hf and nitridation with NH/sub 3/, sequentially, is proposed. The HfSiON gate dielectric demonstrates excellent device performances such as only 10% degradation of saturation drain current and almost 45 times of magnitude reduction in gate leakage compared with conventional SiO/sub 2/ gate at the approximately same equivalent oxide thickness. Additionally, negligible flatband voltage shift is achieved with this technique. Time-dependent dielectric breakdown tests indicate that the lifetime of HfSiON is longer than 10 years at V/sub dd/=2 V.     

Photosensitivity of surface barrier structures based on Cu(In,Ga)Se<Subscript>2</Subscript> films grown by codeposition in vacuum

Polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) films with various ratios of Cu, In, and Ga were grown by codeposition of all elements in vacuum. The X-ray diffraction study showed that the films are single-phase and possess a chalcopyrite structure with predominant [112] orientation. The films exhibited a mirror smooth surface and had a close-packed structure composed of crystallites with clear faceting and a transverse size of 0.1–0.3 μm. Related surface barrier structures of the (In,Ag)/Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ type were obtained and their spectra of the quantum efficiency of photoconversion were studied. The obtained structures can be used for optimization of the CIGS film technology.     

The colored revolution of bioimaging

This paper provides an overview of the main aspects of modern fluorescence microscopy. It covers the principles of fluorescence and highlights the key discoveries in the history of fluorescence microscopy. The paper also discusses the optics of fluorescence microscopes and examines the various types of detectors. It also discusses the signal and image processing challenges in fluorescence microscopy and highlights some of the present developments and future trends in the field.     

Self-oscillating dimmable electronic ballast

This paper presents a simple alternative for an electronic ballast operating in self-sustained oscillating mode with dimming capability for fluorescent lamps. A simple modification in one of the gate drivers side circuit allows the lamp to dim without compromising the simplicity, reliability, and low cost which characterize the self-oscillating electronic ballast (SOEB). A qualitative analysis is presented to explain the behavior of the proposed self-oscillating electronic ballast with dimming feature. In addition, the stability and the key equations for the design are derived using the extended Nyquist criterion and describing function method. Experimental results from two 40-W electronic ballasts are presented to demonstrate the performance and to validate the analysis carried out.     

Transient response of ARROW VCSELs under external optical feedback

The effect of external optical feedback on the transient response of antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is studied. It can be shown that the proper design of ARROW can suppress the excitation of high-order transverse leaky mode as well as increase the critical feedback strength so that stable high-power single-mode operation of VCSELs can be obtained even under the influence of strong external optical feedback.     

Estimation and Optimization of the Principal H-Maser Parameters

The scale along the coordinate axes in the equations of motion hitherto used for an H-maser (in relative units) is shown to depend on Q as the quality factor for an H-maser. This hinders both analysis of the operation of the H-maser and optimization of its parameters. The modified equations of motion proposed here do not have that shortcoming. We determine the atomic flux into the bulb that gives the H-maser the best metrological characteristics.