Achromatic optical elements

The principles of wavefront reconstruction by means of a geometric-optical reflection of radiation from surfaces of interference fringe maxima are discussed. The optical elements based on these principles should be achromatic. Two methods of the optical elements design are proposed. The first method is a direct holographic recording of the interference fringe structure containing only a few periods, and the second method is a combination of the measurement of the object wavefront shape with digital holography methods.     

Method of Monte Carlo simulation verification in hadron therapy with non-tissue equivalent detectors

In hadron therapy the spectra of secondary particles can be very broad in type and energy. The most accurate calculations of tissue equivalent (TE) absorbed dose and biological effect can be achieved using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations followed by the application of an appropriate radiobiological model. The verification of MC simulations is therefore an important quality assurance (QA) issue in dose planning. We propose a method of verification for MC dose calculations based on measurements of either the integral absorbed dose or the spectra of deposited energies from single secondary particles in non-TE material detectors embedded in a target of interest (phantom). This method was tested in boron neutron capture therapy and fast neutron therapy beams.     

Sustained hydrogen photoproduction by phosphorus-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cultures

This study demonstrates that, besides sulfur deprivation, sustained H₂ photoproduction in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cultures can be generated by incubating algae under phosphorus-deprived (−P) conditions. However, phosphorus deficiency in algal cells could not be obtained by resuspension of algae in −P medium, evidently due to a significant reserve of phosphorus in cells. In this study, phosphorus deficiency was accomplished by inoculating the washed algae into the −P medium at low initial cell densities (below 2 mg Chl l⁻¹). After the initial growth period, where cells utilize intracellular phosphorus, algae established anaerobic environment followed by the period of H₂ photoproduction. The maximum H₂ output (∼70 ml l⁻¹) was obtained in cultures with the initial Chl content ∼1 mg l⁻¹. Cultures with Chl above 2 mg l⁻¹ did not produce H₂ gas. The physiological response of algal cultures to phosphorus deprivation demonstrated significant similarities with the response of algae to sulfur depletion.     

Hierarchical adaptive nanostructured PVD coatings for extreme tribological applications: the quest for nonequilibrium states and emergent behavior

Adaptive wear-resistant coatings produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD) are a relatively new generation of coatings which are attracting attention in the development of nanostructured materials for extreme tribological applications. An excellent example of such extreme operating conditions is high performance machining of hard-to-cut materials. The adaptive characteristics of such coatings develop fully during interaction with the severe environment. Modern adaptive coatings could be regarded as hierarchical surface-engineered nanostructural materials. They exhibit dynamic hierarchy on two major structural scales: (a) nanoscale surface layers of protective tribofilms generated during friction and (b) an underlying nano/microscaled layer. The tribofilms are responsible for some critical nanoscale effects that strongly impact the wear resistance of adaptive coatings. A new direction in nanomaterial research is discussed: compositional and microstructural optimization of the dynamically regenerating nanoscaled tribofilms on the surface of the adaptive coatings during friction. In this review we demonstrate the correlation between the microstructure, physical, chemical and micromechanical properties of hard coatings in their dynamic interaction (adaptation) with environment and the involvement of complex natural processes associated with self-organization during friction. Major physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the adaptive coating, which play a significant role in its operating properties, such as enhanced mass transfer, and the ability of the layer to provide dissipation and accumulation of frictional energy during operation are presented as well. Strategies for adaptive nanostructural coating design that enhance beneficial natural processes are outlined. The coatings exhibit emergent behavior during operation when their improved features work as a whole. In this way, as higher-ordered systems, they achieve multifunctionality and high wear resistance under extreme tribological conditions.     

PolyHIPE: IPNs, hybrids, nanoscale porosity, silica monoliths and ICP-based sensors

Typical polyHIPE (porous polymers from high internal phase emulsions) have a cellular structure with volume fractions from 0.2 to 0.04, cell diameters from 15 to 25 μm and intercellular pore diameters from 0.5 to 10 μm. Unique interpenetrating polymer networks synthesized within the polyHIPE exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and an extended temperature range for damping. Hybrid polyHIPE that combine an inorganic polysilsesquioxane network with an organic polystyrene network exhibited superior high temperature mechanical properties and enhanced thermal stability. A nanoscale porosity in the cell walls, produced through the addition of a porogen to the HIPE, reduced the density and significantly enhanced the specific surface area. Porous silica monoliths with silica volume fractions of as low as 0.02 were produced through the pyrolysis of hybrid polyHIPE. PolyHIPE coated with an intrinsically conducting polymer exhibited reversible and repeatable changes in conductivity on exposure to acetone vapor, demonstrating their potential as sensor materials.     

A Large Piezoelectric Anisotropy of a Three-Component Composite with Variable Connectivity

Proposed are two types of three-component piezoelectric composites that change connectivity from 2-2 to 1-3 and contain polarized ferroelectric ceramic and polymer components, i.e., layer 1 reinforced by rods–layer 2–layer 1 reinforced by rods– . . . (type 1) and laminated rods (layer 1–layer 2–layer 1– . . . ) embedded in a matrix (type 2). Some cases of the large anisotropy of piezoelectric coefficients d ₃₃ ^* /d ₃₁ ^* and e ₃₃ ^* /e ₃₁ ^* are analyzed for the composites of the type 1. Original cases of simultaneous reaching d ₃₃ ^* /d ₃₁ ^* 0 and e ₃₃ ^* /e ₃₁ ^* > 10 as well as e ₃₃ ^* /e ₃₁ ^* and d ₃₃ ^* /d ₃₁ ^* at different volume concentrations of the components in the composites of the type 2 are also considered. It is shown that these ratios essentially depend on electromechanical constants of the components, their volume concentrations, microgeometry, as well as on jumps of these constants and internal fields at boundaries between the components.     

High damping in Fe-Ga-La alloys: Phenomenological model for magneto-mechanical hysteresis damping and experiment

Ferromagnetic high damping (FHA) alloys with a wide temperature range from-150 ℃ to 300 ℃ have unique application value in extreme environments.In the present work,the damping behaviors of Fe21Ga-xLa (x =0.12 wt.％,0.24 wt.％,0.47 wt.％,1.18 wt.％,and 2.33 wt.％La) alloys have been studied in detail,and a new phenomenoiogical model has been proposed.With the increase of La content,the Laves phase (LaGa2) in the matrix increases gradually,and the resistance opposing the domain movement increases as well.Combined with the results of synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction,neutron diffraction,and magnetic domain observation,the resistance mainly comes from three parts: the average stress related to the lattice distortion of the matrix,the average stress related to the increasing area energy of domain walls (DWs),and the average stress related to the increasing demagnetization energy induced by the Laves phase.Different from the traditional method of reducing internal stress through annealing to improve the damping capacity,the proper internal stress barriers are necessary to Barkhausen jumps to dissipate energy.Therefore,proper doping to balance resistance and mobility of DWs is a reliable way to improve damping capacity.Meanwhile,for Fe-Al and Fe-Cr based Alloys,the new model also has a good fitting effect.This study provides a theoretical and experimental reference for improving the functional properties of ferromagnetic alloys.     

Comparison of four global FAPAR datasets over Northern Eurasia for the year 2000

The Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) has been identified as one of several key satellite-derived biophysical datasets. With multiple global FAPAR datasets now available and a lack of in-situ measurements and comparison studies in the far north, this study attempts to provide the reader with an indication of the performance of four global FAPAR datasets (MODIS, CYCLOPES, JRC and GLOBCARBON) over Northern Eurasia in the year 2000 via comparison. Within the year 2000 growing season, both the MODIS and CYCLOPES datasets recorded on average similar but substantially higher values than the JRC and GLOBCARBON datasets. Among three of the four datasets, a high level of agreement in deciduous broadleaf forests and croplands was observed. Largest disagreement occurred among needleleaf forests and grassland/shrubland. Potential reasons for discrepancies among the datasets include different retrieval methods, use of LAI and land cover, snow effects and others. Findings from this study and other published results suggest that overall, JRC best captures FAPAR over northern Eurasia in the year 2000. However, when considering individual landcover types, any one or more of the four products may be suitable. There exists a real need for more in-situ measurements in this region — the lack of such measurements makes evaluation extremely difficult. It appears that areas north of 60° urgently require further investigation.     

Conformational variability of helix sense reversals in poly(methyl isocyanate)

The conformations and energies of several helix sense reversal geometries in poly(methyl isocyanate) (PMIC) have been determined using the PCFF forcefield. In an extension of previous studies, a larger conformational variability for a helix sense reversal has been investigated. In addition to the reversal geometry previously detailed by several authors that results in a relatively small angle deviation from the rod-like polyisocyanate structure, we report the discovery of reversals of similar energy with much larger angle deviations from linearity. The effect of electrostatic interactions as controlled by the value of the dielectric constant, ε, on the conformation and energy of a reversal is also shown to be important. At ε=1.0 (vacuum) the conformations of the reversals with large and small angle ‘kinks’ have similar energies. However, at ε=2.0 (non-polar organic solvent) and ε=3.5 (bulk state) the reversals corresponding to the large angle kinks have lower energies.