Solution of a multidimensional inverse radiation problem by means of mode reduction

The Karhunen–Loève Galerkin procedure is employed to solve an inverse radiation problem of determining the time‐varying strength of a heat source, which mimics flames in a furnace, from temperature measurements in three‐dimensional participating media where radiation and conduction occur simultaneously. The inverse radiation problem is solved through the minimization of a performance function, which is expressed by the sum of square residuals between calculated and observed temperature, using a conjugate gradient method. Through the Karhunen–Loève Galerkin procedure, one can represent the system dynamics with a minimum degree of freedom, and consequently the amount of computation required in the solution of the inverse problem is reduced drastically when the present technique is adopted. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrical conductivity and gas sensitivity of Zn-Sb-O thick films

The thick film of Zn-Sb-O was prepared by coating the paste of nanoparticles mixture (Sb₂O₃:ZnO=1:3) on the alumina substrate, followed by sintering at 500-900 °C for 2 h in air. The electrical resistance and gas-sensing properties to benzene, alcohol and acetone of Zn-Sb-O films were found to be dependent on the change of phase structure caused by sintering temperature.     

Study of liquid injection impact on the performance of new refrigerant mixtures

In this paper, the test results of liquid injection impact on the performance of new alternative refrigerant mixtures such as: R-410A, R-507, R-407C and R-404A are discussed, analysed and presented. The test results were obtained using an air-source heat pump set-up with enhanced surface tubing under various liquid injection ratios. Performance tests were conducted according to the ARI/ASHRAE standards. The performance data demonstrated that as liquid injection ratio increases, compressor head pressure and discharge temperature decrease. This has a positive effect in protecting the compressor. The effect of liquid injection on mixture behaviour varies from one mixture to another depending upon the mixture's composition. Furthermore, liquid injection appears to have a significant influence on R-410A behaviour compared to the other mixtures in question. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the role of high-energy electrons in the formation of a plasma-beam discharge structure in a diode with a slit cathode

The spatial structure of visible emission from plasma of a transverse nanosecond pulsed electric discharge in a gas-filled diode with a hollow (slit) cathode has been experimentally studied. A relation is established between the regime of electron energy relaxation and the plasma-beam discharge structure formation. High values of the electron emission coefficient are observed in the experiment, which cannot be explained using the notion of electron emission from a cathode bombarded by fast heavy particles.     

High-strain-rate superplasticity of nanocrystalline aluminum alloy 1570

The structure and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline aluminum alloy 1570 obtained by means of severe plastic deformation have been studied. Being tested in a temperature range from 300 to 400°C, the alloy exhibits high-strain-rate superplasticity. At 400°C, the superplasticity is manifested in a very broad range of strain rates, extending from 5 × 10^?3 to 1 s^?1.     

Studying chaotic microwave oscillations in a TWO with depressed collector

Broadband chaotic oscillations were monitored in a depressed potential collector of a traveling-wave oscillator (TWO). This signal appears due to the oscillations of a virtual cathode, which is formed in the spent electron beam under the action of retarding fields existing in the multistage depressed collector.     

Optical properties of strain-compensated InAs/InGaAsN/GaAsN superlattices

The optical properties of heterostructures comprising InAs/InGaAsN quantum wells in strain-compensated GaAsN/InGaAsN superlattices have been studied. It is demonstrated that, using such superlattices of various design and thickness and with additional InAs monolayer spacers, it is possible to control the wavelength of room-temperature emission from InGaAsN quantum wells within 1.3–1.6 μm without deteriorating the output radiation characteristics, which opens additional prospects for the development of lasers on GaAs substrates for telecommunication applications.     

Increasing the efficiency of metal-air current sources operating in a pulse-train mode

A considerable (～1.4-fold) increase in the average output power of a chemical current source has been achieved by means of a periodic pulsed manipulation of the load. A scheme used for the pulse-train loading is presented and mechanisms ensuring an increase in the average output power of the current source are considered.     

Properties of gasars-metallic materials with pores formed by released hydrogen

We developed a new type of porous materials with anisotropic structure based on a large number of metals. It is shown that these material, called gasars, have properties different from the properties of the other porous materials. Thus, the strength of gasars is much higher than the strength of powder materials with the same porosity and their impact toughness is readily regulated by the sizes of the pores. The internal structures of gasars and possible versions of the types of pores in these materials are strongly diversified, which makes the spectrum of their possible applications very wide. We discuss some specific directions of the potential applications of gasars. The results of measurements of the thermal conductivity of gasars and monolithic specimens are presented. It is shown that, for a certain level of porosity, the specific thermal conductivity of gasars is higher than for monolithic materials. We also make some basic conclusions concerning the characteristics of new porous materials. __________ Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 125–127, September–October, 2007.     

Converting harmonic oscillations into chaos

A new simple model of a system with chaotic dynamics, based on the equations of bistable systems, is considered. The possibility of converting harmonic signals into chaotic oscillations, which represent intermittent irregular and switching quasi-regular motions, is demonstrated by numerical methods. The mechanism of chaotization is analyzed using the results of numerical calculations.