Characterization of heat transfer along a silicon nanowire using thermoreflectance technique

We studied heat transfer along a silicon nanowire suspended between two thin-film heaters using a thermoreflectance imaging technique. The thermoreflectance imaging system achieved submicrometer spatial resolution and 0.1/spl deg/C temperature resolution using visible light. The temperature difference across the nanowire was measured, and then its thermal resistance was calculated. Knowing the dimension of the nanowire (115 nm in width and 3.9 /spl mu/m in length), we calculated the thermal conductivity of the sample, which is 46 W/mK. Thermal conductivity decreases with decreasing wire size. For a 115-nm-wide silicon nanowire, the thermal conductivity is only one-third of the bulk value. In addition, the transient response of the thin-film heaters was also examined using three-dimensional thermal models by the ANSYS program. The simulated thermal map matches well with the experimental thermoreflectance results.     

Distributed video coding in wireless sensor networks

This paper addresses the important aspect of compressing and transmitting video signals generated by wireless broadband networks while heeding the architectural demands imposed by these networks in terms of energy constraints as well as the channel uncertainty related to the wireless communication medium. Driven by the need to develop light, robust, energy-efficient, and low delay video delivery schemes, a distributed video coding based framework dubbed PRISM is introduced. PRISM addresses the wireless video sensor network requirements far more effectively than current state-of-the-art standards like MPEG. This paper focuses on the case of a single video camera and use it as a platform to describe the theoretical principles and practical aspects underlying distributed video coding.     

Benchmarking nanotechnology for high-performance and low-power logic transistor applications

Recently there has been tremendous progress made in the research of novel nanotechnology for future nanoelectronic applications. In particular, several emerging nanoelectronic devices such as carbon-nanotube field-effect transistors (FETs), Si nanowire FETs, and planar III-V compound semiconductor (e.g., InSb, InAs) FETs, all hold promise as potential device candidates to be integrated onto the silicon platform for enhancing circuit functionality and also for extending Moore's Law. For high-performance and low-power logic transistor applications, it is important that these research devices are frequently benchmarked against the existing Si logic transistor data in order to gauge the progress of research. In this paper, we use four key device metrics to compare these emerging nanoelectronic devices to the state-of-the-art planar and nonplanar Si logic transistors. These four metrics include: 1) CV/I or intrinsic gate delay versus physical gate length L/sub g/; 2) energy-delay product versus L/sub g/; 3) subthreshold slope versus L/sub g/; and 4) CV/I versus on-to-off-state current ratio I/sub ON//I/sub OFF/. The results of this benchmarking exercise indicate that while these novel nanoelectronic devices show promise and opportunities for future logic applications, there still remain shortcomings in the device characteristics and electrostatics that need to be overcome. We believe that benchmarking is a key element in accelerating the progress of nanotechnology research for logic transistor applications.     

Fuzzy differential inclusions in atmospheric and medical cybernetics

Uncertainty management in dynamical systems is receiving attention in artificial intelligence, particularly in the fields of qualitative and model based reasoning. Fuzzy dynamical systems occupy a very important position in the class of uncertain systems. It is well established that the fuzzy dynamical systems represented by a set of fuzzy differential inclusions (FDI) are very convenient tools for modeling and simulation of various uncertain systems. In this paper, we discuss about the mathematical modeling of two very complex natural phenomena by means of FDIs. One of them belongs to the atmospheric cybernetics (the term has been used in a broad sense) of the genesis of a cyclonic storm (cyclogenesis), and the other belongs to the bio-medical cybernetics of the evolution of tumor in a human body. Since a discussion of the former already appears in a previous paper by the first author, here, we present very briefly a theoretical formalism of cyclone formation. On the other hand, we treat the latter system more elaborately. We solve the FDIs with the help of an algorithm developed in this paper to numerically simulate the mathematical models. From the simulation results thus obtained, we have drawn a number of interesting conclusions, which have been verified, and this vindicates the validity of our models.     

Characterization and densification studies on ThO2-UO2 pellets derived from ThO2 and U3O8 powders

ThO₂ containing around 2-3% ²³³UO₂ is the proposed fuel for the forthcoming Indian Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). This fuel is prepared by powder metallurgy technique using ThO₂ and U₃O₈ powders as the starting material. The densification behaviour of the fuel was evaluated using a high temperature dilatometer in four different atmospheres Ar, Ar-8%H₂, CO₂ and air. Air was found to be the best medium for sintering among them. For Ar and Ar-8%H₂ atmospheres, the former gave a slightly higher densification. Thermogravimetric studies carried out on ThO₂-2%U₃O₈ granules in air showed a continuous decrease in weight up to 1500 °C. The effectiveness of U₃O₈ in enhancing the sintering of ThO₂ has been established.     

Prediction of crack coalescence of steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants

Prediction of failure pressures of cracked steam generator tubes of nuclear power plants is an important ingredient in scheduling inspection and repair of tubes. Prediction is usually based on nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of cracks. NDE often reveals two neighboring cracks. If the cracks interact, the tube pressure under which the ligament between the two cracks fails could be much lower than the critical burst pressure of an individual equivalent crack. The ability to accurately predict the ligament failure pressure, called “coalescence pressure,” is important. The failure criterion was established by nonlinear finite element model (FEM) analyses of coalescence of two 100% through-wall collinear cracks. The ligament failure is precipitated by local instability of the ligament under plane strain conditions. As a result of this local instability, the ligament thickness in the radial direction decreases abruptly with pressure. Good correlation of FEM analysis results with experimental data obtained at Argonne National Laboratory’s Energy Technology Division demonstrated that nonlinear FEM analyses are capable of predicting the coalescence pressure accurately for 100% through-wall cracks. This failure criterion and FEA work have been extended to axial cracks of varying ligament width, crack length, and cases where cracks are offset by axial or circumferential ligaments.     

Laser composite surfacing of AISI 304 stainless steel with titanium boride for improved wear resistance

The present study concerns development of a hard in situ boride-dispersed composite layer on the surface of AISI 304 stainless steel substrate to improve the wear resistance property. Laser processing was carried out by melting the surface of sand-blasted AISI 304 stainless steel substrate using a continuous wave CO₂ laser and simultaneous deposition of a mixture of K₂TiF₆ (potassium titanium hexafluoride) and KBF₆ (potassium hexafloroborate) (in the weight ratio of 2:1) using Ar as shrouding environment. Powder feed rate was maintained constant at 4 g/min. Irradiation results in dissociation of a pre-deposited mixture along with a part of the stainless steel substrate, intermixing and rapid solidification to form the composite layer on the surface. The micro-structure of composite layer consists of dispersion of titanium boride particles in AISI 304 stainless steel matrix. Volume fraction of particles is found to be uniform throughout the composite layer, though varied with laser parameters. The micro-hardness of the surface was improved 250–350 VHN as compared to 220 VHN of the AISI 304 stainless steel substrate with a significant improvement in wear resistance property. The mechanism of wear was found to be a combination of adhesive and abrasive in as-received stainless steel. However, it was predominantly abrasive for laser composite surfaced stainless steel.     

Common entanglement witnesses and their characteristics

We investigate the issue of finding common entanglement witness for certain class of states and extend this study to the case of Schmidt number witnesses. We also introduce the notion of common decomposable and non-decomposable witness operators which is specially useful for constructing a common witness where one of the entangled states is with a positive partial transpose. Our approach is illustrated with the help of suitable examples of qutrit systems.     

The impacts of speed cameras on road accidents: An application of propensity score matching methods

This paper aims to evaluate the impacts of speed limit enforcement cameras on reducing road accidents in the UK by accounting for both confounding factors and the selection of proper reference groups. The propensity score matching (PSM) method is employed to do this. A naïve before and after approach and the empirical Bayes (EB) method are compared with the PSM method. A total of 771 sites and 4787 sites for the treatment and the potential reference groups respectively are observed for a period of 9 years in England. Both the PSM and the EB methods show similar results that there are significant reductions in the number of accidents of all severities at speed camera sites. It is suggested that the propensity score can be used as the criteria for selecting the reference group in before-after control studies. Speed cameras were found to be most effective in reducing accidents up to 200 meters from camera sites and no evidence of accident migration was found.