Heat partitioning in dry milling of steel

A predictive model for heat induced shape deviations would facilitate the optimization of dry milling strategies. Results from milling experiments aiming at a physically based regression model for the heat flux distribution along the contact arc are presented. The contact arc was discretised by varying the width of cut on four levels for each combination of cutting speed, feed speed, and depth of cut. Heat fluxes to the workpiece were iteratively determined in an inverse procedure. Heat partitioning not only depends on the thermal number as in orthogonal cutting but also on the feed speed and the depth of cut.     

Quartz resonator instabilities under cryogenic conditions

The phase noise of a quartz crystal resonator working at liquid helium temperatures is studied. Measurement methods and the device environment are explained. The phase noise is measured for different resonance modes, excitation levels, amount of operating time, device orientations in relation to the cryocooler vibration axis, and temperatures. Stability limits of a frequency source based on such devices are evaluated in the present measurement conditions. The sources of phase flicker and white noises are identified. Finally, the results are compared with previous works.     

Surface periodic domain structures for waveguide applications

We report the results of fabrication and investigations of surface periodic domain structures created by a set of quasi-point e-beam irradiations both on the Y- and X-cuts of LiNbO(3), and on Ti:LiNbO(3) and Zn:LiNbO(3) planar waveguides. Domain gratings with spatial periods from 4.75 to 7.25 μm were formed by a 25-keV e-beam. Doses from 500 to 2000 μC/cm(2) were used for different structures to estimate optimal fabrication conditions. The investigations allowed the visualization of the formed surface domain structures, estimation of their uniformity, and determination of waveguide generation of the second optical harmonic. The surface structures can be used in optical devices for the realization of quasi-phase-matched frequency conversion, which includes the creation of compact radiation sources based on waveguides.     

State-resolved spectroscopy of high vibrational levels of water up to the dissociative continuum

We summarize here our experimental studies of the high rovibrational energy levels of water. The use of double-resonance vibrational overtone excitation followed by energy-selective photofragmentation and laser-induced fluorescence detection of OH fragments allowed us to measure previously inaccessible rovibrational energies above the seventh OH-stretch overtone. Extension of the experimental approach to triple-resonance excitation provides access to rovibrational levels via transitions with significant transition dipole moments (mainly OH-stretch overtones) up to the dissociation threshold of the O-H bond. A collisionally assisted excitation scheme enables us to probe vibrations that are not readily accessible via pure laser excitation. Observation of the continuous absorption onset yields a precise value for the O-H bond dissociation threshold, 41?145.94 ± 0.15?cm(-1). Finally, we detect long-lived resonances as sharp peaks in spectra above the dissociation threshold.     

Unusual super-ductility at room temperature in an ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy

Processing by severe plastic deformation (SPD) typically increases the strength of metals and alloys drastically by decreasing their grain size into the submicrometer or nanometer range but the ductility of such materials remains typically low. This report describes the first demonstration that it is possible to increase the room temperature ductility of aluminum-based alloys processed by SPD and to attain elongations to failure of >150% while retaining the enhanced strength. This unique combination of properties is due to the occurrence of grain boundary sliding at room temperature. The sliding was obviously achieved by introducing a grain boundary wetting of the aluminum/aluminum grain boundaries.     

Enhanced photoluminescence of porous silicon nanoparticles coated by bioresorbable polymers

A significant enhancement of the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency is observed for aqueous suspensions of porous silicon nanoparticles (PSiNPs) coated by bioresorbable polymers, i.e., polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PSiNPs with average size about 100 nm prepared by mechanical grinding of electrochemically etched porous silicon were dispersed in water to prepare the stable suspension. The inner hydrophobic PLGA layer prevents the PSiNPs from the dissolution in water, while the outer PVA layer makes the PSiNPs hydrophilic. The PL quantum yield of PLGA/PVA-coated PSiNPs was found to increase by three times for 2 weeks of the storage in water. The observed effect is explained by taking into account both suppression of the dissolution of PSiNPs in water and a process of the passivation of nonradiative defects in PSiNPs. The obtained results are interesting in view of the potential applications of PSiNPs in bioimaging.     

Microscale geochemical gradients in Hanford 300 Area sediment biofilms and influence of uranium

The presence and importance of microenvironments in the subsurface at contaminated sites were suggested by previous geochemical studies. However, no direct quantitative characterization of the geochemical microenvironments had been reported. We quantitatively characterized microscale geochemical gradients (dissolved oxygen (DO), H₂, pH, and redox potential) in Hanford 300A subsurface sediment biofilms. Our results revealed significant differences in geochemical parameters across the sediment biofilm/water interface in the presence and absence of U(VI) under oxic and anoxic conditions. While the pH was relatively constant within the sediment biofilm, the redox potential and the DO and H₂ concentrations were heterogeneous at the microscale (<500-1000 μm). We found microenvironments with high DO levels (DO hotspots) when the sediment biofilm was exposed to U(VI). On the other hand, we found hotspots (high concentrations) of H₂ under anoxic conditions both in the presence and in the absence of U(VI). The presence of anoxic microenvironments inside the sediment biofilms suggests that U(VI) reduction proceeds under bulk oxic conditions. To test this, we operated our biofilm reactor under air-saturated conditions in the presence of U(VI) and characterized U speciation in the sediment biofilm. U L_III-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) showed that 80-85% of the U was in the U(IV) valence state.     

Enhancing the fraction of grafted polystyrene on silica hybrid nanoparticles

Polymer-grafted inorganic nanoparticles are being developed for a diverse array of applications, ranging from drug delivery to multifunctional composites. In many instances, performance of these core-shell hybrids is limited by relatively broad distributions of size and composition, as well as the presence of impurities, such as unattached polymer chains. Herein, further synthetic improvements, and associated characterization techniques, to enhance the fraction of the grafted polystyrene shell on silica hybrid nanoparticles are discussed. We found that during surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) from the silica nanoparticles, thermal self-initiation of styrene produces unattached polymer chains. Size exclusion chromatography afforded a facile approach to quantify the mass of the unattached polymer, and provide a substantial refinement to estimates of chain graft density beyond traditionally-used approaches, such as thermogravimetry. This fraction of unattached polymer is still present even after post-polymerization work-up via precipitation and re-dissolution. Removal necessitates additional procedures, such as high speed centrifugation. Selection of a lower polymerization temperature, in concert with a more reactive Cu complex, significantly reduces the amount of unattached polystyrene impurity. The improved polymerization conditions and post-polymerization purification provide more refined polystyrene-grafted silica nanoparticles to clarify structure-property relationships of these core-shell hybrids.     

Broadband light-induced absorbance change in multilayer graphene

We report the ultrafast light-induced absorbance change in CVD-grown multilayer graphene. Using femtosecond pump-probe measurements in 1100-1800 nm spectral range, we revealed broadband absorbance change when the probe photon energy was higher than that of the pump photon. The observed phenomenon is interpreted in terms of the Auger recombination and impact ionization playing a significant role in the dynamics of photoexcited carriers in graphene.     

Non-homogeneous extracellular resistivity affects the current-source density profiles of up-down state oscillations

Rhythmic local field potential (LFP) oscillations observed during deep sleep are the result of synchronized electrical activities of large neuronal ensembles, which consist of alternating periods of activity and silence, termed 'up' and 'down' states, respectively. Current-source density (CSD) analysis indicates that the up states of these slow oscillations are associated with current sources in superficial cortical layers and sinks in deep layers, while the down states display the opposite pattern of source-sink distribution. We show here that a network model of up and down states displays this CSD profile only if a frequency-filtering extracellular medium is assumed. When frequency filtering was modelled as inhomogeneous conductivity, this simple model had considerably more power in slow frequencies, resulting in significant differences in LFP and CSD profiles compared with the constant-resistivity model. These results suggest that the frequency-filtering properties of extracellular media may have important consequences for the interpretation of the results of CSD analysis.