Full characterization of a high-power semiconductor disk laser beam with simultaneous capture of optimally sized focus and farfield

We report on a beam characterization method that is based on the simultaneous measurement of the focus field and the farfield, thus avoiding problems with beam fluctuations during the measurement. By using reflections from both sides of a planoconvex lens, the method implements two branches of an optical system working simultaneously. Also, by letting the planoconvex lens be antireflection treated, and by allowing for both of the reflected fields to fill large and approximately equal areas on a camera detector array, the method significantly lowers the intensity onto the detector array, thus minimizing the need for additional disturbing attenuation filters to avoid camera saturation. In the numerical retrieval of the phase distribution, based on the measured intensity distributions of the focus and farfield, iterative propagation between the two branches is performed. The phase retrieval uses the two-step algorithm for the numerical field propagation conveniently providing an arbitrary choice of sampling distance in each plane.     

Mass flow limitations in reactive sputtering

Reactive sputtering may be accomplished by mixing the inert gas argon with some reactive gas during sputtering. To form ZrN, sputtered zirconium atoms must react with nitrogen. At a specific deposition rate, a certain number F_N0 of nitrogen atoms must arrive at the substrate. This requirement is fulfilled at the partial pressure P_N = P_N0. The minimum partial pressure P_N0 to obtain a nitride is often detected by a sharp decrease in sputtering rate at a specific N₂ partial pressure. However, during reactive sputtering of for example ZrN we found that the value of P_N0 was strongly dependent on the total gas throughout in the vacuum system. An increase in total gas throughput causes a decrease in the value of P_N0.

The decrease in sputtering rate has indirectly been measured by optical emission spectroscopy from the sputtering plasma.     

Highly coherent long cavity GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum-well lasers

Measurements of the spectral properties of ridge waveguide graded index separate-confinement heterostructure single-quantum-well GaAs/AlGaAs lasers are discussed. Long cavity lasers (800 μm) exhibit remarkably pure single-longitudinal mode spectra under continuous operation in spite of the short cavity mode spacing. At an output power of 5 mW, the sidemode suppression exceeds 24 dB and the linewidth is 1.5 MHz. The linewidth-power product is 6.4 MHz-mW. Measurements of the linewidth power product as a function of cavity length L gives an L^-2 dependence in agreement with theory for lasers with small internal loss. The results are used to deduce the linewidth enhancement factor α at the gain peak wavelength ant its dependence on the excitation level. A decrease in α was observed for lasers operating at the second quantized state due to a recovery of the differential gain     

Thermal influence on torque transfer of wet clutches in limited slip differential applications

Wet clutches operating under low velocity and high load are studied with the aim of obtaining reliable models for the torque transfer during boundary lubrication conditions. A friction model which takes temperature, speed and nominal pressure into account is developed and used with temperature calculations to be able to simulate behavior of a wet clutch working in boundary lubrication regime. Predicted torque and temperatures from the model agree well with experimental data.     

The Navier–Stokes approach for thermal EHL line contact solutions

The complicated nature of the EHL-problem has so far forced researchers to develop their own computer codes. These codes are ultimately based on the Reynolds equation, and if thermal EHL-simulations are required, a simultaneous solution of the equation of energy also has to be performed. To date only a few attempts to solve the full equations of momentum and continuity as well as equations of energy have been performed. However, such an approach will give extended possibilities of simulating EHL-contacts; i.e. the computational domain can be expanded and it will be possible to simulate the flow, not only in the contact but also around the contact. Another possibility is to investigate how the altering length scales of the surface roughness influence the behaviour of the flow in the contact. However, the aim of the work presented in this paper is to investigate the possibilities of using a commercial CFD-code (computational fluid dynamics code) based on the above-mentioned equations for simulating thermal EHL. The rheology is assumed to be Newtonian and the equations of momentum and continuity are then commonly referred to as the Navier–Stokes equations (N–S equations). The geometry chosen for the simulations is a smooth line contact geometry, for which the results from the simulations show that it is possible to use the N–S equations for thermal EHL for contact pressures up to approximately 0.7 GPa. The code used in this work is the commercial CFD software (CFX 4.3 user guide). There is a limitation in the N–S approach due to a singularity that can occur in the equation of momentum when the principal shear stresses in the film become too high. However, a thermal approach makes it possible to simulate EHL-contacts at higher loads compared with an isothermal approach, due to the reduction of the viscosity in the former approach. The singularity is not present in the Reynolds approach.     

Ischemia-induced transplant arteriosclerosis in the rat. Induction of peptide growth factor expression

A 3-wk feeding trial with 240 sexed, day-old broiler chickens was conducted to determine the efficacy of microbial phytase at different levels of dietary Ca on performance and utilization of minerals in broiler chickens fed a low-P corn-soybean diet. The experimental design was a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments; Ca at 0.6, 1.0, and 1.25% and phytase at 0 and 600 phytase U/kg diet. Phytase supplementation, regardless of Ca level, increased (P < or = 0.005) feed intake, (P < or = 0.0001) body weight, and (P < or = 0.025) feed efficiency at 21 d; the optimum levels of body weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency were obtained with low (0.6%) dietary Ca plus phytase. Retentions of P, Ca, and N were increased (P < or = 0.05) by phytase supplementation. Although maximum retentions of P and N were obtained at the 1.0 and 1.25% Ca levels, respectively, they were not significantly different from the values obtained at 0.6% Ca. The increasing level of dietary Ca decreased plasma P ( P < or = 0.05) and Cu (P < or = 0.06). Phytase supplementation had the opposite effect; i.e., increased plasma P (P < or = 0.03) and Cu (P < or = 0.02). The maximum level of plasma P was obtained with phytase at the 1.0% Ca level, but this value was not significantly different from the value obtained with phytase at the 0.6% Ca level. Phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.04) the ash content of both tibia head and shaft but had no effect on mineral contents in the ash. The optimum level of ash content was observed with the 0.06% Ca diet plus phytase. The results show that microbial phytase supplementation to a low P diet improved growth performance and mineral utilization in broiler chickens. Dietary Ca levels had a significant effect on the response to phytase; the optimum growth performance and mineral utilization were achieved at the low (0.6%) level of dietary Ca supplemented with phytase.     

Effects of removal of weight-bearing function on contractility and myosin isoform composition in single human skeletal muscle cells

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-week period without weight bearing, achieved by bed rest, on the contractile behaviour, myosin isoform expression and myofibrillar protein content of single human muscle fibres. Percutaneous biopsied specimens of the quadriceps muscle were taken from three healthy male volunteers before and at the end of the experimental period. Maximum force normalised to cross-sectional area (specific tension), maximum velocity of unloaded shortening (V0), and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and light chain (MyLC) isoform composition were measured in single membrane-permeabilised muscle cells obtained from these specimens. At the end of the experimental period, specific tension was reduced (P < 0.001) by 40% and there was a parallel decline in myofibrillar protein content per muscle cell volume. V0 did not change significantly in response to bed rest when data from all muscle cells were pooled. In two of the subjects, however, V0 decreased (P < 0.01-0.001) in muscle cells expressing the beta/slow (type I) MyHC isoform, but there was no change in fibres expressing type IIA or a combination of type IIA and IIB MyHCs. The slowing in type I MyHC fibres was associated with a change in the isoform composition of the regulatory MyLC.     

Kinetics of coal desulphurization by Acidianus brierleyi

Acidianus brierleyi was demonstrated to remove pyritic sulphur from coal. A. brierleyi was also found capable of catalyzing the removal of what is normally reported as organic sulphur from coal 171US34. A kinetic analysis was performed by assuming a first order reaction. The first order kinetics allowed a comparison with literature data for Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Also, formation of jarosite was taken into account in the analysis. The simple first order kinetics was observed to fit the data on removal of sulphur satisfactorily.