Depth resolution calculations for heavy-ion microbeam RBS analysis

A detailed study has been made on the use of MeV heavy ions (Z₁ = 6–8) for microbeam Rutherford backscattering (RBS) analysis, to improve the depth resolution of this technique. The algorithm for determination of the depth resolution was created and applied to the Zagreb microbeam facility. Theoretical estimates of depth resolution for C and O ion RBS analysis of thin oxide films and semiconductors, using annular silicon surface barrier detector (SSBD), are compared to those for proton backscattering analysis. Depth resolution in certain cases may be improved by increasing the heavy-ion energy. Therefore, by the proper choice of the heavy ion and the heavy-ion energy, the depth resolution may be improved, maintaining the efficiency of the RBS method.     

Production and properties of the aging powdered alloy Cu-0.8% Cr. II. Production of electric contacts of aging alloy Cu-0.8% Cr for welding machines by extrusion

Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 11(359), pp. 71–73, November, 1992.     

An experimentally verified hybrid Cassie-Mayr electric arc modelfor power electronics simulations

This paper presents an electric arc model that can approximately represent both the static and dynamic characteristics of an arc load controlled by a power electronic circuit. The proposed model was developed from the combination and modifications of the classical Cassie and Mayr equations. The model equations have been expressed in a form suitable for incorporation into circuit simulators employing the nodal analysis method of equation solving. The model has been test-implemented in the Saber circuit simulator. Simulated and experimental results appear to be in good agreement     

The Solar System Modeler

The authors undertook the Solar System Modeler project to improve comprehension and appreciation of the size, complexity, and splendor of the solar system. To do so, the Solar System Modeler must (1) accurately portray the orbital behavior of satellites, planets, comets, and other celestial bodies, and (2) function in a distributed virtual environment. Additionally, the system needs to: provide a flexible, 3D graphical user interface for immersive operation; assist the user in comprehending the state of the virtual environment; accurately portray the stars and their locations; graphically model all bodies throughout the solar system in 3D and to the same scale; and maintain an interactive frame rate. They describe how they met these requirements     

High-reliability GaAs-AlGaAs HBTs by MBE with Be base doping andInGaAs emitter contacts

The authors have developed a modified MBE growth process to produce high-gain n-p-n GaAs-AlGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with a mean time to failure (MTTF) of 1.5×10⁸ h at 125°C. Beryllium incorporation and diffusion are controlled through a combination of reduced substrate temperature and increased As/Ga flux ratio during MBE growth, resulting in extremely stable HBT profiles. The authors also demonstrate graded InGaAs surface layers with nonalloyed refractory metal contacts that significantly improve ohmic reliability compared to alloyed AuGe contacts. The ability to produce robust HBTs by MBE is critically important to this technology     

On the use of tapered linearly chirped gratings asdispersion-induced distortion equalizers in SCM systems

We report on the use of tapered linearly chirped fiber gratings to equalize dispersion-induced distortion in long distance/broad-band subcarrier multiplexed (SCM) systems. Different apodization functions for the coupling factor of the fiber grating have been considered and their equalizing capability of fiber-induced distortion in a subcarrier system have been compared. The results of the theoretical analysis show that both harmonic and intermodulation distortions are significantly reduced when the equalizer parameters have been properly designed. Higher reduction of the nonlinear distortion is obtained when the length of the filter increases, even though a saturation effect on this reduction figure appears when the equalizer length is about four or five times its minimum value to achieve equalization, which is derived theoretically based on the SCM optical system parameters. The performance of a Tanh-type tapered linearly chirped grating equalizer on a realistic broadband SCM system is also considered. The results reveal that the dispersion-induced distortion can be neglected when the equalizer is employed     

Software reuse issues and perspectives

Software reuse could be implemented at several levels including the specification level, design level, program/subprogram library level, code level, and object-code level. However, reuse has a distinct definition for each of the above-mentioned levels. Moreover, the techniques applied to organize and manage reuse is different from one level to another. What's more, the complexity of the reuse methods and techniques increases as it moves from the specification level to the code and object-code levels. On the positive side, the time and space efficiency resulting from the application of reuse techniques improves in the same direction. Specification and design levels are at higher levels of abstraction than the other reuse levels, therefore their potential for accommodating reuse is greater and their adaptation to new applications can be simpler. However, the reuse process of the specification and design levels ultimately involves coding (be it system-generated or manual), testing, and debugging. On the other hand, reuse at code and object-code levels essentially eliminates coding and overall testing, hence it is more economical where a large collection of reusable software is organized in a software library     

Improving manufacturing by cost-effective process modeling

Computer-aided engineering tools are routinely used to simulate forging and heat-treatment operations and to perform thermal and stress analyses. This review gives a few examples of the current uses of process modeling tools and outlines some developing capabilities and near-term applications.