Optical phase conjugation of multiwavelength signals in adispersion-shifted fiber

Optical phase conjugation (OPC) of multiwavelength signals in a dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF), which can be used for dispersion compensation in the wavelength division multiplexing communication system, is theoretically studied. The multiwavelength phase-conjugate signals are generated by four-wave mixing (FWM) in the dispersion-shifted fiber. There are the pulse-shape distortion and the induced frequency chirping in the phase-conjugate signals owing to pump depletion and the cross-phase modulation among the signals and phase-conjugate signals, respectively. The FWM among the pump wave, signals, and phase-conjugate signals causes unequal conversion efficiencies for the multiwavelength signals and enhances the induced frequency chirping in the phase-conjugate signals. The induced frequency chirping may deteriorate the restoration of the pulse shape. Both the pulse-shape distortion and induced frequency chirping increase with the signal and pump powers. The formula for the induced frequency chirping that is only caused by the signals through cross-phase modulation is derived. The requirement of the signal power in the dispersion-shifted fiber for the restoration of the pulse shape by the optical phase conjugation is estimated and numerically verified     

Ein stochastisches,schadensmechanisches Versagensmodell für Komposite

A stochastic damage mechanics failure model of composites This paper focuses on the theoretical simulation of strength and failure of specimens with nonlocal damage. A concept is proposed for quantitative interpretation and prediction of nonlinear. nominal stress-strain curves of damaged materials like fine ceramics or intermetallic alloys. For that reason methods of damage mechanics and of probability theory are combined.     

Einfluß der Korngröße auf mechanische Eigenschaften und den ungeschmierten reversierenden Gleitverschleiß von Al2O3-Keramik

Influence of grain size on mechanical properties and dry oscillating sliding wear of Al₂O₃-ceramics Specimens with average grain sizes varying between about 0.8 μm and 12 μm were produced by cold isostatic pressing of high purity Al₂O₃-powder followed by sintering between 1300°C and 1700°C. Hardness, Young's modulus, bending strength and fracture toughness were measured as a function of average grain sizes. Tribological tests were carried out on the different microstructures at normal laboratory air and room temperature by using a ring-on-block tribometer. Experimental results showed the dependence of mechanical properties on grain size, hardness and bending strength obeying a Hall-Petch type relation, approximately. Coefficient of friction was relatively independent of grain size under the test conditions used. However, wear intensity increased substantially if a critical grain size was surpassed. This was due to a change in mechanisms of material removal which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopical studies of the worn surfaces.     

A mathematical model for the prediction of temperature in a dry snow layer

A mathematical model for predicting the temperature in a homogeneous layer of dry snow is presented. The model, which is physically based, is capable of predicting diurnal temperature behaviour at the snow surface and at any depth within a snow layer given the variation in a limited set of meteorological parameters over that period. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the important parameters in the prediction of snow surface temperatures. These are found to be consistent with simple physical reasoning.     

Convection in a concentric annulus with heat generating porous media and a permeable inner boundary

The effects of a permeable inner boundary on the maximum temperature and the convective flows were investigated numerically for a two-dimensional horizontal annulus containing a uniformly heat generating porous media. The time-dependent governing equations were nondimensionalized and put into an explicit finite difference numerical form. The finite difference equations were obtained from truncated Taylor series expansions using a central differencing scheme. Nondimensional temperatures and streamlines were obtained for heat generation rates ranging from 20 to 1,500 W/m³ corresponding to a range of modified Rayleigh numbers of 324 to 24,340 and for several combinations of isothermally heated wall conditions for annuli of radius ratio of 2. It was found that multi-cellular flows occur at the highest Rayleigh numbers investigated.     

Air Filtration and Radon Decay Product Mitigation

Air cleaning as a means of mitigating the risks arising from exposure to indoor radon progeny has been evaluated in a single-family house in the north eastem US. using an automated, semi-continuous activity-weighted size distribution measurement system. The measurements included radon concentration, condensation nuclei count, and activity-weighted size distribution of radon decay products. Measurements were made in the house with and without an operating air filtration system and with various particle sources common to normal indoor activities operating. Aerosols were generated by running water in a shower, candle burning, cigarette smoking, vacuuming, opening doors, and cooking. Using a room model, the changes in attachment rates, average attachment diameters, and deposition rates of the unattached fraction with and without the air cleaning system were calculated. In the presence of active aerosol sources, the air filtration unit typically reduced the concentration of particles within the hour following the end of particle generation. After candle burning, cigarette smoking, and vacuuming in the bedroom, the reductions of PAEC by air filtration are about 60% with the air filtration system operating in the bedroom. During cooking in the kitchen, the reductions of PAEC in the bedroom with the air filtration system were about 40%. However, for all cases the dose reductions were smaller than the particle and PAEC reductions. For those particles that were generated within the bedroom, there was a 20% to 50% reduction in dose. In the case of cooking where the door was open and particles infiltrated from the rest of the house, the dose reduction was only 5% on average and appears to be insignificant. Thus, the dose reductions were h e r than the reductions in activity concentration, but there were no cases where the estimated dose actually increased.     

Synthesis of fine composite particles for hydrogen storage, starting from Mg-YNi2 mixture

We synthesized new composite particles for hydrogen storage on the basis of an idea of “particle designing”. As starting materials, powders of Mg and YNi₂ were selected. Fine composite particles containing mainly Mg₂Ni could be designed by repetitive hydriding and dehydriding cycles at 673 K. In the synthesis process of the composite particles, the following two points were found to be essential for this technique. The first point is that, after being activated by the sequential processes of hydrogenation, amorphization and disproportionation, YNi₂ reacts effectively with Mg. The second point is that evaporated Mg, which occurs during dehydriding, adheres to the surface of the activated YNi₂ and accelerates a diffusion reaction to form Mg₂Ni at the interface. In these composite particles, Mg₂NiH₄ is formed, even at 373 K, under a hydrogen pressure of 5 MPa.     

Evaluation of a commercial process for collection and cooling of beef offals by a temperature function integration technique.

The hygienic adequacy of a commercial process for the collection and cooling of beef offals was assessed by a temperature function integration technique. The diverse operations for collection of offals were inspected. The rates of product movement through those operations, and the temperatures of products at the time of their being packed, were determined. From that information, four of the nine product types were selected for examination of their temperature histories during the assembly and cooling of the cartoned products. The products selected encompassed product at near-body and near-air-ambient temperatures at the time of packaging, product in the largest and smallest cartons used in the process, and product with relatively short and long residence times in an unchilled carton stack assembly area. Twenty-one temperature histories were collected for each of the products, and the possible proliferation of an indicator organism, Escherichia coli, calculated for each temperature history. The results were assessed against a temperature function integration criterion derived from studies of beef carcass and cartoned meat cooling processes. Products packaged at near-ambient temperature readily met with the criterion, but products packed at near-body temperatures did not comply. The latter non-compliance was extreme for product packaged in large cartons. However, the principal cause of non-compliance was identified as highly variable cooling conditions in the carton freezing facility. A brief survey of air speeds and temperatures within that facility indicated means by which product cooling could be better controlled.     

A problem of pursuit and evasion

A trajectory problem of pursuit and evasion on a plane is considered for the case of equal absolute velocities of the players. Exact solutions are obtained for fixed initial conditions.Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 3, pp. 138–143, May–June, 1992.