Phase change memory alloys: GST cell array characterization using picosecond ultrasonics

Phase change random access memory alloys (PRAM or PCM) are a class of non-volatile memory that is thought as viable alternatives to flash memory technology or to supplement other memory technologies depending on the end applications and its key performance requirements. Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy (GST) is the most widely used chalcogenide material for PCM application, and has many unique properties, including strong temperature-dependent film properties, low thermal conductivity, and high electrical resistivity. Picosecond ultrasonics was used to make non-contact, non-destructive measurements of GST films on blanket wafers and directly on product wafers. On-product wafer measurements were made on various via array (0.5 μm and 1 μm between cell edges with CD size from 250 to 800 nm). Measurements have shown excellent correlation to cross-section SEM and were consistent with CMP polish times for both blanket and pattern wafer measurement. Excellent repeatability based on extensive measurements demonstrates the capability and reliability of picosecond ultrasonic technology. Picosecond ultrasonic measurements also provide rapid characterization across the whole wafer at production-worthy throughputs.     

Impedance match for Stirling type cryocoolers

Impedance match in Stirling type cryocoolers is important for the compressor efficiency and available acoustic power. This paper generalizes the basic principles concerning the efficiency and acoustic power output of the linear compressor. Starting from basic governing equations and mainly from the viewpoint of energy balance, the physical mechanisms behind the principles are clearly shown. Specially, this paper focuses on the impedance match for an existing compressor, where the current limit and displacement limit should also be taken into consideration when selecting a suitable impedance. Some case studies based on a commercial compressor are also provided for a deep understanding.     

Mechanically strong conducting hydrogels with special double-network structure

Mechanically strong conducting hydrogels composed of poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) have been synthesized through the construction of a special double-network (sDN) structure. The novelty of the sDN hydrogels lies in the introduction of PEDOT-PSS semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogel as the second network. Based on the experimental results and the double-network theory, an additional strengthening effect resulting from the formation of the PEDOT clusters in a three-step fracture process is proposed. The applicability of as-prepared PAAm/PEDOT-PSS sDN hydrogels in electromechanical actuators is also briefly discussed.     

微风细雨:都江堰虹口香溪堂设计随笔

<正>都江堰虹口距成都市约80km,因避暑及漂流而成为成都的旅游胜地,生态旅游中心选址于虹口风景区深溪沟。项目分两期,一期为深溪沟接待点,由香溪行馆(别墅区)和香溪堂(服务配套建筑,190m~2)组成,二期为虹口旅游服务中心及酒店。香溪堂作为接待、休闲之用,规模很小,功能简单,但业主极为重视,把它作为二期启动前的形象展示,希望设计理念先进,独具个性。业主于2007年10月正式委托我们设计一期工程,原计划2008年6月动工。5月12日突如其来的汶川大地     

地下工程抗浮加固设计

地下工程的抗浮设计非常重要,往往决定着工程的成败。本文所述案例由于原设计未充分考虑地下水的影响而致使事故的发生。笔者通过对事故现象的分析,找出了造成事故原因,从而采取经济合理的加固方案使该工程达到了较为满意的经济和社会效益。     

弯剪作用下建筑物单桩桩基计算方法初探

本文通过分析弯剪作用下的建筑桩基的水平承载力计算的规范方法及支护结构中的挡土桩的计算方法和对弯剪作用下建筑桩基的受力状态的定性分析,给出了该种工况下的单桩计算的建议模型供同仁参考指正。     

A Low-Complexity Precoding Scheme for Downlink Massive MU-MIMO Systems with Low-Resolution DACs

In this paper, we investigate the problem of downlink precoding for the narrowband massive multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) system with low-resolution digital-to-analog converters (DACs). We introduce a low-complexity precoding scheme based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) framework in this work. An efficient gradient descent (GD) algorithm with adaptive step-size determination mechanism (ASGD) is proposed to alleviate the computational complexity bottleneck of the inherent matrix inversion. Numerical results demonstrate that the ASGD precoder achieves an attractive trade-off between the performance and computational complexity compared with other counterparts.

     

Growth of Strained Si1－xGex Layer by UV/UHV/CVD

Strained Si1－xGex and Si materials are successfully grown on Si substrate by ultraviolet light chemical vapor deposition under ultrahigh vacuum at a low substrate temperature of 450℃ and 480℃，respectively.At such low temperature,autodoping effects from the substrate and interdiffusion effects at each interface could be suppressed efficiently.The strained Si1－xGex and multilayer Si1－xGex /Si structures are examined by X-ray diffraction,SMIS,etc.,and it is found that the materials have good crystallinity and the rising and falling edges are steep.The technique has a capability of growing highquality Si1－xGex /Si strained layers.     

Ionic Liquid Analogs of AlCl3 with Urea Derivatives as Electrolytes for Aluminum Batteries

The ionic liquid analog, formed through the mixture of urea and AlCl₃, has previously shown to serve as a low‐cost electrolyte for an aluminum‐graphite battery, while maintaining good performance and achieving high Coulombic efficiency. Undesirable are the relatively high viscosity and low conductivity of this electrolyte, when compared to chloroaluminate ionic liquids with organic cations. In this work, the fundamental changes to the electrolyte resulting from using derivatives of urea (N‐methyl urea and N‐ethyl urea), again mixed with AlCl₃, are examined. These electrolytes are shown to have significantly lower viscosities (η = 45, 67, and 133 cP when using N‐ethyl urea, N‐methyl urea, and urea, respectively, at 25 °C). The associated batteries exhibit higher intrinsic discharge voltages (2.04 and 2.08 V for N‐methyl urea and N‐ethyl urea electrolytes, respectively, vs 1.95 V for urea system@100 mA g^?1 specific current for ≈5 mg cm^?2 loading), due to changes in concentrations of ionic species. Aluminum deposition is directly observed to primarily occur through reduction of Al₂Cl₇^? when AlCl₃ is present in excess, in contrast to previously suggested cationic Al‐containing species, via operando Raman spectroscopy performed during cyclic voltammetry.     

基于阵列波导光栅的大规模光交换系统研究

光交换系统是波长路由、中心数据传输中的核心部分,目前光网络的发展方向是实现高速、多端口数和大容量光交换。采用 AWG(阵列波导光栅)的波长路由技术结合高速波长可调激光器,是实现大规模光交换系统中纳秒级开关时间的最有效的技术方案。文章分别从 AWGR(阵列波导光栅路由器)的周期性、串联、并联以及串并联等4个方面,对不同的架构方案进行了阐述。