SAFARI engineering model 50 mK cooler

SAFARI is an infrared instrument developed by a European based consortium to be flown in SPICA, a Japanese led mission. The SAFARI detectors are transition edge sensors (TES) and require temperatures down to 50 mK for their operation. For that purpose we have developed a hybrid architecture based on the combination of a 300 mK sorption stage and a small adiabatic demagnetization stage. An engineering model has been designed to provide net heat lifts of 0.4 and 14 μW respectively at 50 and 300 mK, with an overall cycle duration of 48 h and a duty cycle objective of over 75%. The cooler is self-contained, fits in a volume of 156 × 312 × 182 mm and is expected to weigh 5.1 kg. It has been designed to withstand static loads of 120 g and a random vibration level of 21 g RMS.     

FUZZIFYING THE “PRECISE”

Based on the fuzzy-integral model, methods and algorithms are developed for identifying the “input–output” operator of continuous and stationary discrete extremal fuzzy dynamic systems (EFDS). The EFDS “input–output” operator is restored by means of experimental data with possibilistic uncertainty, the source of which is extremal fuzzy time intervals. The regularization conditions for obtaining quasi-optimal estimates are substantiated by the proved theorems. The corresponding algorithms are provided. The results obtained are illustrated by examples in the case of a finite set of EFDS states.     

The effects of whole-body restriction on task performance

Many occupations, particularly involving maintenance operations, require individuals to perform both physical tasks and mental tasks in restricted spaces. Researchers have examined physical task performance under various restrictions; however, little research has investigated the effects of restricted space on cognitive tasks. Cognitive task performance in restricted spaces presents cognitive demands (i.e. the task itself) as well as additional physical demands (e.g. awkward postures), which may adversely affect task performance or operator workload. This research focused on the effects of whole-body restrictions on cognitive task performance. An experiment was conducted that examined 9 levels of restriction created in a laboratory: an unrestricted control, 6 single whole-body restrictions at two severity levels (2 lateral, 2 sagittal and 2 vertical) and 2 multiple restrictions (sagittal/vertical, lateral/sagittal/vertical). An inspection task served as the cognitive task. Behavioural, physiological and psychophysical measures were collected and analysed to measure the operator and performance effects. Operator response differences were found among the various forms of restriction as well as the severity level of similar forms of restriction. Increasing restriction significantly affected the behavioural and physiological operator response as opposed to the cognitive response.     

Implication of molecular orientation on charge transport and gas sensing characteristics of cobalt–phthalocyanine thin films

Charge transport and gas sensing characteristics of cobalt phthalocyanine films deposited along (ATB) and perpendicular (PTB) to the natural twin boundaries of (0 0 1) LaAlO₃ substrate have been investigated. The charge carrier mobility of ATB films (∼5 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹) is five orders of magnitude higher compared to that of PTB films (∼7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹), suggesting that twin boundaries acts like a template for ordering of molecules. The ATB films on exposure to ammonia showed a reversible increase of resistance, with fast response and recovery. In contrast PTB films showed same sensitivity, but exhibits base resistance drift along with sluggish response.     

Rescuing Big Rivers Damaged in Industrial Civilization

Large rivers with beautiful landscapes were dreamlands to the author. However, every time upon his arrival to riversides, he was shocked for the heavily polluted rivers that are dirty, messy, and smelling. Engineered dikes and dams made of concrete and steels for a greater height and hardness are built by cities along rivers. As more highways and railways built along rivers, vehicles run at a faster speed, scaring any life who wants to or has to access the water. Most of the tributaries are no longer free flow but end up as hard ditches and the water is polluted heavily. Forests and wetlands are being damaged and eroded. All of these are resulted from humans’ material desires and lack of respect for nature. Nevertheless, ecological civilization may encourage people to appreciate the beauty of nature and get a thorough understanding on river ecosystems and their services, accompanied by systematic planning and implementation of territorial ecological restoration. Moreover, laws and regulations on large river management should be put in place, and efforts should be made to break the worship of grey engineering approaches to flood control. It is expected that nature-based ecological approaches for a better resilience and sustainability in flood management can be more effective to ensure water safety.     

Space charge limitation on the response time of organic photodiodes

The dynamic response of an organic bulk heterojunction photodiode to small changes in applied bias or light intensity is investigated as function of the intensity of a constant background illumination by means of photoimpedance and transient photocurrent measurements. For bias voltages close to the open circuit voltage we find that the response timescale with the square root of the light intensity. The results can be quantitatively explained in terms of a space charge limitation on the photocurrent as predicted by Goodman and Rose (J. Appl. Phys. 42, 2823 (1971)). The relaxation time of the diode at open circuit corresponds to the lifetime of the slowest charge carrier in the diode. This relaxation time is determined by the dielectric constant and the smallest of the two carrier mobilities in the bulk heterojunction. This illustrates the importance of balanced carrier mobilities for obtaining diodes with fast response time at low bias for e.g. imaging arrays.     

Thermodynamic performance of the 3-stage ADR for the Astro-H Soft-X-ray Spectrometer instrument

The Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) instrument (Mitsuda et al., 2010) [1] on Astro-H (Takahashi et al., 2010) [2] will use a 3-stage ADR (Shirron et al., 2012) to cool the microcalorimeter array to 50 mK. In the primary operating mode, two stages of the ADR cool the detectors using superfluid helium at ⩽1.20 K as the heat sink (Fujimoto et al., 2010). In the secondary mode, which is activated when the liquid helium is depleted, the ADR uses a 4.5 K Joule–Thomson cooler as its heat sink. In this mode, all three stages operate together to continuously cool the (empty) helium tank and single-shot cool the detectors. The flight instrument – dewar, ADR, detectors and electronics – were integrated in 2014 and have since undergone extensive performance testing. This paper presents a thermodynamic analysis of the ADR’s operation, including cooling capacity, heat rejection to the heat sinks, and various measures of efficiency.     

Porous ceramics with tailored pore size and morphology as substrates for coral larval settlement

The growing demand for stony corals as ornamental aquarium animals requires defined aquacultural breeding strategies. For the sexual propagation of corals, material substrates are needed, that attract larvae and support their settlement and development. In this study, five types of highly porous ceramic materials were developed following the example of coral skeleton. The applicability of these settlement substrates was tested using larvae of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis. Partial sintering of pressed clay pellets, freeze casting of clay and alumina-mullite based slurries and direct foaming of high alkane phase emulsified suspensions (HAPES) using alumina were employed. By the addition of mm-sized spherical polystyrene beads as sacrificial templates during freeze casting (alumina-mullite), superficial pores in the size of the larvae were created. The inorganic substrates featured open porosities between 35% (pressed clay) and 83% (foamed alumina), pore sizes ranging from nm to mm-scale and pore morphologies dominated by interparticle porosity (pressed), lamellar pores (freeze casting) and cellular pore types (direct foaming). The ceramic substrates were incubated in artificial sea water for 3 months to induce necessary biofilm formation and algae growth. Afterwards, individual substrates were exposed to 5 coral larvae, and their settlement behavior was monitored over 14 days. At the end of this period, all ceramic materials were successfully accepted as settlement substrates, with a mean settlement rate of 46.2%, and no significant differences between the substrate types. On samples with large surface superficial pores, a significantly reduced survival of settled larvae (79%) compared to the other porous materials (93–98%) was determined, suggesting a non-ideal surface topography. While alumina foam samples (HAPES) exhibit the most promising results in terms of settlement and survival of larvae, clay-based substrates provide a more economic solution for the sexual propagation of corals in aquaculture.     

公共空间中的信息之美——导视系统中的信息设计

随着信息时代的到来,公共空间中的导视系统,作为信息的载体已经越来越多在空间中体现出其信息承载的复杂性和重要性。本文从信息的分类,层级系统的建立,信息在空间中的布点配置等方面,通过对信息传播的特征,信息与空间中活动人群的关系等方面的分析,并结合实践中的经验,论述了导视系统中信息设计的概念、方法和设计原则。     

基于航天装备保障精确指挥基本问题的研究

航天装备保障精确指挥在装备保障指挥中具有重要的地位与作用，是装备保障指挥的重要内容。提出了航天装备保障精确指挥的概念，分析研究了航天装备保障精确指挥的关键环节，并分析了航天装备保障精确指挥，对各指挥要素的要求，具有一定的理论和现实意义。