Experimental study of fluxon dynamics in a potential well

Dynamics of a single fluxon in an annular Josephson junction is studied in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field H. Due to the interaction of the fluxon with the radial field component, the fluxon moves in a potential well which height is proportional to H. Several spectacular features of fluxon dynamics analogous to the motion of a particle in a washboard potential are clearly observed experimentally. Periodic revolutions of the fluxon in the junction lead to a potential induced emission of plasma waves. These waves are indicated by a resonance at a certain fluxon velocity which depends on the junction length. Good agreement between experiment, theoretical model and numerical simulations is found.     

Undergraduate Summer Research in Structural Engineering

For the last seven years, a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates site in structural engineering, funded by the National Science Foundation, has operated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, 33 students from 22 colleges and universities have participated in the site. Participants are recruited nationally and have come from as far away as California and Puerto Rico. The program is intended to provide students interested in graduate studies with an introduction to research methods, and to provide students who will not continue their studies past a bachelor of science in civil engineering with a better understanding of how research provides the theoretical foundation of engineering practice. Students work individually with faculty on literature reviews, computer modeling, laboratory testing, and field research. Three students have researched structural failure case studies and the technical and ethical lessons to be learned from them. Participants also have the opportunity to tour construction sites and construction material manufacturers’ and fabricators’ facilities. During the past three years, an ethics seminar series has been added. At the end of the program, students prepare research papers and Web pages documenting their work and present their results to faculty, students, and other participants.     

Effects of sudden pressure changes in the surrounding gas phase on flow properties of bulk solids

The variation in the behaviour of bulk solids as a result of sudden pressure changes in the surrounding gas phase is of interest in the application of lock hoppers for transfer of bulk solids into pressure vessels. By using such sluice systems, problems occur due to consolidation of the pressurized bulk solids. This paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical research, which allow to describe the influence of several parameters on pressure compensation and the degree of consolidation. With reference to the forces and mechanisms responsible for consolidation, it is possible to describe the different consolidation behaviour of incompressible (limestone) and compressible (hard coal) bulk solids.     

Mergers and Acquisitions: Their Impact on the IS Department

For many companies, involvement in mergers or acquisitions is quite common, Unfortunately, what is not so common is the IS department's role in preparing for the organizational changes that occur after a merger or acquisition has taken place. This article identifies some of the corporate issues and problems the IS department faces following a merger or acquisition and discusses how IS managers can best prepare for and manage the impact of such transactions on their IS departments.     

Diffusion of the hydroxide-ion in liquid CaO-Al2O3-slags by application of Fourier-Transform-lnfrared-Spectroscopy

Water vapour is soluted in liquid CaO-Al₂O₃-slags as OH^?-ion. To determine the diffusion coefficient a capillary technique is used. Roughly 5 cm long platinum capillaries filled with liquid slag are equilibrated at 1500 and 1600 °C and bar different times and then are quenched in liquid D₂O. By dividing these capillaries into roughly 3 mm long segments enough sample substance is won to obtain FT-IR spectra of the OH-band. From measurement of the integral extinction of the OH-band and OH^?-concentration profile through the capillary is obtained. FT-IR-spectroscopy is very suitable for this capillary technique because it needs only very little sample substance.