Design of High Sensitive Temperature Sensor Based on Two-Dimensional Photonic Crystal

In this effort, a two-dimensional photonic crystal ring resonator (2DPCRR) is simulated. This device is developed for temperature detection in harsh enviro     

A note on the value function for constrained control problems

We consider the Mayer optimal control problem with dynamics given by a nonconvex differential inclusion, whose trajectories are constrained to a given set and we obtain a relation between the costate function that appears in the maximum principle and the value function. This relation extends the known conditions existing in the literature for unconstrained problems to those for problems under state constraints.     

Microbeam RBS on flat panel displays

We have demonstrated the utility of microbeam-Rutherford BackScattering (μ-RBS) in spatially resolved studies of operational plasma effects on the interior surfaces of plasma flat panel displays manufactured by Photonics Imaging. The experiments were performed at the Sandia Nuclear microprobe using a 2.8 MeV He beam with an average beam spot size of less than 8 μm. The interior surface of the top panes of the flat panels is composed of approximately 800 nm of MgO on top of a 2000 nm thick PbO layer. μ-RBS of sample panels operated under varying conditions measured changes in the surface MgO film thickness due to plasma erosion and redeposition as accurately as ± 1.5 nm. The high accuracy in the MgO thickness measurement was achieved by inferring the MgO thickness from the shift of the Pb front edge in the RBS spectrum. An estimate for the thickness accuracy as a function of the acquired statistics is presented. The surface of the flat panels' bottom panes is also comprised of MgO on top of PbO. However, troughs 100 μm wide by 10 μm deep were partially filled with phosphor and cover the entire width of the surface. This leaves only 100 μm long sections of MgO within the trough exposed. Using μ-RBS, we were able to analyze the surface composition of these regions.     

Characterization and modification of fillers for paints and coatings

This paper highlights the possibility of inverse gas chromatography for the surface characterization of common fillers (CaCO₃, talc, SiO₂,) for paints and coatings. Divided solids are described, on the one hand, by the dispersive component of their surface energy and, on the other, by a specific parameter indicating their acid-base interaction potential. The role of the surface morphology at a molecular level is also examined. It is demonstrated that steric effects play an important role in the adsorption of probes on lamellar solids like talc. The consequences of surface treatments as well as examples of practical applications are also reported.     

Validation of a Method of Determination of Apparent Diffusivity Versus Composition in Solids

A method is presented for computing the values of apparent diffusivity in solids with respect to the concentration of the diffusing substance (water or sodium chloride). This method does not require any assumption upon the mathematical relationship between diffusivity and concentration. It can be applied to experimental measurements of local concentration versus position within the solid (profiles) with relatively few measurements (circa 10) and a mathematical smoothing of the experimental data by using an artificial neural network model. The method was first validated on simulated data obtained by using a constant diffusivity value and on experimental profiles when the relation between diffusivity and concentration was given. It was then applied to original experimental moisture profiles obtained by putting gelatin gels with different initial moisture contents into contact for up to 14 days. The method was also successfully applied to five sets of experimental moisture and sodium chloride profiles taken from the literature and obtained from different food products. Apparent diffusivities calculated by our method were found in agreement with those obtained by authors using different numerical methods to compute the diffusivity values.     

Hybrid Approach for Addressing Uncertainty in Risk Assessments

Parameter uncertainty is a major aspect of the model-based estimation of the risk of human exposure to pollutants. The Monte Carlo method, which applies probability theory to address model parameter uncertainty, relies on a statistical representation of available information. In recent years, other uncertainty theories have been proposed as alternative approaches to address model parameter uncertainty in situations where available information is insufficient to identify statistically representative probability distributions, due in particular to data scarcity. The simplest such theory is possibility theory, which uses so-called fuzzy numbers to represent model parameter uncertainty. In practice, it may occur that certain model parameters can be reasonably represented by probability distributions, because there are sufficient data available to substantiate such distributions by statistical analysis, while others are better represented by fuzzy numbers (due to data scarcity). The question then arises as to how these two modes of representation of model parameter uncertainty can be combined for the purpose of estimating the risk of exposure. This paper proposes an approach (termed a hybrid approach) which combines Monte Carlo random sampling of probability distribution functions with fuzzy calculus. The approach is applied to a real case of estimation of human exposure, via vegetable consumption, to cadmium present in the surficial soils of an industrial site located in the north of France. The application illustrates the potential of the proposed approach, which allows the uncertainty affecting model parameters to be represented in a way that is consistent with the information at hand. Also, because the hybrid approach takes advantage of the “rich” information provided by probability distributions, while retaining the conservative character of fuzzy calculus, it is believed to hold value in terms of a “reasonable” application of the precautionary principle.