An Indo-Soviet experiment on anmhd generator test section at the Soviet U-02 facility

This paper summarizes the major results of the joint Indo-Soviet experiment for testing the Indianmhd generator channel section, designed and fabricated at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, which was carried out at the U-02 facility in Moscow, USSR, in May 1980. The total test duration was 65 hours and included electrophysical tests and life tests under applied electric fields. The main purpose of the tests was to substantiate the physical concepts, computer codes, design features and special processing techniques involved in the development ofmhd generators for the Indian pilot plant at Tiruchirapalli. The experimental observations on the phenomena of heat transfer to the walls, gas dynamics in the channel, electrical characteristics of the generator and near-electrode processes including the analysis of arc spots correlate with the theoretical estimates based on present understanding of the physical processes occuring in similarmhd generators. The post-operational inspection of the channel section and extensive investigation of materials through microscopic analysis, chemical analysis and x-ray analysis are also reported in this paper. The joint test programme has clearly demonstrated the definite operating capability of the test section and has given sufficient information and encouragement for building better and improved channels for the future.     

Edge passivation and related electrical stability in silicon powerdevices

Factors governing long-term stability of silicon power devices are discussed with particular reference to a major failure mechanism observed in a thyristor device. The device failure was due to electrical instability during an electrical and thermal stability storage test, wherein it was observed that the reverse blocking voltage deteriorated under applied bias at the rated maximum junction temperature. The major cause of this failure was identified as lack of exhaust during the edge passivation and curing process due to which excessive chemical deposits are retained in the bevel region of the silicon element. This contributes to surface leakage current and, hence, a rapid degradation of the off-state characteristics. An orthogonal array experiment was employed to optimize the process factors and levels. The manufacturing process was then modified by incorporating an effective exhaust system in the passivant curing oven. This resulted in marked improvements in the electrical stability and manufacturing yield of this device     

Clock Distribution Methodology for PowerPC™ Microprocessors

Clock distribution design for high performance microprocessors has become increasingly challenging in recent years. Design goals of state-of-the-art integrated circuits, dictate the need for clock networks with smaller skew tolerances, large sizes, and lower capacitances. In this paper we discuss some of the issues in clock network design that arise in this context. We describe the clock design methodology and techniques used in the design of clock distribution networks for PowerPC? microprocessors that aim at alleviating some of these problems.

     

Excitation of untilted edge slots by a suspended slotline

The excitation mechanism of an untilted slot in the narrow wall of a rectangular waveguide by a suspended slotline has been described. Power radiated by this slot as a function of the slot width of the suspended slotline has been measured. This excitation mechanism appears promising for microwave integrated circuit antennas.<>     

Clock Distribution Methodology for PowerPC? Microprocessors

Clock distribution design for high performance microprocessors has become increasingly challenging in recent years. Design goals of state-of-the-art integrated circuits, dictate the need for clock networks with smaller skew tolerances, large sizes, and lower capacitances. In this paper we discuss some of the issues in clock network design that arise in this context. We describe the clock design methodology and techniques used in the design of clock distribution networks for PowerPC microprocessors that aim at alleviating some of these problems.     

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE polar loop transmitter

An enhanced data-rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) transmitter using a nonlinear GSM-type PA is presented. It is based on a novel polar loop architecture that employs separate feedback control of the amplitude and the phase of the output signal. With this approach, the problems with AM-to-PM as well as AM-to-AM of the nonlinear PA are essentially eliminated. In addition, this architecture allows for a large dynamic output power control range, as required by the GSM specification. The transmitter uses a standard I/Q interface and does not require the extraction of amplitude and phase modulation in the digital domain. The dual feedback loop ensures robust performance even under voltage-standing wave ratio variations without using an isolator. No external PA filtering is required to meet the transmitter noise in the receive band. The EDGE spectral mask is met with an rms error vector magnitude of <3% at 29 dBm at the antenna, corresponding to 2 dB above nominal maximum output power. There is no mode change between GMSK and EDGE, and the transmitter operates seamlessly in multislot Enhanced General Packet Radio Service. The polar modulation transmitter meets or exceeds the GSM-type approval requirements for both EDGE and GMSK in quad band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz).     

Analysis of heat fluxes in the electrode walls of a combustion-driven MHD generator

A qualitative analysis is presented to explain the difference in the measured heat fluxes in the anode and cathode in the arc mode of current transfer of a combustion-driven MHD generator. It is shown that various surface phenomena that take place near the wall, like Debye voltage, thermionic work function and electron enthalpy, approximately account for the asymmetry in anode and cathode heat fluxes under the same current condition.     

A>400 GHz fmax transferred-substrate heterojunctionbipolar transistor IC technology

We report transferred-substrate AlInAs/GaInAs bipolar transistors. A device having a 0.6 μm×25 μm emitter and a 0.8 μm×29 μm collector exhibited f_τ=134 GHz and f _max>400 GHz. A device with a 0.6 μm×25 μm emitter and a 1.8 μm×29 μm collector exhibited 400 GHz f_max 164 GHz f_τ. The improvement in f_max over previous transferred-substrate HBT's is due to improved base Ohmic contacts, narrower emitter-base and collector-base junction areas, and slightly reduced transit times. The transferred-substrate fabrication process provides electroplated gold thermal vias for transistor heat-sinking and a microstrip wiring environment on a low dielectric constant polymer substrate     

Radiofluorinated L-m-tyrosines: new in-vivo probes for central dopamine biochemistry

PURPOSE: Recent information indicates that large, sustained wall shear stress gradients are a dominant hemodynamic parameter associated with the location and severity of atherosclerosis and myointimal hyperplasia. This study computes the spatial values of wall shear stresses and their gradients for three carotid artery bifurcation geometries. METHODS: A computational fluid dynamics program was used to solve the transient two-dimensional partial differential equations that describe fluid flow. Blood was treated as both a Newtonian and a non-Newtonian incompressible fluid. Solutions for the velocities, wall shear stresses, and wall shear-stress gradients were obtained for three carotid bifurcation geometries: a normal carotid bifurcation (similar to a primarily reconstructed carotid endarterectomy), a patch-reconstructed carotid endarterectomy, and a gradually tapered, low-angle carotid bifurcation (no carotid bulb). RESULTS: Computed velocity profiles closely match published experimental ones. Disturbed flow velocities are largest in the bulb segment of the normal carotid bifurcation. Peak and minimum wall shear stresses and peak shear stress gradients occurred in the lateral internal carotid artery wall. These were binodal in the normal or primarily reconstructed carotid artery, localized at the distal end of the patch-reconstructed carotid bifurcation, and minimal in the smooth, tapered carotid bifurcation. Wall shear stresses and their gradients were slightly higher for non-Newtonian than Newtonian fluids in the normal carotid artery but were similar in the other two geometric configurations. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that flow disturbances in general and wall shear stress gradients in particular are markedly reduced in carotid artery bifurcations that are smooth and gradually tapered and do not have a bulb. Abrupt geometric wall changes such as those occurring in the normal carotid bulb and at the distal end of a patch-reconstruction after carotid endarterectomy are harbingers of disturbed flow and high wall shear stress gradients. These results suggest that carotid endarterectomy reconstruction geometry characterized by a gradually tapered internal carotid artery may minimize the hemodynamically induced component of early myointimal hyperplasia and thrombosis and late atherosclerotic restenosis.     

An automated,energy-based,finite-difference procedure for the elastic collapse of rectangular plates and panels

A FORTRAN IV, large capacity, computer program has been developed to determine collapse loads and bifurcation loads for linear and nonlinear prebuckling behavior for fiber-reinforced, laminated, rectangular plates and panels under general loading systems and boundary conditions. The program is based on the principle of total potential energy and uses finite-differences in the discretization process. Whole-station spacing has been used to calculate the strain energy associated with an area-element and an orthogonal finite-difference grid that provides for variable spacings in perpendicular directions is incorporated.Numerical results are presented that compare favorably with results obtained via the general computer program STAGS. Other numerical results are presented that illustrate the types of boundary conditions, applied loads, cut-outs and initial geometric imperfections that can be handled by the present program. A brief study of the effect of panel construction and initial geometric imperfections on the buckling behavior of fiber-reinforced panels is presented.