A note on Moore's interval test for zeros of nonlinear systems

We study relations between Moore's interval test and Miranda's theorem. As an application we combine the (real) Newton iteration with a computational test for Miranda's hypothesis by Moore and Kioustelidis to find an approximate solution to the systemf(x)=0 with specified error bounds.     

Error bounds for initial value problems by optimization

The computation of the error bounds for approximate solutions of initial value problems for ordinary differential equations has a long and successful history. This paper presents a new scheme to compute such bounds with uncertain initial conditions using preconditioned defect estimates and optimization techniques. These bounds are based on the newly developed concept of conditional differential inequalities. The scheme is implemented in MATLAB and AMPL. The resulting enclosures are compared with the packages VALENCIA-IVP, VNODE-LP and VSPODE for bounding solutions of ODEs. The current prototype uses heuristics to solve the global optimization subproblems. Hence the bounds obtained in the numerical experiments are not fully rigorous. The latter can be achieved by using rigorous global optimization and rounding error control, but the effect on the bounds is likely to be marginal only.     

PET regularization by envelope guided conjugate gradients

The authors propose a new way to iteratively solve large scale ill-posed problems and in particular the image reconstruction problem in positron emission tomography by exploiting the relation between Tikhonov regularization and multiobjective optimization to obtain iteratively approximations to the Tikhonov L-curve and its corner. Monitoring the change of the approximate L-curves allows the authors to adjust the regularization parameter adaptively during a preconditioned conjugate gradient iteration, so that the desired solution can be reconstructed with a small number of iterations.     

A new VME-based high voltage power supply for large photomultiplier systems

We describe a new high voltage power supply, developed for the leadglass calorimeter of the WA98 experiment at CERN. The high voltage is produced for each of the 10 080 photomultiplier tubes of the detector individually, by the same number of active bases with on-board Greinacher voltage multipliers. The full VME-based HV controller system, which addresses each base via bus cables once per second, is miniaturized and fits into a single VME crate. The main advantages of this approach are the low heat dissipation, the considerably reduced amount of cabling and cost, as well as the high stability and low noise of the system.     

Hermetische Kreiselpumpen für hochwarme bis tiefkalte Kreisläufe

Hermetically Closed Centrifugal Pumps for Extremely Hot and Cold Circulations Economical, reliable and automatic processing with a high degree of environmental safety are the criteria that must be fulfilled by plant manufacturers. Such conditions can be realised by switching over from ”?open”? to ”?closed”? processing. Hermetically closed centrifugal pumps enable the solution of difficult problems, such as the transport of fatty acids, heating oils, acids, alkalis, toxic substances, liquefied gases, and cooling agents. The construction and mode of function of hermetically closed centrifugal pumps and their possible applications are discussed.     

Correlating Nanocrystalline Structure with Electronic Properties in 2D Platinum Diselenide

Platinum diselenide (PtSe₂) is a 2D material with outstanding electronic and piezoresistive properties. The material can be grown at low temperatures in a scalable manner, which makes it extremely appealing for many potential electronics, photonics, and sensing applications. Here, the nanocrystalline structure of different PtSe₂ thin films grown by thermally assisted conversion (TAC) is investigated and is correlated with their electronic and piezoresistive properties. Scanning transmission electron microscopy for structural analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for chemical analysis, and Raman spectroscopy for phase identification are used. Electronic devices are fabricated using transferred PtSe₂ films for electrical characterization and piezoresistive gauge factor measurements. The variations of crystallite size and their orientations are found to have a strong correlation with the electronic and piezoresistive properties of the films, especially the sheet resistivity and the effective charge carrier mobility. The findings may pave the way for tuning and optimizing the properties of TAC-grown PtSe₂ toward numerous applications.     

The second EURADOS intercomparison of national network systems used to provide early warning of a nuclear accident

In 1999 and 2002, the EURADOS Working Group on Environmental Monitoring organised two European intercomparison exercises of national network systems used to provide early warning in case of a nuclear accident. In total, 12 European countries, represented by more than 40 scientists, participated in these two intercomparisons with more than 35 different dose rate detectors. In addition, an in situ gamma spectrometry intercomparison was performed by a group of European scientists during the 2002 exercise. Results of these spectrometry measurements will be reported elsewhere. This report summarises the results of the second intercomparison, performed in 2002, at the environmental dosimetry facilities of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany. The unique combination of the ultra-low background Underground Laboratory (UDO) and two free-field sites (a floating platform on a lake showing an almost pure cosmic radiation field and a free-field gamma ray irradiation facility) provide the particular opportunity to precisely quantify the inherent background of the detectors and to calibrate them almost free of any background and traceable to PTB's primary standards. In addition, the intercomparison comprised investigations on the energy and dose rate dependence of the detectors' response to gamma radiation as well as on the response to cosmic radiation. Finally, the sensitivity of the detector systems to small dose rate variations, similar to that caused by a passing overhead radioactive plume, was studied under realistic free-field conditions. Following the Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM, the participants of the 2002 intercomparison were asked to report their results in terms of the operational quantity ambient dose equivalent, H(*)(10). Although the verification of the individual calibrations showed smaller discrepancies than those in the 1999 intercomparison, in a few cases, these discrepancies would be still unacceptably high in the case of a real emergency situation as demonstrated by the plume results. This shows the clear need for further efforts towards a European harmonisation in environmental dosimetry. For this purpose, a further intercomparison shall be held at the PTB in 2006, especially with the participation of new members of the European Union.     

Monte Carlo simulations of the photon calibration fields at the underground laboratory of PTB

A unique photon calibration facility operated by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) provides photon fields with area dose rates in the order of the natural environmental radiation and even below. This facility is located in an underground laboratory in the Asse salt mine at a depth of 490 m below ground, where the ambient dose equivalent rate is only 2 nSv h(-1). Radioactive sources of the nuclides (241)Am, (57)Co, (137)Cs, (60)Co and (226)Ra are used to generate photon fields with different characteristics. In the past, the basic properties of the photon field, especially the area dose rate at the reference point and the mean energy of the photon spectra, were calculated by using analytic methods. However, information about scattered photons is only accessible through an investigation of spectra by performing Monte Carlos simulations. Therefore, the photon spectra at the reference point of the calibration facility were calculated using the Monte Carlo transport code MCNP. The results obtained by using this method are of relevance for the traceability of the reference dose rate values to PTB's primary standards, as well as for the determination of the mean photon energy of the spectra. The latter was calculated with respect to the different quantities 'photon fluence', 'air kerma' and 'ambient dose equivalent'. The origin of the scattered component in the photon spectrum is investigated in detail by studying the photon field produced by the quasi-monoenergetic gamma emitter (137)Cs (E(γ) = 662 keV) under various geometrical conditions. Implications of the Monte Carlo simulations on the traceability of the dose rate reference values as well as on the assessment of uncertainties will be described.     

Study on Heat Transfer in Heat Exchangers for a New Supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle

Electrical power from geothermal heat is hardly efficient, if the temperature level of geothermal water is low. This situation is predominant in middle Europe, for example, in Germany, where even in hot-spot areas like Norddeutsches Becken, Oberrheingraben, and Molassebecken the temperature of geothermal water is less than 160°C. For this, efforts have to be made in optimizing the power cycle efficiency. Supercritical fluids provide a higher net energy output per unit mass than subcritical fluids but their physical properties strongly depend on temperature variations, especially close to the supercritical point. Based on the requirements of a new modular and mobile supercritical power cycle MONICA (modular low temperature power cycle Karlsruhe), which will be built within the next few years, different heat exchanger types are investigated within this study in order to determine the most compact design with respect to mobility, mountability, and efficiency. Changes in physical properties of propane, the working fluid of the new cycle, are taken into account by iterative, stepwise calculation of heat exchanger types like double-pipe, shell-and-tube, and plate heat exchangers. For this, common Nusselt number correlations are implemented in the stepwise iteration. Influence of geometry on flow conditions and analysis of part load sensitivity are provided.