Physics Commons^™

A Novel Laboratory Course On Advanced Chemical Engineering Experiments, Jochen A. Lauterbach, S. White, X. Lui, G. M. Bodner, W. N. Delgass

Faculty Publications

The chemical engineering curriculum in the United States has trained generations of technical experts who have successfully optimized chemical processes and products once they entered the chemical industry. The U.S. chemical industry, however, has entered a critical stage in which it must be able to create new and differentiated value through technical innovations that arc essential for long-term survival. This innovation process will require new skills that go far beyond the traditional expertise for the optimization of tasks possessed by young chemical engineers. The innovators must be able to identify new opportunities, explore the boundaries of technology, evaluate critical issues, …

An Electroabsorption Study Of Porous Silicon, Melanie Fewings

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Bulk silicon is an indirect band gap material. When carriers are injected into bulk silicon, electron-hole recombination takes place thermally via phonon exchange, and not by emission of photons. Porous silicon, on the other hand, is a fairly efficient emitter of light in the visible region. Much research is currently under way to find out what makes porous silicon able to emit light. One main theory suggests that the energy bands of bulk silicon may be "squeezed" by being quantum confined, and porous silicon is just an array of quantum silicon wires. Another possibility is that defects in the huge …

Comparison Of Time-Domain Reflectometry Performance Factors For Several Dielectric Geometries: Theory And Experiments, S. V. Maheshwarla, R. Venkatasubramanian, Robert F. Boehm

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

We propose three nontraditional dielectric geometries and present an experimental and theoretical analysis and comparison of time domain reflectometry (TDR) performances for them. The traditional geometry (the probes inserted in material of essentially infinite extent) is compared to three nontraditional geometries where the probes are affixed outside of a core sample, inside of a bore, or flat on the surface of a semi-infinite solid. Our derivation relates the velocity of electromagnetic wave propagation to the complex permittivities and permeabilities of the media and the geometry for the three nontraditional configurations. Experimental results for air, styrofoam, dry sand, wet sand of …

Characterization Of Piezoceramic Crosses With Large Range Scanning Capability And Applications For Low Temperature Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, J. A. Helfrich, Shireen Adenwalla, J. B. Ketterson, G. A. Zhitomirsky

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

We have developed a large amplitude piezoceramic scanner which should have numerous applications. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and other scanning probe microscopies predominantly use piezoceramics for the scanning elements. Similarly adaptive optics, high resolution lithography, and micromanipulators are other examples of research which regularly utilize piezoceramic scanners. We present a new geometry for a piezoceramic scanner which allows for both high resolution (~nanometers) and large amplitude (~400 µm) displacements. The cross-shaped geometry makes it possible to produce extremely long pieces with very high tolerances. We have shown its effectiveness by using it as the major component of a low temperature …

Supralinear Photoconductivity Of Copper Doped Semi-Insulating Gallium Arsenide, K. H. Schoenbach, R. P. Joshi, F. Peterkin, R. L. Druce

Bioelectrics Publications

We report on the intensity dependent supralinear photoconductivity in GaAs:Si:Cu material. The results of our measurements show that the effective carrier lifetime can change over two orders of magnitude with variations in the intensity of the optical excitation. A threshold intensity level has been observed and can be related to the occupancy of the deep copper level. Numerical simulations have also been carried out to analyze the trapping dynamics. The intensity dependent lifetimes obtained from the simulations match the experimental data very well. Finally, based on the nonlinear intensity dependence of the effective lifetimes, a possible low‐energy phototransistor application for …

Low‐Cost Technique For Preparing N‐Sb2S3/P‐Si Heterojunction Solar Cells, O. Savadogo, K. C. Mandal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Electrostatic Positioning Of Droplets In Turbulent Flows (Lstm 375/Te/93), Nihad E. Daidzic, Adrian Melling

Aviation Department Publications

Report LSTM 375/TE/93, Lehrstuhl fuer Stroemungsmechanik Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg Cauerstr. 4, 8520 Erlangen Germany.

A Magnetic Suspension System With A Large Angular Range, Colin P. Britcher, Mehran Ghofrani

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

In order to explore and develop technology required for the magnetic suspension of objects over large ranges of orientation, a small-scale laboratory system, the large-angle magnetic suspension test fixture (LAMSTF) has been constructed at NASA Langley Research Center. This apparatus falls into the category of large-gap, actively stabilized magnetic levitation systems. The hardware comprises five conventional electromagnets in a circular arrangement, each driven from a separate bipolar power amplifier. Electromagnet currents are commanded by a digital control system, implemented on a microcomputer, which in turn derives the position and attitude of the suspended element from an infrared optical system. The …

Hysteresis And Anchoring Energy In Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals, Yuri Panarin

Articles

The frequency dispersion of the coercive force of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals (FLC) cells has been detected and examined in the range of infralow (lower than 0.1 Hz) frequencies. To clarify the low-frequency dispersion, the model has been suggested, based on the arrangement of free charges and well describing the experimental curves. The method for determination of the energy of FLC anchoring at the surface, developed on the basis of the static hysteresis loop, has been proposed. The dependence of bistability and the anchoring energy upon the orientant layer thickness has experimentally been investigated.

Some Stability Problems In Droplet Formation And Breakup (Report Lstm 351/T/92)., Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

In this study the instability of droplets and cylindrical jets is investigated. The understanding of these processes has both academic and practical value. Instability of cylindrical jets is theoretically investigated for infinitesimal and finite, but small initial amplitudes (linear and nonlinear stability). For droplets, only linear theory is presented. It is assumed that the capillary force play a dominant role. It is determined that the viscosity exerts a damping effect. In the first section we give an introduction, after which the linear stability theory of cylindrical liquid jets is presented. In the third section the nonlinear jet stability theory is …

Detection, Location, And Quantification Of Structural Damage By Neural-Netprocessed Moire Profilometry, Barry G. Grossman, Frank S. Gonzalez, Joel H. Blatt, Jeffery A. Hooker

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

The development of efficient high speed techniques to recognize, locate, and quantify damage is vitally important for successful automated inspection systems such as ones used for the inspection of undersea pipelines. Two critical problems must be solved to achieve these goals: the reduction of nonuseful information present in the video image and automatic recognition and quantification of extent and location of damage. Artificial neural network processed moire profilometry appears to be a promising technique to accomplish this. Real time video moire techniques have been developed which clearly distinguish damaged and undamaged areas on structures, thus reducing the amount of extraneous …

Effect Of Magnetic And Density Fluctuations On The Propagation Of Lower Hybrid Waves In Tokamaks, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Paul T. Bonoli

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Lower hybrid waves have been used extensively for plasma heating, current drive, and ramp-up as well as sawteeth stabilization, The wave kinetic equation for lower hybrid wave propagation is extended to include the effects of both magnetic and density fluctuations. This integral equation is then solved by Monte Carlo procedures for a toroidal plasma. It is shown that even for magnetic/density fluctuation levels on the order of 10^-4, there are significant magnetic fluctuation effects on the wave power deposition into the plasma. This effect is quite pronounced if the magnetic fluctuation spectrum is peaked within the plasma. For …

Measuring R And D Productivity, Richard A. Pappas, Donald S. Remer

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Measuring the productivity of an R&D organization is extremely tricky. Productivity is usually defined as a ratio of an output, like number of cars produced on an assembly line, to an input, like the wages paid the workers. While R&D may have a measurable input, the output is often intangible and difficult to quantify. This is further complicated because the return from an R&D department may not be realized for one or two decades,which means the time lag is much higher than in factory measurements. Furthermore, many researchers believe that this kind of measurement may be counterproductive,since the mere act …

Systematic Estimate Of Binding Energies Of Weakly Bound Diatomic Molecules, Linda L. Vahala, Mark D. Havey

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

There is often insufficient spectroscopic data for a full RKR inversion to yield a potential for weakly bound diatomic molecules. In these cases, parametrized functions such as the Morse or Thakkar potentials may be used to obtain estimates of the binding energy. The Thakkar potential is more flexible, and has been used successfully on some weakly bound systems. In the more usual case, the Thakkar parameter p, which determines long range behavior R^-p, is chosen by p=-a₁-1, where a₁ is the first Dunham coefficient; p is usually noninteger. The authors present …

Picosecond Laser Pulse Irradiation Of Crystalline Silicon, K. L. Merkle, H. Baumgart, R.H. Uebbing, F. Phillipp

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Morphology changes introduced by picosecond laser pulses at λ = 532 nm and 355 nm in (111) and (100) silicon samples are studied by means of optical and high-voltage electron microscopy. Depending on energy fluence, orientation and wavelength, amorphous or highly defective regions may be created. From an analysis of damage thresholds and damage depth distributions it is concluded that melting and energy confinement precedes the formation of the structural changes.

An Apparatus For Measuring The Thermal Conductivity Of Cast Insulation Materials, Christine A. Wilkins, Robert L. Ash

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

A steady-state apparatus has been developed for measuring the thermal conductivity of cast materials. The design has employed a novel thermal symmetry arrangement which can permit total electrical isolation of the test material from its surroundings. © 1980 American Institute of Physics

Calculated Temperature Of Grid Lateral Wires In Microwave Power Triodes, Jewell Tucker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In microwave power triodes the grid drive power causes grid lateral wire heating. This development calculates the temperature of the wire as a function of the drive power, physical dimensions and characteristics of the wire material, for the following boundary conditions:

I. Constant grid drive, grid lateral wire of infinite length not connected to a heat sink.

II. Same as I except the wire is of finite length brazed to a grid frame.

III. The grid excitation in the form of pulses, and the grid lateral wire of finite length brazed to a grid frame.

the equations were verified experimentally …

Science Foundations: A Science Program For The Non-Science Student. Technical Report No. 4., James Shymansky

Educator Preparation & Leadership Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Measurement Of Currents In Lake Mead With The Deep Water Isotopic Current Analyzer (Dwica), J. J. Sartoris, D. A. Hoffman, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

In Nov 1967, a Deep Water Isotopic Current Analyzer (DWICA) was used to study current patterns in the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead to determine if low-quality water from Las Vegas Bay might enter the Southern Nevada Water Project intake on Saddle Island. Secondary objectives were to study the general current patterns in Boulder Basin and the effect of power discharges at Hoover Dam on these currents. Results of current measurements at 3 stations in Boulder Basin are given. Observations indicate a definite possibility that low-quality water from Las Vegas Bay might enter the water intake on Saddle Island. Current …

Determination Of (N, 2n) Reaction Cross-Sections For 71ga, 106cd & 138ba Using 14 Mev Neutrons, Thomas Helm

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The increasing trend towards the use of activation analysis as an analytic means of identifying elements and determining their relative abundance demands more accurate values of reaction cross-sections. Accurate values of cross-sections are also important in the investigation of possible shell effects in reaction mechanisms. Many activation cross-sections for reactions produced by 14 MeV neutrons have been measured because of the relative ease with which this energy of neutrons can be produced. Low voltage accelerators are capable of producing 14. MeV neutrons by the ³H( d,n)⁴He reaction. Although many people^(1-5) have measured the (n,2n) reaction cross-sections …

A Nonsecond Time-Of-Flight Spectometer, David Moorman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to construct a time-of-flight spectrometer using plastic scintillators coupled to photomultiplier tubes as the primary detectors. A time-of-flight spectrometer with at least 2.0 nanoseconds of time resolution was desired.

Electrical Conductivity & Seebeck Effect In Activated Molybdenum Oxide Hydrogen Detectors, John Hooker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis describes the results and analysis of Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity measurements on "activated", molybdenum-oxide, thin film hydrogensensing elements. The work was undertaken in an effort to produce data that would be useful in obtaining an understanding of the electronic processes which cause large electrical conductivity changes in molybdenum-oxide upon exposure to small concentrations of hydrogen in air. The results are analyzed using a simple band model of a semiconductor. This model is shown to give reasonable results at high temperatures; however, a departure from the usual .! model is required in order to explain the results at …

Crossed Field Trochoidal Trajectory Devices For Investigating The Reflection Of Slow Electrons From Metallic Surfaces, Stan Lemaster

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The objective of this study was to build preliminary devices . which could be used to measure electron reflection coefficient values using crossed electric and magnetic fields. The technique for using crossed fields to measure reflection coefficients was developed at Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories. The reflection coefficient is the ratio of the number of electrons in a reflected beam to the number of electrons in an incident beam striking a surface.

The work described herein was a part of a project authored by AFCRL under contract AF19 (628)-5940; Project 8605 (with Western Kentucky University being the contractor) which was …

Solid State Electrolysis Of Yttria Stablized Zirconia, John Newman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Zirconium dioxide, or zirconia, is seemingly an ideal refractory oxide, having a high melting point (2680°C), low thermal expansion and also a considerable resistance to most forms of chemical attack. Early researchers soon found that zirconia, in the pure form, was actually of very limited use as a refractory because of sudden and disruptive volume changes accompanying a change in crystal structure which occurs at a temperature of about 1100 o C. It was discovered that this crystal structure change could be suppressed by the addition of one of a number of alkaline earth or rare earth oxides. These additive …

Environmental Effects On The Resistivity Of Palladium-Silver Alloy Films In High Vacuum, Frank Snyder

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The reported usage of the palladium-silver alloy films as resistors in the electronics industry has been in encapsulated form. By mounting the resistor inside vacuum electron devices, there is the possibility of eliminating the encapsulation. A literature search has revealed no reported efforts of experiments with unencapsulated resistors and certainly no reports of the palladium-silver alloy resistor in vacuum tubes or other high vacuum environments. Therefore, the research reported in this thesis will concentrate on the environmental effects on resistivity of palladium-silver alloy films in high vacuum.

An Experimental Study Of The Cathode Fall In Helium And Argon With Wire Cathodes, L. G. Raub

Papers from the University Studies series (University of Nebraska)

It was recognized rather early in the study of the phenomena of discharge of electricity through gases that the ordinary laws of conduction as found in solid and liquid conductors are not applicable to gases. It was shown by Zeleny and independently by Child that Ohm's law by no means represents the distribution of potential between electrodes in an ionized gas, but that the potential gradient is large in the vicinity of the electrodes, and not uniform throughout the space between them. When the pressure of the gas surrounding the electrodes is reduced to one or two millimeters and a …