Molecular design and characterization of catalysts for NO x selective reduction by hydrocarbons in the oxygen excess based upon ultramicroporous zirconia pillared clays

Approaches to design of zirconia pillared clays via control of the properties of pillaring species in solutions were elaborated. Structural features of pillars and Pt + Cu active components fixed at these nanoparticles were shown to determine catalytic properties of pillared clays in NO_x selective reduction by hydrocarbons in the oxygen excess.     

Quantum key distribution in single-photon communication system

This paper presents a brief review of experimental studies in quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution by single photons in atmospheric and fiber-optic quantum communication channels. Two experimental setups for quantum key distribution developed at the Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS are described. The dependence of the quantum key distribution rate on the average number of photons μ in the laser pulse was studied. For μ > 0.3, there is a discrepancy between theory and experiment. The reasons for this are, first, the nonzero probability of multiphoton pulses occurring in quantum transmission and counted as single photons by single-photon detectors and, second, the rejection of the cases where several single-photon detectors click simultaneously in quantum key sifting because the measurement result is not determined in these cases.     

Defected ground and patch-loaded planar transmission lines

Two new structures, defected slotline and patch-loaded coplanar waveguide (CPW), are introduced and quasi-static geometrical models for them and for the defected ground structures in microstrip and in CPW configurations are developed, combining those structures with the patch-loaded slotline and the stepped impedance resonators (SIRs) in a microstrip; and thus, a unified approach for the realisation of series and parallel stubs in different planar transmission line configurations is presented. Complementarity between the different structures has been investigated. It has been found that an identical dumbbell-shaped defect and a SIR in a microstrip are complementary to each other. Consequently, a new technique is developed to compensate for the effect of a defect in the ground of a microstrip. All theoretical predictions have been confirmed with both EM simulations and measurements.     

Modeling and Analysis of Composite Antenna Superstrates Consisting on Grids of Loaded Wires

We study the characteristics and radiation mechanism of antenna superstrates based on closely located periodical grids of loaded wires. An explicit analytical method based on the local field approach is used to study the reflection and transmission properties of such superstrates. It is shown that as a result of proper impedance loading there exists a rather wide frequency band over which currents induced to the grids cancel each other, leading to a wide transmission maximum. In this regime radiation is produced by the magnetic dipole moments created by circulating out-of-phase currents flowing in the grids. An impedance matrix representation is derived for the superstrates, and the analytical results are validated using full-wave simulations. As a practical application example we study numerically the radiation characteristics of dipole antennas illuminating finite-size superstrates.     

Radiation of circularly polarized microwaves by a plane periodic structure of Ω elements

Transformation of the electromagnetic-wave polarization by a 2D grating of metal Ω elements is studied theoretically and experimentally. The electric dipole moment and magnetic moment excited by a linearly polarized incident wave in a single Ω element are determined. The parameters of an Ω element that are optimal for radiation of a circularly polarized wave are calculated. A 2D grating consisting of Ω elements with optimal parameters is fabricated, and the obtained theoretical results are verified experimentally.     

Synthesis,structure, and properties of vanadium pentoxide nanotubes

Vanadium oxide nanotubes are synthesized by the hydrothermal method with the use of polycrystalline vanadium oxide V₂O₅ and 1-hexadecylamine as a structural template. The structure of the vanadium oxide nanotubes is investigated using small-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. It is demonstrated that the structure of the vanadium oxide nanotubes is characterized by a combination of fragments with different interlayer distances associated with the twisting of oxide layers in the form of “nanorolls.” The thermal stability, morphology, and surface properties of the nanotubes, as well as the role of the organic template in the formation of their structure, are discussed.     

A microwave transmission-line network guiding electromagnetic fields through a dense array of metallic objects

We present measurements and simulations of a transmission-line network that has been designed for cloaking applications in the microwave region. Here the network is not used for cloaking but for channelling electromagnetic fields through an electrically dense array of metal objects, which alone is basically impenetrable to the impinging electromagnetic radiation. With the designed transmission-line network the waves emitted by a source placed in an air-filled waveguide are coupled into the network and guided through the array of metallic objects. Our goal is to illustrate the simple manufacturing, assembly, and the general feasibility of cloaking devices based on the transmission-line approach. Most importantly, we demonstrate both with measurements and with numerical simulations the excellent coupling of waves between the network and the surrounding medium.     

Curing processes simulation of complex shape carbon fiber reinforced composite components produced by vacuum infusion

Thermal processes of carbon fiber‐reinforced composite parts curing cycle were studied experimentally and by mathematical simulation. Flat panel, T‐stringer, and five‐stringer detail based on tetrafunctional MY721 epoxy resin were investigated. Application of standard curing cycle (heating followed by isothermal exposure at 180°C) leads to the overheating of 28°C in flat panel and of 30°C in T‐stringer of 24 mm thickness. The model considers the vacuum bag with auxiliary materials as separate layers. This approach allows to simulate the shifting of thermal field to the vacuum bag side. Simulation results show good agreement with the experimentally observed temperature fields. The model helps to optimize the curing cycle to reduce the local overheating. The same temperature regime could be used for all three geometries. Therefore, the optimization can be carried out only for the simple‐shape parts to save the calculation time and simplify experiments at the stage of model testing. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2252–2259, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Scaling solutions in Galileon cosmology

We investigate a special case ofGalileon cosmology containing only the second and third terms with a power-law potential. A new special scaling-like solution in such a kind of theory was found. We also investigate some properties of this solution including its stability.