Origin of Anomalous Bump at Low Temperatures in the c-Axis Optical Conductivity of High-T c Cuprates

The optical spectra of some high-Tc cuprates show anomalous bump around 450 cm ^–1 and dramatic phonon changes for E parallel to c axis, which grows at low temperatures. This phenomenon has been observed in Yba ₂ Cu ₃ O _6.6, YBa ₂ Cu ₄ O ₈ and Pb ₂ Sr ₂ RCu ₃ O ₈ , but not in (La,Sr) ₂ CuO ₄. In this study, we report the first observation of a similar anomaly in underdoped Bi ₂ Sr ₂ CaCu ₂ O ₈. The spectra were measured from two mosaics of Ba ₂ Sr ₂ CaCu ₂ O ₈ with T _c 80 K and 60 K. Considering that these spectral features seem to be common for all high-T _c cuprates with double CuO pyramids, we propose one plausible explanation that it is attributed to the second Josephson plasmon for intracell coupling in the Josephson coupled layer model.     

On attributes of achromatic and chromatic object‐color perceptions

Adapting luminance dependencies of various color attributes of object colors (lightness, brightness, whiteness‐blackness, whiteness‐blackness strength, chroma, and colorfulness) were clarified under white illumination with various adapting illuminances. The correlation between the perceptions of lightness and brightness and those of whiteness‐blackness and whiteness‐blackness strength is also clarified for achromatic object colors. The difference between the increase of brightness and that of whiteness‐blackness contrast (the effect studied by Stevens and Jameson—Hurvich) by raising their adapting illuminance is resolved without any contradiction. It is also shown that the nonlinear color‐appearance model developed by the author and his colleagues is able to explain the complex characteristics of all the above color attributes of object colors by making minor modifications to it. In addition, two kinds of classifications of various color attributes are given; one is based on the similarity of perception level, and the other on the degree of adapting illuminance dependency. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 25, 318–332, 2000     

Relations between the two kinds of representation methods in the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect

There are two kinds of representation methods of the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect; one is the Variable-Achromatic-Color method, and the other the Variable-Chromatic-Color method. The following three items are described in detail. (1) How to use and adapt the prediction equations of the two methods to their practical applications. (2) Theoretical derivations of the prediction equations in both methods, and clarification of the simple relation existing between the numerical coefficients used in the prediction equations on the two methods. (3) Logical consistency between the long series of studies on the H-K effect by the author and his colleagues. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 23, 288–301, 1998     

Tensile test of poly(vinyl chloride) filled with ground calcium carbonate particles

The fracture behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) filled with ground calcium carbonate particles during a tensile test was studied. The particles were prepared by crushing natural raw crystalline limestone. For this purpose, 10–50 parts of the particles having two different mean sizes (2 and 8 μm) without further surface treatment were mixed with 100 parts of poly(vinyl chloride) and 3 parts of lead stearate as a stabilizer using a mixing roll. A tensile test was carried out using a dumbbell specimen. As a result, the yield stress decreased with increase in the particle content; however, there was no significant influence of particle size. From scanning electron microscopic observations of the specimen's surfaces during the tensile test, it was found that the particle/matrix interfaces were delaminated and formed voids around the particles when the applied stress approached the yield stress, that is, the particles acted as voids and the matrix around the voids was plastically deformed effectively. These observations appear to be the reason for the decrease of yield stress by the incorporation of the particles. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 311–316, 1998     

Development of Nb-Ti cable with ultrafine filament and high-resistivity matrix for ac use

Superconducting ac machines such as transformers and reactors are expected to have an important role in future electric power transport lines. In these machines, superconducting coils are wound with superconducting cables that have low ac loss, stable ac quenching current, and high normal resistivity. We have developed Nb-Ti superconducting cables with ultrafine filaments and high-resistivity matrix for these coils. One such cable is a double-stranded round structure using 0.2-mm strands with 0.14-μm filaments and Cu-30wt%Ni as a matrix material. The 50-Hz quenching current without external magnetic field exceeds 1400 Arms. The ac loss is 15 kW/m³ at a transverse external magnetic field of 0.5 T, 50 Hz, and the normal resistivity is 0.21 Ω/m at 0 T, 10 K. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 120(2): 8–18, 1997     

A simple estimation method for effective adaptation coefficient

A method was proposed in a previous article (CRA, 22, 240–258, 1997) to estimate the state of incomplete adaptation by using the effective chromatic adaptation coefficient α_min. The method could be applied to any experiment on chromatic adaptation using object-color or luminous-color stimuli, but its computational procedure was rather tedious. For this reason, the two simple methods, Methods I and II, are proposed to give the approximate estimates of α_min. Method I uses the corresponding reference color under reference illuminant to a test achromatic color under test illuminant. Method II uses the two kinds of relation equations between test adapting luminance and α_min. The estimates of α_min by each of the two methods agree fairly well with those given in the previous article to the three experiments studied. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 22, 259–268, 1997     

A spreadsheet-based fuzzy retrieval system

Under the downsizing boom and cost decrease in computer-related industries, both business and individual computer users have been greatly influenced. For instance, the users will come up against the chance to handle imprecise data in real life with their computers more than ever. Therefore, solutions for easily developing fuzzy systems are strongly needed. In response to this need, many studies have been done in the fuzzy database area because fuzzy retrieval is one of the suitable ways to deal with those kind of data. In this article, the development of a fuzzy retrieval system which can be used on a personal computer is described, especially from an industrial point of view. Additionally, the effects of fuzzy retrieval are proposed and its thinkable applications are introduced. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electrochemical investigation of uranium β-diketonates for all-uranium redox flow battery

The redox flow battery using uranium as the negative and the positive active materials in polar aprotic solvents was proposed. In order to establish the guiding principle for the uranium compounds as the active materials, the investigation of uranium β-diketonate complexes was conducted on (i) the solubility of active materials, (ii) the electrode reaction of U(VI) and U(IV) β-diketonate complexes and (iii) the estimation of the open circuit voltage of the battery. The solubilities of higher than 0.8 mol dm⁻³ of U(VI) complexes and higher than 0.4 mol dm⁻³ of a U(IV) complex were obtained in the solvents. The electrode reactions of U(pta)₄, UO₂(dpm)₂, UO₂(fod)₂ and UO₂(pta)₂ were first studied and the redox potentials of uranium β-diketonates were thermodynamically discussed. The open circuit voltage is estimated more than 1 V by using Hacac or Hdpm. The larger open circuit voltage is expected when a ligand with the larger basicity is used.     

Thermal strain of high strength polyethylene fiber in low temperature

High strength polyethylene fiber (Toyobo, Dyneema® fiber: hereinafter abbreviated to DF) has a negative thermal expansion coefficient. Relation between fiber structure and thermal strain of DF used as reinforcement of DF reinforced plastic (DFRP) for cryogenic use was investigated. The crystallinities and orientation angles of several kinds of polyethylene fibers having different modulus from 15 to 134Gpa (herein after abbreviated to DFs) were measured by NMR and X‐ray. We obtained the parameters of the mechanical series‐parallel model composed of crystal and amorphous by crystallinity and modulus. Thermal expansion coefficients of DFs were estimated by mechanical series‐parallel model. All DFs having different modulus showed negative thermal expansion coefficients in the temperature range from 180 to 300K, and absolute values of those markedly increased by increasing tensile modulus of DF. The estimated thermal expansion coefficients showed negative values, and thermal strains showed a similar curve to observed ones mostly. Average thermal expansion coefficients in the temperature range from 180 to 300K estimated by mechanical model agreed with the observed ones. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2918–2925, 2004