Microstructure and magnetic properties of Ti/CoCrPt/Ti pseudo-sandwich nanogranular films

We prepared Ti/CoCrPt/Ti pseudo-sandwich granular films by radio-frequency and dc magnetron sputtering onto glass substrates and subsequent in situ annealing. We investigated the microstructure and magnetic properties of the films as a function of Ti overlayer thickness (x). X-ray diffraction profiles show that the CoCrPt magnetic layers are formed as the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements indicate that the out-of-plane coercivity reaches the maximum 1675.5 Oe when x=5 nm. Atomic force microscopy images show the minimum average grain size D=7.2 nm and the average roughness R/sub a/=1.0 nm. Magnetic force microscopy images show that the minimum average magnetic cluster size is about 6.4 nm at x=5 nm.     

The experimental investigation of a pulse tube refrigerator with a ‘L’ type pulse tube and two orifice valves

In order to simplify the structure of the cold end of the pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) and have a better utilization of the cold energy of the system, a single stage four-valve pulse tube refrigerator (FVPTR) with a ‘L’ type pulse tube structure and two orifice valves at the hot end of pulse tube has been constructed. Verification experiments show that a two-orifice valve structure gives different adjustments to the gas flow rate of the hot end of the pulse tube than that of the one-orifice valve structure, a lowest temperature of 72 K was obtained at a frequency of 2.5 Hz under a system average pressure of 1.6 MPa with 200 mesh bronze screens as regenerator material, 20 mesh copper screens as stuffing material of heat exchanger. Due to the difficulty in manufacturing the thin ‘L’ type pulse tube, the wall thickness of the pulse tube in the experiment is relatively bigger than that of the ordinary pulse tube, which resulted in relatively big system loss and affected the minimum temperature of the system to a certain degree.     

Phase formation and modification of corrosion property of nitrogen implanted Ti-Al-V alloy

In the present investigation, polished samples were implanted with nitrogen ion at an energy of 60 keV and implantation doses were 1×10¹⁶, 5×10¹⁶, 1×10¹⁷ and 6×10¹⁷ ions/cm². Glancing incidence X-ray diffraction was employed on the implanted specimens to understand the phases formed with increasing dose. The valence states of nitrogen, titanium and carbon on the sample surfaces were analyzed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The corrosion resistance was examined by the electrochemical methods in a solution with pH=10 at room temperature in order to determine the optimum dose that can give good corrosion resistance in a simulated nuclear reactor condition. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the topographies of nitrogen-implanted Ti-Al-Zr after potentiodynamic measurement. It was found that implanted nitrogen dissolved in titanium matrix with increasing dose and the resultant nitrides such as TiN and Ti₂N precipitated. Implantation of nitrogen ions into the surface of Ti-Al-V alloy improves its corrosion resistance, and the increase of the corrosion resistance depends on the nitrogen dose employed; the maximum improvement of the corrosion resistance was observed at a dose of 1×10¹⁷ N⁺/cm².     

Developments in reverse Brayton cycle cryocooler in China

As one of the primary methods of cryogenic refrigeration, reverse Brayton cycle cryocooler, which includes high-speed turbine using gas bearing and compact heat exchanger, has many advantages such as long-life, high reliability and efficiency. In this paper general aspects of reverse Brayton cycle cryocooler in China are introduced, such as its application in the space simulation program, mechanical cryocooler for lower temperature space applications. The main design parameters and operating performance of cryocoolers are presented in this paper.     

An interpolation model to accelerate the frequency-domain response calculation of grounding systems using the method of moments

The transient characteristics of grounding systems are essential for their designs and related electromagnetic-compatibility problems in power systems. Although the method of moments (MoM) is a popular way to analyze the characteristics of grounding systems, it is time-consuming. In this paper, a two-stage method is presented to construct fitted models of the frequency-domain responses of grounding systems to accelerate the calculations of the MoM. In the first stage, the adaptive model-based parameter estimation is used to adaptively choose the most valuable frequency sampling points to construct the initial fitted functions, and then the fitted functions are adjusted in the second stage by comparing the fitted results with those computed by the first principle model at some points. The validation was achieved by a comparison of the numerical results and those obtained by inverse fast Fourier transformation.     

Learning Styles of Computer Programming Students: A Middle Eastern and American Comparison

Although there are many studies addressing the relationship of learning style to outcomes in engineering courses, few have attempted direct cross-cultural comparisons. This study investigates similarities and differences in the learning styles of computer science and engineering students at a Middle Eastern institution and an American university in the Midwestern United States. Comparative data on student learning style profiles and course outcomes suggest that, despite vast cultural differences, strong similarities exist between learning styles of these students. Seemingly, a consistent pattern in how these students learn across cultures also exists. These findings have significant implications for the creation of globally effective teaching materials     

BCI Meeting 2005--workshop on signals and recording methods.

This paper describes the highlights of presentations and discussions during the Third International BCI Meeting in a workshop that evaluated potential brain-computer interface (BCI) signals and currently available recording methods. It defined the main potential user populations and their needs, addressed the relative advantages and disadvantages of noninvasive and implanted (i.e., invasive) methodologies, considered ethical issues, and focused on the challenges involved in translating BCI systems from the laboratory to widespread clinical use. The workshop stressed the critical importance of developing useful applications that establish the practical value of BCI technology.     

Design of the winding–bushing interconnections in large power transformers

The paper presents the improvement in design of the conductor connecting the windings and bushings in oil power transformers. This is a sensitive part of large transformers and there is a need to optimise its manufacturing time and costs. The thermal problem of the heating of this conductor with increased insulation thickness on a part of it is treated using a non-linear two-dimensional thermal model. The experiments performed made determining of some problematic parameters (heat resistance of oil-paper insulation and the paper to oil convection heat transfer coefficient) of the thermal model feasible. The results obtained are of practical interest in the design practice of interconnections, but also affect the important parameters of heat transfer by devices with oil immersed paper insulation.