Floating zone growth of α-Na 0.90MnO 2 single crystals

DOE PAGES

Dally, Rebecca; Clement, Raphaele J.; Chisnell, Robin; ...

2016-12-03

Here, single crystal growth of α-Na xMnO 2 (x=0.90) is reported via the floating zone technique. The conditions required for stable growth and intergrowth-free crystals are described along with the results of trials under alternate growth atmospheres. Chemical and structural characterizations of the resulting α-Na 0.90MnO 2 crystals are performed using ICP-AES NMR, XANES, XPS, and neutron diffraction measurements. As a layered transition metal oxide with large ionic mobility and strong correlation effects, α-Na xMnO 2 is of interest to many communities, and the implications of large volume, high purity, single crystal growth are discussed.

Reduction of Defects in Germanium-Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szofran, Frank R.; Benz, K. W.; Cobb, Sharon D.; Croell, Arne; Dold, Peter; Kaiser, Natalie; Motakef, Shariar; Schweizer, Marcus; Volz, Martin P.; Vujisic, Ljubomir

2001-01-01

Crystals grown without being in contact with a container have superior quality to otherwise similar crystals grown in direct contact with a container, especially with respect to impurity incorporation, formation of dislocations, and residual stress in the crystals. In addition to float-zone processing, detached Bridgman growth, although not a completely crucible-free method, is a promising tool to improve crystal quality. It does not suffer from the size limitations of float zoning and the impact of thermocapillary convection on heat and mass transport is expected to be negligible. Detached growth has been observed frequently during (micro)g experiments. Considerable improvements in crystalline quality have been reported for these cases. However, neither a thorough understanding of the process nor a quantitative assessment of the quality of these improvements exists. This project will determine the means to reproducibly grow Pepsi alloys in a detached mode and seeks to compare processing-induced defects in Bridgman, detached-Bridgman, and floating-zone growth configurations in Pepsi crystals (Si less or = 10 at%) up to 20mm in diameter.

Thermal-capillary analysis of small-scale floating zones Steady-state calculations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duranceau, J. L.; Brown, R. A.

1986-01-01

Galerkin finite element analysis of a thermal-capillary model of the floating zone crystal growth process is used to predict the dependence of molten zone shape on operating conditions for the growth of small silicon boules. The model accounts for conduction-dominated heat transport in the melt, feed rod and growing crystal and for radiation between these phases, the ambient and a heater. Surface tension acting on the shape of the melt/gas meniscus counteracts gravity to set the shape of the molten zone. The maximum diameter of the growing crystal is set by the dewetting of the melt from the feed rod when the crystal radius is large. Calculations with small Bond number show the increased zone lengths possible for growth in a microgravity environment. The sensitivity of the method to the shape and intensity of the applied heating distribution is demonstrated. The calculations are compared with experimental observations.

Magnetic field controlled floating-zone single crystal growth of intermetallic compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermann, R.; Gerbeth, G.; Priede, J.

2013-03-01

Radio-frequency (RF) floating zone single crystal growth is an important technique for the preparation of single bulk crystals. The advantage of the floating-zone method is the crucible-free growth of single crystals of reactive materials with high melting points. The strong heat diffusion on the surface, as well as the melt convection in the molten zone due to induction heating, often leads to an undesired solid-liquid interface geometry with a concave (towards the solid phase) outer rim. These concave parts aggravate the single crystal growth over the full cross-section. A two-phase stirrer was developed at IFW Dresden in order to avoid the problems connected with these concave parts. It acts as a magnetic field pump and changes the typical double vortex structure to a single roll structure, thus pushing hot melt into the regions where the concave parts may arise. The current in the secondary coil is induced by the primary coil, and the capacitor and the resistance of the secondary circuit are adjusted to get a stable 90 degree phase-shift between the coil currents. Single crystal growth of industrial relevant RuAl and TiAl intermetallic compounds was performed based on the material parameters and using the adjusted two-phase stirrer. Very recently, the magnetic system was applied to the crystal growth of biocompatible TiNb alloys and antiferromagnetic Heusler MnSi compounds.

Fluid mechanics and mass transfer in melt crystal growth: Analysis of the floating zone and vertical Bridgman processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, R. A.

1986-01-01

This research program focuses on analysis of the transport mechanisms in solidification processes, especially one of interest to the Microgravity Sciences and Applications Program of NASA. Research during the last year has focused on analysis of the dynamics of the floating zone process for growth of small-scale crystals, on studies of the effect of applied magnetic fields on convection and solute segregation in directional solidification, and on the dynamics of microscopic cell formation in two-dimensional solidification of binary alloys. Significant findings are given.

Reduction of Defects in Germanium-Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szofran, Frank R.; Benz, K. W.; Cobb, Sharon D.; Croell, Anne; Dold, P.; Motafef, S.; Schweizer, M.; Volz, Martin P.; Walker, J. S.

2003-01-01

Crystals grown without being in contact with a container have superior quality to otherwise similar crystals grown in direct contact with a container, especially with respect to impurity incorporation, formation of dislocations, and residual stress in the crystals. In addition to float-zone processing, detached Bridgman growth, although not a completely crucible-free method, is a promising tool to improve crystal quality. It does not suffer from the size limitations of float zoning and the impact of thermocapillary convection on heat and mass transport is expected to be negligible. Detached growth has been observed frequently during g experiments. Considerable improvements in crystalline quality have been reported for these cases. However, neither a thorough understanding of the process nor a quantitative assessment of the quality of these improvements exists. This project will determine the means to reproducibly grow GeSi alloys in a detached mode and seeks to compare processing-induced defects in Bridgman, detached-Bridgman, and floating-zone growth configurations in GeSi crystals (Si less than or equal to 10 at%) up to 20mm in diameter. Specific objectives include: measurement of the relevant material parameters such as contact angle, growth angle, surface tension, and wetting behavior of the GeSi-melt on potential crucible materials; determination of the mechanism of detached growth including the role of convection; quantitative determination of the differences in defects and impurities for crystals grown using normal Bridgman, detached Bridgman, and floating zone (FZ) methods; investigation of the influence of a defined flow imposed by a rotating magnetic field on the characteristics of detached growth; control of time-dependent Marangoni convection in the case of FZ growth by the use of a rotating magnetic field to examine the influence on the curvature of the solid-liquid interface and the heat and mass transport; and growth of benchmark quality GeSi-single crystals.

High-pressure floating-zone growth of perovskite nickelate LaNiO 3 single crystals

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Junjie; Zheng, Hong; Ren, Yang; ...

2017-04-07

We report the first single crystal growth of the correlated metal LaNiO 3 using a high-pressure optical-image floating zone furnace. The crystals were studied using single crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, resistivity, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility. The availability of bulk LaNiO 3 crystals will (i) promote deep understanding in this correlated material, including the mechanism of enhanced paramagnetic susceptibility, and (ii) provide rich opportunities as a substrate for thin film growth such as important ferroelectric and/or multiferroic materials. As a result, this study demonstrates the power of high pO 2 single crystal growth of nickelate perovskites and correlated electron oxides moremore » generally.« less

Reduction of Defects in Germanium-Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szofran, F. R.; Benz, K. W.; Cobb, S. D.; Croell, A.; Dold, P.; Kaiser, N.; Motakel, S.; Walker, J. S.

2000-01-01

Crystals grown without contact with a container have far superior quality to otherwise similar crystals grown in direct contact with a container. In addition to float-zone processing, detached-Bridgman growth is a promising tool to improve crystal quality, without the limitations of float zoning. Detached growth has been found to occur frequently during microg experiments and considerable improvements of crystal quality have been reported for those cases. However, no thorough understanding of the process or quantitative assessment of the quality improvements exists so far. This project is determining the means to reproducibly grow Ge-Si alloys in the detached mode.

STS-30 MS Cleave uses camcorder to record FEA-2 crystal growth

NASA Image and Video Library

1989-05-08

STS030-10-002 (8 May 1989) --- STS-30 Mission Specialist Mary L. Cleave operates 8mm video camcorder at Fluids Experiment Apparatus 2 (FEA-2) (SK73-000102) unit located in aft middeck locker onboard Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103. Two 8mm video camcorders are positioned above FEA-2 unit to record experiment titled "Floating Zone Crystal Growth and Purification". Rockwell International (RI) through its Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, California, is engaged in a joint endeavor agreement (JEA) with NASA's Office of Commercial Programs in the field for floating zone crystal growth research. Utah State University Aggies decal appears on aft bulkhead above FEA-2 unit.

Application of enthalpy model for floating zone silicon crystal growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krauze, A.; Bergfelds, K.; Virbulis, J.

2017-09-01

A 2D simplified crystal growth model based on the enthalpy method and coupled with a low-frequency harmonic electromagnetic model is developed to simulate the silicon crystal growth near the external triple point (ETP) and crystal melting on the open melting front of a polycrystalline feed rod in FZ crystal growth systems. Simulations of the crystal growth near the ETP show significant influence of the inhomogeneities of the EM power distribution on the crystal growth rate for a 4 in floating zone (FZ) system. The generated growth rate fluctuations are shown to be larger in the system with higher crystal pull rate. Simulations of crystal melting on the open melting front of the polycrystalline rod show the development of melt-filled grooves at the open melting front surface. The distance between the grooves is shown to grow with the increase of the skin-layer depth in the solid material.

Utilizing Controlled Vibrations in a Microgravity Environment to Understand and Promote Microstructural Homogeneity During Floating-Zone Crystal Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anilkumar, A. V.; Bhowmick, J.; Grugel, R. N.

2001-01-01

Our previous experiments with NaNO3 float-zones revealed that steady thermocapillary flow can be balanced/offset by the controlled surface streaming flow induced by end-wall vibration. In the current experiments we are examining the effects of streaming flow on steadying/stabilizing nonsteady thermocapillary flow in such zones. To this effect we have set up a controlled NaNO3 half-zone experiment, where the processing parameters, like zone dimensions and temperature gradients, can be easily varied to generate nonsteady thermocapillary flows. In the present paper we present preliminary results of our investigations into stabilizing such flows by employing endwall vibration.

Utilizing Controlled Vibrations in a Microgravity Environment to Understand and Promote Microstructural Homogeneity During Float-Zone Crystal Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anilkumar, A. V.; Bhowmick, J.; Grugel, R. N.a

2000-01-01

Our previous experiments with NaNO3 float-zones revealed that steady thermocapillary flow can be balanced/offset by the controlled surface streaming flow induced by end-wall vibration. In the current experiments we are examining the effects of streaming flow on steadying/stabilizing nonsteady thermocapillary flow in such zones. To this effect we have set up a controlled NaNO3 half-zone experiment, where the processing parameters, like zone dimensions and temperature gradients, can be easily varied to generate nonsteady thermocapillary flows. In the present paper we present preliminary results of our investigations into stabilizing such flows by employing end-wall vibration.

Potential productivity benefits of float-zone versus Czochralski crystal growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abe, T.

1985-01-01

Efficient mass production of single-crystal silicon is necessary for the efficient silicon solar arrays needed in the coming decade. However, it is anticipated that there will be difficulty growing such volumes of crystals using conventional Czochralski (Cz) methods. While the productivity of single crystals might increase with a crystal diameter increase, there are two obstacles to the mass production of large diameter Czochralski crystals, the long production cycle due to slow growth rate and the high heat requirements of the furnaces. Also counterproductive would be the large resistivity gradient along the growth direction of the crystals due to impurity concentration. Comparison between Float zone (FZ) and Cz crystal growth on the basis of a crystal 150 mm in diameter is on an order of two to four times in favor of the FZ method. This advantage results from high growth rates and steady-state growth while maintaining a dislocation-free condition and impurity segregation.

Reduction of Defects in Germanium-Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szofran, Frank R.; Benz, K. W.; Croell, Arne; Dold, Peter; Cobb, Sharon D.; Volz, Martin P.; Motakef, Shariar; Walker, John S.

1999-01-01

It is well established that crystals grown without contact with a container have far superior quality to otherwise similar crystals grown in direct contact with a container. In addition to float-zone processing, detached-Bridgman growth is often cited as a promising tool to improve crystal quality, without the limitations of float zoning. Detached growth has been found to occur quite often during microgravity experiments and considerable improvements of crystal quality have been reported for those cases. However, no thorough understanding of the process or quantitative assessment of the quality improvements exists so far. This project will determine the means to reproducibly grow Ge-Si alloys in the detached mode. Specific objectives include: (1) measurement of the relevant material parameters such as contact angle, growth angle, surface tension, and wetting behavior of the GeSi-melt on potential crucible materials; (2) determination of the mechanism of detached growth including the role of convection; (3) quantitative determination of the differences of defects and impurities among normal Bridgman, detached Bridgman, and floating zone (FZ) growth; (4) investigation of the influence of defined azimuthal or meridional flow due to rotating magnetic fields on the characteristics of detached growth; (5) control time-dependent Marangoni convection in the case of FZ-growth by the use of a rotating magnetic field to examine the influence on the curvature of the solid-liquid interface and the heat and mass transport; and (6) grow high quality GeSi-single crystals with Si-concentration up to 10 at% and diameters up to 20 mm.

Self-adjusted flux for the traveling solvent floating zone growth of YBaCuFeO5 crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Yen-Chung; Shu, Guo-Jiun; Chen, Wei-Tin; Du, Chao-Hung; Chou, Fang-Cheng

2015-03-01

A modified traveling solvent floating zone (TSFZ) technique was used to successfully grow a large size and high quality single crystal of multiferroic material YBaCuFeO5. This modified TSFZ growth uses a stoichiometric feed rod and pure copper oxide as the initial flux without prior knowledge of the complex phase diagram involving four elements, and the optimal flux for the growth of incongruently melt crystal is self-adjusted after a prolonged stable pulling. The wetting of the feed rod edge that often perturbs the molten zone stability was avoided by adding 2 wt% B2O3. The optimal flux concentration for the YBaCuFeO5 growth can be extracted to be near YBaCuFeO5:CuO=13:87 in molar ratio. The crystal quality was confirmed by the satisfactory refinement of crystal structure of space group P4mm and the two consecutive anisotropic antiferromagnetic phase transitions near 455 K and 170 K.

Laminar mixing in a small floating zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harriott, George M.

1987-01-01

The relationship between the flow and solute fields during steady mass transfer of a dilute component is analyzed for multi-cellular rotating flows in the floating zone process of semiconductor growth. When the recirculating flows are weak in relation to the rate of crystal growth, a closed-form solution clearly shows the link between the convection pattern in the melt and the solute distribution across the surface of the growing solid. In the limit of strong convection, finite element calculations demonstrate the tendency of the composition to become uniform over the majority of the melt. The solute segregation in the product crystal is greatest when the recirculating motion is comparable to the rate of crystal growth, and points to the danger in attempting to grow compositionally uniform materials from a nearly convectionless melt.

Characterization of CdGeAs 2 grown by the float zone technique under microgravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Labrie, D.; George, A. E.; Simpson, A. M.; Paton, B. E.; Ginovker, A.; Saghir, M. Z.

2000-01-01

One polycrystalline and one single-crystal CdGeAs 2 feed rods with 9 mm diameter were processed by the float-zone technique under microgravity on SPACEHAB-SH04 during the STS-77 Space Shuttle Endeavour mission. An eutectic salt of LiCl and KCl was used as an encapsulant to suppress Cd and As evaporation from the melt. Post-flight chemical, structural, electronic, and optical characterization of the two samples is presented. Single-crystal growth was achieved using a seed crystal.

Analytics of crystal growth in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilcox, W. R.; Chang, C. E.; Shlichta, P. J.; Chen, P. S.; Kim, C. K.

1974-01-01

Two crystal growth processes considered for spacelab experiments were studied to anticipate and understand phenomena not ordinarily encountered on earth. Computer calculations were performed on transport processes in floating zone melting and on growth of a crystal from solution in a spacecraft environment. Experiments intended to simulate solution growth at micro accelerations were performed.

Laser-Heated Floating Zone Production of Single-Crystal Fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ritzert, Frank; Westfall, Leonard

1996-01-01

This report describes how a laser-heated floating zone apparatus can be used to investigate single-crystal fibers of various compositions. A feedrod with a stoichiometric composition of high-purity powders was connected to a pedestal and fed into a laser scan where it combined with a single-crystal fiber seed. A molten zone was formed at this junction. As the feedrod was continuously fed into the laser scan, a single-crystal fiber of a prescribed orientation was withdrawn from the melt. The resultant fibers, whose diameters ranged from 100 to 250 gm, could then be evaluated on the basis of their growth behavior, physical properties, mechanical properties, and fiber perfection.

33 CFR 147.847 - Safety Zone; BW PIONEER Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading System Safety Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Safety Zone; BW PIONEER Floating... ZONES § 147.847 Safety Zone; BW PIONEER Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading System Safety Zone. (a) Description. The BW PIONEER, a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) system, is in...

Phase-pure eutectic CoFe2O4-Ba1-xSrxTiO3 composites prepared by floating zone melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breitenbach, Martin; Ebbinghaus, Stefan G.

2018-02-01

Composites consisting of ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 and ferroelectric Ba1-xSrxTiO3 were grown by the floating zone technique. The influence of Sr substitution, growth rate and atmosphere during the floating zone process were investigated. The formation of the non-ferroelectric, hexagonal modification of BaTiO3 was avoided by a slight Sr substitution of 3 mol% and the formation of BaFe12O19 was suppressed using pure nitrogen as atmosphere during the floating zone melting. These synthesis parameters led to phase-pure, but electrically conductive CoFe2O4-Ba1-xSrxTiO3 composites. A thermal treatment at 973 K in air resulted in a strong increase of the electric resistivity accompanied by a decrease of the unit-cell parameters of both components indicating the healing of oxygen defects. SEM investigations revealed a variety of different geometric structures and crack-free interfaces between both phases. The low porosities observed in the micrographs correspond with densities above 90%. Magnetoelectric (ME) measurements confirmed a coupling between the ferroic orders of both phases with a hysteresis and maximum αME of 1.3 mV Oe-1 cm-1.

Material and detector properties of cadmium manganese telluride (Cd 1-xMn xTe) crystals grown by the modified floating-zone method

DOE PAGES

Hossain, A.; Gu, G. D.; Bolotnikov, A. E.; ...

2014-12-24

We demonstrated the material- and radiation-detection properties of cadmium manganese telluride (Cd 1-xMn xTe; x=0.06), a wide-band-gap semiconductor crystal grown by the modified floating-zone method. We investigated the presence of various bulk defects, such as Te inclusions, twins, and dislocations of several as-grown indium-doped Cd 1-xMn xTe crystals using different techniques, viz., IR transmission microscopy, and chemical etching. We then fabricated four planar detectors from selected CdMnTe crystals, characterized their electrical properties, and tested their performance as room-temperature X- and gamma-ray detectors. Thus, our experimental results show that CMT crystals grown by the modified floating zone method apparently are freemore » from Te inclusions. However, we still need to optimize our growth parameters to attain high-resistivity, large-volume single-crystal CdMnTe.« less

High pressure floating zone growth and structural properties of ferrimagnetic quantum paraelectric BaFe 12O 19

DOE PAGES

Cao, Huibo B.; Zhao, Zhiying Y.; Lee, Minseong; ...

2015-06-24

High quality single crystals of BaFemore » $$_{12}$$O$$_{19}$$ were grown with the floating zone technique in flowing oxygen atmosphere of 100 atm. BaFe$$_{12}$$O$$_{19}$$ melts incongruently in atmospheric oxygen. High oxygen pressure above 50 atm modifies the melting behavior to be congruent, which allows for the crystal growth with the crucible-free floating zone technique. Single crystal neutron diffraction were measured to determine the nuclear and magnetic structures at 4 K and 295 K. At both temperatures, there exist local electric dipoles formed by the off-mirror-plane displacements of magnetic Fe$$^{3+}$$ ions at the bypyramidal sites. The displacement at 4 K is about half of that at room temperature. The temperature dependence of specific heat shows no anomaly associated with the long range polar ordering in the temperature range of 1.90-300~K. The inverse dielectric constant along the c-axis shows a $T^2$ temperature dependence below 20 K and then following by a plateau below 10 K, recognized as quantum paraelectric features. Further cooling below 1.4 K, the upturn region was clearly revealed and indicates BaFe$$_{12}$$O$$_{19}$$ is a critical quantum paraelectric system with Fe$$^{3+}$$ ions playing roles for both magnetic and electric dipoles.« less

Production of fibers by a floating zone fiber drawing technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haggerty, J. S.

1972-01-01

A CO2 laser heated, floating zone fiber growth process was developed. The resulting Al2O3 fibers exhibited the high room temperature strengths for large diameter fibers as well as high specific creep rupture strengths observed at 1093 C and 1316 C (2000 F and 2400 F). Single crystal fibers of TiC and Y2O3 were also grown. An optical system was developed to focus four CO2 laser beams onto the surface of a feed rod permitting the formation of highly controllable molten zones. The optical system permitted energy densities and angle of incidence of the beams to be adjusted over wide ranges. This optical system was incorporated into a controlled atmosphere, fiber growth furnace. The two principal advantages of a CO2 laser heat source are that ambient atmospheres may be freely selected to optimize fiber properties and the laser has no inherent temperature limit, so extremely high melting point materials can be melted. Both advantages were demonstrated.

Single crystal growth of spin-ladder compound La8Cu7O19 by the travelling-solvent floating zone method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohan, A.; Singh, S.; Partzsch, S.; Zwiebler, M.; Geck, J.; Wurmehl, S.; Büchner, B.; Hess, C.

2016-08-01

Large single crystals of La8Cu7O19 have been grown using the travelling-solvent floating zone method. A rather high oxygen pressure of 9 bar in the growth chamber and a slow growth speed of 0.5 mm/h were among the most important parameters in stabilizing the growth of this incongruently melting compound. Interestingly, a novel growth scenario has been witnessed. The crystal structure of the grown La8Cu7O19 crystal has been analyzed using single crystal diffractometry to extract important structural parameters of this compound. We find that La8Cu7O19 crystallizes in a monoclinic structure with space group C 2 / c and has the lattice parameters a ≈ 13.83 Å, b ≈ 3.75 Å, c ≈ 34.59 Å, and β ≈ 99.33 °, in good agreement with the data obtained on polycrystalline samples in the literature. The magnetization shows a highly anisotropic behavior, and an anomaly at T ≈103 K.

Characterization of 4H <000-1> Silicon Carbide Films Grown by Solvent-Laser Heated Floating Zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodworth, Andrew, A; Sayir, Ali; Neudeck, Philip, G; Raghothamachar, Balaji; Dudley, Michael

2012-01-01

Commercially available bulk silicon carbide (SiC) has a high number (>2000/sq cm) of screw dislocations (SD) that have been linked to degradation of high-field power device electrical performance properties. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center have proposed a method to mass-produce significantly higher quality bulk SiC. In order for this bulk growth method to become reality, growth of long single crystal SiC fibers must first be achieved. Therefore, a new growth method, Solvent-Laser Heated Floating Zone (Solvent-LHFZ), has been implemented. While some of the initial Solvent-LHFZ results have recently been reported, this paper focuses on further characterization of grown crystals and their growth fronts. To this end, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) depth profiles, cross section analysis by focused ion beam (FIB) milling and mechanical polishing, and orientation and structural characterization by x-ray transmission Laue diffraction patterns and x-ray topography were used. Results paint a picture of a chaotic growth front, with Fe incorporation dependant on C concentration.

Investigation of materials for inert electrodes in aluminum electrodeposition cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haggerty, J. S.; Sadoway, D. R.

1987-09-01

Work was divided into major efforts. The first was the growth and characterization of specimens; the second was Hall cell performance testing. Cathode and anode materials were the subject of investigation. Preparation of specimens included growth of single crystals and synthesis of ultra high purity powders. Special attention was paid to ferrites as they were considered to be the most promising anode materials. Ferrite anode corrosion rates were studied and the electrical conductivities of a set of copper-manganese ferrites were measured. Float Zone, Pendant Drop Cryolite Experiments were undertaken because unsatisfactory choices of candidate materials were being made on the basis of a flawed set of selection criteria applied to an incomplete and sometimes inaccurate data base. This experiment was then constructed to determine whether the apparatus used for float zone crystal growth could be adapted to make a variety of important based melts and their interactions with candidate inert anode materials. Compositions), driven by our perception that the basis for prior selection of candidate materials was inadequate. Results are presented.

Magnetic damping of thermocapillary convection in the floating-zone growth of semiconductor crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morthland, Timothy Edward

The floating zone is one process used to grow high purity semiconductor single crystals. In the floating-zone process, a liquid bridge of molten semiconductor, or melt, is held by surface tension between the upper, melting polycrystalline feed rod and the lower, solidifying single crystal. A perfect crystal would require a quiescent melt with pure diffusion of dopants during the entire period needed to grow the crystal. However, temperature variations along the free surface of the melt lead to gradients of the temperature-dependent surface tension, driving a strong and unsteady flow in the melt, commonly labeled thermocapillary or Marangoni convection. For small temperature differences along the free surface, unsteady thermocapillary convection occurs, disrupting the diffusion controlled solidification and creating undesirable dopant concentration variations in the semiconductor single crystal. Since molten semiconductors are good electrical conductors, an externally applied, steady magnetic field can eliminate the unsteadiness in the melt and can reduce the magnitude of the residual steady motion. Crystal growers hope that a strong enough magnetic field will lead to diffusion controlled solidification, but the magnetic field strengths needed to damp the unsteady thermocapillary convection as a function of floating-zone process parameters is unknown. This research has been conducted in the area of the magnetic damping of thermocapillary convection in floating zones. Both steady and unsteady flows have been investigated. Due to the added complexities in solving Maxwells equations in these magnetohydrodynamic problems and due to the thin boundary layers in these flows, a direct numerical simulation of the fluid and heat transfer in the floating zone is virtually impossible, and it is certainly impossible to run enough simulations to search for neutral stability as a function of magnetic field strength over the entire parameter space. To circumvent these difficulties, we have used matched asymptotic expansions, linear stability theory and numerics to characterize these flows. Some fundamental aspects of the heat transfer and fluid mechanics in these magnetohydrodynamic flows are elucidated in addition to the calculation of the magnetic field strengths required to damp unsteady thermocapillary convection as a function of process parameters.

The study of single crystals for space processing and the effect of zero gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lal, R. B.

1975-01-01

A study was undertaken to analyze different growth techniques affected by a space environment. Literature on crystal growth from melt, vapor phase and float zone was reviewed and the physical phenomena important for crystal growth in zero-gravity environment was analyzed. Recommendations for potential areas of crystal growth feasible for space missions are presented and a bibliography of articles in the area of crystal growth in general is listed.

33 CFR 147.815 - ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS... HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES SAFETY ZONES § 147.815 ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone. (a) Description. The ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility, Alaminos...

33 CFR 147.815 - ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS... HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES SAFETY ZONES § 147.815 ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone. (a) Description. The ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility, Alaminos...

33 CFR 147.815 - ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS... HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES SAFETY ZONES § 147.815 ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone. (a) Description. The ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility, Alaminos...

33 CFR 147.815 - ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS... HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES SAFETY ZONES § 147.815 ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone. (a) Description. The ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility, Alaminos...

77 FR 44544 - Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-In, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-In, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and... withdrawing its proposed rule concerning the Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in and bridge construction of... ``Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake...

33 CFR 147.815 - ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility safety zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS... Floating OCS Facility safety zone. (a) Description. The ExxonMobil Hoover Floating OCS Facility, Alaminos... (1640.4 feet) from each point on the structure's outer edge is a safety zone. (b) Regulation. No vessel...

Influence of Containment on the Growth of Germanium-Silicon in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volz, M. P.; Mazuruk, K.; Croll, A.; Sorgenfrei, T.

2017-01-01

This investigation involves the comparison of results achieved from three types of crystal growth of germanium and germanium-silicon alloys: Float zone growth, Bridgman growth, and Detached Bridgman growth. The fundamental goal of the proposed research is to determine the influence of containment on the processing-induced defects and impurity incorporation in germanium-silicon (GeSi) crystals (silicon concentration in the solid up to 5%) for three different growth configurations in order to quantitatively assess the improvements of crystal quality possible by detached growth.

Growth, and magnetic study of Sm0.4Er0.6FeO3 single crystal grown by optical floating zone technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Anhua; Zhao, Xiangyang; Man, Peiwen; Su, Liangbi; Kalashnikova, A. M.; Pisarev, R. V.

2018-03-01

Sm0.4Er0.6FeO3 single crystals were successfully grown by optical floating zone method; high quality samples with various orientations were manufactured. Based on these samples, Magnetic property of Sm0.4Er0.6FeO3 single crystals were investigated systemically by means of the temperature dependence of magnetization. It indicated that compositional variations not only alter the spin reorientation temperature, but also the compensation temperature of the orthoferrites. Unlike single rare earth orthoferrites, the reversal transition temperature point of Sm0.4Er0.6FeO3 increases as magnetic field increases, which is positive for designing novel spin switching or magnetic sensor device.

Three-dimensional modelling of thermal stress in floating zone silicon crystal growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plate, Matiss; Krauze, Armands; Virbulis, Jānis

2018-05-01

During the growth of large diameter silicon single crystals with the industrial floating zone method, undesirable level of thermal stress in the crystal is easily reached due to the inhomogeneous expansion as the crystal cools down. Shapes of the phase boundaries, temperature field and elastic material properties determine the thermal stress distribution in the solid mono crystalline silicon during cylindrical growth. Excessive stress can lead to fracture, generation of dislocations and altered distribution of intrinsic point defects. Although appearance of ridges on the crystal surface is the decisive factor of a dislocation-free growth, the influence of these ridges on the stress field is not completely clear. Here we present the results of thermal stress analysis for 4” and 5” diameter crystals using a quasi-stationary three dimensional mathematical model including the material anisotropy and the presence of experimentally observed ridges which cannot be addressed with axis-symmetric models. The ridge has a local but relatively strong influence on thermal stress therefore its relation to the origin of fracture is hypothesized. In addition, thermal stresses at the crystal rim are found to increase for a particular position of the crystal radiation reflector.

Stability and instability of thermocapillary convection in models of the float-zone crystal-growth process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neitzel, G. P.

1993-01-01

This project was concerned with the determination of conditions of guaranteed stability and instability for thermocapillary convection in a model of the float-zone crystal-growth process. This model, referred to as the half-zone, was studied extensively, both experimentally and theoretically. Our own earlier research determined, using energy-stability theory, sufficient conditions for stability to axisymmetric disturbances. Nearly all results computed were for the case of a liquid with Prandtl Number Pr = 1. Attempts to compute cases for higher Prandtl numbers to allow comparison with the experimental results of other researchers were unsuccessful, but indicated that the condition guaranteeing stability against axisymmetric disturbances would be a value of the Marangoni number (Ma), significantly higher than that at which oscillatory convection was observed experimentally. Thus, additional results were needed to round out the stability picture for this model problem. The research performed under this grant consisted of the following: (1) computation of energy-stability limits for non-axisymmetric disturbances; (2) computation of linear-stability limits for axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric disturbances; (3) numerical simulation of the basic state for half- and full-zones with a deformable free surface; and (4) incorporation of radiation heat transfer into a model energy-stability problem. Each of these is summarized briefly below.

Influence of Containment on the Growth of Silicon-Germanium: A Materials Science Flight Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volz, M. P.; Mazuruk, K.; Croell, A.

2012-01-01

This investigation involves the comparison of results achieved from three types of crystal growth of germanium and germanium-silicon alloys: (1) Float zone growth (2) Bridgman growth (3) Detached Bridgman growth crystal The fundamental goal of the proposed research is to determine the influence of containment on the processing-induced defects and impurity incorporation in germanium-silicon (GeSi) crystals (silicon concentration in the solid up to 5 at%) for three different growth configurations in order to quantitatively assess the improvements of crystal quality possible by detached growth.

Float zone growth and spectroscopic properties of Yb:CaYAlO4 single crystal for ultra-short pulse lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narita, Moe; Higuchi, Mikio; Ogawa, Takayo; Wada, Satoshi; Miura, Akira; Tadanaga, Kiyoharu

2018-06-01

Yb:CaYAlO4 single crystals were grown by the floating zone method and their spectral properties were investigated. Void formation was effectively suppressed by using a feed rod of Y-rich composition with the aid of a double zone-pass technique. For the oxygen excess composition of Yb:Ca0.9925Y1.0075AlO4.00375, a void-free crystal was obtained by performing only the double zone-pass. On the other hand, for cation-deficient type of Yb:Ca0.9925Y1.005AlO4, void-free crystal could not be obtained by performing the double zone-pass. The void formation is attributable to the constitutional supercooling caused by segregation of main constituents of Y and Ca, and the congruent composition may exist in the Y-rich region with existence of interstitial excess oxide ions. The absorption cross section for σ-polarization was slightly larger than that for π-polarization, which is reasonable on the basis of the crystal structure of CaYAlO4.

Crystal growth of intermetallic clathrates: Floating zone process and ultra rapid crystallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prokofiev, A.; Yan, X.; Ikeda, M.; Löffler, S.; Paschen, S.

2014-09-01

We studied the crystal growth process of type-I transition metal clathrates in two different regimes: a regime of moderate cooling rate, realized with the floating zone technique, and a regime of ultra rapid cooling, realized by the melt spinning technique. In the former regime, bulk Ba8AuxSi46-x and Ba8Cu4.8GaxGe41.2-x single crystals were grown. We investigated segregation effects of the constituting elements by measurements of the composition profiles along the growth direction. The compositional non-uniformity results in a spatial variation of the electrical resistivity which is discussed as well. Structural features of clathrates and their extremely low thermal conductivities imply specifics in growth behavior which manifest themselves most pronouncedly in a rapid crystallization process. Our melt spinning experiments on Ba8Au5Si41 and Ba8Ni3.5Si42.5 (and earlier on some other clathrates) have revealed surprisingly large grains of at least 1 μm. Because of the anomalously high growth rate of the clathrate phase the formation of impurity phases is considerably kinetically suppressed. We present our scanning and transmission electron microscopy investigations of melt spun samples and discuss structural, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the unusual clathrate nucleation and crystallization.

Float Zone Workshop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naumann, R. J.

1980-01-01

A summary of the Analytical Float Zone Experiment System (AFZES) concept is presented. The types of experiments considered for such a facility are discussed. Reports from various industrial producers and users of float zone material are presented. Special emphasis is placed on state-of-the-art developments in low gravity manufacturing and their applications to space processing.

Preparation of directionally solidified BaTi2O5-Ba6Ti17O40 eutectic by the floating zone method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiga, K.; Katsui, H.; Goto, T.

2017-02-01

The BaTi2O5-Ba6Ti17O40 eutectic (BaO-68.7 mol% TiO2) was directionally solidified by the floating zone (FZ) method and crystalline phases, microstructures and orientation were investigated. Ba6Ti17O40 with faceted rod-like shape was dispersed in the BaTi2O5 matrix. The growth directions of BaTi2O5 and Ba6Ti17O40 were parallel to the b and a axis, respectively, and the orientation relations were BaTi2O5 (010)//Ba6Ti17O40(60 2 ̅) and BaTi2O5 (001)//Ba6Ti17O40 (001).

Ultra-fast scintillation properties of β-Ga2O3 single crystals grown by Floating Zone method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Nuotian; Tang, Huili; Liu, Bo; Zhu, Zhichao; Li, Qiu; Guo, Chao; Gu, Mu; Xu, Jun; Liu, Jinliang; Xu, Mengxuan; Chen, Liang; Ouyang, Xiaoping

2018-04-01

In this investigation, β-Ga2O3 single crystals were grown by the Floating Zone method. At room temperature, the X-ray excited emission spectrum includes ultraviolet and blue emission bands. The scintillation light output is comparable to the commercial BGO scintillator. The scintillation decay times are composed of the dominant ultra-fast component of 0.368 ns and a small amount of slightly slow components of 8.2 and 182 ns. Such fast component is superior to most commercial inorganic scintillators. In contrast to most semiconductor crystals prepared by solution method such as ZnO, β-Ga2O3 single crystals can be grown by traditional melt-growth method. Thus we can easily obtain large bulk crystals and mass production.

77 FR 73541 - Safety Zone: Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-11

...-AA00 Safety Zone: Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and... Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float- in and bridge construction of span placement. This action is intended to... rulemaking (NPRM) proposing a safety zone in the Gilmerton Bridge Area (77 FR 43557) on September 5-9, 2012...

Analytics of crystal growth in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, C. E.; Lefever, R. A.; Wilcox, W. R.

1975-01-01

The variation of radial impurity distribution induced by surface tension driven flow increases as the zone length decreases in silicon crystals grown by floating zone melting. In combined buoyancy driven and surface tension driven convection at the gravity of earth, the buoyancy contribution becomes relatively smaller as the zone diameter decreases and eventually convection is dominated by the surface tension driven flow (in the case of silicon, for zones of less than about 0.8 cm in diameter). Preliminary calculations for sapphire suggest the presence of an oscillatory surface tension driven convection as a result of an unstable melt surface temperature that results when the zone is heated by a radiation heater.

The historical trend in float zone crystal diameters and power requirements for float zoned silicon crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kramer, H. G.

1981-01-01

The power needed to zone silicon crystals by radio frequency heating was analyzed. The heat loss mechanisms are examined. Curves are presented for power as a function of crystal diameter for commercial silicon zoning.

Crystal Growth of New Functional Materials for Electro-Optical Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-01-01

Ga2O3 single crystals have been grown by the floating zone technique as promising transparent conductive oxides. 1. INTRODUCTION The important role of...through the addition of dopants while preserving the transparency of the pure B- Ga2O3 makes of this material a substitutive candidate for transparent

Studies of rotating liquid floating zones on Skylab IV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carruthers, J. R.; Gibson, E. G.; Klett, M. G.; Facemire, B. R.

1975-01-01

Liquid zones of water, soap solution and soap foam were deployed between two aligned circular disks which were free to rotate about the zone axis in the microgravity environment of Skylab IV. Such a configuration is of interest in the containerless handling of melts for possible future space processing crystal growth experiments. Three basic types of zone surface deformation and instability were observed for these rotational conditions; axisymmetric shape changes under single disk rotation, nonaxisymmetric, whirling, C-modes for long zones with equal rotation of both disks, and capillary wave phenomena for short zones with equal rotation of both disks. The sources of these instabilities and the conditions promoting them are analyzed in detail from video tape recordings of the Skylab experiments.

77 FR 43557 - Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-25

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and... during the Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float- in and bridge construction of span placement. This action... Construction, INC will facilitate removal of the existing bascule spans from the Gilmerton Bridge, transport of...

77 FR 35900 - Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-15

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and... navigable waters during the Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float- in and bridge construction of span placement... the existing bascule spans from the Gilmerton Bridge, transport the new center span from the Eastern...

Reducing and Inducing Convection in Ge-Si Melts with Static Magnetic Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szofran, Frank R.

1999-01-01

Results of a study of the effectiveness of using static magnetic fields to reduce convection in Ge-Si melts will be presented. Lenz's law causes a retardation of convection when a static magnetic field is applied to an electrically conducting liquid. However, during the solidification of a solid-solution system such as Ge-Si, the interface is neither isothermal nor isoconcentrational. The variation of temperature and chemical composition along the interface causes thermoelectric currents to be generated within the solidifying material (and the container if it is electrically conductive). These currents, in the presence of a magnetic field, can cause movement (stirring, convection) in the melt which can exceed convection induced by normal thermosolutal mechanisms. Crystals have been grown by both the Bridgman and floating-zone methods. Clear evidence for the existence of this thermoelectromagnetic convection, especially in the case of Si floating-zone growth, will be presented.

Edge-defined contact heater apparatus and method for floating zone crystal growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kou, Sindo (Inventor)

1992-01-01

An apparatus for growing a monocrystalline body (30) from a polycrystalline feed rod (22) includes a heater (20) that is positioned to heat a short section of the polycrystalline rod (22) to create a molten zone (34). The heater (20) is formed to include a shaper (40) that contacts the polycrystalline rod (22) in the molten zone (34) and has a hole (46) to allow flow in the molten zone (34) between the polycrystalline rod (22) side and the monocrystalline body (30) side of the shaper. The shaper (40) has an edge (42) that defines the boundary of the cross-section of the monocrystalline body (30) that is formed as the molten material solidifies.

77 FR 49351 - Safety Zone; Port Huron Float-Down, St. Clair River, Port Huron, MI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-16

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Port Huron Float-Down, St. Clair River, Port Huron, MI AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Temporary final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the St. Clair River, Port Huron, MI. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the St. Clair...

Linear-stability theory of thermocapillary convection in a model of float-zone crystal growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neitzel, G. P.; Chang, K.-T.; Jankowski, D. F.; Mittelmann, H. D.

1992-01-01

Linear-stability theory has been applied to a basic state of thermocapillary convection in a model half-zone to determine values of the Marangoni number above which instability is guaranteed. The basic state must be determined numerically since the half-zone is of finite, O(1) aspect ratio with two-dimensional flow and temperature fields. This, in turn, means that the governing equations for disturbance quantities will remain partial differential equations. The disturbance equations are treated by a staggered-grid discretization scheme. Results are presented for a variety of parameters of interest in the problem, including both terrestrial and microgravity cases.

Simulating Matrix Crack and Delamination Interaction in a Clamped Tapered Beam

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

De Carvalho, N. V.; Seshadri, B. R.; Ratcliffe, J. G.; Mabson, G. E.; Deobald, L. R.

2017-01-01

Blind predictions were conducted to validate a discrete crack methodology based on the Floating Node Method to simulate matrix-crack/delamination interaction. The main novel aspects of the approach are: (1) the implementation of the floating node method via an 'extended interface element' to represent delaminations, matrix-cracks and their interaction, (2) application of directional cohesive elements to infer overall delamination direction, and (3) use of delamination direction and stress state at the delamination front to determine migration onset. Overall, good agreement was obtained between simulations and experiments. However, the validation exercise revealed the strong dependence of the simulation of matrix-crack/delamination interaction on the strength data (in this case transverse interlaminar strength, YT) used within the cohesive zone approach applied in this work. This strength value, YT, is itself dependent on the test geometry from which the strength measurement is taken. Thus, choosing an appropriate strength value becomes an ad-hoc step. As a consequence, further work is needed to adequately characterize and assess the accuracy and adequacy of cohesive zone approaches to model small crack growth and crack onset. Additionally, often when simulating damage progression with cohesive zone elements, the strength is lowered while keeping the fracture toughness constant to enable the use of coarser meshes. Results from the present study suggest that this approach is not recommended for any problem involving crack initiation, small crack growth or multiple crack interaction.

The Influence of Static and Rotating Magnetic Fields on Heat and Mass Transfer in Silicon Floating Zones

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Croell, Arne; Dold, P.; Kaiser, Th.; Szofran, Frank; Benz, K. W.

1999-01-01

Hear and mass transfer in float-zone processing are strongly influenced by convective flows in the zone. They are caused by buoyancy convection, thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection, or artificial sources such as rotation and radio frequency heating. Flows in conducting melts can be controlled by the use of magnetic fields, either by damping fluid motion with static fields or by generating a def@ned flow with rotating fields. The possibilities of using static and rotating magnetic fields in silicon floating-zone growth have been investigated by experiments in axial static fields up to ST and in transverse rotating magnetic fields up to 7.S mT. Static fields of a few 100 MT already suppress most striations but are detrimental to the radial segregation by introducing a coring effect. A complete suppression of dopant striations caused by time-dependent thermocapillary convection and a reduction of the coring to insignificant values, combined with a shift of the axial segregation profile towards a more diffusion-limited case, is possible with static fields ? 1T. However, under certain conditions the use of high axial magnetic fields can lead to the appearance of a new type of pronounced dopant striations, caused by thermoelec:romagnetic convection. The use of a transverse rotating magnetic field influences the microscopic segregation at quite low inductions, of the order of a few mT. The field shifts time-dependent flows and the resulting striation patterns from a broad range of low frequencies at high amplitudes to a few high frequencies at low amplitudes

The Influence of Static and Rotating Magnetic Fields on Heat and Mass Transfer in Silicon Floating Zones

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Croll, A.; Dold, P.; Kaiser, Th.; Szofran, F. R.; Benz, K. W.

1999-01-01

Heat and mass transfer in float-zone processing are strongly influenced by convective flows in the zone. They are caused by buoyancy convection, thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection, or artificial sources such as rotation and radio-frequency heating. Flows in conducting melts can be controlled by the use of magnetic fields, either by damping fluid motion with static fields or by generating a defined flow with rotating fields. The possibilities of using static and rotating magnetic fields in silicon floating-zone growth have been investigated by experiments in axial static fields up to 5 T and in transverse rotating magnetic fields up to 7.5 mT. Static fields of a few 100 mT already suppress most striations but are detrimental to the radial segregation by introducing a coring effect. A complete suppression of dopant striations caused by time-dependent thermocapillary convection and a reduction of the coring to insignificant values, combined with a shift of the axial segregation profile toward a more diffusion-limited case, is possible with static fields greater than or equal to 1 T. However, under certain conditions the use of high axial magnetic fields can lead to the appearance of a new type of pronounced dopant striations, caused by thermoelectromagnetic convection. The use of a transverse rotating magnetic field influences the microscopic segregation at quite low inductions, of the order of a few millitesla. The field shifts time- dependent flows and the resulting striation patterns from a broad range of low frequencies at high amplitudes to a few high frequencies at low amplitudes.

Magnetic Damping of Solid Solution Semiconductor Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szofran, Frank R.; Benz, K. W.; Croell, Arne; Dold, Peter; Cobb, Sharon D.; Volz, Martin P.; Motakef, Shariar

1999-01-01

The objective of this study is to: (1) experimentally test the validity of the modeling predictions applicable to the magnetic damping of convective flows in electrically conductive melts as this applies to the bulk growth of solid solution semiconducting materials; and (2) assess the effectiveness of steady magnetic fields in reducing the fluid flows occurring in these materials during processing. To achieve the objectives of this investigation, we are carrying out a comprehensive program in the Bridgman and floating-zone configurations using the solid solution alloy system Ge-Si. This alloy system has been studied extensively in environments that have not simultaneously included both low gravity and an applied magnetic field. Also, all compositions have a high electrical conductivity, and the materials parameters permit reasonable growth rates. An important supporting investigation is determining the role, if any, that thermoelectromagnetic convection (TEMC) plays during growth of these materials in a magnetic field. TEMC has significant implications for the deployment of a Magnetic Damping Furnace in space. This effect will be especially important in solid solutions where the growth interface is, in general, neither isothermal nor isoconcentrational. It could be important in single melting point materials, also, if faceting takes place producing a non-isothermal interface. In conclusion, magnetic fields up to 5 Tesla are sufficient to eliminate time-dependent convection in silicon floating zones and possibly Bridgman growth of Ge-Si alloys. In both cases, steady convection appears to be more significant for mass transport than diffusion, even at 5 Tesla in the geometries used here. These results are corroborated in both growth configurations by calculations.

Crystal growth and characterization of Ce:Gd3(Ga,Al)5O12 single crystal using floating zone method in different O2 partial pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshikawa, Akira; Fujimoto, Yutaka; Yamaji, Akihiro; Kurosawa, Shunsuke; Pejchal, Jan; Sugiyama, Makoto; Wakahara, Shingo; Futami, Yoshisuke; Yokota, Yuui; Kamada, Kei; Yubuta, Kunio; Shishido, Toetsu; Nikl, Martin

2013-09-01

Multicomponent garnet Ce:Gd3(Ga,Al)5O12 (Ce:GAGG) single crystals show very high light yield with reasonably fast scintillation response. Therefore, they can be promising scintillators for gamma-ray detection. However, in the decay curve a very slow component does exist. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize further the crystal growth technology of Ce:GAGG. In this study, Ce:GAGG single crystals were grown by the floating zone (FZ) method under atmospheres of various compositions such as Ar 100%, Ar 80% + O2 20%, Ar 60% + O2 40% and O2 100%. Radioluminescence spectra are dominated by the band at about 540 nm due to Ce3+ 5d1-4f transition. The Ce:GAGG single crystal grown under Ar atmosphere shows an intense slower decay component. It can be related to the processes of the delayed radiative recombination and thermally induced ionization of 5d1 level of Ce3+ center possibly further affected by oxygen vacancies. This slower decay process is significantly suppressed in the samples grown under the O2 containing atmosphere.

77 FR 75016 - Safety Zone: Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-19

...-AA00 Safety Zone: Gilmerton Bridge Center Span Float-in, Elizabeth River; Norfolk, Portsmouth, and... final rule establishing a safety zone around the Gilmerton Bridge center span barge. Inadvertently, this... Gilmerton Bridge center span barge (77 FR 73541). Inadvertently, this rule included an error in the...

DISTRIBUTION OF THE TEMPERATURE IN THE ASH-GAS FLOW DURING KORYAKSKY VOLCANO ERUPTION IN 2009

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordeev, E.; Droznin, V.

2009-12-01

The observations of the ash-gas plumes during the Koryaksky eruption in March 2009 by the high resolution thermovision camera allowed obtaining thermal distributions inside the ash-gas flows. The plume structure is formed by single emissions. They rise at the rate of 5.5-7 m/s. The plume structure in general is represented as 3 zones: 1. a zone of high heat exchange; 2. a zone of floating up; 3. a zone of lateral movement. The plume temperature within the zone of lateral movement exceeds the atmospheric temperature by 3-5 oC, within the zone of floating up it exceeds by 20 oC. Its rate within the zone of floating up comprises 5-7 m/s. At the boundary between the zones of high heat exchange and floating up where we know the plume section, from heat balance equation we can estimate steam rate and heat power of the fluid thermal flow. Power of the overheated steam was estimated as Q=35 kg/s. It forms the ash-gas plume from the eruption and has temperature equal to 450 oC. The total volume of water steam produced during 100 days of eruption was estimated 3*105 t, its energy - 109 MJ.

Behavior of Particle Depots in Molten Silicon During Float-Zone Growth in Strong Magnetic Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jauss, T.; Croell, A.; SorgenFrei, T.; Azizi, M.; Reimann, C.; Friedrich, J.; Volz, M. P.

2014-01-01

Solar cells made from directionally solidified silicon cover 57% of the photovoltaic industry's market [1]. One major issue during directional solidification of silicon is the precipitation of foreign phase particles. These particles, mainly SiC and Si3N4, are precipitated from the dissolved crucible coating, which is made of silicon nitride, and the dissolution of carbon monoxide from the furnace atmosphere. Due to their hardness and size of several hundred micrometers, those particles can lead to severe problems during the wire sawing process for wafering the ingots. Additionally, SiC particles can act as a shunt, short circuiting the solar cell. Even if the particles are too small to disturb the wafering process, they can lead to a grit structure of silicon micro grains and serve as sources for dislocations. All of this lowers the yield of solar cells and reduces the performance of cells and modules. We studied the behaviour of SiC particle depots during float-zone growth under an oxide skin, and strong static magnetic fields. For high field strengths of 3T and above and an oxide layer on the sample surface, convection is sufficiently suppressed to create a diffusive like regime, with strongly dampened convection [2, 3]. To investigate the difference between atomically rough phase boundaries and facetted growth, samples with [100] and [111] orientation were processed.

High-purity silicon crystal growth investigations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ciszek, T. F.; Hurd, J. L.; Schuyler, T.

1985-01-01

The study of silicon sheet material requirements for high efficiency solar cells is reported. Research continued on obtaining long lifetime single crystal float zone silicon and on understanding and reducing the mechanisms that limit the achievement of long lifetimes. The mechanisms studied are impurities, thermal history, point defects, and surface effect. The lifetime related crystallographic defects are characterized by X-ray topography and electron beam induced current.

33 CFR 165.704 - Safety Zone; Tampa Bay, Florida.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., Florida. (a) A floating safety zone is established consisting of an area 1000 yards fore and aft of a... ending at Gadsden Point Cut Lighted Buoys “3” and “4”. The safety zone starts again at Gadsden Point Cut... the marked channel at Tampa Bay Cut “K” buoy “11K” enroute to Rattlesnake, Tampa, FL, the floating...

III-V semiconductor solid solution single crystal growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gertner, E. R.

1982-01-01

The feasibility and desirability of space growth of bulk IR semiconductor crystals for use as substrates for epitaxial IR detector material were researched. A III-V ternary compound (GaInSb) and a II-VI binary compound were considered. Vapor epitaxy and quaternary epitaxy techniques were found to be sufficient to permit the use of ground based binary III-V crystals for all major device applications. Float zoning of CdTe was found to be a potentially successful approach to obtaining high quality substrate material, but further experiments were required.

Global Ocean Phytoplankton

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Franz, B. A.; Behrenfeld, M. J.; Siegel, D. A.; Werdell, P. J.

2013-01-01

Phytoplankton are free-floating algae that grow in the euphotic zone of the upper ocean, converting carbon dioxide, sunlight, and available nutrients into organic carbon through photosynthesis. Despite their microscopic size, these photoautotrophs are responsible for roughly half the net primary production on Earth (NPP; gross primary production minus respiration), fixing atmospheric CO2 into food that fuels our global ocean ecosystems. Phytoplankton thus play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and their growth patterns are highly sensitive to environmental changes such as increased ocean temperatures that stratify the water column and prohibit the transfer of cold, nutrient richwaters to the upper ocean euphotic zone.

Viewing region maximization of an integral floating display through location adjustment of viewing window.

PubMed

Kim, Joowhan; Min, Sung-Wook; Lee, Byoungho

2007-10-01

Integral floating display is a recently proposed three-dimensional (3D) display method which provides a dynamic 3D image in the vicinity to an observer. It has a viewing window only through which correct 3D images can be observed. However, the positional difference between the viewing window and the floating image causes limited viewing zone in integral floating system. In this paper, we provide the principle and experimental results of the location adjustment of the viewing window of the integral floating display system by modifying the elemental image region for integral imaging. We explain the characteristics of the viewing window and propose how to move the viewing window to maximize the viewing zone.

Stress studies in edge-defined film-fed growth of silicon ribbons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalejs, J.

1985-01-01

Stress and efficiency studies on sheet silicon are reported. It was found that the bulk diffusion length of stressed float zone and Czochralski silicon is limited by point defect recombination to about 20 micrometers in dislocation free regions after high temperature heat treatment and stress application. If in-diffusion by iron occurs, dislocations, carbon and oxygen, do not produce significant gettering with annealing. Further work ideas are suggested.

Morphology of growth of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Indenbom, M. V.; van der Beek, C. J.; Berseth, V.; Wolf, Th.; Berger, H.; Benoit, W.

1996-12-01

A good correlation of twins on the basal surface of flux-grown Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox (BSCCO) single crystals with surface. growth steps is observed, the b-axis being perpendicular to the steps and, thus, parallel to the growth direction. It is found that mono-twin BSCCO single crystals produced by the travelling solvent floating zone method also grow preferentially along b, i.e. nearly perpendicularly to the boule axis, contrary to the common belief. This new understanding of the morphology of growth explains the nature of major defects in these crystals, which considerably change their measured superconducting properties, in a different way.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Junjie; Zheng, Hong; Ren, Yang

We report the first single crystal growth of the correlated metal LaNiO 3 using a high-pressure optical-image floating zone furnace. The crystals were studied using single crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, resistivity, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility. The availability of bulk LaNiO 3 crystals will (i) promote deep understanding in this correlated material, including the mechanism of enhanced paramagnetic susceptibility, and (ii) provide rich opportunities as a substrate for thin film growth such as important ferroelectric and/or multiferroic materials. As a result, this study demonstrates the power of high pO 2 single crystal growth of nickelate perovskites and correlated electron oxides moremore » generally.« less

Crystallography of Alumina-YAG-Eutectic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farmer, Serene C.; Sayir, Ali; Dickerson, Robert M.; Matson, Lawrence E.

2000-01-01

Multiple descriptions of the alumina-YAG eutectic crystallography appear in the ceramic literature. The orientation between two phases in a eutectic system has direct impact on residual stress, morphology, microstructural stability, and high temperature mechanical properties. A study to demonstrate that the different crystallographic relationships can be correlated with different growth constraints was undertaken. Fibers produced by Laser-Heated Float Zone (LHFZ) and Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EFG) were examined. A map of the orientation relationship between Al2O3 and Y3Al5O12 and their relationship to the fiber growth axis as a function of pull rate are presented. Regions in which a single orientation predominates are identified.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hossain, M. Anwar; Center for Crystal Science and Technology, University of Yamanashi, Miyamae 7-32, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511; Tanaka, Isao

We studied thermoelectric properties of YB{sub 41}Si{sub 1.3} single crystals grown by the floating zone method. The composition of the grown crystal was confirmed by electron probe micro-analysis. We have determined the growth direction for the first time for these borosilicides, and discovered relatively large anisotropy in electrical properties. We measured the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient along [510] (the growth direction) and [052] directions and we found that this crystal exhibits strong electrical anisotropy with a maximum of more than 8 times. An interesting layered structural feature is revealed along [510] with dense boron cluster layers and yttrium layers,more » with conductivity enhanced along this direction. We obtained 3.6 times higher power factor along [510] compared to that along [052]. Although the ZT of the present system is low, anisotropy in the thermoelectric properties of a boride was reported for the first time, and can be a clue in developing other boride systems also. - Graphical abstract: The growth direction ([510]) was determined for the first time in YB{sub 41}Si{sub 1.3} single crystals and revealed an interesting layered feature of boron clusters and metal atoms, along which the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power factor was strongly enhanced. - Highlights: • We have grown YB{sub 41}Si{sub 1.3} single crystals by the floating zone method. • Growth direction of [510] determined for first time in REB{sub 41}Si{sub 1.2}. • Electrical resistivity was strongly anisotropic with possible enhancement along metal layers. • The obtained power factor along [510] is 3.6 times higher than that along [052].« less

Assessing the effectiveness of pollutant removal by macrophytes in a floating wetland for wastewater treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prajapati, Meera; van Bruggen, Johan J. A.; Dalu, Tatenda; Malla, Rabin

2017-12-01

The study aimed to evaluate the removal of pollutants by floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) using an edible floating plant, and emergent macrophytes. All experiments were performed under ambient conditions. Physico-chemical parameters were measured, along with microbiological analysis of biofilm within the roots, water column, and sludge and gravel zone. Nitrification and denitrification rates were high in the water zone of Azolla filiculoides, Lemna minor, Lactuca sativa, P. stratiotes, and Phragmites australis. Phosphate removal efficiencies were 23, 10, and 15% for the free-floating hydrophytes, emergent macrophytes, and control and edible plants, respectively. The microbial community was relatively more active in the root zone compared to other zones. Pistia stratiotes was found to be the efficient in ammonium (70%) and total nitrogen (59%) removal. Pistia stratiotes also showed the highest microbial activity of 1306 mg day-1, which was 62% of the total volume. Microbial activity was found in the water zone of all FTWs expect for P. australis. The use of P. stratiotes and the edible plant L. sativa could be a potential option to treat domestic wastewater due to relatively high nutrient and organic matter removal efficiency.

Skylab 3 and 4 science demonstrations: Preliminary report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bannister, T. C.

1974-01-01

Twelve science demonstrations were accomplished on the Skylab 3 and 4 missions. These were defined in response to crew requests for time-gap fillers and were designed to be accomplished using onboard equipment. The following 12 are described and the preliminary results are given: liquid floating zone; diffusion in liquids; ice melting; immiscible liquids; liquid films; gyroscope; Rochelle salt growth; deposition of silver crystals; fluid mechanics series; neutron environment; orbital mechanics; and charged particle mobility.

An examination of anticipated g-jitter on Space Station and its effects on materials processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, Emily

1992-01-01

Information on anticipated g-jitter on Space Station Freedom and the effect of the jitter on materials processes is given in viewgraph form. It was concluded that g-jitter will dominate the acceleration environment; that it is a 3D multifrequency phenomenon; and that it varies dramatically in orientation. Information is given on calculated or measured sources of residual acceleration, aerodynamic drag, Shuttle acceleration measurements, the Space Station environment, tolerable g-levels as a function of frequency, directional solidification, vapor crystal growth, protein crystal growth, float zones, and liquid bridges.

Polarized Raman spectra in β-Ga2O3 single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onuma, T.; Fujioka, S.; Yamaguchi, T.; Itoh, Y.; Higashiwaki, M.; Sasaki, K.; Masui, T.; Honda, T.

2014-09-01

Polarized Raman spectra were measured from (010) Mg-doped, (100) Si-doped, and (001) unintentionally-doped β-Ga2O3 substrates prepared by either the floating zone growth or edge-defined film-fed growth methods. The Ag and Bg Raman active modes were perfectly separated in the spectra according to the polarization selection rules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental observation of a complete set of polarized Raman spectra of β-Ga2O3. The results are ensured by the high uniformity of crystalline orientation and surface flatness of the present substrates.

Crucible-free pulling of germanium crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wünscher, Michael; Lüdge, Anke; Riemann, Helge

2011-03-01

Commonly, germanium crystals are grown after the Czochralski (CZ) method. The crucible-free pedestal and floating zone (FZ) methods, which are widely used for silicon growth, are hardly known to be investigated for germanium. The germanium melt is more than twice as dense as liquid silicon, which could destabilize a floating zone. Additionally, the lower melting point and the related lower radiative heat loss is shown to reduce the stability especially of the FZ process with the consequence of a screw-like crystal growth. We found that the lower heat radiation of Ge can be compensated by the increased convective cooling of a helium atmosphere instead of the argon ambient. Under these conditions, the screw-like growth could be avoided. Unfortunately, the helium cooling deteriorates the melting behavior of the feed rod. Spikes appear along the open melt front, which touch on the induction coil. In order to improve the melting behavior, we used a lamp as a second energy source as well as a mixture of Ar and He. With this, we found a final solution for growing stable crystals from germanium by using both gases in different parts of the furnace. The experimental work is accompanied by the simulation of the stationary temperature field. The commercially available software FEMAG-FZ is used for axisymmetric calculations. Another tool for process development is the lateral photo-voltage scanning (LPS), which can determine the shape of the solid-liquid phase boundary by analyzing the growth striations in a lateral cut of a grown crystal. In addition to improvements of the process, these measurements can be compared with the calculated results and, hence, conduce to validate the calculation.

Fluid mechanics in crystal growth - The 1982 Freeman scholar lecture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ostrach, S.

1983-01-01

An attempt is made to unify the current state of knowledge in crystal growth techniques and fluid mechanics. After identifying important fluid dynamic problems for such representative crystal growth processes as closed tube vapor transport, open reactor vapor deposition, and the Czochralski and floating zone melt growth techniques, research results obtained to date are presented. It is noted that the major effort to date has been directed to the description of the nature and extent of bulk transport under realistic conditions, where bulk flow determines the heat and solute transport which strongly influence the temperature and concentration fields in the vicinity of the growth interface. Proper treatment of near field, or interface, problems cannot be given until the far field, or global flow, involved in a given crystal growth technique has been adequately described.

Calculating surface ocean pCO2 from biogeochemical Argo floats equipped with pH: An uncertainty analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, N. L.; Juranek, L. W.; Feely, R. A.; Johnson, K. S.; Sarmiento, J. L.; Talley, L. D.; Dickson, A. G.; Gray, A. R.; Wanninkhof, R.; Russell, J. L.; Riser, S. C.; Takeshita, Y.

2017-03-01

More than 74 biogeochemical profiling floats that measure water column pH, oxygen, nitrate, fluorescence, and backscattering at 10 day intervals have been deployed throughout the Southern Ocean. Calculating the surface ocean partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2sw) from float pH has uncertainty contributions from the pH sensor, the alkalinity estimate, and carbonate system equilibrium constants, resulting in a relative standard uncertainty in pCO2sw of 2.7% (or 11 µatm at pCO2sw of 400 µatm). The calculated pCO2sw from several floats spanning a range of oceanographic regimes are compared to existing climatologies. In some locations, such as the subantarctic zone, the float data closely match the climatologies, but in the polar Antarctic zone significantly higher pCO2sw are calculated in the wintertime implying a greater air-sea CO2 efflux estimate. Our results based on four representative floats suggest that despite their uncertainty relative to direct measurements, the float data can be used to improve estimates for air-sea carbon flux, as well as to increase knowledge of spatial, seasonal, and interannual variability in this flux.

Crystal growth and characterization of the CMR compound La 1.2(Sr,Ca) 1.8Mn 2O 7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velázquez, M.; Haut, C.; Hennion, B.; Revcolevschi, A.

2000-12-01

High-quality centimeter-sized single crystals of La 1.2Sr 1.8- yCa yMn 2O 7 (0.0⩽ y⩽0.2) were successfully grown using a floating zone method associated with an image furnace. We present the growth conditions together with a characterization of the single crystals by means of optical and electron microscopy, EDX and ICP⧸AES analysis, DTA-TGA measurements and redox titration, X-ray powder diffraction, Laue X-ray back-reflection and neutron diffraction. We also stress the main aspects of the complex thermodynamical and kinetic behaviors of these compounds.

Influence of Thermocapillary Flow on Capillary Stability: Long Float-Zones in Low Gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Yi-Ju; Steen, Paul H.

1996-01-01

A model problem is posed to study the influence of flow on the interfacial stability of a nearly cylindrical liquid bridge for lengths near its circumference (the Plateau-Rayleigh limit). The flow is generated by a shear stress imposed on the deformable interface. The symmetry of the imposed shear stress mimics the thermocapillary stress induced on a float-zone by a ring heater (i.e. a full zone). Principal assumptions are (1) zero gravity, (2) creeping flow, and (3) that the imposed coupling at the free surface between flow and temperature fields is the only such coupling. A numerical solution, complemented by a bifurcation analysis, shows that bridges substantially longer than the Plateau-Rayleigh limit are possible. An interaction of the first two capillary instabilities through the stress-induced flow is responsible. Time-periodic standing waves are also predicted in certain parameter ranges. Motivation comes from extra-long float-zones observed in MEPHISTO space lab experiments (June 1994).

Real object-based 360-degree integral-floating display using multiple depth camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erdenebat, Munkh-Uchral; Dashdavaa, Erkhembaatar; Kwon, Ki-Chul; Wu, Hui-Ying; Yoo, Kwan-Hee; Kim, Young-Seok; Kim, Nam

2015-03-01

A novel 360-degree integral-floating display based on the real object is proposed. The general procedure of the display system is similar with conventional 360-degree integral-floating displays. Unlike previously presented 360-degree displays, the proposed system displays the 3D image generated from the real object in 360-degree viewing zone. In order to display real object in 360-degree viewing zone, multiple depth camera have been utilized to acquire the depth information around the object. Then, the 3D point cloud representations of the real object are reconstructed according to the acquired depth information. By using a special point cloud registration method, the multiple virtual 3D point cloud representations captured by each depth camera are combined as single synthetic 3D point cloud model, and the elemental image arrays are generated for the newly synthesized 3D point cloud model from the given anamorphic optic system's angular step. The theory has been verified experimentally, and it shows that the proposed 360-degree integral-floating display can be an excellent way to display real object in the 360-degree viewing zone.

Reduction of Defects in Germanium-Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

Crystals grown without contact with a container have far superior quality to otherwise similar crystals grown in direct contact with a container. In addition to float-zone processing, detached- Bridgman growth is a promising tool to improve crystal quality, without the limitations of float zoning or the defects introduced by normal Bridgman growth. Goals of this project include the development of the detached Bridgman process to be reproducible and well understood and to quantitatively compare the defect and impurity levels in crystals grown by these three methods. Germanium (Ge) and germanium-silicon (Ge-Si) alloys are being used. At MSFC, we are responsible for the detached Bridgman experiments intended to differentiate among proposed mechanisms of detachment, and to confirm or refine our understanding of detachment. Because the contact angle is critical to determining the conditions for detachment, the sessile drop method was used to measure the contact angles as a function of temperature and composition for a large number of substrates made of potential ampoule materials. Growth experiments have used pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN) and fused silica ampoules with the majority of the detached results occurring predictably in the pBN. Etch pit density (EPD) measurements of normal and detached Bridgman-grown Ge samples show a two order of magnitude improvement in the detached-grown samples. The nature and extent of detachment is determined by using profilometry in conjunction with optical and electron microscopy. The stability of detachment has been analyzed, and an empirical model for the conditions necessary to achieve sufficient stability to maintain detached growth for extended periods has been developed. We have investigated the effects on detachment of ampoule material, pressure difference above and below the melt, and Si concentration; samples that are nearly completely detached can be grown repeatedly in pBN. Current work is concentrated on developing a method to make in situ pressure measurements in the growth ampoules.

3D numerical simulation of free surface shape during the crystal growth of floating zone (FZ) silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Xue-Feng; Liu, Xin; Nakano, Satoshi; Harada, Hirofumi; Miyamura, Yoshiji; Kakimoto, Koichi

2018-02-01

In FZ growth processes, the stability of the free surface is important in the production of single crystal silicon with high quality. To investigate the shape of the free surface in the FZ silicon crystal growth, a 3D numerical model that included gas and liquid phases was developed. In this present study, 3D Young-Laplacian equations have been solved using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) Model. Using this new model, we predicted the 3D shape of the free surface in FZ silicon crystal growth. The effect of magnetic pressure on shape of free surface has been considered. In particular, the free surface of the eccentric growth model, which could not be previously solved using the 2D Young-Laplacian equations, was solved using the VOF model. The calculation results are validated by the experimental results.

The Coupling of Macrosegregation with Grain Nucleation, Growth and Motion in DC Cast Aluminum Alloy Ingots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Založnik, Miha; Kumar, Arvind; Combeau, Hervé; Bedel, Marie; Jarry, Philippe; Waz, Emmanuel

The phenomena responsible for the formation of macrosegregations, and grain structures during solidification are closely intertwined. We present a model study of the formation of macrosegregation and grain structure in an industrial sized (350 mm thick) direct chill (DC) cast aluminum alloy slab. The modeling of these phenomena in DC casting is a challenging problem mainly due to the size of the products, the variety of the phenomena to be accounted for, and the non-linearities involved. We used a volume-averaged multiscale model that describes nucleation on grain refiner particles and grain growth, coupled with macroscopic transport: fluid flow driven by natural convection and shrinkage, transport of free-floating globular equiaxed grains, heat transfer, and solute transport. We analyze the heat and mass transfer in the slurry moving-grain zone that is a result of the coupling of the fluid flow and of the grain nucleation, growth and motion. We discuss the impact of the flow structure in the slurry zone and of the grain packing fraction on the macrosegregation.

Solutions multiples thermocapillaires en zone flottante à gravité nulle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chénier, E.; Delcarte, C.; Labrosse, G.

1998-04-01

An original model is adopted to analyse the melted phase hydrodynamics, in the floating zone technique configuration for crystal growth. In particular, a small capillary scale located near the fusion fronts is taken into account. Its size turns out to influence significantly the flow structure. For the first time, multiple solutions are exhibited in zero gravity. Un modèle original a été adopté pour analyser l'hydrodynamique de la phase fondue pour la technique de la zone flottante, en croissance cristalline. En particulier, une petite échelle capillaire, située près des fronts de fusion, est prise en considération. Son extension se révèle influencer significativement la structure des écoulements. L'existence de solutions multiples est, pour la première fois, mise en évidence en gravité zéro.

Static Magnetic Fields in Semiconductor Floating-Zone Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Croll, Arne; Benz, K. W.

1999-01-01

Heat and mass transfer in semiconductor float-zone processing are strongly influenced by convective flows in the zone, originating from sources such as buoyancy convection, thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection, differential rotation, or radio frequency heating. Because semiconductor melts are conducting, flows can be damped by the use of static magnetic fields to influence the interface shape and the segregation of dopants and impurities. An important objective is often the suppression of time-dependent flows and the ensuing dopant striations. In RF-heated Si-FZ - crystals, fields up to O.STesla show some flattening of the interface curvature and a reduction of striation amplitudes. In radiation-heated (small-scale) SI-FZ crystals, fields of 0.2 - 0.5 Tesla already suppress the majority of the dopant striations. The uniformity of the radial segregation is often compromised by using a magnetic field, due to the directional nature of the damping. Transverse fields lead to an asymmetric interface shape and thus require crystal rotation (resulting in rotational dopant striations) to achieve a radially symmetric interface, whereas axial fields introduce a coring effect. A complete suppression of dopant striations and a reduction of the coring to insignificant values, combined with a shift of the axial segregation profile towards a more diffusion-limited case, are possible with axial static fields in excess of 1 Tesla. Strong static magnetic fields, however, can also lead to the appearance of thermoelectromagnetic convection, caused by the interaction of thermoelectric currents with the magnetic field.

Growth of II-VI Solid Solutions in the Presence of a Rotating Magnetic Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gillies, D. C; Motakef, S.; Dudley, M.; Matyi, R.; Volz, H.

1999-01-01

The application of a rotating magnetic field (RMF)in the frequency range 60-400 Hz and field strength of the order of 2-8 mT to crystal growth has received increasing attention in recent years. To take full advantage of the control of fluid flow by the forces applied by the field, the liquid column must be electrically conducting. Also, the application of RMF to the directional solidification of a column of liquid can result in complete mixing in the resultant solid. Thus, the technique of RMF is suited to solvent zones and float zones where the composition of the liquid is more readily controlled. In the work we report on, numerical modeling has been applied to II-VI systems, particularly tellurium based traveling heater techniques (THM). Results for a spectrum of field strengths and acceleration levels will be presented. These show clearly the effects of competing buoyancy forces and electromagnetic stirring. Crystals of cadmium zinc telluride and mercury cadmium telluride have been grown terrestrially from a tellurium solvent zone. The effects of the RMF during these experiments will be demonstrated with micrographs showing etch pits, white beam x-ray synchrotron topographs and triple axis x-ray diffraction.

Hydroponic root mats for wastewater treatment-a review.

PubMed

Chen, Zhongbing; Cuervo, Diego Paredes; Müller, Jochen A; Wiessner, Arndt; Köser, Heinz; Vymazal, Jan; Kästner, Matthias; Kuschk, Peter

2016-08-01

Hydroponic root mats (HRMs) are ecotechnological wastewater treatment systems where aquatic vegetation forms buoyant filters by their dense interwoven roots and rhizomes, sometimes supported by rafts or other floating materials. A preferential hydraulic flow is created in the water zone between the plant root mat and the bottom of the treatment system. When the mat touches the bottom of the water body, such systems can also function as HRM filter; i.e. the hydraulic flow passes directly through the root zone. HRMs have been used for the treatment of various types of polluted water, including domestic wastewater; agricultural effluents; and polluted river, lake, stormwater and groundwater and even acid mine drainage. This article provides an overview on the concept of applying floating HRM and non-floating HRM filters for wastewater treatment. Exemplary performance data are presented, and the advantages and disadvantages of this technology are discussed in comparison to those of ponds, free-floating plant and soil-based constructed wetlands. Finally, suggestions are provided on the preferred scope of application of HRMs.

Center for the development of commercial crystal growth in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilcox, William R.

1989-01-01

The second year of operation of the Center for Commercial Crystal Growth in Space is described. This center is a consortium of businesses, universities and national laboratories. The primary goal of the Center's research is the development of commercial crystal growth in space. A secondary goal is to develop scientific understanding and technology which will improve commercial crystal growth on earth. In order to achieve these goals the Center's research is organized into teams by growth technique; melt growth, solution growth, and vapor growth. The melt growth team is working on solidification and characterization of bulk crystals of gallium arsenide and cadmium telluride. They used high resolution X-ray topography performed at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Streak-like features were found in the diffraction images of semi-insulating undoped LEC GaAs. These were shown to be (110) antiphase boundaries, which have not been reported before but appear to be pervasive and responsible for features seen via less-sensitive characterization methods. The results on CdTe were not as definitive, but indicate that antiphase boundaries may also be responsible for the double peaks often seen in X-ray rocking curves of this material. A liquid encapsulated melt zone system for GaAs has been assembled and techniques for casting feed rods developed. It was found that scratching the inside of the quartz ampoules with silicon carbide abrasive minimized sticking of the GaAs to the quartz. Twelve floating zone experiments were done.

Paramagnetic resonance of LaGaO3: Mn single crystals grown by floating zone melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vazhenin, V. A.; Potapov, A. P.; Artyomov, M. Yu.; Salosin, M. A.; Fokin, A. V.; Gil'mutdinov, I. F.; Mukhamedshin, I. R.

2016-02-01

The EPR spectrum of Mn-doped lanthanum gallate single crystals grown by floating zone melting with optical heating has been studied. In contrast to the crystals grown according to the Czochralski method, no manganese is found in these crystals even after high-temperature annealing in air. The spectral characteristics of Fe3+ and Gd3+ centers in crystals prepared by various methods have been compared in the rhombohedral phase, and the fourth-rank nondiagonal parameters of the Fe3+ trigonal centers have been determined, as well.

STS-30 onboard closeup of the fluids experiment apparatus (FEA) equipment

NASA Image and Video Library

1989-05-08

STS030-01-015 (4-8 May 1989) --- A 35mm close-up view of the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) aboard Atlantis for NASA’s STS-30 mission. Rockwell International is engaged in a joint endeavor agreement with NASA’s Office of Commercial Programs in the field of floating zone crystal growth and purification research. The March 1987 agreement provides for microgravity experiments to be performed in the company’s Microgravity Laboratory, the FEA. Crewmembers, especially Mary L. Cleave, devoted a great deal of onboard time to the monitoring of various materials science experiments using the apparatus.

A new tree-ring date for the "floating island" lava flow, Mount St. Helens, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yamaguchi, D.K.; Hoblitt, R.P.; Lawrence, D.B.

1990-01-01

Anomalously narrow and missing rings in trees 12 m from Mount St. Helens' "floating island" lava flow, and synchronous growth increases in trees farther from the flow margin, are evidence that this andesitic flow was extruded between late summer 1799 and spring 1800 a.d., within a few months after the eruption of Mount St. Helens' dacitic layer T tephra. For ease of reference, we assign here an 1800 a.d. date to this flow. The new date shows that the start of Mount St. Helens' Goat Rocks eruptive period (1800-1857 a.d.) resembled the recent (1980-1986) activity in both petrochemical trends and timing. In both cases, an initial explosive eruption of dacite was quickly succeeded by the eruption of more mafic lavas; dacite lavas then reappeared during an extended concluding phase of activity. This behavior is consistent with a recently proposed fluid-dynamic model of magma withdrawal from a compositionally zoned magma chamber. ?? 1990 Springer-Verlag.

Optimizing work zones for highway maintenance with floating car data (FCD) : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-12-01

One of the main tools that the Department of Transportation (DOT) of each state in the United States should have to : support their work zone activities is a sound model that produces adequate work zone schedules for roadway maintenance : and constru...

Physical and Biological Drivers of Biogeochemical Tracers Within the Seasonal Sea Ice Zone of the Southern Ocean From Profiling Floats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briggs, Ellen M.; Martz, Todd R.; Talley, Lynne D.; Mazloff, Matthew R.; Johnson, Kenneth S.

2018-02-01

Here we present initial findings from nine profiling floats equipped with pH, O2, NO3-, and other biogeochemical sensors that were deployed in the seasonal ice zone (SIZ) of the Southern Ocean in 2014 and 2015 through the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modelling (SOCCOM) project. A large springtime phytoplankton bloom was observed that coincided with sea ice melt for all nine floats. We argue this bloom results from a shoaling of the mixed layer depth, increased vertical stability, and enhanced nutrient and light availability as the sea ice melts. This interpretation is supported by the absence of a springtime bloom when one of the floats left the SIZ in the second year of observations. During the sea ice covered period, net heterotrophic conditions were observed. The rate of uptake of O2 and release of dissolved inorganic carbon (derived from pH and estimated total alkalinity) and NO3- is reminiscent of biological respiration and is nearly Redfieldian for the nine floats. A simple model of mixed layer physics was developed to separate the physical and biological components of the signal in pH and O2 over one annual cycle for a float in the Ross Sea SIZ. The resulting annual net community production suggests that seasonal respiration during the ice covered period of the year nearly balances the production in the euphotic layer of up to 5 mol C m-2 during the ice free period leading to a net of near zero carbon exported to depth for this one float.

76 FR 19290 - Safety Zone; Commencement Bay, Tacoma, WA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-07

... the following points Latitude 47[deg]17'38'' N, Longitude 122[deg]28'43'' W; thence south easterly to... protruding from the shoreline along Ruston Way. Floating markers will be placed by the sponsor of the event... rectangle protruding from the shoreline along Ruston Way. Floating markers will be placed by the sponsor of...

Magnetic field controlled single crystal growth and surface modification of titanium alloys exposed for biocompatibility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermann, Regina; Uhlemann, Margitta; Wendrock, Horst; Gerbeth, Gunter; Büchner, Bernd

2011-03-01

The aim of this work is growth and characterisation of Ti55Nb45 (wt%) single crystals by floating-zone single crystal growth of intermetallic compounds using two-phase radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic heating. Thereby, the process and, in particular, the flow field in the molten zone is influenced by additional magnetic fields. The growth of massive intermetallic single crystals is very often unsuccessful due to an unfavourable solid-liquid interface geometry enclosing concave fringes. It is generally known that the crystallization process stability is enhanced if the crystallization interface is convex. For this, a tailored magnetic two-phase stirrer system has been developed, which enables a controlled influence on the melt ranging from intensive inwards to outwards flows. Since Ti is favourably light, strong and biocompatible, it is one of the few materials that naturally match the requirements for implantation in the human body. Therefore, the magnetic system was applied to crystal growth of Ti alloys. The grown crystals were oriented and cut to cubes with the desired crystallographic orientations [1 0 0] and [1 0 1] normally on a plane. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique was applied to clearly determine crystal orientation and to localize grain boundaries. The formation of oxidic nanotubes on Ti surfaces in dependence of the grain orientation was investigated, performed electrochemically by anodic oxidation from fluoride containing electrolyte.

Relation of lineaments to sulfide deposits: Bald Eagle Mountain, Centre County, Pennsylvania

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcmurtry, G. J.; Petersen, G. W. (Principal Investigator); Krohn, M. D.; Gold, D. P.

1975-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Discrete areas of finely-fractured and brecciated sandstone float are present along the crest of Bald Mountain and are commonly sites of sulfide mineralization, as evidenced by the presence of barite and limonite gossans. The frequency distributions of the brecciated float as the negative binomial distribution supports the interpretation of a separate population of intensely fractured material. Such zones of concentrated breccia float have an average width of one kilometer with a range from 0.4 to 1.6 kilometers and were observed in a quarry face to have subvertical dips. Direct spatial correlation of the Landsat-derived lineaments to the fractured areas on the ridge is low; however, the mineralized and fracture zones are commonly assymetrical to the lineament positions. Such a systematic dislocation might result from an inherent bias in the float population or could be the product of the relative erosional resistance of the silicified material in the mineralized areas in relation to the erosionally weak material at the stream gaps.

Modeling of the Coupling of Microstructure and Macrosegregation in a Direct Chill Cast Al-Cu Billet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyvaert, Laurent; Bedel, Marie; Založnik, Miha; Combeau, Hervé

2017-10-01

The macroscopic multiphase flow and the growth of the solidification microstructures in the mushy zone of a direct chill (DC) casting are closely coupled. These couplings are the key to the understanding of the formation of the macrosegregation and of the non-uniform microstructure of the casting. In the present paper we use a multiphase and multiscale model to provide a fully coupled picture of the links between macrosegregation and microstructure in a DC cast billet. The model describes nucleation from inoculant particles and growth of dendritic and globular equiaxed crystal grains, fully coupled with macroscopic transport phenomena: fluid flow induced by natural convection and solidification shrinkage, heat, mass, and solute mass transport, motion of free-floating equiaxed grains, and of grain refiner particles. We compare our simulations to experiments on grain-refined and non-grain-refined industrial size billets from literature. We show that a transition between dendritic and globular grain morphology triggered by the grain refinement is the key to the explanation of the differences between the macrosegregation patterns in the two billets. We further show that the grain size and morphology are strongly affected by the macroscopic transport of free-floating equiaxed grains and of grain refiner particles.

High pressure floating zone growth and structural properties of ferrimagnetic quantum paraelectric BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, H. B.; Zhao, Z. Y.; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

2015-06-01

High quality single crystals of BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} were grown using the floating zone technique in 100 atm of flowing oxygen. Single crystal neutron diffraction was used to determine the nuclear and magnetic structures of BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} at 4 K and 295 K. At both temperatures, there exist local electric dipoles formed by the off-mirror-plane displacements of magnetic Fe{sup 3+} ions at the bipyramidal sites. The displacement at 4 K is about half of that at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the specific heat shows no anomaly associated with long range polar ordering in the temperature range frommore » 1.90 to 300 K. The inverse dielectric permittivity, 1/ε, along the c-axis shows a T{sup 2} temperature dependence between 10 K and 20 K, with a significantly reduced temperature dependence displayed below 10 K. Moreover, as the sample is cooled below 1.4 K there is an anomalous sharp upturn in 1/ε. These features resemble those of classic quantum paraelectrics such as SrTiO{sub 3}. The presence of the upturn in 1/ε indicates that BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} is a critical quantum paraelectric system with Fe{sup 3+} ions involved in both magnetic and electric dipole formation.« less

Uptake, Distribution, and Transformation of CuO NPs in a Floating Plant Eichhornia crassipes and Related Stomatal Responses.

PubMed

Zhao, Jian; Ren, Wenting; Dai, Yanhui; Liu, Lijiao; Wang, Zhenyu; Yu, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Junzhe; Wang, Xiangke; Xing, Baoshan

2017-07-05

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are being released into aquatic environments with their increasing applications. In this work, we investigated the interaction of CuO NPs with a floating plant, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). CuO NPs (50 mg/L) showed significant growth inhibition on both roots and shoots of E. crassipes after 8-day exposure, much higher than that of the bulk CuO particles (50 mg/L) and their corresponding dissolved Cu 2+ ions (0.30 mg/L). Scanning electron and light microscopic observations showed that the root caps and meristematic zone of E. Crassipes were severely damaged after CuO NP exposure, with disordered cell arrangement and a destroyed elongation zone of root tips. It is confirmed that CuO NPs could be translocated to shoot from both roots and submerged leaves. As detected by X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy analysis (XANES), CuO NPs were observed in roots, submerged leaves, and emerged leaves. Cu 2 S and other Cu species were also detected in these tissues, providing solid evidence of the transformation of CuO NPs. In addition, stomatal closure was observed during CuO NPs-leaf contact, which was induced by the production of H 2 O 2 and increased Ca level in leaf guard cells. These findings are helpful for better understanding the fate of NPs in aquatic plants and related biological responses.

Assessing biological and chemical signatures related to nutrient removal by floating islands in stormwater mesocosms.

PubMed

Chang, Ni-Bin; Islam, Kamrul; Marimon, Zachary; Wanielista, Martin P

2012-07-01

Aquatic floating plants on BioHaven mats were tested for their potential use as a Best Management Practice to be incorporated within existing stormwater detention ponds. Plants were analyzed for their capability to remove nutrient-pollution in parallel with the study of ecological dynamics. Experiments were carried out in cylindrical mesocosms of 5 m diameter and 1.2 m height, above-ground pools with a water volume of 14 m(3). The design parameters tested were for 5% and 10% vegetated floating island coverage of the mesocosm, both with and without shoreline plants called littoral zone. This littoral shelf was 0.5 m thick, graded at a downward slope of 1:5 toward the center using loamy soil with low organic matter content, excavated from below turf grass. Endemic plant species were chosen for the experimental location in central Florida based on a wetland identification manual by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to ensure the study was not compromised by unique climate requirements of the plants. Nutrient and aquatic chemical conditions such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, and chlorophyll a were monitored to understand their relationships to the general wetland ecosystem. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the microbial activity near the rhizospheric zone. Logistical placement considerations were made using spatial sampling across the horizontal plane of the mesocosms, beneath and around the root zone, to determine if nutrients tend to aggregate around the floating island. This study concluded that the application of floating islands as a stormwater technology can remove nutrients through plant uptake and biological activity. The most cost-effective size in the outdoor mesocosms was 5% surface area coverage of the mat. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Floating growth of large-scale freestanding TiO2 nanorod films at the gas-liquid interface for additive-free Li-ion battery applications.

PubMed

Xia, Hua-Rong; Li, Jia; Peng, Chen; Sun, Wen-Tao; Li, Long-Wei; Peng, Lian-Mao

2014-10-22

The floating growth process of large-scale freestanding TiO2 nanorod films at the gas-liquid interface was investigated. On the basis of the experiments, a self-templated growth scenario was developed to account for the self-assembly process. In the scenario, titanium complexes function not only as the Ti source for the growth of TiO2 but also as a soft template provider for the floating growth. According to the scenario, several new recipes of preparing freestanding TiO2 nanorod films at the gas-liquid interface were developed. The freestanding film was applied to a lithium ion battery as a binder-free and conducting agent-free anode, and good cyclability was obtained. This work may pave a new way to floating and freestanding TiO2 and other semiconductor materials, which has great potential not only in basic science but also in the applications such as materials engineering, Li-ion battery, photocatalyst, dye-sensitized solar cell, and flexible electronics.

76 FR 52269 - Safety Zone; Port Huron Float Down, St. Clair River, Port Huron, MI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-22

... various social-media sites in which a large number of persons may float down a segment of the St. Clair... rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are independently owned...

Facile synthesis of graphene on dielectric surfaces using a two-temperature reactor CVD system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, C.; Man, B. Y.; Yang, C.; Jiang, S. Z.; Liu, M.; Chen, C. S.; Xu, S. C.; Sun, Z. C.; Gao, X. G.; Chen, X. J.

2013-10-01

Direct deposition of graphene on a dielectric substrate is demonstrated using a chemical vapor deposition system with a two-temperature reactor. The two-temperature reactor is utilized to offer sufficient, well-proportioned floating Cu atoms and to provide a temperature gradient for facile synthesis of graphene on dielectric surfaces. The evaporated Cu atoms catalyze the reaction in the presented method. C atoms and Cu atoms respectively act as the nuclei for forming graphene film in the low-temperature zone and the zones close to the high-temperature zones. A uniform and high-quality graphene film is formed in an atmosphere of sufficient and well-proportioned floating Cu atoms. Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirm the presence of uniform and high-quality graphene.

Experiments on Suppression of Thermocapillary Oscillations in Sodium Nitrate Floating Half-Zones by High-frequency End-wall Vibrations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anilkumar, A.; Grugel, R. N.; Bhowmick, J.; Wang, T.

2004-01-01

Experiments to suppress thermocapillary oscillations using high-frequency vibrations were carried out in sodium nitrate floating half-zones. Such a half-zone is formed by melting one end of a vertically held sodium nitrate crystal rod in contact with a hot surface at the top. Thermocapillary convection occurs in the melt because of the temperature gradient at the free surface of the melt. In the experiments, when thermocapillary oscillations occurred, the bottom end of the crystal rod was vibrated at a high frequency to generate a streaming flow in a direction opposite to that of the thermocapillary convection. It is observed that, by generating a sufficiently strong streaming flow, the thermocapillary flow can be offset enough such that the associated thermocapillary oscillations can be quenched.

33 CFR 147.847 - Safety Zone; BW PIONEER Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading System Safety Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico at Walker Ridge 249. The FPSO can swing in a 360 degree arc... point at 26°41′46.25″ N and 090°30′30.16″ W is a safety zone. (b) Regulation. No vessel may enter or...

Travelling-solvent floating-zone growth of the dilutely Co-doped spin-ladder compound Sr14(Cu, Co)24O41

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bag, Rabindranath; Karmakar, Koushik; Singh, Surjeet

2017-01-01

We present here crystal growth of dilutely Co-doped spin-ladder compounds Sr14(Cu 1-x, Cox)24O41 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1) using the Travelling Solvent Floating Zone (TSFZ) technique associated with an image furnace. We carried out detailed microstructure and compositional analysis. The microstructure of the frozen-in FZ revealed two bands: a lower band consisting of well-aligned single-crystalline stripes of the phase Sr14(Cu, Co)24O41 embedded in the eutectic mixture of composition SrO 18% and (Cu, Co)O 82%; and an upper band consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of these stripes. These analyses were also employed to determine the distribution coefficient of the dopants in Sr14Cu24O41. The distribution coefficient turned out to be close to 1, different from Sr2CuO3 reported previously where Co tend to accumulate in the molten zone. Direct access to the composition of the frozen-in zone eliminated any previous ambiguities associated with the composition of the peritectic point of Sr14Cu24O41; and also the eutectic point in the binary SrO-CuO phase diagram. The lattice parameters show an anisotropic variation upon Co-doping with parameters a and b increasing, c decreasing; and with an overall decrease of the unit cell volume. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out on the pristine and the Co-doped crystals along the principal crystallographic axes. The spin susceptibility of the x = 0.01 crystal exhibits a strong anisotropy, which is in stark contrast with the isotropic behaviour of the pristine crystal. This anisotropy seems to arise from the intradimer exchange interaction as inferred from the anisotropy of the dimer contribution to the susceptibility of the Co-doped crystal. The Curie-tail in the magnetic susceptibility of Sr14(Cu 1-x, Cox)24O41 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1) crystals (field applied parallel to the ladder) was found to scale with Co-doping - the scaling is employed to confirm a homogeneous distribution of Co in a x = 0.1 crystal boule.

Effects of Air Contact on Growth, Inorganic Carbon Sources, and Nitrogen Uptake by an Amphibious Freshwater Macrophyte.

PubMed Central

Madsen, T. V.; Breinholt, M.

1995-01-01

Callitriche cophocarpa Sendtner is a heterophyllous amphibious macrophyte that produces apical rosettes of floating leaves. The importance of air contact for inorganic carbon and N uptake and for growth was investigated. Plants were grown with the floating rosette in contact with air of various humidities (10, 50, and >90% relative humidity) and with the submerged parts in N-free water at 350 [mu]M free CO2 and the roots in sediment with low or high NH3-N content. Humidity greatly affected the transpiration rate, whereas growth rate and N content were unaffected and were comparable to values measured for fully submerged shoots. Air contact had, however, a significant impact on growth when the free CO2 concentration in the water was low. Thus, the growth rate of shoots with air contact was about 3 times faster than the rate of fully submerged shoots when grown at air-equilibrium concentration of dissolved free CO2 in the water (16 [mu]M). This difference decreased with increased dissolved free CO2 concentration in the water, and the two shoot types grew at the same rate when the submerged shoots received >350 [mu]M free CO2. The quantitative importance of the floating rosette for total carbon uptake declined also with decreased ratio of floating rosette to total shoot weight. It is concluded that floating rosettes can enhance the inorganic carbon uptake of Callitriche. In contrast, air contact is of minor importance for nutrient transport. PMID:12228350

Behavior of Particle Depots in Molten Silicon During Float-Zone Growth in Strong Static Magnetic Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jauss, T.; SorgenFrei, T.; Croell, A.; Azizi, M.; Reimann, C.; Friedrich, J.; Volz, M. P.

2014-01-01

In the photovoltaics industry, the largest market share is represented by solar cells made from multicrystalline silicon, which is grown by directional solidification. During the growth process, the silicon melt is in contact with the silicon nitride coated crucible walls and the furnace atmosphere which contains carbon monoxide. The dissolution of the crucible coating, the carbon bearing gas, and the carbon already present in the feedstock, lead to the precipitation of silicon carbide, and silicon nitride, at later stages of the growth process. The precipitation of Si3N4 and SiC particles of up to several hundred micrometers in diameter leads to severe problems during the wire sawing process for wafering the ingots. Furthermore the growth of the silicon grains can be negatively influenced by the presence of particles, which act as nucleation sources and lead to a grit structure of small grains and are sources for dislocations. If doped with Nitrogen from the dissolved crucible coating, SiC is a semi conductive material, and can act as a shunt, short circuiting parts of the solar cell. For these reasons, the incorporation of such particles needs to be avoided. In this contribution we performed model experiments in which the transport of intentionally added SiC particles and their interaction with the solid-liquid interface during float zone growth of silicon in strong steady magnetic fields was investigated. SiC particles of 7µm and 60µm size are placed in single crystal silicon [100] and [111] rods of 8mm diameter. This is achieved by drilling a hole of 2mm diameter, filling in the particles and closing the hole by melting the surface of the rod until a film of silicon covers the hole. The samples are processed under a vacuum of 1x10(exp -5) mbar or better, to prevent gas inclusions. An oxide layer to suppress Marangoni convection is applied by wet oxidation. Experiments without and with static magnetic field are carried out to investigate the influence of melt convection on the distribution of particles and their incorporation into the crystal. The field strengths applied by a superconducting magnet are 1T, 3T, 4.5T, and 5T. The increase in field strength dampens the melt flow, and so this study provides comparative data to the crystal growth experiment to be carried out onboard the sounding rocket mission TEXUS 51, where purely diffusive growth condition will be achieved under microgravity conditions.

Floating Ocean Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-08-15

floating structures create novel habitats for subtidal epibiota?, MARINE ECOLOGY -PROGRESS SERIES, 43-52 Mar. Ecol.- Prog. Ser., 2002 Vegueria, SFJ Godoy... ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, 350-366 Ecol. Appl., 2000 Niedzwecki, JM van de Lindt, JW Gage, JH Teigen, PS, Design estimates of surface wave interaction with...The ecological effects beyond the offshore platform, Coastal Zone: Proceedings of the Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, v 2, n pt2, 1989, p

The Growth and Characterization of the Bismuth Strontium-Calcium 2212 Superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moulton, Linda Vidale

A miniaturized float zone technique, sometimes referred to as the Laser-heated Pedestal Growth (LHPG) method, was used to produce high quality crystals of the incongruently melting rm Bi_2Sr_2CaCu _2O_{8+delta} (2212) superconductor. The main focus of this research was to (1) produce superconducting samples having different compositions, (2) identify the melt compositions and growth temperatures which produced these samples, and (3) determine the variation of their superconducting transition temperature (T _{rm C}) with composition and processing conditions. The rm Bi_2(Sr,Ca) _3Cu_2O_{8+delta} crystallization experiments were supplemented by a series of similar experiments on the incongruently melting compound rm Ca_3Al_2O_6. The phase equilibria in the CaO-rm Al_2O _3 system has been thoroughly studied, and by analyzing the float-zone growth of this simpler and better-characterized material, it was verified that phase equilibria information and solidification behavior could be extracted from and explained by these solidification experiments. Two different types of nonplanar, crystal/melt interface morphologies were observed in the rm Ca_3Al_2O_6 experiments. Each reflected the influence of the phase equilibria in the CaO-rm Al_2O_3 system and component segregation in the melt. The molten zone compositions were found to approach those predicted by the CaO-rm Al_2O_3 phase diagram as the growth rate decreased, in accordance with the Burton-Prim Slichter relationship. Excellent agreement was obtained between actual phases found to coexist at the rm Ca_3Al_2O_6 /melt interface and the predictions of classical crystal growth theory. Based on the results of the rm Ca _3Al_2O_6 crystallization study, the crystal/melt equilibria in the far more complex rm Bi_2O_3-SrO-CaO-CuO system was evaluated by determining the phases formed during the superconductor growth experiments. The melt compositions were found to be rm Bi_2O_3 -rich and SrO-poor relative to the compositions of the 2212 crystals grown from them. The CaO and CuO segregation coefficients, on the other hand, were observed to be near unity. As one would expect for an incongruently -melting compound, segregation at the solidification front generally decreased with increasing crystallization temperature, but all the segregation coefficients were not observed to simultaneously approach unity. The superconducting transition temperatures (T _{rm C}'s) of six as-crystallized samples having homogeneous crystal compositions were also measured. Sample T_{rm C} was observed to increase with increasing growth temperature and, therefore, change with crystal composition. The results of this study suggested that it is desirable to grow crystals at the highest possible crystallization temperature since they will: (1) have the highest as-grown T_{rm C} 's, and (2) solidify with the least component segregation at the growth interface. In addition, the analysis presented here suggests that such growth is not recommended at higher growth rates, since crystals with mid-range solidus compositions (and consequently, moderate growth temperatures) should crystallize most reliably as single-phase samples at higher growth rates.

Modelling global distribution, risk and mitigation strategies of floating plastic pollution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Sebille, Erik; Wilcox, Chris; Sherman, Peter; Hardesty, Britta Denise; Lavender Law, Kara

2016-04-01

Microplastic debris floating at the ocean surface can harm marine life. Understanding the severity of this harm requires knowledge of plastic abundance and distributions. Dozens of expeditions measuring microplastics have been carried out since the 1970s, but they have primarily focused on the North Pacific and North Atlantic accumulation zones, with much sparser coverage elsewhere. Here, we use the largest dataset of microplastic measurements assembled to date to assess the confidence we can have in global estimates of microplastic abundance and mass. We use a rigorous statistical framework to standardise a global dataset of plastic marine debris measured using surface-trawling plankton nets and couple this with three different ocean circulation models to spatially interpolate the observations. Our estimates show that the accumulated number of microplastic particles in 2014 ranges from 15 to 51 trillion particles, weighing between 93 and 236 thousand metric tons. A large fraction of the uncertainty in these estimates comes from sparse sampling in coastal and Southern Hemisphere regions. We then use this global distribution of small floating plastic debris to map out where in the ocean the risk to marine life (in particular seabirds and plankton growth) is greatest, using a quantitative risk framework. We show that the largest risk occurs not necessarily in regions of high plastic concentration, but rather in regions of extensive foraging with medium-high plastic concentrations such as coastal upwelling regions and the Southern Ocean. Finally, we use the estimates of distribution to investigate where in the ocean plastic can most optimally be removed, assuming hypothetical clean-up booms following the ideas from The Ocean Cleanup project. We show that mitigation of the plastic problem can most aptly be done near coastlines, particularly in Asia, rather than in the centres of the gyres. Based on these results, we propose more focus on the coastal zones when considering future efforts in sampling, risk management and mitigation.

Radiation tolerance of boron doped dendritic web silicon solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rohatgi, A.

1980-01-01

The potential of dendritic web silicon for giving radiation hard solar cells is compared with the float zone silicon material. Solar cells with n(+)-p-P(+) structure and approximately 15% (AMl) efficiency were subjected to 1 MeV electron irradiation. Radiation tolerance of web cell efficiency was found to be at least as good as that of the float zone silicon cell. A study of the annealing behavior of radiation-induced defects via deep level transient spectroscopy revealed that E sub v + 0.31 eV defect, attributed to boron-oxygen-vacancy complex, is responsible for the reverse annealing of the irradiated cells in the temperature range of 150 to 350 C.

Cupric oxide inclusions in cuprous oxide crystals grown by the floating zone method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frazer, Laszlo; Chang, Kelvin B.; Poeppelmeier, Kenneth R.; Ketterson, John B.

2015-06-01

Phase-pure cuprous oxide (Cu2O) crystals are difficult to grow since cupric oxide can form within the crystal as the crystal is cooled to ambient conditions. Vacancies are the solute which causes precipitation of macroscopic defects. Therefore, even when a mostly phase-pure single crystal is used as a feed rod, cupric oxide inclusions persist in the recrystallized solid. Control of the thermal profile during crystal growth, however, can improve phase-purity; a slow counter-rotation rate of the feed and seed rods results in fewer inclusions. Cupric oxide can be removed by annealing, which produces a factor of 540 ± 70 increase in phase-purity.

Cupric oxide inclusions in cuprous oxide crystals grown by the floating zone method

PubMed Central

Frazer, Laszlo; Chang, Kelvin B; Poeppelmeier, Kenneth R; Ketterson, John B

2015-01-01

Phase-pure cuprous oxide (Cu2O) crystals are difficult to grow since cupric oxide can form within the crystal as the crystal is cooled to ambient conditions. Vacancies are the solute which causes precipitation of macroscopic defects. Therefore, even when a mostly phase-pure single crystal is used as a feed rod, cupric oxide inclusions persist in the recrystallized solid. Control of the thermal profile during crystal growth, however, can improve phase-purity; a slow counter-rotation rate of the feed and seed rods results in fewer inclusions. Cupric oxide can be removed by annealing, which produces a factor of 540 ± 70 increase in phase-purity. PMID:27877798

High Temperature Mechanical Behavior of MgAl2O4-YAG Eutectic Ceramic In Situ Composites by Float Zone Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abalı, Serkan

2017-09-01

The directionally solidified eutectic MgAl2O4-Y3Al5O12 crystal was prepared at a pressure of 0.4 MPa of ambient nitrogen gas by the high frequency induction heated floating zone furnace. In order to determine the high temperature characteristics, directionally solidified MgAl2O4-Y3Al5O12 eutectic phase has been analyzed with creep test, tensile strength, young modulus and fracture toughness at the various temperatures and the microstructural variations have been studied according to the analysis results. It has been seen that directionally solidified with zone melting MgAl2O4-YAG eutectic ceramic which has given the value of 168 MPa below 10-6/s strain rate at 1,700 °C temperature has revealed minimum stress.

Water flow and solute transport in floating fen root mats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stofberg, Sija F.; EATM van der Zee, Sjoerd

2015-04-01

Floating fens are valuable wetlands, found in North-Western Europe, that are formed by floating root mats when old turf ponds are colonized by plants. These terrestrialization ecosystems are known for their biodiversity and the presence of rare plant species, and the root mats reveal different vegetation zones at a small scale. The vegetation zones are a result of strong gradients in abiotic conditions, including groundwater dynamics, nutrients and pH. To prevent irreversible drought effects such as land subsidence and mineralization of peat, water management involves import of water from elsewhere to maintain constant surface water levels. Imported water may have elevated levels of salinity during dry summers, and salt exposure may threaten the vegetation. To assess the risk of exposure of the rare plant species to salinity, the hydrology of such root mats must be understood. Physical properties of root mats have scarcely been investigated. We have measured soil characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, vertical root mat movement and groundwater dynamics in a floating root mat in the nature reserve Nieuwkoopse Plassen, in the Netherlands. The root mat mostly consists of roots and organic material, in which the soil has a high saturated water content, and strongly varies in its stage of decomposition. We have found a distinct negative correlation between degree of decomposition and hydraulic conductivity, similar to observations for bogs in the literature. Our results show that the relatively young, thin edge of the root mat that colonizes the surface water has a high hydraulic conductivity and floats in the surface water, resulting in very small groundwater fluctuations within the root mat. The older part of the root mat, that is connected to the deeper peat layers is hydrologically more isolated and the material has a lower conductivity. Here, the groundwater fluctuates strongly with atmospheric forcing. The zones of hydraulic properties and vegetation, appear to be very similar and likely functionally related. Our experimental field data were used for modelling water flow and solute transport in floating fens, using HYDRUS 2D. Fluctuations of surface water and root mat, as well as geometry and unsaturated zone parameters can have a major influence on groundwater fluctuations and the exchange between rain and surface water and the water in the root mats. In combination with the duration of salt pulses in surface water, and sensitivity of fen plants to salinity (Stofberg et al. 2014, submitted), risks for rare plants can be anticipated.

On the Chemistry and Physical Properties of Flux and Floating Zone Grown SmB6 Single Crystals

PubMed Central

Phelan, W. A.; Koohpayeh, S. M.; Cottingham, P.; Tutmaher, J. A.; Leiner, J. C.; Lumsden, M. D.; Lavelle, C. M.; Wang, X. P.; Hoffmann, C.; Siegler, M. A.; Haldolaarachchige, N.; Young, D. P.; McQueen, T. M.

2016-01-01

Recent theoretical and experimental findings suggest the long-known but not well understood low temperature resistance plateau of SmB6 may originate from protected surface states arising from a topologically non-trivial bulk band structure having strong Kondo hybridization. Yet others have ascribed this feature to impurities, vacancies, and surface reconstructions. Given the typical methods used to prepare SmB6 single crystals, flux and floating-zone procedures, such ascriptions should not be taken lightly. We demonstrate how compositional variations and/or observable amounts of impurities in SmB6 crystals grown using both procedures affect the physical properties. From X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and X-ray computed tomography experiments we observe that natural isotope containing (SmB6) and doubly isotope enriched (154Sm11B6) crystals prepared using aluminum flux contain co-crystallized, epitaxial aluminum. Further, a large, nearly stoichiometric crystal of SmB6 was successfully grown using the float-zone technique; upon continuing the zone melting, samarium vacancies were introduced. These samarium vacancies drastically alter the resistance and plateauing magnitude of the low temperature resistance compared to stoichiometric SmB6. These results highlight that impurities and compositional variations, even at low concentrations, must be considered when collecting/analyzing physical property data of SmB6. Finally, a more accurate samarium-154 coherent neutron scattering length, 8.9(1) fm, is reported. PMID:26892648

On the Chemistry and Physical Properties of Flux and Floating Zone Grown SmB 6 Single Crystals

DOE PAGES

Phelan, W. A.; Koohpayeh, S. M.; Cottingham, P.; ...

2016-02-19

Recent theoretical and experimental findings suggest the long-known but not well understood low temperature resistance plateau of SmB 6 may originate from protected surface states arising from a topologically non-trivial bulk band structure having strong Kondo hybridization. Yet others have ascribed this feature to impurities, vacancies, and surface reconstructions. Given the typical methods used to prepare SmB 6 single crystals, flux and floating-zone procedures, such ascriptions should not be taken lightly. We demonstrate how compositional variations and/or observable amounts of impurities in SmB 6 crystals grown using both procedures affect the physical properties. From X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and X-raymore » computed tomography experiments we observe that natural isotope containing (SmB 6) and doubly isotope enriched ( 154Sm 11B 6) crystals prepared using aluminum flux contain co-crystallized, epitaxial aluminum. Further, a large, nearly stoichiometric crystal of SmB 6 was successfully grown using the float-zone technique; upon continuing the zone melting, samarium vacancies were introduced. These samarium vacancies drastically alter the resistance and plateauing magnitude of the low temperature resistance compared to stoichiometric SmB 6. Finally, these results highlight that impurities and compositional variations, even at low concentrations, must be considered when collecting/analyzing physical property data of SmB 6. Finally, a more accurate samarium-154 coherent neutron scattering length, 8.9(1) fm, is reported.« less

Floating-Harbor syndrome: description of a further patient, review of the literature, and suggestion of autosomal dominant inheritance.

PubMed

Lacombe, D; Patton, M A; Elleau, C; Battin, J

1995-08-01

The Floating-Harbor syndrome is a growth retardation syndrome with delayed bone age, speech development, and typical facial features. The face is triangular with deep-set eyes, long eyelashes, bulbous nose, wide columella, short philtrum, and thin lips. We present an additional patient and review 16 cases from the literature. The possible phenotype in the patient's mother suggests a dominant mode of inheritance for the syndrome. The Floating Harbor syndrome is a growth deficiency syndrome characterized by proportionate short stature, characteristic face and delayed speech development. Inheritance is possibly autosomal dominant.

Single crystal growth of the Er2PdSi3 intermetallic compound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazilu, I.; Frontzek, M.; Löser, W.; Behr, G.; Teresiak, A.; Schultz, L.

2005-02-01

Single crystals of the Er2PdSi3 intermetallic compound melting congruently at 1648 ∘C, were grown by a floating zone method with radiation heating. The control of oxygen content was the key factor to avoid oxide precipitates, which can affect effective grain selection in the crystal growth process. Crystals grown at velocities of 5 mm/h with a preferred direction close to (1 0 0) with inclination angles of about 12 ∘ against the rod axis show very distinct facets at the rod surface. The crystals are Pd-depleted and Si-rich with respect to the nominal Er2PdSi3 stoichiometry, but exhibit inferior element segregation. Measurements on oriented single crystalline samples revealed antiferromagnetic ordering below 7 K, a magnetic easy axis parallel to the (0 0 1) axis of the AlB2-type hexagonal unit cell, and anisotropic electric properties.

Lithium-ion drifting: Application to the study of point defects in floating-zone silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walton, J. T.; Wong, Y. K.; Zulehner, W.

1997-01-01

The use of lithium-ion (Li(+)) drifting to study the properties of point defects in p-type Floating-Zone (FZ) silicon crystals is reported. The Li(+) drift technique is used to detect the presence of vacancy-related defects (D defects) in certain p-type FZ silicon crystals. SUPREM-IV modeling suggests that the silicon point defect diffusivities are considerably higher than those commonly accepted, but are in reasonable agreement with values recently proposed. These results demonstrate the utility of Li(+) drifting in the study of silicon point defect properties in p-type FZ crystals. Finally, a straightforward measurement of the Li(+) compensation depth is shown to yield estimates of the vacancy-related defect concentration in p-type FZ crystals.

Radiation damage in lithium-counterdoped N/P silicon solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hermann, A. M.; Swartz, C. K.; Brandhorst, H. W., Jr.; Weinberg, I.

1980-01-01

The radiation resistance and low-temperature annealing properties of lithium-counterdoped n(+)-p silicon solar cells are investigated. Cells fabricated from float zone and Czochralski grown silicon were irradiated with 1 MeV electrons and their performance compared to that of 0.35 ohm-cm control cells. The float zone cells demonstrated superior radiation resistance compared to the control cells, while no improvement was noted for the Czochralski grown cells. Annealing kinetics were found to lie between first and second order for relatively short times, and the most likely annealing mechanism was found to be the diffusion of lithium to defects with the subsequent neutralization of defects by combination with lithium. Cells with zero lithium gradients exhibited the best radiation resistance.

Response diversity of free-floating plants to nutrient stoichiometry and temperature: growth and resting body formation.

PubMed

McCann, Michael J

2016-01-01

Free-floating plants, like most groups of aquatic primary producers, can become nuisance vegetation under certain conditions. On the other hand, there is substantial optimism for the applied uses of free-floating plants, such as wastewater treatment, biofuel production, and aquaculture. Therefore, understanding the species-specific responses of floating plants to abiotic conditions will inform both management decisions and the beneficial applications of these plants. I measured the responses of three floating plant species common in the northeast United States (Lemna minor, Spirodela polyrhiza, and Wolffia brasiliensis) to nutrient stoichiometry (nitrogen and phosphorus) and temperature in the laboratory. I also used survey data to determine the pattern of species richness of floating plants in the field and its relationship with the dominance of this group. Floating plant species exhibited unique responses to nutrient stoichiometry and temperature in the laboratory, especially under low temperatures (18 °C) and low nutrient conditions (0.5 mg N L(-1), 0.083 mg P L(-1)). The three species displayed an apparent tradeoff with different strategies of growth or dormancy. In the field, water bodies with three or more species of floating plants were not more frequently dominated by this group. The response diversity observed in the lab may not be associated with the dominance of this group in the field because it is masked by environmental variability, has a weak effect, or is only important during transient circumstances. Future research to develop applied uses of floating plants should examine response diversity across a greater range of species or clones and environmental conditions.

Response diversity of free-floating plants to nutrient stoichiometry and temperature: growth and resting body formation

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Free-floating plants, like most groups of aquatic primary producers, can become nuisance vegetation under certain conditions. On the other hand, there is substantial optimism for the applied uses of free-floating plants, such as wastewater treatment, biofuel production, and aquaculture. Therefore, understanding the species-specific responses of floating plants to abiotic conditions will inform both management decisions and the beneficial applications of these plants. I measured the responses of three floating plant species common in the northeast United States (Lemna minor, Spirodela polyrhiza, and Wolffia brasiliensis) to nutrient stoichiometry (nitrogen and phosphorus) and temperature in the laboratory. I also used survey data to determine the pattern of species richness of floating plants in the field and its relationship with the dominance of this group. Floating plant species exhibited unique responses to nutrient stoichiometry and temperature in the laboratory, especially under low temperatures (18 °C) and low nutrient conditions (0.5 mg N L−1, 0.083 mg P L−1). The three species displayed an apparent tradeoff with different strategies of growth or dormancy. In the field, water bodies with three or more species of floating plants were not more frequently dominated by this group. The response diversity observed in the lab may not be associated with the dominance of this group in the field because it is masked by environmental variability, has a weak effect, or is only important during transient circumstances. Future research to develop applied uses of floating plants should examine response diversity across a greater range of species or clones and environmental conditions. PMID:26989619

Growth hormone deficiency: an unusual presentation of floating harbor syndrome.

PubMed

Galli-Tsinopoulou, Assimina; Kyrgios, Ioannis; Emmanouilidou, Eleftheria; Maggana, Ioanna; Kotanidou, Eleni; Kokka, Paraskevi; Stylianou, Charilaos

2011-01-01

Floating-Harbor Syndrome (FHS) is a very rare condition of unknown etiology characterized by short stature, delayed bone age, characteristic facial features, delayed language skills and usually normal motor development. This syndrome has only once been associated with growth hormone deficiency and precocious puberty in the same patient. We describe a 5 4/12 year-old girl with the typical features of FHS in whom growth hormone deficiency was diagnosed and two years later central precocious puberty was noted. The patient showed a good response to human recombinant growth hormone as well as gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue treatment.

Oxygen in the Southern Ocean From Argo Floats: Determination of Processes Driving Air-Sea Fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bushinsky, Seth M.; Gray, Alison R.; Johnson, Kenneth S.; Sarmiento, Jorge L.

2017-11-01

The Southern Ocean is of outsized significance to the global oxygen and carbon cycles with relatively poor measurement coverage due to harsh winters and seasonal ice cover. In this study, we use recent advances in the parameterization of air-sea oxygen fluxes to analyze 9 years of oxygen data from a recalibrated Argo oxygen data set and from air-calibrated oxygen floats deployed as part of the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) project. From this combined data set of 150 floats, we find a total Southern Ocean oxygen sink of -183 ± 80 Tmol yr-1 (positive to the atmosphere), greater than prior estimates. The uptake occurs primarily in the Polar-Frontal Antarctic Zone (PAZ, -94 ± 30 Tmol O2 yr-1) and Seasonal Ice Zone (SIZ, -111 ± 9.3 Tmol O2 yr-1). This flux is driven by wintertime ventilation, with a large portion of the flux in the SIZ passing through regions with fractional sea ice. The Subtropical Zone (STZ) is seasonally driven by thermal fluxes and exhibits a net outgassing of 47 ± 29 Tmol O2 yr-1 that is likely driven by biological production. The Subantarctic Zone (SAZ) uptake is -25 ± 12 Tmol O2 yr-1. Total oxygen fluxes were separated into a thermal and nonthermal component. The nonthermal flux is correlated with net primary production and mixed layer depth in the STZ, SAZ, and PAZ, but not in the SIZ where seasonal sea ice slows the air-sea gas flux response to the entrainment of deep, low-oxygen waters.

Endocide-Induced Abnormal Growth Forms of Invasive Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta).

PubMed

Li, Shiyou; Wang, Ping; Su, Zushang; Lozano, Emily; LaMaster, Olivia; Grogan, Jason B; Weng, Yuhui; Decker, Thomas; Findeisen, John; McGarrity, Monica

2018-05-22

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is one of the most noxious invasive species in the world. The fern is known to have primary, secondary, and tertiary growth forms, which are also commonly hypothesized as growth stages. The identification of these forms is primarily based on the size and folding status of the floating leaves. However, we identified 12 forms in the greenhouse and the field. Our experiments showed that the folding of floating leaves is a reversible trait dependent on water access. The floating leaves quickly fold in response to water shortage, reducing water loss and needs, decreasing growth, and avoiding trichome damage. The leaves re-open to allow trichomes repel water and enhance growth when having adequate water supply. Larger secondary or tertiary forms do not produce small-leaf primary forms without high intensity stress. These results do not support the hypothesis that three growth forms represent sequential growth stages. The abnormal small-leaf forms are the result of endocide-induced autotoxicity and some of them never grow into other forms. The development of abnormal forms and reversible leaf folding strategy in response to high stress along with rapid asexual reproduction are major adaptive traits contributing to the invasiveness of S. molesta.

STS-30 MS Cleave monitors fluids experiment apparatus (FEA) equipment

NASA Image and Video Library

1989-05-08

STS030-02-018 (4-8 May 1989) --- A 35mm overall scene of the operations devoted to the fluids experiment apparatus (FEA) aboard Atlantis for NASA’s STS-30 mission. Astronaut Mary L. Cleave, mission specialist, is seen with the computer which is instrumental in the carrying out of a variety of materials science experiments. Rockwell International is engaged in a joint endeavor agreement with NASA’s Office of Commercial Programs in the field of floating zone crystal growth and purification research. The March 1987 agreement provides for microgravity experiments to be performed in the company’s Microgravity Laboratory, the FEA. An 8 mm camcorder which documented details inside the apparatus is visible at bottom of the frame.

High Winds and the Vertical Structure of Chl-a in the Southern Ocean: Insights from Remote Sensing and Novel in situ Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carranza, M. M.; Gille, S. T.; Franks, P. J. S.; Johnson, K. S.; Girton, J. B.

2016-02-01

The Southern Ocean is under the influence of strong atmospheric synoptic activity and contains some of the oceans deepest mixed layers. Deep mixed layers can transport phytoplankton below the euphotic zone, and phytoplankton growth is hypothesized to be co-limited by iron and light. Atmospheric forcing drives changes in the mixed-layer depth (MLD) that influence light levels and nutrient input to the euphotic zone. In summer, when the MLD is shallow and close to the euphotic depth, high satellite Chl-a correlate with high winds, consistent with wind-driven entrainment that can potentially increase nutrient concentrations in the euphotic zone. However, correlations between Chl-a and diurnal winds are largest at zero time lag. High winds can inject nutrients on short timescales (< 1 day), but in situ incubation experiments after iron addition indicate phytoplankton growth on slightly longer timescales (> 3-4 days), suggesting that the correlations are not a result of growth. High winds can also entrain Chl-a from a subsurface Chl-a maximum. Novel bio-optical sensors mounted on elephant seals and autonomous floats allow us to examine the vertical structure of Chl-a in the Southern Ocean. In this study, we investigate the occurrence of subsurface Chl-a maxima. We find that surface Chl-a is a relatively good proxy for depth-integrated Chl-a within the euphotic zone but gives an inadequate representation of biomass within the mixed layer, particularly in the summer. Subsurface Chl-a maxima are not uncommon and may occur in all seasons. Chl-a maxima that correlate with particle backscattering in summer and fall are found near the base of the mixed layer, closer to the nutrient maximum than the light maximum, suggesting that nutrient limitation (i.e., essentially iron) can play a greater role than light limitation in governing productivity, and that high winds potentially entrain a subsurface Chl-a maximum into the summer mixed layer.

Overflow Water Pathways in the Subpolar North Atlantic Observed with Deep Floats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bower, Amy; Furey, Heather; Lozier, Susan

2017-04-01

As part of the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP), a total of 135 acoustically tracked RAFOS floats have been deployed in the deep boundary currents of the Iceland, Irminger and Labrador Basins, and in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone, to investigate the pathways of Iceland-Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW) and Denmark Strait Overflow Water (DSOW). Floats were released annually in 2014, 2015 and 2016 at depths between 1800 and 2800 m for two-year missions. The array of sound sources used for tracking was expanded from 10 to 13 moorings in 2016 when it was discovered that wintertime surface roughness was negatively impacting acoustic ranges. The floats from the first setting reveal several examples of persistent , deep coherent eddy motion, including a cyclonic eddy spinning off the tip of Eirik Ridge (southwest of Cape Farewell), a cyclonic eddy in the northeastern Labrador Basin near where anticyclonic Irminger Rings are formed, and an anticyclonic eddy under the North Atlantic Current (NAC) in the central Iceland Basin. A consistent region of boundary-interior exchange was observed near Hamilton Bank on the western boundary of the Labrador Sea. Deep cyclonic recirculation gyres are revealed in all three basins. Floats released in the southward-flowing deep boundary current over the eastern flank of the Reykjanes Ridge show that shallower layers of ISOW peel off to the west and cross the Ridge into the Irminger Basin through various gaps south of 60°N, including the Bight Fracture Zone. These floats tend to turn northward and continue along the slope in the Irminger Basin. Interestingly, floats released at the ISOW level in the CGFZ did not turn into the Irminger Basin as often depicted in deep circulation schematics, but rather drifted west-northwestward toward the Labrador Sea, or eddied around west of the CGFZ and (in some cases) turned southward. This result is consistent with some previous hydrographic and high-resolution model results which indicate ISOW spreading more westward than northward from the CGFZ. The NAC may play an important role in setting the pathways of ISOW coming through the CGFZ.

The Role of Marangoni Convection for the FZ-Growth of Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dold, P.; Corell, A.; Schweizer, M.; Kaiser, Th.; Szofran, F.; Nakamura, S.; Hibiya, T.; Benz, K. W.

1998-01-01

Fluctuations of the electrical resistivity due to inhomogeneous dopant distribution are still a serious problem for the industrial processing yield of doped silicon crystals. In the case of silicon floating-zone growth, the main sources of these inhomogeneities are time- dependent flows in the liquid phase during the growth process. Excluding radio frequency (RF) induced convection, buoyancy and thermocapillary (Marangoni) convection are the two natural reasons for fluid flow. Both originate from temperature/concentration gradients in the melt, buoyancy convection through thermal/concentrational volume expansion, and thermocapillary convection through the temperature/concentration dependence of the surface tension. To improve the properties of grown crystals, knowledge of the strength, the characteristic, and the relation of these two flow mechanisms is essential. By the use of microgravity, the effect and the strength of buoyancy (gravity dependent) and thermocapillary (gravity independent) convection can be separated and clarified. Applying magnetic fields, both convective modes can be influenced: fluid flow can either be damped (static magnetic fields) or overlaid by a regular flow regime (rotating magnetic fields). Two complementary approaches have been pursued: Silicon full zones (experiments on the German sounding rockets TEXUS 7, 12, 22, 29, and 36) with the maximum temperature at half of the zone height and silicon half zones (experiments on the Japanese sounding rockets TR-IA4 and 6) with the maximum temperature at the top of the melt. With the full zone arrangement, the intensity and the frequency of the dopant striations could be determined and the critical Marangoni number could be identified. The half zone configuration is suited to classify the flow pattern and to measure the amplitude and the frequency of temperature fluctuations in the melt by inserting thermocouples or temperature sensors into the melt. All experiments have been carried out in monoellipsoid mirror furnaces. Typical zone geometries are approx. 8 to 14 mm in diameter and height. The crystals grown under microgravity are compared to crystals grown in static axial magnetic fields (B<5 tesla) and in transversal rotating magnetic fields (B<7.5 mT / f=50 Hz). Experimental results are completed by 3D numerical simulations: the obtained temperature and concentration distribution in the melt confirm the damping effect of rotating magnetic fields and explain the change in the radial segregation under static magnetic fields.

An Integrative Wave Model for the Marginal Ice Zone Based on a Rheological Parameterization

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

2015) Characterizing the behavior of gravity wave propagation into a floating or submerged viscous layer , 2015 AGU Joint Assembly Meeting, May 3–7...are the PI and a PhD student. Task 1: Use an analytical method to determine the propagation of waves through a floating viscoelastic mat for a wide...and Ben Holt. 2 Task 3: Assemble all existing laboratory and field data of wave propagation in ice covers. Task 4: Determine if all existing

Seven centuries of atmospheric Pb deposition recorded in a floating mire from Central Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaccone, Claudio; Lobianco, Daniela; D'Orazio, Valeria; Miano, Teodoro M.; Shotyk, William

2016-04-01

Floating mires generally consist of emergent vegetation rooted in highly organic buoyant mats that rise and fall with changes in water level. Generally speaking, the entire floating mass (mat) is divided into a mat root zone and an underlying mat peat zone. Floating mires are distributed world-wide; large areas of floating marsh occur along rivers and lakes in Africa, the Danube Delta in Romania, the Amazon River in South America, and in the Mississippi River delta in USA, whereas smaller areas occur also in The Netherlands, Australia and Canada. While peat cores from ombrotrophic bogs have been often (and successfully) used to reconstruct changes in the atmospheric deposition of several metals (including Pb), no studies are present in literature about the possibility to use peat profiles from floating mires. To test the hypothesis that peat-forming floating mires could provide an exceptional tool for environmental studies, a complete, 4-m deep peat profile was collected in July 2012 from the floating island of Posta Fibreno, a relic mire in the Central Italy. This floating island has a diameter of ca. 30 m, a submerged thickness of about 3 m, and the vegetation is organized in concentric belts, from the Carex paniculata palisade to the Sphagnum palustre centre. The whole core was frozen cut each 1-to-2 cm (n =231), and Pb determined by quadrupole ICP-MS (at the ultraclean SWAMP lab, University of Alberta, Canada) in each sample throughout the first 100 cm, and in each odd-numbered slice for the remaining 300 cm. The 14C age dating of organic sediments (silty peat) isolated from the sample at 385 cm of depth revealed that the island probably formed ca. 700 yrs ago. Lead concentration trend shows at least two main zones of interest, i.e., a clear peak (ranging from 200 to 1600 ppm) between 110-115 cm of depth, probably corresponding to early 1960's - late 1970's, and a broad band (80-160 ppm) between 295-320 cm of depth, corresponding to approximately AD 1480-1650. Lead concentrations were normalized to those of Th, a conservative, lithophile element often used as an indicator of the abundance of mineral particles. Crustal enrichment factor values, calculated by normalizing the Pb/Th ratio in peat samples to the corresponding ratio for the Upper Continental Crust, clearly show that almost all the Pb reaching this floating isle in the last seven centuries is of anthropogenic origin. In particular, while the big peak around 100-115 cm of depth is associated with that of Sb, the band around 300 cm characterized also the trend of several other major and trace elements (i.e., Ag, Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn) with the exception of Sb. Although γ-spectrometry measurement (210Pb, 137Cs and 241Am) for the first 100 cm of this core is still on-going, at the best of our knowledge, this work may provide the first Pb chronology obtained from a (4 m) deep floating mire. Furthermore, it is to note that a) this floating mire could consist of the southernmost European population of Sphagnum, and b) this core shows a great potential to be used as archive of environmental changes, especially considering its high resolution (1 cm = 0.5 yr in the first 100 cm, and 2-2.5 yrs in the remaining 300 cm of depth). The Authors thank the Municipality of Posta Fibreno, Managing Authority of the Regional Natural Reserve of Lake Posta Fibreno, for allowing peat cores sampling.

77 FR 56115 - Safety Zone for Fireworks Display, Potomac River, National Harbor Access Channel; Oxon Hill, MD

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-12

..., MD AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Temporary final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a... safety of life on navigable waters during a fireworks display launched from a floating platform located... zone is intended to protect the maritime public in a portion of the Potomac River. DATES: This rule is...

U.S. Senate examines concerns about marine debris from 2011 Japan tsunami

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2012-05-01

Approximately 5 million tons of debris washed into the Pacific Ocean from Japan following the 11 March 2011 tsunami, and the Japanese government estimates that 1.5 million tons may still be floating on or below the ocean surface. However, it is not known how much debris may reach U.S. shores, an official from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) testified at a 17 May Senate hearing. "If you've got 1.5 [million tons] that's floating and you leave it in there for a year, how much of that is still going be floating and available to come ashore? We don't have a clue," David Kennedy, NOAA assistant administrator for ocean services and coastal zone management, testified before a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He said that some materials pushed by the wind could be expected to float but that materials pushed by currents under the surface are difficult to find. "A whole bunch of the 1.5 million is construction debris, and do [wooden] two-by-fours still float after a year? We're not sure."

Modelling the global distribution and risk of small floating plastic debris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Sebille, E.; Wilcox, C.; Lebreton, L.; Maximenko, N. A.; Sherman, P.; Hardesty, B. D.; van Franeker, J. A.; Eriksen, M.; Siegel, D.; Galgani, F.; Lavender Law, K. L.

2016-02-01

Microplastic debris floating at the ocean surface can harm marine life. Understanding the severity of this harm requires knowledge of plastic abundance and distributions. Dozens of expeditions measuring microplastics have been carried out since the 1970s, but they have primarily focused on the North Pacific and North Atlantic accumulation zones, with much sparser coverage elsewhere. Here, we use the largest dataset of microplastic measurements collated to date to assess the confidence we can have in global estimates of microplastic abundance and mass. We use a rigorous statistical framework to standardize a global dataset of plastic marine debris measured using surface-trawling plankton nets and coupled this with three different ocean circulation models to spatially interpolate the observations. Our estimates show that the accumulated number of microplastic particles in 2014 ranges from 15 to 51 trillion particles, weighing between 93 and 236 thousand metric tons, which is only approximately 1% of global plastic waste available to enter the ocean in the year 2010. These estimates are larger than previous global estimates, but vary widely because the scarcity of data in most of the world ocean, differences in model formulations, and fundamental knowledge gaps in the sources, transformations and fates of microplastics in the ocean. We then use this global distribution of small floating plastic debris to (i) map out where in the ocean the risk to marine life (seabirds, plankton growth) is greatest and to (ii) show that mitigation of the plastic problem can most aptly be done near coastlines, particularly in Asia, rather than in the centres of the gyres.

Experimentally Determined Phase Diagram for the Barium Sulfide-Copper(I) Sulfide System Above 873 K (600 °C)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stinn, Caspar; Nose, Katsuhiro; Okabe, Toru; Allanore, Antoine

2017-12-01

The phase diagram of the barium sulfide-copper(I) sulfide system was investigated above 873 K (600 °C) using a custom-built differential thermal analysis (DTA) apparatus. The melting point of barium sulfide was determined utilizing a floating zone furnace. Four new compounds, Ba2Cu14S9, Ba2Cu2S3, Ba5Cu4S7, and Ba9Cu2S10, were identified through quench experiments analyzed with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). A miscibility gap was observed between 72 and 92 mol pct BaS using both DTA experiments and in situ melts observation in a floating zone furnace. A monotectic was observed at 94.5 mol pct BaS and 1288 K (1015 °C).

High-Precision Temperature Control of a Crystal Growth Furnace at 1,500 C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stenzel, Ch.; Hess, A.; Croell, A.; Breuer, D.; Sauermann, H.

2012-01-01

For crystal growth of semiconductor materials a short-term temperature stability of 0.1 C at 1500 C is one of the essential parameters to be addressed for achieving high-quality crystals. Hence, for temperature monitoring and control with high precision in a floating zone furnace two sets of thermo-sensors, type B thermocouples and optical fibre thermometers, have been implemented and successfully operated in the furnace for more than 2000 h. The optical fibre thermometers consist of an optical system made of sapphire (two fibres plus a prism in between for deflection) and transmit the infra-red radiation of the heater to the outside of the hot core of the furnace for pyrometric temperature measurement. A dedicated control algorithm has been set up which controlled the power settings to the individual heaters. Both sensor types showed no degradation after this period and yielded a short-term stability at 1200 C of 0.05 C (optical fibre thermometers), respectively 0.08 C (thermocouples).

Ultra-high vacuum compatible preparation chain for intermetallic compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, A.; Benka, G.; Regnat, A.; Franz, C.; Pfleiderer, C.

2016-11-01

We report the development of a versatile material preparation chain for intermetallic compounds, which focuses on the realization of a high-purity growth environment. The preparation chain comprises an argon glovebox, an inductively heated horizontal cold boat furnace, an arc melting furnace, an inductively heated rod casting furnace, an optically heated floating-zone furnace, a resistively heated annealing furnace, and an inductively heated annealing furnace. The cold boat furnace and the arc melting furnace may be loaded from the glovebox by means of a load-lock permitting to synthesize compounds starting with air-sensitive elements while handling the constituents exclusively in an inert gas atmosphere. All furnaces are all-metal sealed, bakeable, and may be pumped to ultra-high vacuum. We find that the latter represents an important prerequisite for handling compounds with high vapor pressure under high-purity argon atmosphere. We illustrate the operational aspects of the preparation chain in terms of the single-crystal growth of the heavy-fermion compound CeNi2Ge2.

The application of ceramsite ecological floating bed in aquaculture: its effects on water quality, phytoplankton, bacteria and fish production.

PubMed

Li, Xiao-Li; Marella, Thomas Kiran; Tao, Ling; Dai, Li-Li; Peng, Liang; Song, Chao-Feng; Li, Gu

2018-06-01

In recent years, biological floating bed technology has been applied increasingly in aquaculture ponds. In this study we developed a novel floating bed made from ceramsite and studied its effect on water quality, phytoplankton, bacteria and fish growth. Water quality was effectively regulated and controlled in ceramsite floating bed (CFB) ponds with an average transparency of 23.18 cm, ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 + -N) of 2.30 mg L -1 , total nitrogen (TN) of 5.09 mg L -1 and total phosphate (TP) of 1.32 mg L -1 which are lower than in control ponds without CFB. Increased phytoplankton species diversity, bacterial number, metabolic activity and microbial diversity was observed with CFB. At the end of growth stage, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was reduced with a total fish yield of 14,838 kg ha -1 at a survival rate of 77.2% in CFB ponds, which is significantly higher than control (P < 0.05). These results emphasize the potential of ecological floating bed to improve water quality, microalgal diversity, reduce the risk of harmful algal blooms and increase the number, activity and diversity of microorganisms as well as fish yield.

Convection Induced by Traveling Magnetic Fields in Semiconductor Melts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Konstantin, Mazuruk

2000-01-01

Axisymmetric traveling magnetic fields (TMF) can be beneficial for crystal growth applications. such as the vertical Bridgman, float zone or traveling heater methods. TMF induces a basic flow in the form of a single roll. This type of flow can enhance mass and heat transfer to the growing crystal. More importantly, the TMF Lorentz body force induced in the system can counterbalance the buoyancy forces, so the resulting convection can be much smaller and even the direction of it can be changed. In this presentation, we display basic features of this novel technique. In particular, numerical calculations of the Lorentz force for arbitrary frequencies will be presented along with induced steady-state fluid flow profiles. Also, numerical modeling of the TMF counter-balancing natural convection in vertical Bridgman systems will be demonstrated.

Study program to improve the open-circuit voltage of low resistivity single crystal silicon solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Minnucci, J. A.; Matthei, K. W.

1980-01-01

The results of a 14 month program to improve the open circuit voltage of low resistivity silicon solar cells are described. The approach was based on ion implantation in 0.1- to 10.0-ohm-cm float-zone silicon. As a result of the contract effort, open circuit voltages as high as 645 mV (AMO 25 C) were attained by high dose phosphorus implantation followed by furnace annealing and simultaneous SiO2 growth. One key element was to investigate the effects of bandgap narrowing caused by high doping concentrations in the junction layer. Considerable effort was applied to optimization of implant parameters, selection of furnace annealing techniques, and utilization of pulsed electron beam annealing to minimize thermal process-induced defects in the completed solar cells.

75 FR 33692 - Safety Zone; Tacoma Freedom Fair Air Show, Commencement Bay, Tacoma, WA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-15

... this rule encompasses all waters within the points 47[deg]-17.63' N., 122[deg]-28.724' W.; 47[deg]-17... Ruston Way and extending approximately 1100 yards into Commencement Bay. Floating markers will be placed... designated safety zone: All waters within the points 47[deg]-17.63' N., 122[deg]-28.724' W.; 47[deg]-17.059...

Floating plant dominance as a stable state

PubMed Central

Scheffer, Marten; Szabó, Sándor; Gragnani, Alessandra; van Nes, Egbert H.; Rinaldi, Sergio; Kautsky, Nils; Norberg, Jon; Roijackers, Rudi M. M.; Franken, Rob J. M.

2003-01-01

Invasion by mats of free-floating plants is among the most important threats to the functioning and biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems ranging from temperate ponds and ditches to tropical lakes. Dark, anoxic conditions under thick floating-plant cover leave little opportunity for animal or plant life, and they can have large negative impacts on fisheries and navigation in tropical lakes. Here, we demonstrate that floating-plant dominance can be a self-stabilizing ecosystem state, which may explain its notorious persistence in many situations. Our results, based on experiments, field data, and models, represent evidence for alternative domains of attraction in ecosystems. An implication of our findings is that nutrient enrichment reduces the resilience of freshwater systems against a shift to floating-plant dominance. On the other hand, our results also suggest that a single drastic harvest of floating plants can induce a permanent shift to an alternative state dominated by rooted, submerged growth forms. PMID:12634429

USML-1 Glovebox experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naumann, Robert J.

1995-01-01

This report covers the development of and results from three experiments that were flown in the Materials Science Glovebox on USML-1: Marangoni convection in Closed Containers (MCCC), Double Float Zone (DFZ), and Fiber Pulling in Microgravity (FPM). The Glovebox provided a convenient, low cost method for doing simple 'try and see' experiments that could test new concepts or elucidate microgravity phenomena. Since the Glovebox provided essentially one (or possibly two levels of confinement, many of the stringent verification and test requirements on the experiment apparatus could be relaxed and a streamlined test and verification plan for flight qualification could be implemented. Furthermore, the experiments were contained in their own carrying cases whose external configurations could be identified early in the integration sequence for stowage considerations while delivery of the actual experiment apparatus could be postponed until only a few months before flight. This minimized the time fluids must be contained and reduced the possibility of corrosive reactions that could ruin the experiment. In many respects, this exercise was as much about developing a simpler, cheaper way of doing crew-assisted science as it was about the actual scientific accomplishments of the individual experiments. The Marangoni Convection in Closed Containers experiment was designed to study the effects of a void space in a simulated Bridgman crystal growth configuration and to determine if surface tension driven convective flows that may result from thermal gradients along any free surfaces could affect the solidification process. The Fiber Pulling in Microgravity experiment sought to separate the role of gravity drainage from capillarity effects in the break-up of slender cylindrical liquid columns. The Stability of a Double Float Zone experiment explored the feasibility of a quasi-containerless process in which a solidifying material is suspended by two liquid bridges of its own melt.

Growth Angle - a Microscopic View

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazurak, K.; Volz, M. P.; Croll, A.

2017-01-01

The growth angle that is formed between the side of the growing crystal and the melt meniscus is an important parameter in the detached Bridgman crystal growth method, where it determines the extent of the crystal-crucible wall gap, and in the Czochralski and float zone methods, where it influences the size and stability of the crystals. The growth angle is a non-equilibrium parameter, defined for the crystal growth process only. For a melt-crystal interface translating towards the crystal (melting), there is no specific angle defined between the melt and the sidewall of the solid. In this case, the corner at the triple line becomes rounded, and the angle between the sidewall and the incipience of meniscus can take a number of values, depending on the position of the triple line. In this work, a microscopic model is developed in which the fluid interacts with the solid surface through long range van der Waals or Casimir dispersive forces. This growth angle model is applied to Si and Ge and compared with the macroscopic approach of Herring. In the limit of a rounded corner with a large radius of curvature, the wetting of the melt on the crystal is defined by the contact angle. The proposed microscopic approach addresses the interesting issue of the transition from a contact angle to a growth angle as the radius of curvature decreases.

A novel control process of cyanobacterial bloom using cyanobacteriolytic bacteria immobilized in floating biodegradable plastic carriers.

PubMed

Nakamura, N; Nakano, K; Sugiura, N; Matsumura, M

2003-12-01

A process using a floating carrier for immobilization of cyanobacteriolytic bacteria, B.cereus N-14, was proposed to realize an effective in situ control of natural floating cyanobacterial blooms. The critical concentrations of the cyanobacteriolytic substance and B.cereus N-14 cells required to exhibit cyanobacteriolytic activity were investigated. The results indicated the necessity of cell growth to produce sufficiently high amounts of the cyanobacteriolytic substance to exhibit its activity and also for conditions enabling good contact between high concentrations of the cyanobacteriolytic substance and cyanobacteria. Floating biodegradable plastics made of starch were applied as a carrier material to maintain close contact between the immobilized cyanobacteriolytic bacteria and floating cyanobacteria. The floating starch-carriers could eliminate 99% of floating cyanobacteria in 4 d. Since B.cereus N-14 could produce the cyanobacteriolytic substance under the presence of starch and some amino acids, the cyanobacteriolytic activity could be attributed to carbon source fed from starch carrier and amino acids eluted from lysed cyanobacteria. Therefore, the effect of using a floating starch-carrier was confirmed from both view points as a carrier for immobilization and a nutrient source to stimulate cyanobacteriolytic activity. The new concept to apply a floating carrier immobilizing useful microorganisms for intensive treatment of a nuisance floating target was demonstrated.

SOCCOM Biogeochemical Profiling Floats: Representativeness and Deployment Strategies Utilizing GO-SHIP/Argo Observations and SOSE/Hycom Model Output

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talley, L. D.; Riser, S.; Johnson, K. S.; Wang, J.; Kamenkovich, I. V.; Rosso, I.; Mazloff, M. R.; Ogle, S.; Sarmiento, J. L.

2016-12-01

Biogeochemical profiling floats are being deployed in the Southern Ocean south of 30°S, including within the seasonal sea ice zone, as part of the SOCCOM project. The floats carry oxygen, nitrate, pH, fluorescence and backscatter sensors, in addition to standard T/S measurements that contribute to the Argo program. The total array size over the expected 6 years of deployment will be 180 to 200 floats. At the conclusion of Year 2 (2015-2016), 58 floats had been deployed and 50 were still active (see figure from http://soccom.princeton.edu). In order to calibrate the biogeochemical sensors using shipboard measurements, deployment takes place from research ships. As the ship tracks are dictated by other programs, care is taken prior to deployment to maximize the probability that the floats sample varied oceanographic regimes, and that all important regimes present along a deployment track are seeded with at least one float. Prior GO-SHIP hydrographic sections are used to locate water mass regimes that are targeted for deployments, yielding a background description of the oceanography along each of these sections. Simulations of Argo floats in the Southern Ocean State Estimate (SOSE) and data-assimilating HYCOM model and previous Argo trajectories are used to predict ensemble float trajectories. Trajectories and water mass regimes from floats after deployment have generally agreed well with those projected prior to deployment. The exercise of examining this suite of information prior to the deployment cruises provides valuable regional information for interpreting the actual SOCCOM float profiles and trajectories. Particularly useful are demarcation of the major frontal regimes and their relation to sea ice and topography, regions of upwelling from the deep ocean to the surface, and upper ocean mode water regions associated with both the Subantarctic and Polar Fronts.

Maiden Voyage of the Under-Ice Float

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcherbina, A.; D'Asaro, E. A.; Light, B.; Deming, J. W.; Rehm, E.

2016-02-01

The Under-Ice Float (UIF) is a new autonomous platform for sea ice and upper ocean observations in the marginal ice zone (MIZ). UIF is based on the Mixed Layer Lagrangian Float design, inheriting its accurate buoyancy control and relatively heavy payload capability. A major challenge for sustained autonomous observations in the MIZ is detection of open water for navigation and telemetry surfacings. UIF employs the new surface classification algorithm based on the spectral analysis of surface roughness sensed by an upward-looking sonar. A prototype UIF was deployed in the MIZ of the central Arctic Ocean in late August 2015. The main payload of the first UIF was a bio-optical suit consisting of upward- and downward hyperspectral radiometers; temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen sensors, and a high-definition photo camera. In the early stages of its mission, the float successfully avoided ice, detected leads, surfaced in open water, and transmitted data and photographs. We will present the analysis of these observations from the full UIF mission extending into the freeze-up season.

An important atomic process in the CVD growth of graphene: Sinking and up-floating of carbon atom on copper surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yingfeng; Li, Meicheng; Gu, TianSheng; Bai, Fan; Yu, Yue; Trevor, Mwenya; Yu, Yangxin

2013-11-01

By density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the early stages of the growth of graphene on copper (1 1 1) surface are investigated. At the very first time of graphene growth, the carbon atom sinks into subsurface. As more carbon atoms are adsorbed nearby the site, the sunken carbon atom will spontaneously form a dimer with one of the newly adsorbed carbon atoms, and the formed dimer will up-float on the top of the surface. We emphasize the role of the co-operative relaxation of the co-adsorbed carbon atoms in facilitating the sinking and up-floating of carbon atoms. In detail: when two carbon atoms are co-adsorbed, their co-operative relaxation will result in different carbon-copper interactions for the co-adsorbed carbon atoms. This difference facilitates the sinking of a single carbon atom into the subsurface. As a third carbon atom is co-adsorbed nearby, it draws the sunken carbon atom on top of the surface, forming a dimer. Co-operative relaxations of the surface involving all adsorbed carbon atoms and their copper neighbors facilitate these sinking and up-floating processes. This investigation is helpful for the deeper understanding of graphene synthesis and the choosing of optimal carbon sources or process.

Radioluminescence and photoluminescence properties of Dy-doped 12CaO • 7Al2O3 single crystals synthesized by the floating zone method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumamoto, Narumi; Nakauchi, Daisuke; Kato, Takumi; Kawano, Naoki; Okada, Go; Kawaguchi, Noriaki; Yanagida, Takayuki

2018-02-01

We have synthesized Dy-doped 12CaO • 7Al2O3 (Dy:C12A7) single crystals with various Dy concentrations by the floating zone (FZ) method and investigated the photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray induced radioluminescence (RL) properties. The PL emissions are observed around 480-490, 570-590, 650-690, and 750 nm due to the 4f-4f transitions of Dy3+ under excitation around 350-400 and 450 nm. The decay time constant (580 nm emission under 340-390 nm excitation) was approximately 0.54-0.58 ms. The RL also showed line emissions at 487, 580, 668, and 757 nm due to the 4f-4f transitions of Dy3+ while the decay time was approximately 0.49-0.53 ms.

75 FR 19880 - Safety Zone; BW PIONEER at Walker Ridge 249, Outer Continental Shelf FPSO, Gulf of Mexico

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-16

... BW PIONEER, a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) system, at Walker Ridge 249 in the... point at 26[deg]41'46.25'' N and 090[deg]30'30.16'' W. This action is based on a thorough and... regulations. The FPSO can swing in a 360 degree arc around the center point. The safety zone will reduce...

30 CFR 250.428 - What must I do in certain cementing and casing situations?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... point. (h) Need to use less than required cement for the surface casing during floating drilling... permafrost zone uncemented Fill the annulus with a liquid that has a freezing point below the minimum...

Method for preparing homogeneous single crystal ternary III-V alloys

DOEpatents

Ciszek, Theodore F.

1991-01-01

A method for producing homogeneous, single-crystal III-V ternary alloys of high crystal perfection using a floating crucible system in which the outer crucible holds a ternary alloy of the composition desired to be produced in the crystal and an inner floating crucible having a narrow, melt-passing channel in its bottom wall holds a small quantity of melt of a pseudo-binary liquidus composition that would freeze into the desired crystal composition. The alloy of the floating crucilbe is maintained at a predetermined lower temperature than the alloy of the outer crucible, and a single crystal of the desired homogeneous alloy is pulled out of the floating crucible melt, as melt from the outer crucible flows into a bottom channel of the floating crucible at a rate that corresponds to the rate of growth of the crystal.

Surface waves on floating liquids induced by ultrasound field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, D. L.; Xie, W. J.; Yan, N.; Wei, B.

2013-01-01

We demonstrate a kind of wave pattern on the surface of floating liquids in a modulated ultrasound field. The waves are related to the liquid/solid phase transformation process. The nucleation sites of the eutectics locate at the center of these waves, and the eutectic growth direction is parallel to the propagation direction of the waves. It is revealed that such wave phenomenon can be ascribed to the interaction between ultrasound and eutectic growth at the liquid/solid interface. This result may provide a potential method for fabricating wave patterned surfaces on eutectic alloys.

Annual nitrate drawdown observed by SOCCOM profiling floats and the relationship to annual net community production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Kenneth S.; Plant, Joshua N.; Dunne, John P.; Talley, Lynne D.; Sarmiento, Jorge L.

2017-08-01

Annual nitrate cycles have been measured throughout the pelagic waters of the Southern Ocean, including regions with seasonal ice cover and southern hemisphere subtropical zones. Vertically resolved nitrate measurements were made using in situ ultraviolet spectrophotometer (ISUS) and submersible ultraviolet nitrate analyzer (SUNA) optical nitrate sensors deployed on profiling floats. Thirty-one floats returned 40 complete annual cycles. The mean nitrate profile from the month with the highest winter nitrate minus the mean profile from the month with the lowest nitrate yields the annual nitrate drawdown. This quantity was integrated to 200 m depth and converted to carbon using the Redfield ratio to estimate annual net community production (ANCP) throughout the Southern Ocean south of 30°S. A well-defined, zonal mean distribution is found with highest values (3-4 mol C m-2 yr-1) from 40 to 50°S. Lowest values are found in the subtropics and in the seasonal ice zone. The area weighted mean was 2.9 mol C m-2 yr-1 for all regions south of 40°S. Cumulative ANCP south of 50°S is 1.3 Pg C yr-1. This represents about 13% of global ANCP in about 14% of the global ocean area.