Application of elastic mid-IR-laser-light scattering for non-destructive inspection in microelectronics

Some possible applications of the low-angle mid-IR-light scattering technique and some recently developed on its basis methods for non-destructive inspection and investigation of semiconductor materials and structures are discussed in the paper. The conclusion is made that the techniques in question might be very useful for solving a large number of problems regarding defect investigations and quality monitoring both in research laboratories and the industry of microelectronicsComment: MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 17-21 April 199

Practical Limitations on Astrophysical Observations of Methanol to Investigate Variations in the Proton-to-Electron Mass Ratio

The possibility of using astrophysical observations of rotational transitions in the methanol molecule to measure, or constrain temporal and spatial variations in the proton-to-electron mass ratio (mu) has recently been investigated by several groups. Here we outline some of the practical considerations of making such observations, including both the instrumental and astrophysical limitations which exist at present. This leads us to conclude that such observations are unlikely to be able to improve evidence either for, or against the presence of variations in the proton-to-electron mass ratio by more than an order of magnitude beyond current limits.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

New class I methanol masers

We review properties of all known collisionally pumped (class I) methanol maser series based on observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and the Mopra radio telescope. Masers at 36, 84, 44 and 95 GHz are most widespread, while 9.9, 25, 23.4 and 104 GHz masers are much rarer, tracing the most energetic shocks. A survey of many southern masers at 36 and 44 GHz suggests that these two transitions are highly complementary. The 23.4 GHz maser is a new type of rare class I methanol maser, detected only in two high-mass star-forming regions, G357.97-0.16 and G343.12-0.06, and showing a behaviour similar to 9.9, 25 and 104 GHz masers. Interferometric positions suggest that shocks responsible for class I masers could arise from a range of phenomena, not merely an outflow scenario. For example, some masers might be caused by interaction of an expanding HII region with its surrounding molecular cloud. This has implications for evolutionary sequences incorporating class I methanol masers if they appear more than once during the evolution of the star-forming region. We also make predictions for candidate maser transitions at the ALMA frequency range.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in proceedings for IAUS 287: Cosmic Masers - from OH to H

THE INFLUENCE OF PRECIPITATION PARAMETERS OF VACUUM- ARC NANOCRYSTALLINE COATING TI-MO-N ON NANOHARDNESS AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF PISTON RINGS

It has been investigated the influence of multi-layered vacuum-arc nanostructure coating Ti - Mo - N on wear resistance of piston rings. The influence of vacuum-arc coating parameters on nanohardness has been set

The Australia Telescope campaign to study southern class I methanol masers

The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and the Mopra facility have been used to search for new southern class I methanol masers at 9.9, 25 (J=5) and 104 GHz, which are thought to trace more energetic conditions in the interface regions of molecular outflows, than the widespread class I masers at 44 and 95 GHz. One source shows a clear outflow association.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure (composed from 3 files), to appear in proceedings of IAU Symposium 242 "Astrophysical masers and their environment" (eds. J. Chapman and W. Baan

The succinctness of first-order logic on linear orders

Succinctness is a natural measure for comparing the strength of different logics. Intuitively, a logic L_1 is more succinct than another logic L_2 if all properties that can be expressed in L_2 can be expressed in L_1 by formulas of (approximately) the same size, but some properties can be expressed in L_1 by (significantly) smaller formulas. We study the succinctness of logics on linear orders. Our first theorem is concerned with the finite variable fragments of first-order logic. We prove that: (i) Up to a polynomial factor, the 2- and the 3-variable fragments of first-order logic on linear orders have the same succinctness. (ii) The 4-variable fragment is exponentially more succinct than the 3-variable fragment. Our second main result compares the succinctness of first-order logic on linear orders with that of monadic second-order logic. We prove that the fragment of monadic second-order logic that has the same expressiveness as first-order logic on linear orders is non-elementarily more succinct than first-order logic

Some Aspects of the Application of Analytical Techniques in U.S. Governmental Program Management

During recent years developed countries have paid increasingly more attention to the development and implementation of complex, large-scale programs in different spheres of public policy: space, investigation, exploration of new territories, rational use of natural resources, environmental protection, etc. Some of the more remarkable examples of such programs are: the formation of the Bratsk-Ilimsk Territorial Production Complex; the construction of the Baikal-Amur Railway; and the development of the Nechernoziernnaja zone of the RSFSR in the USSR; the TVA experience; the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline in the USA; construction of the Shinkansen Railway in Japan. The programs were developed and implemented by countries with different socio-economic systems, and in diverse spheres of governmental activity. They are also characterized by different scales, goals, degree of government involvement and other features. However, in spite of existing differences, one can find some common methodological and organizational aspects in the management of large-scale programs. Analysis of these aspects along with the generalization of experiences, both positive and negative, gained by different countries could provide a basis for improving public management. In this respect IIASA, with its ability to organize international and multidisciplinary scientific teams to tackle problems of program management, plays a role that can hardly be over-estimated. This paper attempts to elucidate the integration of some analytical approaches into U.S. government program management

The first high-resolution observations of 37.7-, 38.3- and 38.5-GHz methanol masers

We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to undertake the first high angular resolution observations of 37.7-GHz ($7_{-2} - 8_{-1}E$) methanol masers towards a sample of eleven high-mass star formation regions which host strong 6.7-GHz methanol masers. The 37.7-GHz methanol sites are coincident to within the astrometric uncertainty (0.4 arcseconds) with the 6.7-GHz methanol masers associated with the same star formation region. However, spatial and spectral comparison of the 6.7- and 37.7-GHz maser emission within individual sources shows that the 37.7-GHz masers are less often, or to a lesser degree co-spatial than are the 12.2-GHz and 6.7-GHz masers. We also made sensitive, high angular resolution observations of the 38.3- and 38.5-GHz class II methanol transitions ($6_{2} - 5_{3}A^{-}$ and $6_{2} - 5_{3}A^{+}$, respectively) and the 36.2-GHz ($4_{-1} - 3_{0}E$) class I methanol transition towards the same sample of eleven sources. The 37.7-, 38.3- and 38.5-GHz methanol masers are unresolved in the current observations, which implies a lower limit on the brightness temperature of the strongest masers of more than $10^6$K. We detected the 38.3-GHz methanol transition towards 7 sources, 5 of which are new detections and detected the 38.5-GHz transition towards 6 sources, 4 of which are new detections. We detected 36.2-GHz class I methanol masers towards all eleven sources, 6 of these are new detections for this transition, of which 4 sources do not have previously reported class I methanol masers from any transition.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 34 pages, 20 figure