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At least 181 records · Page 10

Empirical studies of upper atmospheric species

The first month of spin-scan ozone imaging (SOI) data (October 1981) was processed and compared with total ozone mapping spectrometer and ground based data. Short term variations in the ozone field have been revealed using animated sequences of SOI data. High correlations were observed between SOI ozone and upper tropospheric meteorological data. The relationship between ozone and temperature in the stratosphere was investigated by examining Nimbus 4 backscattered ultraviolet ozone and selective chopper radiometer temperature measurements as well as solar Nimbus 7 solar backscattered ultraviolet ozone and stratospheric and mesospheric sounder temperature measurements. Results from these ozone temperature studies were compared with calculations from theoretical 2-D models. All of the lims infrared monitor of the stratosphere data was processed at 10 pressure levels and correlations between various species have been performed. The Venus Atmospheric Drag model was modified taking into account recent investigations on the Venus thermosphere and the resulting model was considered for incorporation into the Venus International Reference Atmosphere.

Nicholson, J.↗

Excitation of the Earth's Chandler wobble by southern oscillation/El Nino, 1900-1979

The southern oscillation/El Nino (ENSO) is the single most prominent interannual signal in global atmospheric/oceanic fluctuations. The following question is addressed: how important is the angular momentum carried by ENSO in exciting the Earth's Chandler wobble? The question is attacked through a statistical analysis of the coherence spectra (correlation as a function of frequency) between two data sets spanning 1900 to 1979-the southern oscillation index (SOI) time series and the excitation function psi (with x-component psi sub x and y-component psi sub y) of the Chandler wobble derived from the homogeneous ILS (International Latitude Service) polar motion data. The coherence power and phase in the Chandler frequency band (approx. 0.79 to 0.89 cpy) are studied. It is found that, during 1900 to 1979 the coherence between SOI and psi sub x is significant well over the 95% confidence threshold whereas that between SOI and psi sub y is practically nil. Quantitatively, the coherence study shows that ENSO provides some 20% of the observed Chandler wobble excitation power. Since earlier investigations have shown that the total atmospheric/oceanic variation can account for the Chandler wobble excitation at about 20% level, the implication is that ENSO maybe an important (interannual) part of the atmospheric/oceanic variation that is responsible for the Chandler wobble excitation during 1900 to 1979.

Chao, B. F.↗

The Solar Oscillations Investigation-Michelson Doppler Imager for SOHO

The Solar Oscillations Investigation-Michelson Doppler Imager (SOI-MDI) for the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) mission is intended to investigate the solar interior using helioseismology techniques. The SOI program consists of a coordinated set of observations intended to address a set of science objectives, an MDI instrument, and a facility that will provide data reduction and analysis capability. The MDI instrument will take filtergrams to measure LOS velocity, line and continuum intensity, and LOS magnetic fields with both 4 and 1.2 arcsec resolution, The SOI study is designed to take advantage of the anticipated SOHO telemetry by organizining the observations into four programs: structure (at all times), dynamics (two months per year), campaign (eight hours per day, 10 months per year), and magnetic field (a few minutes per day).

Scherrer, P. H.↗

SiC Multi-Chip Power Modules as Power-System Building Blocks

The term "SiC MCPMs" (wherein "MCPM" signifies "multi-chip power module") denotes electronic power-supply modules containing multiple silicon carbide power devices and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) control integrated-circuit chips. SiC MCPMs are being developed as building blocks of advanced expandable, reconfigurable, fault-tolerant power-supply systems. Exploiting the ability of SiC semiconductor devices to operate at temperatures, breakdown voltages, and current densities significantly greater than those of conventional Si devices, the designs of SiC MCPMs and of systems comprising multiple SiC MCPMs are expected to afford a greater degree of miniaturization through stacking of modules with reduced requirements for heat sinking. Moreover, the higher-temperature capabilities of SiC MCPMs could enable operation in environments hotter than Si-based power systems can withstand. The stacked SiC MCPMs in a given system can be electrically connected in series, parallel, or a series/parallel combination to increase the overall power-handling capability of the system. In addition to power connections, the modules have communication connections. The SOI controllers in the modules communicate with each other as nodes of a decentralized control network, in which no single controller exerts overall command of the system. Control functions effected via the network include synchronization of switching of power devices and rapid reconfiguration of power connections to enable the power system to continue to supply power to a load in the event of failure of one of the modules. In addition to serving as building blocks of reliable power-supply systems, SiC MCPMs could be augmented with external control circuitry to make them perform additional power-handling functions as needed for specific applications: typical functions could include regulating voltages, storing energy, and driving motors. Because identical SiC MCPM building blocks could be utilized in a variety of ways, the cost and difficulty of designing new, highly reliable power systems would be reduced considerably. Several prototype DC-to-DC power-converter modules containing SiC power-switching devices were designed and built to demonstrate the feasibility of the SiC MCPM concept. In anticipation of a future need for operation at high temperature, the circuitry in the modules includes high-temperature inductors and capacitors. These modules were designed to be stacked to construct a system of four modules electrically connected in series and/or parallel. The packaging of the modules is designed to satisfy requirements for series and parallel interconnection among modules, high power density, high thermal efficiency, small size, and light weight. Each module includes four output power connectors two for serial and two for parallel output power connections among the modules. Each module also includes two signal connectors, electrically isolated from the power connectors, that afford four zones for signal interconnections among the SOI controllers. Finally, each module includes two input power connectors, through which it receives power from an in-line power bus. This design feature is included in anticipation of a custom-designed power bus incorporating sockets compatible with snap-on type connectors to enable rapid replacement of failed modules.

Lostetter, Alexander↗

Reconfigurable, Bi-Directional Flexfet Level Shifter for Low-Power, Rad-Hard Integration

Two prototype Reconfigurable, Bi-directional Flexfet Level Shifters (ReBiLS) have been developed, where one version is a stand-alone component designed to interface between external low voltage and high voltage, and the other version is an embedded integrated circuit (IC) for interface between internal low-voltage logic and external high-voltage components. Targeting stand-alone and embedded circuits separately allows optimization for these distinct applications. Both ReBiLS designs use the commercially available 180-nm Flex fet Independently Double-Gated (IDG) SOI CMOS (silicon on insulator, complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology. Embedded ReBiLS circuits were integrated with a Reed-Solomon (RS) encoder using CMOS Ultra-Low-Power Radiation Tolerant (CULPRiT) double-gated digital logic circuits. The scope of the project includes: creation of a new high-voltage process, development of ReBiLS circuit designs, and adjustment of the designs to maximize performance through simulation, layout, and manufacture of prototypes. The primary technical objectives were to develop a high-voltage, thick oxide option for the 180-nm Flexfet process, and to develop a stand-alone ReBiLS IC with two 8-channel I/O busses, 1.8 2.5 I/O on the low-voltage pins, 5.0-V-tolerant input and 3.3-V output I/O on the high-voltage pins, and 100-MHz minimum operation with 10-pF external loads. Another objective was to develop an embedded, rad-hard ReBiLS I/O cell with 0.5-V low-voltage operation for interface with core logic, 5.0-V-tolerant input and 3.3-V output I/O pins, and 100-MHz minimum operation with 10- pF external loads. A third objective was to develop a 0.5- V Reed-Solomon Encoder with embedded ReBilS I/O: Transfer the existing CULPRiT RS encoder from a 0.35-micron bulk-CMOS process to the ASI 180-nm Flexfet, rad-hard SOI Process. 0.5-V low-voltage core logic. 5.0-V-tolerant input and 3.3-V output I/O pins. 100-MHz minimum operation with 10- pF external loads. The stand-alone ReBiLS chip will allow system designers to provide efficient bi-directional communication between components operating at different voltages. Embedding the ReBiLS cells into the proven Reed-Solomon encoder will demonstrate the ability to support new product development in a commercially viable, rad-hard, scalable 180-nm SOI CMOS process.

DeGregorio, Kelly↗

Fabrication of an Absorber-Coupled MKID Detector

Absorber-coupled microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) arrays were developed for submillimeter and far-infrared astronomy. These sensors comprise arrays of lambda/2 stepped microwave impedance resonators patterned on a 1.5-mm-thick silicon membrane, which is optimized for optical coupling. The detector elements are supported on a 380-mm-thick micro-machined silicon wafer. The resonators consist of parallel plate aluminum transmission lines coupled to low-impedance Nb microstrip traces of variable length, which set the resonant frequency of each resonator. This allows for multiplexed microwave readout and, consequently, good spatial discrimination between pixels in the array. The transmission lines simultaneously act to absorb optical power and employ an appropriate surface impedance and effective filling fraction. The fabrication techniques demonstrate high-fabrication yield of MKID arrays on large, single-crystal membranes and sub-micron front-to-back alignment of the micro strip circuit. An MKID is a detector that operates upon the principle that a superconducting material s kinetic inductance and surface resistance will change in response to being exposed to radiation with a power density sufficient to break its Cooper pairs. When integrated as part of a resonant circuit, the change in surface impedance will result in a shift in its resonance frequency and a decrease of its quality factor. In this approach, incident power creates quasiparticles inside a superconducting resonator, which is configured to match the impedance of free space in order to absorb the radiation being detected. For this reason MKIDs are attractive for use in large-format focal plane arrays, because they are easily multiplexed in the frequency domain and their fabrication is straightforward. The fabrication process can be summarized in seven steps: (1) Alignment marks are lithographically patterned and etched all the way through a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer, which consists of a thin silicon membrane bonded to a thick silicon handle wafer. (2) The metal microwave circuitry on the front of the membrane is patterned and etched. (3) The wafer is then temporarily bonded with wafer wax to a Pyrex wafer, with the SOI side abutting the Pyrex. (4) The silicon handle component of the SOI wafer is subsequently etched away so as to expose the membrane backside. (5) The wafer is flipped over, and metal microwave circuitry is patterned and etched on the membrane backside. Furthermore, cuts in the membrane are made so as to define the individual detector array chips. (6) Silicon frames are micromachined and glued to the silicon membrane. (7) The membranes, which are now attached to the frames, are released from the Pyrex wafer via dissolution of the wafer wax in acetone.

Brown, Ari↗

Process for Fabrication of Superconducting Vias for Electrical Connection to Groundplane in Cryogenic Detectors

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for fabrication of silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers with a superconductive via for electrical connection to a groundplane. Fabrication of the SOI wafer with a superconductive via can involve depositing a superconducting groundplane onto a substrate with the superconducting groundplane having an oxidizing layer and a non-oxidizing layer. A layer of monocrystalline silicon can be bonded to the superconducting groundplane and a photoresist layer can be applied to the layer of monocrystalline silicon and the SOI wafer can be etched with the oxygen rich etching plasma, resulting in a monocrystalline silicon top layer with a via that exposes the superconducting groundplane. Then, the fabrication can involve depositing a superconducting surface layer to cover the via.

Denis, Kevin L.↗

A High Temperature Silicon Carbide mosfet Power Module With Integrated Silicon-On-Insulator-Based Gate Drive

Here we present a board-level integrated silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET power module for high temperature and high power density application. Specifically, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-based gate driver capable of operating at 200°C ambient temperature is designed and fabricated. The sourcing and sinking current capability of the gate driver are tested under various ambient temperatures. Also, a 1200 V/100 A SiC MOSFET phase-leg power module is developed utilizing high temperature packaging technologies. The static characteristics, switching performance, and short-circuit behavior of the fabricated power module are fully evaluated at different temperatures. Moreover, a buck converter prototype composed of the SOI gate driver and SiC power module is built for high temperature continuous operation. The converter is operated at different switching frequencies up to 100 kHz, with its junction temperature monitored by a thermosensitive electrical parameter and compared with thermal simulation results. The experimental results from the continuous operation demonstrate the high temperature capability of the power module at a junction temperature greater than 225°C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Highly resolved Eulerian simulations of fuel spray transients in single and multi-hole injectors: Nozzle flow and near-exit dynamics

In high pressure fuel injectors, needle opening and closing transients cause complex off-design fluid dynamics behaviors that profoundly impact the spray and mixture formation processes. These dynamics are completely different from what is known to occur in steady state conditions. In this study, diesel spray transients have been investigated in single-hole and 3-hole nozzles, encompassing internal and external nozzle flow and including needle motion, performing highly resolved (2.5 μm) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. We focused on end-of-injection (EOI) and start-of-injection (SOI) processes, in order to provide insights in to the physics. The liquid fuel, vapor and gas species are modeled with a single-fluid multiphase mixture approach, with diffuse interface, and with large eddy simulations (LES) of the turbulence. Occurrence of phase change due to cavitation is accounted for, and the spray dispersion is described with a turbulent dispersion model. Detailed needle motion data and orifice internal surface are available from xray synchrotron source measurements carried out at Argonne National Laboratory, and shared through the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) community. Simulations are compared against x-ray phase contrast imaging and radiography of the internal and near-exit flow, in addition to optical microscopy data of the near-exit sprays. Simulation results are found to agree well with available experimental data, and are able to realistically capture local and global features. The simulations allow to gain insight into the physics of gas ingestion and dribbles at EOI, for different hole diameters, operating conditions and number of holes. At SOI, timing of liquid appearance out of the injector and spray tip penetration are adequately predicted, by using the EOI flow field as in-nozzle initialization, and by prescribing the measured tip needle displacement with an informed effective valve opening point inferred from the x-ray observations. Lastly, the variation of spreading angle over time is also discussed in detail for the multi-hole case, including hole-to-hole variations. Due to real geometry features and asymmetric needle motion with eccentric components, it is found that the three holes exhibit swirling flows of increasing intensity as the lift decreases, causing the near cone angle to open and spread, in a quasi-hollow cone structure. These features are not observed in axial single-hole injectors because of their relative simplicity and intrinsic symmetry.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Slow-Light Mid-IR Silicon Photonic Chips for NO 2 and CH 4 Gas Detection

A compact, chip-scale mid-infrared gas sensor is demonstrated, leveraging a two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. The PCW comprises a hexagonal lattice with lattice constant a = 860 nm and hole radius r = 0.22a, incorporating a central line defect of reduced-radius holes (r s = 0.7r) to induce slow-light propagation near the photonic band edge with a group index of approximately 73, thereby enhancing light-matter interaction. The sensor operates at fundamental absorption wavelengths of 3.42 μm for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and 3.40 μm for methane (CH 4 ), utilizing the strongest molecular vibrational transitions for maximum sensitivity. Experimental validation was conducted using dynamically diluted gas mixtures generated by mass flow controllers, with signal acquisition performed by a liquid nitrogen-cooled InSb detector. For NO 2 , the sensor exhibited excellent linear response over 5–25 ppm (part per million) with coefficient of determination R 2 = 0.9934, achieving a detection limit of 210 ppb (part per billion)─representing the first reported silicon photonic-based NO 2 detection. For CH 4 , exposure to 25 ppm resulted in a 6.4% decrease in transmitted intensity, demonstrating multigas sensing capability. The CMOS-compatible fabrication process and compact 3 mm device footprint establish this SOI-PCW platform as a scalable, low-power solution for integrated mid-infrared gas sensing, with significant potential for environmental monitoring and industrial safety applications.

Crystals↗

Explaining the trends and variability in the United States tornado records using climate teleconnections and shifts in observational practices

The annual frequency of tornadoes during 1950–2018 across the major tornado-impacted states were examined and modeled using anthropogenic and large-scale climate covariates in a hierarchical Bayesian inference framework. Anthropogenic factors include increases in population density and better detection systems since the mid-1990s. Large-scale climate variables include El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Arctic Oscillation (AO), and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO). The model provides a robust way of estimating the response coefficients by considering pooling of information across groups of states that belong to Tornado Alley, Dixie Alley, and Other States, thereby reducing their uncertainty. The influence of the anthropogenic factors and the large-scale climate variables are modeled in a nested framework to unravel secular trend from cyclical variability. Population density explains the long-term trend in Dixie Alley. The step-increase induced due to the installation of the Doppler Radar systems explains the long-term trend in Tornado Alley. NAO and the interplay between NAO and ENSO explained the interannual to multi-decadal variability in Tornado Alley. PDO and AMO are also contributing to this multi-time scale variability. SOI and AO explain the cyclical variability in Dixie Alley. This improved understanding of the variability and trends in tornadoes should be of immense value to public planners, businesses, and insurance-based risk management agencies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Electrically tunable effective g-factor of a single hole in a lateral GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dot

Electrical tunability of the $g$-factor of a confined spin is a long-time goal of the spin qubit field. Here we utilize the electric dipole spin resonance (EDSR) to demonstrate it in a gated GaAs double-dot device confining a hole. This tunability is a consequence of the strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) in the GaAs valence band. The SOI enables a spin-flip interdot tunneling, which, in combination with the simple spin-conserving charge transport leads to the formation of tunable hybrid spin-orbit molecular states. EDSR is used to demonstrate that the gap separating the two lowest energy states changes its character from a charge-like to a spin-like excitation as a function of interdot detuning or magnetic field. In the spin-like regime, the gap can be characterized by the effective $g$-factor, which differs from the bulk value owing to spin-charge hybridization, and can be tuned smoothly and sensitively by gate voltages.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Etching properties and electrical characterization of surfaces of silicon-on-insulator substrates in presence of halogens

We have studied the etching properties of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates in recently developed chromium-free solutions containing halogens. We have shown that the presence of halogen compounds X (I{sup -}, Br{sup -}...) in HF/HNO{sub 3}/CH{sub 3}COOH solutions is required for a selective and preferential etching on SOI. The etching rate of such solutions increases with the dissolved halogen concentrations. The chemical reactivity of Si-X (X = Br{sup -}, I{sup -}..) bonds has been analyzed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Pseudo-MOS (flatband potential) and Kelvin Force Microscopy (KFM) measurements. A negative shift of flatband potential values is explained by an increasing concentration of halogen compounds in the solution and a substitution of Si-H (F) bonds by Si-X bonds during the reaction. Though Si-X bonds, and more particularly Si-I bonds, have been confirmed only at trace levels using XPS, we believe that the formation of Si-X bonds is supported by a mechanism of surface dipoles. Unexpectedly, no significant change in work function could be detected using KFM measurements. Some suggestions, based on KFM technique improvements, are made to explain such results. Finally, though the interaction mechanism between silicon, fluoride, iodide, and nitric acid is not clearly elucidated by our experimental results, the formation of Si-halogen bonds is crucial for etching and defect decoration capability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Monolithic pixel detectors in silicon on insulator technology

Silicon On Insulator (SOI) is becoming an attractive technology to fabricate monolithic pixel detectors. The possibility of using the depleted resistive substrate as a drift collection volume and to connect it by means of vias through the buried oxide to the pixel electronic makes this kind of approach interesting both for particle and photon detection. In this paper I report the results obtained in the development of monolithic pixel detectors in an SOI technology by a collaboration between groups from the University and INFN of Padova (Italy) and the LBNL and the SCIPP at UCSC (USA).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

High-Q silicon-on-insulator slot photonic crystal cavity infiltrated by a liquid

We report the experimental realization of a high-Q slot photonic crystal cavity in Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) configuration infiltrated by a liquid. Loaded Q-factor of 23 000 is measured at telecom wavelength. The intrinsic quality factor inferred from the transmission spectrum is higher than 200 000, which represents a record value for slot photonic crystal cavities on SOI, whereas the maximum of intensity of the cavity is roughly equal to 20% of the light transmitted in the waveguide. This result makes filled slot photonic crystal cavities very promising for silicon-based light emission and ultrafast nonlinear optics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Maximum magnitude in bias-dependent spin accumulation signals of CoFe/MgO/Si on insulator devices

We study in detail how the bias voltage (V{sub bias}) and interface resistance (RA) depend on the magnitude of spin accumulation signals (|ΔV| or |ΔV|/I, where I is current) as detected by three-terminal Hanle measurements in CoFe/MgO/Si on insulator (SOI) devices with various MgO layer thicknesses and SOI carrier densities. We find the apparent maximum magnitude of spin polarization as a function of V{sub bias} and the correlation between the magnitude of spin accumulation signals and the shape of differential conductance (dI/dV) curves within the framework of the standard spin diffusion model. All of the experimental results can be explained by taking into account the density of states (DOS) in CoFe under the influence of the applied V{sub bias} and the quality of MgO tunnel barrier. These results indicate that it is important to consider the DOS of the ferromagnetic materials under the influence of an applied V{sub bias} and the quality of tunnel barrier when observing large spin accumulation signals in Si.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

III-V/Si on silicon-on-insulator platform for hybrid nanoelectronics

The unique properties of SOI wafers enable the integration of heterogeneous materials with distinct functionalities in different layers. In particular, III-V compound semiconductors are very attractive for low-noise and high-speed electronic and photonic components integrated on a single chip. We have developed a CMOS compatible and fully integrated solution for the integration of III-V compound semiconductors with silicon technology for optoelectronic applications. InAs compound semiconductor nanostructures are synthesized in SOI wafers using the combined ion beam implantation and millisecond liquid-phase epitaxial growth. Optoelectronic and microstructural investigations carried out on implanted, annealed, and selectively etched samples confirm the formation of high-quality III-V compound semiconductor nanostructures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electron theory of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Co-ferrite thin films

We develop an electron theory for the t{sub 2g} electrons of Co{sup 2+} ions to clarify the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) mechanism of Co-ferrite thin films by considering the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) and crystal-field (CF) potentials induced by the local symmetry around the Co ions and the global tetragonal symmetry of the film. Uniaxial and in-plane MA constants K{sub u} and K{sub 1} at 0 K, respectively, are calculated for various values of SOI and CF. We show that reasonable parameter values explain the observed PMA and that the orbital moment for the in-plane magnetization reduces to nearly half of that of the out-of-plane magnetization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗