Transformation as a Design Process and Runtime Architecture for High Integrity Software (open access)

Transformation as a Design Process and Runtime Architecture for High Integrity Software

We have discussed two aspects of creating high integrity software that greatly benefit from the availability of transformation technology, which in this case is manifest by the requirement for a sophisticated backtracking parser. First, because of the potential for correctly manipulating programs via small changes, an automated non-procedural transformation system can be a valuable tool for constructing high assurance software. Second, modeling the processing of translating data into information as a, perhaps, context-dependent grammar leads to an efficient, compact implementation. From a practical perspective, the transformation process should begin in the domain language in which a problem is initially expressed. Thus in order for a transformation system to be practical it must be flexible with respect to domain-specific languages. We have argued that transformation applied to specification results in a highly reliable system. We also attempted to briefly demonstrate that transformation technology applied to the runtime environment will result in a safe and secure system. We thus believe that the sophisticated multi-lookahead backtracking parsing technology is central to the task of being in a position to demonstrate the existence of HIS.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Bespalko, Stephen J. & Winter, Victor L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Strain and Texture in Al-Interconnect Wires Measured by X-Ray Microbeam Diffraction (open access)

Strain and Texture in Al-Interconnect Wires Measured by X-Ray Microbeam Diffraction

The local strain and texture in Al interconnect wires have been investigated using white and monochromatic x-ray microbeams on the MHATTCAT undulator beam line at the Advanced Photon Source. Intergrain and intragrain orientations were obtained with ~0.01 degree sensitivity using white beam measurements on wide Al pads (~100 Mu-m) and thin (2 Mu-m) Al wires. Orientation changes of up to 1 degree were found within individual grains of the (111) textured Al interconnects. Deviatoric strain measurements indicate small intragranular strain variations, but intergranular strain variations were found to be quite large.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Budai, J. D.; Chung, J.-S.; Ice, G. E.; Larson, B. C.; Lowe, W. P.; Tamura, N. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Detection of Infrared Photons Using the Electronic Stress in Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces (open access)

Detection of Infrared Photons Using the Electronic Stress in Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces

It is well known that the work function of metals decreases when they are placed in a nonpolar liquid. A similar decrease occurs when the metal is placed into contact with a semiconductor forming a Schottky barrier. We report on a new method for detecting photons using the stress caused by photo-electrons emitted from a metal film surface in contact with a semiconductor microstructure. The photoelectrons diffuse into the microstructure and produce an electronic stress. The photon detection results from the measurement of the photo-induced bending of the microstructure. Internal photoemission has been used in the past to detect photons, however, in those cases the detection was accomplished by measuring the current due to photoelectrons and not due to electronic stress. Small changes in position (displacement) of microstructures are routinely measured in atomic force microscopy (AFM) where atomic imaging of surfaces relies on the measurement of small changes (< l0{sup -9} m) in the bending of microcantilevers. In the present work we studied the photon response of Si microcantilevers coated with a thin film of Pt. The Si microcantilevers were 500 nm thick and had a 30 nm layer of Pt. Photons with sufficient energies produce electrons from the platinum-silicon …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Datskos, P. G.; Datskou, I.; Egert, C. M. & Rjic, S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemical Detection Based on Adsorption-Induced and Photo-Induced Stresses in MEMS Devices (open access)

Chemical Detection Based on Adsorption-Induced and Photo-Induced Stresses in MEMS Devices

Recently there has been an increasing demand to perform real-time in-situ chemical detection of hazardous materials, contraband chemicals, and explosive chemicals. Currently, real-time chemical detection requires rather large analytical instrumentation that are expensive and complicated to use. The advent of inexpensive mass produced MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) devices opened-up new possibilities for chemical detection. For example, microcantilevers were found to respond to chemical stimuli by undergoing changes in their bending and resonance frequency even when a small number of molecules adsorb on their surface. In our present studies, we extended this concept by studying changes in both the adsorption-induced stress and photo-induced stress as target chemicals adsorb on the surface of microcantilevers. For example, microcantilevers that have adsorbed molecules will undergo photo-induced bending that depends on the number of absorbed molecules on the surface. However, microcantilevers that have undergone photo-induced bending will adsorb molecules on their surfaces in a distinctly different way. Depending on the photon wavelength and microcantilever material, the microcantilever can be made to bend by expanding or contracting the irradiated surface. This is important in cases where the photo-induced stresses can be used to counter any adsorption-induced stresses and increase the dynamic range. Coating the surface of the …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Datskos, P. G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reliability Testing of Polysilicon For MEMs Devices (open access)

Reliability Testing of Polysilicon For MEMs Devices

Mission critical applications of MEMS devices require knowledge of the distribution in their material properties and long-term reliability of the small-scale structures. This project reports on a new testing program at Sandia to quantify the strength distribution using samples that reflect the dimensions of critical MEMS components. The strength of polysilicon fabricated with Sandia's SUMMiT 4-layer process was successfully measured using samples with gage sections 2.5 {micro}m thick by 1.7 {micro}m wide and lengths of 15 and 25 {micro}m. These tensile specimens have a freely moving pivot on one end that anchors the sample to the silicon die and prevents off axis loading during testing. Each sample is loaded in uniaxial tension by pulling laterally with a flat tipped diamond in a computer-controlled Nanoindenter. The stress-strain curve is calculated using the specimen cross section and gage length dimensions verified by measuring against a standard in the SEM. The first 48 samples had a means strength of 2.24 {+-} 0.35 GPa. Fracture strength measurements grouped into three strength levels, which matched three failure modes observed in post mortem examinations. The seven samples in the highest strength group failed in the gage section (strength of 2.77 {+-} 0.04 GPa), the moderate strength …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: LaVan, D.A. & Buchheit, T.E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Anticipatory Model of Cavitation (open access)

An Anticipatory Model of Cavitation

The Anticipatory System (AS) formalism developed by Robert Rosen provides some insight into the problem of embedding intelligent behavior in machines. AS emulates the anticipatory behavior of biological systems. AS bases its behavior on its expectations about the near future and those expectations are modified as the system gains experience. The expectation is based on an internal model that is drawn from an appeal to physical reality. To be adaptive, the model must be able to update itself. To be practical, the model must run faster than real-time. The need for a physical model and the requirement that the model execute at extreme speeds, has held back the application of AS to practical problems. Two recent advances make it possible to consider the use of AS for practical intelligent sensors. First, advances in transducer technology make it possible to obtain previously unavailable data from which a model can be derived. For example, acoustic emissions (AE) can be fed into a Bayesian system identifier that enables the separation of a weak characterizing signal, such as the signature of pump cavitation precursors, from a strong masking signal, such as a pump vibration feature. The second advance is the development of extremely fast, …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Allgood, G. O.; Dress Jr., W. B.; Hylton, J. O. & Kercel, S. W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Infrared Imaging of Temperature Distribution in a High Temperature X-Ray Diffraction Furnace (open access)

Infrared Imaging of Temperature Distribution in a High Temperature X-Ray Diffraction Furnace

High Temperature X-ray Diffraction (HTXRD) is a very powerful tool for studies of reaction kinetics, phase transformations, and lattice thermal expansion of advanced materials. Accurate temperature measurement is a critical part of the technique. Traditionally, thermocouples, thermistors, and optical pyrometers have been used for temperature control and measurement and temperature could only be measured at a single point. Infrared imaging was utilized in this study to characterize the thermal gradients resulting from various sample and furnace configurations in a commercial strip heater furnace. Furnace configurations include a metallic strip heater, with and without a secondary surround heater, or a surround heater alone. Sample configurations include low and high thermal conductivity powders and solids. The IR imaging results have been used to calibrate sample temperatures in the HTXRD furnace.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Payzant, E. A. & Wang, H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Feature, Event, and Process Screening and Scenario Development for the Yucca Mountain Total System Performance Assessment (open access)

Feature, Event, and Process Screening and Scenario Development for the Yucca Mountain Total System Performance Assessment

Scenario development has two primary purposes in the design and documentation of post-closure performance assessments in a regulatory setting. First, scenario development ensures a sufficiently comprehensive consideration of the possible future states of the system. Second, scenario development identifies the important scenarios that must be considered in quantitative analyses of the total system performance assessment (TSPA). Section 2.0 of this report describes the scenario development process. Steps in the process are described in Section 2.1, and terms introduced in this section are defined in Section 2.2. The electronic database used to document the process is described in Section 3, and Section 4 provides a summary of the current status of the YMP scenario development work. Section 5 contains acknowledgments, and Section 6 contains a list of the references cited.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Barnard, R.; Barr, G.; Burch, P.; Freeze, G.; Rechard, R.; Schenker, A. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Growth and Structure of Metallic Barrier Layer and Interconnect Films I: Experiments (open access)

Growth and Structure of Metallic Barrier Layer and Interconnect Films I: Experiments

We present experimented results directed at understanding the growth and structure of metallic barrier layer and interconnect films. Numerical simulation results associated with this experimental work are presented in an accompanying paper in these proceedings. Here, thin films of Al, Ti, Cu and Ta have been grown by magnetron sputtering onto oxidized Si substrates. Using a specially-constructed substrate holder, the orientation of the substrate with respect to the growth direction was varied from horizontal to vertical. Films were grown at both low and high argon pressure; in the case of Ta, the cathode power was varied as well. The film structure and in particular the surface roughness was measured by X-ray reflectance and also by atomic force microscopy. We find that the surface roughness increases markedly with orientation angle in the case of Ta and Cu films, and in Ti films grown at high argon pressure. At low pressure, however, the Ti film surface roughness remains constant for all substrate orientations. No variation in roughness with either orientation angle or argon pressure was observed in the Al films. These results suggest that, under certain circumstances, shadowing effects and/or grain orientation (i.e., texture) competition during growth can give rise to lower …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Baumann, F.H.; Gilmer, G.H.; O'Sullivan, P.L.; Sapjeta, J.; Torre, J.D. & Windt, D.L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Epitaxial Growth of Yb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Buffer Layers on Biaxially Textured-Ni (100) Substrates by Sol-Gel Process (open access)

Epitaxial Growth of Yb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Buffer Layers on Biaxially Textured-Ni (100) Substrates by Sol-Gel Process

In order to develop an alternative buffer layer architecture using the sol-gel process to produce YBCO (YBa2Cu307+) coated conductors, Yb203 has been chosen as the candidate material. Buffer layers of fi03 were epitaxkdly grown on biaxially textured-Ni (100) substrates by the sol gel process for the first time. The ~03 precursor solution was prepared from an alkoxide sol-gel route in 2-xnetho~ethanol and was deposited on textured-Ni (100) substrates by either spin coating or dip coating methods. The amorphous film was then processed at 1160oC under flowing (96%)MH2(4%) gas mixture for one hour. The fi03 iihn exhibited a strong c-axis orientation on the Ni (100) substrates. The phi and omega scans indicated good in plane and out of plane orientations. The X-ray (222) pde figure showed a cube-on-cube epitaxy. High current YBCO films were grown on the Y&03 sol-gel buffered-Ni substrates.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Beach, D. B.; Chirayil, T. G.; Christen, D. K.; Feenstra, R.; Goyal, A.; Kroeger, D. M. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Environmental Justice Assessment for Transportation (open access)

Environmental Justice Assessment for Transportation

Application of Executive Order 12898 to risk assessment of highway or rail transport of hazardous materials has proven difficult; the location and conditions affecting the propagation of a plume of hazardous material released in a potential accident are unknown, in general. Therefore, analyses have only been possible in geographically broad or approximate manner. The advent of geographic information systems and development of software enhancements at Sandia National Laboratories have made kilometer-by-kilometer analysis of populations tallied by U.S. Census Blocks along entire routes practicable. Tabulations of total, or racially/ethnically distinct, populations close to a route, its alternatives, or the broader surrounding area, can then be compared and differences evaluated statistically. This paper presents methods of comparing populations and their racial/ethnic compositions using simple tabulations, histograms and Chi Squared tests for statistical significance of differences found. Two examples of these methods are presented: comparison of two routes and comparison of a route with its surroundings.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Mills, G.S. & Neuhauser, K.S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Self-Diffusion Along Step-Bottoms on Pt(111) (open access)

Self-Diffusion Along Step-Bottoms on Pt(111)

First-principles total energies of periodic vicinals are used to estimate barriers for Pt-adatom diffusion along straight and kinked steps on Pt(111), and around a corner where straight steps intersect. In all cases studied, hopping diffusion has a lower barrier than concerted substitution. In conflict with simulations of dendritic Pt island formation on Pt(111), hopping from a corner site to a step whose riser is a (111)-micro facet is predicted to be more facile than to one whose riser is a (100).
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Feibelman, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemical Bonding in Tl Cuprates Studied by X-Ray Photoemission (open access)

Chemical Bonding in Tl Cuprates Studied by X-Ray Photoemission

Epitaxial thin films of the Tl cuprate superconductors Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8}, Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10}, and TL{sub 0.78}Bi{sub 0.22}Ba{sub 0.4}Sr{sub 1.6}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 9{minus}{delta}} are studied with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. These data, together with previous measurements in this lab of Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}CuO{sub 6+{delta}} and TlBa{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}}, comprise a comprehensive data set for a comparative study of Tl cuprates with a range of chemical and electronic properties. In the Cu 2p spectra, a larger energy separation between the satellite and main peaks (E{sub s}-E{sub m}) and a lower intensity ratio (I{sub s}/I{sub m}) are found to correlate with higher values of T{sub c}. Analysis of these spectra within a simple configuration interaction model suggests that higher values of T{sub c} are related to low values of the O 2p {r_arrow} Cu 3d charge transfer energy. In the O 1s region, a smaller bond length between Ba and Cu-O planar oxygen is found to correlate with a lower binding energy for the signal associated with Cu-O bonding, most likely resulting from the increased polarization screening by Ba{sup 2+} ions. For samples near optimum doping, maximum T{sub c} is observed to occur when the Tl 4f{sub …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Lao, J.Y.; Overmyer, D.L.; Ren, Z.F.; Siegal, M.P.; Vasquez, R.P. & Wang, J.H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Non-Shrinking Sol-Gel Type Polymers by Ring Opening Polymerizations (open access)

Non-Shrinking Sol-Gel Type Polymers by Ring Opening Polymerizations

We have designed a new class of cyclic siloxane compounds that behave as sol-gel systems when ring open polymerized using a hydroxide base. These monomers polymerize through chain growth polymerization. unlike conventional alkoxysilane sol-gel precursors, to form sol-gel polymers. They do not require solvent or water for polymerization, show no visible shrinkage or cracking during polymerization and are thermally stable. We have successfully utilized these materials in encapsulation of microelectronics. Current efforts are focused toward expanding this family of ROP monomers and optimization of their mechanical properties.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Loy, D.A. & Rahimian, K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Aerodynamics: Three-Dimensional, Unsteady, and Separated Flow Influences (open access)

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Aerodynamics: Three-Dimensional, Unsteady, and Separated Flow Influences

Surface pressure data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's ''Unsteady Aerodynamics Experiment'' were analyzed to characterize the impact of three-dimensionality, unsteadiness, and flow separation effects observed to occur on downwind horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). Surface pressure and strain gage data were collected from two rectangular planform blades with S809 airfoil cross-sections, one flat and one twisted. Both blades were characterized by the maximum leading edge suction pressure and by the azimuth, velocity, and yaw at which it occurred. The occurrence of dynamic stall at all but the inboard station (30% span) shows good quantitative agreement with the theoretical limits on inflow velocity and yaw that should yield dynamic stall events. A full three-dimensional characterization of the surface pressure topographies combined with flow visualization data from surface mounted tufts offer key insights into the three-dimensional processes involved in the unsteady separation process and may help to explain the discrepancies observed with force measurements at 30% span. The results suggest that quasi-static separation and dynamic stall analysis methods relying on purely two-dimensional flow characterizations may not be capable of simulating the complex three-dimensional flows observed with these data.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Robinson, M. C.; Hand, M. M.; Simms, D. A. & Schreck, S. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
MAGNETIZATION REVERSAL IN MELT-QUENCHED NdFeB. (open access)

MAGNETIZATION REVERSAL IN MELT-QUENCHED NdFeB.

Melt-quenched NdFeB is an important modern permanent magnet material. However there still remains doubt as to the magnetization reversal mechanism which controls coercivity in material prepared by this processing route. To investigate this problem a new technique based on measurements of reversible magnetization along recoil curves has been used. The technique identifies the presence of free domain walls during magnetic reversal. For this study samples of isotropic (MQI), hot pressed (MQII) and die upset (MQIII) melt-quenched NdFeB were examined. The results indicate that in MQI free domain walls are not present during reversal and the reversal mechanism is most likely incoherent rotation of some form. Free domain walls are also not present during reversal in the majority of grains of MQII, even though initial magnetization measurements indicate that the grain size is large enough to support them. In MQIII free domain walls are present during reversal. These results are attributed to the reduced domain wall nucleation field in MQIII compared with MQII and the increased dipolar interactions in MQIII.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: CREW,D.C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
AnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4} Thin-Film Phosphors Grown by Pulsed Laser Ablation (open access)

AnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4} Thin-Film Phosphors Grown by Pulsed Laser Ablation

The growth and properties of undoped and Mn-doped ZnGa{sub 2}O{sub 4} thin-film phosphors on (100) MgO and glass substrates using pulsed laser ablation were investigated. Blue-white and green emission were observed for as-deposited undoped and Mn-doped films, respectively. Luminescent properties as well as crystallinity were considerably affected by processing conditions and film stoichiometry. Films with enhanced luminescent characteristics were obtained on single crystal substrates without post-annealing.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Lee, Y. E.; Rouleau, C. M.; Park, C. & Norton, D. P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Magnetization reversal in melt-quenched NdFeB (open access)

Magnetization reversal in melt-quenched NdFeB

Melt-quenched NdFeB is an important modern permanent magnet material. However, there still remains doubt as to the magnetization reversal mechanism which controls coercivity in material prepared by this processing route. To investigate this problem a new technique based on measurements of reversible magnetization along recoil curves has been used. The technique identifies the presence of free domain walls during magnetic reversal. For this study samples of isotropic (MQI), hot pressed (MQII) and die upset (MQIII) melt-quenched NdFeB were examined. The results indicate that in MQI free domain walls are not present during reversal and the reversal mechanism is most likely incoherent rotation of some form. Free domain walls are also not present during reversal in the majority of grains of MQII, even though initial magnetization measurements indicate that the grain size is large enough to support them. In MQIII free domain walls are present during reversal. These results are attributed to the reduced domain wall nucleation field in MQIII compared with MQII and the increased dipolar interactions in MQIII.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Crew, D.C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ultra-Responsive Thermal Sensors for the Detection of Explosives Using Calorimetric Spectroscopy (CalSpec) (open access)

Ultra-Responsive Thermal Sensors for the Detection of Explosives Using Calorimetric Spectroscopy (CalSpec)

We have developed a novel chemical detection technique based on infrared micro-calorimetric spectroscopy that can be used to identify the presence of trace amounts of very low vapor pressure target compounds. Unlike numerous recently developed low-cost sensor approaches, the selectivity is derived from the unique differential temperature spectrum and does not require the questionable reliability of highly selective coatings to achieve the required specificity. This is accomplished by obtaining the infrared micro-calorimetric absorption spectrum of a small number of molecules absorbed on the surface of a thermal detector after illumination through a scanning monochromator. We have obtained infrared micro-calorimetric spectra for explosives such as TNT over the wavelength region 2.5 to 14.5 Mu-m. Thus both sophisticated and relatively crude explosive compounds and components are detectable with these ultra-sensitive thermal-mechanical micro-structures. In addition to the above mentioned spectroscopy technique and associated data, the development of these advanced thermal detectors is also presented in detail.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Datskos, P. G.; Datskou, I.; Marlar, T. A. & Rajic, S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Z-Contrast STEM Imaging and EELS of CdSe Nanocrystals: Towards the Analysis of Individual Nanocrystal Surfaces (open access)

Z-Contrast STEM Imaging and EELS of CdSe Nanocrystals: Towards the Analysis of Individual Nanocrystal Surfaces

We have applied Atomic Number Contract Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (Z-Contrast STEM) and STEM/EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) towards the study of colloidal CdSe semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in MEH-PPV polymer films. Unlike the case of conventional phase-contrast High Resolution TEM, Z-Contrast images are direct projections of the atomic structure. Hence they can be interpreted without the need for sophisticated image simulation and the image intensity is a direct measure of the thickness of a nanocrystal. Our thickness measurements are in agreement with the predicted faceted shape of these nanocrystals. Our unique 1.3A resolution STEM has successfully resolve3d the sublattice structure of these CdSe nanocrystals. In [010] projection (the polar axis in the image plane) we can distinguish Se atom columns from Cd columns. Consequently we can study the effects of lattice polarity on the nanocrystal morphology. Furthermore, since the STEM technique does not rely on diffraction, it is superbly suited to the study of non-periodic detail, such as the surface structure of the nanocrystals. EELS measurements on individual nanocrystals indicate a significant amount (equivalet to 0.5-1 surface monolayers) of oxygen on the nanocrystals, despite processing in an inert atmosphere. Spatially resolved measurements at 7A resolution suggest a surface oxide layer. …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Erwin, M.; Kadavanich, A. V.; Kippeny, T.; Pennycook, S. J. & Rosenthal, S. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Laser Field Imaging Through Fourier Transform Heterodyne (open access)

Laser Field Imaging Through Fourier Transform Heterodyne

The authors present a detection process capable of directly imaging the transverse amplitude, phase, and Doppler shift of coherent electromagnetic fields. Based on coherent detection principles governing conventional heterodyned RADAR/LADAR systems, Fourier Transform Heterodyne incorporates transverse spatial encoding of the reference local oscillator for image capture. Appropriate selection of spatial encoding functions allows image retrieval by way of classic Fourier manipulations. Of practical interest: (1) imaging may be accomplished with a single element detector/sensor requiring no additional scanning or moving components, (2) as detection is governed by heterodyne principles, near quantum limited performance is achievable, (3) a wide variety of appropriate spatial encoding functions exist that may be adaptively configured in real-time for applications requiring optimal detection, and (4) the concept is general with the applicable electromagnetic spectrum encompassing the RF through optical.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Cooke, Bradly J.; Laubscher, Bryan E.; Olivas, Nicholas L.; Galbraith, Amy E.; Strauss, Charlie E. & Grubler, Andrew C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects of Damage on Hydrogen-Implant-Induced Thin-Film Separation from Bulk Silicon Carbide (open access)

The Effects of Damage on Hydrogen-Implant-Induced Thin-Film Separation from Bulk Silicon Carbide

Exfoliation of Sic by hydrogen implantation and subsequent annealing forms the basis for a thin-film separation process which, when combined with hydrophilic wafer bonding, can be exploited to produce silicon-carbide-on-insulator, SiCOI. Sic thin films produced by this process exhibit unacceptably high resistivity because defects generated by the implant neutralize electrical carriers. Separation occurs because of chemical interaction of hydrogen with dangling bonds within microvoids created by the implant, and physical stresses due to gas-pressure effects during post-implant anneal. Experimental results show that exfoliation of Sic is dependent upon the concentration of implanted hydrogen, but the damage generated by the implant approaches a point when exfoliation is, in fact, retarded. This is attributed to excessive damage at the projected range of the implant which inhibits physical processes of implant-induced cleaving. Damage is controlled independently of hydrogen dosage by elevating the temperature of the SiC during implant in order to promote dynamic annealing. The resulting decrease in damage is thought to promote growth of micro-cracks which form a continuous cleave. Channeled H{sup +} implantation enhances the cleaving process while simultaneously minimizing residual damage within the separated film. It is shown that high-temperature irradiation and channeling each reduces the hydrogen fluence required to …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Gregory, R. B.; Holland, O. W.; Thomas, D. K.; Wetteroth, T. A. & Wilson, S. R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Magnetic Exchange-Coupling in CoPt/Co Bilayer Thin Films (open access)

Magnetic Exchange-Coupling in CoPt/Co Bilayer Thin Films

Thin film CoPt/Co bilayers have been prepared as a model system to investigate the relationship between microstructure and exchange coupling in two-phase hard/soft composite magnets. CoPt films, with a thickness of 25 nm, were sputter-deposited from a nearly equiatomic alloy target onto oxidized Si wafers. The films were subsequently annealed at 700 C and fully transformed from the FCC phase to the magnetically hard, ordered L1{sub 0} phase. The coercivity of the films increased rapidly with annealing time until it reached a plateau at approximately 9.5 kOe. Fully-ordered CoPt films were then used as substrates for deposition of Co layers, with thicknesses in the range of 2.8--225 nm, in order to produce the hard/soft composite bilayers. As predicted by theory, the magnetic coherency between the soft Co phase and the hard, ordered CoPt phase decreased as the thickness of the soft phase increased. This decrease in coupling was clearly seen in the magnetic hysteresis loops of the bilayers. At small thicknesses of Co (a few nanometers), the shape of the loop was one of a uniform material showing no indication of the presence of two phases with extremely different coercivities. At larger Co thicknesses, constricted loops, i.e., ones showing the …
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Kim, J.; Barmak, K.; Lewis, L. H.; Crew, D. C. & Welch, D. O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Analysis and System Design Framework for Infrared Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometers (open access)

Analysis and System Design Framework for Infrared Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometers

The authors present a preliminary analysis and design framework developed for the evaluation and optimization of infrared, Imaging Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer (SHS) electro-optic systems. Commensurate with conventional interferometric spectrometers, SHS modeling requires an integrated analysis environment for rigorous evaluation of system error propagation due to detection process, detection noise, system motion, retrieval algorithm and calibration algorithm. The analysis tools provide for optimization of critical system parameters and components including : (1) optical aperture, f-number, and spectral transmission, (2) SHS interferometer grating and Littrow parameters, and (3) image plane requirements as well as cold shield, optical filtering, and focal-plane dimensions, pixel dimensions and quantum efficiency, (4) SHS spatial and temporal sampling parameters, and (5) retrieval and calibration algorithm issues.
Date: April 5, 1999
Creator: Cooke, Bradly J.; Smith, Barham W.; Laubscher, Bryan E.; Villeneuve, Pierre V. & Briles, Scott D.
System: The UNT Digital Library