Assessment of Maximum Sensitivity of Acoustic Emission Technique

Knowledge of the ultimate sensitivity of the acoustic emission (AE) method is useful in studies of the mechanisms of plastic deformation of the structure, the formation and development of micro-, meso- and macro-cracks, as well as continuous processes, such as the outflow of liquids and gases, friction and a number of others. Analysis of literary data on assessment of limit sensitivity at identification of AE sources was carried out. It has been shown that when using standard resonant piezoelectric transducers with a frequency bandwidth of 30 ± 10 kHz, the ultimate sensitivity is the fraction of the nanometer in the displacement of the surface of the object and the unit micron of the size of the microcrack during its formation and hopping development. When testing industrial facilities, in many cases the level of external noise is significantly higher, the detection of defects decreases and amounts to a fraction of a millimeter. However, an increase in the energy and amplitude of AE signals as the defect develops in the vast majority of cases leads to the fact that when a crack reaches dimensions that begin to threaten the strength of the monitored object, AE signals are reliably detected by the equipment. Knowledge of the maximum sensitivity of the AE method makes it possible to compare it with other NDT methods by this parameter.

Исследование шумовых характеристик вертикально-излучающих лазеров с ромбовидной токовой апертурой для применения в компактном квантовом цезиевом магнитометре

The possibility of using vertical-emitting lasers with intracavity contacts (IC-VCSEL) and a rhomboidal oxide current aperture for creating a non-zero magnetic field optically pumped atomic magnetometers (OPM) with a 133Cs vapor cell for magnetoencephalographic (MEG) systems were demonstrated. Relative intensity noise (RIN) and polarization resolved RIN of the IC-VCSEL in the 895 nm range with different mirror losses (linewidth) in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 100 kHz were experimentally investigated. Lasers with low mirror loss (narrow linewidth) have polarization resolved RIN comparable to amplitude noise. For IC-VCSEL with an output optical power of 0.8 mW and a linewidth of 55 MHz, the noise level measured is 148 dB/Hz in 1 Hz bandwidth at 40 kHz frequency. The ultimate sensitivity of OPM based on two-beam MX scheme with studied VCSELs was estimated as ~ 11 fT/√Hz.

BRAND – Search for BSM physics at TeV scale by exploring transverse polarization of electrons emitted in neutron decay

Neutron and nuclear beta decay correlation coefficients are linearly sensitive to the exotic scalar and tensor interactions that are not included in the Standard Model (SM). The proposed experiment will measure simultaneously 11 neutron correlation coefficients (a, a, B, D, H, L, N, R, S, U, V) where 7 of them (H, L, N, R, S, U, V) depend on the transverse electron polarization – a quantity that vanishes for the SM weak interaction. The neutron decay correlation coefficients H, L, S, U, V were never attempted experimentally before. The expected ultimate sensitivity of the proposed experiment that currently takes off on the cold neutron beamline PF1B at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France, is comparable to that of the planned electron spectrum shape measurements in neutron and nuclear β decays but offers completely different systematics and additional sensitivity to imaginary parts of the scalar and tensor couplings.

Modified Screw Jack for Lifting Operation in Industrial Setting

With the increasing level of technology, researchers all over the world are working continuously to improve and implement better and robust design of materials at workplace for productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. Detailed design procedure of a quick lifting screw jack is presented in this paper. The design is fundamentally a modification of the conventional scissor jack. The problems associated with the conventional jacks are the ergonomic snags experienced by operators due to prolonged bending or squatting positions during operation. These problems of waist pain and backaches are as a result of continuous turning of the wrench or crank shaft in an uncomfortable position for a long period. These led to the design and modification of quick lifting screw jack with gear arrangements that are safe, reliable and capable of raising or lowering heavy load with little effort. The results showed that the introduction of the crank and gear mechanism would help reduce difficulty in operation, reduce time, increase efficiency and effectively control the difficulties concomitant with Ergonomics - which is an ultimate sensitivity in design process.