Search Results (10)

The study of the process of laser action on powder materials requires the construction of mathematical models of the interaction of laser radiation with powder particles that take into account the features of energy supply and are applicable in a wide range of beam parameters and properties of the particle material. A model of the interaction of pulsed or pulse-periodic laser radiation with a spherical metal particle is developed. To find the temperature distribution in the particle volume, the non-stationary three-dimensional heat conductivity equation with a source term that takes into account the action of laser radiation is solved. In the plane normal to the direction of propagation of laser radiation, the change in the radiation intensity obeys the Gaussian law. It is possible to take into account changes in the intensity of laser radiation in space due to its absorption by the environment. To accelerate numerical calculations, a computational algorithm is used based on the use of vectorized data structures and parallel implementation of operations on general-purpose graphics accelerators. The features of the software implementation of the method for solving a system of difference equations that arises as a result of finite-volume discretization of the heat conductivity equation with implicit scheme by the iterative method are presented. The model developed describes the heating and melting of a spherical metal particle exposed by multi-pulsed laser radiation. The implementation of the computational algorithm developed is based on the use of vectorized data structures and GPU resources. The model and calculation results are of interest for constructing a two-phase flow model describing the interaction of test particles with laser radiation on the scale of the entire calculation domain. Such a model is implemented using a discrete-trajectory approach to modeling the motion and heat exchange of a dispersed admixture. Full article

This study presents a Hybrid Piezoelectric–Triboelectric Energy Harvester (HPTEH) composed of two coupled cantilever beams, designed to enhance energy generation and broaden bandwidth by combining piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms. A theoretical 2-DOF lumped model was developed and validated with experimental results, demonstrating good agreement. Experimental findings reveal that Beam I exhibits a softening effect, with resonance frequencies shifting to lower values and increased displacement amplitudes under higher excitation levels due to material nonlinearities and strain-induced voltage generation. Beam II, in contrast, displays a hardening effect, with resonance frequencies increasing as triboelectric interactions enhance stiffness at higher excitation levels. Coupling dynamics reveal asymmetry, with Beam I significantly influencing Beam II in the higher frequency range, while Beam II’s impact on Beam I remains minimal. Phase portraits highlight the dynamic coupling and energy transfer between the beams, particularly near their natural frequencies of 18.6 Hz and 40.6 Hz, demonstrating complex interactions and energy exchange across a broad frequency range. The synergistic interplay between triboelectric and piezoelectric mechanisms allows the HPTEH to efficiently harvest energy across a wider spectrum, underscoring its potential for advanced energy applications in diverse vibrational environments. Full article

Graded-index (GRIN) fibers are often used for making high-power Raman amplifiers. We employ numerical and semi-analytical techniques to model such amplifiers and include not only the signal’s amplification and pump’s depletion but also various nonlinear interactions between the signal and pump beams and the self-imaging effects within the GRIN fiber. We solve the coupled nonlinear equations of the pump and signal beams numerically. We also employ the variational technique to obtain simpler equations that can be solved much faster than the full model and still agree with it in most cases of practical interest. We discuss the evolution dynamics of the pump and signal beams, along with a novel process of energy exchange between the two beams because of self-imaging inside the GRIN fiber. The dependence of the signal’s amplification on various input parameters is analyzed in detail to optimize the device’s design and enhance the signal’s amplification for a given pump power and fiber length. Based on our analysis, we establish a resonant condition for the maximum energy transfer from the pump to the signal being amplified. We further show that the periodic self-imaging of the pump and signal beams inside a GRIN fiber leads to higher output powers compared to step-index fibers. Full article

BIM models are seldom used for the energy certification of buildings. This paper discusses the advantages of linking two important fields: building information modeling (BIM) and building environmental assessment methods (BEAM), presented as a rating system and a proposal for the Chilean context. The state of the art in both fields around the world is discussed, with an in-depth examination of current BIM software and related applications, followed by a discussion about previous research on integrating them. A lack of interoperability and data losses between BIM and BEM were found. A new tool is presented that addresses these challenges to ensure accurate rating system data, and this new framework is based on database exchange and takes crucial information from BIM to BEAM platforms. The development of the method includes BIM programming (API), database links, and spreadsheets for a Chilean building energy certification through a new tool, also applicable to multiclimactic zones. This new semi-automatic tool allows architects to model their design in a BIM platform and use this information as input for the energy certification process. The potential and risks of this method are discussed. Several improvements and enhancements of the energy certification process were found when incorporating this new framework in comparison to current methodologies. Full article

The present investigation focuses on the design and mathematical modeling of a microelectromechanical (MEMS) mode-localized based sensor/actuator system. This device incorporates a sensitive clamped–clamped shallow arch microbeam with an initial curvature shaped to resemble one of the first two symmetric and asymmetric modes of free oscillations of a clamped–clamped beam. The analysis reveals that with a suitable arrangement of the initial shape of the device flexible electrode and a proper tuning of the maximum initial rise and the actuating dc load enables the transition to display certain bistable behavior. This could be a better choice to build a device with a large stroke. Furthermore, the generated data showed the occurrence of mode-veering, indicating a coupling between the concerned symmetric and asymmetric modes of vibrations, and offering the possibility for such a device to be used as a mode-localized MEMS-based sensor utilizing veering and crossing phenomena. Indeed, where a certain energy is exchanged between symmetric and asymmetric modes of a microbeam, it can be utilized to serve as a foundation for the development of a new class of highly precise resonant sensors that can capture, with a certain level of precision, any of the sensed signal amplitudes. Full article

In this paper, we present a scheme for generating terahertz (THz) radiation using an array of parallel double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) subjected to a direct current (DC). The longitudinal surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the DWCNTs are coherently excited by two near-infrared laser beams with slightly different frequencies. Through numerical methods, we investigate the spectral characteristics of the SPPs in the presence of a DC current in the nanotubes. We identify high-quality plasmonic modes with a slowdown factor exceeding 300 in the terahertz frequency region. The amplification of these slow SPP modes is facilitated by the DC current in the DWCNTs, fulfilling a synchronism condition. This condition ensures that the phase velocity of the SPPs is closely matched to the drift velocity of the charge carriers, allowing for an efficient energy exchange between the current and the surface electromagnetic wave. The high-frequency currents on the nanotube walls in the DWCNT array enable the emission of THz radiation into the far field, owing to an antenna effect. Full article

We propose a scheme to exchange optical vortices beyond electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) but based on four-wave mixing (FWM) in a five-level atomic system consisting of two $\Lambda$ subsystems linked via a weak driving field. When the laser fields are strong enough, the quantum interference responsible for the EIT in each $\Lambda$ subsystem is washed out, giving rise to the Autler-Townes splitting (ATS). When only one of the control fields carries an optical vortex, it is shown that the generated FWM field obtains the vorticity of the vortex control. We distinguish between three different regimes, i.e., a pure EIT, a joint EIT-ATS, and a dual-ATS, where the optical angular momentum (OAM) translation can take place. Elaborating on the distinction between three regimes through numerical analysis, we find that the maximum energy conversion efficiency is obtained in the joint EIT-ATS and dual-ATS regimes. The latter is more favorable as the absorption losses vanish as the beam propagates into the atomic cloud. The results may find applications in the implementation of high-efficient frequency and OAM conversion devices for quantum information processing. Full article

In Canada, more than 80% of energy in the residential sector is used for space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) production. This study aimed to model and compare the performance of four different systems, using solar energy as a renewable energy source for DHW production. A novel microchannel (MC) solar thermal collector and a microchannel-based hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector (PVT) were fabricated (utilizing a microchannel heat exchanger in both cases), mathematical models were created, and performance was simulated in TRNSYS software. A water-to-water heat pump (HP) was integrated with these two collector-based solar systems, namely MCPVT-HP and MCST-HP, to improve the total solar fraction. System performance was then compared with that of a conventional solar-thermal-collector-based system and that of a PV-resistance (PV-R) system, using a monocrystalline PV collector. The heat pump was added to the systems to improve the systems’ efficiency and provide the required DHW temperatures when solar irradiance was insufficient. Comparisons were performed based on the temperature of the preheated water storage tank, the PV panel efficiency, overall system efficiency, and the achieved solar fraction. The microchannel PVT-heat pump (MCPVT-HP) system has the highest annual solar fraction among all the compared systems, at 76.7%. It was observed that this system had 10% to 35% higher solar fraction than the conventional single-tank solar-thermal-collector-based system during the wintertime in a cold climate. The performance of the two proposed MC-based systems is less sensitive than the two conventional systems to collector tilt angle in the range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees. If roof space is limited, the MCPVT-HP system is the best choice, as the MCPVT collector can perform effectively when mounted vertically on the facades of high-rise residential and commercial buildings. A comparison among five Canadian cities was also performed, and we found that direct beam radiation has a great effect on overall system solar faction. Full article

We studied the energy transfer between light beams on the director grating in a hybrid photorefractive liquid crystal (LC) cell assuming the propagation of light waves in the cell to be in the Mauguin regime. This approach makes it possible to trace the change of the gain coefficient dependence on the director grating spacing with the change of the LC director twist. Conditions for the LC flexoelectric parameters and the director helix pitch necessary for transformation the gain coefficient dependence from the nematic to cholesteric type are obtained. The influence of the director splay and bend deformations on the gain coefficient is also studied. Full article

The concept and structure of the Simulation of Spectra (SOS) code is described starting with an introduction to the physics background of the project and the development of a simulation tool enabling the modeling of charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) and associated passive background spectra observed in hot fusion plasmas. The generic structure of the code implies its general applicability to any fusion device, the development is indeed based on over two decades of spectroscopic observations and validation of derived plasma data. Four main types of active spectra are addressed in SOS. The first type represents thermal low-Z impurity ions and the associated spectral background. The second type of spectra represent slowing-down high energy ions created from either thermo-nuclear fusion reactions or ions from injected high energy neutral beams. Two other modules are dedicated to CXRS spectra representing bulk plasma ions (H⁺, D⁺, or T⁺) and beam emission spectroscopy (BES) or Motional Stark Effect (MSE) spectrum appearing in the same spectral range. The main part of the paper describes the physics background for the underlying emission processes: active and passive CXRS emission, continuum radiation, edge line emission, halo and plume effect, or finally the charge exchange (CX) cross-section effects on line shapes. The description is summarized by modeling the fast ions emissions, e.g., either of the α particles of the fusion reaction or of the beam ions itself. Full article