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Notizen: Vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to investigate the hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surfaces obtained upon dissolution of the native oxide in HF and NH4F solutions. Whereas etching in aqueous HF acid produces an atomically rough surface, comparable treatment in NH4F results in atomically flat surfaces. These atomically flat surfaces are extremely well ordered and exhibit terraces which extend thousands of angstroms.

Notizen: The photodissociation of F2 in crystalline Kr is subject to only a minor cage effect—quantum yield of 0.5 at 308 nm, at T=12 K. Two-photon-induced harpooning in the same system leads to dissociation with near unit quantum efficiency; it is shown that this absorption is coherent with a giant cross section of 3(±2)×10−45 cm4 s at 275 nm. Excitation and emission spectra of charge-transfer transitions in solid Kr doped with F atoms, and solid Ar multiply doped with F/Kr are reported. The vertical excitation in F/Kr leads to a state delocalized over immediate neighbors—assigned to Kr+6F−. This state localizes on a subpicosecond time scale to the triatomic Kr+2F− configuration. The latter relaxes radiatively (τr=140 ns), to the repulsive wall of the ground state (∼1 eV above ground). The excitation in F:Kr/Ar solids shows the diatomic KrF(B←X) resonances. From the analysis of the spectrum, a harmonic frequency ω=75(±3) cm−1 is extracted for F atoms in the ground state, consistent with molecular-dynamics simulations of an octahedrally trapped F atom [ω=70(±1) cm−1]. The diatomic KrF(B) state relaxes on a time scale of 20 fs〈t〈500 fs to the mixed triatomic configuration, (ArKr)+F−, which then relaxes radiatively (τr=60 ns). The kinetic energy released upon the radiative dissociation of triatomic exciplexes generates acoustic waves, and defects, and leads to mass transport. The modes of propagation of the acoustic waves, their subsequent thermalization, and self-annealing of the solid, are directly monitored by spatially and temporally resolved transient scattering experiments. A transient loss (σ(approximately-equal-to)10−17 cm2), the origin of which is not fully understood, is observed for Kr2F isolated in solid Kr. The mass transport, and long-range migration of F atoms (∼10 lattice sites), is directly monitored in multiply doped Ar solids in which the shuttle of F atoms between Xe and Kr centers can be demonstrated.

Notizen: In the past, the doorstopper method has been used successfully for determining in situ tectonic stresses. Here an example is given about the application of the borehole slotter in the domain of tectonic stress determinations, which is an innovative strain relief technique without overcoring. Data are presented that test the reliability of the strain measurements by the borehole slotter under well-known stress conditions, that indicate the reproducibility of borehole slotter strain data compared with those from doorstopper measurements, and that demonstrate the utility of the borehole slotter even for the determination of weak tectonic strains. In northern Switzerland the borehole slotter was used in a horizontal borehole under lithostatic loading conditions only, in a rock slope area with very heterogeneous stress conditions, and in a vertical borehole where tectonic stress should be dominant. The results show that the borehole slotter is a reliable technique, which allows precise determination of in situ strains. In addition, borehole slotter measurements are less time-consuming and therefore less costly than most other stress-measuring techniques—an important aspect in a future of reduced research budgets.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉SummaryThe borehole slotter is a strain relief technique, using a recoverable strain sensor that need not be glued to the rock surface and need not be overcored. It is quicker to use than most other stress or strain measuring techniques, especially in comparison to standard overcoring techniques (Fig. 14).The borehole slotter supplied convincing results with respect to principal stress orientations, in good agreement with:(i) principal stress orientations related to lithostatic stress conditions (Dittingen 2 site),(ii) palaeostress orientations during the main stage of Jura folding only 13 to 7 Ma (Laufen 1 site),(iii) the results of neighboring door-stopper measurements (Dittingen 1 site).The borehole slotter tests do not supply stress magnitudes directly. Thus, the elastic properties of the rock mass have to be determined independently. Stress ratios from borehole dotter tests in Dittingen 2 are realistic.In conclusion, the borehole slotter is a fully developed probe to measure in situ strains in boreholes. It allows the reliable determination of a large number of data within a short time even in weakly stressed rocks. This makes the borehole slotter a powerful tool for the determination of contemporary regional tectonic stress fields.

Notizen: Abstract— This paper presents the results of an experimental testing programme to examine the uniaxial creep, low cycle fatigue and creep/fatigue interaction behaviour of a Ni-base superalloy at 700°C. The material is used in the manufacture of aeroengine turbine discs. A creep continuum damage mechanics model is shown to be capable of accurately predicting the creep and creep rupture behaviour of the material. A healing term has been incorporated into the damage mechanics model to allow the behaviour under creep/fatigue conditions to be described.

Notizen: The homes of 120 patients with asthma, 57 in Vancouver and 63 in Winnipeg, were studied. The characteristics of the homes were assessed by a questionnaire. Dust samples were collected and the indoor relative humidity was measured four times during the year covering all four seasons in both cities. Mite allergen levels were determined using monoclonal antibodies against Der p I and Der f I by the ELISA method. The mean levels of both mite allergens in mattress and floor samples in the homes in Vancouver and in Winnipeg were relatively low for all seasons. Mite allergen levels were found to be associated with city, season and individual home differences. They were significantly higher in Vancouver than in Winnipeg. Der p I and Der f I in mattress samples in both cities and Der f I in floor samples in Vancouver, varied by season. The indoor relative humidity level in the homes in Vancouver were also significantly higher than those in Winnipeg. There was, however, no significant association between the levels of indoor relative humidity and the levels of mite allergens after adjusting for variations in city, season and individual home. Although individual home differences were highly associated with mite allergen levels, only a few home characteristics were found to be related to mite allergen levels such as the type and the age of the home, the type of heating, the use of feather pillows and the number of occupants in the homes. Whether low levels of mite allergens are partially responsible for the relatively low prevalence of childhood asthma in Canada remains to be investigated.

Notizen: One of the challenges of monitoring network design in a fractured rock setting is the heterogeneity of the rocks. This paper summarizes the activities and problems associated with the monitoring of contaminated groundwater in porous, low-permeability fractured chalk in the Negev Desert, Israel. Preferential flow documented in the study area required siting the monitoring boreholes in the predominant fracture systems. Lineaments traced from aerial photographs were examined in the field to sort out the large-extension, through-going, multilayer fracture systems crossing the study area. At each proposed drilling site, these fractures were exposed below the sediment cover using trenches. Slanted boreholes were drilled at a distance from the fracture systems so that each borehole would intersect the targeted fracture plane below the water table. Based on their short recovery period and contaminated ground water, these newly drilled, fracture-oriented boreholes appeared to be better connected to preferential flowpaths crossing the industrial site than the old boreholes existing on site. Other considerations concerning the drilling and logging of monitoring boreholes in a fractured media were: (1) coring provides better documentation of the vertical fracture distribution, but dry augering is less costly and enables immediate ground water sampling and the sampling of vadose rock for contaminant analysis; (2) caliper and TV camera logs appear to provide only partial information regarding the vertical fracture distribution; and (3) the information gained by deepening the monitoring boreholes and testing fractures crossing their uncased walls has to be carefully weighed against the risk of potential cross-contamination through the monitoring boreholes, which is enhanced in fractured media.