Study on signal intensity of low field nuclear magnetic resonance via an indirect coupling measurement

We carry out an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） experiment based on high-T c superconducting quantum interference devices （SQUIDs）. The measurement field is in a micro-tesla range （～10 μT-100 μT） and the experiment is conducted in a home-made magnetically-shielded-room （MSR）. The measurements are performed by the indirect coupling method in which the signal of nuclei precession is indirectly coupled to the SQUID through a tuned copper coil transformer. In such an arrangement, the interferences of applied measurement and polarization field to the SQUID sensor are avoided and the performance of the SQUID is not destroyed. In order to compare the detection sensitivity obtained by using the SQUID with that achieved using a conventional low-noise-amplifier, we perform the measurements using a commercial room temperature amplifier. The results show that in a wide frequency range （～1 kHz-10 kHz） the measurements with the SQUID sensor exhibit a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Further, we discuss the dependence of NMR peak magnitude on measurement frequency. We attribute the reduction of the peak magnitude at high frequency to the increased field inhomogeneity as the measurement field increases. This is verified by compensating the field gradient using three sets of gradient coils.

Study of vortex in flow fields induced by surface dielectric barrier discharge actuator at low pressure based on Q criterion

Flow fields induced by a surface dielectric barrier discharge actuator at low pressure of 7 kPa are measured by particle image velocimetry. The distribution of local vortices in the flow field is revealed by the Q criterion. The reason for the generation of vortices is analyzed and the influence of pulse frequency and duty cycle on vortices is studied. The results show that the Q criterion can reveal the small-scale vortices, which cannot be indicated by the streamline. The direction transition zone where the induced jet moves from the vertical to the tangential and the shear layer between the jet and stationary air are prone to the generation of strong vortices. The influence of pulse frequency on vortices is not obvious, but the variation of duty cycle can significantly affect the strength and distribution of vortices.

Grain refinement of as-cast superalloy IN718 under action of low voltage pulsed magnetic field

The grain refinement of superalloy IN718 under the action of low voltage pulsed magnetic field was investigated. The experimental results show that fine equiaxed grains are acquired under the action of low voltage pulsed magnetic field. The refinement effect of the pulsed magnetic field is affected by the melt cooling rate and superheating. The decrease of cooling rate and superheating enhance the refinement effect of the low voltage pulsed magnetic field. The magnetic force and the melt flow during solidification are modeled and simulated to reveal the grain refinement mechanism. It is considered that the melt convection caused by the pulsed magnetic field, as well as cooling rate and superheating contributes to the refinement of solidified grains.

In-situ Monitoring of Hydration Kinetics of Cement Pastes by Low-field NMR

Low field NMR technique was applied to investigate the hydration of cement pastes with different water to cement ratios or addition of superplasticizer. As a nondestructive method, this technique can be used to monitor the hydration kinetics process by following the changes of longitudinal relaxation time （T1） of water constrained in the pastes. The experimental results indicate that the T1 distributions of water in the fresh paste normally exhibite bimodal distribution, where the large peak is corresponding to the free water while the small one is contributed by the water stored in the flocculations. Time dependence of the weighted average T1 has a good agreement with the hydration process and could be divided into four stages, i e, initial period, dormant period, accelerated period and steady period. The hydration mechanism of each stage was described based on the theory of cement chemistry. In addition, the total signal intensity, which is proportional to the content of the physically bound water in the samples, decrease successively during the hydration reflecting the consumption of physically bound water by hydration reactions.

Assessment the Optimal Effect of Time of Repetition: Extrinsic Pulse Parameter on Gd-DTPA Enhanced, Spin-Echo T1-Weighted MR Images under Low Magnetic Field Strength

The contrast agent concentration, the time of repetition (TR) and magnetic field strength are significant parameters that influence for the accurate signal intensity (SI) in quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate and refine the dependence and the optimal effect of Time of Repetition (TR) on the relationship between signal intensity and Gd-DTPA (Gadolinium-diethylene-triaminepenta-acetic acid) concentration, after applying two-dimensional (2D) Spin Echo (SE) pulse sequence under low-field MRI. In addition to that, the optimal concentration of Gd-DTPA at given sequence parameters at low-field MRI was also evaluated. A water-filled phantom was constructed for a range of Gd-DTPA concentrations (0 - 6 mmol/L) and the mean signal intensities (SIs) were assessed in the defined region of interest on T1-weighted images with different TR values (40 - 2000 ms). The generated signal-concentration curves for Gd-DTPA revealed that increasing TR was associated with the increase of the overall SIs and the maximum relationship between SI to concentration. Moreover, the required Gd-DTPA concentration to produce the maximum SI was associated to decrease with the increase of TR. In addition to this, the application of beyond 100 ms TR values in this study with relatively higher concentrations (beyond 1 - 2 mmol/L) has resulted predominantly non-linear patterns in the signal-concentration curves and it appears the saturation or decay of the SIs due to T2 effect. From these results, it can be suggested that the selection of relatively lower Gd-DTPA concentration ( mmol/L) with less than 800 ms (<800 ms) TR values can produce a better linear relationship between the concertation and SIs in T1-weighted SE low field contrast-enhanced MRI. Furthermore, this study also outlined the significance and necessity of the optimization of TR in SE sequence in low field MRI prior to a particular examination.

EFFECT OF LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON THE AS-CASTING MICROSTRUCTURES AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HDC 2024 ALUMINUM ALLOY

The influences of the low frequency electromagnetic field on the horizontal direct chill casting process were investigated experimentally. Ingots of 2024 aluminum alloy with a cross size of 40 mm× 200 mm were produced by the conventional horizontal chill casting process and low frequency electromagnetic horizontal chill casting processre- spectively. The as-cast structures and the mechanical property of the ingots were examined. The results showed that the low frequency electromagnetic field could sub- stantially refine the microstructures and pronouncedly reduce the macrosegregation in the horizontal direct chill casting process. Moreover, the surface quality of the ingot was prominently improved by the low frequency electromagnetic field. The fracture strength and elongation percentage of the ingot was increased with the low frequency electromagnetic field.

Bearing capacity of surface circular footings on granular material under low gravity fields

Low gravity fields have been simulated through magnetic acceleration to conduct experimental study on bearing capacity of circular footings on a type of crushable planetary regolith simulant,which has comparable density and particle size distribution of lunar soil.The loadesettlement responses of surface spread footings are obtained by investigating the relative density,footing size and gravity effects.Applying the hyperbolic asymptote method,normalised foundation stiffness and ultimate bearing capacity are obtained by curve fitting and predicted by power functions using multivariate nonlinear regression.The results show that the nonlinear gravity effect is not negligible,related to stress condition,soil dilatancy and mobilised friction angle.A cone penetration test(CPT)-based method for prediction of bearing capacity is proposed with correlations between ultimate bearing capacity of footings and shallow penetration stiffness of CPTs,avoiding the uncertainties of soil property estimations.Analyses of allowable bearing capacity and footing influence zone in consideration of footing size and gravity effects could therefore improve the design of shallow foundations on the Moon and Mars,and provide new understandings and potential implications to the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on crushable granular material in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial geotechnical engineering.

Low-field magnetoresistance of (1-x)La_(0.6)Dy_(0.1)Sr_(0.3)MnO_3/0.5x (Sb_2O_3) composite system under different sintering temperatures of matrix

A series of (1-x)La0.6Dy0.1Sr0.3MnO3/0.5x(Sb2O3)(x=0.15) samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method, and the influence of sintering temperature of the matrix on low-field magnetoresistance of (1-x)La0.6Dy0.1Sr0.3MnO3/0.5x (Sb2O3) was studied through the measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscope (SEM) image, resistivity-temperature (ρ-T) curves, and magnetoresistance-temperature (MR-T) curves. The results indicate that for the samples with low sintering temperature of the matrix, lowfield magnetoresistance effect appears on the whole temperature range and can be explained by grain boundary effect; for the sample with high sintering temperature of the matrix, intrinsic magnetoresistance peak appears on the high-temperature range, low-field magnetore-sistance effect appears on low temperature range, and the magnetoresistance in the magnetic field of 0.2 T and on the comparatively large temperature range between 280 K and 225 K hardly changes with temperature and remains at 4.8%, which can be explained by the competition between the intrinsic magnetoresistance induced by double-exchange function inside grains and the tunneling magnetoresis-tance (TMR) induced by grain boundary effect. The temperature stability of magnetoresistance is beneficial to the practical applications of MR.

Pressure and velocity cross-spectrum of normal modes in low-frequency acoustic vector field of shallow water and its application

The pressure and horizontal particle velocity combined descriptions in the very low frequency acoustic field of shallow wa- ter integrated with the concept of effective depth of Pekeris wave- guide is proposed, especially the active component of the pressure and horizontal particle velocity cross-spectrum, also called ho- rizontal complex cross acoustic intensity, when only two normal modes are trapped in the waveguide. Both the approximate theo- retic analysis and the numerical results show that the sign of the horizontal complex cross acoustic intensity active component is independent of the range when vertically deployed receiving dual sensors are placed in appropriate depths, the sum of which is equal to the waveguide effective depth, so it can be used to tell whether the sound source is near the surface or underwater; while the range rate is expected to be measured by utilizing the sign distribution characteristic of the reactive component. The further robustness analysis of the depth classification algorithm shows that the existence of shear waves in semi infinite basement and the change of acoustic velocity profiles have few effects on the application of this method, and the seabed attenuation will limit the detection range, but the algorithm still has a good robustness in the valid detection range.

Probing Development of Mierostrueture of Early Cement Paste using1H Low-field NMR

Development of microstructure of early cement paste （0-6 h） was investigated with 1H low- field NMR. It was found that T2 （transverse relaxation time） distributions of fresh cement paste were bimodal and two peaks were ＇long component＇ and ＇short component＇. Separation degree of two peaks was a sign of exchange of water within flocculation and outside flocculation. Factors such as water cement ratio, specific surface area and dosage of superplasticizer had influences on the separation degree： the separation degree increased with the water cement ratio; the separation degree of cement paste prepared with cement with a high specific surface area was zero; dosage of superplasticizer will decrease separation degree. Results also suggested that T2 distribution gradually moved to the left and T2 of long component and initial fluidity were linearly correlated.

Effect of low-frequency electromagnetic field on the as-cast microstructure of a new super high strength aluminum alloy by horizontal continuous casting

The super high strength aluminum alloy ingots with 100 mm in diameter were cast by the process of low-frequency electromagnetic horizontal continuous casting (LFEHC) and the effect of electromagnetic field on the as-cast microstructure was studied. Results show that microstructure of the sample prepared by the LFEHC process was greatly refined. Microstructures at the border and the center of the ingots were fine, uniform and rosette-shaped. Electromagnetic frequency plays a key role in microstructure refining. Fine and uniform microstructures can be obtained with optimal electromagnetic frequency. In this experiment, under a frequency of 30 Hz the microstructure was the finest and the most uniform.

Effect of low frequency electromagnetic field on microstructures and macrosegregation of horizontal direct chill casting aluminum alloy

The influences of low frequency electromagnetic field on cast surface, microstructures and macrosegregation in horizontal direct chill(HDC) casting process were investigated experimentally. The cast surfaces, microstructures and macrosegregation of the ingots manufactured by conventional HDC and low frequency electromagnetic HDC casting were compared. The results show that low frequency electromagnetic field significantly improves the surface quality, refines the microstructures and reduces macrosegregation. Further more, increasing electromagnetic intensity or decreasing frequency is beneficial to the improvement. In the range of ampere-turns and frequency employed in the experiments, the optimum ampere-turns is found to be 10 000 A·turn and the frequency to be 30 Hz.

Research and Application of CO₂Flooding Enhanced Oil Recovery in Low Permeability Oilfield

This paper discusses the new progress and field application of CO2 flooding in low permeability reservoirs enhanced oil recovery. The study shows that CO2 flooding can improve the oil recovery rate of low permeability oilfield by more than 10%. The practice shows that the liquid CO2 injection in low permeability reservoir is easier than water injection, and the reservoir generally has better CO2 storage.

Simultaneous low extinction and high local field enhancement in Ag nanocubes

We theoretically investigate surface plasmon resonance properties in Au and Ag cubic nanoparticles and find a novel plasmonic mode that exhibits simultaneous low extinction and high local field enhancement properties. We analyse this mode from different aspects by looking at the distribution patterns of local field intensity, energy flux, absorption and charge density. We find that in the mode the polarized charge is highly densified in a very limited volume around the corner of the nanocube and results in very strong local field enhancement. Perturbations of the incident energy flux and light absorption are also strongly localized in this small volume of the corner region, leading to both low absorption and low scattering cross section. As a result, the extinction is low for the mode. Metal nanoparticles involving such peculiar modes may be useful for constructing nonlinear compound materials with low linear absorption and high nonlinearity.

The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field, and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic, it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N, NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field, for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW.SE, the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults, because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous, in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction, the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults, thus, fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction, stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places, especially at the end of the NE-SE faults, the cross positions of NE-SW, and S-N faults. Therefore, fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults, the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction, the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state, the best connectivity, the widest aperture, the highest permeability, and the minimum opening pressure.

Effects of Exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Electro-magnetic Fields on Circadian Rhythms and Distribution of Some Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens in Dairy Cows

Objective To investigate the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic and electric fields （ELFEMFs） emitted from 380 kV transmission lines on some leukocyte differentiation antigens in dairy cows. Methods The study was carded out in 5 cows exposed to 1.98-3.28 μT of ELFEMFs and in 5 control cows exposed to 0.2-0.7 μT of ELFEMFs. Following haematological and immunologic parameters were measured in both groups： WBC, CD45R, CD6, CD4, CD8, CD21, and CD11B leukocyte antigen expression. Results Some of the haematological and immunologic parameters under investigation were similar in both groups. However, CD8 （T lymphocyte surface antigen） was higher in the exposed group （1.35 ±0.120 vs 0.50 ±0.14×10^3/mL）. Furthermore, the CD4/CD8 ratio （0.84 ±0.05 and 2.19±0.16 for exposed and not exposed cows respectively） and circadian rhythm were different between the two groups. Conclusion Exposure to ELFEMFs is responsible of the abnormal temporal variations and distribution of some haematological and immunological parameters in dairy cows.

Effects of an applied low frequency field on the dynamics of a two-level atom interacting with a single-mode field

The effects of an applied low frequency field on the dynamics of a two-level atom interacting with a single-mode field are investigated. It is shown that the time evolution of the atomic population is mainly controlled by the coupling constants and the frequency of the low frequency field, which leads to a low frequency modulation function for the time evolution of the upper state population. The amplitude of the modulation function becomes larger as the coupling constants increase. The frequency of the modulation function is proportional to the frequency of the low frequency field, and decreases with increasing coupling constant.

Effect of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Macrosegregation of Horizontal Direct Chill Casting Aluminum Alloys

The horizontal direct chill (HDC) casting process is a well-established production route for aluminum alloy ingot but the ingot may suffer from macrosegregation sometimes. In order to control the defect, a low frequency electromagnetic field has been applied in HDC casting process and the relevant influence has been studied. The results show that application of low frequency electromagnetic field can reduce macrosegregation in HDC casting process; and two main parameters of electromagnetic field density and frequency, have great influences on the solution distribution along the diameter of ingot. Moreover, the mechanisms of reduction of macrosegregation by electromagnetic field have been discussed.

Modulation of absorption manner in helicon discharges by changing profile of low axial magnetic field

The modulation of absorption manner in helicon discharge by changing the profile of low axial magnetic field is explored experimentally in this work. The experiments are carried out in Boswell-type antenna driven by 13.56-MHz power source in 0.35-Pa argon environment. The peak of the external non-uniform magnetic field （Bex） along the axis is observed in a range from 0 Gs to 250 Gs （1 Gs=10^-4 T）, where the electron density varies from 0.5×10^16 m^-3 to 9×10^16 m^-3. When Bex is located near the tube upper end sealed by a dielectric plate, or near the tube bottom end connected with a diffusion chamber, the plasmas are centralized in the tube in the former case while the strong luminance appears between the edge of the tube and the axial line in the latter case. When Bex is located in the middle of the antenna, moreover, an effective resistance （Reff） peak appears apparently with increasing magnetic field. The glow moves toward first the edge of the tube and then the two antenna legs as the magnetic field increases. The discharge in this case is caused by the absorption of Trivelpiece-Gould （TG） wave. It is suggested that Bex is located in the middle of the antenna to obtain a higher efficiency of power transfer.