Two-stage multirate state feedback control designs for systems with slow and fast eigenvalue modes

In the process of avalanche injection of electrons into silicon dioxide, besides electron trapping in the bulk of the oxide, there are slow and fast interface states generated. The slow states are donors and positively charged when empty. Together with positive charge in the interface states, they compensate the negative bulk charge to give the turn-around effect. The final C-V curve is due to a complex sum of different charge components. The slow states can be discharged when heated under +5 V or higher biases at 160 °C or above. The final charge state is only semipermanent. Fast interface states are also annealed in the process, and the anneal is enhanced by a positive bias. Bulk trapped electrons are minimally perturbed by the anneal. It is postulated that the slow states may communicate with silicon through the fast interface states in a thermally activated process. In order to study bulk electron trapping, avalanche injection should be carried out at elevated temperatures.

Contribution of fast and slow states to Negative Bias Temperature Instabilities in HfxSi(1-x)ON/TaN based pMOSFETs

Aims. We present an investigation into how the cooling of the background plasma influences the propagation of slow and fast MHD wave modes supported by an unbounded, homogenous plasma. Previous investigations have suggested that the cooling of the plasma and a reduction in density could lead to the damping of fast magneto-acoustic oscillations. We aim to investigate whether cooling of the background plasma at a constant density may be responsible for the damping of slow and fast modes. Methods. The plasma is assumed homogeneous and the background temperature (pressure) is decreasing with time. The temperature change is assumed to be due to optically thin radiation. A special case of the radiative function is chosen to allow an analytical assessment of the effects of cooling on magneto-acoustic MHD modes and ensures the temperature evolution of the background plasma due to this radiation also matches the observed cooling profile of coronal loops. Results. A time-dependent dispersion relation is obtained on the slow timescale of cooling and full time-dependent solutions are found. Leading order equations for the amplitude of the waves are obtained and solved analytically for the slow and fast MHD modes. The cooling of the plasma is found to cause the frequency of the magneto-acoustic modes to decrease with time. The slow modes are found to experience a greater change in frequency than the fast modes. More importantly, the radiative losses also provide a significant damping of the slow mode and a small damping of the component of the fast mode perpendicular to the magnetic field. The damping of the slow mode is found to be strong within typical lifetimes of oscillations observed in coronal structures. Cooling could have important consequences and needs to be assessed when trying to determine what mechanism is responsible for the observed damping of coronal oscillations.

Abstract. We test a simple technique based on breeding to separate fast and slow unstable modes in coupled systems with different time scales of evolution and variable amplitudes. The technique takes advantage of the earlier saturation of error growth rate of the fastest mode and of the lower value of the saturation amplitude of perturbation of either the fast or the slow modes. These properties of the coupled system allow a physically-based selection of the rescaling time interval and the amplitude of initial perturbations in the "breeding" of unstable modes (Toth and Kalnay, 1993, 1996, 1997; Aurell et al., 1997; Boffetta et al., 1998) to isolate the desired mode. We perform tests in coupled models composed of fast and slow versions of the Lorenz (1963) model with different strengths of coupling. As examples we present first a coupled system which we denote "weather with convection", with a slow, large amplitude model coupled with a fast, small amplitude model, second an "ENSO" system with a "tropical atmosphere" strongly coupled with a "tropical ocean", and finally a triply coupled system denoted "tropical-extratropical" in which a fast model (representing the "extratropical atmosphere") is loosely coupled to the "ENSO" system. We find that it is always possible to isolate the fast modes by taking the limit of small amplitudes and short rescaling intervals, in which case, as expected, the results are the same as the local Lyapunov growth obtained with the linear tangent model. In contrast, slow modes cannot be isolated with either Lyapunov or Singular vectors, since the linear tangent and adjoint models are dominated by the fast modes. Breeding is successful in isolating slow modes if rescaling intervals and amplitudes are chosen from physically appropriate scales.

ABSTRACTAdiabatic and nonadiabatic dynamics in classical systems composed of fast and slow modes are formulated. Theoretical consequences from both adiabatic and nonadiabatic dynamics are discussed. In particular, we aim to identify a possible physical origin for drastic change of the slow dynamics to be induced by instability that happens to emerge in the fast mode. The Haken slaving principle and other theories like the adiabatic elimination method focus on the order formation led by the growth of the slow modes, with slaving the fast modes so as to faithfully follow the system dynamics. In this context, the fast modes are quite often regarded as ‘noise’ or a factor of small fluctuation. However, in molecular nonadiabatic dynamics, due to the breakdown of the Born–Oppenheimer approximation, the roles of the fast mode (due to electron dynamics) is far from that of ‘noise’, and sometimes bring about a qualitative bifurcation of the dynamics of the slow subsystem, which we usually refer to as nonadiabatic transition. We show the similar sudden change can be caused by the fast mode in classical mechanics too. The similarity and difference between quantum and classical nonadiabatic dynamics will be discussed.

6 - Design and Performance of Feedback Controllers

This paper is concerned with the design of a controller-observer scheme for the exponential stabilization of a class of singularly perturbed nonlinear systems. The controller design uses a sliding mode technique and is divided in two phases: slow feedback control and fast feedback control so that a final composite control is obtained. Assuming that only the fast state is available and the system's output is a function of the slow state, an observer design is presented. A stability analysis is also made to provide sufficient conditions for the ultimate boundedness of the full order closed-loop system when the slow state is estimated by means of the observer. An application to the model of a permanent magnet stepper motor is given to show the controller-observer methodology and stability analysis.

Quantifying the DNA Binding Kinetics of a Ruthenium Dimer Complex with a Flexible Linker

In this letter, slow and fast trap states in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors fabricated on recessed AlGaN/GaN heterostructures were studied by frequency dependent conductance measurements. In particular, the comparison of devices before and after annealing in forming gas allowed to ascribe the fast states (with characteristic response time in the range of 5–50 μs) to SiO2/GaN “interface traps,” and the slow states (50–100 μs) to “border traps” located few nanometers inside the SiO2 layer. These results can be important to predict and optimize the threshold voltage stability of hybrid MOS-based transistors on GaN.

This paper shows the theoretical development and application of dynamic gain scheduled control to an aircraft model. The idea behind this method is to schedule the control law gains with a fast varying state variable rather than with a slow varying state or an input parameter. This type of gain scheduling is shown to improve the transient response of the aircraft model when stepping between trim conditions and to overcome some of the problems associated with conventional gain scheduled controllers. ‘Hidden coupling terms’ that introduce unwanted dynamics when scheduling gains with a fast state are, under specific conditions, eliminated directly by applying a transformation to the classical parameterscheduled gain distributions which are calculated using eigenstructure assignment. Whilst dynamic gain scheduling has previously been implemented on aircraft models, the study discussed in this paper seeks to address practical application issues on more complex wideenvelope nonlinear aircraft models; a mathematical model of an F16 aircraft has been selected for this purpose.

In this paper, we propose an adaptive fuzzy output feedback control method for trajectory tracking control problem for robotic systems. Using Lyapunov method, we first develop a stable adaptive fuzzy state feedback control algorithm by assuming that the systems output and its derivatives are available for feedback control design. The algorithm combines fuzzy systems with robust adaptive controller. The fuzzy system approximates the certainty equivalent (CE)-based optimal controller while robustifying adaptive control term is used to cope with uncertainties that appeared from the effect of external disturbance, fuzzy approximation errors and other modeling errors. Then, an output feedback form of the position-velocity (state feedback) controller is proposed where unknown velocity signal is replaced by the output of model-free linear estimator. We show via asymptotic analysis that the tracking performance of the output feedback design can recover the performance achieved under the state feedback control design. Finally, the proposed method is implemented and evaluated on a 2-DOF robotic system to demonstrate the theoretical development for the real-time applications.

Plasma turbulence is a ubiquitous dynamical process that transfers energy across many spatial and temporal scales and affects energetic particle transport. Recent advances in the understanding of compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence demonstrate the important role of damping in shaping energy distributions on small scales, yet its observational evidence is still lacking. This study provides the first observational evidence of substantial collisionless damping (CD) modulation on the small-amplitude compressible MHD turbulence cascade in Earth’s magnetosheath using four Cluster spacecraft. Based on an improved compressible MHD decomposition algorithm, turbulence is decomposed into three eigenmodes: incompressible Alfvén modes and compressible slow and fast (magnetosonic) modes. Our observations demonstrate that CD enhances the anisotropy of compressible MHD modes because CD has a strong dependence on wave propagation angle. The wavenumber distributions of slow modes are mainly stretched perpendicular to the background magnetic field ( B 0) and weakly modulated by CD. In contrast, fast modes are subjected to a more significant CD modulation. Fast modes exhibit a weak, scale-independent anisotropy above the CD truncation scale. Below the CD truncation scale, the anisotropy of fast modes enhances as wavenumbers increase. As a result, fast-mode fractions in the total energy of compressible modes decrease with the increase of perpendicular wavenumber (to B 0) or wave propagation angle. Our findings reveal how the turbulence cascade is shaped by CD and its consequences for anisotropies in the space environment.

We experimentally investigate the multitime scale diffusion and the spatiotemporal behaviors of the degrees of enhancement for the longitudinal and the transverse diffusions in a confined mesoscopic quasi-two-dimensional dusty-plasma liquid sheared by two parallel counterpropagating laser beams. The steady external drive directly enhances the longitudinal cooperative hopping, associated with the shear bands that have high shear rate near boundaries. It drastically excites the slow hopping modes to high fluctuation level in the outer band region, accompanied by the enhanced superdiffusion. Through cascaded many-body interaction, the excitation flows from the outer region toward the center region, from the longitudinal modes to the transverse mode, and from the slow hopping modes to the fast caging modes, which are in better contact with the thermal bath. It causes the weaker enhancement of fluctuation level, and diffusion for the center region and the fast modes. The boundary confinement further breaks the system symmetry and enhances anisotropy. It has much stronger effect on the suppression of the transverse hopping modes than the longitudinal hopping mode. The degrees of enhancement of the fluctuations by the shear stress are highly anisotropic for the large amplitude slow modes, especially in the outer region but are more isotropic in the inner band.

A two-dimensional model of glacier flow is presented which includes periodical surging as a natural phenomenon for a certain class of glaciers. The input consists of the bedrock and balance profiles along the glacier, together with the ice flow properties and a frictional lubrication factor. The basal stress is determined from the condition of gross equilibrium for the whole glacier, together with the distribution of the frictional lubrication from energy dissipation along the glacier. The difference between the basal stress and the down-slope stress of the glaciers produces longitudinal strain-rates which determine the basal sliding velocity. Since the velocity is also involved in the frictional lubrication, feed-back develops between the basal stress and sliding velocity. For a given lubrication factor, a critical stage can be reached for which the velocity becomes sufficiently high to lower the basal stress, enough to cause very high velocities to develop. The model thus gives rise to three classes of glaciers with two modes of flow. “Ordinary” glaciers do not have sufficient mass flux, for the given bedrock profile, to go beyond the “slow mode” in which the basal stress and velocity increase together as the glacier builds up to steady state. “Fast” glaciers have sufficient flux to remain continuously in the “fast mode” with high velocities and relatively low basal stress. “Surging” glaciers have sufficient flux to reach the fast mode but not sufficient to maintain it, and thus develop a periodically oscillating state between the fast and slow modes with gradual build up and rapid drainage. Sample results are presented for models of a typical large valley surging glacier and for a very high-speed surging glacier.

The purpose of this study was to measure the variability of torque produced by a population of mechanical torque-limiting devices in clinical service in a US dental school. The torque-limiting devices were divided into two categories according to their mode of action: toggle-type and beam wrenches. Proper action of these devices is essential for calibrated delivery of preload to implant prosthetic screws. Seventeen torque-limiting devices (35 Ncm) were obtained from graduate prosthodontic, predoctoral, and faculty practice clinics. Nine of these were toggle-type devices, and eight were beam-type wrenches. Torque from each wrench was measured using an MGT electronic torque meter. Wrenches were tested in two modes, slow (over 4 seconds) and fast (over 1 second). Toggle-type torque wrenches produced a mean (+/- SD) torque of 38.1 +/- 16.0 Ncm; beam-type wrenches produced 32.8 +/- 1.1 Ncm. These results were not significantly different. When tested in fast mode (1 second), toggle-type wrenches produced 28.0 +/- 9.6 Ncm; in the slow mode (4 seconds) they produced significantly more force, 36.6 +/- 14.0 Ncm (p < 0.001). Beam-type wrenches produced 33.2 +/- 1.1 Ncm and 32.8 +/- 1.1 Ncm in fast and slow modes, respectively. Both types of wrenches tested were capable of producing accurate torque values; however, variability was higher in the toggle-type group. Some toggle-type torque wrenches in clinical service delivered unacceptably high torque values. It is recommended that clinicians calibrate toggle-type wrenches frequently. Torque wrenches should be activated slowly, over 4 seconds, when using a correctly calibrated toggle-type wrench.