Plant officials say it was a broken insulator at the facility’s switchyard that caused Monday morning’s “Unusual Event” at the Byron Generating Station.
The incident was reported at around 10 a.m. Monday, and the plant’s Unit 2 generator remains off-line. On Monday morning, Unit 2 automatically tripped off-line due to a loss of off-site power to the unit.
When the loss occurred, the facility’s diesel generators activated to provide back-up power. The steam release that began when Unit 2 came off-line stopped at approximately 3 a.m. on Tuesday.
Byron technical experts have completed repairs to a failed insulator, which was the source of the power loss, states an Exelon news release. A comprehensive investigation into why the insulator failed is ongoing, the release states.
“We will send off for failure analysis to see if we can learn why it failed,” said Paul Dempsey, communications manager for the Byron Generating Station.
Plant officials say there was no health or safety risk to workers or the general public during the incident, since the facility’s back-up systems all functioned correctly. Even so, Exelon Nuclear has notified the appropriate local, state, and federal authorities of the incident.
An Unusual Event is the lowest of the four emergency classifications established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It is unclear when Unit 2 will be reactivated, but in the meantime, the plant’s Unit 1 generator continues to supply electricity.
On Tuesday, personnel from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency collected samples from around the Byron plant to confirm that the steam release during Monday’s event poses no hazard to the public. The samples will be taken to the agency’s Springfield lab for analysis and results should be available in a few days, states an IEMA news release.
Patti Thompson, a spokesperson for IEMA, said the sampling will allow her agency to determine whether there are any dangerous levels of radioactive tritium present in the environment surrounding the plant. The agency does not expect there to be any elevated levels, but the sampling and testing will confirm this, Thompson said.
“Nothing indicates to us that there should be elevated levels, but we want to do our own independent testing,” Thompson said.
As part of this process, IEMA personnel are collecting water and vegetation samples. Some of the samples will be in the same locations as routine sampling that was conducted by the agency within the past month. Other samples will be taken elsewhere.
Thompson said the new samples will be compared to the samples taken a short time ago, which will make the process easier.
“Hopefully, within the next few days, we’ll have results and we can let the public know,” Thompson said.
2012年1月31日星期二
2012年1月30日星期一
Warning - treat all power wires as live
Any fallen power wire should always be treated as live until proven otherwise, the general manager of Electricity Ashburton says.
His comments come after the tragic death of a North Canterbury man who was electrocuted on a rural North Canterbury property at the weekend.
Brendan Walker, 39, died and his wife Sarah is in a comfortable condition in hospital with burns to her feet and hands after going to his aid, while the couple's seven-year-old son Ethan is being hailed a hero after running back to the house to raise the alarm.
The incident was triggered by a small fire which burnt through the power pole and released the bracket which held the insulators, which were attached to the wire.
The insulator and bracket fell and dragged the power line down to about a metre off the ground.
Mr Walker was checking on cattle on Saturday morning when he saw three cattle lying in a paddock.
He drove his quad bike over to get a closer look and appeared to have driven into the same power line which killed the cows, and was electrocuted.
Electricity Ashburton general manager Gordon Guthrie said fires did occur on power poles from time to time, when insulators broke for whatever reason.
Generally if a power wire touched the ground, it would short out. But in this case the wire did not appear to have hit the ground so had remained live.
Mr Guthrie said power wires should always be treated with extreme caution.
"You should treat every wire as live," he said.
"These things can happen and you've just got to be aware of it."
Any downed power wires should be reported to authorities immediately.
It's believed the fallen power line which killed Mr Walker was carrying more than 1000 volts.
Mrs Walker and her son came across the scene when they left the house to check their letterbox. She was shocked by the power line while trying to help her dead husband but Ethan escaped injuries, police constable John Eagle said.
Power to the line was cut off directly after the incident, but had since been repaired by MainPower.
MainPower manager Peter Hurford said the company declined to comment on the incident until they had spoken to police.
In 2009, Mid Canterbury husband and wife Lionel and Shirley Donaldson were killed on their Mayfield farm after an auger hit overhead power lines in their farm yard.
A coroner's inquest found that Mrs Donaldson may also have been going to her husband's aid when she too was electrocuted.
Mr Guthrie said machinery like augers and irrigators hitting power lines did happen from time to time in Mid Canterbury and people should always be aware of overhead lines.
His comments come after the tragic death of a North Canterbury man who was electrocuted on a rural North Canterbury property at the weekend.
Brendan Walker, 39, died and his wife Sarah is in a comfortable condition in hospital with burns to her feet and hands after going to his aid, while the couple's seven-year-old son Ethan is being hailed a hero after running back to the house to raise the alarm.
The incident was triggered by a small fire which burnt through the power pole and released the bracket which held the insulators, which were attached to the wire.
The insulator and bracket fell and dragged the power line down to about a metre off the ground.
Mr Walker was checking on cattle on Saturday morning when he saw three cattle lying in a paddock.
He drove his quad bike over to get a closer look and appeared to have driven into the same power line which killed the cows, and was electrocuted.
Electricity Ashburton general manager Gordon Guthrie said fires did occur on power poles from time to time, when insulators broke for whatever reason.
Generally if a power wire touched the ground, it would short out. But in this case the wire did not appear to have hit the ground so had remained live.
Mr Guthrie said power wires should always be treated with extreme caution.
"You should treat every wire as live," he said.
"These things can happen and you've just got to be aware of it."
Any downed power wires should be reported to authorities immediately.
It's believed the fallen power line which killed Mr Walker was carrying more than 1000 volts.
Mrs Walker and her son came across the scene when they left the house to check their letterbox. She was shocked by the power line while trying to help her dead husband but Ethan escaped injuries, police constable John Eagle said.
Power to the line was cut off directly after the incident, but had since been repaired by MainPower.
MainPower manager Peter Hurford said the company declined to comment on the incident until they had spoken to police.
In 2009, Mid Canterbury husband and wife Lionel and Shirley Donaldson were killed on their Mayfield farm after an auger hit overhead power lines in their farm yard.
A coroner's inquest found that Mrs Donaldson may also have been going to her husband's aid when she too was electrocuted.
Mr Guthrie said machinery like augers and irrigators hitting power lines did happen from time to time in Mid Canterbury and people should always be aware of overhead lines.
2012年1月29日星期日
Boy, 7, in tragic mercy dash
A 7-year-old boy has been praised for a mercy dash after his father was electrocuted by a fallen power line and his mother was left severely injured with serious burns.
Ethan Walker ran to raise the alarm after father Brendon, 39, was killed when he rode his quad bike over a power line carrying more than 1000 volts on the North Canterbury farm where he was working.
Mr Walker was discovered by wife Sarah and Ethan when they went out to check the letterbox for mail.
Mrs Walker tried to help him but suffered severe burns to her hands and feet.
Constable Jon Eagle was full of praise for Ethan. "This young man has been confronted by everyone's worst nightmare but has had the presence of mind to run back to the house and call for help."
Friends and neighbours of the Walkers have been devastated by the tragedy, describing it as a "raw time" for the district.
On Saturday morning, Mr Walker headed out to check his cattle and when he saw three lying in the paddock, he drove his quad bike over for a closer look, said Mr Eagle.
But he drove over the same power line that had killed the cows and was electrocuted.
Mrs Walker was hurt when she tried to help her dead husband.
"The 7-year-old boy reports touching his father," said Mr Eagle, "but luckily there was no current or anything there so he didn't get a shock himself. He described his father as clicking, so obviously he could hear power there somewhere."
Ethan ran home - about 250m - and told his sister, Allanah, 9, before they phoned their grandmother in Queenstown, who called 111.
"It's an isolated rural farm," said Mr Eagle, "and if it wasn't for his actions, we wouldn't have been there as soon as we did."
Mrs Walker was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, where she remained last night in a stable condition. Mr Eagle said she was answering questions, but was still quite "tired and confused".
Relatives from around the country had gathered to be with the children, who had been to see their mother in hospital.
Brendon's brother Scott Walker said Ethan and Allanah were doing well and were with family - including six cousins aged 4 to 12.
He said his brother was a good man who was loved and would be missed.
Scott Walker said he and his family wanted to thank neighbours and the emergency services who helped Brendon and Sarah.
He said his sister-in-law was "up and about" and was waiting to hear whether she would need plastic surgery.
The cause of the tragedy has been established. "There has been a small fire at the top of the power pole, which has burnt through the power pole itself and it's released the bracket that holds the insulators that are attached to the wire," Mr Eagle said.
Ethan Walker ran to raise the alarm after father Brendon, 39, was killed when he rode his quad bike over a power line carrying more than 1000 volts on the North Canterbury farm where he was working.
Mr Walker was discovered by wife Sarah and Ethan when they went out to check the letterbox for mail.
Mrs Walker tried to help him but suffered severe burns to her hands and feet.
Constable Jon Eagle was full of praise for Ethan. "This young man has been confronted by everyone's worst nightmare but has had the presence of mind to run back to the house and call for help."
Friends and neighbours of the Walkers have been devastated by the tragedy, describing it as a "raw time" for the district.
On Saturday morning, Mr Walker headed out to check his cattle and when he saw three lying in the paddock, he drove his quad bike over for a closer look, said Mr Eagle.
But he drove over the same power line that had killed the cows and was electrocuted.
Mrs Walker was hurt when she tried to help her dead husband.
"The 7-year-old boy reports touching his father," said Mr Eagle, "but luckily there was no current or anything there so he didn't get a shock himself. He described his father as clicking, so obviously he could hear power there somewhere."
Ethan ran home - about 250m - and told his sister, Allanah, 9, before they phoned their grandmother in Queenstown, who called 111.
"It's an isolated rural farm," said Mr Eagle, "and if it wasn't for his actions, we wouldn't have been there as soon as we did."
Mrs Walker was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, where she remained last night in a stable condition. Mr Eagle said she was answering questions, but was still quite "tired and confused".
Relatives from around the country had gathered to be with the children, who had been to see their mother in hospital.
Brendon's brother Scott Walker said Ethan and Allanah were doing well and were with family - including six cousins aged 4 to 12.
He said his brother was a good man who was loved and would be missed.
Scott Walker said he and his family wanted to thank neighbours and the emergency services who helped Brendon and Sarah.
He said his sister-in-law was "up and about" and was waiting to hear whether she would need plastic surgery.
The cause of the tragedy has been established. "There has been a small fire at the top of the power pole, which has burnt through the power pole itself and it's released the bracket that holds the insulators that are attached to the wire," Mr Eagle said.
2012年1月19日星期四
Septic tanks could be at risk
Though Fergus Falls got some snow on Wednesday, cold temperatures beforehand combined with not much snow could spell problems for some residents’ septic systems. Two local septic service owners weighed in on the potential problems and how to prevent them from backing up your system.
Frost digs deeper in years when snow doesn’t act as an insulator, sometimes reaching and freezing septic systems – particularly the “drain field,” where the excess material in the septic system drains, and the line between the septic tank and the home.
Nature’s Call Septic Service owner Doug Green said the best time to protect against the winter freezes has already passed.
“Ideally, everyone takes precaution in the fall instead of (waiting) until it’s too late,” Green noted.
For people who are concerned about their systems in the fall, Green recommended not composting, trashing or burning all of your fall leaves.
“(Grow) your grass longer, or maybe leave some leaves or put some bags of leaves over your tank,” he said.
If you’re late to insulate, there still may be time, according to Fergus Power Pump owner Mitch Okerstrom, explaining that thick blankets, mulch and straw are also effective insulators.
“Anything to cover that drain field, if possible,” he said.
After insulation is taken care of, it’s important to make sure that no “ice dams” clog up the line between the septic tank and the house.
“Fix any leaky toilets or anything like that,” said Okerstrom, explaining that the slow flow of a small amount of water is much likelier to freeze. He and Green also said that some furnaces also feed small amounts of condensed water into the septic system. That can be harmful if not supplemented by other water.
Normally, said Green, freezing of small amounts of water isn’t an issue, as home residents typically use large amounts of hot water via showering, laundry or washing dishes.
When on vacation, however, “have someone run hot water into your system for three to four minutes every day,” he recommended.
“Usually the problems we do see are people who take a week off,” he said.
Okerstrom also urged caution with cooking supplies.
“Avoid all your greases from going down the drain,” he said. “That’s huge. Especially in the cold, they will coagulate (in the pipes).”
If your system is freezing, there are a few early warning signs, including frequent backups, slow drains, or a frequent gurgling sound when faucets are drained. A consistent, strange odor in the home when the water is on is another key indicator.
If homeowners aren’t careful, said Green, they may end up needing a fix that can impact time and money.
“I have had situations where the drain field has frozen up and I’ve had to pump the septic tank every time until spring,” he said, remarking that typical septic tanks fill up every two or three months. Another method requires a machine called a steamer which pumps steam or hot water through the pipe leading to the tank.
If a septic service is needed, he remarked, make sure that you know where your septic tank and its access are.
Though he said homeowners should still be vigilant, Okerstrom said this week’s weather could make things easier.
Frost digs deeper in years when snow doesn’t act as an insulator, sometimes reaching and freezing septic systems – particularly the “drain field,” where the excess material in the septic system drains, and the line between the septic tank and the home.
Nature’s Call Septic Service owner Doug Green said the best time to protect against the winter freezes has already passed.
“Ideally, everyone takes precaution in the fall instead of (waiting) until it’s too late,” Green noted.
For people who are concerned about their systems in the fall, Green recommended not composting, trashing or burning all of your fall leaves.
“(Grow) your grass longer, or maybe leave some leaves or put some bags of leaves over your tank,” he said.
If you’re late to insulate, there still may be time, according to Fergus Power Pump owner Mitch Okerstrom, explaining that thick blankets, mulch and straw are also effective insulators.
“Anything to cover that drain field, if possible,” he said.
After insulation is taken care of, it’s important to make sure that no “ice dams” clog up the line between the septic tank and the house.
“Fix any leaky toilets or anything like that,” said Okerstrom, explaining that the slow flow of a small amount of water is much likelier to freeze. He and Green also said that some furnaces also feed small amounts of condensed water into the septic system. That can be harmful if not supplemented by other water.
Normally, said Green, freezing of small amounts of water isn’t an issue, as home residents typically use large amounts of hot water via showering, laundry or washing dishes.
When on vacation, however, “have someone run hot water into your system for three to four minutes every day,” he recommended.
“Usually the problems we do see are people who take a week off,” he said.
Okerstrom also urged caution with cooking supplies.
“Avoid all your greases from going down the drain,” he said. “That’s huge. Especially in the cold, they will coagulate (in the pipes).”
If your system is freezing, there are a few early warning signs, including frequent backups, slow drains, or a frequent gurgling sound when faucets are drained. A consistent, strange odor in the home when the water is on is another key indicator.
If homeowners aren’t careful, said Green, they may end up needing a fix that can impact time and money.
“I have had situations where the drain field has frozen up and I’ve had to pump the septic tank every time until spring,” he said, remarking that typical septic tanks fill up every two or three months. Another method requires a machine called a steamer which pumps steam or hot water through the pipe leading to the tank.
If a septic service is needed, he remarked, make sure that you know where your septic tank and its access are.
Though he said homeowners should still be vigilant, Okerstrom said this week’s weather could make things easier.
2012年1月18日星期三
Winter has arrived, albeit late
Although late, winter has arrived! We finally have some snow AND some consistent freezing temperatures.
Many of the little wetland pools in my forest are at least partially frozen, with thicker ice extending from the edges and thinning out toward the middle. This is called border ice. Solid ice usually, but not always, forms along the shore of a pond or stream first. The water is typically shallow along the shore and so the water temperature drops faster and freezes quickly on a cold night. In the case of rivers and streams, the water moves slower along the shore and so ice forms more easily along the edges. If conditions stay cold, the border ice will grow gradually toward the center until the entire pond freezes over.
Each lake, river, pond and stream has its own nuances. For example, because the water is moving more quickly than in surrounding areas you will find thinner ice where a river narrows or where channels form between islands. Likewise, ice thins where streams or springs enter a pond or lake. The marsh near my house usually has thinner ice near the shoreline where it is shallow and sunny.
We are lucky that water has the unique thermal properties that it does. If water was like most substances on Earth, its density would be greatest when frozen and it would sink — ice would form at the bottom of water bodies first.
However, unlike most substances, water is less dense when frozen and therefore ice floats. The peak density of water is around 4 degrees Celsius and it decreases, or gets lighter, at temperatures both above and below this. If water didn't do this it is unclear whether life on Earth could exist; all bodies of water would freeze from the bottom up and potentially freeze solid, causing real problems for most aquatic species.
Consider this: because the maximum density of water is at 4 degrees Celsius, the layer of water that forms at the bottom of deep bodies of water — the hypolimnion — can remain at around 4 C year-round. The heavy, cold water just sits there. In the winter, lakes stratify, meaning the layer of cold liquid 4 C water remains on the bottom, warmer water in the middle, ice on top. The ice on top acts as an insulator, protecting the warmer water from freezing air temperatures, further ensuring that the lake or pond doesn't freeze solid.
It is in these cold but unfrozen depths that life such as algae, insect larvae and fish can safely overwinter. These aquatic organisms are all cold-blooded, their body temperatures following external temperature changes; as the lake cools their metabolism slows and they become sluggish. Obviously this whole freeze-thaw system works; when spring comes and northern lakes, ponds and rivers shed their icy covers, aquatic organisms shrug off their winter torpor and come back to life.
Many of the little wetland pools in my forest are at least partially frozen, with thicker ice extending from the edges and thinning out toward the middle. This is called border ice. Solid ice usually, but not always, forms along the shore of a pond or stream first. The water is typically shallow along the shore and so the water temperature drops faster and freezes quickly on a cold night. In the case of rivers and streams, the water moves slower along the shore and so ice forms more easily along the edges. If conditions stay cold, the border ice will grow gradually toward the center until the entire pond freezes over.
Each lake, river, pond and stream has its own nuances. For example, because the water is moving more quickly than in surrounding areas you will find thinner ice where a river narrows or where channels form between islands. Likewise, ice thins where streams or springs enter a pond or lake. The marsh near my house usually has thinner ice near the shoreline where it is shallow and sunny.
We are lucky that water has the unique thermal properties that it does. If water was like most substances on Earth, its density would be greatest when frozen and it would sink — ice would form at the bottom of water bodies first.
However, unlike most substances, water is less dense when frozen and therefore ice floats. The peak density of water is around 4 degrees Celsius and it decreases, or gets lighter, at temperatures both above and below this. If water didn't do this it is unclear whether life on Earth could exist; all bodies of water would freeze from the bottom up and potentially freeze solid, causing real problems for most aquatic species.
Consider this: because the maximum density of water is at 4 degrees Celsius, the layer of water that forms at the bottom of deep bodies of water — the hypolimnion — can remain at around 4 C year-round. The heavy, cold water just sits there. In the winter, lakes stratify, meaning the layer of cold liquid 4 C water remains on the bottom, warmer water in the middle, ice on top. The ice on top acts as an insulator, protecting the warmer water from freezing air temperatures, further ensuring that the lake or pond doesn't freeze solid.
It is in these cold but unfrozen depths that life such as algae, insect larvae and fish can safely overwinter. These aquatic organisms are all cold-blooded, their body temperatures following external temperature changes; as the lake cools their metabolism slows and they become sluggish. Obviously this whole freeze-thaw system works; when spring comes and northern lakes, ponds and rivers shed their icy covers, aquatic organisms shrug off their winter torpor and come back to life.
2012年1月17日星期二
Red Means Run author Brad Smith: ‘I have an aversion to cops’
Brad Smith’s hands look as if they’ve done everything but pecked at a keyboard or held a pen. He’s worked as a farmer, signalman, insulator, truck driver, bartender, schoolteacher, maintenance mechanic, roofer and carpenter, but it’s only when you reach the last line of his biography that the fact that he’s a writer becomes apparent.
Between 2000 and 2007, Smith published four novels — the above-mentioned title plus All Hat, Busted Flush, and Big Man Coming Down the Road. He was marketed as a throwback, a bit of a roughneck, an outsider. Now, after a five-year-absence — Smith prefers the term “sabbatical” — he returns with a new publisher and a new book, Red Means Run, the first of two that will arrive in stores by the end of summer.
“I never stopped writing. It just seemed like the industry was kind of in a slump for a while,” says Smith, nursing a beer at a popular King Street West restaurant in downtown Toronto, a long way, mentally if not geographically, from the 80-year-old farmhouse near the north shore of Lake Erie he calls home .
“I didn’t have a publisher,” he explains — he parted ways with Penguin, who’d released his last three books — “and I wasn’t even really looking for a publisher, to tell you the truth, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But I kept writing.”
Red Means Run introduces the reader to Virgil Cain, an ordinary man who constantly finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. Not long after the novel opens, Mickey Dupree, a slick criminal defence lawyer, is found dead on the local golf course, the shaft of a five-iron staked through his heart. Cain, a former minor-league catcher, is the only suspect, and with good reason: Dupree successfully defended the man charged with murdering Cain’s wife, Alan Comstock, a drug-addled music producer who likes his beer cold and his guns loaded. After realizing the police aren’t looking for anyone else, Cain breaks out of jail and goes on the lam, determined to find the killer before the cops find him.
“Virgil came pretty easily to me, because I know that guy,” says Smith, sporting a shaved head and a grey goatee. “He’s probably a more idealistic version of me. A better version of me.”
Smith, a fiftysomething native of Canfield, Ont., knows all about troubled men with checkered pasts; he’s had his share of run-ins with the law and is intimately familiar with the inside of a cell. In fact, it was time spent in a courthouse jail over 30 years ago that inspired the scene in which Virgil undertakes his own Great Escape.
Anna DeVries, his editor at Scribner in New York, believes Smith’s damaged hero, and the parade of miscreants that populate the novel, will ultimately appeal to readers.
“We are calling it country noir, but it definitely fits in with that tradition of writers, … in terms of Richard Russo, Dennis Lehane and Elmore Leonard, who have these characters who are a little more experienced in the life department, and may have a few bumpy roads behind them that they’ve come down. And I think that really appeals to readers — to see that this hero is flawed but resilient.”
Red Means Run marks the first time Smith has written a book with a series in mind. He’s been asked by publishers before, but has always refused. “To me, a series represents cops — you know, the savvy detective, whatever. It’s pretty procedural and, frankly, some of the stuff I read it like the same book over and over again.”
At the first meeting with his new publisher, the idea of a series was broached again, and again Smith said no. “I’ve been arrested a lot, so I have an aversion to cops,” he laughs. “But then I got thinking about it a few weeks later, and I said ‘what if I can do a series with an Everyman … just a blue collar guy that I know, like the guys I wrote about in One-Eyed Jacks or Busted Flush?’ There’s similarities there. None of them are dancing to ballet.”
Crow’s Landing, the further (mis)adventures of Virgil Cain, is due out in August; that novel finds Virgil reeling in a snowstorm’s worth of cocaine while fishing in the Hudson River. He’s under contract to write a third book, and is also developing a TV series, about a doctor who is sentenced to 500 hours of community service at a downtrodden downtown hospital after being convicted of drunk driving.
“It’s better than shingling,” he says.
Between 2000 and 2007, Smith published four novels — the above-mentioned title plus All Hat, Busted Flush, and Big Man Coming Down the Road. He was marketed as a throwback, a bit of a roughneck, an outsider. Now, after a five-year-absence — Smith prefers the term “sabbatical” — he returns with a new publisher and a new book, Red Means Run, the first of two that will arrive in stores by the end of summer.
“I never stopped writing. It just seemed like the industry was kind of in a slump for a while,” says Smith, nursing a beer at a popular King Street West restaurant in downtown Toronto, a long way, mentally if not geographically, from the 80-year-old farmhouse near the north shore of Lake Erie he calls home .
“I didn’t have a publisher,” he explains — he parted ways with Penguin, who’d released his last three books — “and I wasn’t even really looking for a publisher, to tell you the truth, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But I kept writing.”
Red Means Run introduces the reader to Virgil Cain, an ordinary man who constantly finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. Not long after the novel opens, Mickey Dupree, a slick criminal defence lawyer, is found dead on the local golf course, the shaft of a five-iron staked through his heart. Cain, a former minor-league catcher, is the only suspect, and with good reason: Dupree successfully defended the man charged with murdering Cain’s wife, Alan Comstock, a drug-addled music producer who likes his beer cold and his guns loaded. After realizing the police aren’t looking for anyone else, Cain breaks out of jail and goes on the lam, determined to find the killer before the cops find him.
“Virgil came pretty easily to me, because I know that guy,” says Smith, sporting a shaved head and a grey goatee. “He’s probably a more idealistic version of me. A better version of me.”
Smith, a fiftysomething native of Canfield, Ont., knows all about troubled men with checkered pasts; he’s had his share of run-ins with the law and is intimately familiar with the inside of a cell. In fact, it was time spent in a courthouse jail over 30 years ago that inspired the scene in which Virgil undertakes his own Great Escape.
Anna DeVries, his editor at Scribner in New York, believes Smith’s damaged hero, and the parade of miscreants that populate the novel, will ultimately appeal to readers.
“We are calling it country noir, but it definitely fits in with that tradition of writers, … in terms of Richard Russo, Dennis Lehane and Elmore Leonard, who have these characters who are a little more experienced in the life department, and may have a few bumpy roads behind them that they’ve come down. And I think that really appeals to readers — to see that this hero is flawed but resilient.”
Red Means Run marks the first time Smith has written a book with a series in mind. He’s been asked by publishers before, but has always refused. “To me, a series represents cops — you know, the savvy detective, whatever. It’s pretty procedural and, frankly, some of the stuff I read it like the same book over and over again.”
At the first meeting with his new publisher, the idea of a series was broached again, and again Smith said no. “I’ve been arrested a lot, so I have an aversion to cops,” he laughs. “But then I got thinking about it a few weeks later, and I said ‘what if I can do a series with an Everyman … just a blue collar guy that I know, like the guys I wrote about in One-Eyed Jacks or Busted Flush?’ There’s similarities there. None of them are dancing to ballet.”
Crow’s Landing, the further (mis)adventures of Virgil Cain, is due out in August; that novel finds Virgil reeling in a snowstorm’s worth of cocaine while fishing in the Hudson River. He’s under contract to write a third book, and is also developing a TV series, about a doctor who is sentenced to 500 hours of community service at a downtrodden downtown hospital after being convicted of drunk driving.
“It’s better than shingling,” he says.
2012年1月16日星期一
Lifetime: Season of excuses
It's better to embrace the cold weather than to curse it!
Before getting into today's challenge, it's a good time to catch up on your lifestyle progress.
If you have been following these LifeTime segments, the most important changes that you have made to your lifestyle include adding physical activity to your days, eating more vegetables and fruits, learning how to self-regulate and paying attention to your emotions, and setting appropriate goals while giving up on unattainable goals.
All of these strategies combined are likely to result in a more confident, healthier, and happier you in all aspects of your life. If you have missed segments, or forget the main premise of any of them, go back and re-read and watch/listen to the messages.
Relatedly, if you are trying to make small and achievable changes to your lifestyle, you have undoubtedly thought about adding more physical activity to your day. Maybe you have been doing this for some time, or maybe you made a recent resolution to do so…regardless, the cold winter weather is likely to be a big barrier to physical activity both because it may limit the type of activity you like to do, or make doing activity more difficult or less enjoyable.
The good news is that there are ways to conquer the weather – and doing so will probably lead to greater feelings of accomplishment and confidence. It all comes down to planning and preparation (have you heard that before?!) – dressing for the elements is the best defense against harm and injury, and makes winter weather bearable if not enjoyable! I have one word for you – layers.
The key to layering is based on heat exchange and controlling moisture. You want to have a base layer used to keep moisture at bay (best materials are wool or polyester), at least one insulating layer (think wool or fleece), and an outer shell to protect against the elements. See the specifics on layering in the downloadable document.
Also, since air is a very good insulator, layering allows you to have more pockets of air between your body and the elements. And, wearing multiple layers allows you to adjust the level of insulation you need during physical activity by removing and adding layers as needed.
One thing to keep in mind is to keep clothing snug for all layers. Baggy clothes trap warm air, but with every movement that air is forced out through the large openings. If you are not a big fan of sporting tights for your walk, try wearing shorts over your tights .
Bottom line for layering: moderate-intensity exercise in relatively dry but cold weather can generate enough heat to maintain the body's core temperature without the need for thick and heavy clothing. Look for lighter-weight, functional materials and layer appropriately.
Also, people with higher amount of body fat will retain more body heat than individuals who have less body fat. So, leaner individuals might need more insulation. Layering is a personal choice and can make exercise more enjoyable and safe.
In addition to clothing, there are other "tools" that might be useful when exercising in the cold winter weather.
Winter traction devices are usually made of rubber and have metal points one the bottom to give you traction on ice . Traction is very important for walkers, joggers, and runners and gives confidence to people who are worried about balance on ice.
You could use short ski poles or walking/trekking sticks to help with balance while walking in the winter . You want to use sticks that have a strap on the one end with the handle, preferably a metal spike on the other end, and that allow you to have a 90-degree angle at your elbow when the end of the stick is resting on the ground beside your small toe. If you are considering purchasing a trekking stick, talk to the experts at the sport/outdoor specialty shop to ensure you are buying the right pole(s) for your needs.
There are lots of varieties of chemical heat packs that you can get and "activate" to give you immediate heat where you need it. This is an inexpensive way of keeping your extremities warm.
There are many outdoor sports that you can do in the city or within close proximity – cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating to name a few– and you can rent the equipment for a day to get acquainted with the sport before purchasing your own equipment. Consider tubing and tobogganing as well; fun activities that involve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity walking back up the hills. Winter activity can bring out the child in all of us if we let it!
Engaging in physical activity in cold weather is relatively safe for healthy, consistent exercisers. However, if you have a history of heart disease or if you are out of shape, overweight, and suffer from high blood pressure, there may be higher risks to being physically active in the cold. This is because cold weather places added stress on the heart. There are ways of reducing the risks, such as warming up before going outside , starting your exercise slowly when you get out , and wearing layers. Talk to your physician and/or a trained kinesiologist before starting any exercise program.
Stay hydrated. You might not feel the need to drink water when you are exercising in the cold, but fluids are as important in cold weather as they are in the heat. Dehydration can affect your body's ability to regulate heat. Also, if you are going outside to be physically active, try to avoid consuming alcohol and caffeinated beverages because they promote dehydration.
Pay attention to the temperatures you feel and see . Frostbite is a serious condition that you want to avoid. If you do go out in the extreme cold temperatures, end your workout early if it is snowing or freezing rain because this moisture and the cold temperatures increase the risk for frostbite. This condition is also exacerbated with high windchill factors .
Eliminate your expectation that your athletic performance will match your warmer day work-outs. Focus on the process rather than outcome – physical activity in the snow and ice requires more energy expenditure, so you might go out for less time but you are likely to burn as many calories. Enjoy being outside while exercising, and think about all the people driving by or looking out of their windows thinking "now that is commitment to be working out in weather like this"
The challenge for the next two weeks is for you get outside and do some physical activity – practice layering, use the clothes you already own and see how you do before considering spending big bucks on new clothes. You don't need to look like the big athletic companies sponsor you – you need to stay dry and warm to enjoy your time outdoors.
Before getting into today's challenge, it's a good time to catch up on your lifestyle progress.
If you have been following these LifeTime segments, the most important changes that you have made to your lifestyle include adding physical activity to your days, eating more vegetables and fruits, learning how to self-regulate and paying attention to your emotions, and setting appropriate goals while giving up on unattainable goals.
All of these strategies combined are likely to result in a more confident, healthier, and happier you in all aspects of your life. If you have missed segments, or forget the main premise of any of them, go back and re-read and watch/listen to the messages.
Relatedly, if you are trying to make small and achievable changes to your lifestyle, you have undoubtedly thought about adding more physical activity to your day. Maybe you have been doing this for some time, or maybe you made a recent resolution to do so…regardless, the cold winter weather is likely to be a big barrier to physical activity both because it may limit the type of activity you like to do, or make doing activity more difficult or less enjoyable.
The good news is that there are ways to conquer the weather – and doing so will probably lead to greater feelings of accomplishment and confidence. It all comes down to planning and preparation (have you heard that before?!) – dressing for the elements is the best defense against harm and injury, and makes winter weather bearable if not enjoyable! I have one word for you – layers.
The key to layering is based on heat exchange and controlling moisture. You want to have a base layer used to keep moisture at bay (best materials are wool or polyester), at least one insulating layer (think wool or fleece), and an outer shell to protect against the elements. See the specifics on layering in the downloadable document.
Also, since air is a very good insulator, layering allows you to have more pockets of air between your body and the elements. And, wearing multiple layers allows you to adjust the level of insulation you need during physical activity by removing and adding layers as needed.
One thing to keep in mind is to keep clothing snug for all layers. Baggy clothes trap warm air, but with every movement that air is forced out through the large openings. If you are not a big fan of sporting tights for your walk, try wearing shorts over your tights .
Bottom line for layering: moderate-intensity exercise in relatively dry but cold weather can generate enough heat to maintain the body's core temperature without the need for thick and heavy clothing. Look for lighter-weight, functional materials and layer appropriately.
Also, people with higher amount of body fat will retain more body heat than individuals who have less body fat. So, leaner individuals might need more insulation. Layering is a personal choice and can make exercise more enjoyable and safe.
In addition to clothing, there are other "tools" that might be useful when exercising in the cold winter weather.
Winter traction devices are usually made of rubber and have metal points one the bottom to give you traction on ice . Traction is very important for walkers, joggers, and runners and gives confidence to people who are worried about balance on ice.
You could use short ski poles or walking/trekking sticks to help with balance while walking in the winter . You want to use sticks that have a strap on the one end with the handle, preferably a metal spike on the other end, and that allow you to have a 90-degree angle at your elbow when the end of the stick is resting on the ground beside your small toe. If you are considering purchasing a trekking stick, talk to the experts at the sport/outdoor specialty shop to ensure you are buying the right pole(s) for your needs.
There are lots of varieties of chemical heat packs that you can get and "activate" to give you immediate heat where you need it. This is an inexpensive way of keeping your extremities warm.
There are many outdoor sports that you can do in the city or within close proximity – cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating to name a few– and you can rent the equipment for a day to get acquainted with the sport before purchasing your own equipment. Consider tubing and tobogganing as well; fun activities that involve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity walking back up the hills. Winter activity can bring out the child in all of us if we let it!
Engaging in physical activity in cold weather is relatively safe for healthy, consistent exercisers. However, if you have a history of heart disease or if you are out of shape, overweight, and suffer from high blood pressure, there may be higher risks to being physically active in the cold. This is because cold weather places added stress on the heart. There are ways of reducing the risks, such as warming up before going outside , starting your exercise slowly when you get out , and wearing layers. Talk to your physician and/or a trained kinesiologist before starting any exercise program.
Stay hydrated. You might not feel the need to drink water when you are exercising in the cold, but fluids are as important in cold weather as they are in the heat. Dehydration can affect your body's ability to regulate heat. Also, if you are going outside to be physically active, try to avoid consuming alcohol and caffeinated beverages because they promote dehydration.
Pay attention to the temperatures you feel and see . Frostbite is a serious condition that you want to avoid. If you do go out in the extreme cold temperatures, end your workout early if it is snowing or freezing rain because this moisture and the cold temperatures increase the risk for frostbite. This condition is also exacerbated with high windchill factors .
Eliminate your expectation that your athletic performance will match your warmer day work-outs. Focus on the process rather than outcome – physical activity in the snow and ice requires more energy expenditure, so you might go out for less time but you are likely to burn as many calories. Enjoy being outside while exercising, and think about all the people driving by or looking out of their windows thinking "now that is commitment to be working out in weather like this"
The challenge for the next two weeks is for you get outside and do some physical activity – practice layering, use the clothes you already own and see how you do before considering spending big bucks on new clothes. You don't need to look like the big athletic companies sponsor you – you need to stay dry and warm to enjoy your time outdoors.
2012年1月15日星期日
Stray dog upsets birds at Montgomery Zoo
An unexpected, four-legged visitor created a brief fuss at the Montgomery Zoo on Saturday morning and set the birds all a-flutter in a self-defense alarm system.
The black dog that apparently had delivered a litter recently didn't bark, but the closer it got to the aviary, the louder the sounds from the blue and gold macaws flapping around inside their cage.
"They see the dog as a predator," said Ken Naugher, enrichment and conservation manager. "That's why they're making so much noise."
It took a few minutes, but Naugher and other personnel eventually got the dog under control and made sure it received attention outside the zoo.
Frigid temperatures earlier in the morning held down the crowd, but, as the sun warmed up the location, more families began to arrive to tour the 42-acre wildlife park.
Birds and monkeys always seem to attract the most attention just inside the front gate, and Naugher spent part of his morning answering questions about the animals.
He kept a close eye on the birds to make sure none appeared to have suffered from the cold. Temperatures at one point dipped to below freezing. By 10 a.m., however, it had jumped into the high 40s.
Naugher said two concrete boxes inside the macaw aviary serve as a heater for the birds. He called it a "nest box" and said it amounts to a "good insulator during cold weather."
"Body heat warms up the whole box," he said. "We do all we can to make sure that the birds don't wind up with frozen toes. That can happen if it gets too cold."
Not far away from the bird cages was a glass-enclosed exhibit area occupied by a sloth bear. Cloaked in a heavy black fur coat, it appeared to be dozing as spectators peered through the glass to look for some sign of movement.
Naugher said the Montgomery Zoo has more than 500 species ranging from giraffes to snakes.
Within a few months, the zoo is expected to have its newest attraction, a sky lift that will transport visitors about 35 feet or more over the facility, offering a birds-eye view of the exhibits.
"It's something that everyone should enjoy," said Naugher, who indicated that details will be worked out soon as to price and how long the trip will last.
The black dog that apparently had delivered a litter recently didn't bark, but the closer it got to the aviary, the louder the sounds from the blue and gold macaws flapping around inside their cage.
"They see the dog as a predator," said Ken Naugher, enrichment and conservation manager. "That's why they're making so much noise."
It took a few minutes, but Naugher and other personnel eventually got the dog under control and made sure it received attention outside the zoo.
Frigid temperatures earlier in the morning held down the crowd, but, as the sun warmed up the location, more families began to arrive to tour the 42-acre wildlife park.
Birds and monkeys always seem to attract the most attention just inside the front gate, and Naugher spent part of his morning answering questions about the animals.
He kept a close eye on the birds to make sure none appeared to have suffered from the cold. Temperatures at one point dipped to below freezing. By 10 a.m., however, it had jumped into the high 40s.
Naugher said two concrete boxes inside the macaw aviary serve as a heater for the birds. He called it a "nest box" and said it amounts to a "good insulator during cold weather."
"Body heat warms up the whole box," he said. "We do all we can to make sure that the birds don't wind up with frozen toes. That can happen if it gets too cold."
Not far away from the bird cages was a glass-enclosed exhibit area occupied by a sloth bear. Cloaked in a heavy black fur coat, it appeared to be dozing as spectators peered through the glass to look for some sign of movement.
Naugher said the Montgomery Zoo has more than 500 species ranging from giraffes to snakes.
Within a few months, the zoo is expected to have its newest attraction, a sky lift that will transport visitors about 35 feet or more over the facility, offering a birds-eye view of the exhibits.
"It's something that everyone should enjoy," said Naugher, who indicated that details will be worked out soon as to price and how long the trip will last.
2012年1月12日星期四
Achieve winter home comfort
If you're a homeowner, you probably know that home winterization is essential if you want to increase energy efficiency and comfort during the winter. In addition to the usual quick fixes, there are a few important tasks to keep in mind when preparing both the interior and exterior of your home for the harsh weather ahead.
Believe it or not, the roof plays a big role when it comes to controlling the comfort in your home. Even more, heavy snowfall and ice can lead to severe damage throughout your home if you don't have a healthy roof.
Winter weather can cause the creation of ice dams. Walls of ice form at the edge of the roof when snow melts and runs down the roof, reaches the cold eaves and refreezes. If you don't have the proper protection, the ice pushes under the shingles, which will cause leaks into the attic or along exterior walls, resulting in water damage that can be expensive to repair.
Make sure you keep an eye out for icicles on your roof throughout the winter. Safety should always be your first priority. Icicles are dangerous because not only can they break off and fall from the roof, but the weight of the icicles can also cause a gutter or awning to fall. If you're worried about potential damage, hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof to remove icicles or make any repairs before problems arise.
If your roofing contractor determines you need a new roof, use Owens Corning Deck Defense underlayment and WeatherLock Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier Products in conjunction with high-performance shingles to help shield your home from moisture infiltration. These two layers of a roofing system are important because they provide extra water-shedding protection under the shingles.
"Ice and water barrier products directly beneath the shingles stop water from getting into the house," says Mel Sancrant, product technical specialist at Owens Corning. "But, it's also important to maintain adequate insulation in your attic to prevent ice dams by making sure you keep the attic at the same temperature as the outside with proper ventilation and insulation."
In the winter, the warm moist air generated by laundry, showers and other household activities can cause moisture build-up in the home. This moist air becomes a water vapor that transfers through your ceiling into the attic. Proper ventilation helps remove the moisture while it's still a vapor and exhaust it out through the vents located at the top of the house.
Insulation will help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home and promote energy efficiency. It can also reduce the amount of heat loss in your home if installed according to the Department of Energy's (DOE) recommendation for your region. Excessive heat loss through your attic can contribute to ice damning, so proper ventilation and a well insulated home is part of a healthy roof system.
To determine if you need more insulation, simply measure what you have. Most experts agree your attic should have at least a 19 inch deep layer of insulation or you could be wasting money. If your attic falls short of the DOE recommendation for your region and the type of heating and cooling system you have installed, then add another layer of insulation. The DOE's Energy Star website features a chart that clearly showcases the recommended level of attic insulation in each region in the United States.
There are other ways to make energy-efficient updates to your home, such caulking, weather stripping or adding an attic stairway insulator, to easily and effectively increase comfort and reduce heating costs.
A home energy audit with a qualified professional ensures a thorough inspection. In addition to helping you identify if your home is properly insulated and air sealed, the professional will shed light on ways you can conserve hot water and electricity.
Ensure your home has a healthy roof, proper insulation and an adequate air sealing system if you want to achieve an optimal level of comfort and energy efficiency in your home and protect it from the elements this winter.
Believe it or not, the roof plays a big role when it comes to controlling the comfort in your home. Even more, heavy snowfall and ice can lead to severe damage throughout your home if you don't have a healthy roof.
Winter weather can cause the creation of ice dams. Walls of ice form at the edge of the roof when snow melts and runs down the roof, reaches the cold eaves and refreezes. If you don't have the proper protection, the ice pushes under the shingles, which will cause leaks into the attic or along exterior walls, resulting in water damage that can be expensive to repair.
Make sure you keep an eye out for icicles on your roof throughout the winter. Safety should always be your first priority. Icicles are dangerous because not only can they break off and fall from the roof, but the weight of the icicles can also cause a gutter or awning to fall. If you're worried about potential damage, hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof to remove icicles or make any repairs before problems arise.
If your roofing contractor determines you need a new roof, use Owens Corning Deck Defense underlayment and WeatherLock Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier Products in conjunction with high-performance shingles to help shield your home from moisture infiltration. These two layers of a roofing system are important because they provide extra water-shedding protection under the shingles.
"Ice and water barrier products directly beneath the shingles stop water from getting into the house," says Mel Sancrant, product technical specialist at Owens Corning. "But, it's also important to maintain adequate insulation in your attic to prevent ice dams by making sure you keep the attic at the same temperature as the outside with proper ventilation and insulation."
In the winter, the warm moist air generated by laundry, showers and other household activities can cause moisture build-up in the home. This moist air becomes a water vapor that transfers through your ceiling into the attic. Proper ventilation helps remove the moisture while it's still a vapor and exhaust it out through the vents located at the top of the house.
Insulation will help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home and promote energy efficiency. It can also reduce the amount of heat loss in your home if installed according to the Department of Energy's (DOE) recommendation for your region. Excessive heat loss through your attic can contribute to ice damning, so proper ventilation and a well insulated home is part of a healthy roof system.
To determine if you need more insulation, simply measure what you have. Most experts agree your attic should have at least a 19 inch deep layer of insulation or you could be wasting money. If your attic falls short of the DOE recommendation for your region and the type of heating and cooling system you have installed, then add another layer of insulation. The DOE's Energy Star website features a chart that clearly showcases the recommended level of attic insulation in each region in the United States.
There are other ways to make energy-efficient updates to your home, such caulking, weather stripping or adding an attic stairway insulator, to easily and effectively increase comfort and reduce heating costs.
A home energy audit with a qualified professional ensures a thorough inspection. In addition to helping you identify if your home is properly insulated and air sealed, the professional will shed light on ways you can conserve hot water and electricity.
Ensure your home has a healthy roof, proper insulation and an adequate air sealing system if you want to achieve an optimal level of comfort and energy efficiency in your home and protect it from the elements this winter.
2012年1月11日星期三
Million dollar black hole at Port Elliot
On the weekend Port Elliot was again affected by power outages, and the latest black out has angered not just business people and residents, but the thousands of tourists that come to the Fleurieu each year.
Many fear it has terminally hurt the brand of Port Elliot, as one of the top tourist destinations in the state, and at an estimated cost to the economy of Port Elliot of one million dollars.
The power went out on Saturday, January 7 at approximately 7.10pm and was restored late in the evening, and then again at 9am and restored at midday on Sunday, January 8.
This follows the planned power black out on Monday, January 2, which impacted on more than 3000 Fleurieu Peninsula customers for five hours due to fire risk with temperatures hitting 40 degrees and north winds at 80 kilometres per hour.
Manager of stakeholder relations at ETSA Utilities, Paul Roberts, said the outages on the weekend were due to a lightning strike, which hit one of the 9000 insulators on the 72 kilometre overhead line that feeds into Port Elliot.
"There were 27,000 lightning strikes in South Australia on Saturday evening and an insulator was hit," Mr Roberts said.
"Insulators are resilient, but the lightning had cracked it.
"We had to identify which insulator was damaged and once replaced, power was restored.
"The crack in the insulator was hard to see, as it was the size of a pin prick.
"This type of outage could happen at anytime and is totally out of our control."
Saturday's outages on the Port Elliott line affected supply to about 1600 customers.
Mr Roberts said most outages occur through animals, birds, traffic accidents and the weather affecting the lines and poles, and ETSA workers are on call 24 hours a day to restore power to the community.
Many fear it has terminally hurt the brand of Port Elliot, as one of the top tourist destinations in the state, and at an estimated cost to the economy of Port Elliot of one million dollars.
The power went out on Saturday, January 7 at approximately 7.10pm and was restored late in the evening, and then again at 9am and restored at midday on Sunday, January 8.
This follows the planned power black out on Monday, January 2, which impacted on more than 3000 Fleurieu Peninsula customers for five hours due to fire risk with temperatures hitting 40 degrees and north winds at 80 kilometres per hour.
Manager of stakeholder relations at ETSA Utilities, Paul Roberts, said the outages on the weekend were due to a lightning strike, which hit one of the 9000 insulators on the 72 kilometre overhead line that feeds into Port Elliot.
"There were 27,000 lightning strikes in South Australia on Saturday evening and an insulator was hit," Mr Roberts said.
"Insulators are resilient, but the lightning had cracked it.
"We had to identify which insulator was damaged and once replaced, power was restored.
"The crack in the insulator was hard to see, as it was the size of a pin prick.
"This type of outage could happen at anytime and is totally out of our control."
Saturday's outages on the Port Elliott line affected supply to about 1600 customers.
Mr Roberts said most outages occur through animals, birds, traffic accidents and the weather affecting the lines and poles, and ETSA workers are on call 24 hours a day to restore power to the community.
2012年1月10日星期二
New Orleans - the Value of R Value: Insulating Your Homes
Having a comfortable home is necessary. After all, this is the place where restoration of the energy lost during work should take place. And one of the most helpful ways to ensure that the home will really be a comfortable place to live in is properly insulating it. How insulation works and where the R Value comes in will be explained in the succeeding paragraphs.
Under normal circumstances, heat transfers from warmer place to a cooler one. Consider one winter day as an example. Since the temperatures will really be freezing during this time, you will really have to start a fire and the heating inside your home should be in full blast. But because of how nature works, all this will just be put to waste since heat will just travel from your home where it is warm to the outside where it is really cold. Hence, there is a need to insulate your home.
Insulation works by countering the directions of the heat flow. So, when it is winter, insulation inside your home should counter the flow of heat from the inside to the outside so that you will still be comfortable. When it is summer time, the insulation should work to counter the flow of heat from the very hot outside to the relatively cooler inside of your home. Now, how will you determine that the insulator that you are using is actually a good insulator?
You just have to look at the material’s R Value. This value in technical terms represents the material’s resistance to the heat flow. Logically, the higher the material’s R Value, the higher is its insulating powers. Some of the materials that could pass as good insulators are Polyurethane, polystyrene, and perlite which all have an R Value of at least 2.5 per square inch.
Now that you know what materials are of good R Value, the questions would be where these materials should be placed around your home to get the best out of them. Oftentimes, people miss out on this because of its apparent remoteness from where the actual household activities take place. Another good place would be on exterior walls. This may seem logical since this part of the house is the one which has direct contact with the outside environment.
Foundations could also be a good place insulate. Most house designs have these on places of that surround the whole perimeter and they are also of equal intervals from each other. From this, insulation can really be considered to be of relatively complete coverage of the living spaces. So, it is important that the materials of the highest R Values should be put on them.
Under normal circumstances, heat transfers from warmer place to a cooler one. Consider one winter day as an example. Since the temperatures will really be freezing during this time, you will really have to start a fire and the heating inside your home should be in full blast. But because of how nature works, all this will just be put to waste since heat will just travel from your home where it is warm to the outside where it is really cold. Hence, there is a need to insulate your home.
Insulation works by countering the directions of the heat flow. So, when it is winter, insulation inside your home should counter the flow of heat from the inside to the outside so that you will still be comfortable. When it is summer time, the insulation should work to counter the flow of heat from the very hot outside to the relatively cooler inside of your home. Now, how will you determine that the insulator that you are using is actually a good insulator?
You just have to look at the material’s R Value. This value in technical terms represents the material’s resistance to the heat flow. Logically, the higher the material’s R Value, the higher is its insulating powers. Some of the materials that could pass as good insulators are Polyurethane, polystyrene, and perlite which all have an R Value of at least 2.5 per square inch.
Now that you know what materials are of good R Value, the questions would be where these materials should be placed around your home to get the best out of them. Oftentimes, people miss out on this because of its apparent remoteness from where the actual household activities take place. Another good place would be on exterior walls. This may seem logical since this part of the house is the one which has direct contact with the outside environment.
Foundations could also be a good place insulate. Most house designs have these on places of that surround the whole perimeter and they are also of equal intervals from each other. From this, insulation can really be considered to be of relatively complete coverage of the living spaces. So, it is important that the materials of the highest R Values should be put on them.
2012年1月9日星期一
New transistor design tackles threshold voltage variability issues
As cmos transistors continue to get smaller and smaller, it becomes increasingly difficult to make them behave in a similar fashion. With more and more transistors being packed into smaller areas of silicon, the consequence is that more devices are likely to fail to meet design requirements.
The reason at the heart of this is variability. In order to make silicon behave in a particular fashion, it's doped with small quantities of other elements.
At larger process dimensions, there were enough dopant atoms around to ensure the 'right number' were in any given volume of silicon. But as the semiconductor industry contemplates life beyond the 20nm node, manufacturers can't be sure there will be an even distribution of dopant atoms throughout the base silicon. So, while some transistors will have the right number of dopant atoms, others will have too few and will not operate correctly.
One solution takes advantage of the fact that, at 20nm, transistors are, effectively, free. By including more than are needed, the chances are there will be enough 'good' ones to make the circuit work – a variation on redundancy. But another solution is to address how the transistor works; and that's what SuVolta is addressing as part of its PowerShrink platform.
There is a general agreement in the semiconductor world that transistor design holds the key to the future. Paul Otellini, Intel's president and ceo, has said 'transistors are going to be a defining point of differentiation'. "Better graphics performance in a battery constrained environment is going to be a function of the transistor," he said.
Jeff Lewis, SuVolta's senior vp for marketing and business development, noted: "I agree with the concept, but not with the implementation. We are both trying to solve the same problems, but in a different way."
SuVolta described its approach – which it calls the Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) transistor – at last year's International Electron Device Meeting.
Variability can express itself in a number of ways, but a major effect relates to power consumption. Users continue to demand better power efficiency from mobile devices. This has traditionally been provided by moving to smaller process geometries and lower voltages.
"Power is a primary issue," Lewis noted, "and it's an exponential function of voltage." Because of the variability issue, it's getting a lot harder to reduce voltage.
As Lewis accepted, a number of different approaches to transistor design are being pursued. But he believes these are focused more at solving problems inherent to the pc market than they are to solving issues for SoC designers. "FinFETs are good solutions," he said, "but they are targeted at desktop microprocessors and are not necessarily a solution for mobile SoCs." Other avenues of research he highlighted included Imec's fully depleted silicon on insulator and Intel's bulk planar transistors.
But the underlying problem is variability and SuVolta's approach is intended to reduce this. "When you tighten the distribution," Lewis continued, "you solve two problems; you get rid of leaky transistors and you get rid of slow transistors." In fig 3, the left hand side shows the effect of tightening distribution on leaky transistors. "Tightening the distribution on the right hand side gets rid of slow transistors," Lewis pointed out.
Despite his belief that broader market solutions will win in the end, Lewis concedes that Intel's FinFET approach will lead the market in the near term. "Intel will get the trigate/FinFet working, but this technology will be difficult for foundries to implement and optimise. Intel will be able to debug the technology because it will produce about 2million wafers using the trigate flow over the next two years."
But in the longer term, Lewis believes low power SoCs will drive semiconductor developments, not cpus. "A radical shift will be needed in order to allow the industry to support the manufacture of $10 chips, not $200 microprocessors. With microprocessors, it's all about performance. SoCs, on the other hand, have to blend power, performance and cost."
So how does SuVolta's solution achieve its aim? SuVolta's DDC approach has three layers. The first layer is the channel, from which as many dopant atoms are removed as possible. Lewis said: "The key is an undoped or lightly doped stack. We have modified what lies underneath, but the gates and other areas remain the same. By effectively removing dopants, we get better Vt matching and we do this in a way which can be integrated into existing fabrication methods.
"There is tight control of the depletion depth," Lewis continued, "and an improvement in Vt matching."
He said the process has already been implemented into a number of fabs. "All have been able to bring the technology up without modifying their equipment or materials. This makes it compatible with an SoC design flow, where multiple Vts can be supported."
The second level is the Vt setting offset region. "Here, we can change the doping to vary threshold voltage levels without degrading channel mobility," Lewis noted.
Finally, the third level is the screening region. "This is a highly doped region," Lewis continued, "which constrains depletion and serves as a barrier if biasing is needed. It's an effective way of controlling Vt dynamically and performing power gating."
According to SuVolta, the approach brings a number of benefits. Because there is lower threshold voltage variation, leakage is lower and so is power consumption. Meanwhile, higher channel mobility brings better performance, while a reduction in drain induced barrier lowering supports increased density as processes scale to smaller geometries. "And there's a doubling in the body coefficient," Lewis claimed, "bringing increased control over Vt and reduced power consumption."
SuVolta now has its sights on the 28 and 20nm nodes. Lewis said: "We have the transistor working at 28nm. Good short channel effects show the approach is scalable beyond that."
Why has this approach not been introduced before? "Power wasn't as much of a driver as it is today," Lewis admitted. "Before, people were more interested in driving density. There are also better, more accurate tools available today," he added.
Meanwhile, in a demonstration, Fujitsu has integrated DDC technology into its low power 65nm process technology and shown that a 576kbit sram block can operate from a 0.425V supply by reducing cmos transistor threshold voltage variation by half.
The reason at the heart of this is variability. In order to make silicon behave in a particular fashion, it's doped with small quantities of other elements.
At larger process dimensions, there were enough dopant atoms around to ensure the 'right number' were in any given volume of silicon. But as the semiconductor industry contemplates life beyond the 20nm node, manufacturers can't be sure there will be an even distribution of dopant atoms throughout the base silicon. So, while some transistors will have the right number of dopant atoms, others will have too few and will not operate correctly.
One solution takes advantage of the fact that, at 20nm, transistors are, effectively, free. By including more than are needed, the chances are there will be enough 'good' ones to make the circuit work – a variation on redundancy. But another solution is to address how the transistor works; and that's what SuVolta is addressing as part of its PowerShrink platform.
There is a general agreement in the semiconductor world that transistor design holds the key to the future. Paul Otellini, Intel's president and ceo, has said 'transistors are going to be a defining point of differentiation'. "Better graphics performance in a battery constrained environment is going to be a function of the transistor," he said.
Jeff Lewis, SuVolta's senior vp for marketing and business development, noted: "I agree with the concept, but not with the implementation. We are both trying to solve the same problems, but in a different way."
SuVolta described its approach – which it calls the Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) transistor – at last year's International Electron Device Meeting.
Variability can express itself in a number of ways, but a major effect relates to power consumption. Users continue to demand better power efficiency from mobile devices. This has traditionally been provided by moving to smaller process geometries and lower voltages.
"Power is a primary issue," Lewis noted, "and it's an exponential function of voltage." Because of the variability issue, it's getting a lot harder to reduce voltage.
As Lewis accepted, a number of different approaches to transistor design are being pursued. But he believes these are focused more at solving problems inherent to the pc market than they are to solving issues for SoC designers. "FinFETs are good solutions," he said, "but they are targeted at desktop microprocessors and are not necessarily a solution for mobile SoCs." Other avenues of research he highlighted included Imec's fully depleted silicon on insulator and Intel's bulk planar transistors.
But the underlying problem is variability and SuVolta's approach is intended to reduce this. "When you tighten the distribution," Lewis continued, "you solve two problems; you get rid of leaky transistors and you get rid of slow transistors." In fig 3, the left hand side shows the effect of tightening distribution on leaky transistors. "Tightening the distribution on the right hand side gets rid of slow transistors," Lewis pointed out.
Despite his belief that broader market solutions will win in the end, Lewis concedes that Intel's FinFET approach will lead the market in the near term. "Intel will get the trigate/FinFet working, but this technology will be difficult for foundries to implement and optimise. Intel will be able to debug the technology because it will produce about 2million wafers using the trigate flow over the next two years."
But in the longer term, Lewis believes low power SoCs will drive semiconductor developments, not cpus. "A radical shift will be needed in order to allow the industry to support the manufacture of $10 chips, not $200 microprocessors. With microprocessors, it's all about performance. SoCs, on the other hand, have to blend power, performance and cost."
So how does SuVolta's solution achieve its aim? SuVolta's DDC approach has three layers. The first layer is the channel, from which as many dopant atoms are removed as possible. Lewis said: "The key is an undoped or lightly doped stack. We have modified what lies underneath, but the gates and other areas remain the same. By effectively removing dopants, we get better Vt matching and we do this in a way which can be integrated into existing fabrication methods.
"There is tight control of the depletion depth," Lewis continued, "and an improvement in Vt matching."
He said the process has already been implemented into a number of fabs. "All have been able to bring the technology up without modifying their equipment or materials. This makes it compatible with an SoC design flow, where multiple Vts can be supported."
The second level is the Vt setting offset region. "Here, we can change the doping to vary threshold voltage levels without degrading channel mobility," Lewis noted.
Finally, the third level is the screening region. "This is a highly doped region," Lewis continued, "which constrains depletion and serves as a barrier if biasing is needed. It's an effective way of controlling Vt dynamically and performing power gating."
According to SuVolta, the approach brings a number of benefits. Because there is lower threshold voltage variation, leakage is lower and so is power consumption. Meanwhile, higher channel mobility brings better performance, while a reduction in drain induced barrier lowering supports increased density as processes scale to smaller geometries. "And there's a doubling in the body coefficient," Lewis claimed, "bringing increased control over Vt and reduced power consumption."
SuVolta now has its sights on the 28 and 20nm nodes. Lewis said: "We have the transistor working at 28nm. Good short channel effects show the approach is scalable beyond that."
Why has this approach not been introduced before? "Power wasn't as much of a driver as it is today," Lewis admitted. "Before, people were more interested in driving density. There are also better, more accurate tools available today," he added.
Meanwhile, in a demonstration, Fujitsu has integrated DDC technology into its low power 65nm process technology and shown that a 576kbit sram block can operate from a 0.425V supply by reducing cmos transistor threshold voltage variation by half.
2012年1月8日星期日
Dry start to Utah winter may bug you later
The Indian summer Top of Utah residents have been enjoying the last few weeks may have been refreshing, but it also may have some downright buggy consequences come spring.
That's right. According to bug experts, without some significant snowfall soon, the result could be an infestation of bugs normally killed off by cold winter temperatures.
"Cold weather is one of the things that seem to knock them back," said John Mull, a Weber State University zoology professor who's an expert on insects. "If we start spring with higher numbers, they could build up to unprecedented levels."
Mull cited current issues with bark beetles consuming large numbers of trees throughout the western United States as an example of what could happen when pest insect populations explode.
"Insect pests that normally get killed off could be around in large numbers," said Barb Wachocki, chairwoman of the botany department at Weber State University. "Something like that could happen. ... It could have a huge impact on plants."
Because of plant hormones and other factors, Wachocki said she is far less worried about the direct effect on plants from unseasonably warm weather than she is about the insects.
But Mull said the warm weather pattern also could have a devastating effect on some six- and eight-legged creatures.
"If it's not cold, they are moving around," he said. "They are burning up calories but not replacing them. ... It messes up their physiology in a way that they may not be able to recover."
A host of warm-temperature records have been set last week in various locations throughout the state, and the usual air inversion for this time of year also appears to be all but nonexistent.
The cause, say weather experts, is a lack of snow so far this season combined with a high-pressure system.
Marty Booth, a meteor-ologist with the Utah Climate Center, said last week's particularly warm weather with a handful of high-temperature records has been due to "large-scale high-pressure ridges that have been over the West."
The ridges have kept storms away from Utah, Nevada and much of Colorado, he said.
But what's most important to understand, he said, is that the temperatures have stayed warm because of a lack of snow.
According to the National Weather Service, a record low amount of snowfall was set last month at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Record-keepers recorded just one-tenth of an inch of snowfall, breaking the old record of nine-tenths of an inch in 1962.
"Normally, we already have a good deal of snow cover on the ground," Booth said. "Snow cover tends to reflect solar radiation away and we get even colder."
He said darker colors in bare soil absorb solar energy and heat the air next to the ground, keeping ground-level air temperatures high and the usual January inversion at bay.
Dan Bedford, a Weber State University geography professor who has studied long-term climate change, pointed to a La Nina pattern over the equatorial Pacific Ocean as the cause of recent trends.
"We just have to blame it on high pressure," said Rick Ford, a professor in the geosciences department at Weber State University. "We just need the high-pressure cell to blow away. It has happened before. It will happen again. It's part of the variability in this thing we call weather."
And weather variables also could serve as a protection, Wachocki said.
"I've heard some people say the tulips are coming up," she said. "If the soil is warm, they may be fooled into coming up early. ... If we do get some snow, it is a good insulator."
Weather and climate experts who were interviewed all said a few weeks of unseasonably warm weather are not indications of global warming and shouldn't be cause for concern by itself.
"One year is not going to have a profound effect," Wachocki said.
"It is weather," Ford said. "In weather, it's going to change."
He urges people to wait before they get worked up over a lack of snowfall.
"We are behind, but with any luck, we will catch up later in the season," Ford said. "Dry years and drought are common."
But Wachocki and others did say they have seen other indications that the planet is getting warmer.
"It is happening in a lot of places where the flowers start to come up and bloom earlier," Wachocki said. "If the pollinators are not out, it could have an effect on seed production."
Bedford said weather patterns are something that must be studied over a long period of time. He said last winter sported a warmer period at about this same time as well, which was followed by a record-breaking wet spring.
But he said, over time, there does seem to be a "little bit of a trend toward slightly warm winters in the western United States."
That's right. According to bug experts, without some significant snowfall soon, the result could be an infestation of bugs normally killed off by cold winter temperatures.
"Cold weather is one of the things that seem to knock them back," said John Mull, a Weber State University zoology professor who's an expert on insects. "If we start spring with higher numbers, they could build up to unprecedented levels."
Mull cited current issues with bark beetles consuming large numbers of trees throughout the western United States as an example of what could happen when pest insect populations explode.
"Insect pests that normally get killed off could be around in large numbers," said Barb Wachocki, chairwoman of the botany department at Weber State University. "Something like that could happen. ... It could have a huge impact on plants."
Because of plant hormones and other factors, Wachocki said she is far less worried about the direct effect on plants from unseasonably warm weather than she is about the insects.
But Mull said the warm weather pattern also could have a devastating effect on some six- and eight-legged creatures.
"If it's not cold, they are moving around," he said. "They are burning up calories but not replacing them. ... It messes up their physiology in a way that they may not be able to recover."
A host of warm-temperature records have been set last week in various locations throughout the state, and the usual air inversion for this time of year also appears to be all but nonexistent.
The cause, say weather experts, is a lack of snow so far this season combined with a high-pressure system.
Marty Booth, a meteor-ologist with the Utah Climate Center, said last week's particularly warm weather with a handful of high-temperature records has been due to "large-scale high-pressure ridges that have been over the West."
The ridges have kept storms away from Utah, Nevada and much of Colorado, he said.
But what's most important to understand, he said, is that the temperatures have stayed warm because of a lack of snow.
According to the National Weather Service, a record low amount of snowfall was set last month at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Record-keepers recorded just one-tenth of an inch of snowfall, breaking the old record of nine-tenths of an inch in 1962.
"Normally, we already have a good deal of snow cover on the ground," Booth said. "Snow cover tends to reflect solar radiation away and we get even colder."
He said darker colors in bare soil absorb solar energy and heat the air next to the ground, keeping ground-level air temperatures high and the usual January inversion at bay.
Dan Bedford, a Weber State University geography professor who has studied long-term climate change, pointed to a La Nina pattern over the equatorial Pacific Ocean as the cause of recent trends.
"We just have to blame it on high pressure," said Rick Ford, a professor in the geosciences department at Weber State University. "We just need the high-pressure cell to blow away. It has happened before. It will happen again. It's part of the variability in this thing we call weather."
And weather variables also could serve as a protection, Wachocki said.
"I've heard some people say the tulips are coming up," she said. "If the soil is warm, they may be fooled into coming up early. ... If we do get some snow, it is a good insulator."
Weather and climate experts who were interviewed all said a few weeks of unseasonably warm weather are not indications of global warming and shouldn't be cause for concern by itself.
"One year is not going to have a profound effect," Wachocki said.
"It is weather," Ford said. "In weather, it's going to change."
He urges people to wait before they get worked up over a lack of snowfall.
"We are behind, but with any luck, we will catch up later in the season," Ford said. "Dry years and drought are common."
But Wachocki and others did say they have seen other indications that the planet is getting warmer.
"It is happening in a lot of places where the flowers start to come up and bloom earlier," Wachocki said. "If the pollinators are not out, it could have an effect on seed production."
Bedford said weather patterns are something that must be studied over a long period of time. He said last winter sported a warmer period at about this same time as well, which was followed by a record-breaking wet spring.
But he said, over time, there does seem to be a "little bit of a trend toward slightly warm winters in the western United States."
2012年1月5日星期四
A laser that works better shaken, not stirred
I don't know about you, but when I think of lasers, I think of boxes on heavy, stabilized tables. Inside the boxes, the optical elements are mounted on stabilized mounts and everything is generally held as solidly in place as possible. The one thing that you generally don't do is give a laser a good shaking. Unless it has already stopped working, in which case, have at it... preferably with a hammer.
Finding a paper that demonstrated a laser with better performance when it was being shaken compared to when it was held came as a bit of a shock.
The reason why the idea of shaking a laser is so shocking to me is that the lasers I am used to working with have optical elements that need to maintain a precise alignment with respect to one another. Temperature changes, vibrations, shaking, and "thumping the box to fix it" are all really bad ideas. But of course not all lasers are like this.
The laser in your laser pointer, CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray players are all monolithic devices. That is, they are made from a single piece of material, or materials, that are deposited on one another. You can obviously shake a laser pointer (much to the delight of cats), but this capability doesn't scale. If you were to shake a laser pointer with acoustic waves that had a wavelength about the same size as the device (in the GHz range), then I would expect that things would probably go wrong rather quickly.
In most cases, at least. A group of researchers from Germany and Russia have now made a laser that works better when it is shaken. The reason why this occurs lies in the peculiar nature of the laser used by the researchers.
The laser that the researchers worked with was made from quantum dots (see side bar) embedded in a semiconductor material that had mirrors deposited on either side of it. This means that the distance between the two mirrors was extremely short. The researchers don't state how big the distance was, but from the figures, I estimate that it wasn't much longer than eight micrometers. For comparison, the wavelength emitted by the quantum dots was around 900nm.
How do quantum dots work as lasers? Lasers rely on light building up between the two mirrors, and only particular frequencies of light will do that. Consider it like this: a quantum dot emits a photon, which travels—or rather expands, since it takes time to emit a photon—toward a mirror. It reflects off that mirror, travels to the second mirror, and returns to the quantum dot, where the photon interferes with itself. If the interference is constructive—constructive interference is when all the peaks line up—light will build up in the cavity. If the interference is destructive, the light will die out.
Constructive interference only occurs when light has to travel a complete number of half-wavelengths. In other words, we should be able to divide the length of the cavity by the wavelength of the light and get an integer result.
As the distance between two mirrors gets shorter, the gaps between wavelengths that will fit into the cavity get larger. In the laser that the researchers were using, the cavity is short enough that, within the range of wavelengths that the quantum dots can emit, only one satisfies that condition (or rather a small range of wavelengths around where the interference is perfectly constructive).
This presents something of a problem, because the inconsistencies among quantum dots means that many of them don't have the right energy levels to contribute photons that make up the laser light. Instead, they emit light in different directions and with the wrong wavelength.
To shake things up, the researchers sent sound waves into the laser. The sound waves repetitively strain the quantum dots, which temporarily modifies their energy levels. As a result, more of the quantum dots spend some time with energy levels that correspond to the wavelength of light that the laser is able to emit.
Even this might not help, because, in some materials, electrons don't like to stay in the excited state, and emit a photon to decay to a lower energy level almost immediately. In this case, the sound wave wouldn't have enough time to shift the energy levels before the electron was gone from the excited state.
Luckily, left to themselves, the electrons in quantum dots are quite happy in the excited state, so they will hang around for a nanosecond or longer before decaying back to the ground state and emitting a photon. With the sound wave present, the quantum dots periodically enter into resonance with the cavity and are stimulated to emit. Under the influence of other photons, the electrons only take 20ps to decide that it's time to emit a photon. What that means is that the sound wave has plenty of time to move quantum dots into and out of resonance, so that more quantum dots can contribute to laser emission.
The result was a laser power that was 200 times higher than the laser without the sound waves, which is a pretty spectacular increase in efficiency. Normally, even if you got such an increase, you would expect that the spectral properties of the laser (the range of wavelengths that it emitted) would be messed up. In this case, though, the very short cavity, combined with the high reflectivity of the mirrors, prevents that from occurring. Overall, it means that there isn't really any serious downside to this at all.
Finding a paper that demonstrated a laser with better performance when it was being shaken compared to when it was held came as a bit of a shock.
The reason why the idea of shaking a laser is so shocking to me is that the lasers I am used to working with have optical elements that need to maintain a precise alignment with respect to one another. Temperature changes, vibrations, shaking, and "thumping the box to fix it" are all really bad ideas. But of course not all lasers are like this.
The laser in your laser pointer, CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray players are all monolithic devices. That is, they are made from a single piece of material, or materials, that are deposited on one another. You can obviously shake a laser pointer (much to the delight of cats), but this capability doesn't scale. If you were to shake a laser pointer with acoustic waves that had a wavelength about the same size as the device (in the GHz range), then I would expect that things would probably go wrong rather quickly.
In most cases, at least. A group of researchers from Germany and Russia have now made a laser that works better when it is shaken. The reason why this occurs lies in the peculiar nature of the laser used by the researchers.
The laser that the researchers worked with was made from quantum dots (see side bar) embedded in a semiconductor material that had mirrors deposited on either side of it. This means that the distance between the two mirrors was extremely short. The researchers don't state how big the distance was, but from the figures, I estimate that it wasn't much longer than eight micrometers. For comparison, the wavelength emitted by the quantum dots was around 900nm.
How do quantum dots work as lasers? Lasers rely on light building up between the two mirrors, and only particular frequencies of light will do that. Consider it like this: a quantum dot emits a photon, which travels—or rather expands, since it takes time to emit a photon—toward a mirror. It reflects off that mirror, travels to the second mirror, and returns to the quantum dot, where the photon interferes with itself. If the interference is constructive—constructive interference is when all the peaks line up—light will build up in the cavity. If the interference is destructive, the light will die out.
Constructive interference only occurs when light has to travel a complete number of half-wavelengths. In other words, we should be able to divide the length of the cavity by the wavelength of the light and get an integer result.
As the distance between two mirrors gets shorter, the gaps between wavelengths that will fit into the cavity get larger. In the laser that the researchers were using, the cavity is short enough that, within the range of wavelengths that the quantum dots can emit, only one satisfies that condition (or rather a small range of wavelengths around where the interference is perfectly constructive).
This presents something of a problem, because the inconsistencies among quantum dots means that many of them don't have the right energy levels to contribute photons that make up the laser light. Instead, they emit light in different directions and with the wrong wavelength.
To shake things up, the researchers sent sound waves into the laser. The sound waves repetitively strain the quantum dots, which temporarily modifies their energy levels. As a result, more of the quantum dots spend some time with energy levels that correspond to the wavelength of light that the laser is able to emit.
Even this might not help, because, in some materials, electrons don't like to stay in the excited state, and emit a photon to decay to a lower energy level almost immediately. In this case, the sound wave wouldn't have enough time to shift the energy levels before the electron was gone from the excited state.
Luckily, left to themselves, the electrons in quantum dots are quite happy in the excited state, so they will hang around for a nanosecond or longer before decaying back to the ground state and emitting a photon. With the sound wave present, the quantum dots periodically enter into resonance with the cavity and are stimulated to emit. Under the influence of other photons, the electrons only take 20ps to decide that it's time to emit a photon. What that means is that the sound wave has plenty of time to move quantum dots into and out of resonance, so that more quantum dots can contribute to laser emission.
The result was a laser power that was 200 times higher than the laser without the sound waves, which is a pretty spectacular increase in efficiency. Normally, even if you got such an increase, you would expect that the spectral properties of the laser (the range of wavelengths that it emitted) would be messed up. In this case, though, the very short cavity, combined with the high reflectivity of the mirrors, prevents that from occurring. Overall, it means that there isn't really any serious downside to this at all.
2012年1月4日星期三
The science of snow, and how to deal with it
We all enjoy the winter wonderland that nature provides us with each winter. Well, except when it’s covering the driveway. Regardless of how serene and beautiful it looks, snow can be a pain to deal with, literally. Knowing a few facts about snow can help you deal effectively with this fluffy winter pest.
Snow is made out of dust particles that freeze in the clouds. When snow hits the ground, it is mostly made up of ice, air bubbles and water vapor. The density of the snow depends on how much water the snow contains altogether. The more “water content” in the snow, the harder it is to shovel. Old packed snow is the worst of them all; you can barely get your shovel into it.
Despite the fact that snow is less dense than water, shoveling snow can be a major strain on the body. In cold weather, the body’s blood vessels constrict in order to hold onto whatever heat it can. However, the heart and lungs have to work even harder to pump oxygen to the lungs. Coupled with lifting pounds of snow every ten to thirty seconds, it is very easy to pull a muscle or become out of breath. It can even become life threatening to someone prone to heart attacks. Remember to always stretch beforehand, pace yourself, and use a shovel that matches your body type.
Forget melting snow with a heater. It doesn’t work all that well and you can waste a lot of energy that way. Because of the air pockets within snow crystals, snow is a very good insulator. Heat doesn’t travel well through a snow mound. Moreover, when snow does melt during winter, a new problem arises. The leftover water from the melted snow usually turns into ice. The surface of ice has a microscopic layer of water that allows the ice to be slippery. Also, the water molecules in the ice both bond tightly to each other when frozen and bond to the molecules of the ground below. This makes it excruciatingly difficult to scrape off and remove.
The best mode of snow removal and ice removal is using a deicer. They are usually made out of some kind of salt that is absorbed into the ice or snow. Water has a lower freezing point when something is dissolved in it, making sure the ice and water mixture melts and cannot freeze again. Three of the most used deicing chemicals are table salt (sodium chloride), calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. Unlike table salt, the calcium and magnesium chlorides also give off heat when they mix with water, helping the melting process. However, salts can damage plant life, badly made concrete (concrete that has air bubbles in it) and metals, like steel and aluminum. This is especially true with magnesium chloride, which can change the chemical makeup of concrete and harm electrical appliances. CMA, a chemical made of calcium, magnesium, and vinegar is a noncorrosive and safe alternative for deicing. Still, as a precaution, check the quality of your concrete and rub alcohol around metal surfaces to lower the freezing point of the ice on them.
Snow is made out of dust particles that freeze in the clouds. When snow hits the ground, it is mostly made up of ice, air bubbles and water vapor. The density of the snow depends on how much water the snow contains altogether. The more “water content” in the snow, the harder it is to shovel. Old packed snow is the worst of them all; you can barely get your shovel into it.
Despite the fact that snow is less dense than water, shoveling snow can be a major strain on the body. In cold weather, the body’s blood vessels constrict in order to hold onto whatever heat it can. However, the heart and lungs have to work even harder to pump oxygen to the lungs. Coupled with lifting pounds of snow every ten to thirty seconds, it is very easy to pull a muscle or become out of breath. It can even become life threatening to someone prone to heart attacks. Remember to always stretch beforehand, pace yourself, and use a shovel that matches your body type.
Forget melting snow with a heater. It doesn’t work all that well and you can waste a lot of energy that way. Because of the air pockets within snow crystals, snow is a very good insulator. Heat doesn’t travel well through a snow mound. Moreover, when snow does melt during winter, a new problem arises. The leftover water from the melted snow usually turns into ice. The surface of ice has a microscopic layer of water that allows the ice to be slippery. Also, the water molecules in the ice both bond tightly to each other when frozen and bond to the molecules of the ground below. This makes it excruciatingly difficult to scrape off and remove.
The best mode of snow removal and ice removal is using a deicer. They are usually made out of some kind of salt that is absorbed into the ice or snow. Water has a lower freezing point when something is dissolved in it, making sure the ice and water mixture melts and cannot freeze again. Three of the most used deicing chemicals are table salt (sodium chloride), calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. Unlike table salt, the calcium and magnesium chlorides also give off heat when they mix with water, helping the melting process. However, salts can damage plant life, badly made concrete (concrete that has air bubbles in it) and metals, like steel and aluminum. This is especially true with magnesium chloride, which can change the chemical makeup of concrete and harm electrical appliances. CMA, a chemical made of calcium, magnesium, and vinegar is a noncorrosive and safe alternative for deicing. Still, as a precaution, check the quality of your concrete and rub alcohol around metal surfaces to lower the freezing point of the ice on them.
2012年1月3日星期二
Gunfire Vandalism Risks Increasing
Gunfire vandalism could be a greater threat to reliability as more utilities add complex fiber optic communications lines to their systems, co-op officials warn.
“Shooting at electrical equipment is vandalism and could be deadly,” said Bob Franklin, manager of electric operations for Choptank Electric Cooperative’s Salisbury district. “If an insulator is broken or damaged, anyone coming in contact with the pole could be electrocuted.”
The Denton, Md.-based co-op has recently mounted a public education campaign to inform its consumer-members of the risks birdshot and other ammunition fired at power lines pose to shooters, utility personnel, pets and people.
“We’ve been reminding members that they need to be aware that firing in the direction of power lines can damage fragile equipment,” said Franklin.
“The glass elements inside of the insulated fiber cables are delicate. In some cases, repairs to a damaged section can cost thousands of dollars.”
Co-ops have been coping with gunfire-related outages for decades. On Oct. 9, 1949, a broadcast of the fifth game of the World Series was interrupted by silence for some members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.
“Apparently a pretty good marksman with a .22 rifle shot the insulators off nine consecutive poles,” a staffer wrote in the Plymouth-based co-op’s newsletter. “About twenty miles of line and service to 65 people went dead.” Co-op officials described the use of insulators for target practice as “needlessly harmful.”
Recently, another co-op that asked not to be identified dispatched a crew to replace a broken pole along its right-of-way that was cut in half and hanging from the wires.
According to sources who examined the damage, the .45-caliber rounds embedded in the pole were fired by a Thompson submachine gun, or a similar weapon, at velocities capable of severing the pole.
In some states, separate laws have been passed to discourage damage to utility assets. A Minnesota statute enacted in 2011 declares it a Class 1 felony subject to up to five years imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000.
But as more co-ops add modern communications technology to their systems, the threats to utility equipment posed by birdshot and other ammunition have increased, according to some officials.
Some co-ops have already seen fiber optic communications lines accidently damaged by errant shots presumably aimed at game birds and waterfowl.
“Unlike conductor, which is typically bare wire, communications line is insulated and a small break in a line can dramatically degrade its performance,” said Choptank Electric’s Franklin.
“Shooting at electrical equipment is vandalism and could be deadly,” said Bob Franklin, manager of electric operations for Choptank Electric Cooperative’s Salisbury district. “If an insulator is broken or damaged, anyone coming in contact with the pole could be electrocuted.”
The Denton, Md.-based co-op has recently mounted a public education campaign to inform its consumer-members of the risks birdshot and other ammunition fired at power lines pose to shooters, utility personnel, pets and people.
“We’ve been reminding members that they need to be aware that firing in the direction of power lines can damage fragile equipment,” said Franklin.
“The glass elements inside of the insulated fiber cables are delicate. In some cases, repairs to a damaged section can cost thousands of dollars.”
Co-ops have been coping with gunfire-related outages for decades. On Oct. 9, 1949, a broadcast of the fifth game of the World Series was interrupted by silence for some members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.
“Apparently a pretty good marksman with a .22 rifle shot the insulators off nine consecutive poles,” a staffer wrote in the Plymouth-based co-op’s newsletter. “About twenty miles of line and service to 65 people went dead.” Co-op officials described the use of insulators for target practice as “needlessly harmful.”
Recently, another co-op that asked not to be identified dispatched a crew to replace a broken pole along its right-of-way that was cut in half and hanging from the wires.
According to sources who examined the damage, the .45-caliber rounds embedded in the pole were fired by a Thompson submachine gun, or a similar weapon, at velocities capable of severing the pole.
In some states, separate laws have been passed to discourage damage to utility assets. A Minnesota statute enacted in 2011 declares it a Class 1 felony subject to up to five years imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000.
But as more co-ops add modern communications technology to their systems, the threats to utility equipment posed by birdshot and other ammunition have increased, according to some officials.
Some co-ops have already seen fiber optic communications lines accidently damaged by errant shots presumably aimed at game birds and waterfowl.
“Unlike conductor, which is typically bare wire, communications line is insulated and a small break in a line can dramatically degrade its performance,” said Choptank Electric’s Franklin.
2012年1月2日星期一
3D integration key to 22nm semiconductor devices
3D IC integration techniques offer many benefits, the most notable being smaller footprint, lower power and higher bandwidth. From a cost standpoint, 3D’s biggest advantage is the ability to partition large, complex dies into smaller functional blocks. This improves yield and manufacturing cost equations, and enables testing/replacement of semiconductor dies prior to integration. Furthermore, individual functional blocks enable a modular design with standardized components, e.g., an ASIC manufacturer can focus on developing the ASIC and combine it with off-the-shelf memory. This allows significant reductions in complexity and cost for design and test.
All of these benefits can be fully combined with aggressively scaled devices down to the 22nm node. Recent announcements, such as Intel’s development of a 22nm trigate transistor, underscore the fact that 22nm technology development is well under way, with volume manufacturing the next hurdle to be cleared. There has been much debate over what techniques will be implemented, in both the near and long terms, to achieve large-scale manufacture of devices at this advanced generation.
Our view is that scaling (More Moore) will continue to develop, in parallel to, although relatively independent from, 3D IC techniques. Currently implemented close to the back end of line (BEOL), 3D IC approaches, such as interposers, enable integration of dies with virtually any node. Even more forward-looking, innovative 3D IC architectures, such as wafer-to-wafer stacking, will remain largely independent from the introduction of new nodes.
In the near future, we expect to see the most complex and competitive combinations of devices being the most aggressive, both in adopting 3D integration and in heavily pushing further scaling. At the 22nm node, we also expect to see mobile, low-power and system-on-chip (SoC) applications implementing planar fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD SOI)-based transistors.
For many devices, implementation of the 3D system architecture alone is more attractive and cost effective. 3D ICs are already in manufacturing for niche applications like CMOS image sensors (CIS) and MEMS. It is being implemented in production for DRAM, while interposer technology is being utilized for general logic and memory integration.
The first adopters of 3D technology were MEMS, followed by analog ICs and then image sensors; CMOS foundries have built up large capacity for through-silicon via (TSV) processing and wafer-to-wafer 3D integration. We are currently at the beginning of a fourth wave of TSV and 3D adoption: high-performance logic, e.g., the Xilinx FPGA Stacked Silicon Interconnect Technology (SSIT) using a 28nm active die with a 65nm passive Interposer. We are close to adoption of 3D for stacked memory, particularly wide I/O memory-on-logic integration. Recent announcements by Micron, Samsung and Elpida are testament to the building momentum for 3D technology in high-speed, high-bandwidth memory, essential to future smartphones and tablet PCs.
In addition, IDMs, foundries and OSATs are all investing into 3D capacity. Fabless companies like Qualcomm are very actively engaged in building supply chains for 3D. JEDEC will publish the first standards in the beginning of next year. So, there is a huge and even growing market, and a rapidly developing infrastructure and supply chain.
Going forward, process integration remains a challenge in reaching time-to-market goals for 3D processes. For example, all backside processing of a thinned 50m wafer temporarily bonded to a carrier has to be qualified for various device types, which is a time-consuming proposition. In addition, process stability and yield still need to be improved for broad adoption of 3D technologies.
All of these benefits can be fully combined with aggressively scaled devices down to the 22nm node. Recent announcements, such as Intel’s development of a 22nm trigate transistor, underscore the fact that 22nm technology development is well under way, with volume manufacturing the next hurdle to be cleared. There has been much debate over what techniques will be implemented, in both the near and long terms, to achieve large-scale manufacture of devices at this advanced generation.
Our view is that scaling (More Moore) will continue to develop, in parallel to, although relatively independent from, 3D IC techniques. Currently implemented close to the back end of line (BEOL), 3D IC approaches, such as interposers, enable integration of dies with virtually any node. Even more forward-looking, innovative 3D IC architectures, such as wafer-to-wafer stacking, will remain largely independent from the introduction of new nodes.
In the near future, we expect to see the most complex and competitive combinations of devices being the most aggressive, both in adopting 3D integration and in heavily pushing further scaling. At the 22nm node, we also expect to see mobile, low-power and system-on-chip (SoC) applications implementing planar fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD SOI)-based transistors.
For many devices, implementation of the 3D system architecture alone is more attractive and cost effective. 3D ICs are already in manufacturing for niche applications like CMOS image sensors (CIS) and MEMS. It is being implemented in production for DRAM, while interposer technology is being utilized for general logic and memory integration.
The first adopters of 3D technology were MEMS, followed by analog ICs and then image sensors; CMOS foundries have built up large capacity for through-silicon via (TSV) processing and wafer-to-wafer 3D integration. We are currently at the beginning of a fourth wave of TSV and 3D adoption: high-performance logic, e.g., the Xilinx FPGA Stacked Silicon Interconnect Technology (SSIT) using a 28nm active die with a 65nm passive Interposer. We are close to adoption of 3D for stacked memory, particularly wide I/O memory-on-logic integration. Recent announcements by Micron, Samsung and Elpida are testament to the building momentum for 3D technology in high-speed, high-bandwidth memory, essential to future smartphones and tablet PCs.
In addition, IDMs, foundries and OSATs are all investing into 3D capacity. Fabless companies like Qualcomm are very actively engaged in building supply chains for 3D. JEDEC will publish the first standards in the beginning of next year. So, there is a huge and even growing market, and a rapidly developing infrastructure and supply chain.
Going forward, process integration remains a challenge in reaching time-to-market goals for 3D processes. For example, all backside processing of a thinned 50m wafer temporarily bonded to a carrier has to be qualified for various device types, which is a time-consuming proposition. In addition, process stability and yield still need to be improved for broad adoption of 3D technologies.
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