The solution of electromagnetic scattering by a homogeneous prolate (or oblate) spheroidal particle with an arbitrary size and refractive index is obtained for any angle of incidence by solving Maxwell's equations under given boundary conditions. The method used is that of separating the vector wave equations in the spheroidal coordinates and expanding them in terms of the spheroidal wavefunctions. The unknown coefficients for the expansion are determined by a system of equations derived from the boundary conditions regarding the continuity of tangential components of the electric and magnetic vectors across the surface of the spheroid. The solutions both in the prolate and oblate spheroidal coordinate systems result in a same form, and the equations for the oblate spheroidal system can be obtained from those for the prolate one by replacing the prolate spheroidal wavefunctions with the oblate ones and vice versa. For an oblique incidence, the polarized incident wave is resolved into two components, the TM mode for which the magnetic vector vibrates perpendicularly to the incident plane and the TE mode for which the electric vector vibrates perpendicularly to this plane. For the incidence along the rotation axis the resultant equations are given in the form similar to the one for a sphere given by the Mie theory. The physical parameters involved are the following five quantities: the size parameter defined by the product of the semifocal distance of the spheroid and the propagation constant of the incident wave, the eccentricity, the refractive index of the spheroid relative to the surrounding medium, the incident angle between the direction of the incident wave and the rotation axis, and the angles that specify the direction of the scattered wave.

Light Scattering by a Spheroidal Particle

An object is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, in which the number of photolithography steps can be reduced, the manufacturing process can be simplified, and manufacturing can be performed with high yield at low cost A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the following steps: forming a semiconductor film; irradiating a laser beam by passing the laser beam through a photomask including a shield for shielding the laser beam; subliming a region which has been irradiated with the laser beam through a region in which the shield is not formed in the photomask in the semiconductor film; forming an island-shaped semiconductor film in such a way that a region which is not irradiated with the laser beam is not sublimed because it is a region in which the shield is formed in the photomask; forming a first electrode which is one of a source electrode and a drain electrode and a second electrode which is the other one of the source electrode and the drain electrode; forming a gate insulating film; and forming a gate electrode over the gate insulating film

Method for Manufacturing Semiconductor Device

A review on the susceptor assisted microwave processing of materials

In the face of the global energy challenge and progressing global climate change, renewable energy systems and components, such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, which close the energetic oxygen and carbon cycles, have become a technology development priority. The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the direct electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2 RR) are important electrocatalytic processes that proceed at gas diffusion electrodes of hydrogen fuel cells and CO2 electrolyzers, respectively. However, their low catalytic activity (voltage efficiency), limited long-term stability, and moderate product selectivity (related to their Faradaic efficiency) have remained challenges. To address these, suitable catalysts are required. This review addresses the current state of research on Pt-based and Cu-based nanoalloy electrocatalysts for ORR and CO2 RR, respectively, and critically compares and contrasts key performance parameters such as activity, selectivity, and durability. In particular, Pt nanoparticles alloyed with transition metals, post-transition metals and lanthanides, are discussed, as well as the material characterization and their performance for the ORR. Then, bimetallic Cu nanoalloy catalysts are reviewed and organized according to their main reaction product generated by the second metal. This review concludes with a perspective on nanoalloy catalysts for the ORR and the CO2 RR, and proposes future research directions.

Alloy Nanocatalysts for the Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction (ORR) and the Direct Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction (CO2 RR).

A microwave heating device which comprises a heating chamber (3) to receive an article (2) being heated, a microwave generator (11) for irradiating microwaves in the heating chamber (3), and a steam generator (12) for supplying the heating chamber (3) with steam. Provided in the heating chamber (3) are heat accumulating plates (28a, 28b) adapted to be subjected to microwave irradiation for heating and heat accumulation. Accordingly, dewing resulting from steam is reduced in the heating chamber (3).

Microwave heating device

Pulsed KrF excimer laser annealing of silicon solar cell

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microwave heating device capable of regularly keeping resonance within a resonance cavity, even if the dielectric characteristics of a microwave absorber and a fluid to be heated are varied according to temperature rise, and keeping energy efficiency at high level while preventing the reflection of microwave to enable a further rapid heating while saving power SOLUTION: The microwave heating device comprises the resonance cavity 1 having a microwave inlet port 15; a microwave generation means 2 for generating and supplying microwave W into the resonance cavity 1 through the inlet port 15; a heating tube 11 arranged within the resonance cavity 1 to pass the fluid to be heated; the microwave absorber 12 stored in the tube 11, which absorbs the microwave W to generate heat; an inlet port adjusting means 16 for adjusting the size of the inlet port 15; a cavity adjusting means for adjusting the size of the resonance cavity 1; and a control means 3 connected to the means 16 and 18 to control the means 16 and/or the means 18 so as to keep the resonance in the resonance cavity 1 during heating COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

An apparatus for heating a ceramic by microwave power. The apparatus has a cavity resonator in which the ceramic is placed. The resonator is provided with a variable iris. The apparatus detects the temperature of the ceramic or other state of the ceramic, and adjusts the area of the opening in the iris in the resonator and the resonant frequency of the resonator according to the signal produced by the detection, in order to bring the resonator substantially into resonance and the degree of coupling to exactly or nearly unity. Alternatively, the apparatus adjusts its microwave power for these purposes. The apparatus can heat the ceramic efficiently at a desired heating rate.

Apparatus for microwave heating of ceramic

An apparatus for joining two ceramics using microwave energy, having a cavity resonator in which the ceramics are placed; a microwave-generator means for producing microwave radiation to be introduced into the cavity resonator; a pressurizer for pressing the joining surfaces of the ceramics against each other; and a temperature controller for controlling the temperature distribution of the ceramics in such a way that the temperature of the ceramics at the joining surfaces is highest and rapidly decreases toward the unjoined ends of the ceramics is disclosed. The microwave-generator may include a microwave oscillator, a klystron amplifier, and an isolator. The temperature controller can be a dielectric heater or a combination of a dielectric heater and a temperature difference-producer.

Apparatus for joining ceramics by microwave

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a catalytic reaction apparatus in which a catalyst can be heated without using an electric heater or a burner, and to provide a catalyst reaction method and a fuel reforming method. SOLUTION: When a raw material to be reformed and a reforming gas are supplied into a reaction tube 22 and brought into contact with a catalyst layer 24 in a microwave reformation apparatus 10, a reformation reaction is caused to produce a hydrogen-containing reformed gas. The catalyst layer 24 is irradiated with a microwave emitted from a microwave heating unit 25 and heated to cause the reformation reaction. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Hideoki Fukushima

Papers

Pulsed KrF excimer laser annealing of silicon solar cell

Microwave heating device

Apparatus for microwave heating of ceramic

Apparatus for joining ceramics by microwave

Catalytic reaction apparatus, catalyst heating method, and fuel reforming method