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Development of high power laser beams with increasing beam quality and decreasing purchase cost lead to a strong development of laser welding techniques. Narrow weld beads, high welding speed, and low heat input are the main advantages of this reliable and repeatable joining process. The aim of this study is to investigate properties of weld seam obtained by Gaussian and annular power distribution, on butt joints of 0.9 mm annealed Ti6Al4V sheet by mean of an experimental design varying power level, spot size and shape, welding speed, and face gaseous protection flow. Examined characteristics of the weld seams are geometrical (Fusion Zone FZ and Heat Affected Zone HAZ shapes and dimensions, defects like porosities, undercut and underfill, distorsions of welded plates), microstructural (FZ and HAZ nature and morphology) and mechanical (tensile test, hardness filiations). Major features concerning the use an annular power distribution concern the flawless weld seam geometry and fair mechanical properties, with relatively low levels of distortions due to residual stresses.

Objectives: Acquired oesophageal strictures remain challenging to manage in canine and feline patients. The aims of this study were to describe the treatment, complications, short‐term outcome and long‐term follow‐up of benign oesophageal strictures treated by balloon dilatation or stenting in dogs and cats and to describe adjunctive techniques to minimise the complication rate of stent placement. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of dogs and cats with benign oesophageal stricture diagnosed under endoscopy between 2002 and 2019. Results: Eighteen dogs and nine cats were included, representing 39 strictures. Balloon dilatation was used as first‐line therapy, with a good outcome in 59% of cases. Stents were placed in eight cases due to stricture recurrence; 88% had a long‐term satisfactory outcome. Short‐term complications occurred in six of eight cases; migration and aberrant mucosal reaction were uncommon. In three cases, progressive mesh cutting during follow‐up reduced discomfort and trichobezoars formation and improved long‐term stent tolerance. Overall median survival time was 730 days. Clinical Significance: Long‐term prognosis of balloon dilatation as a first‐line therapy for esophageal strictures and of stenting as a rescue therapy was considered satisfactory. Although discomfort associated with stenting was frequent, tolerability might be improved by per‐endoscopic adjunctive techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 7‐year‐old mixed breed dog was presented with a 2‐week history of vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and loss of appetite. Initial laboratory tests revealed hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia consistent with hypoadrenocorticism. Basal plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations were not suggestive of primary hypoadrenocorticism but the aldosterone concentration was undetectable. Abdominal ultrasound scan showed a mass within the left kidney and a nodular enlargement of the left adrenal gland. Cytological analysis revealed a large granular lymphoma. The dog died 17 days later. Post mortem histological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed a diffuse large granular T‐cell lymphoma involving the mediastinal lymph node, kidneys, pancreas, adrenal and pituitary glands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate preparation and detection of an atom number distribution in a one-dimensional atomic lattice with the variance -14 dB below the Poissonian noise level. A mesoscopic ensemble containing a few thousand atoms is trapped in the evanescent field of a nanofiber. The atom number is measured through dual-color homodyne interferometry with a pW-power shot noise limited probe. Strong coupling of the evanescent probe guided by the nanofiber allows for a real-time measurement with a precision of ±8 atoms on an ensemble of some 103 atoms in a one-dimensional trap. The method is very well suited for generating collective atomic entangled or spin-squeezed states via a quantum nondemolition measurement as well as for tomography of exotic atomic states in a one-dimensional lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a proposal and a feasibility study for the creation and quantum state tomography of a single polariton state of an atomic ensemble. The collective non-classical and non-Gaussian state of the ensemble is generated by detection of a single forward-scattered photon. The state is subsequently characterized by atomic state tomography performed using strong dispersive light-atom interaction followed by a homodyne measurement on the transmitted light. The proposal is backed by preliminary experimental results showing projection noise limited sensitivity and a simulation demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed method for the detection of a non-classical and non-Gaussian state of the mesoscopic atomic ensemble. This work represents the first attempt at hybrid discrete-continuous variable quantum state processing with atomic memories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to apply a local heat treatment (LHT), in-situ, on the weld bead, using a defocused Yb: YAG laser beam on a continuous regime, in order to reduce residual stresses and decompose the brittle a’ martensite, into a lamellae and fine β phase. Laser scan experiments were firstly performed on a commercially pure titanium grade 2, with a wide range of parameters, in order to provide a “heat treatment window” without titanium melting. After optimization of the processing parameters, to obtain a sufficient width and depth for the scanning zone, experiments have been performed on a β-treated, fully martensitic Ti-6Al-4V sheet. For each processing experiments, the decomposition of a’, was studied based on metallographic cross sections. A local heating with a minimum energy density at 700 J.cm-2, has a sufficient effect to destabilize a’, while for an energy density at 1000 J.cm-2 , a diffusional transformation take place, with the formation of Widmanstätten microstructure. Finally, these optimized conditions were applied on a full penetration Ti-6Al-4V welds. The results of the LHT will be described in terms of the microstructural changes observed in the welded zone and hardness evolution.

We present the first experimental realization of coherent Bragg scattering off a one-dimensional system--two strings of atoms strongly coupled to a single photonic mode--realized by trapping atoms in the evanescent field of a tapered optical fiber, which also guides the probe light. We report nearly 12% power reflection from strings containing only about 1000 cesium atoms, an enhancement of 2 orders of magnitude compared to reflection from randomly positioned atoms. This result paves the road towards collective strong coupling in 1D atom-photon systems. Our approach also allows for a straightforward fiber connection between several distant 1D atomic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirements for welded aircraft parts have become increasingly severe, especially in terms of the reproducibility of the geometry and metallurgical grade of the weld bead. Laser welding is a viable method of assembly to meet these new demands, because of automation, to replace the manual TIG welding process. The purpose of this study is to determine the weldability of Hastelloy X and Haynes 188 alloys by the butt welding process with a Nd:YAG laser. To identify the influential parameters of the welding process (laser power, feed rate, focal diameter and flow of gas) while streamlining testing, an experimental design was established with the CORICO software using the graphic correlation method. The position of the focal point was fixed at 1/3 of the thickness of the sheet. The gas flow rate and the power of the beam have a major effect on the mechanical properties and geometry of the weld. The strength of the weld is comparable to that of the base metal. However, there is a significant decrease in the elongation at break of approximately 30%. The first observations of the cross section of the weld by scanning electron microscopy coupled with EBSD analysis show a molten zone presenting dendritic large grains compared to the equiaxed grains of the base metals without a heat affected zone.

Le procédé de soudage laser YAG est envisagé pour remplacer le procédé de soudage TIG manuel pour la réalisation de pièces de turboréacteur en alliage nickel-chrome-molybdène Hastelloy X. Cette étude expérimentale a permis de définir un domaine de soudabilité de cet alliage répondant aux critères spécifiques du secteur aéronautique. The YAG laser welding process is contemplated to replace the manual TIG welding process for the production of parts of turbojet in Hastelloy X. This experimental study has identified the field of weldability of this alloy to meet the specific requirements of the aerospace industry.