Due to its direct and indirect external impacts the transport sector has a crucial role in the economy and the environment. Unfortunately, the natural evolution of technology processes in the sector are insufficient to tackle the environmental problems, therefore decision makers require efficient and effective policy tools to control the passenger transport demands, promoting less polluting transport solutions. Such an appropriate economic tool is road pricing which gives a correct price signal to the users. This article analyses the effects of implementing different road charges on modal choice in Hungary, as based on an equilibrium model. The results give a clear picture about the applicability of such a toll policy in demand management.

Thanks to resonant excitation of surface plasmons, SPR sensors including ferromagnetic thin films allow the enhancement of the magneto-optical response. MO-SPR structures with Au/Co/Au sandwiches are theoretically analyzed in transverse configuration. The influence of sandwich film thicknesses and layer order is discussed. The optimized geometry and corresponding feedback are specified.

Paper presents a numerical analysis of quantum states and probability ψψ* function of a Si/SiO2 nanostructure in varying electrostatic field. The position of probability function peak xp is traced and the bias, under which it abandons the structure (emission or discharging bias), is determined. Variations of the ground state energy with the bias is also examined. The Poisson - Schrödinger model of COMSOL Multiphysics program is devised and employed. The results would help understanding the electronic properties and behavior of ultrascaled Si/SiO2 memory devices utilizing semiconducting quantum dots and Si single nanocrystals, to mention only one application.

The methods of acoustic spectroscopy are powerful tool for the study physical properties of condensed matter. The ability of these methods makes it possible to obtain important information for variety of materials concerning not only their mechanical properties. The theoretical principles of acoustic spectroscopy of some kinds of materials and structures perspective for application in electrical engineering as results of a interaction of acoustic wave and charge curriers are presented. Solid glassy electrolytes, semiconductor structures and magnetic fluids are the representative selection of materials manifested the convenience of acoustic spectroscopy methods to obtain some important physical parameters.

The article provides a brief presentation of the magnetic sensors, magnetometers and namely the method and some examples of magnetometry in material research.

We have investigated the magnetic and structural properties of iron oxide nanoparticles prepared by two different self assembly nanotechnological approaches. Using a reverse micelle method we have prepared Fe2O3 nanoparticles coated by gold shell with average size of 8nm. Via a nanocasting pathway the iron oxide nanoparticles with size about 5 nm were loaded into pores of hexagonally ordered silica matrix with p6mm symmetry creating Fe2O3@SiO2 nanocomposite. Magnetic measurements using SQUID magnetometer confirm in both samples the behaviour typical for a superparamagnetic system. The quantitative analysis of the real part of susceptibility χ' due to the theoretical models confirms the existence of weak dipolar interactions between particles. Small size of iron oxide nanoparticles and their coating by Au shell or Si matrix, respectively, caused the existence magnetic moment originates in uncompensated surface spins of Fe3+. Magnetic behaviour in both samples is mainly related to the surface effects (spin canting and different surface to volume spin ratio).

This paper deals with some aspects of ternary solder alloy 96.5Sn3Ag0.5Cu (wt.%) – SAC305, in order to determine changes in microstructure of solder joints usually used in electronics realized by Vapour Phase Soldering as well as by accelerated isothermal aging. The samples of solder joints were prepared to evaluate changes in their microstructure due to interfacial reactions on HAL (Hot Air Levelling) and Ni/Au PCB (Printed Circuit Board) surface finishes. Emphasis was placed on studying the effect of behaviour of intermetallic compounds as well as on prediction of reliability of solder joints.

Novel optical techniques such as near-field come in a study of local properties of transparent or opaque microscopic structures such as optical waveguides, optoelectronic integrated circuits, photonic crystals, semiconductor interfaces, nanostructured systems. To control a light-matter interaction at nanometer distance, structures guiding electromagnetic energy with lateral mode confinement below the diffraction limit of light are necessary. Tapered optical fiber probe is a crucial part of the system, governs its resolution, and simultaneously could play role as light source and/or detector. The paper brings a simulation of losses, taking into account its correctly described geometry, as well as experimental verification of resolution obtained with this probe.

The aim of this article is in the first place to familiarize the readers with the barrier-cluster model of non-crystalline semiconductors, then briefly and succinctly to present some results concerning chalcogenide glasses. The barrier-cluster model is based on the assumption that in non-crystalline semiconductors, there exist micro-regions (clusters) separated from each other by potential barriers. It is shown that such a concept allows to understand optical absorption, electroabsorption, photoluminescence and photoconductivity processes, as well as their mutual interdependence. In this article, we attempt to explain on the base of the barriercluster model non-stationary photoconductivity processes and the influence of the some physical factors on them. Electrical and optical properties of non-crystalline semiconductors are a hot subject of interest of investigators for the wide applicability of these materials.

The article deals with the influence of changes of selected structural properties of amorphous ferromagnetic material Fe83,5Cr2,5B14,5 prepared by rapid quenching of the melt on its coercivity (as one of the most important magnetic parameters) during the process of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation.

The structure evolution of the annealed amorphous microwires of composition Fe40Ni38Mo4B18 and its interplay with magnetism has been studied. It has been shown by x-ray diffraction, that primary crystallization phase has a microstructure of γ-(Fe,Ni) crystallites of about 10 nm embedded in a residual amorphous matrix. Changes of the saturation magnetization and the switching field after different thermal treatments were observed. The dependence of the switching field on the applied mechanical stress was investigated.

Nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys can be produced by partial crystallization of amorphous precursor. The aim of this paper was to study the influence of Nb substitution by vanadium (V) in Fe73.5Cu1Nb3-xVxB9Si13.5 (x=1.5, 3) alloys on their crystallization process and the glass forming ability because the growth of the α-Fe(Si) crystals is reduced by (Nb) diffusion barrier. Amorphous ribbons were prepared by melt-spinning technique. Crystallization process of amorphous alloys was examined by Different thermal analysis (DTA) in order to determine the crystallization temperatures and by X-ray powder diffraction measurements (XRD). Atomic pair correlation function G(r) and Radial distribution function R(r) has been calculated for better characterisation of as-quenched samples. It was found that higher V content accelerates crystallization process and causes worse glass forming ability. From DTA measurement was found decreasing of crystallization temperatures with higher V content.

Thermo-electric power (S) measurements were applied to detect the compositional change in (FeNi)80B20 glasses. It was found, that S does not alter monotonically with the Ni content, which hints to the existence of a hidden structural change in amorphous state. The S measurement was also applied to detect non-diffusive (martensitic) phase transformations in crystalline FeNi alloys.

Conducting lamination with a one central ferromagnetic layer and two outer non-ferromagnetic layers is investigated. The concept of a single rigid 180° domain wall spreading through the axially magnetized ferromagnetic layer is used to calculate induced eddy currents in lamination. Non-homogeneous magnetic field intensity generated by eddy currents is analysed.

The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been proven to have a good chance to become a notable competitor for solar cells based on today technology of p-n junction. The principle of operation of DSSC solar cells in comparison with conventional semiconductor solar cells where light absorption and charge carrier transport are done by the semiconductor is different. In DSSC these two tasks are separate. Charge separation is done by photo-induced injection to the conduction band and such created carriers are transported to charge collector. By using dyes which have broad absorption band, the solar cell is capable to harvest large fraction of sunlight. In this paper the basic construction and mode of operation of solar cells based on dyes is described.

The interfaces of MOS (metal–oxide–semiconductor) structures with ultrathin silicon dioxide (SiO2) layers formed on Si substrate with nitric acid have been investigated using both acoustic deep-level transient spectroscopy (A-DLTS) and Uac0 (VG) dependences to characterize the interface states. The methods are based on the acoustoelectric response signal (ARS) observed on the interface when hf longitudinal wave propagates through the structures. The ARS is extremely sensitive to external conditions and reflects any changes in the charge distribution connected also with charged traps. The MOS structures were investigated using acoustic techniques to find the interface states and their distribution after post-oxidation annealing (POA) and/or post-metallization annealing (PMA) treatment on the interface-state occurrence and distribution. The evident decreases of interface states and shift of their activation energies in the structures with PMA treatment in comparison with POA treatment were observed in the investigated structures. The activation energies and some other parameters of traps at the insulator – semiconductor interface were determined.

A time resolved measurement of the thermaly induced surface deformation has been carried out using visible light-based photothermal deflection technique. Thermal conductivity coefficients were determined for several semiconductor materials. Problems of the experimental data interpretation with respect to the effect of 2D/3D heat source excitation and the potential advantages of the time resolved data are discussed.

The structural changes in a magnetic fluid (formation of clusters) upon the effect of an external magnetic field were studied by acoustic spectroscopy. The properties of magnetic fluid dispersed in inhibited transformer oil ITO 100 have been studied by the analysis of changes in the acoustic wave absorption coefficient. The absorption coefficient of acoustic waves was measured as a function of an external magnetic field in the range of 0–400 mT, parallel to the direction of acoustic wave propagation. The magnetic fluids change their structure under the influence of an external magnetic field and do not return immediately to the initial state after the magnetic field switching off. It is supposed that the cluster of magnetic nanoparticles formed in the fluid subjected to a magnetic field remains after the field has been removed for the some time.

In the article technologies used in micro and nanoelectronics there are shortly described. Attention is devoted to lithography as a basic technology. Principles of electron and ion lithography are mentioned as well as progressive ion projection lithography. Some remarks to nanotubes as means of cold cathodes for vacuum electron tubes for nanoelectronics are presented.