The fundamental absorption edge of KTiOPO4 (KTP) crystals has been investigated with the polarization spectroscopy technique in the temperature range of 80–300 K. The Urbach rule parameters, E0, α0, σ0, and hω, have been determined for the polarizations along each of the KTPs three crystallographic axes. A direct estimation of the KTP energy gap based on Urbach parameters has been made. A strong anisotropy of the gap has been found. The origin of the lowest energy electron excitations in KTP crystals and the possibility of self-trapping are discussed.

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Proof of concept narrow-band etalon filters have been fabricated and characterized for the SWIFT instrument program. The Stratospheric Wind Interferometer For Transport studies is a limb viewing satellite instrument which is intented to measure stratospheric horizontal wind velocities in the altitude range of 20 to 40 km . In addition to providing the atmospheric research community with the first direct measurements of stratospheric dynamics on a global scale, continuous global SWIFT data is expected to improve long range weather forcasting in the troposphere.To isolate the single lines required for the Doppler measurement of the SWIFT instrument, two narrow-band germanium etalon filters centered near 9 im and with 0.8 nm and 2.5 nm bandwidths were fabricated and tested. The SWIFT filter testbed consists of a cryogenic dewar and temperature controller for stabilizing and tuning the filters. The SWIFT filter requirements are discussed, as is the filter testbed design. The measured filter characteristics: transmittance as a function of wavelength, temperature and angle of incidence and tandem filter properties are discussed in the context of satellite instrument requirements.

Après avoir présenté la situation actuelle en regard des politiques de rémunération de la main-d'oeuvre dans les secteurs publics fédéral et québécois, l'auteur propose une nouvelle démarche en expliquant le modèle d'estimation des écarts de rémunération entre les secteurs public et privé.1. Establish the basis of comparison betweencomparable employees in the public and private sectors through the use of multivariate regression applied to a selected number of typical jobs with the following characteristics: recruiting, turn-over, and shortages. Purpose: to be able to distinguish between the part of the public/ private gap linked to personal characteristics and the real public/private gap and to be able to efficiently link public remuneration to the private.2. Establish a coherent interval structure of remuneration for the public and the para-public sectors based on a system of job evaluation. Purpose: to decentralize salary decision-making and increase employee productivity.3. Establish comparisons within Québec Province with federal government services, municipalities, and non-profit-making organizations: all of which compete with the provincial government for manpower on the Québec labour market.4. Makeadjustments to observed data for the private sector, in order to include:— spillover effect of the public sector on the private in the past;— employment security;— differences in productivity between the civil services of Québec and Ontario;— varying fiscal effect of different types of remuneration.5. Give regional and local levels a real role in the distribution of the total salary package and the determination of individual salaries.6. Make the Bureau de la recherche sur la remuneration (Pay Research Bureau) tri-partite of at least assure that application of the proposed method in (1) be under-taken by an autonomous body.7. Establish a system of signal to measure excess supply and demand, and to orient the fixing of remuneration levels in the public sector according to recruiting needs.8. Revise salariesannually according to information on individual salaries, obtained through a representative sample (stratified and proportional) and analysed with the aid of multivariate regression. This makes it unnecessary to use explicit indexation to the cost of living and to "collective enrichment" (productivity).9. Move gradually toward the method of simulated costs to determine the level of fringe benefits

Le modèle québécois : origines, définition, fondements et adaptation au nouve... Revue Interventions économiques, 29 | 2002 10 Marc-Urbain Proulx note que même si l'expression Québec inc n'est réellement utilisée que depuis une dizaine d'années, les spécialistes s'entendraient pour distinguer cinq éléments fondamentaux qui l'ont caractérisé : • le catholicisme ; • l'entrepreneuriat qui se serait imposé progressivement dans l'industrie au cours du XX e siècle et représentait en 1960 une force socio-économique importante ; • un rapport spécifique à l'espace que l'on a exploré, colonisé, exploité, aménagé et géré ; Le modèle québécois : origines, définition, fondements et adaptation au nouve...