The major factors affecting the performance of crystalline thin films are the presence of grain boundaries and inherent crystal structure. Post-deposition annealing is frequently employed to improve ...

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...

Dr. James McCaffrey of Microsoft Research explains a new idea that slightly modifies standard simulated annealing by borrowing ideas from quantum mechanics. The goal of a combinatorial optimization ...

The properties of steel can be improved in terms of fatigue, weldability, hardness, wear and corrosion resistance, ductility, and tensile strength by either alloy addition or heat treatment processes.