Optical properties of transparent polycrystalline ruby (Cr:Al2O3) fabricated by high-pressure spark plasma sintering

Doped transparent ceramics with high optical quality can serve as materials for photonic applications such as laser gain media. In that regard, transparent polycrystalline alumina has potential for high-power applications due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, combined with unique doping possibilities. However, optical birefringence of Al₂O₃ crystals make achieving sufficiently high optical transmittance a processing challenge. In the present study, we demonstrated fabrication of highly transparent 0.5 at.% Cr:Al₂O₃ ceramics by high-pressure spark plasma sintering (HPSPS). The optical properties of these polycrystalline ruby ceramics were analyzed in order to assess possible laser operation (at 694.3 nm). The obtained ceramics exhibit high in-line transmittance (～72.5 % at 700 nm), equivalent to a scattering coefficient of 2.15 cm^?1, and characteristic ruby photoluminescence. The theoretically estimated lasing threshold and percentage of absorbed pump power indicate that such ruby ceramic lasers could operate at reasonable thresholds of 80?225 mW with short lengths of 0.5?5 mm. Thus, HPSPS is a promising method for producing laser-quality doped transparent ceramics for compact laser systems.     

采用信息增益率的混合入侵检测模型设计

针对现有混合入侵检测模型仅定性选取特征而导致检测精度较低的问题，同时为了充分结合误用检测模型和异常检测模型的优势，提出一种采用信息增益率的混合入侵检测模型.首先，利用信息增益率定量地选择特征子集，最大程度地保留样本信息；其次，采用余弦时变粒子群算法确定支持向量机参数构建误用检测模型，使其更好地平衡粒子在全局和局部的搜索能力，然后，选取灰狼算法确定单类支持向量机参数构建异常检测模型，以此来提高对最优参数的搜索效率和精细程度，综合提高混合入侵检测模型对攻击的检测效果；最后，通过两种数据集进行仿真实验，验证了所提混合入侵检测模型具有较好的检测性能.     

Effect of cyclotron resonance on ‘hot’ dispersion in a staggered double metallic grating sheet beam travelling wave tube

Based on the beam wave synchronous interaction in transverse and longitudinal directions at the same time and starting from Maxwell’s equation and linear Vlasov equation, the beam–wave interaction ‘hot’ dispersion equation considering both cyclotron resonance and Cherenkov resonance in a staggered double metallic grating traveling wave tube is deduced. Through the reasonable selection for geometric and electrical parameters, the numerical calculation and analysis of the ‘hot’ dispersion equation shows that the beam–wave interaction gain and frequency band with the cyclotron resonance enhancement effect are higher than those with only Cherenkov resonance radiation.     

The cost-benefit of genomic testing of heifers and using sexed semen in pasture-based dairy herds

Recent improvements in dairy cow fertility and female reproductive technologies offer an opportunity to apply greater selection pressure to females. This means there may be greater incentive to obtain genomic breeding values for females. We modeled the impact of changes to key parameters on the net benefit from genomic testing of heifer calves with and without usage of sexed semen. This paper builds on earlier cost-benefit studies but uses parameters relevant to pasture-based systems. A deterministic model was used to evaluate the effect on net benefit due to changes in (1) reproduction rate, (2) genomic test costs, (3) availability of parent-derived breeding values (EBV_PA), and (4) replacement rate. When the use of sexed semen was included, we also considered (1) the proportion of heifers and cows mated to sexed semen, (2) decreases in conception rate in inseminations with sexed semen, and (3) the marginal return for surplus heifers. Scenarios with lower replacement rates and no availability of EBV_PA had the largest net benefits. Under current Australian parameters, the net benefit of genomic testing realized over the lifetime of genotyped heifers is expected to range from A$204 to A$1,124 per 100 cows for a herd with median reproductive performance. The cost of a genomic test, a perceived barrier to many farmers, had only a small effect on net benefit. Genomic testing alone was always more profitable than using sexed semen and genomic testing together if the only benefit considered was increased genetic gain in heifer replacements. When other benefits (i.e., the higher sale price of a surplus heifer compared with a male calf) were considered, there were combinations of parameters where net benefit from using sexed semen and genomic testing was higher than the equivalent scenario with genomic testing only. Using sexed semen alongside genomic testing is most likely to be profitable when (1) used in heifers, (2) the marginal return for selling surplus heifers (sale price minus rearing costs) is greater than A$400, and (3) conception rates of no more than 10 percentage points lower than those achieved using conventional semen can be realized. Net benefit was highly dependent on the marginal return. Demonstrating that the initial investment in genomic testing can be recouped within the lifetime of the heifers tested may assist in the development of extension messages to explain the value of genomic testing females at the herd level.     

The optical spectra characterization of Cr2+:ZnSe polycrystalline synthesized by direct reaction of Zn–Cr alloy and element Se

Cr²⁺:ZnSe materials have attracted much attention as candidates for mid-infrared laser source either in the form of polycrystalline powders, or bulk ceramics, single crystals and nano-materials. In this work, a novel method for synthesizing Cr²⁺:ZnSe polycrystalline by direct reaction of Zn–Cr alloy and element Se (DRAE) was proposed. The zinc alloy containing 0.1 at% Cr was prepared by dissolving Cr in zinc liquid in a closed quartz ampoule. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the synthesized Cr²⁺:ZnSe polycrystalline was with a Zinc-blend structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra showed that there was no un-reacted element of Zn, or Se. Cr²⁺ ions successfully and uniformly doped into ZnSe crystal lattice, which is confirmed by the diffuse reflectance spectrum, Raman spectrum and mid-infrared photoluminescence spectra. Furthermore, the sample showed excellent mid-infrared properties without luminescence quenching in the region 1800–3000 nm, and the decay-time was about 5 μs. The as-synthesized Cr²⁺:ZnSe polycrystalline meets the requirement for the preparation of mid-infrared ceramic or single crystals. These results indicate that the novel strategy of DRAE is valid for the synthesis of other transition metal doped ZnSe materials.     

Co-existing of dressed non-linear gain and electromagnetically induced absorption

The dressed parametric four-wave mixing (FWM) process has been investigated in hot atomic rubidium vapor. We use a strong pumping field to generate entangled photon pairs of spontaneous parametric FWM (SP-FWM) which can be enhanced by an external dressing effect. Seeding probe beam into the Stokes or anti-Stokes (SP-FWM) channel will form the parametric amplified FWM (PA-FWM) process, then the non-linear gain and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) are observed, caused by the internal dressing effect. However, with scanning of pumping field the absorbing background will vanish, which will result in drastic increase in PA-FWM signal gain.     

Development of a new pre-drying method of accelerated water absorption and partial gelatinization of starch in paddy using pulsed microwave-water applications in a microwave rotary drum dryer

The present study was undertaken to develop a pre-drying process of an accelerated water absorption and partial gelatinization of starch in paddy using pulsed microwave-water applications. The experiments on microwave-assisted water absorption by paddy (var. Sworn Masuri) at five power density levels in the range 0.2–1?kW?kg^?1 were conducted in a semi-pilot-scale microwave dryer. The paddy was exposed to pre-calculated intermittent water spray and pulsed microwaves up to 100?min. The water absorption kinetics were modeled using modified Azuara’s equation of mass transfer and the process was compared with traditional hot water soaking of the paddy at 60?°C for 3.33?h. The moisture content gained by paddy during microwave-assisted water absorption was faster (30% in 1.67?h) compared to hot water soaking (30% in 3.33?h). The consumption of water, specific energy, and water absorption time during microwave processing were reduced by 70%, 39.51%, and 50%, respectively. The method of slopes was used to estimate moisture diffusivity during microwave-assisted water absorption by paddy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of treated paddy were done to understand the changes in the crystallinity and the microstructure of starch molecules. The microwave-assisted water absorption process was found to accelerate the moisture gain with the effect of partial gelatinization of starch in the paddy. Further, the experiment can be continued in the same microwave dryer to fully gelatinize the paddy at 30% moisture content and dry the gelatinized paddy.