Hot-electron bolometer terahertz mixers for the Herschel Space Observatory

We report on low noise terahertz mixers (1.4-1.9 THz) developed for the heterodyne spectrometer onboard the Herschel Space Observatory. The mixers employ double slot antenna integrated superconducting hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) made of thin NbN films. The mixer performance was characterized in terms of detection sensitivity across the entire rf band by using a Fourier transform spectrometer (from 0.5 to 2.5 THz, with 30 GHz resolution) and also by measuring the mixer noise temperature at a limited number of discrete frequencies. The lowest mixer noise temperature recorded was 750 K [double sideband (DSB)] at 1.6 THz and 950 K DSB at 1.9 THz local oscillator (LO) frequencies. Averaged across the intermediate frequency band of 2.4-4.8 GHz, the mixer noise temperature was 1100 K DSB at 1.6 THz and 1450 K DSB at 1.9 THz LO frequencies. The HEB heterodyne receiver stability has been analyzed and compared to the HEB stability in the direct detection mode. The optimal local oscillator power was determined and found to be in a 200-500 nW range.     

D触发器实现差频的输出特性分析

在对频率输出的传感器测量中,经常碰到的一个问题是如何高精度测量由测量参数引起的小频率增量问题。许多研究使用D触发器得到待测的可变频率和参考的固定频率的差频。通过理论分析,对D触发器用于差频时的输出特性进行了研究。结果表明：即使两输入信号的频率固定,D触发器差频输出的周期不唯一。如果一个时钟信号周期的误差不影响到测量精度,D触发器可作为两信号的差频器件。实际应用时,参考信号的频率应大于待测信号频率的最大值,并将其接在“CLK”端。     

输入信号的占空比对异或门混频器差频输出的影响

在基于频率输出的传感器测量电路设计中,经常碰到的一个问题是如何高精度测量由测量参数引起的小频率增量。将测量信号和参考信号经过混频器混频,通过低通滤波获得两信号差频输出的方法可解决这个问题。与其他数字混频器相比,异或门混频器在处理两准数字信号差频时有无可比拟的优势。通过理论分析、仿真和实际电路实验,考察了输入信号占空比的变化对异或门混频器差频输出性能的影响。结果表明：两输入信号为占空比50％的方波时,并或门混频器的差频输出性能最佳,滤波电路相对简单;随占空比的变化,异或门混频器的差频输出性能逐渐变差,需要辅以比较复杂的滤波电路。     

Development of electron cyclotron emission imaging system on Large Helical Device

A combined system of microwave imaging reflectometry and electron cyclotron emission (ECE) imaging has been developed for the Large Helical Device. This system includes a wide-band two-dimensional horn-antenna mixer array (HMA). The HMA consists of horn antennas, waveguides, mixers, and intermediate frequency circuits. The frequency response of the HMA is between 50 and 110 GHz. The ECE signal is selected using a 95 GHz local oscillator and a 93 GHz high-pass filter.     

Simultaneous projection and detection system of four different frequencies for microwave imaging reflectometry in Large Helical Device

A simultaneous projection/detection system of four different frequencies for microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) was developed for three-dimensional observation of electron density fluctuations in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The microwave with four frequency components at 60.410, 61.808, 63.008, and 64.610 GHz is projected in a continuous-wave mode to illuminate the target LHD plasma. A two-dimensional horn-antenna mixer array (2D HMA) receives the reflected wave from the plasma as well as the wave from the local oscillator operating at 55.800 GHz. The first intermediate frequency (IF) signals at 4.610, 6.008, 7.208, and 8.810 GHz were confirmed to be obtained by downconversion of these microwaves using the 2D HMA. Each of these first IF components is filtered from each other and downconverted again for the superheterodyne detection. It was confirmed that both the amplitudes and the phases of the detected signals reflect the fluctuations in LHD plasmas.     

Compact terahertz passive spectrometer with wideband superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer

We developed a compact terahertz (THz) spectrometer with a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer, aiming to realize a portable and highly sensitive spectrometer to detect dangerous gases at disaster sites. The receiver cryostat which incorporates the SIS mixer and a small cryocooler except for a helium compressor has a weight of 27 kg and dimensions of 200 mm × 270 mm × 690 mm. In spite of the small cooling capacity of the cryocooler, the SIS mixer is successfully cooled lower than 4 K, and the temperature variation is suppressed for the sensitive measurement. By adopting a frequency sweeping system using photonic local oscillator, we demonstrated a spectroscopic measurement of CH(3)CN gas in 0.2-0.5 THz range.     

Direct detection and time-locked subsampling applied to pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance imaging

The application of direct time-locked subsampling (TLSS) to Fourier transform electron paramagnetic resonance (FT-EPR) spectroscopy at radio frequencies (rf) is described. With conventional FT-EPR spectroscopy, the high Larmor frequencies (L(f)) often necessitate the use of intermediate frequency (IF) stages to down convert the received free induction decay (FID) signal to a frequency that can be acquired with common data acquisition technology. However, our research focuses on in vivo studies, and consequently utilizes a FT-EPR system with a L(f) of 300 MHz. This relatively low frequency L(f), in conjunction with the advent of bandpass sampling analog-to-digital conversion and signal processing technologies, has enabled us to omit the IF stage in our FT-EPR system. With this in mind, TLSS techniques have been developed to directly sample the 300 MHz FID signal at a sampling rate of 80 MHz providing a signal bandwidth of 20 MHz. The required modifications to the data acquisition and processing system specific to this application are described. Custom software developed to control the EPR system setup, acquire the signals, and post process the data, is outlined. Data was acquired applying both coherent averaging and stochastic excitation sequences. The results of these experiments demonstrate digital down conversion of the 300 MHz FID signal to quadrature baseband. Direct FID TLSS eliminates many noise sources common in EPR systems employing traditional analog receiver techniques, such as the IF mixer stage in single channel systems, and the quadrature baseband mixer stage in dual channel systems.     

A solid-mounted resonator-oscillator-based 4.596 GHz frequency synthesis

This paper describes a 4.596 GHz frequency synthesis based on a 2.1 GHz solid mounted resonator (SMR) voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The SMR oscillator presents a chip size lower than 2 mm(2), a power consumption of 18.2 mW, and exhibits a phase noise of -89 dBc/Hz and -131 dBc/Hz at 2 kHz and 100 kHz offset frequencies, respectively. The VCO temperature-frequency dependence is measured to be -14 ppm∕°C over a range of -20°C to 60°C. From this source, a low noise frequency synthesizer is developed to generate a 4.596 GHz signal (half of the Cs atom hyperfine transition frequency) with a phase noise of -81 dBc/Hz and -120 dBc/Hz at 2 kHz and 100 kHz from the carrier. The frequency synthesis output is used as a local oscillator in a Cs vapor microcell-based compact atomic clock. Preliminary results are reported and discussed. To the authors knowledge, this is the first development of a SMR-oscillator-based frequency synthesizer for miniature atomic clocks applications.     

Defect detection in deep groove ball bearing in presence of external vibration using envelope analysis and Duffing oscillator

This paper deals with detection of local defects existing on races of deep groove ball bearing in the presence of external vibrations using envelope analysis and Duffing oscillator. Experiments have been carried out using a test rig for capturing the vibration signals of test bearing. The external vibration has been imparted to the housing of the test bearing through electromechanical shaker. In envelope analysis the centre frequency has been selected using the spectral kurtosis for the filters length of 32 and 64 for different bandwidths. Through this study, it has been revisited and confirmed that the defect detection in envelope analysis mainly depends on the selection of centre frequency and bandwidth. The spectra of selected centre frequency with several bandwidths have been studied and compared for identification of defective frequency. The system defined by the Duffing equation entered into the periodical state from the chaotic state at the critical value of disturbing periodic force in the presence of defective bearing signal. The state change has been identified using the phase plane trajectories and Lyapunov exponents of Duffing equation. It is worth to mention here that envelope spectrum reveals the information about the defect frequencies and their harmonics. However, the Duffing oscillator only confirms the presence of defect frequencies by indicating closed phase plane trajectories and negative Lyapunov exponents. Authors believe that for speedy assessment about the presence of defects on races of rolling element bearings, the use of Duffing oscillator may be preferred.     

耦合式光电振荡器的动态腔长稳定控制

提出了一种基于耦合式光电振荡器的动态腔长长时稳定控制方案,当光谐振腔腔长变化时,通过同相正交（in-phase/quadrature,I/Q）混频器测量光谐振腔内选定两点的谐振相位变化量,反馈控制光电再生腔的光延迟线进行再生腔长跟随补偿,实现可变腔长的耦合式光电振荡器的锁模控制输出,从而将变化的谐振腔腔长转化为变化的谐振频率进行精密测量。经过系统实验,当谐振腔长变化时,振荡器可实时锁定输出可变的微波信号,并保持边模抑制比优于47.26 dB,1 h内功率抖动小于0.28 dB,锁定相位误差抖动在±1.5°以内。     

一种应用于毫米波商用数字通信系统的高性能收发芯片

一种高性能的Ｑ波段单片ＨＥＭＴ收发芯片已改进用于毫米波商用数字无线电系统。这种高度紧凑的收发芯片由低噪声放大器、带检波器的功放、带肝冲放大器的压控振荡器、混频器和谐波混频器组成。这一芯片已被证明具有高成品率,从而使其具有较高的商业应用价值。     

A band-stop filter in the form of a quasi-optical resonator with a corrugated mirror

We consider the possibility of developing a notch filter based on a resonant quasi-optical diplexer for providing combined operation of a high-sensitivity receiving system and a gyrotron in experiments on collective scattering at controlled-nuclear-fusion installations. The results of the model experiment in the 34-GHz band are presented for estimation of the rejection depth in the case of critical couplings in the diplexer.     

Dual frequency atomic force microscopy on charged surfaces

The cantilever is mechanically driven at two resonant frequencies in a bimodal atomic force microscope (AFM). To generate the feedback signal for topography measurement the deflection signal is demodulated at one frequency and for compositional surface mapping at the other. In particular, the second mode amplitude and phase signals are used to map surface forces such as the van der Waals interaction. On electrically charged surfaces both, van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces contribute to the second eigenmode signal. The higher eigenmode signal in bimodal AFM reflects the local distribution of electrical charges. Mechanically driven bimodal AFM thus also provides a valuable tool for compositional mapping based on surface charges.     

Frequency adaptive driver for ultrasonic vibrators with motional current feedback

A driving circuit of frequency adapting for an ultrasonic vibrator with motional current feedback has been presented in this paper. Via a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a digital/analog converter (DAC), the driving signal would be magnified by a linear power amplifier to actuate the vibrator. Since the vibrating velocities or displacements at the surface end of a vibrator could be predicted through the measurement of motional current, the motional current passing through the vibrator was detected by a current transformer (CT) type sensor as feedback to monitor the optimal level of output power. The calculation for phase difference and the tuning strategy for driving frequency were implemented by a microcontroller integrated with an A/D converter and a voltage comparator as well as the signal attenuation and level tuning circuit. The experiment demonstrates that the temperature effect corresponding to frequencies is at 9.75 Hz/°C shifting and the external loading reflected to frequencies is about 8.3 Hz/gm offset. The proposed circuit has the great performance in rejecting the disturbances from external loading and thermal effect.     

局部特征尺度分解方法及其在齿轮故障诊断中的应用

在定义瞬时频率具有物理意义的单分量信号——内禀尺度分量(Intrinsic scale component,ISC)的基础上,提出一种新的自适应信号分解方法——局部特征尺度分解(Local characteristic-scale decomposition,LCD)。LCD方法可以自适应地将任何一个复杂信号分解为若干个瞬时频率具有物理意义的ISC分量之和,非常适合于处理多分量的调幅—调频信号。当齿轮发生故障时,其振动信号一般为多分量的调幅—调频信号,因此局部特征尺度分解方法可以有效地应用于齿轮故障诊断。对LCD和经验模态分解(Empirical mode decomposition,EMD)、局部均值分解(Local mean decomposition,LMD)方法进行对比,结果表明了LCD方法的优越性。同时,针对齿轮故障振动信号的调制特征,将LCD方法和包络分析法相结合应用于齿轮故障诊断,对实际的齿轮故障振动信号进行分析,结果表明LCD方法可以有效地应用于齿轮故障诊断。     

基于Duffing振子检测频率未知微弱信号的新方法

针对现有混沌振子难以检测频率未知微弱信号这一难点,提出利用Duffing振子输出值的方差峰值结合遗传算法检测淹没在强噪声背景中频率未知微弱信号的一种新方法。从分析混沌系统结构参数的阈值入手,讨论了周期策动力的频率、初始相位和噪声对系统运行状态的影响;研究系统输出值方差与系统状态的对应关系,探讨待测信号频率以及与周期策动力之间相位差对状态变量方差和状态转换时间的影响。由此,提出采用具有相位偏移的Duffing振子阵列覆盖全相位,并结合遗传算法,优化求解不同频率输入信号下系统输出值方差的极值,以此得到待测信号频率的方法。该方法解决了现有混沌振子类检测方法必须已知信号频率的限制。实验结果证明了本方法能准确、快速地检测待测信号频率。新方法的状态判定简便、检测精度高、更为灵活、适应性强,为微弱信号的检测提供了新的手段。     

Experimental results for low-jitter wide-band dual cascaded phase locked loop system

Jitter is a matter of great concern for high-speed digital designers because of its ability to degrade the overall; system performance. Designing a low-jitter and wide-band phase locked loop (PLL) system is of practical importance because of its application in high speed digital systems. This paper presents experimental results of a low-jitter wideband dual cascaded PLL system using a single crystal oscillator. The first PLL employs a voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) to eliminate the input jitter whereas the second PLL provides wide bandwidth. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is used to generate a jittered clock source which is then passed through the proposed system to achieve wideband and low-jitter signal. Experimental results are presented to validate the proposed technique for different carrier frequencies.     

High accuracy quartz crystal thin film monitor

A quartz resonator thin film monitor of exceptionally high accuracy and resolution has been developed. It is capable of providing measurements with an effective resolution of 0.001 nm and a corresponding relative accuracy of about 1% for a 0.100-nm-thick film of gold. A novel dual oscillator and mixer using integrated circuits is also described.     

基于符号序列信息熵混沌特性的微弱信号检测

利用混沌振子系统的初值敏感性和对噪声免疫的特点检测微弱信号,具有高灵敏度和很好的抗噪性能,其检测的关键在于对混沌振子系统所处状态的识别.针对Duffing振子系统在信号检测领域中的应用,提出了一种基于符号序列信息熵混沌特性的微弱信号检测方法.该方法利用时间序列符号化来捕捉Duffing振子系统时域输出的大尺度特征,应用Shannon信息熵定量计算时间序列中蕴藏的确定性和随机性规律,达到自动识别特定微弱信号的目的.给出了该方法的原理和相应检测程序流程图.实验结果表明,利用该方法可以准确快速地检测出微弱信号,为混沌检测研究的实用化提供了一种有效途径.     

Applications of chaotic oscillator in machinery fault diagnosis

The forward detecting method is used to detect weak periodic signals by identifying the transformation of the chaotic oscillator from the chaotic state to the large-scale periodic state when a weak external periodic signal is applied. Based on the method above, in this paper, a similar method, which is devised in a reverse way, is presented. The method detects the change of a weak signal by identifying the transformation of the chaotic oscillator from the large-scale periodic state to the chaotic state when a weak external signal is applied. This paper discusses and summarizes the features and scopes of both methods in their application in the field of machinery fault diagnosis. Satisfactory results have been achieved when using both of them in the fault diagnosis of rolling bearings and automobile gearboxes. The paper also presents how to use symbol sequence statistics to automatically identify the state transformation of the chaotic oscillator.