Improvement of the wavelength switching behavior of semiconductor tunable lasers through optical feedback from a periodic reference filter based on a novel prism-based implementation of a Fox-Smith resonator

We show that the wavelength switching behavior of semiconductor tunable lasers can be improved through optical feedback from a stable reference filter. The filter is based on a novel prism-based implementation of a Fox-Smith resonator and has a response consisting of periodically spaced peaks, both in reflection and transmission. The improvement of the wavelength switching behavior stems from the suppression of the thermally induced wavelength drift associated with the switching of the tuning currents.     

Effect of carbon black composite (CBC) support properties on hydrodesulfurization performance of sulfided Mo and Co, and carburized Mo, catalysts

Carbon black composites (CBCs) have been prepared by pyrolyzing mixture of a carbon black with polyfurfuryl alcohol and then pretreated by oxidation with nitric acid, gasification with water steam or ammoxidation. The effects of the chemical character of the carrier surface, nature of the active metal phase and pH value of the impregnation solution on the catalytic activity towards the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene of the CBC supported Mo (Co) catalysts were determined. It was stated that the catalytic properties of the CBC supported sulfides of Mo or Co and of Mo carbides are affected by the chemical character of the carrier surface. Generally, catalysts supported over basic surface CBC exhibit higher activity than those ones supported over CBC possessing acidic surface character. Co catalysts supported on acidic surface show lower activity (per mol of active metal) than Mo based ones supported on the same carrier. In the case of catalysts supported on basic CBC, Co exhibits distinctly higher activity than Mo. At the experimental conditions adopted for this study, CBC surface properties, active phase nature, and catalyst impregnation pH were found to exert a relatively small influence on both HDS and hydrogenation activities.     

Anomalous splitting in microwave mode-beating spectra of semiconductor ring lasers

Mode-beating spectra are investigated in long-perimeter (1.028 cm) monolithically integrated multiple-quantum-well semiconductor ring lasers. The beating line near 8 GHz is found to be split into two components. With increasing pumping current, a normal component shifts to lower frequencies, while an anomalous higher-frequency component shifts in the opposite direction. It is suggested the anomalous blue-shifting line results from power-induced perturbation of the refractive index in the vicinity of a strong mode.     

A 4-MB on-chip L2 cache for a 90-nm 1.6-GHz 64-bit microprocessor

A 4-MB L2 data cache was implemented for a 64-bit 1.6-GHz SPARC(r) RISC microprocessor. Static sense amplifiers were used in the SRAM arrays and for global data repeaters, resulting in robust and flexible timing operation. Elimination of the global clock grid over the SRAM array saves power, enabled by combining the clock information with array select signals. Redundancy was implemented flexibly, with shift circuits outside the main data array for area efficiency. The chip integrates 315 million transistors and uses an 8-metal-layer 90-nm CMOS process.     

An attempt to compare the performance of bioscrubbers and biotrickling filters for degradation of ethyl acetate in gas streams

This study presents a comparison of the efficiency of a bioscrubber and a biotrickling filter (BTF) for the removal of ethyl acetate (EA) vapour from a waste gas stream, under the same operating conditions. The maximum EA elimination capacity achieved in the bioscrubber was 550 g m^?3 h^?1 with removal efficiency higher than 96%. For higher EA loadings the bioscrubber was oxygen limited, which caused incomplete EA biodegradation. When pure oxygen was fed to the bioscrubber at a rate of 0.02 L min^?1, the bioscrubber recovered and could treat higher EA loadings without any oxygen limitation. The BTF achieved EA elimination capacity of 600 g m^?3 h^?1 with removal efficiency higher than 97% and the dissolved oxygen concentration remained substantially higher than in the bioscrubber. However, severe channelling and blockage of the spray nozzle occurred due to the excessive biomass growth. Overall, the bioscrubber system was easier to operate and control than the BTF, while an enhancement of the oxygen mass transfer in the bioscrubber could potentially increase its performance by up to three times. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

An Investigation of Milk Powders Produced by a Laboratory-Scale Spray Dryer

A mini spray dryer has been used to investigate morphological changes that occur to milk particles during the spray drying process. We have found that the mini spray dryer is ideal for such investigations, because phenomena such as skin and vacuole formation in particles can be analyzed without the added complication of particle agglomeration, which only occurs in much larger spray dryers where particle number concentrations are higher. We have confirmed observations made by various researchers that the bulk density of spray-dried milk powder is greatly affected by the drying temperature, due to the strong influence of the latter on the porosity of the particles. In addition, we have attempted to explain observations made by various workers that fat accumulates preferentially at the surface of a particle during drying by postulating that fluid fat is transported towards the surface, via a network of cracks and pores, by the development of a vacuole overpressure which is also responsible for the inflation of the particle. Finally, we have shown that milk powders can be spray dried a second time, by reconstitution with water, with no change to the thermodynamic characteristics of the resultant powder. Thus, milk concentrates for spray drying research can be prepared from already-spray-dried milk powders rather than using the more arduous evaporation method to concentrate unprocessed milk.     

Glauconite Materials from Belarus and Their Application Prospects

An integrated study of glauconite-bearing rocks of the Republic of Belarus has been performed and their main application directions have been identified. The chemical, mineral, and granulometric compositions of these rocks are studied and some of their physicochemical and technological properties are analyzed. __________ Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 6, pp. 7 – 9, June, 2005.     

Service specifics of refractory lining in a float tank and tests of new heat-resistant composite materials

To avoid glass defects as a consequence of lining destruction in service and to preserve the operating conditions of a float tank equipment, it is necessary to use high-quality refractory materials which are developed taking into account their service specifics. Researchers at the Saratov Institute of Glass have identified maximum admissible fluctuation parameters for the gaseous atmosphere composition in the metal tank, which influences the destruction of refractory lining. New types of composites, namely, concretes on a refractory chamotte basis produced at the Semiluki Refractory Works, have been tested in the service conditions.     

Rheological properties of polypropylene modified by high‐intensity ultrasonic waves

A new method using high‐intensity ultrasonic waves, instead of peroxide‐aided reactive extrusion, was applied to modify a linear polypropylene into a branched structure. The ultrasonic waves induced chain scission and created reactive macromolecules of polypropylene successfully in the melt state without any peroxide. To enhance and control the recombination reaction during sonication, a multifunctional agent and an antioxidant were used. The rheological property measurements clearly confirmed that the modified polypropylene had a nonlinear branched structure. It showed shear‐thinning behaviors in its viscosities at low frequencies, high elastic behaviors in Cole–Cole plots, and a high rheological polydispersity index in comparison with a linear polypropylene. The degradation or recombination of polypropylene was adequately controlled by an antioxidant, which stabilized the structure during sonication. Also, the use of an antioxidant was quite effective in improving the extrusion processability by delaying the instability of the extrudate to a higher shear rate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

All-Optical Vestigial Sideband Generation Using a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

An all-optical setup to generate vestigial sideband signals based on self-phase modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier is experimentally demonstrated at 10 Gb/s. Sideband suppressions higher than 15 dB are reported with improved eye opening. Wavelength-independent operation over 26 nm is demonstrated. Increased chromatic dispersion tolerance is verified: a receiver sensitivity penalty of 5.3 dB, relative to back-to-back, is obtained after transmission over 2720 ps/nm; whereas conventional double sideband is penalized by 4.0 dB after 1360 ps/nm