1/f noise in large-area Hg<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>x</Subscript>Te photodiodes

The 1/f noise in photovoltaic (PV) molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown Hg_1−xCd_xTe double-layer planar heterostructure (DLPH) large-area detectors is a critical noise component with the potential to limit sensitivity of the cross-track infrared sounder (CrIS) instrument. Therefore, an understanding of the origins and mechanisms of noise currents in these PV detectors is of great importance. Excess low-frequency noise has been measured on a number of 1000-μm-diameter active-area detectors of varying “quality” (i.e., having a wide range of I-V characteristics at 78 K). The 1/f noise was measured as a function of cut-off wavelength under illuminated conditions. For short-wave infrared (SWIR) detectors at 98 K, minimal 1/f noise was measured when the total current was dominated by diffusion with white noise spectral density in the mid-10⁻¹⁵A/Hz^1/2 range. For SWIR detectors dominated by other than diffusion current, the ratio, α, of the noise current in unit bandwidth i_n(f = 1 Hz, V_d = −60 mV, and Δf = 1 Hz) to dark current I_d(V_d = −60 mV) was α_SW-d = i_n/I_d ∼ 1 × 10⁻³. The SWIR detectors measured at 0 mV under illuminated conditions had median α_SW-P = i_n/I_ph ∼ 7 × 10⁻⁶. For mid-wave infrared (MWIR) detectors, α_MW-d = i_n/I_d ∼ 2 × 10⁻⁴, due to tunneling current contributions to the 1/f noise. Measurements on forty-nine 1000-μm-diameter MWIR detectors under illuminated conditions at 98 K and −60 mV bias resulted in α_MW-P = i_n/I_ph = 4.16 ± 1.69 × 10⁻⁶. A significant point to note is that the photo-induced noise spectra are nearly identical at 0 mV and 100 mV reverse bias, with a noise-current-to-photocurrent ratio, α_MW-P, in the mid 10⁻⁶ range. For long-wave infrared (LWIR) detectors measured at 78 K, the ratio, α_LW-d = i_n/I_d ∼ 6 × 10⁻⁶, for the best performers. The majority of the LWIR detectors exhibited α_LW-d on the order of 2 × 10⁻⁵. The photo-induced 1/f noise had α_LW-P = i_n/I_ph ∼ 5 × 10⁻⁶. The value of the noise-current-to-dark-current ratio, α appears to increase with increasing bandgap. It is not clear if this is due to different current mechanisms impacting 1/f noise performance. Measurements on detectors of different bandgaps are needed at temperatures where diffusion current is the dominant current. Excess low-frequency noise measurements made as a function of detector reverse bias indicate 1/f noise may result primarily from the dominant current mechanism at each particular bias. The 1/f noise was not a direct function of the applied bias.     

An improved statistical analysis of the least mean fourth (LMF) adaptive algorithm

The paper presents an improved statistical analysis of the least mean fourth (LMF) adaptive algorithm behavior for a stationary Gaussian input. The analysis improves previous results in that higher order moments of the weight error vector are not neglected and that it is not restricted to a specific noise distribution. The analysis is based on the independence theory and assumes reasonably slow learning and a large number of adaptive filter coefficients. A new analytical model is derived, which is able to predict the algorithm behavior accurately, both during transient and in steady-state, for small step sizes and long impulse responses. The new model is valid for any zero-mean symmetric noise density function and for any signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Computer simulations illustrate the accuracy of the new model in predicting the algorithm behavior in several different situations.     

2-D symmetry: theory and filter design applications

In this comprehensive review article, we present the theory of symmetry in two-dimensional (2-D) filter functions and in 2-D Fourier transforms. It is shown that when a filter frequency response possesses symmetry, the realization problem becomes relatively simple. Further, when the frequency response has no symmetry, there is a technique to decompose that frequency response into components each of which has the desired symmetry. This again reduces the complexity of two-dimensional filter design. A number of filter design examples are illustrated.     

The effects of nonlocal impact ionization on the speed of avalanche photodiodes

The nonlocal enhancement in the velocities of charge carriers to ionization is shown to outweigh the opposing effects of dead space, increasing the avalanche speed of short avalanche photodiodes (APDs) over the predictions of a conventional local model which ignores both of these effects. The trends in the measured gain-bandwidth product of two short InAlAs APDs reported in the literature support this result. Relatively large speed benefits are predicted to result from further small reductions in the lengths of short multiplication regions.     

Gamma-irradiation-induced Ag/SiO2 composite films and their optical absorption properties

Small Ag particles or clusters dispersed mesoporous SiO₂ composite films were prepared by a new method: First the matrix SiO₂ films were prepared by sol-gel process combined with the dip-coating technique, then they were soaked in AgNO₃ solutions followed by irradiation of γ-ray at room temperature and in ambient pressure. The structures of these films were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and optical absorption spectroscopy. It has been shown that the Ag particles grown within the porous SiO₂ films are very small, and they are isolated and dispersed from each other with very narrow size distributions. With increasing the soaking concentration and an additional annealing, an opposite peakshift effect of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was observed in the optical absorption measurements.     

An evaluation of biological and abiotic controls for grapevine powdery mildew. 2. Vineyard trials

Grapevine powdery mildew ( Erysiphe necator) affects grape yield and fruit quality worldwide. Managers of conventional vineyards rely mainly on synthetic fungicides and sulfur to control powdery mildew, while in organic vineyards sulfur is the main control agent, often in rotation with canola-based oils, bicarbonates and biological control agents. The efficacy of those materials has not been evaluated critically under field conditions in Australia. Accordingly, a range of materials showing most promise in previous greenhouse trials (Crisp et al. 2006 Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 12 , pp. 192–202) were assessed via field trials in commercial vineyards. Applications of either milk or whey (alone, or mixed with a canola oil-based product), as well as applications of potassium bicarbonate (commercial formulation), all reduced the severity of powdery mildew compared with untreated vines. Eight applications of a 1:10 dilution of milk, 45 g/L whey powder or programs comprising rotations of potassium bicarbonate plus oil and whey, applied at 10–14 day intervals, reduced the severity of powdery mildew to levels not significantly different from that on vines sprayed with sulfur (wettable powder, 3–6 g/L). However, the relative control of powdery mildew by the test materials in field trials was dependent on the susceptibility of the grapevine cultivar and the extent of spray coverage achieved. In vineyards where highly susceptible cultivars were planted, and spray coverage was compromised, the resultant control of powdery mildew was reduced; and sometimes to commercially unacceptable levels.     

Some Insights into MIMO Mutual Information: The High SNR Case

We consider mutual information of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless channels with complex isotropic Gaussian input in the case where the receiver has perfect channel, knowledge. For arbitrary fading statistics, a mutual information lower bound is decomposed in a sum of three terms involving: a) average SNR; b) channel fading; and c) a term characterizing the "effective rank", or eigenvalue dispersion, of the channel matrix. The decomposition suggests that spatial multiplexing efficiency of a MIMO channel can be characterized by the so-called ellipticity statistic. Distribution functions, means and variances of the random terms in the decomposition for the case of Rayleigh fading are also derived     

Development of crumb rubber reinforced bituminous binder under laboratory conditions

Bituminous binders are widely used in the construction of flexible pavements. However, in some applications, the performance of conventional binders is not considered to be satisfactory. Reinforcing these binders with selected polymers prevents premature failure of a pavement by improving the properties of the binder. Another source of reinforcement comes from crumb (ground) rubber produced from waste tyres. After they have been worn-out during their limited service life, millions of used tyres are discarded every year and are hauled to a dump. The fatigue resistance at temperatures below normal service temperatures (25°C), one of the key engineering properties of crumb rubber reinforced binders, has been found to be lower than that of neat binders. This paper is concerned with the development of a rubber reinforced binder. It was shown that the binder has the potential to be used as an all-weather wearing course in flexible roads, whilst at the same time recycling a considerable amount of waste rubber.