Analyzing combinations of circular birefringence,linear birefringence,and elliptical dichroism in magneto-optical rotators

We derive analytic expressions for the polarization characteristics of light emerging from a magneto-optical medium possessing arbitrary contributions from linear and circular birefringence as well as magnetic circular dichroism. The medium is placed inside a static magnetic field. The rotation of the plane of polarization and the ellipticity of the resultant light exhibit interesting characteristics that can be a useful guide in the design and analysis of new photonic devices. Furthermore, the Jones matrices are derived in all cases, including for elliptical dichroism, indicating the role of hyperbolic trigonometric functions in modeling the effects of dichroism. Finally, implications for experimental detection of the polarization state and the limits on the performance of optical isolators are discussed.     

40 Gb/s 4-QAM OFDM radio over fiber system at 60 GHz employing coherent detection

In this paper, the simulation of 60 GHz millimeter-wave radio over fiber link with 4-QAM OFDM modulation format at 40 Gb/s over 150 km SMF is proposed. The 60 GHz millimeter-wave signal is generated by the optical heterodyne method. Coherent detection has been used at the receiver to down-convert millimeter-wave signal to IF band. Introduction of the OFDM modulation in RoF-based system realizes the benefits of higher order modulations (such as 4-QAM, 16-QAM, etc.) to ensure the good spectral efficiency and multi-gigabit access. The performance of the system is analyzed by Q-factor and BER by which it can be shown that the best results are obtained at the input power of 10 dBm. The simulation results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of this 4-QAM OFDM RoF system over 150 km fiber link.     

Multiple color-image authentication system using HSI color space and QR decomposition in gyrator domains

Abstract

A new multiple color-image authentication system based on HSI (Hue–Saturation–Intensity) color space and QR decomposition in gyrator domains is proposed. In this scheme, original color images are converted from RGB (Red–Green–Blue) color spaces to HSI color spaces, divided into their H, S, and I components, and then obtained corresponding phase-encoded components. All the phase-encoded H, S, and I components are individually multiplied, and then modulated by random phase functions. The modulated H, S, and I components are convoluted into a single gray image with asymmetric cryptosystem. The resulting image is segregated into Q and R parts by QR decomposition. Finally, they are independently gyrator transformed to get their encoded parts. The encoded Q and R parts should be gathered without missing anyone for decryption. The angles of gyrator transform afford sensitive keys. The protocol based on QR decomposition of encoded matrix and getting back decoded matrix after multiplying matrices Q and R, enhances the security level. The random phase keys, individual phase keys, and asymmetric phase keys provide high robustness to the cryptosystem. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that this scheme is the superior than the existing techniques.     

Preparation and characterization of K-substituted NaCa4Nb5O17 microwave dielectric ceramics

The effect of K substitution for Na on the phase, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of the Na_1?x K _x Ca₄Nb₅O₁₇ (x = 0–1) composition series was investigated. The compositions with x = 0, 0.5 and 1 formed single-phase Na_1?x K _x Ca₄Nb₅O₁₇ ceramics within the detection limit of the in-house XRD facility when sintered at 1,200–1,300 °C. At x = 0.25 and 0.75, the major Na_1?x K _x Ca₄Nb₅O₁₇ phase formed but along with a secondary CaNb₂O₆ phase. Relative permittivity (ε _r ) and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) increased from 45 to 51 and ?120 to +473 ppm/ °C respectively while the quality factor (Q × f _o ) decreased from 13,838 to 2,374 GHz with an increase in x from 0 to 1. Optimum microwave dielectric properties (i.e. ε _r  = 47, Q × f _o  = 5,047 GHz and τ_f = ? 23 ppm/ °C) were achieved for the x = 0.5 (i.e. Na_0.5K_0.5Ca₄Nb₅O₁₇) composition. Further investigations are required to improve the density and hence microwave dielectric properties of Na_1?x K _x Ca₄Nb₅O₁₇ ceramics.     

Annealing effect on structural, optical and electrical properties of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films

This study describes the effect of annealing at different temperatures (400–600 °C) on structural, optical and electrical behaviors of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films grown on the glass substrate by electron beam evaporation technique. The transformation of tetragonal to orthorhombic form due to annealing, introduced a change in the optical and electrical properties of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films. X-ray diffraction studies or analysis revealed the phase transformation and change in the crystalline size with increase in the annealing temperature. The morphology and roughness of the thin films were studied by Atomic force microscopy. Optical band gap increased with annealing temperature confirms the improvements of crystallinity. The quality of thin films transparency was investigated by UV/Vis-spectroscopy. Photoluminescence of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films shows two extra peaks one at 486 nm and other at 538 nm is due to the crystal defect created as a result of annealing temperature. These peaks became stronger and shifted to longer wavelength with increasing the annealing temperature. The complex plot (Nyquist plot) showed the data point laying on two semicircles and the resistance of grains and grain boundaries increases with the increase in annealing temperature for both pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films.     

Layered double hydroxides as efficient drug delivery system of ciprofloxacin in the middle ear: an animal study in rabbits

Chronic otitis media is a common disease often accompanied by recurrent bacterial infections. These may lead to the destruction of the middle ear bones such that prostheses have to be implanted to restore sound transmission. Surface coatings with layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are evaluated here as a possibility for drug delivery systems with convenient advantages such as low cytotoxicity and easy synthesis. Male New Zealand White rabbits were implanted with Bioverit^® II middle ear prostheses coated with the LDH Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₂(SO₄)₂·6H₂O impregnated with ciprofloxacin. 12 (group 1) were directly infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and another 12 (group 2) 1 week after the implantation. Clinical outcome, blood counts, histological analyses and microbiological examination showed an excellent antimicrobial activity for group 1, whereas this effect was attenuated in animals where infection was performed 1 week after implantation. This is the first study to demonstrate an efficient drug delivery system with an LDH coating on prostheses in the middle ear.     

Large scale synthesis of single-crystal and polycrystalline boron nitride nanosheets

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) have an identical crystal structure and similar lattice parameter to those of graphene sheets. However, growing quality BNNSs consisting of only several atomic layers remains a challenge. Here, we report on the synthesis of BNNSs at a temperature of 350 °C using a CO₂ pulsed laser plasma deposition (CO₂-PLD) technique by irradiating a pyrolytic hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) target. The deposition was performed either in vacuum at a pressure of 0.2 Pa, for which we obtained polycrystalline BN, or in hydrogen (H₂) atmosphere at a pressure of 26 Pa for which we obtained single-crystal BNNSs. The presence of H₂ seems to minimize the side effects of sputtering and the material shows higher purity and better crystallinity. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) showed the sheets to be mostly defect-free and to have the characteristic honeycomb structure of six-membered B₃-N₃ hexagon. HRTEM, electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy clearly identified h-BN.     

Optimization of Microchannel Heat Sinks Using Genetic Algorithm

In this study, a genetic algorithm is employed to minimize the entropy generation rate in microchannel heat sinks. The entropy generation rate allows the combined effects of thermal performance and pressure drop to be assessed simultaneously as the heat sink interacts with the surrounding flow field. Previously developed models for the heat transfer, pressure drop and entropy generation rate are used in the optimization procedure. The results of optimization are compared with existing results obtained by the Newton–Raphson method. It is observed that the GA gives better overall performance of the microchannel heat sinks.     

Hydrogen sensing using gold nanoclusters supported on tungsten trioxide thin films

Controlled amounts of chemically synthesised gold (Au) nanoclusters were deposited onto tungsten trioxide (WO₃) nanostructured thin films as sensors for hydrogen. The Au/WO₃ thin films were characterised by XPS, XRD, SEM and TEM. Performance of Au/WO₃ films was tested at operating temperatures varying from room temperature to 450 °C. It was demonstrated that Au metal loading plays an important role in defining enhancement of the sensor response towards hydrogen. “Less is more” principle applies to the reported here sensors as materials made using lower concentration of Au nanoclusters demonstrated significantly better response. HRTEM images of the Au/WO₃ thin films provide evidence that the more active sensors are enriched with smaller Au nanoparticles (≤5 nm). Fast response towards H₂ within a wide range of industrially relevant concentrations, excellent baseline stability and signal reproducibility at optimized operating temperature demonstrate feasibility of this novel approach toward fabrication of sensors.     

Considerations of uncertainties in evaluating dynamic reliability by GO-FLOW methodology – example study of reliability monitor for PWR safety system in the risk-monitor system

The uncertainty analyses have been considered as a relevant topic since WASH-1400 and analysis was performed for identifying the risk measure, e.g. plant- and core-damage frequency or the frequency of a large early release of radioactivity in the probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) or probabilistic risk assessment. There are two main sources of uncertainty such as aleatory uncertainty and epistemic uncertainty (parameter uncertainty, model uncertainty and completeness uncertainty) for risk analysis in PSA or risk-monitor system. A sensitivity analysis is related field to uncertainty, which can provide information of the most effective on those inputs of PSA, which are mostly contributed to the uncertainty.

In this paper, uncertainty analysis (epistemic) has been conducted in the evaluation of dynamic reliability of safety-related subsystem for risk analysis. GO-FLOW methodology has been employed for the procedure of uncertainty analysis alternatively to Fault Tree Analysis and Even Tree because it is success-oriented system-analysis technique and comparatively easy to conduct the reliability analysis of the complex system. The method used sample data from Monte Carlo simulation to quantify uncertainty in terms of appropriate estimates for analysis results. Pressurized water reactor containment spray system has been taken as an example of safety-related subsystem. The results of this paper show that the uncertainty analysis is an important part for the practical evaluation of the system dynamic reliability and makes the reliability prediction more accurate compared with the result without the uncertainty analysis. The GO-FLOW methodology can be employed easily for uncertainty analysis with its advance functions.