Design of low‐power all‐optical networks under the constraint of four‐wave mixing

In this paper, we propose a static lightpath establishment method to design low‐power all‐optical networks under the constraint of four‐wave mixing (FWM). Since the FWM causes nonlinear interchannel crosstalk, it degrades the communication quality of optical signals. The FWM crosstalk effect becomes strong in a fiber as the number of passing optical signals increases. Therefore, we should reduce the number of optical signals passing through the same fiber from the perspective of the FWM. Meanwhile, in order to enhance the power efficiency of optical amplifiers, which are deployed at each optical fiber, it is preferred that multiple optical signals are transmitted in the same fiber. In order to decrease the power consumption while keeping high communication quality, the proposed method statically selects routes, wavelengths, and fibers for each traffic demand, considering the FWM crosstalk effect and the usage efficiency of the optical amplifiers. We show the performance of the proposed method through numerical experiments.     

7W operation of 644 nm wavelength laser diode arrays with index-guided structure

A 7 W operation of a red semiconductor array laser is achieved at a wavelength of 644 nm with high reliability for the first time. The uniform near-field pattern has been obtained by applying index-guided structure to the broad-stripe laser.     

Two-longitudinal-mode laser diodes

Two-longitudinal-mode distributed-Bragg-reflector laser diodes have been fabricated for wavelength-division-multiplexing communication systems, two-wavelength optical measurement systems, and optical data processing systems. A Bragg reflector with a periodic-phase-shift grating is adopted for two-longitudinal-mode operation. Active and passive waveguides are monolithically integrated by compositional disordering of the quantum well using silicon ion implantation     

Dynamic lightpath establishment considering four-wave mixing in multifiber WDM networks

This paper proposes a dynamic lightpath establishment scheme considering four-wave mixing (FWM) in multifiber wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) all-optical networks. The FWM is one of the most important physical impairments to be resolved in WDM networks because the FWM induces nonlinear inter-channel crosstalk and decays the performance of WDM networks. In WDM networks, data are transmitted via lightpaths. When the effect of FWM crosstalk is large, it is highly possible that data transmission fails even if lightpaths are correctly established. The proposed scheme aims to avoid not only the blocking of lightpath establishment but also the accumulation of FWM crosstalk by means of ingenious selection of routes, wavelengths, and fibers for lightpath establishment. In the proposed scheme, a route and a wavelength are selected for each lightpath based on wavelength availability and wavelength placement of established lightpaths. Furthermore, fibers on the route are selected based on estimated FWM power. In this paper, we show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme through simulation experiments.     

Short track seeking of hard disk drives under multirate control-computationally efficient approach based on initial value compensation

This paper proposes a design method for short track-seeking control based on one degree of freedom (ODOF) control and initial value compensation (IVC). IVC uses nonzero initial values of the feedback controller to improve the step reference response of the ODOF tracking control system. This makes feedforward control unnecessary to shape the transient response of short track seeking. As a result, the amount of computation during short track seeking may be minimal. The proposed design method minimizes tracking errors in multirate control framework for a step reference input taking into account the inter-sampling behavior. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown by simulation and experiment.     

Effect of thermal cycles on the mechanical strength of quad flat pack leads/Sn-3.5Ag-X (X=Bi and Cu) solder joints

Quad Flat Pack (QFP) Leads/Sn-3.5Ag-X (X=Bi and Cu) joint was thermally cycled between 243 K and 403 K or 273 K and 373 K, and both metallographic examination and mechanical pull test were performed to evaluate thermal fatigue damage of the joint. The addition of bismuth drastically degrades the thermal fatigue resistance of Sn-3.5Ag solder. On the other hand, the pull strength of Sn-3.5Ag-Cu solder joints slightly decreased with increasing number of thermal cycles, though it still remains higher in comparison to that for conventional Sn-37Pb or bismuth containing solder joint. The behavior observed here reflects the isothermal fatigue properties of bulk solder, because thermal fatigue crack initiates at the surface of solder fillet and propagates within the fillet in an early stage of fatigue damage. Furthermore, the lead phases lying at the interface between lead-frame and bismuth containing solder joint may promote the crack propagation at the interface, resulting in the extremely low thermal fatigue resistance of the joint.     

High‐Performance Dibenzoheteraborin‐Based Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters: Molecular Architectonics for Concurrently Achieving Narrowband Emission and Efficient Triplet–Singlet Spin Conversion

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials, which enable the full harvesting of singlet and triplet excited states for light emission, are expected as the third‐generation emitters for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), superseding the conventional fluorescence and phosphorescence materials. High photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ_PL), narrow‐band emission (or high color purity), and short delayed fluorescence lifetime are all strongly desired for practical applications. However, to date, no rational design strategy of TADF emitters is established to fulfill these requirements. Here, an epoch‐making design strategy is proposed for producing high‐performance TADF emitters that concurrently exhibiting high Φ_PL values close to 100%, narrow emission bandwidths, and short emission lifetimes of ≈1 µs, with a fast reverse intersystem crossing rate of over 10⁶ s^?1. A new family of TADF emitters based on dibenzoheteraborins is introduced, which enable both doped and non‐doped TADF‐OLEDs to achieve markedly high external electroluminescence quantum efficiencies, exceeding 20%, and negligible efficiency roll‐offs at a practical high luminance. Systematic photophysical and theoretical investigations and device evaluations for these dibenzoheteraborin‐based TADF emitters are reported here.     

Fast beamforming of electronically steerable parasitic array radiator antennas: theory and experiment

A low-power consumption, small-size smart antenna, named electronically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR), has been designed. Beamforming is achieved by tuning the load reactances at parasitic elements surrounding the active central element. A fast beamforming algorithm based on simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation with a maximum cross correlation coefficient criterion is proposed. The simulation and experimental results validate the algorithm. In an environment where the signal-to-interference-ratio is 0 dB, the algorithm converges within 50 iterations and achieves an output signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio of 10 dB. With the fast beamforming ability and its low-power consumption attribute, the ESPAR antenna makes the mass deployment of smart antenna technologies practical.     

Earth‐Abundant and Durable Nanoporous Catalyst for Exhaust‐Gas Conversion

Precious metals (Pt and Pd) and rare earth elements (Ce in the form of CeO₂) are typical materials for heterogeneous exhaust‐gas catalysts in automotive systems. However, their limited resources and high market‐driven prices are principal issues in realizing the path toward a more sustainable society. In this regard, herein, a nanoporous NiCuMnO catalyst, which is both abundant and durable, is synthesized by one‐step free dealloying. The catalyst thus developed exhibits catalytic activity and durability for NO reduction and CO oxidation. Microstructure characterization indicates a distinct structural feature: catalytically active Cu/CuO regions are tangled with a stable nanoporous NiMnO network after activation. The results obtained by in situ transmission electron microscopy during NO reduction clearly capture the unique reaction‐induced self‐transformation of the nanostructure. This finding can possibly pave the way for the design of new catalysts for the conversion of exhaust gas based on the element strategy.     

Giant Amazonian fish pirarucu (Arapaima gigas): Its viscera as a source of thermostable trypsin

A trypsin was purified from pyloric caeca of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). The effect of metal ions and protease inhibitors on its activity and its physicochemical and kinetic properties, as well its N-terminal sequence, were determined. A single band (28.0 kDa) was observed by SDS–PAGE. Optimum pH and temperature were 9.0 and 65 °C, respectively. The enzyme was stable after incubation for 30 min in a wide pH range (6.0–11.5) and at 55 °C. The kinetic parameters K_m, k_cat and k_cat/K_m were 0.47 ± 0.042 mM, 1.33 s⁻¹ and 2.82 s⁻¹ mM⁻¹, respectively, using BApNA as substrate. This activity was shown to be very sensitive to some metal ions, such as Fe²⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺, Pb²⁺, and was highly inhibited by trypsin inhibitors. The trypsin N-terminal sequence IVGGYECPRNSVPYQ was found. The features of this alkaline peptidase suggest that it may have potential for industrial applications (e.g. food and detergent industries).