Impact of the gain saturation dynamics in semiconductor optical amplifiers on the characteristics of an analog optical link

We evaluate both theoretically and experimentally the gain saturation dynamics of semiconductor optical amplifiers when inserted into an analog optical link. Its impact in terms of radio frequency response, nonlinearity, and noise is investigated. In particular, the frequency response is shown to be a peculiar high-pass filter exhibiting two characteristic frequencies.     

Direct observation of the stacked structure in substituted copper phthalocyanine LB films with STM

The in-plane molecular structures of octa-alkyl substituted copper phthalocyanine LB films deposited on graphite have been resolved with a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). The face-to-face stacking of Pc macrocycles has been observed in the topographies of R₈PcCu monolayers. The stacking period was found to be 3.8–4 Å and the molecular rows were separated by 19 Å and 16 A for (C₆H₁₃)PcCu and (C₅H₁₁)PcCu respectively.     

Superconducting microwave filter systems for cellular telephone base stations

In the second decade following the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (HTS), wireless communications has emerged as the earliest large commercial market. The enormous growth of the wireless industry coupled with its increasing technology demands has created a significant opportunity for HTS technology in wireless base stations. These systems combine high-performance HTS RF filters with cryocooled semiconductor preamplifiers to offer enhanced sensitivity to improve signal reception and exceptional selectivity to reject interfering signals. There are now thousands of installed HTS systems and the prospects are good for widespread future deployment. This paper discusses the underlying technologies that support HTS wireless applications, based upon the characteristic microwave properties of HTS thin films and substrates. HTS filter design technology has been under development for a decade and has gained a fair measure of maturity in terms of design tools, simulation techniques, and available topologies. The need for extremely narrow-band filters, highly selective filters, frequency-agile filters, and very compact filter designs has led to many technology advances. On the system level, comparable advances in cryocooler technology and cryopackaging have enabled the development of a broadly deployable technology. We discuss industry trends and the methodologies and results of simulations and real-world measurements of HTS filter systems.     

Drawing of optical fiber with internal codrawn wire and conductive coating and electrooptic modulation demonstration

One hundred twenty meters of fiber with an internal codrawn wire and electrically conductive coating was successfully fabricated for the first time. The integration of the conductive coating and wire was all performed during the fiber draw stage, in a process that enabled arbitrarily long lengths of fiber to be made. The wire combined with the conductive coating enables a strong electric field to be formed across the optical core. Such a fiber is ideal for thermally poling long lengths and for nonlinear device applications such as optical switches and modulators.     

High‐efficiency microcrystalline silicon single‐junction solar cells

This short communication highlights our latest results towards high‐efficiency microcrystalline silicon single‐junction solar cells. By combining adequate cell design with high‐quality material, a new world record efficiency was achieved for single‐junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, with a conversion efficiency of 10.69%, independently confirmed at ISE CalLab PV Cells. Such significant conversion efficiency could be achieved with only 1.8 µm of Si. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ionic Hydrogels with Biomimetic 4D‐Printed Mechanical Gradients: Models for Soft‐Bodied Aquatic Organisms

Direct‐ink writing (DIW), a rapidly growing and advancing form of additive manufacturing, provides capacities for on‐demand tailoring of materials to meet specific requirements for final designs. The penultimate challenge faced with the increasing demand of customization is to extend beyond modification of shape to create 4D structures, dynamic 3D structures that can respond to stimuli in the local environment. Patterning material gradients is foundational for assembly of 4D structures, however, there remains a general need for useful materials chemistries to generate gray scale gradients via DIW. Here, presented is a simple materials assembly paradigm using DIW to pattern ionotropic gradients in hydrogels. Using structures that architecturally mimic sea‐jelly organisms, the capabilities of spatial patterning are highlighted as exemplified by selectively programming the valency of the ion‐binding agents. Spatial gradients, when combined with geometry, allow for programming the flexibility and movement of iron oxide nanoparticle–loaded ionotropic hydrogels to generate 4D‐printed structures that actuate in the presence of local magnetic fields. This work highlights approaches to 4D design complexity that exploits 3D‐printed gray‐scale/gradient mechanics.     

Design and calibration of a high-frequency oscillatory ventilator

High-frequency ventilation (HFV) is a modality of mechanical ventilation which presents difficult technical demands to the clinical or laboratory investigator. The essential features of an ideal HFV system are described, including wide frequency range, control of tidal volume and mean airway pressure, minimal dead space, and high effective internal impedance. The design and performance of a high-frequency oscillatory ventilation system is described which approaches these requirements. The ventilator utilizes a linear motor regulated by a closed loop controller and driving a novel frictionless double-diaphragm piston pump. Finally, the ventilator performance is tested using the impedance model of Venegas [1].     

MOCVD制备过掺杂GaN基稀磁半导体微结构研究

应用MOCVD方法我们在c轴取向的蓝宝石衬底上生长出Fe掺杂和Mn掺杂GaN薄膜。通过改变前驱物的通入量,我们制备出不同掺杂浓度的样品。应用高分辨透射电镜,我们对样品的微结构进行了分析。对于Fe过掺杂GaN样品,我们发现了六角结构的Fe3N团簇的存在,并且Fe3N(0002)面平行于GaN(0002)面;对于Mn过掺杂GaN样品,我们发现了六角结构的Mn6N2.58相的存在,并且Mn6N2.58(0002)面平行于GaN(0002)面。同时,由于晶格中掺入了大量掺杂离子,GaN晶格取向遭到了破坏,导致了部分GaN(0002)面的倾斜。磁学测量表明均一相的Fe掺杂GaN显现铁磁性,而均一相Mn掺杂GaN没有铁磁性。由于铁磁性Fe单晶和Fe3N团簇的存在,相比于均一性Fe掺杂GaN,过掺杂GaN样品的磁性大幅度增强,而Mn过掺杂GaN样品显现出很弱的铁磁性,这有可能来源于Mn6N2.58相。