Performance failure analysis of EDFA cascades in optical DWDM packet-switched networks

A simple and comprehensive technique to determine the probability that a cascade of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) may be driven into unacceptable regimes of bit error rate (BER) and/or gain levels is presented. This technique allows network designers to determine the tolerances by which the signal power levels may deviate from their predesigned average values and still give acceptable gain variances and BERs at the receiver. We show that even in the signal power range well above the receiver sensitivities (-38 dBm/ch) where the gain spread is not significant, the corresponding spread in BER due to random arrival of packets might result in unacceptable performance. We show for typical levels of operation, the BER temporarily (for about 3 /spl mu/s) deviates to below 10/sup -9/ (10/sup -15/) with a probability of 10/sup -3/ (10/sup -2/), for 100 (64) channels. We show that the gain spread for a single EDFA can be negligible for a range of signal and pump powers at a given average gain.     

Photoswitching of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Using Unsymmetrical Chiral Thioindigo Dopants: Photoinduced Inversion of the Sign of Spontaneous Polarization

A new unsymmetrical chiral thioindigo dopant 6‐[(R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooct‐1‐yloxy]‐5′‐nitro‐6′‐[(R)‐2‐octyloxy]thioindigo ( 4 ) designed to photoinvert the sign of spontaneous polarization (P_S) in a ferroelectric chiral smectic C (SmC*) liquid crystal was prepared using a synthetic approach previously developed in our laboratory. In this new “ambidextrous” design, the (R)‐2‐octyloxy side‐chain is sterically coupled to the thioindigo core and induces a positive P_S, whereas the (R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain is decoupled from the core and induces a larger negative P_S. In the trans form, this dopant induces a negative polarization in the SmC host (+)‐4‐(4‐methylhexyloxy)phenyl 4‐decyloxybenzoate ( PhB ). Irradiation of a 1 mol‐% mixture of 4 in PhB at λ = 510 nm caused a sign inversion of P_S, from –0.88 to +0.42 nC cm^–2 at T – T_C = –5 °C, which is consistent with an increase in the polarization power of the coupled 2‐octyloxy/thioindigo unit over that of the 2,3‐difluorooctyloxy unit, due to the increase in transverse dipole moment of the thioindigo core upon trans–cis photoisomerization. The P_S sign inversion was confirmed by a surface‐stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal photoswitching experiment. Spectroscopic measurements on films of the doped liquid crystal mixtures showed that trans–cis photoisomerization is gradually suppressed with increasing dopant mole fraction, possibly as a result of increased dopant aggregation.     

Modeling Temperature in Coupled Electrical and Thermal Simulations of the Electroconsolidation® Process

Electroconsolidation® is a process for densifying complex-shaped parts by using electrically conductive particulate solids as a pressure-transmitting medium. The part is immersed in a bed of the particulate medium contained in a die chamber. Sintering temperature is achieved by resistive heating of the medium while applying compaction pressure. The process is capable of ultrahigh temperatures and short cycle times and offers the potential for low processing costs.

Control of the process and selection of process conditions require knowledge of the temperatures within the die. Temperature gradients exist because of the high heating rate and because of variations of density and electrical resistivity of the medium due to the presence of the part. Direct measurement of temperature with thermocouples or other conventional means is impractical because of the high temperatures, high currents, and high pressures that are involved. Therefore, a computer model was developed to predict temperature as a function of time and applied voltage for any location in the die. The computer model is composed of three parts: a geometrical model to approximate the density and resistivity variations in the medium, a finite-element model to calculate the rate of resistive heating within each element, and a finite-difference model to calculate the temperature distribution based on solution of the heat-transfer equations. Predicted temperatures have been shown to be in excellent agreement with measurements, and numerical simulation provided encouraging consistency and reasonably accurate predictions of temperature profiles within the die. The model demonstrated the feasibility of a new process to achieve simultaneous application of pressure and heat to powder densification in Electroconsolidation.     

A simple fiber-optic vehicle axle detector for roadways

This paper presents a fiber-optic vehicle axle detector for roadways. It is based on a fiber-optic Michelson interferometer that is mounted directly into the road surface. The fully dielectric design allows for remote operation of the sensor via a long section of optical fiber. A simple signal-processing scheme of the output signals has been adopted that allows for reliable detection of commercial and personal vehicles.     

Design of radiation-emission measurements of an air-traffic surveillance radar

The current work presents the procedure of designing and carrying out measurements of radiation emission from an air-traffic surveillance radar. The system requirements are first given, and then the equipment used is described. The steps to determine the operating characteristics of the radar are specified in detail. The necessary methods for manual power measurements and calculations are next explained. Since the final measurement system was fully automated, its main features (topology, protocol of operation) are also given. Finally, some measurement results taken during the initial phase of system operation are presented and discussed.     

Algorithms for qualitative analysis of complex systems

Algorithms are proposed that construct first integrals and Lyapunov functions for stability analysis of stationary solutions of differential equations describing mechanical systems of linked bodies.Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 1, pp. 138–148, January–February, 1992.     

Conservation of water resources problems of small rivers in Russia

Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel'stvo, No. 8, pp. 1–5, August, 1994.     

Synthesizing plans that contain actions with context-dependent effects1

This paper presents a method of solving planning problems that involve actions whose effects change according to the situations in which they are performed. The approach is an extension of the conventional planning methodology in which plans are constructed through an iterative process of scanning for goals that are not yet satisfied, inserting actions to achieve them, and introducing subgoals to these actions. This methodology was originally developed under the assumption that one would be dealing exclusively with actions that produce the same effects in every situation. The extension involves introducing additional subgoals to actions above and beyond the preconditions of execution normally introduced. These additional subgoals, called secondary preconditions, ensure that the actions are performed in contexts conducive to producing the effects we desire. This paper defines and analyzes secondary preconditions from a mathematically rigorous standpoint and demonstrates how they can be derived from regression operators.     

A Microscopic study of the transformation of sphalerite particles during the roasting of zinc concentrate

The formation of zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) during the roasting of iron-bearing zinc concentrates requires substantial additional processing to recover the zinc from this compound by leaching and to eliminate the iron from the leachate. The phase changes that occur in the particles of a typical industrial zinc sulfide concentrate during roasting in a fluidized bed at 1223 K were investigated by the use of light microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and SEM with EDS. The processes which the iron undergoes during its eventual transformation into ferrite have been clarified by examination of the phases and the morphology of partially roasted marmatitic sphalerite particles (Zn, Fe)S, and by reference to the known phase equilibria involved in the Zn-Fe-S-0 system. The oxidation of ironbearing sphalerite occurs in three stages. The first involves the selective diffusion of most of the iron to the particle surface resulting in the formation of an iron oxide shell enclosing a largely unreacted zinc sulfide kernel. In the second stage, this kernel is oxidized to form a solid solution of zinc oxide and iron oxide. The iron is initially present in the ferrous state but, with the disappearance of the sulfide kernel, is oxidized to ferric iron. In the final stage, this dissolved iron oxide and the iron oxide shell react with the surrounding zinc oxide to form the refractory spinel zinc ferrite.