Tunable Volatility of Ge2Sb2Te5 in Integrated Photonics

The operation of a single class of optical materials in both a volatile and nonvolatile manner is becoming increasingly important in many applications. This is particularly true in the newly emerging field of photonic neuromorphic computing, where it is desirable to have both volatile (short‐term transient) and nonvolatile (long‐term static) memory operation, for instance, to mimic the behavior of biological neurons and synapses. The search for such materials thus far have focused on phase change materials where typically two different types are required for the two different operational regimes. In this paper, a tunable volatile/nonvolatile response is demonstrated in a photonic phase‐change memory cell based on the commonly employed nonvolatile material Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST). A time‐dependent, multiphysics simulation framework is developed to corroborate the experimental results, allowing us to spatially resolve the recrystallization dynamics within the memory cell. It is then demonstrated that this unique approach to photonic memory enables both data storage with tunable volatility and detection of coincident events between two pulse trains on an integrated chip. Finally, improved efficiency and all‐optical routing with controlled volatility are demonstrated in a ring resonator. These crucial results show that volatility is intrinsically tunable in normally nonvolatile GST which can be used in both regimes interchangeably.     

Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) Engines: A Review

The homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion is considered to be the principally promising future IC engine concepts. HCCI is a concept of hybrid combustion, between the Otto engine and Diesel engine. HCCI is however not a modern finding. Already in the early twentieth century hot bulb engines operated with an HCCI-like combustion. They were superior in terms of brake efficiency compared with the contemporary gasoline engines and at the same level as the diesel engines. High engine efficiencies and ultra low NO emissions and low particulates are the benefits of HCCI engines. Volumetric auto ignited combustion of the compressed lean air–fuel mixture is attributed to these benefits. There are few drawbacks also were there in HCCI engines like, low specific output, narrow operating range, lack control over the ignition process, long start up time and high emissions like CO and UHC emissions. The CO and UHC emissions can be after treated using catalytic converters. In this study a literature review on HCCI engine has been performed and the parameters affecting the HCCI combustion phasing, performance and emissions were discussed. Strategies to widen the peak load bearing capacity of HCCI engine, reducing the emissions like NOx, CO and UHC, easy auto-ignition were discussed in the present study.     

Numerical Analysis of a Vortex Tube: A Review

Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube is a simple devise with no moving parts which could generate cold and hot air/gas streams simultaneously with compressed air/gas as a working fluid. The energy and flow separation in a vortex tube is highly depends on factors like nozzle shape, nozzle number, diameter and length of the vortex tube, inlet pressure, control valve, diaphragm hole size and cold mass fraction. As the energy separation and flow patterns in a vortex tube are highly complex and were not explained successfully by any researcher, a computational study of vortex tube flow and energy separation will give a better understanding about the physics and mechanism involved. Many researchers conducted computational fluid dynamic analysis of the vortex to have a deep insight about the process of flow separation. In this paper computational analysis of vortex by many researchers were presented along with the results obtained and suggestions to improve the performance of the vortex tube. Researchers considered Turbulence models which predict the performance precisely were discussed in the present paper. Researchers considered turbulence models like LES, k–ε, k–ω and RMS to predict the energy separation in vortex tube. Some researchers considered artificial neural networks (ANN) and Taguchi methods for their analysis. Comparison of the predictions with simulation results were also presented to give a clear idea for the reader about the CFD models prediction capabilities.     

Robust Silica Aerogel Microspheres from Rice Husk Ash to Enhance the Dissolution Rate of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs

The present paper demonstrates the capability of specially prepared robust silica aerogel microspheres (RSAMs) to enhance the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs. A sol-gel/mineral oil emulsion method has been developed for RSAMs from rice husk ash (RHA), a biogenic source. The particles were characterized for their Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area, Barrett, Joyner and Halenda (BJH) pore volume and pore diameter, and morphology by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dissolution rate of ibuprofen, a poorly water-soluble drug, was investigated by adsorbing it onto RSAMs upon dissolving it in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) at 150?bar and 40°C. This resulted in a loading of ～0.13?g ibuprofen/g loaded RSAMs in 24?h. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to characterize the nature of the adsorbed ibuprofen onto RSAMs. It was observed that the loaded drug on the aerogels is in amorphous form. An in vitro drug-release kinetic studies confirmed a significant enhancement in the dissolution rate, namely ～100% of the loaded ibuprofen released as compared to that of ～11% of crystalline ibuprofen in 15?min.     

Diffusion coefficients of aqueous cesium fluoride at 40°C

Diaphragm cell technique has been employed to determine diffusion coefficient for cesium fluoride at 40°C in the concentration range varying from 0.01 to 0.1 M. The data were analysed in the light of the theory of Onsager and Fuoss (O-F), J. chem. Phys.2, 599 (1932)[20]. The results indicate that the O-F theory is inadequate to explain the behaviour of this salt at 45°C. The results are also discussed with other 1:1 type salts of cesium.     

Multi-objective optimal power flow considering wind power cost functions using enhanced PSO with chaotic mutation and stochastic weights

Electrical Engineering - A multi-objective optimal power flow (OPF) solution using an enhanced NSPSO, incorporating chaotic mutation and stochastic weight trade-off features, is proposed here. The...     

Device‐Level Photonic Memories and Logic Applications Using Phase‐Change Materials

Inspired by the great success of fiber optics in ultrafast data transmission, photonic computing is being extensively studied as an alternative to replace or hybridize electronic computers, which are reaching speed and bandwidth limitations. Mimicking and implementing basic computing elements on photonic devices is a first and essential step toward all‐optical computers. Here, an optical pulse‐width modulation (PWM) switching of phase‐change materials on an integrated waveguide is developed, which allows practical implementation of photonic memories and logic devices. It is established that PWM with low peak power is very effective for recrystallization of phase‐change materials, in terms of both energy efficiency and process control. Using this understanding, multilevel photonic memories with complete random accessibility are then implemented. Finally, programmable optical logic devices are demonstrated conceptually and experimentally, with logic “OR” and “NAND” achieved on just a single integrated photonic phase‐change cell. This study provides a practical and elegant technique to optically program photonic phase‐change devices for computing applications.     

Effect of abrasive jet process parameters on machining glass fibre reinforced polymer composite

An experimental and theoretical research work on abrasive jet machining of glass fiber reinforced polymer composite materials was conducted using abrasive jet machining setup fabricated in our workshop. The objective of this research work is to machine holes on the glass fiber reinforced polymer composite using an abrasive jet machine under various levels of process parameter. The material removal rate and hole geometry (kerf analysis) were observed as a part of the investigation. Four factors five levels central composite rotatable design matrix was used for optimizing the required number of experiments. The objective of the present investigation is to develop mathematical models using the response surface methodology. The adequacy of the models has been checked using the ANOVA technique. Use of the developed mathematical models, material removal rate and hole geometry of the machined glass fibre reinforced polymer composite helps prediction at 95% confidence level.     

A HIGH AIRFLOW DRYING EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP TO STUDY DRYING BEHAVIOR OF POLYMER SOLVENT COATINGS

A High Airflow Drying Experimental Set-up (HADES) has been constructed to simulate conditions encountered in industrial dryers. In this experiment the drying gas flows parallel to the coating in a narrow gap (6 × 10^-3 cm). Measured heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) on HADES range from 7 W/m² K at 0.072 m/s to 26 W/m² K at 0.72 m/s. The range of HTCs could easily be extended by using higher gas flow rates or narrower gap. The drying results obtained in HADES compare well with model predictions for poly (vinyl acetate)/toluene and show expected trends for changes in drying temperature and flow rate. Experimental drying results for poly (methyl methacrylate)/acetone show an anomalous drying behavior where residual solvent content is minimized at intermediate drying gas flow rate. This phenomenon is likely due to formation of a glassy skin at the surface of the drying coating.