Performance of Frequency Division Multiplexing Readout System for AC-Biased Transition-Edge Sensor X-ray Microcalorimeters

Frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is a promising approach to read out a large format transition-edge sensor (TES) array for future astrophysical missions. We constructed a four channel FDM readout system using baseband feedback in the MHz band. We demonstrated the principle of our FDM method with an actual TES array, a multiplexing SQUID and LC band-pass filters under 100 mK. The resonant frequencies of LC filters were consistent with the design value with an accuracy of better than 3 %. We successfully obtained X-ray pulses from two TESs simultaneously but the energy resolution was degraded to about 100 eV at 5.9 keV and crosstalk effects were observed. The origin of the crosstalk effects is investigated by modified setups. Based on comparative experiments and numerical calculations, we conclude that the non-linearity of the SQUID is the cause of some of the crosstalk effects. Unlike the regular crosstalk effect from the adjoining channels, the crosstalk effect due to non-linearity observed in this paper occurs in all channels. Solving these problems will help us to obtain FDM readout with sufficient energy resolution.     

Enhanced photoconductivity and trapping rate through control of bulk state in organic triphenylamine-based photorefractive materials

In organic optical semiconductors, it is rather challenging to achieve precise control of photoconductivity and charge trapping, which determines the device performance. This paper reports on enhanced photorefractive response rate through control of the photoconductivity and trapping rate in organic triphenylamine-based photorefractive materials by means of bulk state tuning. The bulk state in organic triphenylamine-based photorefractive composites was controlled through a rapid cooling process from various melting temperatures during sample fabrication. The photoconductivity and trapping rate were determined from photocurrent measurements. Fabrication at lower melting temperatures enhanced the trapping rate for deep traps, whereas it reduced the trapping rate for shallow traps. As a result, a faster photorefractive response was obtained.     

Synthesis of FCC Mg–Ta hydrides using GPa hydrogen pressure method and their hydrogen-desorption properties

Magnesium–tantalum ternary hydrides with an FCC structure were prepared by an ultra high-pressure technique. The FCC Mg–Ta hydride phases with the Ca₇Ge-type super-lattice structure were formed at 4 and 8 GPa. Another new phase, Mg₃TaH_y, was also verified by XRD and SEM in the specimen prepared at 8 GPa. From the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) measurements with a heating rate of 10 K/min under vacuum, the FCC hydride exhibited hydrogen desorption of ca. 3.1 mass% at an onset temperature of 583 K. When the FCC hydride phase coexisted with Mg₃TaH_y, simultaneous decomposition occurred and the hydrogen-desorption temperature was lowered to 543 K. The hydrogen-desorption temperatures of the Mg–Ta FCC hydrides were 130–170 K lower than that of MgH₂.     

CAL: A theoretical background of constraint logic programming and its applications

Constraint logic programming (CLP) is an extension of logic programming by introducing the facility of writing and solving constraints in a certain domain. CAL (Contrainte avec Logique) is a CLP language in which (possibly non-linear) polynomial equations can be written as constraints, while almost all the other CLP languages proposed so far have concentrated only on linear equations and inequations. This paper describes a general semantics of CLP including CAL, and shows the validity of CAL in this framework.     

Susceptibility to delayed fracture of alpha-beta titanium alloy in fluoride solutions

The susceptibility to delayed fracture of the alpha-beta titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V has been investigated in acidic and neutral fluoride solutions at room temperature. The time to fracture decreased with increasing applied stress in 2.0% and 0.2% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) solutions at pH 5.0. The time to fracture in the 2.0% APF solution was shorter than that in the 0.2% APF solution, although at an applied stress higher than 1000 MPa, the times to fracture were almost the same in both the solutions. For immersion in the 0.2% APF solution, when the applied stress was lower than 700 MPa, delayed fracture did not occur within 1000 h. The fracture surface of specimens immersed in the 2.0% APF solution exhibited brittleness associated with hydrogen absorption, while that in the 0.2% APF solution was ductile and characterized macroscopically as having a cup-cone morphology. The amounts of hydrogen absorbed in 2.0% and 0.2% APF solutions for 24 h were approximately 200 and 30 mass ppm, respectively. As the immersion time increased, the amount of hydrogen absorbed in the 2.0% APF solution increased, whereas that in the 0.2% APF solution hardly increased. In neutral 2.0% and 0.2% NaF solutions, the delayed fracture did not occur within 1000 h, although general corrosion was observed. These results indicate that the susceptibility to delayed fracture of alpha-beta titanium alloy, compared with those of the alpha titanium and beta titanium alloy reported previously, is low in acidic and neutral fluoride solutions.     

Effect of Viscosity on Preparation of Foamed Silica Ceramics by a Rapid Gelation Foaming Method

An environmentally benign preparation method for silica foam (the rapid gelation foaming method) was developed by combining sol-gel reactions and mechanical foaming without using organic polymers or monomers, in order to generate less CO₂ and harmful gases from the decomposition of organic compounds contained in the raw material. The viscosity of the silica sol during foaming affects the porous properties of the silica foam, i.e. the porosity and average pore size decrease with increasing viscosity. The pore structure of the silica foams depend on the viscosity of silica sol, two types of pore structure being formed. An open-pore structure is obtained by foaming low-viscosity sols, while a closed-pore structure is obtained by foaming high-viscosity sols. Since the viscosity of the silica sol affects the stability and foaming ability of the foam, the porous properties of the product can be controlled by controlling the viscosity of the silica during foaming.     

A real-time learning algorithm for a multilayered neural networkbased on the extended Kalman filter

A novel real-time learning algorithm for a multilayered neural network is derived from the extended Kalman filter (EKF). Since this EKF-based learning algorithm approximately gives the minimum variance estimate of the linkweights, the convergence performance is improved in comparison with the backwards error propagation algorithm using the steepest descent techniques. Furthermore, tuning parameters which crucially govern the convergence properties are not included, which makes its application easier. Simulation results for the XOR and parity problems are provided     

Preparation of S-sulfo albumin film and its cell adhesive property

Recently, large-scale production of the pharmaceutical grade recombinant human serum albumin was achieved, and several clinical trials have proved its safety and efficacy. Albumin is thought to be a candidate for a safe biopolymer sources for application to biomaterials. In this study, we treated albumin with sodium sulfite and sodium tetrathionate to give S-sulfo albumin, which was found to loose native albumin structure by CD spectra analysis and dye-binding assay. A water-insoluble S-sulfo albumin films were prepared by drying S-sulfo albumin solution and subsequent reformation of disulfide bonds by the oxidation with iodine. Ultimate strength, ultimate elongation and Young's modulus of S-sulfo albumin film prepared at room temperature were 3.3 ± 0.4 MPa, 30.8 ± 3.2% and 40.8 ± 3.3 MPa before oxidative treatment and changed to 13.8 ± 4.2 MPa, 5.6 ± 2.8% and 401.7 ± 15.3 MPa after oxidative treatment. When the film was prepared at 60 °C, similar tendency was observed. Thus, the disulfide bonds formation between albumin molecules by oxidative treatment converted the film stronger and stiffer. Cell adhesion and proliferation on the films were evaluated using mouse L929 fibroblast cells. Cell adhesion largely depended on the albumin structure; that is, cells did not attach to native albumin coated surfaces, while cell adhesion and proliferation occurred on the S-sulfo albumin films which lost their native albumin structure. Eighty percent of seeded cells were adhered on S-sulfo albumin films and proliferated well in a similar manner to those on the conventional culture dish. Our results indicate that S-sulfo albumin is a favorable cell culture substrate.