Transmit/receive modules

This paper begins with a discussion of the microwave functions performed by transmit/receive (T/R) modules for phased-array antenna applications. The paper then addresses performance and cost aspects of semiconductor, packaging, and assembly technologies associated with T/R modules     

Noise bandwidth suppression for low noise readout circuit

A new noise reduction circuit that suppresses noise bandwidth of the output stage is proposed for the readout circuit of an infrared detector operating at a high pixel rate. Using this circuit, it is found that the rms noise voltage of the output stage is effectively reduced from 87 to 52 μV at a pixel rate of 10 pixel/μs     

Iterative receivers for space-time block-coded OFDM systems indispersive fading channels

We consider the design of iterative receivers for space-time block-coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (STBC-OFDM) systems in unknown wireless dispersive fading channels, with or without outer channel coding. First, we propose a maximum-likelihood (ML) receiver for STBC-OFDM systems based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. By assuming that the fading processes remain constant over the duration of one STBC code word and by exploiting the orthogonality property of the STBC as well as the OFDM modulation, we show that the EM-based receiver has a very low computational complexity and that the initialization of the EM receiver is based on the linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) channel estimate for both the pilot and the data transmission. Since the actual fading processes may vary within one STBC code word, we also analyze the effect of a modeling mismatch on the receiver performance and show both analytically and through simulations that the performance degradation due to such a mismatch is negligible for practical Doppler frequencies. We further propose a turbo receiver based on the maximum a posteriori-EM algorithm for STBC-OFDM systems with outer channel coding. Compared with the previous noniterative receiver employing a decision-directed linear channel estimator, the iterative receivers proposed here significantly improve the receiver performance and can approach the ML performance in typical wireless channels with very fast fading, at a reasonable computational complexity well suited for real-time implementations     

Effect of random distortions on the critical field in layered superconductors

Distortions of the layers in layered superconductors result in a decrease of the critical magnetic field. The distortions have the greatest influence when the field is applied at small angles to the layers. The critical field is calculated in the limits of large and small distortions. When the size of the distortion is less than the coherence length, superconductivity is destroyed by the usual second-order transition. In the opposite limiting case the possibility of superconducting current flow is determined by the percolation properties of the system. The dependence of the resistance on the value and on the angle of the magnetic field with respect to the layers is calculated in the percolation region.     

Parallel Pattern-Based Systems for Computational Biology: A Case Study

Computational biology research is now faced with the burgeoning number of genome data. The rigorous postprocessing of this data requires an increased role for high-performance computing (HPC). Because the development of HPC applications for computational biology problems is much more complex than the corresponding sequential applications, existing traditional programming techniques have demonstrated their inadequacy. Many high level programming techniques, such as skeleton and pattern-based programming, have therefore been designed to provide users new ways to get HPC applications without much effort. However, most of them remain absent from the mainstream practice for computational biology. In this paper, we present a new parallel pattern-based system prototype for computational biology. The underlying programming techniques are based on generic programming, a programming technique suited for the generic representation of abstract concepts. This allows the system to be built in a generic way at application level and, thus, provides good extensibility and flexibility. We show how this system can be used to develop HPC applications for popular computational biology algorithms and lead to significant runtime savings on distributed memory architectures.     

Influence of Al and Ni concentration on the Martensitic transformation in Cu-Al-Ni shape-memory alloys

The martensitic transformation temperatures and the types of martensitic phases have been determined in a wide concentration range of technological interest for Cu-Al-Ni shape-memory alloys (SMAs) A stability diagram of martensitic phases as a function of alloy concentration has been determined. It is found that when the aluminum content increases, the transformation changes from β ₃ ⇒ β′₃ to β ₃ ⇒ γ′₃, with an intermediate concentration range where both martensites coexist due to a β ₃ ⇒ γ′₃+β′₃ transformation. On the other hand, an increase of nickel content stabilizes the martensite β′₃, changing from a mixed β ₃ ⇒ γ′₃ + β′₃ to a single β ₃ ⇒ β′₃ transformation. Furthermore, linear relationships between M _s and Al and Ni concentrations have been obtained for all types of martensitic phases.     

Analysis of a TEM Cell with Septum on a Dielectric Slab

A quasi-TEM approach based on conformal transformation is used for the determination of the characteristic impedance of a rectangular coaxial line (TEM cell) having a symmetrically located inner conductor (septum) supported on a dielectric slab of equal width. The method of determination of the capacitance of the dielectric-filled portion is discussed. The results on characteristic impedance for two values of dielectric constant are presented.