Trellis-coded multiple-pulse-position modulation for wireless infrared communications

We present new trellis codes based on multiple-pulse-position modulation (MPPM) for wireless infrared communication. We assume that the receiver uses maximum-likelihood sequence detection to mitigate the effects of channel dispersion, which we model using a first-order lowpass filter. Compared to trellis codes based on PPM, the new codes are less sensitive to multipath dispersion and offer better power efficiency when the desired bit rate is large, compared with the channel bandwidth. For example, when the bit rate equals the bandwidth, trellis-coded (17 2)-MPPM requires 1.4 dB less optical power than trellis-coded 16-PPM having the same constraint length.     

Implementation and experimental results of a three-transmitter three-receiver OFDM/BLAST testbed

A three-transmitter three-receiver orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing Bell Laboratories layered space-time testbed is set up, which achieves a peak data rate of 281.25 Mb/s and a spectral efficiency of 14.4 b/Hz/s. The transmitter of the testbed consists of three signal generators transmitting three independent OFDM signals at 25 Msamples/s synchronously. Three synchronized receiving links are used, each of which includes an RF receiver, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital downconverter, and a PowerPC processor for baseband processing. The performance and complexity of three typical BLAST detection techniques (linear detection, ordered decision feedback detection, and partial decision detection) are evaluated and compared using the data from the experiments conducted in both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight indoor environments.     

HD-DVD的加密保护

好莱坞把蓝光看作是DVD复制保护措施CSS失败后一种挽回面子的方法。黑客对付CSS的办法是从一个合法的播放器上搞出加密密钥,然后嫁接到DeCSS复制软件中。如果DVD碟中使用了新密钥,就无法在原有DVD中播放。蓝光HD-DVD的后台是DVD论坛,它正式采用了先进访问内容系统(AACS),而它的竞争对手蓝光光盘看来也会采用类似系统。我认真琢磨了一下AACS。AACS的开发者是英特尔、IBM、松下、微软、索尼、东芝、迪斯尼和华纳。它采用“广播式加密”方法,能够单向提供新的密钥,废止被破解的密钥,而且无需使用电话线。我的问题是:如果密钥…     

Optical Measurements of SuperSpec: A Millimeter-Wave On-Chip Spectrometer

SuperSpec is a novel on-chip spectrometer we are developing for (sub)millimeter wavelength astronomy. Our approach utilizes a filterbank of moderate resolution ( \(R \sim 500{)}\) channels, coupled to lumped element kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs), all integrated onto a single silicon chip. The channels are half-wave resonators formed by lithographically depositing segments of superconducting transmission line, and the KIDs are titanium nitride resonators. Here we present optical measurements of a first generation prototype, operating in the 180–280 GHz frequency range. We have used a coherent source to measure the spectral profiles of 17 channels, which achieve linewidths corresponding to quality factors as high as \(Q_\mathrm {filt} = 700{,}\) consistent with the designed values plus additional dissipation characterized by \(Q_i \approx 1440{.}\) We have also used a Fourier Transform Spectrometer to characterize the spectral purity of all 72 channels on the chip, and measure typical out of band responses \({\sim }30\) dB below the peak response.     

Design and Performance of SuperSpec: An On-Chip,KID-Based,mm-Wavelength Spectrometer

SuperSpec is an ultra-compact spectrometer-on-a-chip for mm and submm wavelength astronomy. Its very small size, wide spectral bandwidth, and highly multiplexed detector readout will enable construction of powerful multi-object spectrometers for observations of galaxies at high redshift. SuperSpec is a filter bank with planar, lithographed, superconducting transmission line resonator filters and lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors made from Titanium Nitride. We have built an 81 detector prototype that operates in the 195–310 GHz band. The prototype has a wide-band metal feed horn with a transition to microstrip that feeds the filter bank. The prototype has demonstrated optical filter bank channels with a range of resolving powers from 300 to 700, measured fractional frequency noise of \(10^{-17} \mathrm{Hz}^{-1}\) at \(1\,\) Hz.     

Predictive hydrogeochemical modelling of bauxite residue sand in field conditions

The suitability of residue sand (the coarse fraction remaining from Bayer's process of bauxite refining) for constructing the surface cover of closed bauxite residue storage areas was investigated. Specifically, its properties as a medium for plant growth are of interest to ensure residue sand can support a sustainable ecosystem following site closure. The geochemical evolution of the residue sand under field conditions, its plant nutrient status and soil moisture retention were studied by integrated modelling of geochemical and hydrological processes. For the parameterization of mineral reactions, amounts and reaction kinetics of the mineral phases natron, calcite, tricalcium aluminate, sodalite, muscovite and analcime were derived from measured acid neutralization curves. The effective exchange capacity for ion adsorption was measured using three independent exchange methods. The geochemical model, which accounts for mineral reactions, cation exchange and activity corrected solution speciation, was formulated in the geochemical modelling framework PHREEQC, and partially validated in a saturated-flow column experiment. For the integration of variably saturated flow with multi-component solute transport in heterogeneous 2D domains, a coupling of PHREEQC with the multi-purpose finite-element solver COMSOL was established. The integrated hydrogeochemical model was applied to predict water availability and quality in a vertical flow lysimeter and a cover design for a storage facility using measured time series of rainfall and evaporation from southwest Western Australia. In both scenarios the sand was fertigated and gypsum-amended. Results show poor long-term retention of fertilizer ions and buffering of the pH around 10 for more than 5 y of leaching. It was concluded that fertigation, gypsum amendment and rainfall leaching alone were insufficient to render the geochemical conditions of residue sand suitable for optimal plant growth within the given timeframe. The surface cover simulation demonstrates that the soil moisture status in the residue sand can be ameliorated by an appropriate design of the cover layer with respect to thickness, slope and distance between lateral drains.     

Assessing the bioavailability of complex petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures in sediments

Several experimental methods have been developed to assess the bioavailability of individual organic compounds. So far none of them has however been applied to complex mixtures, such as oil (petroleum hydrocarbons), which is an ubiquitous pollutant. In the present study, we tested the potential of five of these experimental methods and that of a model approach to predict bioaccumulation of oil in the aquatic worm Lumbriculus variegatus exposed to 14 field-contaminated sediments. Actual and predicted bioaccumulation were compared in terms of both total bioaccumulative petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations and the relative distribution pattern of separate boiling point fractions (hydrocarbon blocks). None of the experimental methods was able to directly assess bioaccumulation in L. variegatus and correction factors were needed to match predicted and actual concentrations. These factors appeared concentration-dependent for solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and extractions with Tenax and cyclodextrin, most probably due to artifacts. Moreover, the hydrocarbon block pattern produced by these methods considerably differed from the pattern observed for worms; an additional reason for disqualification also applying to headspace-SPME. In contrast, the pattern produced by polyoxymethylene solid phase extraction (POM-SPE) closely mimicked the worm pattern and a sediment, hydrocarbon block, and concentration-independent correction factor (17) could be derived, based on which actual bioaccumulation could be predicted within a factor of 3. Finally, the model predicted bioaccumulation directly within a factor of 2. The accompanying hydrocarbon block pattern however deviated significantly more from the worm pattern than the POM-SPE pattern did. We therefore conclude that POM-SPE may be the overall best approach for predicting bioaccumulation of complex hydrocarbon mixtures in aquatic worms, all the more since an experimental approach will implicitly capture all factors determining bioavailability, which may prove difficult through a modeling approach.     

Microwave-assisted rapid discharge sintering of a bioactive glass�Cceramic

Bioactive glass-ceramics have been developed as successful bone graft materials. Although conventional sintering in an electrically-heated furnace is most commonly used, an alternative microwave plasma batch processing technique, known as rapid discharge sintering (RDS), is examined to crystallise the metastable base glass to form one or more ceramic phases. Apatite-mullite glass-ceramics (AMGC) were examined to elucidate the effects of RDS on the crystallization of a bioactive glass-ceramic. By increasing the fluorine content of the glass, the fluorapatite (FAp) and mullite crystallization onset temperatures can be reduced. Samples were sintered in a hydrogen and hydrogen/nitrogen discharge at temperatures of ≈800 and 1000 °C respectively with the higher sintering temperature required to form mullite. Results show that the material can be densified and crystallised using RDS in a considerably shorter time than conventional sintering due to heating and cooling rates of ≈400 °C/min.     

Photovoltaic Devices: High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells with Spray Coated Hole‐Transport and Active Layers (Adv. Funct. Mater. 1/2011)

In this study, we report high performance organic solar cells with spray coated hole‐transport and active layers. With optimized ink formulations we are able to deposit films with controlled thickness and very low surface roughness (<10 nm). Specifically we deposit smooth and uniform 40 nm thick films of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as well as films composed of a mixture of poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) and the C₆₀‐derivative (6,6)‐phenyl C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with thicknesses in the range 200–250 nm. To control film morphology, formation and thickness, the optimized inks incorporate two solvent systems in order to take advantage of surface tension gradients to create Marangoni flows that enhance the coverage of the substrate and reduce the roughness of the film. Notably, we achieve fill factors above 70% and attribute the improvement to an enhanced P3HT crystallization, which upon optimized post‐drying thermal annealing results in a favorable morphology. As a result, we could extend the thickness of the layer to several hundreds of nanometers without noticing a substantial decrease of the transport properties of the layer. By proper understanding of the spreading and drying dynamics of the inks we achieve spray coated devices with power conversion efficiency of 3.75%, with fill factor, short circuit current and open circuit voltage of 70%, 9.8 mA cm^?2 and 550 mV, respectively.