Optical neurochip with learning capability

A dynamic optical neurochip with variable synaptic interconnection capability has been reported. A novel type of photodetector called a variable sensitivity photodetector has been developed for the synaptic interconnection of neural networks. It utilizes a metal-semiconductor-metal structure whose quantum efficiency can be modulated by an applied bias voltage. The fabricated dynamic optical neurochip consists of an 8×8 variable sensitivity photodetector (VSPD) array and an 8 line-shaped LED array. It is shown that this device is suitable for learning in neural networks. The application to pattern classification is demonstrated     

A differential photoconductive AND gate with Be-dopedlow-temperature-grown InGaAs-InAlAs MQW MSM-PD's

A novel photoconductive AND gate that overcomes the problems of: 1) the long tail of photoconductive switches and 2) signal leakage via switch capacitance (signal feedthrough) is proposed. We use Be-doped low-temperature (LT)-grown InGaAs-InAlAs MQW metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (MSM-PD's) to get a shorter turn-off time and propose a differential AND gate to cancel the signal feedthrough. A comparison between LT-grown MSM-PD's and those fabricated by ion implantation shows that the LT-grown ones are ultrafast with a full width at half maximum of 5.3 ps and are suitable for low-bias operation. It is experimentally confirmed that the differential AND gate completely cancels the signal feedthrough in the picosecond region. The differential AND gate: with the LT MSM-PD's achieves return-to-zero (RZ) 20 Gb/s AND operation     

Athermal silica-based arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexer

A temperature dependent channel wavelength shift in a silica-based arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexer is successfully suppressed from 0.95 to 0.05 nm in the 0-85°C temperature range, which means that it can be used in practical WDM systems without the need for temperature control     

Routing design of tree‐shaped local public communication networks with high reliability and low cost

This paper discusses reliability problems for local public communication networks such as cable television networks and the subscriber‐loops of telecommunication networks. They have tree‐shapes and expand continuously as new customers join. By introducing a simple model, it is shown that most principal reliability measures and cost measures for such networks can be described through the networks' graphical characteristic quantities. Extensive simulations show that the prior provision of trunk pipes and a suitable choice of the route selecting rule for new customers are effective in constructing a highly reliable network with low cost. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High-Speed TDM–WDM Techniques for Long-Haul Submarine Optical Amplifier Systems

Optical amplifier techniques have led to the installation of large-capacity submarine systems and further capacity increases seem likely. This paper reviews the FSA submarine system, which flexibly operates at both 2.5 and 10 Gb/s and offers maximum transmission capacity of 60 Gb/s for commercial use. The system configuration as well as its characteristics and upgradability will be introduced, including measurement results on time-division-multiplexing/wavelength-division-multiplexing (TDM–WDM) transmission at bit rates of 10 and 20 Gb/s using non-return-to-zero or soliton pulses. To further increase transmission capacity, TDM–WDM techniques that permit more than 10 Gb/s signal transmission in each data channel should be developed. Thus, pulse formats, which include non-return-to-zero, return-to-zero, or soliton pulses, and dispersion allocation in transmission fibers are significant issues. We introduce and discuss our recent results from high-speed (10 to 40 Gb/s) TDM–WDM signal transmission experiments with regard to the above aspects.     

Development of 170 GHz/500 kW gyrotron

A development of 170GHz/500kW level gyrotron was carried out as R&D work of ITER. The oscillation mode is TE_31,8. In a short pulse experiment, the maximum power of 750kW was achieved at 85kV/40A. The efficiency was 22%. In the depressed collector operation, 500kW/36%/50ms was obtained. The maximum efficiency of 40% was obtained at P_RF=470kW whereas the power decrease by the electron trapping was observed. Pulse extension was done up to 10s at P_RF=170kW with the depressed collector operation. The power was limited by the temperature increase of the output window.     

Tough and Self‐Recoverable Thin Hydrogel Membranes for Biological Applications

Tough and self‐recoverable hydrogel membranes with micrometer‐scale thickness are promising for biomedical applications, which, however, rarely be realized due to the intrinsic brittleness of hydrogels. In this work, for the first time, by combing noncovalent DN strategy and spin‐coating method, we successfully fabricated thin (thickness: 5–100 µm), yet tough (work of extension at fracture: 10⁵–10⁷ J m^?3) and 100% self‐recoverable hydrogel membranes with high water content (62–97 wt%) in large size (≈100 cm²). Amphiphilic triblock copolymers, which form physical gels by self‐assembly, were used for the first network. Linear polymers that physically associate with the hydrophilic midblocks of the first network, were chosen for the second network. The inter‐network associations serve as reversible sacrificial bonds that impart toughness and self‐recovery properties on the hydrogel membranes. The excellent mechanical properties of these obtained tough and thin gel membranes are comparable, or even superior to many biological membranes. The in vitro and in vivo tests show that these hydrogel membranes are biocompatible, and postoperative nonadhesive to neighboring organs. The excellent mechanical and biocompatible properties make these thin hydrogel membranes potentially suitable for use as biological or postoperative antiadhesive membranes.     

Electromagnetic wave absorber with wide-band frequencycharacteristics using exponentially tapered ferrite

As a countermeasure of EMI or EMC, various types of electromagnetic wave absorbers are used. A wide-band design method of an electromagnetic wave absorber with using exponentially tapered ferrite, which has very wide-band frequency characteristics, is proposed and discussed. The wide-band electromagnetic wave absorber can be designed under some approximations by the theoretical model using the equivalent material constants (equivalent complex permittivity and permeability) method for the regions varying spatially in the shape of ferrite. Based on the model, wide-band electromagnetic wave absorbers with taper, which have not only excellent reflectivity frequency characteristics but also a bandwidth of 30 MHz to 2150 MHz or 2430 MHz under the tolerance limits of -20 dB reflectivity, were designed     

Renewable-Energy paradox in paradise: A case stuty of Hawaii

Hawaii is committed to replacing imported oil with indigenous, renewable energy resources to enhance the economic and environmental security of the state's citizens. A case study of Hawaii's fuel-energy balance by the end of the 21st century which features two scenarios, a ‘Business-as-Usual’ energy system, based on imported fossil fuels, and a ‘Renewable-Energy’ scenario, based on an alternative energy system consisting entirely of indigenous, renewable energy resources, is presented.

In the year 2100, a projected total energy consumption of approximately 335 million gigajoules would be provided from a hypothetical renewable-energy system of approximately 13 gigawatts-electric of installed capacity. This system would feature methanol-from-biomass to meet liquid fuel requirements for surface transportation, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors; hydrogen via electrolysis in liquid form for air transportation and as a gaseous fuel for industrial purposes; and electricity generated from geothermal, ocean thermal, wind, and photovoltaic sources for all power applications.

A comprehensive economic analysis, including capital costs, operating and maintenance costs, air pollution costs for the total fuel cycle of each energy system, and a local multiplier effect factor of 3·75 per dollar, indicates that between the years of 1987 and 2100 the ‘Business-as-Usual’ scenario will have expended approximately $600 billion (1986 US dollars), and the ‘Renewable-Energy’ scenario will have cost approximately $400 billion. By switching from imported fossil fuels to indigenous, renewable energy resources during this time period, Hawaii's citizens could save approximately $200 billion to help preserve paradise.     

Photonic A/D conversion using low-temperature-grown GaAs MSM switches integrated with Si-CMOS

By linking the unique capabilities of photonic devices with the signal processing power of electronics, photonically sampled analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion systems have demonstrated the potential for superior performance over all-electrical A/D conversion systems. We adopt a photonic A/D conversion scheme using low-temperature (LT)-grown GaAs metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photoconductive switches integrated with Si-CMOS A/D converters. The large bandwidth of the LT GaAs switches and the low timing jitter and short width of mode-locked laser pulses are combined to accurately sample input frequencies up to several tens of gigahertz. CMOS A/D converters perform back-end digitization, and time-interleaving is used to increase the total sampling rate of the system. In this paper, we outline the development of this system, from optimization of the LT GaAs material, speed and responsivity measurements of the switches, bandwidth and linearity characterization of the first-stage optoelectronic sample-and-hold, to integration of the switches with CMOS chips. As a final proof-of-principle demonstration, a two-channel system was fabricated with LT GaAs MSM switches flip-chip bonded to CMOS A/D converters. When operated at an aggregate sampling rate of 160 megasamples/s, the prototype system exhibits /spl sim/3.5 effective number of bits (ENOB) of resolution for input signals up to 40 GHz.