Analytical study of crosstalk propagation in all-optical networks using perturbation theory

The performance of current optical networks is inherently limited by the speed of electronic components and, in particular, by electronic switches. A new generation of optical networks, referred to as all-optical networks, overcomes this limitation by switching data entirely optically using all-optical crossconnects (OXCs). However, all-optical networks are prone to phenomena that are unknown to current optical networks with electrical regeneration: OXCs are subject to optical leaks, called crosstalk, resulting in unwanted components being added to transmitted signals, and this crosstalk is transmitted over very long paths without any signal regeneration. In this paper, we consider the interplay between fiber nonlinearity and crosstalk signals over long distances as the source of performance degradation, measured in terms of Q factor. We present an analytical crosstalk model for all-optical networks and give expressions for the performance degradation resulting from the joint propagation of a signal [using a continuous-wave (CW) assumption and perturbation theory] and crosstalk in large networks. Analytical calculations required by this model are shown to be much less computationally intensive than simulations. Simulations are carried out to validate our analytical model and good agreement is found between the analytical model and simulations for wide ranges of parameters.     

Production and characterization of plutonium dioxide particles as a quality control material for safeguards purposes

Plutonium (Pu) dioxide particles were produced from certified reference material (CRM) 136 solution (CRM 136-plutonium isotopic standard, New Brunswick Laboratory, Argonne, IL, U.S.A., 1987) using an atomizer system on December 3, 2009 after chemical separation of americium (Am) on October 27, 2009. The highest density of the size distribution of the particles obtained from 312 particles on a selected impactor stage was in the range of 0.7-0.8 μm. The flattening degree of 312 particles was also estimated. The isotopic composition of Pu and uranium (U) and the amount of Am were estimated by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), and α-spectrometry. Within uncertainties the isotopic composition of the produced particles is in agreement with the expected values, which were derived from the decay correction of the Pu isotopes in the CRM 136. The elemental ratio of Am to Pu in the produced particles was determined on the 317th and 674th day after Am separation, and the residual amount of Am in the solution was estimated. The analytical results of single particles by micro-Raman-scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) indicate that the produced particles are Pu dioxide. Our initial attempts to measure the density of two single particles gave results with a spread value accompanied by a large uncertainty.     

Capacity-enhanced receivers for low-latency Burst Optical Slot Switching rings

We propose a new receiver architecture for coherent detection in slotted optical packet switching rings with elastic (rate adaptive) optical transponders. Such rings are a candidate solution for future datacenter and metropolitan networks. The new receiver can detect more than a single packet per time slot and consequently has higher flexibility (translating into higher supported capacity, or, equivalently, lower end-to-end latency, or a combination or both), at the cost of a moderate increase in the transponder complexity and energy consumption (less than 10 %). We apply network planning and traffic engineering simulation tools (which we validate on small examples using theoretical models) to quantify the increase in network capacity and latency reduction that can be achieved thanks to the use of the new receivers. Finally, we identify the stability problem of the insertion process in the rings with the coherent receivers and propose a polynomial network planning algorithm, for the case of fast-tunable transmitters. We evaluate the cost of enforcing the stability, in terms of the additional transponders needed, for the mentioned case.     

Application of nanosecond-UV laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the isotopic analysis of single submicrometer-size uranium particles

For the first time, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) was used to carry out isotopic measurement on single submicrometer-size uranium particles. The analytical procedure was applied on two particle-containing samples already analyzed in the same laboratory by established techniques for particle analysis: combination of the fission track technique with thermo-ionization mass spectrometry (FT-TIMS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Particles were extracted from their initial matrix with ethanol and deposited on a polycarbonate disk where they were fixed in a layer of an organic compound (collodion). Prior to the isotopic analysis, particles were precisely located on the disk's surface by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for one sample and using the fission track technique for the other sample. Most of the particles were smaller than 1 μm, and their (235)U content was in the femtogram range. (235)U/(238)U ratios were successfully analyzed for all located particles using a nanosecond-UV laser (Cetac LSX 213 nm) coupled to a quadrupole-based ICPMS (Thermo "X-Series II"). LA-ICPMS results, although less precise and accurate (typically 10%) than the ones obtained by FT-TIMS and SIMS due to short (20-40 s), transient, and noisy signals, are in good agreement with the certified values or with the results obtained with other techniques. Thanks to good measurement efficiency (~6 × 10(-4)) and high signal/noise ratio during the analysis, LA-ICPMS can be considered a very promising technique for fast particle analysis, provided that uranium-bearing particles are fixed on the sample holder and located prior to isotope measurement.