An ultralow power athermal silicon modulator.

PubMed

Timurdogan, Erman; Sorace-Agaskar, Cheryl M; Sun, Jie; Shah Hosseini, Ehsan; Biberman, Aleksandr; Watts, Michael R

2014-06-11

Silicon photonics has emerged as the leading candidate for implementing ultralow power wavelength-division-multiplexed communication networks in high-performance computers, yet current components (lasers, modulators, filters and detectors) consume too much power for the high-speed femtojoule-class links that ultimately will be required. Here we demonstrate and characterize the first modulator to achieve simultaneous high-speed (25 Gb s(-1)), low-voltage (0.5 VPP) and efficient 0.9 fJ per bit error-free operation. This low-energy high-speed operation is enabled by a record electro-optic response, obtained in a vertical p-n junction device that at 250 pm V(-1) (30 GHz V(-1)) is up to 10 times larger than prior demonstrations. In addition, this record electro-optic response is used to compensate for thermal drift over a 7.5 °C temperature range with little additional energy consumption (0.24 fJ per bit for a total energy consumption below 1.03 J per bit). The combined results of highly efficient modulation and electro-optic thermal compensation represent a new paradigm in modulator development and a major step towards single-digit femtojoule-class communications.

MBus: An Ultra-Low Power Interconnect Bus for Next Generation Nanopower Systems

PubMed Central

Pannuto, Pat; Lee, Yoonmyung; Kuo, Ye-Sheng; Foo, ZhiYoong; Kempke, Benjamin; Kim, Gyouho; Dreslinski, Ronald G.; Blaauw, David; Dutta, Prabal

2015-01-01

As we show in this paper, I/O has become the limiting factor in scaling down size and power toward the goal of invisible computing. Achieving this goal will require composing optimized and specialized—yet reusable—components with an interconnect that permits tiny, ultra-low power systems. In contrast to today’s interconnects which are limited by power-hungry pull-ups or high-overhead chip-select lines, our approach provides a superset of common bus features but at lower power, with fixed area and pin count, using fully synthesizable logic, and with surprisingly low protocol overhead. We present MBus, a new 4-pin, 22.6 pJ/bit/chip chip-to-chip interconnect made of two “shoot-through” rings. MBus facilitates ultra-low power system operation by implementing automatic power-gating of each chip in the system, easing the integration of active, inactive, and activating circuits on a single die. In addition, we introduce a new bus primitive: power oblivious communication, which guarantees message reception regardless of the recipient’s power state when a message is sent. This disentangles power management from communication, greatly simplifying the creation of viable, modular, and heterogeneous systems that operate on the order of nanowatts. To evaluate the viability, power, performance, overhead, and scalability of our design, we build both hardware and software implementations of MBus and show its seamless operation across two FPGAs and twelve custom chips from three different semiconductor processes. A three-chip, 2.2 mm3 MBus system draws 8 nW of total system standby power and uses only 22.6 pJ/bit/chip for communication. This is the lowest power for any system bus with MBus’s feature set. PMID:26855555

An ultralow power athermal silicon modulator

PubMed Central

Timurdogan, Erman; Sorace-Agaskar, Cheryl M.; Sun, Jie; Shah Hosseini, Ehsan; Biberman, Aleksandr; Watts, Michael R.

2014-01-01

Silicon photonics has emerged as the leading candidate for implementing ultralow power wavelength–division–multiplexed communication networks in high-performance computers, yet current components (lasers, modulators, filters and detectors) consume too much power for the high-speed femtojoule-class links that ultimately will be required. Here we demonstrate and characterize the first modulator to achieve simultaneous high-speed (25 Gb s−1), low-voltage (0.5 VPP) and efficient 0.9 fJ per bit error-free operation. This low-energy high-speed operation is enabled by a record electro-optic response, obtained in a vertical p–n junction device that at 250 pm V−1 (30 GHz V−1) is up to 10 times larger than prior demonstrations. In addition, this record electro-optic response is used to compensate for thermal drift over a 7.5 °C temperature range with little additional energy consumption (0.24 fJ per bit for a total energy consumption below 1.03 J per bit). The combined results of highly efficient modulation and electro-optic thermal compensation represent a new paradigm in modulator development and a major step towards single-digit femtojoule-class communications. PMID:24915772

An ultra-low power output capacitor-less low-dropout regulator with slew-rate-enhanced circuit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Xin; Zhang, Yu; Xie, Guangjun; Yang, Yizhong; Zhang, Zhang

2018-03-01

An ultra-low power output-capacitorless low-dropout (LDO) regulator with a slew-rate-enhanced (SRE) circuit is introduced. The increased slew rate is achieved by sensing the transient output voltage of the LDO and then charging (or discharging) the gate capacitor quickly. In addition, a buffer with ultra-low output impedance is presented to improve line and load regulations. This design is fabricated by SMIC 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Experimental results show that, the proposed LDO regulator only consumes an ultra-low quiescent current of 1.2 μA. The output current range is from 10 μA to 200 mA and the corresponding variation of output voltage is less than 40 mV. Moreover, the measured line regulation and load regulation are 15.38 mV/V and 0.4 mV/mA respectively. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61401137, 61404043, 61674049).

Toward an Ultralow-Power Onboard Processor for Tongue Drive System

PubMed Central

Viseh, Sina; Ghovanloo, Maysam; Mohsenin, Tinoosh

2015-01-01

The Tongue Drive System (TDS) is a new unobtrusive, wireless, and wearable assistive device that allows for real-time tracking of the voluntary tongue motion in the oral space for communication, control, and navigation applications. The latest TDS prototype appears as a wireless headphone and has been tested in human subject trials. However, the robustness of the external TDS (eTDS) in real-life outdoor conditions may not meet safety regulations because of the limited mechanical stability of the headset. The intraoral TDS (iTDS), which is in the shape of a dental retainer, firmly clasps to the upper teeth and resists sensor misplacement. However, the iTDS has more restrictions on its dimensions, limiting the battery size and consequently requiring a considerable reduction in its power consumption to operate over an extended period of two days on a single charge. In this brief, we propose an ultralow-power local processor for the TDS that performs all signal processing on the transmitter side, following the sensors. Assuming the TDS user on average issuing one command/s, implementing the computational engine reduces the data volume that needs to be wirelessly transmitted to a PC or smartphone by a factor of 1500×, from 12 kb/s to ~8 b/s. The proposed design is implemented on an ultralow-power IGLOO nano field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and is tested on AGLN250 prototype board. According to our post-place-and-route results, implementing the engine on the FPGA significantly drops the required data transmission, while an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implementation in a 65-nm CMOS results in a 15× power saving compared to the FPGA solution and occupies a 0.02-mm2 footprint. As a result, the power consumption and size of the iTDS will be significantly reduced through the use of a much smaller rechargeable battery. Moreover, the system can operate longer following every recharge, improving the iTDS usability. PMID:26185489

Toward an Ultralow-Power Onboard Processor for Tongue Drive System.

PubMed

Viseh, Sina; Ghovanloo, Maysam; Mohsenin, Tinoosh

2015-02-01

The Tongue Drive System (TDS) is a new unobtrusive, wireless, and wearable assistive device that allows for real-time tracking of the voluntary tongue motion in the oral space for communication, control, and navigation applications. The latest TDS prototype appears as a wireless headphone and has been tested in human subject trials. However, the robustness of the external TDS (eTDS) in real-life outdoor conditions may not meet safety regulations because of the limited mechanical stability of the headset. The intraoral TDS (iTDS), which is in the shape of a dental retainer, firmly clasps to the upper teeth and resists sensor misplacement. However, the iTDS has more restrictions on its dimensions, limiting the battery size and consequently requiring a considerable reduction in its power consumption to operate over an extended period of two days on a single charge. In this brief, we propose an ultralow-power local processor for the TDS that performs all signal processing on the transmitter side, following the sensors. Assuming the TDS user on average issuing one command/s, implementing the computational engine reduces the data volume that needs to be wirelessly transmitted to a PC or smartphone by a factor of 1500×, from 12 kb/s to ~8 b/s. The proposed design is implemented on an ultralow-power IGLOO nano field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and is tested on AGLN250 prototype board. According to our post-place-and-route results, implementing the engine on the FPGA significantly drops the required data transmission, while an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implementation in a 65-nm CMOS results in a 15× power saving compared to the FPGA solution and occupies a 0.02-mm 2 footprint. As a result, the power consumption and size of the iTDS will be significantly reduced through the use of a much smaller rechargeable battery. Moreover, the system can operate longer following every recharge, improving the iTDS usability.

Ultra-low power operation of self-heated, suspended carbon nanotube gas sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chikkadi, Kiran; Muoth, Matthias; Maiwald, Verena; Roman, Cosmin; Hierold, Christofer

2013-11-01

We present a suspended carbon nanotube gas sensor that senses NO2 at ambient temperature and recovers from gas exposure at an extremely low power of 2.9 μW by exploiting the self-heating effect for accelerated gas desorption. The recovery time of 10 min is two orders of magnitude faster than non-heated recovery at ambient temperature. This overcomes an important bottleneck for the practical application of carbon nanotube gas sensors. Furthermore, the method is easy to implement in sensor systems and requires no additional components, paving the way for ultra-low power, compact, and highly sensitive gas sensors.

Ultra-low power wireless sensing for long-term structural health monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilbao, Argenis; Hoover, Davis; Rice, Jennifer; Chapman, Jamie

2011-04-01

Researchers have made significant progress in recent years towards realizing long-term structural health monitoring (SHM) utilizing wireless smart sensor networks (WSSNs). These efforts have focused on improving the performance and robustness of such networks to achieve high quality data acquisition and in-network processing. One of the primary challenges still facing the use of smart sensors for long-term monitoring deployments is their limited power resources. Periodically accessing the sensor nodes to change batteries is not feasible or economical in many deployment cases. While energy harvesting techniques show promise for prolonging unattended network life, low-power design and operation are still critically important. This research presents a new, fully integrated ultra-low power wireless smart sensor node and a flexible base station, both designed for long-term SHM applications. The power consumption of the sensor nodes and base station has been minimized through careful hardware selection and the implementation of power-aware network software, without sacrificing flexibility and functionality.

Improved performance of Ta2O5-x resistive switching memory by Gd-doping: Ultralow power operation, good data retention, and multilevel storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, K. X.; Xu, H. Y.; Wang, Z. Q.; Zhao, X. N.; Liu, W. Z.; Ma, J. G.; Liu, Y. C.

2017-11-01

Resistive-switching memory with ultralow-power consumption is very promising technology for next-generation data storage and high-energy-efficiency neurosynaptic chips. Herein, Ta2O5-x-based multilevel memories with ultralow-power consumption and good data retention were achieved by simple Gd-doping. The introduction of a Gd ion, as an oxygen trapper, not only suppresses the generation of oxygen vacancy defects and greatly increases the Ta2O5-x resistance but also increases the oxygen-ion migration barrier. As a result, the memory cells can operate at an ultralow current of 1 μA with the extrapolated retention time of >10 years at 85 °C and the high switching speeds of 10 ns/40 ns for SET/RESET processes. The energy consumption of the device is as low as 60 fJ/bit, which is comparable to emerging ultralow-energy consumption (<100 fJ/bit) memory devices.

Ultralow-power all-optical processing of high-speed data signals in deposited silicon waveguides.

PubMed

Wang, Ke-Yao; Petrillo, Keith G; Foster, Mark A; Foster, Amy C

2012-10-22

Utilizing a 6-mm-long hydrogenated amorphous silicon nanowaveguide, we demonstrate error-free (BER < 10(-9)) 160-to-10 Gb/s OTDM demultiplexing using ultralow switching peak powers of 50 mW. This material is deposited at low temperatures enabling a path toward multilayer integration and therefore massive scaling of the number of devices in a single photonic chip.

Ultralow-power local laser control of the dimer density in alkali-metal vapors through photodesorption

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jha, Pankaj K.; Scully, Marlan O.; Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544

2012-08-27

Ultralow-power diode-laser radiation is employed to induce photodesorption of cesium from a partially transparent thin-film cesium adsorbate on a solid surface. Using resonant Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that this photodesorption process enables an accurate local optical control of the density of dimer molecules in alkali-metal vapors.

Ultra-low power, Zeno effect based optical modulation in a degenerate V-system with a tapered nano fiber in atomic vapor.

PubMed

Salit, K; Salit, M; Krishnamurthy, Subramanian; Wang, Y; Kumar, P; Shahriar, M S

2011-11-07

We demonstrate an ultra-low light level optical modulator using a tapered nano fiber embedded in a hot rubidium vapor. The control and signal beams are co-propagating but orthogonally polarized, leading to a degenerate V-system involving coherent superpositions of Zeeman sublevels. The modulation is due primarily to the quantum Zeno effect for the signal beam induced by the control beam. For a control power of 40 nW and a signal power of 100 pW, we observe near 100% modulation. The ultra-low power level needed for the modulation is due to a combination of the Zeno effect and the extreme field localization in the evanescent field around the taper.

Highly-Ordered 3D Vertical Resistive Switching Memory Arrays with Ultralow Power Consumption and Ultrahigh Density.

PubMed

Al-Haddad, Ahmed; Wang, Chengliang; Qi, Haoyuan; Grote, Fabian; Wen, Liaoyong; Bernhard, Jörg; Vellacheri, Ranjith; Tarish, Samar; Nabi, Ghulam; Kaiser, Ute; Lei, Yong

2016-09-07

Resistive switching random access memories (RRAM) have attracted great scientific and industrial attention for next generation data storage because of their advantages of nonvolatile properties, high density, low power consumption, fast writing/erasing speed, good endurance, and simple and small operation system. Here, by using a template-assisted technique, we demonstrate a three-dimensional highly ordered vertical RRAM device array with density as high as that of the nanopores of the template (10(8)-10(9) cm(-2)), which can also be fabricated in large area. The high crystallinity of the materials, the large contact area and the intimate semiconductor/electrode interface (3 nm interfacial layer) make the ultralow voltage operation (millivolt magnitude) and ultralow power consumption (picowatt) possible. Our procedure for fabrication of the nanodevice arrays in large area can be used for producing many other different materials and such three-dimensional electronic device arrays with the capability to adjust the device densities can be extended to other applications of the next generation nanodevice technology.

Magnetic Random Access Memory based non-volatile asynchronous Muller cell for ultra-low power autonomous applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Pendina, G.; Zianbetov, E.; Beigne, E.

2015-05-01

Micro and nano electronic integrated circuit domain is today mainly driven by the advent of the Internet of Things for which the constraints are strong, especially in terms of power consumption and autonomy, not only during the computing phases but also during the standby or idle phases. In such ultra-low power applications, the circuit has to meet new constraints mainly linked to its changing energetic environment: long idle phases, automatic wake up, data back-up when the circuit is sporadically turned off, and ultra-low voltage power supply operation. Such circuits have to be completely autonomous regarding their unstable environment, while remaining in an optimum energetic configuration. Therefore, we propose in this paper the first MRAM-based non-volatile asynchronous Muller cell. This cell has been simulated and characterized in a very advanced 28 nm CMOS fully depleted silicon-on-insulator technology, presenting good power performance results due to an extremely efficient body biasing control together with ultra-wide supply voltage range from 160 mV up to 920 mV. The leakage current can be reduced to 154 pA thanks to reverse body biasing. We also propose an efficient standard CMOS bulk version of this cell in order to be compatible with different fabrication processes.

An Ultra-Low Power Turning Angle Based Biomedical Signal Compression Engine with Adaptive Threshold Tuning.

PubMed

Zhou, Jun; Wang, Chao

2017-08-06

Intelligent sensing is drastically changing our everyday life including healthcare by biomedical signal monitoring, collection, and analytics. However, long-term healthcare monitoring generates tremendous data volume and demands significant wireless transmission power, which imposes a big challenge for wearable healthcare sensors usually powered by batteries. Efficient compression engine design to reduce wireless transmission data rate with ultra-low power consumption is essential for wearable miniaturized healthcare sensor systems. This paper presents an ultra-low power biomedical signal compression engine for healthcare data sensing and analytics in the era of big data and sensor intelligence. It extracts the feature points of the biomedical signal by window-based turning angle detection. The proposed approach has low complexity and thus low power consumption while achieving a large compression ratio (CR) and good quality of reconstructed signal. Near-threshold design technique is adopted to further reduce the power consumption on the circuit level. Besides, the angle threshold for compression can be adaptively tuned according to the error between the original signal and reconstructed signal to address the variation of signal characteristics from person to person or from channel to channel to meet the required signal quality with optimal CR. For demonstration, the proposed biomedical compression engine has been used and evaluated for ECG compression. It achieves an average (CR) of 71.08% and percentage root-mean-square difference (PRD) of 5.87% while consuming only 39 nW. Compared to several state-of-the-art ECG compression engines, the proposed design has significantly lower power consumption while achieving similar CRD and PRD, making it suitable for long-term wearable miniaturized sensor systems to sense and collect healthcare data for remote data analytics.

Magnetic Random Access Memory based non-volatile asynchronous Muller cell for ultra-low power autonomous applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Di Pendina, G., E-mail: gregory.dipendina@cea.fr, E-mail: eldar.zianbetov@cea.fr, E-mail: edith.beigne@cea.fr; Zianbetov, E., E-mail: gregory.dipendina@cea.fr, E-mail: eldar.zianbetov@cea.fr, E-mail: edith.beigne@cea.fr; CNRS, SPINTEC, F-38000 Grenoble

2015-05-07

Micro and nano electronic integrated circuit domain is today mainly driven by the advent of the Internet of Things for which the constraints are strong, especially in terms of power consumption and autonomy, not only during the computing phases but also during the standby or idle phases. In such ultra-low power applications, the circuit has to meet new constraints mainly linked to its changing energetic environment: long idle phases, automatic wake up, data back-up when the circuit is sporadically turned off, and ultra-low voltage power supply operation. Such circuits have to be completely autonomous regarding their unstable environment, while remainingmore » in an optimum energetic configuration. Therefore, we propose in this paper the first MRAM-based non-volatile asynchronous Muller cell. This cell has been simulated and characterized in a very advanced 28 nm CMOS fully depleted silicon-on-insulator technology, presenting good power performance results due to an extremely efficient body biasing control together with ultra-wide supply voltage range from 160 mV up to 920 mV. The leakage current can be reduced to 154 pA thanks to reverse body biasing. We also propose an efficient standard CMOS bulk version of this cell in order to be compatible with different fabrication processes.« less

[An ultra-low power, wearable, long-term ECG monitoring system with mass storage].

PubMed

Liu, Na; Chen, Yingmin; Zhang, Wenzan; Luo, Zhangyuan; Jin, Xun; Ying, Weihai

2012-01-01

In this paper, we described an ultra-low power, wearable ECG system capable of long term monitoring and mass storage. This system is based on micro-chip PIC18F27J13 with consideration of its high level of integration and low power consumption. The communication with the micro-SD card is achieved through SPI bus. Through the USB, it can be connected to the computer for replay and disease diagnosis. Given its low power cost, lithium cells are used to support continuous ECG acquiring and storage for up to 15 days. Meanwhile, the wearable electrodes avoid the pains and possible risks in implanting. Besides, the mini size of the system makes long wearing possible for patients and meets the needs of long-term dynamic monitoring and mass storage requirements.

Development of Ultra-Low Power Metal Oxide Sensors and Arrays for Embedded Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lutz, Brent; Wind, Rikard; Kostelecky, Clayton; Routkevitch, Dmitri; Deininger, Debra

2011-09-01

Metal oxide semiconductor sensors are widely used as individual sensors and in arrays, and a variety of designs for low power microhotplates have been demonstrated.1 Synkera Technologies has developed an embeddable chemical microsensor platform, based on a unique ceramic MEMS technology, for practical implementation in cell phones and other mobile electronic devices. Key features of this microsensor platform are (1) small size, (2) ultra-low power consumption, (3) high chemical sensitivity, (4) accurate response to a wide-range of threats, and (5) low cost. The sensor platform is enabled by a combination of advances in ceramic micromachining, and precision deposition of sensing films inside the high aspect ratio pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO).

An Ultra-Low Power Turning Angle Based Biomedical Signal Compression Engine with Adaptive Threshold Tuning

PubMed Central

Zhou, Jun; Wang, Chao

2017-01-01

Intelligent sensing is drastically changing our everyday life including healthcare by biomedical signal monitoring, collection, and analytics. However, long-term healthcare monitoring generates tremendous data volume and demands significant wireless transmission power, which imposes a big challenge for wearable healthcare sensors usually powered by batteries. Efficient compression engine design to reduce wireless transmission data rate with ultra-low power consumption is essential for wearable miniaturized healthcare sensor systems. This paper presents an ultra-low power biomedical signal compression engine for healthcare data sensing and analytics in the era of big data and sensor intelligence. It extracts the feature points of the biomedical signal by window-based turning angle detection. The proposed approach has low complexity and thus low power consumption while achieving a large compression ratio (CR) and good quality of reconstructed signal. Near-threshold design technique is adopted to further reduce the power consumption on the circuit level. Besides, the angle threshold for compression can be adaptively tuned according to the error between the original signal and reconstructed signal to address the variation of signal characteristics from person to person or from channel to channel to meet the required signal quality with optimal CR. For demonstration, the proposed biomedical compression engine has been used and evaluated for ECG compression. It achieves an average (CR) of 71.08% and percentage root-mean-square difference (PRD) of 5.87% while consuming only 39 nW. Compared to several state-of-the-art ECG compression engines, the proposed design has significantly lower power consumption while achieving similar CRD and PRD, making it suitable for long-term wearable miniaturized sensor systems to sense and collect healthcare data for remote data analytics. PMID:28783079

Ultra-Low Power Optical Sensor for Xylophagous Insect Detection in Wood.

PubMed

Perles, Angel; Mercado, Ricardo; Capella, Juan V; Serrano, Juan José

2016-11-23

The early detection of pests is key for the maintenance of high-value masterpieces and historical buildings made of wood. In this work, we the present detailed design of an ultra-low power sensor device that permits the continuous monitoring of the presence of termites and other xylophagous insects. The operating principle of the sensor is based on the variations of reflected light induced by the presence of termites, and specific processing algorithms that deal with the behavior of the electronics and the natural ageing of components. With a typical CR2032 lithium battery, the device lasts more than nine years, and is ideal for incorporation in more complex monitoring systems where maintenance tasks should be minimized.

Ultra-Low Power Optical Sensor for Xylophagous Insect Detection in Wood

PubMed Central

Perles, Angel; Mercado, Ricardo; Capella, Juan V.; Serrano, Juan José

2016-01-01

The early detection of pests is key for the maintenance of high-value masterpieces and historical buildings made of wood. In this work, we the present detailed design of an ultra-low power sensor device that permits the continuous monitoring of the presence of termites and other xylophagous insects. The operating principle of the sensor is based on the variations of reflected light induced by the presence of termites, and specific processing algorithms that deal with the behavior of the electronics and the natural ageing of components. With a typical CR2032 lithium battery, the device lasts more than nine years, and is ideal for incorporation in more complex monitoring systems where maintenance tasks should be minimized. PMID:27886082

Super non-linear RRAM with ultra-low power for 3D vertical nano-crossbar arrays.

PubMed

Luo, Qing; Xu, Xiaoxin; Liu, Hongtao; Lv, Hangbing; Gong, Tiancheng; Long, Shibing; Liu, Qi; Sun, Haitao; Banerjee, Writam; Li, Ling; Gao, Jianfeng; Lu, Nianduan; Liu, Ming

2016-08-25

Vertical crossbar arrays provide a cost-effective approach for high density three-dimensional (3D) integration of resistive random access memory. However, an individual selector device is not allowed to be integrated with the memory cell separately. The development of V-RRAM has impeded the lack of satisfactory self-selective cells. In this study, we have developed a high performance bilayer self-selective device using HfO2 as the memory switching layer and a mixed ionic and electron conductor as the selective layer. The device exhibits high non-linearity (>10(3)) and ultra-low half-select leakage (<0.1 pA). A four layer vertical crossbar array was successfully demonstrated based on the developed self-selective device. High uniformity, ultra-low leakage, sub-nA operation, self-compliance, and excellent read/write disturbance immunity were achieved. The robust array level performance shows attractive potential for low power and high density 3D data storage applications.

Tunable Q-factor silicon microring resonators for ultra-low power parametric processes.

PubMed

Strain, Michael J; Lacava, Cosimo; Meriggi, Laura; Cristiani, Ilaria; Sorel, Marc

2015-04-01

A compact silicon ring resonator is demonstrated that allows simple electrical tuning of the ring coupling coefficient and Q-factor and therefore the resonant enhancement of on-chip nonlinear optical processes. Fabrication-induced variation in designed coupling fraction, crucial in the resonator performance, can be overcome using this post-fabrication trimming technique. Tuning of the microring resonator across the critical coupling point is demonstrated, exhibiting a Q-factor tunable between 9000 and 96,000. Consequently, resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing shows tunable efficiency between -40 and -16.3  dB at an ultra-low on-chip pump power of 0.7 mW.

Design and characterization of a high-power ultrasound driver with ultralow-output impedance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, George K.; Olbricht, William L.

2009-11-01

We describe a pocket-sized ultrasound driver with an ultralow-output impedance amplifier circuit (less than 0.05 Ω) that can transfer more than 99% of the voltage from a power supply to the ultrasound transducer with minimal reflections. The device produces high-power acoustical energy waves while operating at lower voltages than conventional ultrasound driving systems because energy losses owing to mismatched impedance are minimized. The peak performance of the driver is measured experimentally with a PZT-4, 1.54 MHz, piezoelectric ceramic, and modeled using an adjusted Mason model over a range of transducer resonant frequencies. The ultrasound driver can deliver a 100 Vpp (peak to peak) square-wave signal across 0-8 MHz ultrasound transducers in 5 ms bursts through continuous wave operation, producing acoustic powers exceeding 130 W. Effects of frequency, output impedance of the driver, and input impedance of the transducer on the maximum acoustic output power of piezoelectric transducers are examined. The small size, high power, and efficiency of the ultrasound driver make this technology useful for research, medical, and industrial ultrasonic applications.

Design and characterization of a high-power ultrasound driver with ultralow-output impedance.

PubMed

Lewis, George K; Olbricht, William L

2009-11-01

We describe a pocket-sized ultrasound driver with an ultralow-output impedance amplifier circuit (less than 0.05 ohms) that can transfer more than 99% of the voltage from a power supply to the ultrasound transducer with minimal reflections. The device produces high-power acoustical energy waves while operating at lower voltages than conventional ultrasound driving systems because energy losses owing to mismatched impedance are minimized. The peak performance of the driver is measured experimentally with a PZT-4, 1.54 MHz, piezoelectric ceramic, and modeled using an adjusted Mason model over a range of transducer resonant frequencies. The ultrasound driver can deliver a 100 V(pp) (peak to peak) square-wave signal across 0-8 MHz ultrasound transducers in 5 ms bursts through continuous wave operation, producing acoustic powers exceeding 130 W. Effects of frequency, output impedance of the driver, and input impedance of the transducer on the maximum acoustic output power of piezoelectric transducers are examined. The small size, high power, and efficiency of the ultrasound driver make this technology useful for research, medical, and industrial ultrasonic applications.

High-Performance electronics at ultra-low power consumption for space applications: From superconductor to nanoscale semiconductor technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duncan, Robert V.; Simmons, Jerry; Kupferman, Stuart; McWhorter, Paul; Dunlap, David; Kovanis, V.

1995-01-01

A detailed review of Sandia's work in ultralow power dissipation electronics for space flight applications, including superconductive electronics, new advances in quantum well structures, and ultra-high purity 3-5 materials, and recent advances in micro-electro-optical-mechanical systems (MEMS) is presented. The superconductive electronics and micromechanical devices are well suited for application in micro-robotics, micro-rocket engines, and advanced sensors.

Ultralow-k nanoporous organosilicate dielectric films imprinted with dendritic spheres.

PubMed

Lee, Byeongdu; Park, Young-Hee; Hwang, Yong-Taek; Oh, Weontae; Yoon, Jinhwan; Ree, Moonhor

2005-02-01

Integrated circuits that have improved functionality and speed in a smaller package and that consume less power are desired by the microelectronics industry as well as by end users, to increase device performance and reduce costs. The fabrication of high-performance integrated circuits requires the availability of materials with low or ultralow dielectric constant (low-k: k ultralow-k: k power dissipation by reducing the capacitance between the interconnects. Here we describe the preparation of low- and ultralow-k nanoporous organosilicate dielectrics from blends of polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSSQ) precursor with globular ethyl acrylate-terminated polypropylenimine dendrimers, which act as porogens. These dendrimers are found to mix well with the PMSSQ precursor and after their sacrificial thermal decompositions result in closed, spherical pores of <2.0 nm radius with a very narrow distribution even at high loading. This pore size and distribution are the smallest and the narrowest respectively ever achieved in porous spin-on dielectrics. The method therefore successfully delivers low- and ultralow-k PMSSQ dielectric films that should prove very useful in advanced integrated circuits.

The active modulation of drug release by an ionic field effect transistor for an ultra-low power implantable nanofluidic system.

PubMed

Bruno, Giacomo; Canavese, Giancarlo; Liu, Xuewu; Filgueira, Carly S; Sacco, Adriano; Demarchi, Danilo; Ferrari, Mauro; Grattoni, Alessandro

2016-11-10

We report an electro-nanofluidic membrane for tunable, ultra-low power drug delivery employing an ionic field effect transistor. Therapeutic release from a drug reservoir was successfully modulated, with high energy efficiency, by actively adjusting the surface charge of slit-nanochannels 50, 110, and 160 nm in size, by the polarization of a buried gate electrode and the consequent variation of the electrical double layer in the nanochannel. We demonstrated control over the transport of ionic species, including two relevant hypertension drugs, atenolol and perindopril, that could benefit from such modulation. By leveraging concentration-driven diffusion, we achieve a 2 to 3 order of magnitude reduction in power consumption as compared to other electrokinetic phenomena. The application of a small gate potential (±5 V) in close proximity (150 nm) of 50 nm nanochannels generated a sufficiently strong electric field, which doubled or blocked the ionic flux depending on the polarity of the voltage applied. These compelling findings can lead to next generation, more reliable, smaller, and longer lasting drug delivery implants with ultra-low power consumption.

Ultra-low output impedance RF power amplifier for parallel excitation.

PubMed

Chu, Xu; Yang, Xing; Liu, Yunfeng; Sabate, Juan; Zhu, Yudong

2009-04-01

Inductive coupling between coil elements of a transmit array is one of the key challenges faced by parallel RF transmission. An ultra-low output impedance RF power amplifier (PA) concept was introduced to address this challenge. In an example implementation, an output-matching network was designed to transform the drain-source impedance of the metallic oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) into a very low value for suppressing interelement coupling effect, and meanwhile, to match the input impedance of the coil to the optimum load of the MOSFET for maximizing the available output power. Two prototype amplifiers with 500-W output rating were developed accordingly, and were further evaluated with a transmit array in phantom experiments. Compared to the conventional 50-Omega sources, the new approach exhibited considerable effectiveness suppressing the effects of interelement coupling. The experiments further indicated that the isolation performance was comparable to that achieved by optimized overlap decoupling. The new approach, benefiting from a distinctive current-source characteristic, also exhibited a superior robustness against load variation. Feasibility of the new approach in high-field MR was demonstrated on a 3T clinical scanner.

An Ultra-Low Power and Flexible Acoustic Modem Design to Develop Energy-Efficient Underwater Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Sánchez, Antonio; Blanc, Sara; Yuste, Pedro; Perles, Angel; Serrano, Juan José

2012-01-01

This paper is focused on the description of the physical layer of a new acoustic modem called ITACA. The modem architecture includes as a major novelty an ultra-low power asynchronous wake-up system implementation for underwater acoustic transmission that is based on a low-cost off-the-shelf RFID peripheral integrated circuit. This feature enables a reduced power dissipation of 10 μW in stand-by mode and registers very low power values during reception and transmission. The modem also incorporates clear channel assessment (CCA) to support CSMA-based medium access control (MAC) layer protocols. The design is part of a compact platform for a long-life short/medium range underwater wireless sensor network. PMID:22969324

An ultra-low power and flexible acoustic modem design to develop energy-efficient underwater sensor networks.

PubMed

Sánchez, Antonio; Blanc, Sara; Yuste, Pedro; Perles, Angel; Serrano, Juan José

2012-01-01

This paper is focused on the description of the physical layer of a new acoustic modem called ITACA. The modem architecture includes as a major novelty an ultra-low power asynchronous wake-up system implementation for underwater acoustic transmission that is based on a low-cost off-the-shelf RFID peripheral integrated circuit. This feature enables a reduced power dissipation of 10 μW in stand-by mode and registers very low power values during reception and transmission. The modem also incorporates clear channel assessment (CCA) to support CSMA-based medium access control (MAC) layer protocols. The design is part of a compact platform for a long-life short/medium range underwater wireless sensor network.

Brain MR imaging at ultra-low radiofrequency power.

PubMed

Sarkar, Subhendra N; Alsop, David C; Madhuranthakam, Ananth J; Busse, Reed F; Robson, Philip M; Rofsky, Neil M; Hackney, David B

2011-05-01

To explore the lower limits for radiofrequency (RF) power-induced specific absorption rate (SAR) achievable at 1.5 T for brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging without loss of tissue signal or contrast present in high-SAR clinical imaging in order to create a potentially viable MR method at ultra-low RF power to image tissues containing implanted devices. An institutional review board-approved HIPAA-compliant prospective MR study design was used, with written informed consent from all subjects prior to MR sessions. Seven healthy subjects were imaged prospectively at 1.5 T with ultra-low-SAR optimized three-dimensional (3D) fast spin-echo (FSE) and fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) T2-weighted sequences and an ultra-low-SAR 3D spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state T1-weighted sequence. Corresponding high-SAR two-dimensional (2D) clinical sequences were also performed. In addition to qualitative comparisons, absolute signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) for multicoil, parallel imaging acquisitions were generated by using a Monte Carlo method for quantitative comparison between ultra-low-SAR and high-SAR results. There were minor to moderate differences in the absolute tissue SNR and CNR values and in qualitative appearance of brain images obtained by using ultra-low-SAR and high-SAR techniques. High-SAR 2D T2-weighted imaging produced slightly higher SNR, while ultra-low-SAR 3D technique not only produced higher SNR for T1-weighted and FLAIR images but also higher CNRs for all three sequences for most of the brain tissues. The 3D techniques adopted here led to a decrease in the absorbed RF power by two orders of magnitude at 1.5 T, and still the image quality was preserved within clinically acceptable imaging times. RSNA, 2011

Evaluation of various models of propane-powered mosquito traps.

PubMed

Kline, Daniel L

2002-06-01

Large cage and field studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of various models of propane-powered mosquito traps. These traps utilized counterflow technology in conjunction with catalytic combustion to produce attractants (carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat) and a thermoelectric generator that converted excess heat into electricity for stand-alone operation. The cage studies showed that large numbers of Aedes aegypti and Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus were captured and that each progressive model resulted in increased trapping efficiency. In several field studies against natural populations of mosquitoes two different propane traps were compared against two other trap systems, the professional (PRO) and counterflow geometry (CFG) traps. In these studies the propane traps consistently caught more mosquitoes than the PRO trap and significantly fewer mosquitoes than the CFG traps. The difference in collection size between the CFG and propane traps was due mostly to Anopheles crucians. In spring 1997 the CFG trap captured 3.6X more An. crucians than the Portable Propane (PP) model and in spring 1998 it captured 6.3X more An. crucians than the Mosquito Magnet Beta-1 (MMB-1) trap. Both the PP and MMB-1 captured slightly more Culex spp. than the CFG trap.

113Gb/s (10 x 11.3Gb/s) ultra-low power EAM driver array.

PubMed

Vaernewyck, Renato; Bauwelinck, Johan; Yin, Xin; Pierco, Ramses; Verbrugghe, Jochen; Torfs, Guy; Li, Zhisheng; Qiu, Xing-Zhi; Vandewege, Jan; Cronin, Richard; Borghesani, Anna; Moodie, David

2013-01-14

This paper presents an ultra-low power SiGe BiCMOS IC for driving a 10 channel electro-absorption modulator (EAM) array at 113Gb/s for wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON) applications. With an output swing of 2.5V(pp), the EAM driver array consumes only 2.2W or 220mW per channel, 50% below the state of the art. Both the output swing and bias are configurable between 1.5 and 3.0V(pp) and 0.75-2.15V respectively.

Multifunctional Hybrid Multilayer Gate Dielectrics with Tunable Surface Energy for Ultralow-Power Organic and Amorphous Oxide Thin-Film Transistors.

PubMed

Byun, Hye-Ran; You, Eun-Ah; Ha, Young-Geun

2017-03-01

For large-area, printable, and flexible electronic applications using advanced semiconductors, novel dielectric materials with excellent capacitance, insulating property, thermal stability, and mechanical flexibility need to be developed to achieve high-performance, ultralow-voltage operation of thin-film transistors (TFTs). In this work, we first report on the facile fabrication of multifunctional hybrid multilayer gate dielectrics with tunable surface energy via a low-temperature solution-process to produce ultralow-voltage organic and amorphous oxide TFTs. The hybrid multilayer dielectric materials are constructed by iteratively stacking bifunctional phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayers combined with ultrathin high-k oxide layers. The nanoscopic thickness-controllable hybrid dielectrics exhibit the superior capacitance (up to 970 nF/cm 2 ), insulating property (leakage current densities <10 -7 A/cm 2 ), and thermal stability (up to 300 °C) as well as smooth surfaces (root-mean-square roughness <0.35 nm). In addition, the surface energy of the hybrid multilayer dielectrics are easily changed by switching between mono- and bifunctional phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayers for compatible fabrication with both organic and amorphous oxide semiconductors. Consequently, the hybrid multilayer dielectrics integrated into TFTs reveal their excellent dielectric functions to achieve high-performance, ultralow-voltage operation (< ± 2 V) for both organic and amorphous oxide TFTs. Because of the easily tunable surface energy, the multifunctional hybrid multilayer dielectrics can also be adapted for various organic and inorganic semiconductors, and metal gates in other device configurations, thus allowing diverse advanced electronic applications including ultralow-power and large-area electronic devices.

Controlling the phase locking of stochastic magnetic bits for ultra-low power computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizrahi, Alice; Locatelli, Nicolas; Lebrun, Romain; Cros, Vincent; Fukushima, Akio; Kubota, Hitoshi; Yuasa, Shinji; Querlioz, Damien; Grollier, Julie

2016-07-01

When fabricating magnetic memories, one of the main challenges is to maintain the bit stability while downscaling. Indeed, for magnetic volumes of a few thousand nm3, the energy barrier between magnetic configurations becomes comparable to the thermal energy at room temperature. Then, switches of the magnetization spontaneously occur. These volatile, superparamagnetic nanomagnets are generally considered useless. But what if we could use them as low power computational building blocks? Remarkably, they can oscillate without the need of any external dc drive, and despite their stochastic nature, they can beat in unison with an external periodic signal. Here we show that the phase locking of superparamagnetic tunnel junctions can be induced and suppressed by electrical noise injection. We develop a comprehensive model giving the conditions for synchronization, and predict that it can be achieved with a total energy cost lower than 10-13 J. Our results open the path to ultra-low power computation based on the controlled synchronization of oscillators.

Controlling the phase locking of stochastic magnetic bits for ultra-low power computation.

PubMed

Mizrahi, Alice; Locatelli, Nicolas; Lebrun, Romain; Cros, Vincent; Fukushima, Akio; Kubota, Hitoshi; Yuasa, Shinji; Querlioz, Damien; Grollier, Julie

2016-07-26

When fabricating magnetic memories, one of the main challenges is to maintain the bit stability while downscaling. Indeed, for magnetic volumes of a few thousand nm(3), the energy barrier between magnetic configurations becomes comparable to the thermal energy at room temperature. Then, switches of the magnetization spontaneously occur. These volatile, superparamagnetic nanomagnets are generally considered useless. But what if we could use them as low power computational building blocks? Remarkably, they can oscillate without the need of any external dc drive, and despite their stochastic nature, they can beat in unison with an external periodic signal. Here we show that the phase locking of superparamagnetic tunnel junctions can be induced and suppressed by electrical noise injection. We develop a comprehensive model giving the conditions for synchronization, and predict that it can be achieved with a total energy cost lower than 10(-13) J. Our results open the path to ultra-low power computation based on the controlled synchronization of oscillators.

Ultralow-power switching via defect engineering in germanium telluride phase-change memory devices.

PubMed

Nukala, Pavan; Lin, Chia-Chun; Composto, Russell; Agarwal, Ritesh

2016-01-25

Crystal-amorphous transformation achieved via the melt-quench pathway in phase-change memory involves fundamentally inefficient energy conversion events; and this translates to large switching current densities, responsible for chemical segregation and device degradation. Alternatively, introducing defects in the crystalline phase can engineer carrier localization effects enhancing carrier-lattice coupling; and this can efficiently extract work required to introduce bond distortions necessary for amorphization from input electrical energy. Here, by pre-inducing extended defects and thus carrier localization effects in crystalline GeTe via high-energy ion irradiation, we show tremendous improvement in amorphization current densities (0.13-0.6 MA cm(-2)) compared with the melt-quench strategy (∼50 MA cm(-2)). We show scaling behaviour and good reversibility on these devices, and explore several intermediate resistance states that are accessible during both amorphization and recrystallization pathways. Existence of multiple resistance states, along with ultralow-power switching and scaling capabilities, makes this approach promising in context of low-power memory and neuromorphic computation.

Ultra-low power high-dynamic range color pixel embedding RGB to r-g chromaticity transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lecca, Michela; Gasparini, Leonardo; Gottardi, Massimo

2014-05-01

This work describes a novel color pixel topology that converts the three chromatic components from the standard RGB space into the normalized r-g chromaticity space. This conversion is implemented with high-dynamic range and with no dc power consumption, and the auto-exposure capability of the sensor ensures to capture a high quality chromatic signal, even in presence of very bright illuminants or in the darkness. The pixel is intended to become the basic building block of a CMOS color vision sensor, targeted to ultra-low power applications for mobile devices, such as human machine interfaces, gesture recognition, face detection. The experiments show that significant improvements of the proposed pixel with respect to standard cameras in terms of energy saving and accuracy on data acquisition. An application to skin color-based description is presented.

Battery-powered, electrocuting trap for stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae).

PubMed

Pickens, L G

1991-11-01

A solar-charged, battery-powered, electrocuting grid was combined with a white plywood base to make a portable, pulsed-current, pest-electrocuting device that attracted and killed stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), outdoors. The grid was powered once every 1-2 s by a 0.016-s pulse of 60-Hz alternating current of 4 mA and 9,500 V. Power was turned off at night by a photoresistor. The trap functioned continuously for 14 d with an unrecharged 12-V, 18A/h lawn-tractor battery and killed as many as 4,000 flies per day. Solar cells were used to charge a single 12-V battery continuously that operated 12 grids for a period of 90 d. The grid did not short circuit for any length of time even during heavy rainstorms or when large insects were killed. The incorporation of moiré patterns and the utilization of the correct size, orientation, and placement of wires made the electrocuting grid itself attractive to stable flies. The traps were spaced at distances of up to 120 m from the battery and pulse circuit. The electrocuting traps were more effective than sticky traps and avoided the problems associated with chemicals. They are well suited for use around calf pens, dog kennels, or large animal shelters.

480 Mbit/s UWB bi-directional radio over fiber CWDM PON using ultra-low cost and power VCSELs.

PubMed

Quinlan, Terence; Morant, Maria; Dudley, Sandra; Llorente, Roberto; Walker, Stuart

2011-12-12

Radio-over-fiber (RoF) schemes offer the possibility of permitting direct access to native format services for the domestic user. A low power requirement and cost effectiveness are crucial to both the service provider and the end user. Here, we present an ultra-low cost and power RoF scheme using direct modulation of commercially-available 1344 nm and 1547 nm VCSELs by band-group 1 UWB wireless signals (ECMA-368) at near broadcast power levels. As a result, greatly simplified electrical-optical-electrical conversion is accomplished. A successful demonstration over a transmission distance of 20.1 km is described using a SSMF, CWDM optical network. EVMs of better than -18.3 dB were achieved. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Three-dimensional brain MRI for DBS patients within ultra-low radiofrequency power limits.

PubMed

Sarkar, Subhendra N; Papavassiliou, Efstathios; Hackney, David B; Alsop, David C; Shih, Ludy C; Madhuranthakam, Ananth J; Busse, Reed F; La Ruche, Susan; Bhadelia, Rafeeque A

2014-04-01

For patients with deep brain stimulators (DBS), local absorbed radiofrequency (RF) power is unknown and is much higher than what the system estimates. We developed a comprehensive, high-quality brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for DBS patients utilizing three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance sequences at very low RF power. Six patients with DBS were imaged (10 sessions) using a transmit/receive head coil at 1.5 Tesla with modified 3D sequences within ultra-low specific absorption rate (SAR) limits (0.1 W/kg) using T2 , fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1 -weighted image contrast. Tissue signal and tissue contrast from the low-SAR images were subjectively and objectively compared with routine clinical images of six age-matched controls. Low-SAR images of DBS patients demonstrated tissue contrast comparable to high-SAR images and were of diagnostic quality except for slightly reduced signal. Although preliminary, we demonstrated diagnostic quality brain MRI with optimized, volumetric sequences in DBS patients within very conservative RF safety guidelines offering a greater safety margin. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Ultralow-power switching via defect engineering in germanium telluride phase-change memory devices

PubMed Central

Nukala, Pavan; Lin, Chia-Chun; Composto, Russell; Agarwal, Ritesh

2016-01-01

Crystal–amorphous transformation achieved via the melt-quench pathway in phase-change memory involves fundamentally inefficient energy conversion events; and this translates to large switching current densities, responsible for chemical segregation and device degradation. Alternatively, introducing defects in the crystalline phase can engineer carrier localization effects enhancing carrier–lattice coupling; and this can efficiently extract work required to introduce bond distortions necessary for amorphization from input electrical energy. Here, by pre-inducing extended defects and thus carrier localization effects in crystalline GeTe via high-energy ion irradiation, we show tremendous improvement in amorphization current densities (0.13–0.6 MA cm−2) compared with the melt-quench strategy (∼50 MA cm−2). We show scaling behaviour and good reversibility on these devices, and explore several intermediate resistance states that are accessible during both amorphization and recrystallization pathways. Existence of multiple resistance states, along with ultralow-power switching and scaling capabilities, makes this approach promising in context of low-power memory and neuromorphic computation. PMID:26805748

Microfluidic ultralow interfacial tensiometry with magnetic particles.

PubMed

Tsai, Scott S H; Wexler, Jason S; Wan, Jiandi; Stone, Howard A

2013-01-07

We describe a technique that measures ultralow interfacial tensions using paramagnetic spheres in a co-flow microfluidic device designed with a magnetic section. Our method involves tuning the distance between the co-flowing interface and the magnet's center, and observing the behavior of the spheres as they approach the liquid-liquid interface-the particles either pass through or are trapped by the interface. Using threshold values of the magnet-to-interface distance, we make estimates of the two-fluid interfacial tension. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique for measuring very low interfacial tensions, O(10(-6)-10(-5)) N m(-1), by testing solutions of different surfactant concentrations, and we show that our results are comparable with measurements made using a spinning drop tensiometer.

Nanopore sensing at ultra-low concentrations using single-molecule dielectrophoretic trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freedman, Kevin J.; Otto, Lauren M.; Ivanov, Aleksandar P.; Barik, Avijit; Oh, Sang-Hyun; Edel, Joshua B.

2016-01-01

Single-molecule techniques are being developed with the exciting prospect of revolutionizing the healthcare industry by generating vast amounts of genetic and proteomic data. One exceptionally promising route is in the use of nanopore sensors. However, a well-known complexity is that detection and capture is predominantly diffusion limited. This problem is compounded when taking into account the capture volume of a nanopore, typically 108-1010 times smaller than the sample volume. To rectify this disproportionate ratio, we demonstrate a simple, yet powerful, method based on coupling single-molecule dielectrophoretic trapping to nanopore sensing. We show that DNA can be captured from a controllable, but typically much larger, volume and concentrated at the tip of a metallic nanopore. This enables the detection of single molecules at concentrations as low as 5 fM, which is approximately a 103 reduction in the limit of detection compared with existing methods, while still maintaining efficient throughput.

Nanopore sensing at ultra-low concentrations using single-molecule dielectrophoretic trapping

PubMed Central

Freedman, Kevin J.; Otto, Lauren M.; Ivanov, Aleksandar P.; Barik, Avijit; Oh, Sang-Hyun; Edel, Joshua B.

2016-01-01

Single-molecule techniques are being developed with the exciting prospect of revolutionizing the healthcare industry by generating vast amounts of genetic and proteomic data. One exceptionally promising route is in the use of nanopore sensors. However, a well-known complexity is that detection and capture is predominantly diffusion limited. This problem is compounded when taking into account the capture volume of a nanopore, typically 108–1010 times smaller than the sample volume. To rectify this disproportionate ratio, we demonstrate a simple, yet powerful, method based on coupling single-molecule dielectrophoretic trapping to nanopore sensing. We show that DNA can be captured from a controllable, but typically much larger, volume and concentrated at the tip of a metallic nanopore. This enables the detection of single molecules at concentrations as low as 5 fM, which is approximately a 103 reduction in the limit of detection compared with existing methods, while still maintaining efficient throughput. PMID:26732171

Ultralow bias power all-optical photonic crystal memory realized with systematically tuned L3 nanocavity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuramochi, Eiichi, E-mail: kuramochi.eiichi@lab.ntt.co.jp; Nozaki, Kengo; Shinya, Akihiko

2015-11-30

An InP photonic crystal nanocavity with an embedded InGaAsP active region is a unique technology that has realized an all-optical memory with a sub-micro-watt operating power and limitless storage time. In this study, we employed an L3 design with systematic multi-hole tuning, which realized a higher loaded Q factor (>40 000) and a lower mode volume (0.9 μm{sup 3}) than a line-defect-based buried-heterostructure nanocavity (16 000 and 2.2 μm{sup 3}). Excluding the active region realized a record loaded Q factor (210 000) in all for InP-based nanocavities. The minimum bias power for bistable memory operation was reduced to 2.3 ± 0.3 nW, which is about 1/10 ofmore » the previous record of 30 nW. This work further established the capability of a bistable nanocavity memory for use in future ultralow-power-consumption on-chip integrated photonics.« less

RuO2 Thermometer for Ultra-Low Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hait, Thomas; Shirron, Peter J.; DiPirro, Michael

2009-01-01

A small, high-resolution, low-power thermometer has been developed for use in ultra-low temperatures that uses multiple RuO2 chip resistors. The use of commercially available thick-film RuO2 chip resistors for measuring cryogenic temperatures is well known due to their low cost, long-term stability, and large resistance change.

Ultra-low loss Si3N4 waveguides with low nonlinearity and high power handling capability.

PubMed

Tien, Ming-Chun; Bauters, Jared F; Heck, Martijn J R; Blumenthal, Daniel J; Bowers, John E

2010-11-08

We investigate the nonlinearity of ultra-low loss Si3N4-core and SiO2-cladding rectangular waveguides. The nonlinearity is modeled using Maxwell's wave equation with a small amount of refractive index perturbation. Effective n2 is used to describe the third-order nonlinearity, which is linearly proportional to the optical intensity. The effective n2 measured using continuous-wave self-phase modulation shows agreement with the theoretical calculation. The waveguide with 2.8-μm wide and 80-nm thick Si3N4 core has low loss and high power handling capability, with an effective n2 of about 9×10(-16) cm2/W.

Ultra-Low Loss Waveguides with Application to Photonic Integrated Circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauters, Jared F.

The integration of photonic components using a planar platform promises advantages in cost, size, weight, and power consumption for optoelectronic systems. Yet, the typical propagation loss of 5-10 dB/m in a planar silica waveguide is nearly five orders-of-magnitude larger than that in low loss optical fibers. For some applications, the miniaturization of the photonic system and resulting smaller propagation lengths from integration are enough to overcome the increase in propagation loss. For other more demanding systems or applications, such as those requiring long optical time delays or high-quality-factor (Q factor) resonators, the high propagation loss can degrade system performance to a degree that trumps the potential advantages offered by integration. Thus, the reduction of planar waveguide propagation loss in a Si3-N4 based waveguide platform is a primary focus of this dissertation. The ultra-low loss stoichiometric Si3-N4 waveguide platform offers the additional advantages of fabrication process stability and repeatability. Yet, active devices such as lasers, amplifiers, and photodetectors have not been monolithically integrated with ultra-low loss waveguides due to the incompatibility of the active and ultra-low loss processing thermal budgets (ultra-low loss waveguides are annealed at temperatures exceeding 1000 °C in order to drive out impurities). So a platform that enables the integration of active devices with the ultra-low losses of the Si3- N4 waveguide platform is this dissertation's second focus. The work enables the future fabrication of sensor, gyroscope, true time delay, and low phase noise oscillator photonic integrated circuits.

Lateral cavity photonic crystal surface emitting lasers with ultralow threshold and large power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yufei; Qu, Hongwei; Zhou, Wenjun; Jiang, Bin; Zhang, Jianxin; Qi, Aiyi; Liu, Lei; Fu, Feiya; Zheng, Wanhua

2012-03-01

The Bragg diffraction condition of surface-emitting lasing action is analyzed and Γ2-1 mode is chosen for lasing. Two types of lateral cavity photonic crystal surface emitting lasers (LC-PCSELs) based on the PhC band edge mode lateral resonance and vertical emission to achieve electrically driven surface emitting laser without distributed Bragg reflectors in the long wavelength optical communication band are designed and fabricated. Deep etching techniques, which rely on the active layer being or not etched through, are adopted to realize the LC-PCSELs on the commercial AlGaInAs/InP multi-quantum-well (MQW) epitaxial wafer. 1553.8 nm with ultralow threshold of 667 A/cm2 and 1575 nm with large power of 1.8 mW surface emitting lasing actions are observed at room temperature, providing potential values for mass production with low cost of electrically driven PCSELs.

Ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging to discriminate and identify materials

DOEpatents

Kraus, Robert H.; Matlashov, Andrei N.; Espy, Michelle A.; Volegov, Petr L.

2010-03-30

An ultra-low magnetic field NMR system can non-invasively examine containers. Database matching techniques can then identify hazardous materials within the containers. Ultra-low field NMR systems are ideal for this purpose because they do not require large powerful magnets and because they can examine materials enclosed in conductive shells such as lead shells. The NMR examination technique can be combined with ultra-low field NMR imaging, where an NMR image is obtained and analyzed to identify target volumes. Spatial sensitivity encoding can also be used to identify target volumes. After the target volumes are identified the NMR measurement technique can be used to identify their contents.

Evaluation of an Ultra-Low Power Reed Solomon Encoder for NASA's Space Technology 5 Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lei, K. E.; Xapsos, M. A.; Poivey, C.; LaBel, K. A.; Stone, R. F.; Yeh, P-S.; Gambles, J.; Hass, J.; Maki, G.; Murguia, J.

2003-01-01

Radiation test results and analyses are presented for ultra-low power Reed Solomon encoder circuits that are being considered for use on the Space Technology 5 (ST5) mission. The total ionizing dose tolerance is in excess of 100 krad(Si) and is due to the low supply voltage and the use of back-bias, which suppresses radiation-induced leakage currents in the n-channel devices. The circuits do not latch-up for ion LET values of at least 90 MeV-sq cm/mg. A hardened-by-design approach to SEU has achieved an upset threshold of about 20 MeV-sq cm/mg. The SEU rate expected for these circuits in the geosynchronous transfer orbit of ST5 is low.

A statistical survey of ultralow-frequency wave power and polarization in the Hermean magnetosphere.

PubMed

James, Matthew K; Bunce, Emma J; Yeoman, Timothy K; Imber, Suzanne M; Korth, Haje

2016-09-01

We present a statistical survey of ultralow-frequency wave activity within the Hermean magnetosphere using the entire MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging magnetometer data set. This study is focused upon wave activity with frequencies <0.5 Hz, typically below local ion gyrofrequencies, in order to determine if field line resonances similar to those observed in the terrestrial magnetosphere may be present. Wave activity is mapped to the magnetic equatorial plane of the magnetosphere and to magnetic latitude and local times on Mercury using the KT14 magnetic field model. Wave power mapped to the planetary surface indicates the average location of the polar cap boundary. Compressional wave power is dominant throughout most of the magnetosphere, while azimuthal wave power close to the dayside magnetopause provides evidence that interactions between the magnetosheath and the magnetopause such as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability may be driving wave activity. Further evidence of this is found in the average wave polarization: left-handed polarized waves dominate the dawnside magnetosphere, while right-handed polarized waves dominate the duskside. A possible field line resonance event is also presented, where a time-of-flight calculation is used to provide an estimated local plasma mass density of ∼240 amu cm -3 .

CMOS Ultralow Power Brain Signal Acquisition Front-Ends: Design and Human Testing.

PubMed

Karimi-Bidhendi, Alireza; Malekzadeh-Arasteh, Omid; Lee, Mao-Cheng; McCrimmon, Colin M; Wang, Po T; Mahajan, Akshay; Liu, Charles Yu; Nenadic, Zoran; Do, An H; Heydari, Payam

2017-08-01

Two brain signal acquisition (BSA) front-ends incorporating two CMOS ultralow power, low-noise amplifier arrays and serializers operating in mosfet weak inversion region are presented. To boost the amplifier's gain for a given current budget, cross-coupled-pair active load topology is used in the first stages of these two amplifiers. These two BSA front-ends are fabricated in 130 and 180 nm CMOS processes, occupying 5.45 mm 2 and 0.352 mm 2 of die areas, respectively (excluding pad rings). The CMOS 130-nm amplifier array is comprised of 64 elements, where each amplifier element consumes 0.216 μW from 0.4 V supply, has input-referred noise voltage (IRNoise) of 2.19 μV[Formula: see text] corresponding to a power efficiency factor (PEF) of 11.7, and occupies 0.044 mm 2 of die area. The CMOS 180 nm amplifier array employs 4 elements, where each element consumes 0.69 μW from 0.6 V supply with IRNoise of 2.3 μV[Formula: see text] (corresponding to a PEF of 31.3) and 0.051 mm 2 of die area. Noninvasive electroencephalographic and invasive electrocorticographic signals were recorded real time directly on able-bodied human subjects, showing feasibility of using these analog front-ends for future fully implantable BSA and brain- computer interface systems.

Ultralow-power complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor inverters constructed on Schottky barrier modified nanowire metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors.

PubMed

Ma, R M; Peng, R M; Wen, X N; Dai, L; Liu, C; Sun, T; Xu, W J; Qin, G G

2010-10-01

We show that the threshold voltages of both n- and p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MOSFETs) can be lowered to close to zero by adding extra Schottky contacts on top of nanowires (NWs). Novel complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) inverters are constructed on these Schottky barrier modified n- and p-channel NW MOSFETs. Based on the high performances of the modified n- and p-channel MOSFETs, especially the low threshold voltages, the as-fabricated CMOS inverters have low operating voltage, high voltage gain, and ultra-low static power dissipation.

Ultralow-power near-infrared excited neodymium-doped nanoparticles for long-term in vivo bioimaging.

PubMed

Qin, Qing-Song; Zhang, Pei-Zhi; Sun, Ling-Dong; Shi, Shuo; Chen, Nai-Xiu; Dong, Hao; Zheng, Xiao-Yu; Li, Le-Min; Yan, Chun-Hua

2017-04-06

Lanthanide-doped luminescent nanoparticles with both emission and excitation in the near-infrared (NIR-to-NIR) region hold great promise for bioimaging. Herein, core@shell structured LiLuF 4 :Nd@LiLuF 4 (named as Nd@Lu) nanoparticles (NPs) with highly efficient NIR emission were developed for high-performance in vivo bioimaging. Strikingly, the absolute quantum yield of Nd@Lu NPs reached as high as 32%. After coating with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the water-dispersible Nd@Lu NPs showed good bio-compatibility and low toxicity. With efficient NIR emission, the Nd@Lu NPs were clearly detectable in tissues at depths of up to 20 mm. In addition, long-term in vivo biodistribution with a high signal-to-noise ratio of 25.1 was distinctly tracked upon an ultralow-power-density excitation (10 mW cm -2 ) of 732 nm for the first time.

An ultra-low power (ULP) bandage-type ECG sensor for efficient cardiac disease management.

PubMed

Shin, Kunsoo; Park, G G; Kim, J P; Lee, T H; Ko, B H; Kim, Y H

2013-01-01

This paper proposed an ultra-low power bandage-type ECG sensor (the size: 76 × 34 × 3 (mm(3)) and the power consumption: 1 mW) which allows for a continuous and real-time monitoring of a user's ECG signals over 24h during daily activities. For its compact size and lower power consumption, we designed the analog front-end, the SRP (Samsung Reconfigurable Processor) based DSP of 30 uW/MHz, and the ULP wireless RF of 1 nJ/bit. Also, to tackle motion artifacts(MA), a MA monitoring technique based on the HCP (Half-cell Potential) is proposed which resulted in the high correlation between the MA and the HCP, the correlation coefficient of 0.75 ± 0.18. To assess its feasibility and validity as a wearable health monitor, we performed the comparison of two ECG signals recorded form it and a conventional Holter device. As a result, the performance of the former is a little lower as compared with the latter, although showing no statistical significant difference (the quality of the signal: 94.3% vs 99.4%; the accuracy of arrhythmia detection: 93.7% vs 98.7%). With those results, it has been confirmed that it can be used as a wearable health monitor due to its comfortability, its long operation lifetime and the good quality of the measured ECG signal.

Ultralow Noise Monolithic Quantum Dot Photonic Oscillators

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-28

HBCU/MI) ULTRALOW NOISE MONOLITHIC QUANTUM DOT PHOTONIC OSCILLATORS LUKE LESTER UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO 10/28/2013 Final Report DISTRIBUTION A...TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code) 24-10-2013 Final 01-06-2010 to 31-05-2013 Ultralow Noise Monolithic Quantum Dot Photonic Oscillators FA9550-10-1-0276...277-7647 Reset Grant Title: ULTRALOW NOISE MONOLITHIC QUANTUM DOT PHOTONIC OSCILLATORS Grant/Contract Number: FA9550-10-1-0276 Final Performance

An ultra-low power self-timed column-level ADC for a CMOS pixel sensor based vertex detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, L.; Wang, M.

2014-11-01

The International Large Detector (ILD) is a detector concept for the future linear collider experiment. The vertex detector is the key tool to achieve high precision measurements for flavor tagging, which puts stringent requirements on the CMOS pixel sensors. Due to the cooling systems which deteriorate the material budget and increase the multiple scattering, it is important to reduce the power consumption. This paper presents an ultra-low power self-timed column-level ADC for the CMOS pixel sensors, aiming to equip the outer layers of the vertex detector. The ADC was designed to operate in two modes (active and idle) adapted to the low hit density in the outer layers. The architecture employs an enhanced sample-and-hold circuit and a self-timed technique. The total power consumption with a 3-V supply is 225μW during idle mode, which is the most frequent situation. This value rises to 425μW in the case of the active mode. It occupies an area of 35 × 590μm2.

Ultralow-power non-volatile memory cells based on P(VDF-TrFE) ferroelectric-gate CMOS silicon nanowire channel field-effect transistors.

PubMed

Van, Ngoc Huynh; Lee, Jae-Hyun; Whang, Dongmok; Kang, Dae Joon

2015-07-21

Nanowire-based ferroelectric-complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (NW FeCMOS) nonvolatile memory devices were successfully fabricated by utilizing single n- and p-type Si nanowire ferroelectric-gate field effect transistors (NW FeFETs) as individual memory cells. In addition to having the advantages of single channel n- and p-type Si NW FeFET memory, Si NW FeCMOS memory devices exhibit a direct readout voltage and ultralow power consumption. The reading state power consumption of this device is less than 0.1 pW, which is more than 10(5) times lower than the ON-state power consumption of single-channel ferroelectric memory. This result implies that Si NW FeCMOS memory devices are well suited for use in non-volatile memory chips in modern portable electronic devices, especially where low power consumption is critical for energy conservation and long-term use.

Nanogap-Engineerable Electromechanical System for Ultralow Power Memory.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian; Deng, Ya; Hu, Xiao; Nshimiyimana, Jean Pierre; Liu, Siyu; Chi, Xiannian; Wu, Pei; Dong, Fengliang; Chen, Peipei; Chu, Weiguo; Zhou, Haiqing; Sun, Lianfeng

2018-02-01

Nanogap engineering of low-dimensional nanomaterials has received considerable interest in a variety of fields, ranging from molecular electronics to memories. Creating nanogaps at a certain position is of vital importance for the repeatable fabrication of the devices. Here, a rational design of nonvolatile memories based on sub-5 nm nanogaped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) via the electromechanical motion is reported. The nanogaps are readily realized by electroburning in a partially suspended SWNT device with nanoscale region. The SWNT memory devices are applicable for both metallic and semiconducting SWNTs, resolving the challenge of separation of semiconducting SWNTs from metallic ones. Meanwhile, the memory devices exhibit excellent performance: ultralow writing energy (4.1 × 10 -19 J bit -1 ), ON/OFF ratio of 10 5 , stable switching ON operations, and over 30 h retention time in ambient conditions.

Nanogap‐Engineerable Electromechanical System for Ultralow Power Memory

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jian; Deng, Ya; Hu, Xiao; Nshimiyimana, Jean Pierre; Liu, Siyu; Chi, Xiannian; Wu, Pei; Dong, Fengliang; Chen, Peipei

2017-01-01

Abstract Nanogap engineering of low‐dimensional nanomaterials has received considerable interest in a variety of fields, ranging from molecular electronics to memories. Creating nanogaps at a certain position is of vital importance for the repeatable fabrication of the devices. Here, a rational design of nonvolatile memories based on sub‐5 nm nanogaped single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) via the electromechanical motion is reported. The nanogaps are readily realized by electroburning in a partially suspended SWNT device with nanoscale region. The SWNT memory devices are applicable for both metallic and semiconducting SWNTs, resolving the challenge of separation of semiconducting SWNTs from metallic ones. Meanwhile, the memory devices exhibit excellent performance: ultralow writing energy (4.1 × 10−19 J bit−1), ON/OFF ratio of 105, stable switching ON operations, and over 30 h retention time in ambient conditions. PMID:29619307

Development of cardiac prescreening device for rural population using ultralow-power embedded system.

PubMed

Mandal, Subhamoy; Basak, Kausik; Mandana, K M; Ray, Ajoy K; Chatterjee, Jyotirmoy; Mahadevappa, Manjunatha

2011-03-01

The invention is inspired by the desire to understand the opportunities and expectations of developing economies in terms of healthcare. The designed system is a point-of-care (POC) device that can deliver heart-care services to the rural population and bridge the rural-urban divide in healthcare delivery. The product design incorporates several innovations including the effective use of adaptive and multiresolution signal-processing techniques for acquisition, denoising, segmentation, and characterization of the heart sounds (HS) and murmurs using an ultralow-power embedded Mixed Signal Processor. The device is able to provide indicative diagnosis of cardiac conditions and classify a subject into either normal, abnormal, ischemic, or valvular abnormalities category. Preliminary results demonstrated by the prototype confirm the applicability of the device as a prescreening tool that can be used by paramedics in rural outreach programs. Feedback from medical professionals also shows that such a device is helpful in early detection of common congenital heart diseases. This letter aims to determine a framework for utilization of automated HS analysis system for community healthcare and healthcare inclusion.

Trap Design and Construction for High-Power Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance Experiments

PubMed Central

Rispoli, Joseph V.; Dimitrov, Ivan E.; Cheshkov, Sergey; Malloy, Craig; Wright, Steven M.; McDougall, Mary P.

2016-01-01

Performing multinuclear experiments requires one or more radiofrequency (RF) coils operating at both the proton and second-nucleus frequencies; however, inductive coupling between coils must be mitigated to retain proton sensitivity and coil tuning stability. The inclusion of trap circuits simplifies placement of multinuclear RF coils while maintaining inter-element isolation. Of the commonly investigated non-proton nuclei, perhaps the most technically demanding is carbon-13, particularly when applying a proton decoupling scheme to improve the resulting spectra. This work presents experimental data for trap circuits withstanding high-power broadband proton decoupling of carbon-13 at 7 T. The advantages and challenges of building trap circuits with various inductor and capacitor components are discussed. Multiple trap designs are evaluated on the bench and utilized on an RF coil at 7 T to detect broadband proton-decoupled carbon-13 spectra from a lipid phantom. A particular trap design, built from a coaxial stub inductor and high-voltage ceramic chip capacitors, is highlighted owing to both its performance and adaptability for planar array coil elements with diverse spatial orientations. PMID:28529464

Ultracompact/ultralow power electron cyclotron resonance ion source for multipurpose applications.

PubMed

Sortais, P; Lamy, T; Médard, J; Angot, J; Latrasse, L; Thuillier, T

2010-02-01

In order to drastically reduce the power consumption of a microwave ion source, we have studied some specific discharge cavity geometries in order to reduce the operating point below 1 W of microwave power (at 2.45 GHz). We show that it is possible to drive an electron cyclotron resonance ion source with a transmitter technology similar to those used for cellular phones. By the reduction in the size and of the required microwave power, we have developed a new type of ultralow cost ion sources. This microwave discharge system (called COMIC, for COmpact MIcrowave and Coaxial) can be used as a source of light, plasma or ions. We will show geometries of conductive cavities where it is possible, in a 20 mm diameter chamber, to reduce the ignition of the plasma below 100 mW and define typical operating points around 5 W. Inside a simple vacuum chamber it is easy to place the source and its extraction system anywhere and fully under vacuum. In that case, current densities from 0.1 to 10 mA/cm(2) (Ar, extraction 4 mm, 1 mAe, 20 kV) have been observed. Preliminary measurements and calculations show the possibility, with a two electrodes system, to extract beams within a low emittance. The first application for these ion sources is the ion injection for charge breeding, surface analyzing system and surface treatment. For this purpose, a very small extraction hole is used (typically 3/10 mm for a 3 microA extracted current with 2 W of HF power). Mass spectrum and emittance measurements will be presented. In these conditions, values down to 1 pi mm mrad at 15 kV (1sigma) are observed, thus very close to the ones currently observed for a surface ionization source. A major interest of this approach is the possibility to connect together several COMIC devices. We will introduce some new on-going developments such as sources for high voltage implantation platforms, fully quartz radioactive ion source at ISOLDE or large plasma generators for plasma immersion, broad or ribbon beams

Frequency up-converted piezoelectric energy harvester for ultralow-frequency and ultrawide-frequency-range operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiyang; Gao, Shiqiao; Li, Dongguang; Jin, Lei; Wu, Qinghe; Liu, Feng

2018-04-01

At present, frequency up-converted piezoelectric energy harvesters are disadvantaged by their narrow range of operating frequencies and low efficiency at ultralow-frequency excitation. To address these shortcomings, we propose herein an impact-driven frequency up-converted piezoelectric energy harvester composed of two driving beams and a generating beam. We find experimentally that the proposed device offers efficient energy output over an ultrawide-frequency-range and performs very well in the ultralow-frequency excitation. A maximum peak power of 29.3 mW is achieved under 0.5g acceleration at the excitation frequency of 12.7 Hz. The performance of the energy harvester can be adjusted and optimized by adjusting the spacing between the driving and generating beams. The results show that the proposed harvester has the potential to power miniaturized portable devices and wireless sensor nodes.

Ultra-Low Power Dynamic Knob in Adaptive Compressed Sensing Towards Biosignal Dynamics.

PubMed

Wang, Aosen; Lin, Feng; Jin, Zhanpeng; Xu, Wenyao

2016-06-01

Compressed sensing (CS) is an emerging sampling paradigm in data acquisition. Its integrated analog-to-information structure can perform simultaneous data sensing and compression with low-complexity hardware. To date, most of the existing CS implementations have a fixed architectural setup, which lacks flexibility and adaptivity for efficient dynamic data sensing. In this paper, we propose a dynamic knob (DK) design to effectively reconfigure the CS architecture by recognizing the biosignals. Specifically, the dynamic knob design is a template-based structure that comprises a supervised learning module and a look-up table module. We model the DK performance in a closed analytic form and optimize the design via a dynamic programming formulation. We present the design on a 130 nm process, with a 0.058 mm (2) fingerprint and a 187.88 nJ/event energy-consumption. Furthermore, we benchmark the design performance using a publicly available dataset. Given the energy constraint in wireless sensing, the adaptive CS architecture can consistently improve the signal reconstruction quality by more than 70%, compared with the traditional CS. The experimental results indicate that the ultra-low power dynamic knob can provide an effective adaptivity and improve the signal quality in compressed sensing towards biosignal dynamics.

Comparative study of methods to calibrate the stiffness of a single-beam gradient-force optical tweezers over various laser trapping powers

PubMed Central

Sarshar, Mohammad; Wong, Winson T.; Anvari, Bahman

2014-01-01

Abstract. Optical tweezers have become an important instrument in force measurements associated with various physical, biological, and biophysical phenomena. Quantitative use of optical tweezers relies on accurate calibration of the stiffness of the optical trap. Using the same optical tweezers platform operating at 1064 nm and beads with two different diameters, we present a comparative study of viscous drag force, equipartition theorem, Boltzmann statistics, and power spectral density (PSD) as methods in calibrating the stiffness of a single beam gradient force optical trap at trapping laser powers in the range of 0.05 to 1.38 W at the focal plane. The equipartition theorem and Boltzmann statistic methods demonstrate a linear stiffness with trapping laser powers up to 355 mW, when used in conjunction with video position sensing means. The PSD of a trapped particle’s Brownian motion or measurements of the particle displacement against known viscous drag forces can be reliably used for stiffness calibration of an optical trap over a greater range of trapping laser powers. Viscous drag stiffness calibration method produces results relevant to applications where trapped particle undergoes large displacements, and at a given position sensing resolution, can be used for stiffness calibration at higher trapping laser powers than the PSD method. PMID:25375348

Noise thermometry at ultra-low temperatures.

PubMed

Rothfuss, D; Reiser, A; Fleischmann, A; Enss, C

2016-03-28

The options for primary thermometry at ultra-low temperatures are rather limited. In practice, most laboratories are using (195)Pt NMR thermometers in the microkelvin range. In recent years, current sensing direct current superconducting quantum interference devices (DC-SQUIDs) have enabled the use of noise thermometry in this temperature range. Such devices have also demonstrated the potential for primary thermometry. One major advantage of noise thermometry is the fact that no driving current is needed to operate the device and thus the heat dissipation within the thermometer can be reduced to a minimum. Ultimately, the intrinsic power dissipation is given by the negligible back action of the readout SQUID. For thermometry in low-temperature experiments, current noise thermometers and magnetic flux fluctuation thermometers have proved to be most suitable. To make use of such thermometers at ultra-low temperatures, we have developed a cross-correlation technique that reduces the amplifier noise contribution to a negligible value. For this, the magnetic flux fluctuations caused by the Brownian motion of the electrons in our noise source are measured inductively by two DC-SQUID magnetometers simultaneously and the signals from these two channels are cross-correlated. Experimentally, we have characterized a thermometer made of a cold-worked high-purity copper cylinder with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 20 mm for temperatures between 42 μK and 0.8 K. For a given temperature, a measuring time below 1 min is sufficient to reach a precision of better than 1%. The extremely low power dissipation in the thermometer allows continuous operation without heating effects. © 2016 The Author(s).

Development and Analysis of Cold Trap for Use in Fission Surface Power-Primary Test Circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolfe, T. M.; Dervan, C. A.; Pearson, J. B.; Godfroy, T. J.

2012-01-01

The design and analysis of a cold trap proposed for use in the purification of circulated eutectic sodium potassium (NaK-78) loops is presented. The cold trap is designed to be incorporated into the Fission Surface Power-Primary Test Circuit (FSP-PTC), which incorporates a pumped NaK loop to simulate in-space nuclear reactor-based technology using non-nuclear test methodology as developed by the Early Flight Fission-Test Facility. The FSP-PTC provides a test circuit for the development of fission surface power technology. This system operates at temperatures that would be similar to those found in a reactor (500-800 K). By dropping the operating temperature of a specified percentage of NaK flow through a bypass containing a forced circulation cold trap, the NaK purity level can be increased by precipitating oxides from the NaK and capturing them within the cold trap. This would prevent recirculation of these oxides back through the system, which may help prevent corrosion.

Ultralow Thermal Conductivity in Full Heusler Semiconductors.

PubMed

He, Jiangang; Amsler, Maximilian; Xia, Yi; Naghavi, S Shahab; Hegde, Vinay I; Hao, Shiqiang; Goedecker, Stefan; Ozoliņš, Vidvuds; Wolverton, Chris

2016-07-22

Semiconducting half and, to a lesser extent, full Heusler compounds are promising thermoelectric materials due to their compelling electronic properties with large power factors. However, intrinsically high thermal conductivity resulting in a limited thermoelectric efficiency has so far impeded their widespread use in practical applications. Here, we report the computational discovery of a class of hitherto unknown stable semiconducting full Heusler compounds with ten valence electrons (X_{2}YZ, X=Ca, Sr, and Ba; Y=Au and Hg; Z=Sn, Pb, As, Sb, and Bi) through high-throughput ab initio screening. These new compounds exhibit ultralow lattice thermal conductivity κ_{L} close to the theoretical minimum due to strong anharmonic rattling of the heavy noble metals, while preserving high power factors, thus resulting in excellent phonon-glass electron-crystal materials.

Ultra-Low Noise Germanium Neutrino Detection system (ULGeN).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cabrera-Palmer, Belkis; Barton, Paul

Monitoring nuclear power plant operation by measuring the antineutrino flux has become an active research field for safeguards and non-proliferation. We describe various efforts to demonstrate the feasibility of reactor monitoring based on the detection of the Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Scattering (CNNS) process with High Purity Germanium (HPGe) technology. CNNS detection for reactor antineutrino energies requires lowering the electronic noise in low-capacitance kg-scale HPGe detectors below 100 eV as well as stringent reduction in other particle backgrounds. Existing state- of-the-art detectors are limited to an electronic noise of 95 eV-FWHM. In this work, we employed an ultra-low capacitance point-contact detectormore » with a commercial integrated circuit preamplifier- on-a-chip in an ultra-low vibration mechanically cooled cryostat to achieve an electronic noise of 39 eV-FWHM at 43 K. We also present the results of a background measurement campaign at the Spallation Neutron Source to select the area with sufficient low background to allow a successful first-time measurement of the CNNS process.« less

Thermal emittance from ionization-induced trapping in plasma accelerators

DOE PAGES

Schroeder, C.  B.; Vay, J. -L.; Esarey, E.; ...

2014-10-03

The minimum obtainable transverse emittance (thermal emittance) of electron beams generated and trapped in plasma-based accelerators using laser ionization injection is examined. The initial transverse phase space distribution following ionization and passage through the laser is derived, and expressions for the normalized transverse beam emittance, both along and orthogonal to the laser polarization, are presented. Results are compared to particle-in-cell simulations. Ultralow emittance beams can be generated using laser ionization injection into plasma accelerators, and examples are presented showing normalized emittances on the order of tens of nm.

Novel Self-Heated Gas Sensors Using on-Chip Networked Nanowires with Ultralow Power Consumption.

PubMed

Tan, Ha Minh; Manh Hung, Chu; Ngoc, Trinh Minh; Nguyen, Hugo; Duc Hoa, Nguyen; Van Duy, Nguyen; Hieu, Nguyen Van

2017-02-22

The length of single crystalline nanowires (NWs) offers a perfect pathway for electron transfer, while the small diameter of the NWs hampers thermal losses to tje environment, substrate, and metal electrodes. Therefore, Joule self-heating effect is nearly ideal for operating NW gas sensors at ultralow power consumption, without additional heaters. The realization of the self-heated NW sensors using the "pick and place" approach is complex, hardly reproducible, low yield, and not applicable for mass production. Here, we present the sensing capability of the self-heated networked SnO 2 NWs effectively prepared by on-chip growth. Our developed self-heated sensors exhibit a good response of 25.6 to 2.5 ppm NO 2 gas, while the response to 500 ppm H 2 , 100 ppm NH 3 , 100 ppm H 2 S, and 500 ppm C 2 H 5 OH is very low, indicating the good selectivity of the sensors to NO 2 gas. Furthermore, the detection limit is very low, down to 82 parts-per-trillion. As-obtained sensing performance under self-heating mode is nearly identical to that under external heating mode. While the power consumption under self-heating mode is extremely low, around hundreds of microwatts, as scaled-down the size of the electrode is below 10 μm. The selectivity of the sensors can be controlled simply by tuning the loading power that enables simple detection of NO 2 in mixed gases. Remarkable performance together with a significantly facile fabrication process of the present sensors enhances the potential application of NW sensors in next generation technologies such as electronic noses, the Internet of Things, and smartphone sensing.

Ultralow-power and ultrafast all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials at optical communication range.

PubMed

Zhu, Yu; Hu, Xiaoyong; Fu, Yulan; Yang, Hong; Gong, Qihuang

2013-01-01

Actively all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials paves the way for achieving ultrahigh-speed quantum information processing chips. Unfortunately, up to now, very small experimental progress has been made for all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials in the visible and near-infrared range because of small third-order optical nonlinearity of conventional materials. The achieved operating pump intensity was as high as several GW/cm(2) order. Here, we report an ultralow-power and ultrafast all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials coated on polycrystalline indium-tin oxide layer at the optical communication range. Compared with previous reports, the threshold pump intensity is reduced by four orders of magnitude, while an ultrafast response time of picoseconds order is maintained. This work not only offers a way to constructing photonic materials with large nonlinearity and ultrafast response, but also opens up the possibility for realizing quantum solid chips and ultrafast integrated photonic devices based on metamaterials.

Ultralow-power and ultrafast all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials at optical communication range

PubMed Central

Zhu, Yu; Hu, Xiaoyong; Fu, Yulan; Yang, Hong; Gong, Qihuang

2013-01-01

Actively all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials paves the way for achieving ultrahigh-speed quantum information processing chips. Unfortunately, up to now, very small experimental progress has been made for all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials in the visible and near-infrared range because of small third-order optical nonlinearity of conventional materials. The achieved operating pump intensity was as high as several GW/cm2 order. Here, we report an ultralow-power and ultrafast all-optical tunable plasmon-induced transparency in metamaterials coated on polycrystalline indium-tin oxide layer at the optical communication range. Compared with previous reports, the threshold pump intensity is reduced by four orders of magnitude, while an ultrafast response time of picoseconds order is maintained. This work not only offers a way to constructing photonic materials with large nonlinearity and ultrafast response, but also opens up the possibility for realizing quantum solid chips and ultrafast integrated photonic devices based on metamaterials. PMID:23903825

Solar-powered electrocuting trap for controlling house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae).

PubMed

Pickens, L G; Mills, G D

1993-09-01

A portable trap was constructed that was visually attractive to house flies, Musca domestica L., and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), outdoors. The trap was made of a white and yellow pyramid placed on top of a white vertical base that had large cutouts in each side. Attracted flies were killed by means of solar-powered electrocuting grids. Three traps killed an average of 1,360 house flies and 1,190 stable flies per day at a manure dump and were effective in attracting flies under both cool (< 23 degrees C) and warm (> 30 degrees C) temperatures. Both species of flies were most attracted to the eastern side of the trap, but house flies preferred yellow in cool mornings and white in warm afternoons. When air temperatures were > 30 degrees C, both house flies and stable flies went into the shaded base of the trap or into tunnels. Most house flies were killed on the pyramidal top of the trap, whereas most stable flies were killed on the vertical base. Opaque fiberglass tunnels with central electrocuting grids were simpler and cheaper, although less effective, for stable flies.

Ultra-low dose naltrexone enhances cannabinoid-induced antinociception.

PubMed

Paquette, Jay; Olmstead, Mary C; Olmstead, Mary

2005-12-01

Both opioids and cannabinoids have inhibitory effects at micromolar doses, which are mediated by activated receptors coupling to Gi/o-proteins. Surprisingly, the analgesic effects of opioids are enhanced by ultra-low doses (nanomolar to picomolar) of the opioid antagonist, naltrexone. As opioid and cannabinoid systems interact, this study investigated whether ultra-low dose naltrexone also influences cannabinoid-induced antinociception. Separate groups of Long-Evans rats were tested for antinociception following an injection of vehicle, a sub-maximal dose of the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55 212-2, naltrexone (an ultra-low or a high dose) or a combination of WIN 55 212-2 and naltrexone doses. Tail-flick latencies were recorded for 3 h, at 10-min intervals for the first hour, and at 15-min intervals thereafter. Ultra-low dose naltrexone elevated WIN 55 212-2-induced tail flick thresholds without extending its duration of action. This enhancement was replicated in animals receiving intraperitoneal or intravenous injections. A high dose of naltrexone had no effect on WIN 55 212-2-induced tail flick latencies, but a high dose of the cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist SR 141716 blocked the elevated tail-flick thresholds produced by WIN 55 212-2+ultra-low dose naltrexone. These data suggest a mechanism of cannabinoid-opioid interaction whereby activated opioid receptors that couple to Gs-proteins may attenuate cannabinoid-induced antinociception and/or motor functioning.

Measurement of ultra-low power oscillators using adaptive drift cancellation with applications to nano-magnetic spin torque oscillators.

PubMed

Tamaru, S; Ricketts, D S

2013-05-01

This work presents a technique for measuring ultra-low power oscillator signals using an adaptive drift cancellation method. We demonstrate this technique through spectrum measurements of a sub-pW nano-magnet spin torque oscillator (STO). We first present a detailed noise analysis of the standard STO characterization apparatus to estimate the background noise level, then compare these results to the noise level of three measurement configurations. The first and second share the standard configuration but use different spectrum analyzers (SA), an older model and a state-of-the-art model, respectively. The third is the technique proposed in this work using the same old SA as for the first. Our results show that the first and second configurations suffer from a large drift that requires ~30 min to stabilize each time the SA changes the frequency band, even though the SA has been powered on for longer than 24 h. The third configuration introduced in this work, however, shows absolutely no drift as the SA changes frequency band, and nearly the same noise performance as with a state-of-the-art SA, thus providing a reliable method for measuring very low power signals for a wide variety of applications.

Ultralow Dose MSCT Imaging in Dental Implantology

PubMed Central

Widmann, Gerlig; Al-Ekrish, Asma'a A.

2018-01-01

Introduction: The Council Directive 2013/59 Euratom has a clear commitment for keeping medical radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable and demands a regular review and use of diagnostic reference levels. Methods: In dental implantology, the range of effective doses for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) shows a broad overlap with multislice computed tomography (MSCT). More recently, ultralow dose imaging with new generations of MSCT scanners may impart radiation doses equal to or lower than CBCT. Dose reductions in MSCT have been further facilitated by the introduction of iterative image reconstruction technology (IRT), which provides substantial noise reduction over the current standard of filtered backward projection (FBP). Aim: The aim of this article is to review the available literature on ultralow dose CT imaging and IRTs in dental implantology imaging and to summarize their influence on spatial and contrast resolution, image noise, tissue density measurements, and validity of linear measurements of the jaws. Conclusion: Application of ultralow dose MSCT with IRT technology in dental implantology offers the potential for very large dose reductions compared with standard dose imaging. Yet, evaluation of various diagnostic tasks related to dental implantology is still needed to confirm the results obtained with various IRTs and ultra-low doses so far. PMID:29492174

A fast- and positively photoswitchable fluorescent protein for ultralow-laser-power RESOLFT nanoscopy.

PubMed

Tiwari, Dhermendra K; Arai, Yoshiyuki; Yamanaka, Masahito; Matsuda, Tomoki; Agetsuma, Masakazu; Nakano, Masahiro; Fujita, Katsumasa; Nagai, Takeharu

2015-06-01

Fluorescence nanoscopy has revolutionized our ability to visualize biological structures not resolvable by conventional microscopy. However, photodamage induced by intense light exposure has limited its use in live specimens. Here we describe Kohinoor, a fast-switching, positively photoswitchable fluorescent protein, and show that it has high photostability over many switching repeats. With Kohinoor, we achieved super-resolution imaging of live HeLa cells using biocompatible, ultralow laser intensity (0.004 J/cm(2)) in reversible saturable optical fluorescence transition (RESOLFT) nanoscopy.

Maxwell's Demon at work: Two types of Bose condensate fluctuations in power-law traps.

PubMed

Grossmann, S; Holthaus, M

1997-11-10

After discussing the idea underlying the Maxwell's Demon ensemble, we employ this ensemble for calculating fluctuations of ideal Bose gas condensates in traps with power-law single-particle energy spectra. Two essentially different cases have to be distinguished. If the heat capacity is continuous at the condensation point, the fluctuations of the number of condensate particles vanish linearly with temperature, independent of the trap characteristics. In this case, microcanonical and canonical fluctuations are practically indistinguishable. If the heat capacity is discontinuous, the fluctuations vanish algebraically with temperature, with an exponent determined by the trap, and the micro-canonical fluctuations are lower than their canonical counterparts.

Ultralow-threshold Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser.

PubMed

Kowalevicz, A M; Schibli, T R; Kärtner, F X; Fujimoto, J G

2002-11-15

An ultralow-threshold Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser achieved by use of an extended cavity design is demonstrated. Mode-locking thresholds as low as 156 mW are achieved. Pulses with durations as short as 14 fs and bandwidths of >100 nm with output powers of ~15 mW at 50-MHz repetition rates are generated by only 200 mW of pump power. Reducing the pump power requirements to a factor of 10x less than required by most conventional Kerr-lens mode-locked lasers permits inexpensive, low-power pump lasers to be used. This will facilitate the development of low-cost, high-performance femtosecond Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser technology.

An in situ trap capacitance measurement and ion-trapping detection scheme for a Penning ion trap facility.

PubMed

Reza, Ashif; Banerjee, Kumardeb; Das, Parnika; Ray, Kalyankumar; Bandyopadhyay, Subhankar; Dam, Bivas

2017-03-01

This paper presents the design and implementation of an in situ measurement setup for the capacitance of a five electrode Penning ion trap (PIT) facility at room temperature. For implementing a high Q resonant circuit for the detection of trapped electrons/ions in a PIT, the value of the capacitance of the trap assembly is of prime importance. A tunable Colpitts oscillator followed by a unity gain buffer and a low pass filter is designed and successfully implemented for a two-fold purpose: in situ measurement of the trap capacitance when the electric and magnetic fields are turned off and also providing RF power at the desired frequency to the PIT for exciting the trapped ions and subsequent detection. The setup is tested for the in situ measurement of trap capacitance at room temperature and the results are found to comply with those obtained from measurements using a high Q parallel resonant circuit setup driven by a standard RF signal generator. The Colpitts oscillator is also tested successfully for supplying RF power to the high Q resonant circuit, which is required for the detection of trapped electrons/ions.

Analysis and Design of Rotors at Ultra-Low Reynolds Numbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kunz, Peter J.; Strawn, Roger C.

2003-01-01

Design tools have been developed for ultra-low Reynolds number rotors, combining enhanced actuator-ring / blade-element theory with airfoil section data based on two-dimensional Navier-Stokes calculations. This performance prediction method is coupled with an optimizer for both design and analysis applications. Performance predictions from these tools have been compared with three-dimensional Navier Stokes analyses and experimental data for a 2.5 cm diameter rotor with chord Reynolds numbers below 10,000. Comparisons among the analyses and experimental data show reasonable agreement both in the global thrust and power required, but the spanwise distributions of these quantities exhibit significant deviations. The study also reveals that three-dimensional and rotational effects significantly change local airfoil section performance. The magnitude of this issue, unique to this operating regime, may limit the applicability of blade-element type methods for detailed rotor design at ultra-low Reynolds numbers, but these methods are still useful for evaluating concept feasibility and rapidly generating initial designs for further analysis and optimization using more advanced tools.

Ultralow power switching in a silicon-rich SiNy/SiNx double-layer resistive memory device.

PubMed

Kim, Sungjun; Chang, Yao-Feng; Kim, Min-Hwi; Bang, Suhyun; Kim, Tae-Hyeon; Chen, Ying-Chen; Lee, Jong-Ho; Park, Byung-Gook

2017-07-26

Here we demonstrate low-power resistive switching in a Ni/SiN y /SiN x /p ++ -Si device by proposing a double-layered structure (SiN y /SiN x ), where the two SiN layers have different trap densities. The LRS was measured to be as low as 1 nA at a voltage of 1 V, because the SiN x layer maintains insulating properties for the LRS. The single-layered device suffers from uncontrollability of the conducting path, accompanied by the inherent randomness of switching parameters, weak immunity to breakdown during the reset process, and a high operating current. On the other hand, for a double-layered device, the effective conducting path in each layer, which can determine the operating current, can be well controlled by the I CC during the initial forming and set processes. A one-step forming and progressive reset process is observed for a low-power mode, which differs from the high-power switching mode that shows a two-step forming and reset process. Moreover, nonlinear behavior in the LRS, whose origin can be attributed to the P-F conduction and F-N tunneling driven by abundant traps in the silicon-rich SiN x layer, would be beneficial for next-generation nonvolatile memory applications by using a conventional passive SiN x layer as an active dielectric.

Ultra-low magnetic field apparatus for a cryogenic gyroscope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cabrera, B.; Van Kann, F. J.

1978-01-01

An ultralow magnetic field apparatus for earth-based testing of a cryogenic gyroscope system designed for a satellite test of general relativity is described. The magnetic field apparatus makes use of a superconducting lead shield while also maintaining sufficient mechanical stability to obtain a gyroscope readout sensitivity of one arcsec over a limited range. A gyroscope environment of 2.3 times 10 to the minus seventh power gauss has been attained with the magnetic field shielding technique. The magnetic field apparatus is to be used with a three-axis London moment readout system.

Optical trapping reveals propulsion forces, power generation and motility efficiency of the unicellular parasites Trypanosoma brucei brucei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stellamanns, Eric; Uppaluri, Sravanti; Hochstetter, Axel; Heddergott, Niko; Engstler, Markus; Pfohl, Thomas

2014-10-01

Unicellular parasites have developed sophisticated swimming mechanisms to survive in a wide range of environments. Cell motility of African trypanosomes, parasites responsible for fatal illness in humans and animals, is crucial both in the insect vector and the mammalian host. Using millisecond-scale imaging in a microfluidics platform along with a custom made optical trap, we are able to confine single cells to study trypanosome motility. From the trapping characteristics of the cells, we determine the propulsion force generated by cells with a single flagellum as well as of dividing trypanosomes with two fully developed flagella. Estimates of the dissipative energy and the power generation of single cells obtained from the motility patterns of the trypanosomes within the optical trap indicate that specific motility characteristics, in addition to locomotion, may be required for antibody clearance. Introducing a steerable second optical trap we could further measure the force, which is generated at the flagellar tip. Differences in the cellular structure of the trypanosomes are correlated with the trapping and motility characteristics and in consequence with their propulsion force, dissipative energy and power generation.

Optical trapping reveals propulsion forces, power generation and motility efficiency of the unicellular parasites Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

PubMed

Stellamanns, Eric; Uppaluri, Sravanti; Hochstetter, Axel; Heddergott, Niko; Engstler, Markus; Pfohl, Thomas

2014-10-01

Unicellular parasites have developed sophisticated swimming mechanisms to survive in a wide range of environments. Cell motility of African trypanosomes, parasites responsible for fatal illness in humans and animals, is crucial both in the insect vector and the mammalian host. Using millisecond-scale imaging in a microfluidics platform along with a custom made optical trap, we are able to confine single cells to study trypanosome motility. From the trapping characteristics of the cells, we determine the propulsion force generated by cells with a single flagellum as well as of dividing trypanosomes with two fully developed flagella. Estimates of the dissipative energy and the power generation of single cells obtained from the motility patterns of the trypanosomes within the optical trap indicate that specific motility characteristics, in addition to locomotion, may be required for antibody clearance. Introducing a steerable second optical trap we could further measure the force, which is generated at the flagellar tip. Differences in the cellular structure of the trypanosomes are correlated with the trapping and motility characteristics and in consequence with their propulsion force, dissipative energy and power generation.

Ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone restores the thermal threshold of morphine tolerant rats.

PubMed

Chou, Kuang-Yi; Tsai, Ru-Yin; Tsai, Wei-Yuan; Wu, Ching-Tang; Yeh, Chun-Chang; Cherng, Chen-Hwan; Wong, Chih-Shung

2013-12-01

As known, long-term morphine infusion leads to tolerance. We previously demonstrated that both co-infusion and post-administration of ultra-low dose (±)-naloxone restores the antinociceptive effect of morphine in morphine-tolerant rats. However, whether the mechanism of the action of ultra-low dose (±)-naloxone is through opioid receptors or not. Therefore, in the present study, we further investigated the effect of ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone, it does not bind to opioid receptors, on the antinociceptive effect of morphine. Male Wistar rats were implanted with one or two intrathecal (i.t.) catheters; one catheter was connected to a mini-osmotic pump, used for morphine (15 μg/h), ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone (15 pg/h), morphine plus ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone (15 pg/h) or saline (1 μl/h) infusion for 5 days. On day 5, either ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone (15 pg) or saline (5 μl) was injected via the other catheter immediately after discontinued morphine or saline infusion. Three hours later, morphine (15 μg in 5 μl saline) or saline were given intrathecally. All rats received nociceptive tail-flick test every 30 minutes for 120 minutes after morphine challenge at different temperature (45-52°C, respective). Our results showed that, both co-infusion and post-treatment of ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone with morphine preserves the antinociceptive effect of morphine. Moreover, in the post administration rats, ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone further enhances the antinociceptive effect of morphine. This study provides an evidence for ultra-low dose (+)-naloxone as a therapeutic adjuvant for patients who need long-term opioid administration for pain management. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Ultralow power complementary inverter circuits using axially doped p- and n-channel Si nanowire field effect transistors.

PubMed

Van, Ngoc Huynh; Lee, Jae-Hyun; Whang, Dongmok; Kang, Dae Joon

2016-06-09

We have successfully synthesized axially doped p- and n-type regions on a single Si nanowire (NW). Diodes and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) inverter devices using single axial p- and n-channel Si NW field-effect transistors (FETs) were fabricated. We show that the threshold voltages of both p- and n-channel Si NW FETs can be lowered to nearly zero by effectively controlling the doping concentration. Because of the high performance of the p- and n-type Si NW channel FETs, especially with regard to the low threshold voltage, the fabricated NW CMOS inverters have a low operating voltage (<3 V) while maintaining a high voltage gain (∼6) and ultralow static power dissipation (≤0.3 pW) at an input voltage of ±3 V. This result offers a viable way for the fabrication of a high-performance high-density logic circuit using a low-temperature fabrication process, which makes it suitable for flexible electronics.

Dynamics of optical matter creation and annihilation in colloidal liquids controlled by laser trapping power.

PubMed

Liu, Jin; Dai, Qiao-Feng; Huang, Xu-Guang; Wu, Li-Jun; Guo, Qi; Hu, Wei; Yang, Xiang-Bo; Lan, Sheng; Gopal, Achanta Venu; Trofimov, Vyacheslav A

2008-11-15

We investigate the dynamics of optical matter creation and annihilation in a colloidal liquid that was employed to construct an all-optical switch. It is revealed that the switching-on process can be characterized by the Fermi-Dirac distribution function, while the switching-off process can be described by a steady state followed by a single exponential decay. The phase transition times exhibit a strong dependence on trapping power. With an increasing trapping power, while the switching-on time decreases rapidly, the switch-off time increases significantly, indicating the effects of optical binding and van der Waals force on the lifetime of the optical matter.

Optical trapping

PubMed Central

Neuman, Keir C.; Block, Steven M.

2006-01-01

Since their invention just over 20 years ago, optical traps have emerged as a powerful tool with broad-reaching applications in biology and physics. Capabilities have evolved from simple manipulation to the application of calibrated forces on—and the measurement of nanometer-level displacements of—optically trapped objects. We review progress in the development of optical trapping apparatus, including instrument design considerations, position detection schemes and calibration techniques, with an emphasis on recent advances. We conclude with a brief summary of innovative optical trapping configurations and applications. PMID:16878180

Ultralow-intensity magneto-optical and mechanical effects in metal nanocolloids.

PubMed

Moocarme, M; Domínguez-Juárez, J L; Vuong, L T

2014-03-12

Magneto-plasmonics is a designation generally associated with ferromagnetic-plasmonic materials because such optical responses from nonmagnetic materials alone are considered weak. Here, we show that there exists a switching transition between linear and nonlinear magneto-optical behaviors in noble-metal nanocolloids that is observable at ultralow illumination intensities and direct current magnetic fields. The response is attributed to polarization-dependent nonzero-time-averaged plasmonic loops, vortex power flows, and nanoparticle magnetization. This work identifies significant mechanical effects that subsequently exist via magnetic-dipole interactions.

Low-Power Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles and Proteins with Resonant Coaxial Nanoaperture Using 10 nm Gap.

PubMed

Yoo, Daehan; Gurunatha, Kargal L; Choi, Han-Kyu; Mohr, Daniel A; Ertsgaard, Christopher T; Gordon, Reuven; Oh, Sang-Hyun

2018-06-13

We present optical trapping with a 10 nm gap resonant coaxial nanoaperture in a gold film. Large arrays of 600 resonant plasmonic coaxial nanoaperture traps are produced on a single chip via atomic layer lithography with each aperture tuned to match a 785 nm laser source. We show that these single coaxial apertures can act as efficient nanotweezers with a sharp potential well, capable of trapping 30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles and streptavidin molecules with a laser power as low as 4.7 mW. Furthermore, the resonant coaxial nanoaperture enables real-time label-free detection of the trapping events via simple transmission measurements. Our fabrication technique is scalable and reproducible, since the critical nanogap dimension is defined by atomic layer deposition. Thus our platform shows significant potential to push the limit of optical trapping technologies.

Optical trapping reveals propulsion forces, power generation and motility efficiency of the unicellular parasites Trypanosoma brucei brucei

PubMed Central

Stellamanns, Eric; Uppaluri, Sravanti; Hochstetter, Axel; Heddergott, Niko; Engstler, Markus; Pfohl, Thomas

2014-01-01

Unicellular parasites have developed sophisticated swimming mechanisms to survive in a wide range of environments. Cell motility of African trypanosomes, parasites responsible for fatal illness in humans and animals, is crucial both in the insect vector and the mammalian host. Using millisecond-scale imaging in a microfluidics platform along with a custom made optical trap, we are able to confine single cells to study trypanosome motility. From the trapping characteristics of the cells, we determine the propulsion force generated by cells with a single flagellum as well as of dividing trypanosomes with two fully developed flagella. Estimates of the dissipative energy and the power generation of single cells obtained from the motility patterns of the trypanosomes within the optical trap indicate that specific motility characteristics, in addition to locomotion, may be required for antibody clearance. Introducing a steerable second optical trap we could further measure the force, which is generated at the flagellar tip. Differences in the cellular structure of the trypanosomes are correlated with the trapping and motility characteristics and in consequence with their propulsion force, dissipative energy and power generation. PMID:25269514

Ultralow frequency MHD waves in Jupiter's middle magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khurana, Krishan K.; Kivelson, Margaret G.

1989-01-01

Ultralow frequency (ULF) magnetohydrodynamic pulsations (periods between 10 and 20 min) were observed on July 8-11, 1979 as Voyager 2 traveled through the middle magnetosphere of Jupiter between radial distances of 10 R(J) and 35 R(J). The particle and magnetic pressure perturbations associated with the waves were anticorrelated. The electron and ion perturbations on the dayside were in phase. The pressure perturbations occurred both within and outside of the plasma sheet. Perturbations in the transverse components of the magnetic field were associated with the compressional perturbations but the transverse power peaked within the plasma sheet of Jupiter and diminished rapidly outside of it.

Ultralow-power organic complementary circuits.

PubMed

Klauk, Hagen; Zschieschang, Ute; Pflaum, Jens; Halik, Marcus

2007-02-15

The prospect of using low-temperature processable organic semiconductors to implement transistors, circuits, displays and sensors on arbitrary substrates, such as glass or plastics, offers enormous potential for a wide range of electronic products. Of particular interest are portable devices that can be powered by small batteries or by near-field radio-frequency coupling. The main problem with existing approaches is the large power consumption of conventional organic circuits, which makes battery-powered applications problematic, if not impossible. Here we demonstrate an organic circuit with very low power consumption that uses a self-assembled monolayer gate dielectric and two different air-stable molecular semiconductors (pentacene and hexadecafluorocopperphthalocyanine, F16CuPc). The monolayer dielectric is grown on patterned metal gates at room temperature and is optimized to provide a large gate capacitance and low gate leakage currents. By combining low-voltage p-channel and n-channel organic thin-film transistors in a complementary circuit design, the static currents are reduced to below 100 pA per logic gate. We have fabricated complementary inverters, NAND gates, and ring oscillators that operate with supply voltages between 1.5 and 3 V and have a static power consumption of less than 1 nW per logic gate. These organic circuits are thus well suited for battery-powered systems such as portable display devices and large-surface sensor networks as well as for radio-frequency identification tags with extended operating range.

Multiwavelength ultralow-threshold lasing in quantum dot photonic crystal microcavities.

PubMed

Chakravarty, S; Bhattacharya, P; Chakrabarti, S; Mi, Z

2007-05-15

We demonstrate multiwavelength lasing of resonant modes in linear (L3) microcavities in a triangular-lattice 2D photonic crystal (PC) slab. The broad spontaneous emission spectrum from coupled quantum dots, modified by the PC microcavity, is studied as a function of the intensity of incident optical excitation. We observe lasing with an ultralow-threshold power of approximately 600 nW and an output efficiency of approximately 3% at threshold. Two other resonant modes exhibit weaker turnon characteristics and thresholds of approximately 2.5 and 200 microW, respectively.

Effect of sputtering power on MgF2 thin films deposited by sputtering technique under fluorine trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De, Rajnarayan; Haque, S. Maidul; Tripathi, S.; Prathap, C.; Rao, K. Divakar; Sahoo, N. K.

2016-05-01

A non-conventional magnetron sputtering technique was explored to deposit magnesium fluoride thin films using the concept of fluorine gas trapping without the introduction of additional fluorine gas flow inside the chamber. The effect of magnetron power from 50 W to 250 W has been explored on structural, optical and physical properties of the samples. Polycrystalline nature with tetragonal crystallinity of the films has been confirmed by GIXRD measurements along with thickness dependency. Monotonic increase of attenuation coefficient (k) with RF power has been explained in terms of target compound dissociation probability. In conclusion, with fluorine trapping method, the samples deposited at lower RF powers (<100 W) are found to be more suitable for optical applications.

Ultra-low power fiber-coupled gallium arsenide photonic crystal cavity electro-optic modulator.

PubMed

Shambat, Gary; Ellis, Bryan; Mayer, Marie A; Majumdar, Arka; Haller, Eugene E; Vučković, Jelena

2011-04-11

We demonstrate a gallium arsenide photonic crystal cavity injection-based electro-optic modulator coupled to a fiber taper waveguide. The fiber taper serves as a convenient and tunable waveguide for cavity coupling with minimal loss. Localized electrical injection of carriers into the cavity region via a laterally doped p-i-n diode combined with the small mode volume of the cavity enable ultra-low energy modulation at sub-fJ/bit levels. Speeds of up to 1 GHz are demonstrated with photoluminescence lifetime measurements revealing that the ultimate limit goes well into the tens of GHz. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Improvement of spin-exchange optical pumping of xenon-129 using in situ NMR measurement in ultra-low magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeda, Shun; Kumagai, Hiroshi

2018-02-01

Hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas has attracted attention in NMR / MRI. In an ultra-low magnetic field, the effectiveness of signal enhancement by HP noble gas should be required because reduction of the signal intensity is serious. One method of generating HP noble gas is spin exchange optical pumping which uses selective excitation of electrons of alkali metal vapor and spin transfer to nuclear spin by collision to noble gas. Although SEOP does not require extreme cooling or strong magnetic field, generally it required large-scale equipment including high power light source to generate HP noble gas with high efficiency. In this study, we construct a simply generation system of HP xenon-129 by SEOP with an ultralow magnetic field (up to 1 mT) and small-scale light source (about 1W). In addition, we measure in situ NMR signal at the same time, and then examine efficient conditions for SEOP in ultra-low magnetic fields.

Solution-Processed Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Ultralow Driving Voltage and Very High Power Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shumeng; Wang, Xingdong; Yao, Bing; Zhang, Baohua; Ding, Junqiao; Xie, Zhiyuan; Wang, Lixiang

2015-07-01

To realize power efficient solution-processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (s-PhOLEDs), the corresponding high driving voltage issue should be well solved. To solve it, efforts have been devoted to the exploitation of novel host or interfacial materials. However, the issues of charge trapping of phosphor and/or charge injection barrier are still serious, largely restraining the power efficiency (PE) levels. Herein, with the utilization of an exciplex-forming couple 4, 4‧, 4″ -tris[3-methylphenyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine (m-MTDATA) and 1,3,5-tri(m-pyrid-3-yl-phenyl)benzene (TmPyPB), the efficient charge injection and transporting, barrier-free hole-electron recombination for the formation of the interfacial exciplex, and elimination of charge traps of phosphors in the emissive layer are realized simultaneously, resulting in a turn-on voltage of 2.36 V, a record high PE of 97.2 lm W-1, as well as extremely low driving voltage of 2.60 V at 100 cd m-2, 3.03 V at 1000 cd m-2 and 4.08 V at 10000 cd m-2. This report is the first time that the PE performance of s-PhOLED approaches 100 lm W-1 high level, even superior to the corresponding state-of-the-art performance of the same color vacuum-deposited PhOLED (v-PhOLED) counterpart. We anticipate this report opens a new avenue for achieving power efficient monochromatic and white s-PhOLEDs with simple structures.

Solution-Processed Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Ultralow Driving Voltage and Very High Power Efficiency

PubMed Central

Wang, Shumeng; Wang, Xingdong; Yao, Bing; Zhang, Baohua; Ding, Junqiao; Xie, Zhiyuan; Wang, Lixiang

2015-01-01

To realize power efficient solution-processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (s-PhOLEDs), the corresponding high driving voltage issue should be well solved. To solve it, efforts have been devoted to the exploitation of novel host or interfacial materials. However, the issues of charge trapping of phosphor and/or charge injection barrier are still serious, largely restraining the power efficiency (PE) levels. Herein, with the utilization of an exciplex-forming couple 4, 4′, 4″ -tris[3-methylphenyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine (m-MTDATA) and 1,3,5-tri(m-pyrid-3-yl-phenyl)benzene (TmPyPB), the efficient charge injection and transporting, barrier-free hole-electron recombination for the formation of the interfacial exciplex, and elimination of charge traps of phosphors in the emissive layer are realized simultaneously, resulting in a turn-on voltage of 2.36 V, a record high PE of 97.2 lm W−1, as well as extremely low driving voltage of 2.60 V at 100 cd m−2, 3.03 V at 1000 cd m−2 and 4.08 V at 10000 cd m−2. This report is the first time that the PE performance of s-PhOLED approaches 100 lm W−1 high level, even superior to the corresponding state-of-the-art performance of the same color vacuum-deposited PhOLED (v-PhOLED) counterpart. We anticipate this report opens a new avenue for achieving power efficient monochromatic and white s-PhOLEDs with simple structures. PMID:26204810

Solution-Processed Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Ultralow Driving Voltage and Very High Power Efficiency.

PubMed

Wang, Shumeng; Wang, Xingdong; Yao, Bing; Zhang, Baohua; Ding, Junqiao; Xie, Zhiyuan; Wang, Lixiang

2015-07-24

To realize power efficient solution-processed phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (s-PhOLEDs), the corresponding high driving voltage issue should be well solved. To solve it, efforts have been devoted to the exploitation of novel host or interfacial materials. However, the issues of charge trapping of phosphor and/or charge injection barrier are still serious, largely restraining the power efficiency (PE) levels. Herein, with the utilization of an exciplex-forming couple 4, 4', 4″-tris[3-methylphenyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine (m-MTDATA) and 1,3,5-tri(m-pyrid-3-yl-phenyl)benzene (TmPyPB), the efficient charge injection and transporting, barrier-free hole-electron recombination for the formation of the interfacial exciplex, and elimination of charge traps of phosphors in the emissive layer are realized simultaneously, resulting in a turn-on voltage of 2.36 V, a record high PE of 97.2 lm W(-1), as well as extremely low driving voltage of 2.60 V at 100 cd m(-2), 3.03 V at 1000 cd m(-2) and 4.08 V at 10000 cd m(-2). This report is the first time that the PE performance of s-PhOLED approaches 100 lm W(-1) high level, even superior to the corresponding state-of-the-art performance of the same color vacuum-deposited PhOLED (v-PhOLED) counterpart. We anticipate this report opens a new avenue for achieving power efficient monochromatic and white s-PhOLEDs with simple structures.

Simulation study on AlGaN/GaN diode with Γ-shaped anode for ultra-low turn-on voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zeheng; Chen, Wanjun; Wang, Fangzhou; Cao, Jun; Sun, Ruize; Ren, Kailin; Luo, Yi; Guo, Songnan; Wang, Zirui; Jin, Xiaosheng; Yang, Lei; Zhang, Bo

2018-05-01

An ultra-low turn-on voltage (VT) Γ-shaped anode AlGaN/GaN Schottky barrier diode (GA-SBD) is proposed via modeling and simulation for the first time, in which a Γ-shaped anode consists of a metal-2DEG junction together with a metal-AlGaN junction beside a shallowly recessed MIS field plate (MFP). An analytic forward current-voltage model matching the simulation results well is presented where an ultra-low VT of 0.08 V is obtained. The turn-on and blocking mechanisms are investigated to reveal the GA-SBD's great potential for applications of highly efficient power ICs.

Passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 oscillator operating at an ultralow repetition rate.

PubMed

Papadopoulos, D N; Forget, S; Delaigue, M; Druon, F; Balembois, F; Georges, P

2003-10-01

We demonstrate the operation of an ultralow-repetition-rate, high-peak-power, picosecond diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 passively mode-locked laser oscillator. Repetition rates lower than 1 MHz were achieved with the use of a new design for a multiple-pass cavity and a semiconductor saturable absorber. Long-term stable operation at 1.2 MHz with a pulse duration of 16.3 ps and an average output power of 470 mW, corresponding to 24-kW peak-power pulses, is reported. These are to our knowledge the lowest-repetition-rate high-peak-power pulses ever generated directly from apicosecond laser resonator without cavity dumping.

Ultralow Power Consumption Flexible Biomemristors.

PubMed

Kim, Min-Kyu; Lee, Jang-Sik

2018-03-28

Low power consumption is the important requirement in memory devices for saving energy. In particular, improved energy efficiency is essential in implantable electronic devices for operation under a limited power supply. Here, we demonstrate the use of κ-carrageenan (κ-car) as the resistive switching layer to achieve memory that has low power consumption. A carboxymethyl (CM) group is introduced to the κ-car to increase its ionic conductivity. Ag was doped in CM:κ-car to improve the resistive switching properties of the devices. Memory devices based on Ag-doped CM:κ-car showed electroforming-free resistive switching. This device exhibited low reset voltage (∼0.05 V), fast switching speed (50 ns), and high on/off ratio (>10 3 ) under low compliance current (10 -5 A). Its power consumption (∼0.35 μW) is much lower than those of the previously reported biomemristors. The resistive switching may be a result of an electrochemical redox process and Ag filament formation in the CM:κ-car under an electric field. This biopolymer memory can also be fabricated on flexible substrate. This study verifies the feasibility of using biopolymers for applications to future implantable and biocompatible nanoelectronics.

Dynamic analysis of trapping and escaping in dual beam optical trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wenqiang; Hu, Huizhu; Su, Heming; Li, Zhenggang; Shen, Yu

2016-10-01

In this paper, we simulate the dynamic movement of a dielectric sphere in optical trap. This dynamic analysis can be used to calibrate optical forces, increase trapping efficiency and measure viscous coefficient of surrounding medium. Since an accurate dynamic analysis is based on a detailed force calculation, we calculate all forces a sphere receives. We get the forces of dual-beam gradient radiation pressure on a micron-sized dielectric sphere in the ray optics regime and utilize Einstein-Ornstein-Uhlenbeck to deal with its Brownian motion forces. Hydrodynamic viscous force also exists when the sphere moves in liquid. Forces from buoyance and gravity are also taken into consideration. Then we simulate trajectory of a sphere when it is subject to all these forces in a dual optical trap. From our dynamic analysis, the sphere can be trapped at an equilibrium point in static water, although it permanently fluctuates around the equilibrium point due to thermal effects. We go a step further to analyze the effects of misalignment of two optical traps. Trapping and escaping phenomena of the sphere in flowing water are also simulated. In flowing water, the sphere is dragged away from the equilibrium point. This dragging distance increases with the decrease of optical power, which results in escaping of the sphere with optical power below a threshold. In both trapping and escaping process we calculate the forces and position of the sphere. Finally, we analyze a trapping region in dual optical tweezers.

Mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogels

DOEpatents

Worsley, Marcus A; Baumann, Theodore F; Satcher, Jr., Joe H

2014-04-01

A method of making a mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogel, including the steps of dispersing nanotubes in an aqueous media or other media to form a suspension, adding reactants and catalyst to the suspension to create a reaction mixture, curing the reaction mixture to form a wet gel, drying the wet gel to produce a dry gel, and pyrolyzing the dry gel to produce the mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogel. The aerogel is mechanically robust, electrically conductive, and ultralow-density, and is made of a porous carbon material having 5 to 95% by weight carbon nanotubes and 5 to 95% carbon binder.

Mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogels

DOEpatents

Worsley, Marcus A.; Baumann, Theodore F.; Satcher, Jr, Joe H.

2016-07-05

A method of making a mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogel, including the steps of dispersing nanotubes in an aqueous media or other media to form a suspension, adding reactants and catalyst to the suspension to create a reaction mixture, curing the reaction mixture to form a wet gel, drying the wet gel to produce a dry gel, and pyrolyzing the dry gel to produce the mechanically robust, electrically conductive ultralow-density carbon nanotube-based aerogel. The aerogel is mechanically robust, electrically conductive, and ultralow-density, and is made of a porous carbon material having 5 to 95% by weight carbon nanotubes and 5 to 95% carbon binder.

Ultralow chirp photonic crystal fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

PubMed

Carvalho, William O F; Spadoti, Danilo H; Silvestre, Enrique; Beltran-Mejia, Felipe

2018-05-20

A photonic crystal fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer design was optimized to obtain high performance and ultralow chirp. Two long-period gratings were used to excite the cladding modes, and the rich structure of the cladding was tailored to obtain a slightly chirped free spectral range, as required by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) Norm G.694.1. Finally, a fabrication tolerance analysis was performed. The advantages of the proposed device are an ultralow chirp, high bandwidth, and fabrication robustness tolerance.

Experimental verification of a novel MEMS multi-modal vibration energy harvester for ultra-low power remote sensing nodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iannacci, J.; Sordo, G.; Serra, E.; Kucera, M.; Schmid, U.

2015-05-01

In this work, we discuss the verification and preliminary experimental characterization of a MEMS-based vibration Energy Harvester (EH) design. The device, named Four-Leaf Clover (FLC), is based on a circular-shaped mechanical resonator with four petal-like mass-spring cascaded systems. This solution introduces several mechanical Degrees of Freedom (DOFs), and therefore enables multiple resonant modes and deformation shapes in the vibrations frequency range of interest. The target is to realize a wideband multi-modal EH-MEMS device, that overcomes the typical narrowband working characteristics of standard cantilevered EHs, by ensuring flexible and adaptable power source to ultra-low power electronics for integrated remote sensing nodes (e.g. Wireless Sensor Networks - WSNs) in the Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, aiming to self-powered and energy autonomous smart systems. Finite Element Method simulations of the FLC EH-MEMS show the presence of several resonant modes for vibrations up to 4-5 kHz, and level of converted power up to a few μW at resonance and in closed-loop conditions (i.e. with resistive load). On the other hand, the first experimental tests of FLC fabricated samples, conducted with a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV), proved the presence of several resonant modes, and allowed to validate the accuracy of the FEM modeling method. Such a good accordance holds validity for what concerns the coupled field behavior of the FLC EH-MEMS, as well. Both measurements and simulations performed at 190 Hz (i.e. out of resonance) showed the generation of power in the range of nW (Root Mean Square - RMS values). Further steps of this work will include the experimental characterization in a full range of vibrations, aiming to prove the whole functionality of the FLC EH-MEMS proposed design concept.

A 32 kb 9T near-threshold SRAM with enhanced read ability at ultra-low voltage operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Tony Tae-Hyoung; Lee, Zhao Chuan; Do, Anh Tuan

2018-01-01

Ultra-low voltage SRAMs are highly sought-after in energy-limited systems such as battery-powered and self-harvested SoCs. However, ultra-low voltage operation diminishes SRAM read bitline (RBL) sensing margin significantly. This paper tackles this issue by presenting a novel 9T cell with data-independent RBL leakage in combination with an RBL boosting technique for enhancing the sensing margin. The proposed technique automatically tracks process, temperature and voltage (PVT) variations for robust sensing margin enhancement. A test chip fabricated in 65 nm CMOS technology shows that the proposed scheme significantly enlarges the sensing margin compared to the conventional bitline sensing scheme. It also achieves the minimum operating voltage of 0.18 V and the minimum energy consumption of 0.92 J/access at 0.4 V. He received 2016 International Low Power Design Contest Award from ISLPED, a best paper award at 2014 and 2011 ISOCC, 2008 AMD/CICC Student Scholarship Award, 2008 Departmental Research Fellowship from Univ. of Minnesota, 2008 DAC/ISSCC Student Design Contest Award, 2008, 2001, and 1999 Samsung Humantec Thesis Award and, 2005 ETRI Journal Paper of the Year Award. He is an author/co-author of +100 journal and conference papers and has 17 US and Korean patents registered. His current research interests include low power and high performance digital, mixed- mode, and memory circuit design, ultra-low voltage circuits and systems design, variation and aging tolerant circuits and systems, and circuit techniques for 3D ICs. He serves as an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems. He is an IEEE senior member and the Chair of IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society Singapore Chapter. He has served numerous conferences as a committee member.

Ultralow-threshold microcavity Raman laser on a microelectronic chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kippenberg, T. J.; Spillane, S. M.; Armani, D. K.; Vahala, K. J.

2004-06-01

Using ultrahigh-Q toroid microcavities on a chip, we demonstrate a monolithic microcavity Raman laser. Cavity photon lifetimes in excess of 100 ns combined with mode volumes typically of less than 1000 µm^3 significantly reduce the threshold for stimulated Raman scattering. In conjunction with the high ideality of a tapered optical fiber coupling junction, stimulated Raman lasing is observed at an ultralow threshold (as low as 74 µW of fiber-launched power at 1550 nm) with high efficiency (up to 45% at the critical coupling point) in good agreement with theoretical modeling. Equally important, the wafer-scale nature of these devices should permit integration with other photonic, mechanical, or electrical functionality on a chip.

Ultralow-threshold microcavity Raman laser on a microelectronic chip.

PubMed

Kippenberg, T J; Spillane, S M; Armani, D K; Vahala, K J

2004-06-01

Using ultrahigh-Q toroid microcavities on a chip, we demonstrate a monolithic microcavity Raman laser. Cavity photon lifetimes in excess of 100 ns combined with mode volumes typically of less than 1000 (microm)3 significantly reduce the threshold for stimulated Raman scattering. In conjunction with the high ideality of a tapered optical fiber coupling junction, stimulated Raman lasing is observed at an ultralow threshold (as low as 74 microW of fiber-launched power at 1550 nm) with high efficiency (up to 45% at the critical coupling point) in good agreement with theoretical modeling. Equally important, the wafer-scale nature of these devices should permit integration with other photonic, mechanical, or electrical functionality on a chip.

Microscopic origin of read current noise in TaOx-based resistive switching memory by ultra-low temperature measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yue; Cai, Yimao; Liu, Yefan; Fang, Yichen; Yu, Muxi; Tan, Shenghu; Huang, Ru

2016-04-01

TaOx-based resistive random access memory (RRAM) attracts considerable attention for the development of next generation nonvolatile memories. However, read current noise in RRAM is one of the critical concerns for storage application, and its microscopic origin is still under debate. In this work, the read current noise in TaOx-based RRAM was studied thoroughly. Based on a noise power spectral density analysis at room temperature and at ultra-low temperature of 25 K, discrete random telegraph noise (RTN) and continuous average current fluctuation (ACF) are identified and decoupled from the total read current noise in TaOx RRAM devices. A statistical comparison of noise amplitude further reveals that ACF depends strongly on the temperature, whereas RTN is independent of the temperature. Measurement results combined with conduction mechanism analysis show that RTN in TaOx RRAM devices arises from electron trapping/detrapping process in the hopping conduction, and ACF is originated from the thermal activation of conduction centers that form the percolation network. At last, a unified model in the framework of hopping conduction is proposed to explain the underlying mechanism of both RTN and ACF noise, which can provide meaningful guidelines for designing noise-immune RRAM devices.

Squid detected NMR and MRI at ultralow fields

DOEpatents

Clarke, John [Berkeley, CA; McDermott, Robert [Louisville, CO; Pines, Alexander [Berkeley, CA; Trabesinger, Andreas Heinz [CH-8006 Zurich, CH

2007-05-15

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals are detected in microtesla fields. Prepolarization in millitesla fields is followed by detection with an untuned dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Because the sensitivity of the SQUID is frequency independent, both signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution are enhanced by detecting the NMR signal in extremely low magnetic fields, where the NMR lines become very narrow even for grossly inhomogeneous measurement fields. MRI in ultralow magnetic field is based on the NMR at ultralow fields. Gradient magnetic fields are applied, and images are constructed from the detected NMR signals.

Squid detected NMR and MRI at ultralow fields

DOEpatents

Clarke, John; McDermott, Robert; Pines, Alexander; Trabesinger, Andreas Heinz

2006-05-30

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals are detected in microtesla fields. Prepolarization in millitesla fields is followed by detection with an untuned dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Because the sensitivity of the SQUID is frequency independent, both signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution are enhanced by detecting the NMR signal in extremely low magnetic fields, where the NMR lines become very narrow even for grossly inhomogeneous measurement fields. MRI in ultralow magnetic field is based on the NMR at ultralow fields. Gradient magnetic fields are applied, and images are constructed from the detected NMR signals.

Squid detected NMR and MRI at ultralow fields

DOEpatents

Clarke, John [Berkeley, CA; Pines, Alexander [Berkeley, CA; McDermott, Robert F [Monona, WI; Trabesinger, Andreas H [London, GB

2008-12-16

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals are detected in microtesla fields. Prepolarization in millitesla fields is followed by detection with an untuned dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Because the sensitivity of the SQUID is frequency independent, both signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution are enhanced by detecting the NMR signal in extremely low magnetic fields, where the NMR lines become very narrow even for grossly inhomogeneous measurement fields. MRI in ultralow magnetic field is based on the NMR at ultralow fields. Gradient magnetic fields are applied, and images are constructed from the detected NMR signals.

SQUID detected NMR and MRI at ultralow fields

DOEpatents

Clarke, John; McDermott, Robert; Pines, Alexander; Trabesinger, Andreas Heinz

2006-10-03

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals are detected in microtesla fields. Prepolarization in millitesla fields is followed by detection with an untuned dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Because the sensitivity of the SQUID is frequency independent, both signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution are enhanced by detecting the NMR signal in extremely low magnetic fields, where the NMR lines become very narrow even for grossly inhomogeneous measurement fields. MRI in ultralow magnetic field is based on the NMR at ultralow fields. Gradient magnetic fields are applied, and images are constructed from the detected NMR signals.

Analog design optimization methodology for ultralow-power circuits using intuitive inversion-level and saturation-level parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eimori, Takahisa; Anami, Kenji; Yoshimatsu, Norifumi; Hasebe, Tetsuya; Murakami, Kazuaki

2014-01-01

A comprehensive design optimization methodology using intuitive nondimensional parameters of inversion-level and saturation-level is proposed, especially for ultralow-power, low-voltage, and high-performance analog circuits with mixed strong, moderate, and weak inversion metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor (MOST) operations. This methodology is based on the synthesized charge-based MOST model composed of Enz-Krummenacher-Vittoz (EKV) basic concepts and advanced-compact-model (ACM) physics-based equations. The key concept of this methodology is that all circuit and system characteristics are described as some multivariate functions of inversion-level parameters, where the inversion level is used as an independent variable representative of each MOST. The analog circuit design starts from the first step of inversion-level design using universal characteristics expressed by circuit currents and inversion-level parameters without process-dependent parameters, followed by the second step of foundry-process-dependent design and the last step of verification using saturation-level criteria. This methodology also paves the way to an intuitive and comprehensive design approach for many kinds of analog circuit specifications by optimization using inversion-level log-scale diagrams and saturation-level criteria. In this paper, we introduce an example of our design methodology for a two-stage Miller amplifier.

Ultra-low dose naltrexone attenuates chronic morphine-induced gliosis in rats.

PubMed

Mattioli, Theresa-Alexandra M; Milne, Brian; Cahill, Catherine M

2010-04-16

The development of analgesic tolerance following chronic morphine administration can be a significant clinical problem. Preclinical studies demonstrate that chronic morphine administration induces spinal gliosis and that inhibition of gliosis prevents the development of analgesic tolerance to opioids. Many studies have also demonstrated that ultra-low doses of naltrexone inhibit the development of spinal morphine antinociceptive tolerance and clinical studies demonstrate that it has opioid sparing effects. In this study we demonstrate that ultra-low dose naltrexone attenuates glial activation, which may contribute to its effects on attenuating tolerance. Spinal cord sections from rats administered chronic morphine showed significantly increased immuno-labelling of astrocytes and microglia compared to saline controls, consistent with activation. 3-D images of astrocytes from animals administered chronic morphine had significantly larger volumes compared to saline controls. Co-injection of ultra-low dose naltrexone attenuated this increase in volume, but the mean volume differed from saline-treated and naltrexone-treated controls. Astrocyte and microglial immuno-labelling was attenuated in rats co-administered ultra-low dose naltrexone compared to morphine-treated rats and did not differ from controls. Glial activation, as characterized by immunohistochemical labelling and cell size, was positively correlated with the extent of tolerance developed. Morphine-induced glial activation was not due to cell proliferation as there was no difference observed in the total number of glial cells following chronic morphine treatment compared to controls. Furthermore, using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, no increase in spinal cord cell proliferation was observed following chronic morphine administration. Taken together, we demonstrate a positive correlation between the prevention of analgesic tolerance and the inhibition of spinal gliosis by treatment with ultra-low dose naltrexone

Ultralow crosstalk nanosecond-scale nested 2 × 2 Mach-Zehnder silicon photonic switch.

PubMed

Dupuis, Nicolas; Rylyakov, Alexander V; Schow, Clint L; Kuchta, Daniel M; Baks, Christian W; Orcutt, Jason S; Gill, Douglas M; Green, William M J; Lee, Benjamin G

2016-07-01

We present the design and characterization of a novel electro-optic silicon photonic 2×2 nested Mach-Zehnder switch monolithically integrated with a CMOS driver and interface logic. The photonic device uses a variable optical attenuator in order to balance the power inside the Mach-Zehnder interferometer leading to ultralow crosstalk performance. We measured a crosstalk as low as -34.5  dB, while achieving ∼2  dB insertion loss and 4 ns transient response.

Optimal Power and Efficiency of Quantum Thermoacoustic Micro-cycle Working in 1D Harmonic Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

E, Qing; Wu, Feng; Yin, Yong; Liu, XiaoWei

2017-10-01

Thermoacoustic engines (including heat engines and refrigerators) are energy conversion devices without moving part. They have great potential in aviation, new energy utilization, power technology, refrigerating and cryogenics. The thermoacoustic parcels, which compose the working fluid of a thermoacoustic engine, oscillate within the sound channel with a temperature gradient. The thermodynamic foundation of a thermoacoustic engine is the thermoacoustic micro-cycle (TAMC). In this paper, the theory of quantum mechanics is applied to the study of the actual thermoacoustic micro-cycle for the first time. A quantum mechanics model of the TAMC working in a 1D harmonic trap, which is named as a quantum thermoacoustic micro-cycle (QTAMC), is established. The QTAMC is composed of two constant force processes connected by two straight line processes. Analytic expressions of the power output and the efficiency for QTAMC have been derived. The effects of the trap width and the temperature amplitude on the power output and the thermal efficiency have been discussed. Some optimal characteristic curves of power output versus efficiency are plotted, and then the optimization region of QTAMC is given in this paper. The results obtained here not only enrich the thermoacoustic theory but also expand the application of quantum thermodynamics.

Single-mode large-mode-area laser fiber with ultralow numerical aperture and high beam quality.

PubMed

Peng, Kun; Zhan, Huan; Ni, Li; Wang, Xiaolong; Wang, Yuying; Gao, Cong; Li, Yuwei; Wang, Jianjun; Jing, Feng; Lin, Aoxiang

2016-12-10

By using the chelate precursor doping technique, we report on an ytterbium-doped aluminophosphosilicate (APS) large-mode-area fiber with ultralow numerical aperture of 0.036 and effective fundamental mode area of ∼550  μm². With a bend diameter of 600 mm, the bending loss of fundamental mode LP₀₁ was measured to be <10^-3  dB/m, in agreement with the corresponding simulation results, while that of higher order mode LP₁₁ is >100  dB/m at 1080 nm. Measured in an all-fiber oscillator laser cavity, 592 W single-mode laser output was obtained at 1079.64 nm with high-beam quality M² of 1.12. The results indicate that the chelate precursor doping technique is a competitive method for ultralow numerical aperture fiber fabrication, which is very suitable for developing single-mode seed lasers for high power laser systems.

Ultra-low temperature curable nano-silver conductive adhesive for piezoelectric composite material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Chao; Liao, Qingwei; Zhou, Xingli; Wang, Likun; Zhong, Chao; Zhang, Di

2018-01-01

Limited by the low thermal resistance of composite material, ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive with curing temperature less than 100 °C needed urgently for the surface conduction treatment of piezoelectric composite material. An ultra-low temperature curable nano-silver conductive adhesive with high adhesion strength for the applications of piezoelectric composite material was investigated. The crystal structure of cured adhesive, SEM/EDS analysis, thermal analysis, adhesive properties and conductive properties of different content of nano-silver filler or micron-silver doping samples were studied. The results show that with 60 wt.% nano-silver filler the ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive had the relatively good conductivity as volume resistivity of 2.37 × 10-4 Ω cm, and good adhesion strength of 5.13 MPa. Minor micron-doping (below 15 wt.%) could improve conductivity, but would decrease other properties. The ultra-low temperature curable nano-silver conductive adhesive could successfully applied to piezoelectric composite material.

Coaxial ion trap mass spectrometer: concentric toroidal and quadrupolar trapping regions.

PubMed

Peng, Ying; Hansen, Brett J; Quist, Hannah; Zhang, Zhiping; Wang, Miao; Hawkins, Aaron R; Austin, Daniel E

2011-07-15

We present the design and results for a new radio-frequency ion trap mass analyzer, the coaxial ion trap, in which both toroidal and quadrupolar trapping regions are created simultaneously. The device is composed of two parallel ceramic plates, the facing surfaces of which are lithographically patterned with concentric metal rings and covered with a thin film of germanium. Experiments demonstrate that ions can be trapped in either region, transferred from the toroidal to the quadrupolar region, and mass-selectively ejected from the quadrupolar region to a detector. Ions trapped in the toroidal region can be transferred to the quadrupole region using an applied ac signal in the radial direction, although it appears that the mechanism of this transfer does not involve resonance with the ion secular frequency, and the process is not mass selective. Ions in the quadrupole trapping region are mass analyzed using dipole resonant ejection. Multiple transfer steps and mass analysis scans are possible on a single population of ions, as from a single ionization/trapping event. The device demonstrates better mass resolving power than the radially ejecting halo ion trap and better sensitivity than the planar quadrupole ion trap.

Ultralow thermal conductivity in all-inorganic halide perovskites

PubMed Central

Li, Huashan; Wong, Andrew B.; Zhang, Dandan; Lai, Minliang; Yu, Yi; Kong, Qiao; Lin, Elbert; Urban, Jeffrey J.; Grossman, Jeffrey C.; Yang, Peidong

2017-01-01

Controlling the flow of thermal energy is crucial to numerous applications ranging from microelectronic devices to energy storage and energy conversion devices. Here, we report ultralow lattice thermal conductivities of solution-synthesized, single-crystalline all-inorganic halide perovskite nanowires composed of CsPbI3 (0.45 ± 0.05 W·m−1·K−1), CsPbBr3 (0.42 ± 0.04 W·m−1·K−1), and CsSnI3 (0.38 ± 0.04 W·m−1·K−1). We attribute this ultralow thermal conductivity to the cluster rattling mechanism, wherein strong optical–acoustic phonon scatterings are driven by a mixture of 0D/1D/2D collective motions. Remarkably, CsSnI3 possesses a rare combination of ultralow thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity (282 S·cm−1), and high hole mobility (394 cm2·V−1·s−1). The unique thermal transport properties in all-inorganic halide perovskites hold promise for diverse applications such as phononic and thermoelectric devices. Furthermore, the insights obtained from this work suggest an opportunity to discover low thermal conductivity materials among unexplored inorganic crystals beyond caged and layered structures. PMID:28760988

Ultralow thermal conductivity in all-inorganic halide perovskites.

PubMed

Lee, Woochul; Li, Huashan; Wong, Andrew B; Zhang, Dandan; Lai, Minliang; Yu, Yi; Kong, Qiao; Lin, Elbert; Urban, Jeffrey J; Grossman, Jeffrey C; Yang, Peidong

2017-08-15

Controlling the flow of thermal energy is crucial to numerous applications ranging from microelectronic devices to energy storage and energy conversion devices. Here, we report ultralow lattice thermal conductivities of solution-synthesized, single-crystalline all-inorganic halide perovskite nanowires composed of CsPbI 3 (0.45 ± 0.05 W·m -1 ·K -1 ), CsPbBr 3 (0.42 ± 0.04 W·m -1 ·K -1 ), and CsSnI 3 (0.38 ± 0.04 W·m -1 ·K -1 ). We attribute this ultralow thermal conductivity to the cluster rattling mechanism, wherein strong optical-acoustic phonon scatterings are driven by a mixture of 0D/1D/2D collective motions. Remarkably, CsSnI 3 possesses a rare combination of ultralow thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity (282 S·cm -1 ), and high hole mobility (394 cm 2 ·V -1 ·s -1 ). The unique thermal transport properties in all-inorganic halide perovskites hold promise for diverse applications such as phononic and thermoelectric devices. Furthermore, the insights obtained from this work suggest an opportunity to discover low thermal conductivity materials among unexplored inorganic crystals beyond caged and layered structures.

Ultralow-power electronics for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Chandrakasan, Anantha P; Verma, Naveen; Daly, Denis C

2008-01-01

The electronics of a general biomedical device consist of energy delivery, analog-to-digital conversion, signal processing, and communication subsystems. Each of these blocks must be designed for minimum energy consumption. Specific design techniques, such as aggressive voltage scaling, dynamic power-performance management, and energy-efficient signaling, must be employed to adhere to the stringent energy constraint. The constraint itself is set by the energy source, so energy harvesting holds tremendous promise toward enabling sophisticated systems without straining user lifestyle. Further, once harvested, efficient delivery of the low-energy levels, as well as robust operation in the aggressive low-power modes, requires careful understanding and treatment of the specific design limitations that dominate this realm. We outline the performance and power constraints of biomedical devices, and present circuit techniques to achieve complete systems operating down to power levels of microwatts. In all cases, approaches that leverage advanced technology trends are emphasized.

Ultra-low noise miniaturized neural amplifier with hardware averaging.

PubMed

Dweiri, Yazan M; Eggers, Thomas; McCallum, Grant; Durand, Dominique M

2015-08-01

Peripheral nerves carry neural signals that could be used to control hybrid bionic systems. Cuff electrodes provide a robust and stable interface but the recorded signal amplitude is small (<3 μVrms 700 Hz-7 kHz), thereby requiring a baseline noise of less than 1 μVrms for a useful signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Flat interface nerve electrode (FINE) contacts alone generate thermal noise of at least 0.5 μVrms therefore the amplifier should add as little noise as possible. Since mainstream neural amplifiers have a baseline noise of 2 μVrms or higher, novel designs are required. Here we apply the concept of hardware averaging to nerve recordings obtained with cuff electrodes. An optimization procedure is developed to minimize noise and power simultaneously. The novel design was based on existing neural amplifiers (Intan Technologies, LLC) and is validated with signals obtained from the FINE in chronic dog experiments. We showed that hardware averaging leads to a reduction in the total recording noise by a factor of 1/√N or less depending on the source resistance. Chronic recording of physiological activity with FINE using the presented design showed significant improvement on the recorded baseline noise with at least two parallel operation transconductance amplifiers leading to a 46.1% reduction at N = 8. The functionality of these recordings was quantified by the SNR improvement and shown to be significant for N = 3 or more. The present design was shown to be capable of generating <1.5 μVrms total recording baseline noise when connected to a FINE placed on the sciatic nerve of an awake animal. An algorithm was introduced to find the value of N that can minimize both the power consumption and the noise in order to design a miniaturized ultralow-noise neural amplifier. These results demonstrate the efficacy of hardware averaging on noise improvement for neural recording with cuff electrodes, and can accommodate the presence of high source impedances that are

Tribological performance of ultra-low viscosity composite base fluid with bio-derived fluid

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

One obvious approach to increase efficiencies in many lubricated systems such as ICE and gearbox is the reduction in viscosity of oil lubricant. Indeed, ultra-low viscosity engine oils are now commercially available. One approach to the development of ultra-low viscosity lubricants without compromis...

Ultralow-threshold laser and blue shift cooperative luminescence in a Yb{sup 3+} doped silica microsphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Yantang, E-mail: g@fzu.edu.cn; Huang, Yu; Zhang, Peijin

2014-02-15

An experimental investigation on ultralow threshold laser and blue shift cooperative luminescence (CL) in a Yb{sup 3+} doped silica microsphere (YDSM) with continuous-wave 976 nm laser diode pumping is reported. The experimental results show that the YDSM emits laser oscillation with ultralow threshold of 2.62 μW, and the laser spectrum is modulated by the microsphere morphology characteristics. In addition, blue emission of YDSM is also observed with the increase of pump power, which is supposed to be generated by CL of excited Yb ion-pairs with the absorption of 976 nm photons and Si-O vibration phonons, and the process is explainedmore » with an energy level diagram. This property of the blue shift CL with phonons absorption in the Yb{sup 3+}doped microcavity makes it attractive for the application of laser cooling based on anti-Stokes fluorescence emission, if the Yb{sup 3+}doped microcavity made from with low phonon energy host materials.« less

Ultralow-voltage design of graphene PN junction quantum reflective switch transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohier, Thibault; Yu, Bin

2011-05-01

We propose the concept of a graphene-based quantum reflective switch (QRS) for low-power logic application. With the unique electronic properties of graphene, a tilted PN junction is used to implement logic switch function with 103 ON/OFF ratio. Carriers are reflected on an electrostatically induced potential step with strong incidence-angle-dependency due to the widening of classically forbidden energies. Optimized design of the device for ultralow-voltage operating has been conducted. The device is constantly ON with a turning-off gate voltage around 180 mV using thin HfO2 as the gate dielectric. The results suggest a class of logic switch devices operating with micropower dissipation.

Microscopic origin of read current noise in TaO{sub x}-based resistive switching memory by ultra-low temperature measurement

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pan, Yue; Cai, Yimao, E-mail: caiyimao@pku.edu.cn; Liu, Yefan

TaO{sub x}-based resistive random access memory (RRAM) attracts considerable attention for the development of next generation nonvolatile memories. However, read current noise in RRAM is one of the critical concerns for storage application, and its microscopic origin is still under debate. In this work, the read current noise in TaO{sub x}-based RRAM was studied thoroughly. Based on a noise power spectral density analysis at room temperature and at ultra-low temperature of 25 K, discrete random telegraph noise (RTN) and continuous average current fluctuation (ACF) are identified and decoupled from the total read current noise in TaO{sub x} RRAM devices. A statisticalmore » comparison of noise amplitude further reveals that ACF depends strongly on the temperature, whereas RTN is independent of the temperature. Measurement results combined with conduction mechanism analysis show that RTN in TaO{sub x} RRAM devices arises from electron trapping/detrapping process in the hopping conduction, and ACF is originated from the thermal activation of conduction centers that form the percolation network. At last, a unified model in the framework of hopping conduction is proposed to explain the underlying mechanism of both RTN and ACF noise, which can provide meaningful guidelines for designing noise-immune RRAM devices.« less

Thermal bistability-based method for real-time optimization of ultralow-threshold whispering gallery mode microlasers.

PubMed

Lin, Guoping; Candela, Y; Tillement, O; Cai, Zhiping; Lefèvre-Seguin, V; Hare, J

2012-12-15

A method based on thermal bistability for ultralow-threshold microlaser optimization is demonstrated. When sweeping the pump laser frequency across a pump resonance, the dynamic thermal bistability slows down the power variation. The resulting line shape modification enables a real-time monitoring of the laser characteristic. We demonstrate this method for a functionalized microsphere exhibiting a submicrowatt laser threshold. This approach is confirmed by comparing the results with a step-by-step recording in quasi-static thermal conditions.

Ultralow thermal conductivity in all-inorganic halide perovskites

DOE PAGES

Lee, Woochul; Li, Huashan; Wong, Andrew B.; ...

2017-07-08

Controlling the flow of thermal energy is crucial to numerous applications ranging from microelectronic devices to energy storage and energy conversion devices. Here in this paper, we report ultralow lattice thermal conductivities of solution-synthesized, single-crystalline all-inorganic halide perovskite nanowires composed of CsPbI 3 (0.45 ± 0.05 W·m -1 ·K -1), CsPbBr 3 (0.42 ± 0.04 W·m -1·K -1), and CsSnI 3 (0.38 ± 0.04 W·m -1 ·K -1). We attribute this ultralow thermal conductivity to the cluster rattling mechanism, wherein strong optical–acoustic phonon scatterings are driven by a mixture of 0D/1D/2D collective motions. Remarkably, CsSnI 3 possesses a rare combinationmore » of ultralow thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity (282 S·cm -1), and high hole mobility (394 cm 2 ·V -1 ·s -1). The unique thermal transport properties in all-inorganic halide perovskites hold promise for diverse applications such as phononic and thermoelectric devices. Furthermore, the insights obtained from this work suggest an opportunity to discover low thermal conductivity materials among unexplored inorganic crystals beyond caged and layered structures.« less

Ultralow thermal conductivity in all-inorganic halide perovskites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Woochul; Li, Huashan; Wong, Andrew B.

Controlling the flow of thermal energy is crucial to numerous applications ranging from microelectronic devices to energy storage and energy conversion devices. Here in this paper, we report ultralow lattice thermal conductivities of solution-synthesized, single-crystalline all-inorganic halide perovskite nanowires composed of CsPbI 3 (0.45 ± 0.05 W·m -1 ·K -1), CsPbBr 3 (0.42 ± 0.04 W·m -1·K -1), and CsSnI 3 (0.38 ± 0.04 W·m -1 ·K -1). We attribute this ultralow thermal conductivity to the cluster rattling mechanism, wherein strong optical–acoustic phonon scatterings are driven by a mixture of 0D/1D/2D collective motions. Remarkably, CsSnI 3 possesses a rare combinationmore » of ultralow thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity (282 S·cm -1), and high hole mobility (394 cm 2 ·V -1 ·s -1). The unique thermal transport properties in all-inorganic halide perovskites hold promise for diverse applications such as phononic and thermoelectric devices. Furthermore, the insights obtained from this work suggest an opportunity to discover low thermal conductivity materials among unexplored inorganic crystals beyond caged and layered structures.« less

Ion trap simulation program, ITSIM: A powerful heuristic and predictive tool in ion trap mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bui, Huy Anh

The multi-particle simulation program, ITSIM version 4.0, takes advantage of the enhanced performance of the Windows 95 and NT operating systems in areas such as memory management, user friendliness, flexibility of graphics and speed, to investigate the motion of ions in the quadrupole ion trap. The objective of this program is to use computer simulations based on mathematical models to improve the performance of the ion trap mass spectrometer. The simulation program can provide assistance in understanding fundamental aspects of ion trap mass spectrometry, precede and help to direct the course of experiments, as well as having didactic value in elucidating and allowing visualization of ion behavior under different experimental conditions. The program uses the improved Euler method to calculate ion trajectories as numerical solutions to the Mathieu differential equation. This Windows version can simultaneously simulate the trajectories of ions with a virtually unlimited number of different mass-to-charge ratios and hence allows realistic mass spectra, ion kinetic energy distributions and other experimentally measurable properties to be simulated. The large number of simulated ions allows examination of (i) the offsetting effects of mutual ion repulsion and collisional cooling in an ion trap and (ii) the effects of higher order fields. Field inhomogeneities arising from exit holes, electrode misalignment, imperfect electrode surfaces or new trap geometries can be simulated with the program. The simulated data are used to obtain mass spectra from mass-selective instability scans as well as by Fourier transformation of image currents induced by coherently moving ion clouds. Complete instruments, from an ion source through the ion trap mass analyzer to a detector, can now be simulated. Applications of the simulation program are presented and discussed. Comparisons are made between the simulations and experimental data. Fourier transformed experiments and a novel six

Ultralow concentrations of bupivacaine exert anti-inflammatory effects on inflammation-reactive astrocytes

PubMed Central

Block, Linda; Jörneberg, Per; Björklund, Ulrika; Westerlund, Anna; Biber, Björn; Hansson, Elisabeth

2013-01-01

Bupivacaine is a widely used, local anesthetic agent that blocks voltage-gated Na+ channels when used for neuro-axial blockades. Much lower concentrations of bupivacaine than in normal clinical use, < 10−8 m, evoked Ca2+ transients in astrocytes from rat cerebral cortex, that were inositol trisphosphate receptor-dependent. We investigated whether bupivacaine exerts an influence on the Ca2+ signaling and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in inflammation-reactive astrocytes when used at ultralow concentrations, < 10−8 m. Furthermore, we wanted to determine if bupivacaine interacts with the opioid-, 5-hydroxytryptamine- (5-HT) and glutamate-receptor systems. With respect to the μ-opioid- and 5-HT-receptor systems, bupivacaine restored the inflammation-reactive astrocytes to their normal non-inflammatory levels. With respect to the glutamate-receptor system, bupivacaine, in combination with an ultralow concentration of the μ-opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and μ-opioid receptor agonists, restored the inflammation-reactive astrocytes to their normal non-inflammatory levels. Ultralow concentrations of bupivacaine attenuated the inflammation-induced upregulation of IL-1β secretion. The results indicate that bupivacaine interacts with the opioid-, 5-HT- and glutamate-receptor systems by affecting Ca2+ signaling and IL-1β release in inflammation-reactive astrocytes. These results suggest that bupivacaine may be used at ultralow concentrations as an anti-inflammatory drug, either alone or in combination with opioid agonists and ultralow concentrations of an opioid antagonist. PMID:24083665

Ultra-low power laser stimulation impairs the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to primary human cells, and interferes with the expression of staphylococcal pathogenic factors.

PubMed

Petruzzelli, Sabina; Congiu, Antonio; Gallamini, Michele; Pompei, Raffaello

2014-04-01

Lasers are commonly used in several fields of medicine as a complementary therapy for internal medicine, surgery and also diagnostics. The efficacy of ultra-low level laser therapy (ULLLT) at power levels around 0.15 mW/cm(2) has been demonstrated both in in vitro experiments and in the clinical environment. This work used an ULLLT laser source to analyze its efficacy on Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to cells and on its ability to produce pathogenic factors. Laser stimulation succeeded in impairing the binding of S. aureus to primary human cells in culture and in inhibiting the expression of coagulase, one of the main staphylococcal pathogenic factors. The importance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the modification of the ECM redox potential in these activities were also evidenced.

Repeated Evolution of Power-Amplified Predatory Strikes in Trap-Jaw Spiders.

PubMed

Wood, Hannah M; Parkinson, Dilworth Y; Griswold, Charles E; Gillespie, Rosemary G; Elias, Damian O

2016-04-25

Small animals possess intriguing morphological and behavioral traits that allow them to capture prey, including innovative structural mechanisms that produce ballistic movements by amplifying power [1-6]. Power amplification occurs when an organism produces a relatively high power output by releasing slowly stored energy almost instantaneously, resulting in movements that surpass the maximal power output of muscles [7]. For example, trap-jaw, power-amplified mechanisms have been described for several ant genera [5, 8], which have evolved some of the fastest known movements in the animal kingdom [6]. However, power-amplified predatory strikes were not previously known in one of the largest animal classes, the arachnids. Mecysmaucheniidae spiders, which occur only in New Zealand and southern South America, are tiny, cryptic, ground-dwelling spiders that rely on hunting rather than web-building to capture prey [9]. Analysis of high-speed video revealed that power-amplified mechanisms occur in some mecysmaucheniid species, with the fastest species being two orders of magnitude faster than the slowest species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that power-amplified cheliceral strikes have evolved four times independently within the family. Furthermore, we identified morphological innovations that directly relate to cheliceral function: a highly modified carapace in which the cheliceral muscles are oriented horizontally; modification of a cheliceral sclerite to have muscle attachments; and, in the power-amplified species, a thicker clypeus and clypeal apodemes. These structural innovations may have set the stage for the parallel evolution of ballistic predatory strikes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Power-law distributions for a trapped ion interacting with a classical buffer gas.

PubMed

DeVoe, Ralph G

2009-02-13

Classical collisions with an ideal gas generate non-Maxwellian distribution functions for a single ion in a radio frequency ion trap. The distributions have power-law tails whose exponent depends on the ratio of buffer gas to ion mass. This provides a statistical explanation for the previously observed transition from cooling to heating. Monte Carlo results approximate a Tsallis distribution over a wide range of parameters and have ab initio agreement with experiment.

Ultralow field NMR spectrometer with an atomic magnetometer near room temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Guobin; Li, Xiaofeng; Sun, Xianping; Feng, Jiwen; Ye, Chaohui; Zhou, Xin

2013-12-01

We present a Cs atomic magnetometer with a sensitivity of 150 fT/Hz1/2 operating near room temperature. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal of 125 μL tap water was detected at an ultralow magnetic field down to 47 nT, with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the NMR signal approaching 50 after eight averages. Relaxivity experiments with a Gd(DTPA) contrast agent in zero field were performed, in order to show the magnetometer's ability to measure spin-lattice relaxation time with high accuracy. This demonstrates the feasibility of an ultralow field NMR spectrometer based on a Cs atomic magnetometer, which has a low working temperature, short data acquisition time and high sensitivity. This kind of NMR spectrometer has great potential in applications such as chemical analysis and magnetic relaxometry detection in ultralow or zero fields.

Ultra-low power high temperature and radiation hard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) voltage reference.

PubMed

Boufouss, El Hafed; Francis, Laurent A; Kilchytska, Valeriya; Gérard, Pierre; Simon, Pascal; Flandre, Denis

2013-12-13

This paper presents an ultra-low power CMOS voltage reference circuit which is robust under biomedical extreme conditions, such as high temperature and high total ionized dose (TID) radiation. To achieve such performances, the voltage reference is designed in a suitable 130 nm Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) industrial technology and is optimized to work in the subthreshold regime of the transistors. The design simulations have been performed over the temperature range of -40-200 °C and for different process corners. Robustness to radiation was simulated using custom model parameters including TID effects, such as mobilities and threshold voltages degradation. The proposed circuit has been tested up to high total radiation dose, i.e., 1 Mrad (Si) performed at three different temperatures (room temperature, 100 °C and 200 °C). The maximum drift of the reference voltage V(REF) depends on the considered temperature and on radiation dose; however, it remains lower than 10% of the mean value of 1.5 V. The typical power dissipation at 2.5 V supply voltage is about 20 μW at room temperature and only 75 μW at a high temperature of 200 °C. To understand the effects caused by the combination of high total ionizing dose and temperature on such voltage reference, the threshold voltages of the used SOI MOSFETs were extracted under different conditions. The evolution of V(REF) and power consumption with temperature and radiation dose can then be explained in terms of the different balance between fixed oxide charge and interface states build-up. The total occupied area including pad-ring is less than 0.09 mm2.

Background characterization of an ultra-low background liquid scintillation counter

DOE PAGES

Erchinger, J. L.; Orrell, John L.; Aalseth, C. E.; ...

2017-01-26

The Ultra-Low Background Liquid Scintillation Counter developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will expand the application of liquid scintillation counting by enabling lower detection limits and smaller sample volumes. By reducing the overall count rate of the background environment approximately 2 orders of magnitude below that of commercially available systems, backgrounds on the order of tens of counts per day over an energy range of ~3–3600 keV can be realized. Finally, initial test results of the ULB LSC show promising results for ultra-low background detection with liquid scintillation counting.

Light-trapping and recycling for extraordinary power conversion in ultra-thin gallium-arsenide solar cells.

PubMed

Eyderman, Sergey; John, Sajeev

2016-06-23

We demonstrate nearly 30% power conversion efficiency in ultra-thin (~200 nm) gallium arsenide photonic crystal solar cells by numerical solution of the coupled electromagnetic Maxwell and semiconductor drift-diffusion equations. Our architecture enables wave-interference-induced solar light trapping in the wavelength range from 300-865 nm, leading to absorption of almost 90% of incoming sunlight. Our optimized design for 200 nm equivalent bulk thickness of GaAs, is a square-lattice, slanted conical-pore photonic crystal (lattice constant 550 nm, pore diameter 600 nm, and pore depth 290 nm), passivated with AlGaAs, deposited on a silver back-reflector, with ITO upper contact and encapsulated with SiO2. Our model includes both radiative and non-radiative recombination of photo-generated charge carriers. When all light from radiative recombination is assumed to escape the structure, a maximum achievable photocurrent density (MAPD) of 27.6 mA/cm(2) is obtained from normally incident AM 1.5 sunlight. For a surface non-radiative recombination velocity of 10(3) cm/s, this corresponds to a solar power conversion efficiency of 28.3%. When all light from radiative recombination is trapped and reabsorbed (complete photon recycling) the power conversion efficiency increases to 29%. If the surface recombination velocity is reduced to 10 cm/sec, photon recycling is much more effective and the power conversion efficiency reaches 30.6%.

Light-trapping and recycling for extraordinary power conversion in ultra-thin gallium-arsenide solar cells

DOE PAGES

Eyderman, Sergey; John, Sajeev

2016-06-23

Here, we demonstrate nearly 30% power conversion efficiency in ultra-thin (~200 nm) gallium arsenide photonic crystal solar cells by numerical solution of the coupled electromagnetic Maxwell and semiconductor drift-diffusion equations. Our architecture enables wave-interference-induced solar light trapping in the wavelength range from 300-865 nm, leading to absorption of almost 90% of incoming sunlight. Our optimized design for 200 nm equivalent bulk thickness of GaAs, is a square-lattice, slanted conical-pore photonic crystal (lattice constant 550 nm, pore diameter 600 nm, and pore depth 290 nm), passivated with AlGaAs, deposited on a silver back-reflector, with ITO upper contact and encapsulated with SiOmore » 2. Our model includes both radiative and non-radiative recombination of photo-generated charge carriers. When all light from radiative recombination is assumed to escape the structure, a maximum achievable photocurrent density (MAPD) of 27.6 mA/cm 2 is obtained from normally incident AM 1.5 sunlight. For a surface non-radiative recombination velocity of 10 3 cm/s, this corresponds to a solar power conversion efficiency of 28.3%. When all light from radiative recombination is trapped and reabsorbed (complete photon recycling) the power conversion efficiency increases to 29%. If the surface recombination velocity is reduced to 10 cm/sec, photon recycling is much more effective and the power conversion efficiency reaches 30.6%.« less

Light-trapping and recycling for extraordinary power conversion in ultra-thin gallium-arsenide solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eyderman, Sergey; John, Sajeev

Here, we demonstrate nearly 30% power conversion efficiency in ultra-thin (~200 nm) gallium arsenide photonic crystal solar cells by numerical solution of the coupled electromagnetic Maxwell and semiconductor drift-diffusion equations. Our architecture enables wave-interference-induced solar light trapping in the wavelength range from 300-865 nm, leading to absorption of almost 90% of incoming sunlight. Our optimized design for 200 nm equivalent bulk thickness of GaAs, is a square-lattice, slanted conical-pore photonic crystal (lattice constant 550 nm, pore diameter 600 nm, and pore depth 290 nm), passivated with AlGaAs, deposited on a silver back-reflector, with ITO upper contact and encapsulated with SiOmore » 2. Our model includes both radiative and non-radiative recombination of photo-generated charge carriers. When all light from radiative recombination is assumed to escape the structure, a maximum achievable photocurrent density (MAPD) of 27.6 mA/cm 2 is obtained from normally incident AM 1.5 sunlight. For a surface non-radiative recombination velocity of 10 3 cm/s, this corresponds to a solar power conversion efficiency of 28.3%. When all light from radiative recombination is trapped and reabsorbed (complete photon recycling) the power conversion efficiency increases to 29%. If the surface recombination velocity is reduced to 10 cm/sec, photon recycling is much more effective and the power conversion efficiency reaches 30.6%.« less

Mini ion trap mass spectrometer

DOEpatents

Dietrich, Daniel D.; Keville, Robert F.

1995-01-01

An ion trap which operates in the regime between research ion traps which can detect ions with a mass resolution of better than 1:10.sup.9 and commercial mass spectrometers requiring 10.sup.4 ions with resolutions of a few hundred. The power consumption is kept to a minimum by the use of permanent magnets and a novel electron gun design. By Fourier analyzing the ion cyclotron resonance signals induced in the trap electrodes, a complete mass spectra in a single combined structure can be detected. An attribute of the ion trap mass spectrometer is that overall system size is drastically reduced due to combining a unique electron source and mass analyzer/detector in a single device. This enables portable low power mass spectrometers for the detection of environmental pollutants or illicit substances, as well as sensors for on board diagnostics to monitor engine performance or for active feedback in any process involving exhausting waste products.

Mini ion trap mass spectrometer

DOEpatents

Dietrich, D.D.; Keville, R.F.

1995-09-19

An ion trap is described which operates in the regime between research ion traps which can detect ions with a mass resolution of better than 1:10{sup 9} and commercial mass spectrometers requiring 10{sup 4} ions with resolutions of a few hundred. The power consumption is kept to a minimum by the use of permanent magnets and a novel electron gun design. By Fourier analyzing the ion cyclotron resonance signals induced in the trap electrodes, a complete mass spectra in a single combined structure can be detected. An attribute of the ion trap mass spectrometer is that overall system size is drastically reduced due to combining a unique electron source and mass analyzer/detector in a single device. This enables portable low power mass spectrometers for the detection of environmental pollutants or illicit substances, as well as sensors for on board diagnostics to monitor engine performance or for active feedback in any process involving exhausting waste products. 10 figs.

Microfabricated cylindrical ion trap

DOEpatents

Blain, Matthew G.

2005-03-22

A microscale cylindrical ion trap, having an inner radius of order one micron, can be fabricated using surface micromachining techniques and materials known to the integrated circuits manufacturing and microelectromechanical systems industries. Micromachining methods enable batch fabrication, reduced manufacturing costs, dimensional and positional precision, and monolithic integration of massive arrays of ion traps with microscale ion generation and detection devices. Massive arraying enables the microscale cylindrical ion trap to retain the resolution, sensitivity, and mass range advantages necessary for high chemical selectivity. The microscale CIT has a reduced ion mean free path, allowing operation at higher pressures with less expensive and less bulky vacuum pumping system, and with lower battery power than conventional- and miniature-sized ion traps. The reduced electrode voltage enables integration of the microscale cylindrical ion trap with on-chip integrated circuit-based rf operation and detection electronics (i.e., cell phone electronics). Therefore, the full performance advantages of microscale cylindrical ion traps can be realized in truly field portable, handheld microanalysis systems.

Universal Expression of Efficiency at Maximum Power: A Quantum-Mechanical Brayton Engine Working with a Single Particle Confined in a Power-Law Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Zhuo-Lin; Li, Wei-Sheng; Lai, Yi-Ming; He, Ji-Zhou; Wang, Jian-Hui

2015-12-01

We propose a quantum-mechanical Brayton engine model that works between two superposed states, employing a single particle confined in an arbitrary power-law trap as the working substance. Applying the superposition principle, we obtain the explicit expressions of the power and efficiency, and find that the efficiency at maximum power is bounded from above by the function: η+ = θ/(θ + 1), with θ being a potential-dependent exponent. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 11505091, 11265010, and 11365015, and the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation under Grant No. 20132BAB212009

High-density magnetoresistive random access memory operating at ultralow voltage at room temperature.

PubMed

Hu, Jia-Mian; Li, Zheng; Chen, Long-Qing; Nan, Ce-Wen

2011-11-22

The main bottlenecks limiting the practical applications of current magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) technology are its low storage density and high writing energy consumption. Although a number of proposals have been reported for voltage-controlled memory device in recent years, none of them simultaneously satisfy the important device attributes: high storage capacity, low power consumption and room temperature operation. Here we present, using phase-field simulations, a simple and new pathway towards high-performance MRAMs that display significant improvements over existing MRAM technologies or proposed concepts. The proposed nanoscale MRAM device simultaneously exhibits ultrahigh storage capacity of up to 88 Gb inch(-2), ultralow power dissipation as low as 0.16 fJ per bit and room temperature high-speed operation below 10 ns.

High-density magnetoresistive random access memory operating at ultralow voltage at room temperature

PubMed Central

Hu, Jia-Mian; Li, Zheng; Chen, Long-Qing; Nan, Ce-Wen

2011-01-01

The main bottlenecks limiting the practical applications of current magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) technology are its low storage density and high writing energy consumption. Although a number of proposals have been reported for voltage-controlled memory device in recent years, none of them simultaneously satisfy the important device attributes: high storage capacity, low power consumption and room temperature operation. Here we present, using phase-field simulations, a simple and new pathway towards high-performance MRAMs that display significant improvements over existing MRAM technologies or proposed concepts. The proposed nanoscale MRAM device simultaneously exhibits ultrahigh storage capacity of up to 88 Gb inch−2, ultralow power dissipation as low as 0.16 fJ per bit and room temperature high-speed operation below 10 ns. PMID:22109527

Submillikelvin Dipolar Molecules in a Radio-Frequency Magneto-Optical Trap.

PubMed

Norrgard, E B; McCarron, D J; Steinecker, M H; Tarbutt, M R; DeMille, D

2016-02-12

We demonstrate a scheme for magneto-optically trapping strontium monofluoride (SrF) molecules at temperatures one order of magnitude lower and phase space densities 3 orders of magnitude higher than obtained previously with laser-cooled molecules. In our trap, optical dark states are destabilized by rapidly and synchronously reversing the trapping laser polarizations and the applied magnetic field gradient. The number of molecules and trap lifetime are also significantly improved from previous work by loading the trap with high laser power and then reducing the power for long-term trapping. With this procedure, temperatures as low as 400  μK are achieved.

Soft Phonon Modes Leading to Ultralow Thermal Conductivity and High Thermoelectric Performance in AgCuTe.

PubMed

Roychowdhury, Subhajit; Jana, Manoj K; Pan, Jaysree; Guin, Satya N; Sanyal, Dirtha; Waghmare, Umesh V; Biswas, Kanishka

2018-04-03

Crystalline solids with intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (κ L ) are crucial to realizing high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials. Herein, we show an ultralow κ L of 0.35 Wm -1  K -1 in AgCuTe, which has a remarkable TE figure-of-merit, zT of 1.6 at 670 K when alloyed with 10 mol % Se. First-principles DFT calculation reveals several soft phonon modes in its room-temperature hexagonal phase, which are also evident from low-temperature heat-capacity measurement. These phonon modes, dominated by Ag vibrations, soften further with temperature giving a dynamic cation disorder and driving the superionic transition. Intrinsic factors cause an ultralow κ L in the room-temperature hexagonal phase, while the dynamic disorder of Ag/Cu cations leads to reduced phonon frequencies and mean free paths in the high-temperature rocksalt phase. Despite the cation disorder at elevated temperatures, the crystalline conduits of the rigid anion sublattice give a high power factor. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ultralow-current-density and bias-field-free spin-transfer nano-oscillator

PubMed Central

Zeng, Zhongming; Finocchio, Giovanni; Zhang, Baoshun; Amiri, Pedram Khalili; Katine, Jordan A.; Krivorotov, Ilya N.; Huai, Yiming; Langer, Juergen; Azzerboni, Bruno; Wang, Kang L.; Jiang, Hongwen

2013-01-01

The spin-transfer nano-oscillator (STNO) offers the possibility of using the transfer of spin angular momentum via spin-polarized currents to generate microwave signals. However, at present STNO microwave emission mainly relies on both large drive currents and external magnetic fields. These issues hinder the implementation of STNOs for practical applications in terms of power dissipation and size. Here, we report microwave measurements on STNOs built with MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions having a planar polarizer and a perpendicular free layer, where microwave emission with large output power, excited at ultralow current densities, and in the absence of any bias magnetic fields is observed. The measured critical current density is over one order of magnitude smaller than previously reported. These results suggest the possibility of improved integration of STNOs with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology, and could represent a new route for the development of the next-generation of on-chip oscillators. PMID:23478390

Ultralow-current-density and bias-field-free spin-transfer nano-oscillator.

PubMed

Zeng, Zhongming; Finocchio, Giovanni; Zhang, Baoshun; Khalili Amiri, Pedram; Katine, Jordan A; Krivorotov, Ilya N; Huai, Yiming; Langer, Juergen; Azzerboni, Bruno; Wang, Kang L; Jiang, Hongwen

2013-01-01

The spin-transfer nano-oscillator (STNO) offers the possibility of using the transfer of spin angular momentum via spin-polarized currents to generate microwave signals. However, at present STNO microwave emission mainly relies on both large drive currents and external magnetic fields. These issues hinder the implementation of STNOs for practical applications in terms of power dissipation and size. Here, we report microwave measurements on STNOs built with MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions having a planar polarizer and a perpendicular free layer, where microwave emission with large output power, excited at ultralow current densities, and in the absence of any bias magnetic fields is observed. The measured critical current density is over one order of magnitude smaller than previously reported. These results suggest the possibility of improved integration of STNOs with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology, and could represent a new route for the development of the next-generation of on-chip oscillators.

Ultra-low magnetic damping in metallic and half-metallic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, Justin

The phenomenology of magnetic damping is of critical importance to devices which seek to exploit the electronic spin degree of freedom since damping strongly affects the energy required and speed at which a device can operate. However, theory has struggled to quantitatively predict the damping, even in common ferromagnetic materials. This presents a challenge for a broad range of applications in magnonics, spintronics and spin-orbitronics that depend on the ability to precisely control the damping of a material. I will discuss our recent work to precisely measure the intrinsic damping in several metallic and half-metallic material systems and compare experiment with several theoretical models. This investigation uncovered a metallic material composed of Co and Fe that exhibit ultra-low values of damping that approach values found in thin film YIG. Such ultra-low damping is unexpected in a metal since magnon-electron scattering dominates the damping in conductors. However, this system possesses a distinctive feature in the bandstructure that minimizes the density of states at the Fermi energy n(EF). These findings provide the theoretical framework by which such ultra-low damping can be achieved in metallic ferromagnets and may enable a new class of experiments where ultra-low damping can be combined with a charge current. Half-metallic Heusler compounds by definition have a bandgap in one of the spin channels at the Fermi energy. This feature can also lead to exceptionally low values of the damping parameter. Our results show a strong correlation of the damping with the order parameter in Co2MnGe. Finally, I will provide an overview of the recent advances in achieving low damping in thin film Heusler compounds.

Advances in the use of trapping systems for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): traps and attractants.

PubMed

Vacas, S; Primo, J; Navarro-Llopis, V

2013-08-01

Given the social importance related to the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), efforts are being made to develop new control methods, such as the deployment of trapping systems. In this work, the efficacy of a new black pyramidal trap design (Picusan) has been verified in comparison with white and black buckets. In addition, the attractant and synergistic effect of ethyl acetate (EtAc) at different release levels has been evaluated under field conditions. The results show that Picusan traps captured 45% more weevils than bucket-type traps, offering significantly better trapping efficacy. The addition of water to traps baited with palm tissues was found to be essential, with catches increasing more than threefold compared with dry traps. EtAc alone does not offer attractant power under field conditions, and the release levels from 57 mg/d to 1 g/d have no synergistic effect with ferrugineol. Furthermore, significantly fewer females were captured when EtAc was released at 2 g/d. The implications of using EtAc dispensers in trapping systems are discussed.

Ultralow-light-level all-optical transistor in rubidium vapor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jing, Jietai, E-mail: jtjing@phy.ecnu.edu.cn; Zhou, Zhifan; Liu, Cunjin

2014-04-14

An all-optical transistor (AOT) is a device in which one light beam can efficiently manipulate another. It is the foundational component of an all-optical communication network. An AOT that can operate at ultralow light levels is especially attractive for its potential application in the quantum information field. Here, we demonstrate an AOT driven by a weak light beam with an energy density of 2.5 × 10{sup −5} photons/(λ{sup 2}/2π) (corresponding to 6  yJ/(λ{sup 2}/2π) and about 800 total photons) using the double-Λ four-wave mixing process in hot rubidium vapor. This makes it a promising candidate for ultralow-light-level optical communication and quantum information science.

Quantitative in vivo biocompatibility of new ultralow-nickel cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys.

PubMed

Sonofuchi, Kazuaki; Hagiwara, Yoshihiro; Koizumi, Yuichiro; Chiba, Akihiko; Kawano, Mitsuko; Nakayama, Masafumi; Ogasawara, Kouetsu; Yabe, Yutaka; Itoi, Eiji

2016-09-01

Nickel (Ni) eluted from metallic biomaterials is widely accepted as a major cause of allergies and inflammation. To improve the safety of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) alloy implants, new ultralow-Ni Co-Cr-Mo alloys with and without zirconium (Zr) have been developed, with Ni contents of less than 0.01%. In the present study, we investigated the biocompatibility of these new alloys in vivo by subcutaneously implanting pure Ni, conventional Co-Cr-Mo, ultralow-Ni Co-Cr-Mo, and ultralow-Ni Co-Cr-Mo with Zr wires into the dorsal sides of mice. After 3 and 7 days, tissues around the wire were excised, and inflammation; the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α; and Ni, Co, Cr, and Mo ion release were analyzed using histological analyses, qRT-PCR, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. Significantly larger amounts of Ni eluted from pure Ni wires than from the other wires, and the degree of inflammation depended on the amount of eluted Ni. Although no significant differences in inflammatory reactions were identified among new alloys and conventional Co-Cr-Mo alloys in histological and qRT-PCR analyses, ICP-MS analysis revealed that Ni ion elution from ultralow-Ni Co-Cr-Mo alloys with and without Zr was significantly lower than from conventional Co-Cr-Mo alloys. Our study, suggests that the present ultralow-Ni Co-Cr-Mo alloys with and without Zr have greater safety and utility than conventional Co-Cr-Mo alloys. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1505-1513, 2016. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Exceptional thermoelectric performance of a "star-like" SnSe nanotube with ultra-low thermal conductivity and a high power factor.

PubMed

Lin, Chensheng; Cheng, Wendan; Guo, Zhengxiao; Chai, Guoliang; Zhang, Hao

2017-08-30

Efficient thermoelectric energy conversion is both crucial and challenging, and requires new material candidates by design. From first principles simulations, we identify that a "star-like" SnSe nanotube - with alternating dense and loose rings along the tube direction - gives rise to an ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity, 0.18 W m -1 K -1 at 750 K, and a large Seebeck coefficient, compared with single crystal SnSe. The power factor of the p-type SnSe nanotube reaches its maximum value of 235 μW cm -1 K -2 at a moderate doping level of around 10 20 -10 21 cm -3 . The p-type nanotube shows better thermoelectric properties than the n-type one. The phonon anharmonic scattering rate of the SnSe nanotube is larger than that of the SnSe crystal. All of these factors lead to an exceptional figure-of-merit (ZT) value of 3.5-4.6 under the optimal conditions, compared to 0.6-2.6 for crystalline SnSe. Such a large ZT value should lead to a six-fold increase in the energy conversion efficiency to about 30%.

Ultralow frequency waves in the magnetotails of the earth and the outer planets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khurana, Krishan K.; Chen, Sheng H.; Hammond, C. M.; Kivelson, Margaret G.

1992-01-01

Ultralow frequency waves with periods greater than two minutes are characteristic features of planetary magnetotails. At Jupiter, changes in the wave characteristics across the boundary between the plasma sheet and the lobe have been used to identify this important plasma boundary. In the terrestrial lobes the wave amplitude can be relatively large, especially during intervals of intense geomagnetic activity. The wave power seen in the lobes of the magnetotails of the earth, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus is evaluated to evaluate a proposal by Smith et al. that the propagating waves generated by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the magnetopause can heat the plasma through a resonant absorption of these waves. The results indicate that the wave power in the lobes is generally small and can be easily understood in the framework of coupled MHD waves generated in the plasma sheet.

Ultralow-threshold cascaded Brillouin microlaser for tunable microwave generation.

PubMed

Guo, Changlei; Che, Kaijun; Cai, Zhiping; Liu, Shuai; Gu, Guoqiang; Chu, Chengxu; Zhang, Pan; Fu, Hongyan; Luo, Zhengqian; Xu, Huiying

2015-11-01

We experimentally demonstrate an ultralow-threshold cascaded Brillouin microlaser for tunable microwave generation in a high-Q silica microsphere resonator. The threshold of the Brillouin microlaser is as low as 8 μW, which is close to the theoretical prediction. Moreover, the fifth-order Stokes line with a frequency shift up to 55 GHz is achieved with a coupled pump power of less than 0.6 mW. Benefiting from resonant wavelength shifts driven by thermal dynamics in the microsphere, we further realized tunable microwave signals with tuning ranges of 40 MHz at an 11 GHz band and 20 MHz at a 22 GHz band. To the best of our knowledge, it was the first attempt for tunable microwave source based on the whispering-gallery-mode Brillouin microlaser. Such a tunable microwave source from a cascaded Brillouin microlaser could find significant applications in aerospace, communication engineering, and metrology.

Fluorescence spectroscopy of trapped molecular ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, Kenneth Charles

This thesis describes the development of a unique instrument capable of detecting fluorescence emission from large gas phase molecular ions trapped in a three-dimensional quadrupole ion trap. The hypothesis that has formed the basis of this work is the belief that fluorescence spectroscopy can be combined with ion trap mass spectrometry to probe the structure of gas phase molecular ions. The ion trap provides a rarefied environment where fluorescence experiments can be conducted without interference from solvent molecules or impurities. Although fluorescence was not detected during preliminary experiments, two significant experimental challenges associated with detecting the gas phase fluorescence of ions were discovered. First, gas phase ions were vulnerable to photodissociation and low laser powers were necessary to avoid photodissociation. Since fluorescence emission is directly proportional to laser intensity, a lower laser power limits the fluorescence signal. Second, the fluorescence emission was not significantly Stokes shifted from the excitation. The lack of Stokes shift meant the small fluorescence signal must be detected in the presence of a large amount of background scatter generated by the excitation. Initially, this background was seven orders of magnitude higher than the analytical signal ultimately detected. A specially designed fiber optic probe was inserted between the electrodes of the ion trap to stop light scattered off the outside surfaces of the trap from reaching the detector. The inside surfaces of the ion trap were coated black to further reduce the amount of scattered light collected. These innovations helped reduced the background by six orders of magnitude and fluorescence emission from rhodamine-6G was detected. Pulse counting experiments were used to optimize fluorescence detection. The effects of trapping level, laser power, and irradiation time were investigated and optimized. The instrument developed in this work not only allows

A Long-Distance RF-Powered Sensor Node with Adaptive Power Management for IoT Applications.

PubMed

Pizzotti, Matteo; Perilli, Luca; Del Prete, Massimo; Fabbri, Davide; Canegallo, Roberto; Dini, Michele; Masotti, Diego; Costanzo, Alessandra; Franchi Scarselli, Eleonora; Romani, Aldo

2017-07-28

We present a self-sustained battery-less multi-sensor platform with RF harvesting capability down to -17 dBm and implementing a standard DASH7 wireless communication interface. The node operates at distances up to 17 m from a 2 W UHF carrier. RF power transfer allows operation when common energy scavenging sources (e.g., sun, heat, etc.) are not available, while the DASH7 communication protocol makes it fully compatible with a standard IoT infrastructure. An optimized energy-harvesting module has been designed, including a rectifying antenna (rectenna) and an integrated nano-power DC/DC converter performing maximum-power-point-tracking (MPPT). A nonlinear/electromagnetic co-design procedure is adopted to design the rectenna, which is optimized to operate at ultra-low power levels. An ultra-low power microcontroller controls on-board sensors and wireless protocol, to adapt the power consumption to the available detected power by changing wake-up policies. As a result, adaptive behavior can be observed in the designed platform, to the extent that the transmission data rate is dynamically determined by RF power. Among the novel features of the system, we highlight the use of nano-power energy harvesting, the implementation of specific hardware/software wake-up policies, optimized algorithms for best sampling rate implementation, and adaptive behavior by the node based on the power received.

A Long-Distance RF-Powered Sensor Node with Adaptive Power Management for IoT Applications

PubMed Central

del Prete, Massimo; Fabbri, Davide; Canegallo, Roberto; Dini, Michele; Costanzo, Alessandra

2017-01-01

We present a self-sustained battery-less multi-sensor platform with RF harvesting capability down to −17 dBm and implementing a standard DASH7 wireless communication interface. The node operates at distances up to 17 m from a 2 W UHF carrier. RF power transfer allows operation when common energy scavenging sources (e.g., sun, heat, etc.) are not available, while the DASH7 communication protocol makes it fully compatible with a standard IoT infrastructure. An optimized energy-harvesting module has been designed, including a rectifying antenna (rectenna) and an integrated nano-power DC/DC converter performing maximum-power-point-tracking (MPPT). A nonlinear/electromagnetic co-design procedure is adopted to design the rectenna, which is optimized to operate at ultra-low power levels. An ultra-low power microcontroller controls on-board sensors and wireless protocol, to adapt the power consumption to the available detected power by changing wake-up policies. As a result, adaptive behavior can be observed in the designed platform, to the extent that the transmission data rate is dynamically determined by RF power. Among the novel features of the system, we highlight the use of nano-power energy harvesting, the implementation of specific hardware/software wake-up policies, optimized algorithms for best sampling rate implementation, and adaptive behavior by the node based on the power received. PMID:28788084

Adaptive suppression of power line interference in ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging in an unshielded environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Xiaolei; Dong, Hui; Qiu, Yang; Li, Bo; Tao, Quan; Zhang, Yi; Krause, Hans-Joachim; Offenhäusser, Andreas; Xie, Xiaoming

2018-01-01

Power-line harmonic interference and fixed-frequency noise peaks may cause stripe-artifacts in ultra-low field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an unshielded environment and in a conductively shielded room. In this paper we describe an adaptive suppression method to eliminate these artifacts in MRI images. This technique utilizes spatial correlation of the interference from different positions, and is realized by subtracting the outputs of the reference channel(s) from those of the signal channel(s) using wavelet analysis and the least squares method. The adaptive suppression method is first implemented to remove the image artifacts in simulation. We then experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of this technique by adding three orthogonal superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers as reference channels to compensate the output of one 2nd-order gradiometer. The experimental results show great improvement in the imaging quality in both 1D and 2D MRI images at two common imaging frequencies, 1.3 kHz and 4.8 kHz. At both frequencies, the effective compensation bandwidth is as high as 2 kHz. Furthermore, we examine the longitudinal relaxation times of the same sample before and after compensation, and show that the MRI properties of the sample did not change after applying adaptive suppression. This technique can effectively increase the imaging bandwidth and be applied to ULF MRI detected by either SQUIDs or Faraday coil in both an unshielded environment and a conductively shielded room.

The cannabinoid anticonvulsant effect on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure is potentiated by ultra-low dose naltrexone in mice.

PubMed

Bahremand, Arash; Shafaroodi, Hamed; Ghasemi, Mehdi; Nasrabady, Sara Ebrahimi; Gholizadeh, Shervin; Dehpour, Ahmad Reza

2008-09-01

Cannabinoid compounds are anticonvulsant since they have inhibitory effects at micromolar doses, which are mediated by activated receptors coupling to G(i/o) proteins. Surprisingly, both the analgesic and anticonvulsant effects of opioids are enhanced by ultra-low doses (nanomolar to picomolar) of the opioid antagonist naltrexone and as opioid and cannabinoid systems interact, it has been shown that ultra-low dose naltrexone also enhances cannabinoid-induced antinociception. Thus, concerning the seizure modulating properties of both classes of receptors this study investigated whether the ultra-low dose opioid antagonist naltrexone influences cannabinoid anticonvulsant effects. The clonic seizure threshold was tested in separate groups of male NMRI mice following injection of vehicle, the cannabinoid selective agonist arachidonyl-2-chloroethylamide (ACEA) and ultra-low doses of the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone and a combination of ACEA and naltrexone doses in a model of clonic seizure induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Systemic injection of ultra-low doses of naltrexone (1pg/kg to 1ng/kg, i.p.) significantly potentiated the anticonvulsant effect of ACEA (1mg/kg, i.p.). Moreover, the very low dose of naltrexone (500pg/kg) unmasked a strong anticonvulsant effect for very low doses of ACEA (10 and 100microg/kg). A similar potentiation by naltrexone (500pg/kg) of anticonvulsant effects of non-effective dose of ACEA (1mg/kg) was also observed in the generalized tonic-clonic model of seizure. The present data indicate that the interaction between opioid and cannabinoid systems extends to ultra-low dose levels and ultra-low doses of opioid receptor antagonist in conjunction with very low doses of cannabinoids may provide a potent strategy to modulate seizure susceptibility.

The investigation of trapped thickness shear modes in a contoured AT-cut quartz plate using the power series expansion technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Peng; Jin, Feng

2018-01-01

The dynamic model about the anti-plane vibration of a contoured quartz plate with thickness changing continuously is established by ignoring the effect of small elastic constant c 56. The governing equation is solved using the power series expansion technique, and the trapped thickness shear modes caused by bulge thickness are revealed. Theoretically, the proposed method is more general, which can be capable of handling various thickness profiles defined mathematically. After the convergence of the series is demonstrated and the correctness is numerically validated with the aid of finite element method results, systematic parametric studies are subsequently carried out to quantify the effects of the geometry parameter upon the trapped modes, including resonant frequency and mode shape. After that, the band structures of thickness shear waves propagation in a periodically contoured quartz plate, as well as the power transmission spectra, are obtained based on the power series expansion technique. It is revealed that broad stop bands below cut-off frequency exist owing to the trapped modes excited by the geometry inhomogeneity, which has little relationship with the structural periodicity, and its physical mechanism is different from the Bragg scattering effect. The outcome is widely applicable, and can be utilized to provide theoretical and practical guidance for the design and manufacturing of quartz resonators and wave filters.

The Effects of ELDRS at Ultra-Low Dose Rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Dakai; Forney, James; Carts, Martin; Phan, Anthony; Cox, Stephen; Kruckmeyer, Kirby; Burns, Sam; Albarian, Rafi; Holcombe, Bruce; Little, Bradley;

Optical trapping of nanoparticles by ultrashort laser pulses.

PubMed

Usman, Anwar; Chiang, Wei-Yi; Masuhara, Hiroshi

2013-01-01

Optical trapping with continuous-wave lasers has been a fascinating field in the optical manipulation. It has become a powerful tool for manipulating micrometer-sized objects, and has been widely applied in physics, chemistry, biology, material, and colloidal science. Replacing the continuous-wave- with pulsed-mode laser in optical trapping has already revealed some novel phenomena, including the stable trap, modifiable trapping positions, and controllable directional optical ejections of particles in nanometer scales. Due to two distinctive features; impulsive peak powers and relaxation time between consecutive pulses, the optical trapping with the laser pulses has been demonstrated to have some advantages over conventional continuous-wave lasers, particularly when the particles are within Rayleigh approximation. This would open unprecedented opportunities in both fundamental science and application. This Review summarizes recent advances in the optical trapping with laser pulses and discusses the electromagnetic formulations and physical interpretations of the new phenomena. Its aim is rather to show how beautiful and promising this field will be, and to encourage the in-depth study of this field.

Feasibility of an ultra-low power digital signal processor platform as a basis for a fully implantable brain-computer interface system.

PubMed

Wang, Po T; Gandasetiawan, Keulanna; McCrimmon, Colin M; Karimi-Bidhendi, Alireza; Liu, Charles Y; Heydari, Payam; Nenadic, Zoran; Do, An H

2016-08-01

A fully implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) can be a practical tool to restore independence to those affected by spinal cord injury. We envision that such a BCI system will invasively acquire brain signals (e.g. electrocorticogram) and translate them into control commands for external prostheses. The feasibility of such a system was tested by implementing its benchtop analogue, centered around a commercial, ultra-low power (ULP) digital signal processor (DSP, TMS320C5517, Texas Instruments). A suite of signal processing and BCI algorithms, including (de)multiplexing, Fast Fourier Transform, power spectral density, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, Bayes rule, and finite state machine was implemented and tested in the DSP. The system's signal acquisition fidelity was tested and characterized by acquiring harmonic signals from a function generator. In addition, the BCI decoding performance was tested, first with signals from a function generator, and subsequently using human electroencephalogram (EEG) during eyes opening and closing task. On average, the system spent 322 ms to process and analyze 2 s of data. Crosstalk (<;-65 dB) and harmonic distortion (~1%) were minimal. Timing jitter averaged 49 μs per 1000 ms. The online BCI decoding accuracies were 100% for both function generator and EEG data. These results show that a complex BCI algorithm can be executed on an ULP DSP without compromising performance. This suggests that the proposed hardware platform may be used as a basis for future, fully implantable BCI systems.

Reduced tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide exposure while smoking ultralow- but not low-yield cigarettes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benowitz, N.L.; Jacob, P. III; Yu, L.

An unresolved public health issue is whether some modern cigarettes are less hazardous than other and whether patients who cannot stop smoking should be advised to switch to lower-yield cigarettes. The authors studied tar (estimated by urine mutagenicity), nicotine, and carbon monoxide exposure in habitual smokers switched from their usual brand to high- (15 mg of tar), low- (5 mg of tar), or ultralow-yield (1 mg of tar) cigarettes. There were no differences in exposure comparing high- or low-yield cigarettes, but tar and nicotine exposures were reduced by 49% and 56%, respectively, and carbon monoxide exposure by 36% while smokingmore » ultralow-yield cigarettes. Similarly, in 248 subjects smoking their self-selected brand, nicotine intake, estimated by blood concentrations of its metabolite continine, was 40% lower in those who smoked ultralow but no different in those smoking higher yields of cigarettes. The data indicate that ultralow-yield cigarettes do deliver substantial doses of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide, but that exposure are considerably less than for other cigarettes.« less

Quantum-mechanical engines working with an ideal gas with a finite number of particles confined in a power-law trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jianhui; Ma, Yongli; He, Jizhou

2015-07-01

Based on quantum thermodynamic processes, we make a quantum-mechanical (QM) extension of the typical heat engine cycles, such as the Carnot, Brayton, Otto, Diesel cycles, etc., with no introduction of the concept of temperature. When these QM engine cycles are implemented by an ideal gas confined in an arbitrary power-law trap, a relation between the quantum adiabatic exponent and trap exponent is found. The differences and similarities between the efficiency of a given QM engine cycle and its classical counterpart are revealed and discussed.

Power port contrast medium flushing and trapping: impact of temperature, an in vitro experimental study.

PubMed

Guiffant, Gérard; Durussel, Jean Jacques; Flaud, Patrice; Royon, Laurent; Marcy, Pierre Yves; Merckx, Jacques

2013-01-01

The use of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) certified as "high pressure resistant" or "power port" has begun to spread worldwide as a safe procedure for power contrast injection. Owing to the thermo-rheological properties of the contrast media, the primary aim of this work is to present an in vitro experimental impact study concerning the impact of the temperature level on flushing efficiency after contrast medium injection. Moreover, we report experimental data that confirms the role of needle bevel orientation. The secondary aim is to answer the following questions: Is there significant device contrast medium trapping after contrast medium injection? Is saline flushing efficient? And, finally, is it safe to inject contrast medium through an indwelled port catheter? The experimental results show that in addition to hydrodynamics, temperature is a key parameter for the efficiency of device flushing after contrast medium injection. It appears that this is the case when the cavity is incompletely rinsed after three calibrated flushing volumes of 10 mL saline solution, even by using the Huber needle bevel opposite to the port exit. This leads to a potentially important trapped volume of contrast medium in the port, and consequently to the possibility of subsequent salt precipitates and long term trisubstituted benzene nuclei delivery that might impair the solute properties, which may be further injected via the power port later on. We thus suggest, in TIVADS patients, the use of a temporary supplementary intravenous line rather than the port to perform contrast medium injections in daily radiology routine practice.

Power port contrast medium flushing and trapping: impact of temperature, an in vitro experimental study

PubMed Central

Guiffant, Gérard; Durussel, Jean Jacques; Flaud, Patrice; Royon, Laurent; Marcy, Pierre Yves; Merckx, Jacques

2013-01-01

Purpose The use of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) certified as “high pressure resistant” or “power port” has begun to spread worldwide as a safe procedure for power contrast injection. Owing to the thermo-rheological properties of the contrast media, the primary aim of this work is to present an in vitro experimental impact study concerning the impact of the temperature level on flushing efficiency after contrast medium injection. Moreover, we report experimental data that confirms the role of needle bevel orientation. The secondary aim is to answer the following questions: Is there significant device contrast medium trapping after contrast medium injection? Is saline flushing efficient? And, finally, is it safe to inject contrast medium through an indwelled port catheter? Results The experimental results show that in addition to hydrodynamics, temperature is a key parameter for the efficiency of device flushing after contrast medium injection. It appears that this is the case when the cavity is incompletely rinsed after three calibrated flushing volumes of 10 mL saline solution, even by using the Huber needle bevel opposite to the port exit. This leads to a potentially important trapped volume of contrast medium in the port, and consequently to the possibility of subsequent salt precipitates and long term trisubstituted benzene nuclei delivery that might impair the solute properties, which may be further injected via the power port later on. Conclusion We thus suggest, in TIVADS patients, the use of a temporary supplementary intravenous line rather than the port to perform contrast medium injections in daily radiology routine practice. PMID:24043959

A simple optical tweezers for trapping polystyrene particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiddiq, Minarni; Nasir, Zulfa; Yogasari, Dwiyana

2013-09-01

Optical tweezers is an optical trap. For decades, it has become an optical tool that can trap and manipulate any particle from the very small size like DNA to the big one like bacteria. The trapping force comes from the radiation pressure of laser light which is focused to a group of particles. Optical tweezers has been used in many research areas such as atomic physics, medical physics, biophysics, and chemistry. Here, a simple optical tweezers has been constructed using a modified Leybold laboratory optical microscope. The ocular lens of the microscope has been removed for laser light and digital camera accesses. A laser light from a Coherent diode laser with wavelength λ = 830 nm and power 50 mW is sent through an immersion oil objective lens with magnification 100 × and NA 1.25 to a cell made from microscope slides containing polystyrene particles. Polystyrene particles with size 3 μm and 10 μm are used. A CMOS Thorlabs camera type DCC1545M with USB Interface and Thorlabs camera lens 35 mm are connected to a desktop and used to monitor the trapping and measure the stiffness of the trap. The camera is accompanied by camera software which makes able for the user to capture and save images. The images are analyzed using ImageJ and Scion macro. The polystyrene particles have been trapped successfully. The stiffness of the trap depends on the size of the particles and the power of the laser. The stiffness increases linearly with power and decreases as the particle size larger.

Effect of microstructural evolution on mechanical and tribological properties of Ti-doped DLC films: How was an ultralow friction obtained?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Fei; Li, Hongxuan; Ji, Li

2016-05-15

This paper examined the evolution of microstructure and its effect on the mechanical and tribological properties of ultralow friction Ti-doped diamondlike carbon (DLC) films, by adjusting the CH{sub 4}/Ar ratio under constant radio frequency discharge power and bias. The Raman, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscope and nanoindentation measurements consistently reveal or indicate the formation of curved graphene sheets or fullerenelike nanostructures with increasing CH{sub 4}/Ar ratio. The superior frictional performance (0.008–0.01) of Ti-DLC films can be attributed to the special microstructure related to the development of embedded fullerenelike nanostructures as a result of incorporation of TiO{sub 2}more » clusters. The contributing factors include high hardness and cohesion, excellent toughness, high load-bearing capacity, as well as the ultralow shear resistance transform layer and the excellent antioxidation stability brought by the doped Ti.« less

Numerical study of ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry utilizing a single axis magnetometer for signal detection.

PubMed

Vogel, Michael W; Vegh, Viktor; Reutens, David C

2013-05-01

This paper investigates optimal placement of a localized single-axis magnetometer for ultralow field (ULF) relaxometry in view of various sample shapes and sizes. The authors used finite element method for the numerical analysis to determine the sample magnetic field environment and evaluate the optimal location of the single-axis magnetometer. Given the different samples, the authors analysed the magnetic field distribution around the sample and determined the optimal orientation and possible positions of the sensor to maximize signal strength, that is, the power of the free induction decay. The authors demonstrate that a glass vial with flat bottom and 10 ml volume is the best structure to achieve the highest signal out of samples studied. This paper demonstrates the importance of taking into account the combined effects of sensor configuration and sample parameters for signal generation prior to designing and constructing ULF systems with a single-axis magnetometer. Through numerical simulations the authors were able to optimize structural parameters, such as sample shape and size, sensor orientation and location, to maximize the measured signal in ultralow field relaxometry.

Automated motile cell capture and analysis with optical traps.

PubMed

Shao, Bing; Nascimento, Jaclyn M; Shi, Linda Z; Botvinick, Elliot L

2007-01-01

Laser trapping in the near infrared regime is a noninvasive and microfluidic-compatible biomedical tool. This chapter examines the use of optical trapping as a quantitative measure of sperm motility. The single point gradient trap is used to directly measure the swimming forces of sperm from several different species. These forces could provide useful information about the overall sperm motility and semen quality. The swimming force is measured by trapping sperm and subsequently decreasing laser power until the sperm is capable of escaping the trap. Swimming trajectories were calculated by custom built software, an automatic sperm tracking algorithm called the single sperm tracking algorithm or SSTA. A real-time automated tracking and trapping system, or RATTS, which operates at video rate, was developed to perform experiments with minimal human involvement. After the experimenter initially identifies and clicks the computer mouse on the sperm-of-interest, RATTS performs all further tracking and trapping functions without human intervention. Additionally, an annular laser trap which is potentially useful for high-throughput sperm sorting based on motility and chemotaxis was developed. This low power trap offers a more gentle way for studying the effects of laser radiation, optical force, and external obstacles on sperm swimming pattern.

Digital Protocol for Chemical Analysis at Ultralow Concentrations by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

PubMed

de Albuquerque, Carlos Diego L; Sobral-Filho, Regivaldo G; Poppi, Ronei J; Brolo, Alexandre G

2018-01-16

Single molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SM-SERS) has the potential to revolutionize quantitative analysis at ultralow concentrations (less than 1 nM). However, there are no established protocols to generalize the application of this technique in analytical chemistry. Here, a protocol for quantification at ultralow concentrations using SM-SERS is proposed. The approach aims to take advantage of the stochastic nature of the single-molecule regime to achieved lower limits of quantification (LOQ). Two emerging contaminants commonly found in aquatic environments, enrofloxacin (ENRO) and ciprofloxacin (CIPRO), were chosen as nonresonant molecular probes. The methodology involves a multivariate resolution curve fitting known as non-negative matrix factorization with alternating least-squares algorithm (NMF-ALS) to solve spectral overlaps. The key element of the quantification is to realize that, under SM-SERS conditions, the Raman intensity generated by a molecule adsorbed on a "hotspot" can be digitalized. Therefore, the number of SERS event counts (rather than SERS intensities) was shown to be proportional to the solution concentration. This allowed the determination of both ENRO and CIPRO with high accuracy and precision even at ultralow concentrations regime. The LOQ for both ENRO and CIPRO were achieved at 2.8 pM. The digital SERS protocol, suggested here, is a roadmap for the implementation of SM-SERS as a routine tool for quantification at ultralow concentrations.

Design of Low Inductance Switching Power Cell for GaN HEMT Based Inverter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gurpinar, Emre; Iannuzzo, Francesco; Yang, Yongheng

Here in this paper, an ultra-low inductance power cell is designed for a three-Level Active Neutral Point Clamped (3LANPC) based on 650 V gallium nitride (GaN) HEMT devices. The 3L-ANPC topology with GaN HEMT devices and the selected modulation scheme suitable for wide-bandgap (WBG) devices are presented. The commutation loops, which mainly contribute to voltage overshoots and increase of switching losses, are discussed. The ultra-low inductance power cell design based on a fourlayer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with the aim to maximize the switching performance of GaN HEMTs is explained. The design of gate drivers for the GaN HEMT devicesmore » is presented. Parasitic inductance and resistance of the proposed design are extracted with finite element analysis and discussed. Common mode behaviours based on the SPICE model of the converter are analyzed. Experimental results on the designed 3L-ANPC with the output power of up to 1 kW are presented, which verifies the performance of the proposed design in terms of ultra-low inductance.« less

Ultra-Low Density Organic-Inorganic Composite Materials Possessing Thermally Insulating and Acoustic Damping Properties

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-05-07

Officer. Dr. Kenneth Wynne d. Brief Description of Project- We are investigating the design and synthesis of strong, ultra-low density xerogel and aerogel ...materials of this type would have applications in a broad range of areas including lightweight engine components, high temperature coatings, aircraft wings...we plan to investigate the formation of ultra-low density composites using supercritical universal drying (SCUD) techniques. SiO2 aerogel materials

Ultralow-frequency PiezoMEMS energy harvester using thin-film silicon and parylene substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Nathan; Olszewski, Oskar Z.; O'Murchu, Cian; Mathewson, Alan

2018-01-01

Developing a self-sustained leadless pacemaker requires the development of an ultralow-frequency energy harvesting system that can fit within the required dimensions. This paper reports on the design and development of two types of PiezoMEMS energy harvesters that fit within the capsule dimensions and have a low resonant frequency between 20 to 30 Hz, which is required for the application. A bullet-shaped mass was designed to maximize the displacement and enhance power density of the devices. In addition, two types of devices were fabricated and compared (i) a silicon-based cantilever and (ii) a parylene-C-based cantilever with a thin aluminum nitride layer. The silicon device demonstrated higher peak power of 29.8 μW compared with the 6.4 μW for the parylene device. However, due to the low duty cycle of the heart rate and the damping factors of the two materials the average power was significantly higher for the parylene device (2.71 μW) compared with the silicon device (1.22 μW) per cantilever. The results demonstrate that a polymer-based energy harvester can increase the average power due to low damping for an impulse-based vibration application.

Microfabricated Waveguide Atom Traps.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jau, Yuan-Yu

A nanoscale , microfabricated waveguide structure can in - principle be used to trap atoms in well - defined locations and enable strong photon-atom interactions . A neutral - atom platform based on this microfabrication technology will be prealigned , which is especially important for quantum - control applications. At present, there is still no reported demonstration of evanescent - field atom trapping using a microfabricated waveguide structure. We described the capabilities established by our team for future development of the waveguide atom - trapping technology at SNL and report our studies to overcome the technical challenges of loading coldmore » atoms into the waveguide atom traps, efficient and broadband optical coupling to a waveguide, and the waveguide material for high - power optical transmission. From the atomic - physics and the waveguide modeling, w e have shown that a square nano-waveguide can be utilized t o achieve better atomic spin squeezing than using a nanofiber for first time.« less

Adaptive suppression of power line interference in ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging in an unshielded environment.

PubMed

Huang, Xiaolei; Dong, Hui; Qiu, Yang; Li, Bo; Tao, Quan; Zhang, Yi; Krause, Hans-Joachim; Offenhäusser, Andreas; Xie, Xiaoming

2018-01-01

Power-line harmonic interference and fixed-frequency noise peaks may cause stripe-artifacts in ultra-low field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an unshielded environment and in a conductively shielded room. In this paper we describe an adaptive suppression method to eliminate these artifacts in MRI images. This technique utilizes spatial correlation of the interference from different positions, and is realized by subtracting the outputs of the reference channel(s) from those of the signal channel(s) using wavelet analysis and the least squares method. The adaptive suppression method is first implemented to remove the image artifacts in simulation. We then experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of this technique by adding three orthogonal superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers as reference channels to compensate the output of one 2nd-order gradiometer. The experimental results show great improvement in the imaging quality in both 1D and 2D MRI images at two common imaging frequencies, 1.3 kHz and 4.8 kHz. At both frequencies, the effective compensation bandwidth is as high as 2 kHz. Furthermore, we examine the longitudinal relaxation times of the same sample before and after compensation, and show that the MRI properties of the sample did not change after applying adaptive suppression. This technique can effectively increase the imaging bandwidth and be applied to ULF MRI detected by either SQUIDs or Faraday coil in both an unshielded environment and a conductively shielded room. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1D array of dark spot traps formed by counter-propagating nested Gaussian laser beams for trapping and moving atomic qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillen-Christandl, Katharina; Frazer, Travis D.

2017-04-01

The standing wave of two identical counter-propagating Gaussian laser beams constitutes a 1D array of bright spots that can serve as traps for single neutral atoms for quantum information operations. Detuning the frequency of one of the beams causes the array to start moving, effectively forming a conveyor belt for the qubits. Using a pair of nested Gaussian laser beams with different beam waists, however, forms a standing wave with a 1D array of dark spot traps confined in all dimensions. We have computationally explored the trap properties and limitations of this configuration and, trading off trap depth and frequencies with the number of traps and trap photon scattering rates, we determined the laser powers and beam waists needed for useful 1D arrays of dark spot traps for trapping and transporting atomic qubits in neutral atom quantum computing platforms.

Observation of nonlinear optical interactions of ultralow levels of light in a tapered optical nanofiber embedded in a hot rubidium vapor.

PubMed

Spillane, S M; Pati, G S; Salit, K; Hall, M; Kumar, P; Beausoleil, R G; Shahriar, M S

2008-06-13

We report the observation of low-light level optical interactions in a tapered optical nanofiber (TNF) embedded in a hot rubidium vapor. The small optical mode area plays a significant role in the optical properties of the hot vapor Rb-TNF system, allowing nonlinear optical interactions with nW level powers even in the presence of transit-time dephasing rates much larger than the intrinsic linewidth. We demonstrate nonlinear absorption and V-type electromagnetically induced transparency with cw powers below 10 nW, comparable to the best results in any Rb-optical waveguide system. The good performance and flexibility of the Rb-TNF system makes it a very promising candidate for ultralow power resonant nonlinear optical applications.

Penning trap mass spectrometry Q-value determinations for highly forbidden β-decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandler, Rachel; Bollen, Georg; Eibach, Martin; Gamage, Nadeesha; Gulyuz, Kerim; Hamaker, Alec; Izzo, Chris; Kandegedara, Rathnayake; Redshaw, Matt; Ringle, Ryan; Valverde, Adrian; Yandow, Isaac; Low Energy Beam Ion Trap Team

2017-09-01

Over the last several decades, extremely sensitive, ultra-low background beta and gamma detection techniques have been developed. These techniques have enabled the observation of very rare processes, such as highly forbidden beta decays e.g. of 113Cd, 50V and 138La. Half-life measurements of highly forbidden beta decays provide a testing ground for theoretical nuclear models, and the comparison of calculated and measured energy spectra could enable a determination of the values of the weak coupling constants. Precision Q-value measurements also allow for systematic tests of the beta-particle detection techniques. We will present the results and current status of Q value determinations for highly forbidden beta decays. The Q values, the mass difference between parent and daughter nuclides, are measured using the high precision Penning trap mass spectrometer LEBIT at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.

Ultra-thin, light-trapping silicon solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Landis, Geoffrey A.

1989-01-01

Design concepts for ultra-thin (2 to 10 microns) high efficiency single-crystal silicon cells are discussed. Light trapping allows more light to be absorbed at a given thickness, or allows thinner cells of a given Jsc. Extremely thin cells require low surface recombination velocity at both surfaces, including the ohmic contacts. Reduction of surface recombination by growth of heterojunctions of ZnS and GaP on Si has been demonstrated. The effects of these improvements on AM0 efficiency is shown. The peak efficiency increases, and the optimum thickness decreases. Cells under 10 microns thickness can retain almost optimum power. The increase of absorptance due to light trapping is considered. This is not a problem if the light-trapping cells are sufficiently thin. Ultra-thin cells have high radiation tolerance. A 2 microns thick light-trapping cell remains over 18 percent efficient after the equivalent of 20 years in geosynchronous orbit. Including a 50 microns thick coverglass, the thin cells had specific power after irradiation over ten times higher than the baseline design.

Decomposition of carbon dioxide by recombining hydrogen plasma with ultralow electron temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamazaki, Masahiro; Nishiyama, Shusuke; Sasaki, Koichi

2018-06-01

We examined the rate coefficient for the decomposition of CO2 in low-pressure recombining hydrogen plasmas with electron temperatures between 0.15 and 0.45 eV, where the electron-impact dissociation was negligible. By using this ultralow-temperature plasma, we clearly observed decomposition processes via vibrational excited states. The rate coefficient of the overall reaction, CO2 + e → products, was 1.5 × 10‑17 m3/s in the ultralow-temperature plasma, which was 10 times larger than the decomposition rate coefficient of 2 × 10‑18 m3/s in an ionizing plasma with an electron temperature of 4 eV.

Ultrashort, high power, and ultralow noise mode-locked optical pulse generation using quantum-dot semiconductor lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Myoung-Taek

This dissertation explores various aspects and potential of optical pulse generation based on active, passive, and hybrid mode-locked quantum dot semiconductor lasers with target applications such as optical interconnect and high speed signal processing. Design guidelines are developed for the single mode operation with suppressed reflection from waveguide discontinuities. The device fabrication procedure is explained, followed by characteristics of FP laser, SOA, and monolithic two-section devices. Short pulse generation from an external cavity mode-locked QD two-section diode laser is studied. High quality, sub-picosecond (960 fs), high peak power (1.2 W) pulse trains are obtained. The sign and magnitude of pulse chirp were measured for the first time. The role of the self-phase modulation and the linewidth enhancement factor in QD mode-locked lasers is addressed. The noise performance of two-section mode-locked lasers and a SOA-based ring laser was investigated. Significant reduction of the timing jitter under hybrid mode-locked operation was achieved owing to more than one order of magnitude reduction of the linewidth in QD gain media. Ultralow phase noise performance (integrated timing jitter of a few fs at a 10 GHz repetition rate) was demonstrated from an actively mode-locked unidirectional ring laser. These results show that quantum dot mode-locked lasers are strong competitors to conventional semiconductor lasers in noise performance. Finally we demonstrated an opto-electronic oscillator (OEO) and coupled opto-electronic oscillators (COEO) which have the potential for both high purity microwave and low noise optical pulse generation. The phase noise of the COEO is measured by the photonic delay line frequency discriminator method. Based on this study we discuss the prospects of the COEO as a low noise optical pulse source.

Emphysema quantification and lung volumetry in chest X-ray equivalent ultralow dose CT - Intra-individual comparison with standard dose CT.

PubMed

Messerli, Michael; Ottilinger, Thorsten; Warschkow, René; Leschka, Sebastian; Alkadhi, Hatem; Wildermuth, Simon; Bauer, Ralf W

2017-06-01

To determine whether ultralow dose chest CT with tin filtration can be used for emphysema quantification and lung volumetry and to assess differences in emphysema measurements and lung volume between standard dose and ultralow dose CT scans using advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE). 84 consecutive patients from a prospective, IRB-approved single-center study were included and underwent clinically indicated standard dose chest CT (1.7±0.6mSv) and additional single-energy ultralow dose CT (0.14±0.01mSv) at 100kV and fixed tube current at 70mAs with tin filtration in the same session. Forty of the 84 patients (48%) had no emphysema, 44 (52%) had emphysema. One radiologist performed fully automated software-based pulmonary emphysema quantification and lung volumetry of standard and ultralow dose CT with different levels of ADMIRE. Friedman test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for multiple comparison of emphysema and lung volume. Lung volumes were compared using the concordance correlation coefficient. The median low-attenuation areas (LAA) using filtered back projection (FBP) in standard dose was 4.4% and decreased to 2.6%, 2.1% and 1.8% using ADMIRE 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The median values of LAA in ultralow dose CT were 5.7%, 4.1% and 2.4% for ADMIRE 3, 4, and 5, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between LAA in standard dose CT using FBP and ultralow dose using ADMIRE 4 (p=0.358) as well as in standard dose CT using ADMIRE 3 and ultralow dose using ADMIRE 5 (p=0.966). In comparison with standard dose FBP the concordance correlation coefficients of lung volumetry were 1.000, 0.999, and 0.999 for ADMIRE 3, 4, and 5 in standard dose, and 0.972 for ADMIRE 3, 4 and 5 in ultralow dose CT. Ultralow dose CT at chest X-ray equivalent dose levels allows for lung volumetry as well as detection and quantification of emphysema. However, longitudinal emphysema analyses should be performed with the same scan protocol and

Ultra-low temperature sintering of Cu@Ag core-shell nanoparticle paste by ultrasonic in air for high-temperature power device packaging.

PubMed

Ji, Hongjun; Zhou, Junbo; Liang, Meng; Lu, Huajun; Li, Mingyu

2018-03-01

Sintering of low-cost Cu nanoparticles (NPs) for interconnection of chips to substrate at low temperature and in atmosphere conditions is difficult because they are prone to oxidation, but dramatically required in semiconductor industry. In the present work, we successfully synthesized Cu@Ag NPs paste, and they were successfully applied for joining Cu/Cu@Ag NPs paste/Cu firstly in air by the ultrasonic-assisted sintering (UAS) at a temperature of as low as 160 °C. Their sintered microstructures featuring with dense and crystallized cells are completely different from the traditional thermo-compression sintering (TCS). The optimized shear strength of the joints reached to 54.27 MPa, exhibiting one order of magnitude higher than TCS at the same temperature (180 °C) under the UAS. This ultra-low sintering temperature and high performance of the sintered joints were ascribed to ultrasonic effects. The ultrasonic vibrations have distinct effects on the metallurgical reactions of the joints, resulting in the contact and growth of Cu core and the stripping and connection of Ag shell, which contributes to the high shear strength. Thus, the UAS of Cu@Ag NPs paste has a great potential to be applied for high-temperature power device packaging. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Scaling Trapped Ion Quantum Computers Using Fast Gates and Microtraps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratcliffe, Alexander K.; Taylor, Richard L.; Hope, Joseph J.; Carvalho, André R. R.

2018-06-01

Most attempts to produce a scalable quantum information processing platform based on ion traps have focused on the shuttling of ions in segmented traps. We show that an architecture based on an array of microtraps with fast gates will outperform architectures based on ion shuttling. This system requires higher power lasers but does not require the manipulation of potentials or shuttling of ions. This improves optical access, reduces the complexity of the trap, and reduces the number of conductive surfaces close to the ions. The use of fast gates also removes limitations on the gate time. Error rates of 10-5 are shown to be possible with 250 mW laser power and a trap separation of 100 μ m . The performance of the gates is shown to be robust to the limitations in the laser repetition rate and the presence of many ions in the trap array.

Porous Materials with Ultralow Optical Constants for Integrated Optical Device Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hsuen-Li; Hsieh, Chung-I; Cheng, Chao-Chia; Chang, Chia-Pin; Hsu, Wen-Hau; Wang, Way-Seen; Liu, Po-Tsun

2005-07-01

Ultralow dielectric constant (<2.0) porous materials have received much attention as next-generation dielectric materials. In this study, optical properties of porous-methyl-silsesquioxane(MSQ)-like films (porous polysilazane, PPSZ) were characterized for optical waveguide devices applications. Measured results indicate that the refractive index is decreased to approximately 1.320 as the hydration time exceeds 24 h. The measured refractive index is about 1.163 at a wavelength of 1550 nm. PPSZ films have low absorption in the 500 to 2000 nm wavelength regime. Because of their relatively low refractive index and low absorption over a large spectral regime, PPSZ films can be good cladding materials for use in optically integrated devices with many high-refractive-index materials such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon, and polymers. We demonstrate two structures, ridge waveguides and large-angle Y-branch power splitters, composed of PPSZ and SU8 films to illustrate the use of low dielectric constant (K) cladding materials. The simulation results indicate that the PPSZ films provide better confinement of light. Experimentally, a large-angle Y-branch power splitter with PPSZ cladding can be used to guide waves with the large branching angle of 33.58°.

Applications of energy harvesting for ultralow power technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pop-Vadean, A.; Pop, P. P.; Barz, C.; Chiver, O.

2015-06-01

Ultra-low-power (ULP) technology is enabling a wide range of new applications that harvest ambient energy in very small amounts and need little or no maintenance - self-sustaining devices that are capable of perpetual or nearly perpetual operation. These new systems, which are now appearing in industrial and consumer electronics, also promise great changes in medicine and health. Until recently, the idea of micro-scale energy harvesting, and collecting miniscule amounts of ambient energy to power electronic systems, was still limited to research proposals and laboratory experiments.Today an increasing number of systems are appearing that take advantage of light, vibrations and other forms of previously wasted environmental energy for applications where providing line power or maintaining batteries is inconvenient. In the industrial world, where sensors gather information from remote equipment and hazardous processes; in consumer electronics, where mobility and convenience are served; and in medical systems, with unique requirements for prosthetics and non-invasive monitoring, energy harvesting is rapidly expanding into new applications.This paper serves as a survey for applications of energy harvesting for ultra low power technology based on various technical papers available in the public domain.

Electroplating method for producing ultralow-mass fissionable deposits

DOEpatents

Ruddy, Francis H.

1989-01-01

A method for producing ultralow-mass fissionable deposits for nuclear reactor dosimetry is described, including the steps of holding a radioactive parent until the radioactive parent reaches secular equilibrium with a daughter isotope, chemically separating the daughter from the parent, electroplating the daughter on a suitable substrate, and holding the electroplated daughter until the daughter decays to the fissionable deposit.

Aminosilanization nanoadhesive layer for nanoelectric circuits with porous ultralow dielectric film.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhongkai; He, Yongyong; Yang, Haifang; Qu, Xinping; Lu, Xinchun; Luo, Jianbin

2013-07-10

An ultrathin layer is investigated for its potential application of replacing conventional diffusion barriers and promoting interface adhesion for nanoelectric circuits with porous ultralow dielectrics. The porous ultralow dielectric (k ≈ 2.5) substrate is silanized by 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) to form the nanoadhesive layer by performing oxygen plasma modification and tailoring the silanization conditions appropriately. The high primary amine content is obtained in favor of strong interaction between amino groups and copper. And the results of leakage current measurements of metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor structure demonstrate that the aminosilanization nanoadhesive layer can block copper diffusion effectively and guarantee the performance of devices. Furthermore, the results of four-point bending tests indicate that the nanoadhesive layer with monolayer structure can provide the satisfactory interface toughness up to 6.7 ± 0.5 J/m(2) for Cu/ultralow-k interface. Additionally, an annealing-enhanced interface toughness effect occurs because of the formation of Cu-N bonding and siloxane bridges below 500 °C. However, the interface is weakened on account of the oxidization of amines and copper as well as the breaking of Cu-N bonding above 500 °C. It is also found that APTMS nanoadhesive layer with multilayer structure provides relatively low interface toughness compared with monolayer structure, which is mainly correlated to the breaking of interlayer hydrogen bonding.

Ultra-low Temperature Curable Conductive Silver Adhesive with different Resin Matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xingli; Wang, Likun; Liao, Qingwei; Yan, Chao; Li, Xing; Qin, Lei

2018-03-01

The ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive with curing temperature less than 100 °C needed urgently for the surface conductive treatment of piezoelectric composite material due to the low thermal resistance of composite material and low adhesion strength of adhesive. An ultra-low temperature curable conductive adhesive with high adhesion strength was obtained for the applications of piezoelectric composite material. The microstructure, conductive properties and adhesive properties with different resin matrix were investigated. The conductive adhesive with AG-80 as the resin matrix has the shorter curing time (20min), lower curing temperature (90°C) and higher adhesion strength (7.6MPa). The resistivity of AG-80 sample has the lower value (2.13 × 10-4Ω·cm) than the 618 sample (4.44 × 10-4Ω·cm).

A circularly polarized optical dipole trap and other developments in laser trapping of atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corwin, Kristan Lee

Several innovations in laser trapping and cooling of alkali atoms are described. These topics share a common motivation to develop techniques for efficiently manipulating cold atoms. Such advances facilitate sensitive precision measurements such as parity non- conservation and 8-decay asymmetry in large trapped samples, even when only small quantities of the desired species are available. First, a cold, bright beam of Rb atoms is extracted from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) using a very simple technique. This beam has a flux of 5 × 109 atoms/s and a velocity of 14 m/s, and up to 70% of the atoms in the MOT were transferred to the atomic beam. Next, a highly efficient MOT for radioactive atoms is described, in which more than 50% of 221Fr atoms contained in a vapor cell are loaded into a MOT. Measurements were also made of the 221Fr 7 2P1/2 and 7 2P3/2 energies and hyperfine constants. To perform these experiments, two schemes for stabilizing the frequency of the light from a diode laser were developed and are described in detail. Finally, a new type of trap is described and a powerful cooling technique is demonstrated. The circularly polarized optical dipole trap provides large samples of highly spin-polarized atoms, suitable for many applications. Physical processes that govern the transfer of large numbers of atoms into the trap are described, and spin-polarization is measured to be 98(1)%. In addition, the trap breaks the degeneracy of the atomic spin states much like a magnetic trap does. This allows for RF and microwave cooling via both forced evaporation and a Sisyphus mechanism. Preliminary application of these techniques to the atoms in the circularly polarized dipole trap has successfully decreased the temperature by a factor of 4 while simultaneously increasing phase space density.

Optical trapping assembling of clusters and nanoparticles in solution by CW and femtosecond lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masuhara, Hiroshi; Sugiyama, Teruki; Yuyama, Ken-ichi; Usman, Anwar

2015-02-01

Laser trapping of molecular systems in solution is classified into three cases: JUST TRAPPING, EXTENDED TRAPPING, and NUCLEATION and GROWTH. The nucleation in amino acid solutions depends on where the 1064-nm CW trapping laser is focused, and crystallization and liquid-liquid phase separation are induced by laser trapping at the solution/air surface and the solution/glass interface, respectively. Laser trapping crystallization is achieved even in unsaturated solution, on which unique controls of crystallization are made possible. Crystal size is arbitrarily controlled by tuning laser power for a plate-like anhydrous crystal of l-phenylalanine. The α- or γ-crystal polymorph of glycine is selectively prepared by changing laser power and polarization. Further efficient trapping of nanoparticles and their following ejection induced by femtosecond laser pulses are introduced as unique trapping phenomena and finally future perspective is presented.

Raman microspectroscopy of optically trapped micro- and nanoobjects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jonáš, Alexandr; Ježek, Jan; Šerý, Mojmír; Zemánek, Pavel

2008-12-01

We describe and characterize an experimental system for Raman microspectroscopy of micro- and nanoobjects optically trapped in aqueous suspensions with the use of a single-beam gradient optical trap (Raman tweezers). This system features two separate lasers providing light for the optical trapping and excitation of the Raman scattering spectra from the trapped specimen, respectively. Using independent laser beams for trapping and spectroscopy enables optimizing the parameters of both beams for their respective purposes. Moreover, it is possible to modulate the position of the trapped object relative to the Raman beam focus for maximizing the detected Raman signal and obtaining spatially resolved images of the trapped specimen. Using this experimental system, we have obtained Raman scattering spectra of individual optically confined micron and sub-micron sized polystyrene beads and baker's yeast cells. Sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra could be achieved using a few tens of milliwatts of the Raman beam power and detector integration times on the order of seconds.

Nanophotonic trapping for precise manipulation of biomolecular arrays.

PubMed

Soltani, Mohammad; Lin, Jun; Forties, Robert A; Inman, James T; Saraf, Summer N; Fulbright, Robert M; Lipson, Michal; Wang, Michelle D

2014-06-01

Optical trapping is a powerful manipulation and measurement technique widely used in the biological and materials sciences. Miniaturizing optical trap instruments onto optofluidic platforms holds promise for high-throughput lab-on-a-chip applications. However, a persistent challenge with existing optofluidic devices has been achieving controlled and precise manipulation of trapped particles. Here, we report a new class of on-chip optical trapping devices. Using photonic interference functionalities, an array of stable, three-dimensional on-chip optical traps is formed at the antinodes of a standing-wave evanescent field on a nanophotonic waveguide. By employing the thermo-optic effect via integrated electric microheaters, the traps can be repositioned at high speed (∼30 kHz) with nanometre precision. We demonstrate sorting and manipulation of individual DNA molecules. In conjunction with laminar flows and fluorescence, we also show precise control of the chemical environment of a sample with simultaneous monitoring. Such a controllable trapping device has the potential to achieve high-throughput precision measurements on chip.

Energy scavenging sensors for ultra-low power sensor networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, Dominic C.; Liu, Jing Jing; Faulkner, Grahame E.; Vachiramon, Pithawat; Collins, Steve; Elston, Steven J.

2010-08-01

The 'internet of things' will require very low power wireless communications, preferably using sensors that scavenge power from their environment. Free space optics allows communications over long ranges, with simple transceivers at each end, offering the possibility of low energy consumption. In addition there can be sufficient energy in the communications beam to power simple terminals. In this paper we report experimental results from an architecture that achieves this. A base station that tracks sensors in its coverage area and communicates with them using low divergence optical beams is presented. Sensor nodes use modulated retro-reflectors to communicate with the base station, and the nodes are powered by the illuminating beam. The paper presents design and implementation details, as well as future directions for this work.

Trapped particle stability for the kinetic stabilizer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berk, H. L.; Pratt, J.

2011-08-01

A kinetically stabilized axially symmetric tandem mirror (KSTM) uses the momentum flux of low-energy, unconfined particles that sample only the outer end-regions of the mirror plugs, where large favourable field-line curvature exists. The window of operation is determined for achieving magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability with tolerable energy drain from the kinetic stabilizer. Then MHD stable systems are analysed for stability of the trapped particle mode. This mode is characterized by the detachment of the central-cell plasma from the kinetic-stabilizer region without inducing field-line bending. Stability of the trapped particle mode is sensitive to the electron connection between the stabilizer and the end plug. It is found that the stability condition for the trapped particle mode is more constraining than the stability condition for the MHD mode, and it is challenging to satisfy the required power constraint. Furthermore, a severe power drain may arise from the necessary connection of low-energy electrons in the kinetic stabilizer to the central region.

Electron source for a mini ion trap mass spectrometer

DOEpatents

Dietrich, D.D.; Keville, R.F.

1995-12-19

An ion trap is described which operates in the regime between research ion traps which can detect ions with a mass resolution of better than 1:10{sup 9} and commercial mass spectrometers requiring 10{sup 4} ions with resolutions of a few hundred. The power consumption is kept to a minimum by the use of permanent magnets and a novel electron gun design. By Fourier analyzing the ion cyclotron resonance signals induced in the trap electrodes, a complete mass spectra in a single combined structure can be detected. An attribute of the ion trap mass spectrometer is that overall system size is drastically reduced due to combining a unique electron source and mass analyzer/detector in a single device. This enables portable low power mass spectrometers for the detection of environmental pollutants or illicit substances, as well as sensors for on board diagnostics to monitor engine performance or for active feedback in any process involving exhausting waste products. 10 figs.

Electron source for a mini ion trap mass spectrometer

DOEpatents

Dietrich, Daniel D.; Keville, Robert F.

1995-01-01

An ion trap which operates in the regime between research ion traps which can detect ions with a mass resolution of better than 1:10.sup.9 and commercial mass spectrometers requiring 10.sup.4 ions with resolutions of a few hundred. The power consumption is kept to a minimum by the use of permanent magnets and a novel electron gun design. By Fourier analyzing the ion cyclotron resonance signals induced in the trap electrodes, a complete mass spectra in a single combined structure can be detected. An attribute of the ion trap mass spectrometer is that overall system size is drastically reduced due to combining a unique electron source and mass analyzer/detector in a single device. This enables portable low power mass spectrometers for the detection of environmental pollutants or illicit substances, as well as sensors for on board diagnostics to monitor engine performance or for active feedback in any process involving exhausting waste products.

Combining malaria control with house electrification: adherence to recommended behaviours for proper deployment of solar-powered mosquito trapping systems, Rusinga Island, western Kenya.

PubMed

Oria, Prisca A; Alaii, Jane; Ayugi, Margaret; Takken, Willem; Leeuwis, Cees

2015-08-01

To investigate community adherence to recommended behaviours for proper deployment of solar-powered mosquito trapping systems (SMoTS) after 3- to 10-week use. Solar-powered mosquito trapping system, which also provided power for room lighting and charging mobile phones, were installed in houses in Rusinga Island, western Kenya. We used a structured checklist for observations and a semi-structured questionnaire for interviews in 24 homesteads. We also analysed the subject of 224 community calls to the project team for technical maintenance of SMoTS. Most respondents cared for SMoTS by fencing, emptying and cleaning the trap. Our observations revealed that most traps were fenced, clean and in good working condition. A significantly higher proportion of community calls was lighting-related. Lighting was the main reason respondents liked SMoTS because it reduced or eliminated expenditure on kerosene. However, some respondents observed they no longer heard sounds of mosquitoes inside their houses. All respondents reportedly slept under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) before receiving SMoTS. After receiving SMoTS, most respondents reportedly continued to use ITNs citing that the project advised them to do so. Some beach residents stopped using ITNs because they no longer heard mosquitoes or due to heat discomfort caused by lights. Electricity-related incentives played a greater role in encouraging adherence to recommended behaviours for proper deployment of SMoTS than the potential health benefits in the early stages of the intervention. Although energy-related financial incentives may play a role, they are insufficient to ensure adherence to health advice, even in the short term. Ongoing community engagement and research monitors and addresses adherence to recommended behaviours including continuation of current malaria control strategies. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evaluation of propane combustion traps for the collection of Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) in southern Israel.

PubMed

Kline, Daniel L; Müller, Günter C; Hogsette, Jerome A

2011-03-01

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of eleven commercial models of propane combustion traps for catching male and female Phlebotomus papatasi. The traps differed in physical appearance, amount of carbon dioxide produced and released, type and location of capturing device, and the method by which the trap suction fans were powered. The traps tested were the Mosquito Magnet™(MM)-Pro, MM-Liberty, MM-Liberty Plus, MM-Defender, SkeeterVac®(SV)-35, SV-27, Mosquito Deleto™(MD)-2200, MD-2500, MT150-Power Trap, and two models of The Guardian Mosquito Traps (MK-01 and MK-12). All trap models except the SV-35, the SV-27, the MD-2500, and the MK-12 attracted significantly more females than males. The SV-35 was the most efficient trap, catching significantly more females than all the other models. The MD-2200 and MK-12 models were the least effective in catching either female or male sand flies. These data indicate that several models of propane combustion traps might be suitable substitutes for either CO(2) -baited or unbaited light traps for adult sand fly surveillance tools. One advantageous feature is the traps' ability to remain operational 24/7 for ca. 20 days on a single tank of propane. Additionally, the models that produce their own electricity to power the trap's fans have an important logistical advantage in field operations over light traps, which require daily battery exchange and charging. © 2011 The Society for Vector Ecology.

X-band ultralow-noise maser amplifier performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glass, G. W.; Ortiz, G. G.; Johnson, D. L.

1994-01-01

Noise temperature measurements of an 8440-MHz ultralow noise maser amplifier (ULNA) have been performed at subatmospheric, liquid-helium temperatures. The traveling-wave maser was operated while immersed in a liquid helium bath. The lowest input noise temperature measured was 1.43 +/- 0.16 K at a physical temperature of 1.60 K. At this physical temperature, the observed gain per centimeter of ruby was 4.9 dB/cm. The amplifier had a 3-dB bandwidth of 76 MHz.

Towards Quantum Simulations Using a Chip Ion Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Chenglin; Wright, Ken; Brennan, Daniel; Ji, Geoffrey; Monroe, Christopher

2013-05-01

We report our current experimental progress towards using chip ion traps for quantum simulation. Current progress is being made using a micro-fabricated symmetric trap from GTRI. This trap implements a novel two level design that combines the benefits of both surface traps and linear four-rod traps. The trap has 50 electrodes which allow for the fine control of the DC potential needed to create large anharmonic potentials, to join and split ion chains and to shuttle ions along the trapping axis similar to many surface traps. However this trap also has a much deeper trapping depth than conventional surface traps and improved optical access via an angled slot through the chip wide enough to accommodate higher power laser light which could cause surface charging or damage in a traditional chip trap. These advantages should allow trapping of long ion chains. We hope to use these features as the next step in increasing the size of current quantum simulations being done at Univ of Maryland, which are aimed at exploring quantum phenomena in spin systems in a regime inaccessible to classical simulation. This work is supported by grants from the U.S. Army Research Office with funding from the DARPA OLE program, IARPA, and the MURI program; and the NSF Physics Frontier Center at JQI. We acknowledge the GTRI team of J. Amini, K. Brown, A. Harter, F. Shaikh, R. Slusher, and C. Volin for the fabrication of the trap.

Ultra-low emittance electron beam generation using ionization injection in a plasma beatwave accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schroeder, Carl; Benedetti, Carlo; Esarey, Eric; Leemans, Wim

2017-10-01

Ultra-low emittance beams can be generated using ionization injection of electrons into a wakefield excited by a plasma beatwave accelerator. This all-optical method of electron beam generation uses three laser pulses of different colors. Two long-wavelength laser pulses, with frequency difference equal to the plasma frequency, resonantly drive a plasma wave without fully ionizing a gas. A short-wavelength injection laser pulse (with a small ponderomotive force and large peak electric field), co-propagating and delayed with respect to the beating long-wavelength lasers, ionizes a fraction of the remaining bound electrons at a trapped wake phase, generating an electron beam that is accelerated in the wakefield. Using the beating of long-wavelength pulses to generate the wakefield enables atomically-bound electrons to remain at low ionization potentials, reducing the required amplitude of the ionization pulse, and, hence, the initial transverse momentum and emittance of the injected electrons. An example is presented using two lines of a CO2 laser to form a plasma beatwave accelerator to drive the wake and a frequency-doubled Ti:Al2O3 laser for ionization injection. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

A spin transfer torque magnetoresistance random access memory-based high-density and ultralow-power associative memory for fully data-adaptive nearest neighbor search with current-mode similarity evaluation and time-domain minimum searching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yitao; Miura, Sadahiko; Honjo, Hiroaki; Ikeda, Shoji; Hanyu, Takahiro; Ohno, Hideo; Endoh, Tetsuo

2017-04-01

A high-density nonvolatile associative memory (NV-AM) based on spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM), which achieves highly concurrent and ultralow-power nearest neighbor search with full adaptivity of the template data format, has been proposed and fabricated using the 90 nm CMOS/70 nm perpendicular-magnetic-tunnel-junction hybrid process. A truly compact current-mode circuitry is developed to realize flexibly controllable and high-parallel similarity evaluation, which makes the NV-AM adaptable to any dimensionality and component-bit of template data. A compact dual-stage time-domain minimum searching circuit is also developed, which can freely extend the system for more template data by connecting multiple NM-AM cores without additional circuits for integrated processing. Both the embedded STT-MRAM module and the computing circuit modules in this NV-AM chip are synchronously power-gated to completely eliminate standby power and maximally reduce operation power by only activating the currently accessed circuit blocks. The operations of a prototype chip at 40 MHz are demonstrated by measurement. The average operation power is only 130 µW, and the circuit density is less than 11 µm2/bit. Compared with the latest conventional works in both volatile and nonvolatile approaches, more than 31.3% circuit area reductions and 99.2% power improvements are achieved, respectively. Further power performance analyses are discussed, which verify the special superiority of the proposed NV-AM in low-power and large-memory-based VLSIs.

Energy Fluctuation of Ideal Fermi Gas Trapped under Generic Power Law Potential U=\\sum_{i=1}^{d} c_i\\vert x_{i}/a_{i}\\vert^{n_{i} } in d Dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mir, Mehedi Faruk; Muktadir Rahman, Md.; Dwaipayan, Debnath; Sakhawat Hossain Himel, Md.

2016-04-01

Energy fluctuation of ideal Fermi gas trapped under generic power law potential U=\\sumi=1d ci \\vertxi/ai \\vert n_i has been calculated in arbitrary dimensions. Energy fluctuation is scrutinized further in the degenerate limit μ ≫ KBT with the help of Sommerfeld expansion. The dependence of energy fluctuation on dimensionality and power law potential is studied in detail. Most importantly our general result can not only exactly reproduce the recently published result regarding free and harmonically trapped ideal Fermi gas in d = 3 but also can describe the outcome for any power law potential in arbitrary dimension.

Economic method for measuring ultra-low flow rates of fluids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bogdanovic, J. A.; Keller, W. F.

1970-01-01

Capillary tube flowmeter measures ultra-low flows of very corrosive fluids /such as chlorine trifluoride and liquid fluorine/ and other liquids with reasonable accuracy. Flowmeter utilizes differential pressure transducer and operates on the principle that for laminar flow in the tube, pressure drop is proportional to flow rate.

Direct observation of 0.57 eV trap-related RF output power reduction in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arehart, A. R.; Sasikumar, A.; Rajan, S.; Via, G. D.; Poling, B.; Winningham, B.; Heller, E. R.; Brown, D.; Pei, Y.; Recht, F.; Mishra, U. K.; Ringel, S. A.

2013-02-01

This paper reports direct evidence for trap-related RF output power loss in GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) through increased concentration of a specific electron trap at EC-0.57 eV that is located in the drain access region, as a function of accelerated life testing (ALT). The trap is detected by constant drain current deep level transient spectroscopy (CID-DLTS) and the CID-DLTS thermal emission time constant precisely matches the measured drain lag. Both drain lag and CID-DLTS measurements show this state to already exist in pre-stressed devices, which coupled with its strong increase in concentration as a function of stress in the absence of significant increases in concentrations of other detected traps, imply its role in causing degradation, in particular knee walkout. This study reveals EC-0.57 eV trap concentration tracks degradation induced by ALT for MOCVD-grown HEMTs supplied by several commercial and university sources. The results suggest this defect has a common source and may be a key degradation pathway in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs and/or an indicator to predict device lifetime.

Trapping and manipulation of microparticles using laser-induced convection currents and photophoresis.

PubMed

Flores-Flores, E; Torres-Hurtado, S A; Páez, R; Ruiz, U; Beltrán-Pérez, G; Neale, S L; Ramirez-San-Juan, J C; Ramos-García, R

2015-10-01

In this work we demonstrate optical trapping and manipulation of microparticles suspended in water due to laser-induced convection currents. Convection currents are generated due to laser light absorption in an hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a:Si-H) thin film. The particles are dragged towards the beam's center by the convection currents (Stokes drag force) allowing trapping with powers as low as 0.8 mW. However, for powers >3 mW trapped particles form a ring around the beam due to two competing forces: Stokes drag and thermo-photophoretic forces. Additionally, we show that dynamic beam shaping can be used to trap and manipulate multiple particles by photophotophoresis without the need of lithographically created resistive heaters.

Trapping and manipulation of microparticles using laser-induced convection currents and photophoresis

PubMed Central

Flores-Flores, E.; Torres-Hurtado, S. A.; Páez, R.; Ruiz, U.; Beltrán-Pérez, G.; Neale, S. L.; Ramirez-San-Juan, J. C.; Ramos-García, R.

2015-01-01

In this work we demonstrate optical trapping and manipulation of microparticles suspended in water due to laser-induced convection currents. Convection currents are generated due to laser light absorption in an hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a:Si-H) thin film. The particles are dragged towards the beam's center by the convection currents (Stokes drag force) allowing trapping with powers as low as 0.8 mW. However, for powers >3 mW trapped particles form a ring around the beam due to two competing forces: Stokes drag and thermo-photophoretic forces. Additionally, we show that dynamic beam shaping can be used to trap and manipulate multiple particles by photophotophoresis without the need of lithographically created resistive heaters. PMID:26504655

Trap style influences wild pig behavior and trapping success

USGS Publications Warehouse

Williams, B.L.; Holtfreter, R.W.; Ditchkoff, S.S.; Grand, J.B.

2011-01-01

Despite the efforts of many natural resource professionals, wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations are expanding in many areas of the world. Although many creative techniques for controlling pig populations are being explored, trapping has been and still is themost commonly usedmethod of population control formany public and private land managers. We conducted an observational study to examine the efficiency of 2 frequently used trap styles: a small, portable box-style trap and a larger, semi-permanent, corral-style trap.We used game cameras to examine patterns of trap entry by wild pigs around each style of trap, and we conducted a trapping session to compare trapping success between trap styles. Adult female and juvenile wild pigs entered both styles of trap more readily than did adult males, and adult males seemed particularly averse to entering box traps. Less than 10% of adult male visits to box traps resulted in entries, easily the least percentage of any class at any style of trap. Adult females entered corral traps approximately 2.2 times more often per visit than box traps and re-entered corral traps >2 times more frequently. Juveniles entered and reentered both box and corral traps at similar rates. Overall (all-class) entry-per-visit rates at corral traps (0.71) were nearly double that of box traps (0.37). Subsequent trapping data supported these preliminary entry data; the capture rate for corral traps was >4 times that of box traps. Our data suggest that corral traps are temporally and economically superior to box traps with respect to efficiency; that is, corral traps effectively trap more pigs per trap night at a lower cost per pig than do box traps. ?? 2011 The Wildlife Society.

The trapped-particle instability in the Boeing 1kW FEL oscillator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramos, L.; Blau, J.; Colson, W.B.

1995-12-31

The new design for the Boeing High Average Power Free Electron Laser will operate at 1KW average power (0.63 {mu}m) with a peak current of 132A. Simulations are used to investigate the trapped-particle instability and diffraction effects. Incorporating large desynchronism may prove to be a useful method of controlling the trapped-particle instability.

Axicon-based annular laser trap for studies on sperm activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Bing; Vinson, Jaclyn M.; Botvinick, Elliot L.; Esener, Sadik C.; Berns, Michael W.

2005-08-01

As a powerful and noninvasive tool, laser trapping has been widely applied for the confinement and physiological study of biological cells and organelles. Researchers have used the single spot laser trap to hold individual sperm and quantitatively evaluated the motile force generated by a sperm. Early studies revealed the relationship between sperm motility and swimming behavior and helped the investigations in medical aspects of sperm activity. As sperm chemotaxis draws more and more interest in fertilization research, the studies on sperm-egg communication may help to explain male or female infertility and provide exciting new approaches to contraception. However, single spot laser trapping can only be used to investigate an individual target, which has limits in efficiency and throughput. To study the chemotactic response of sperm to eggs and to characterize sperm motility, an annular laser trap with a diameter of several hundred microns is designed, simulated with ray tracing tool, and implemented. An axicon transforms the wavefront such that the laser beam is incident on the microscope objective from all directions while filling the back aperture completely for high efficiency trapping. A trapping experiment with microspheres is carried out to evaluate the system performance. The power requirement for annular sperm trapping is determined experimentally and compared with theoretical calculations. With a chemo-attractant located in the center and sperm approaching from all directions, the annular laser trapping could serve as a speed bump for sperm so that motility characterization and fertility sorting can be performed efficiently.

Nanophotonic Trapping for Precise Manipulation of Biomolecular Arrays

PubMed Central

Soltani, Mohammad; Lin, Jun; Forties, Robert A.; Inman, James T.; Saraf, Summer N.; Fulbright, Robert M.; Lipson, Michal; Wang, Michelle D.

2014-01-01

Optical trapping is a powerful manipulation and measurement technique widely employed in the biological and materials sciences1–8. Miniaturizing optical trap instruments onto optofluidic platforms holds promise for high throughput lab-on-chip applications9–16. However, a persistent challenge with existing optofluidic devices has been controlled and precise manipulation of trapped particles. Here we report a new class of on-chip optical trapping devices. Using photonic interference functionalities, an array of stable, three-dimensional on-chip optical traps is formed at the antinodes of a standing-wave evanescent field on a nanophotonic waveguide. By employing the thermo-optic effect via integrated electric microheaters, the traps can be repositioned at high speed (~ 30 kHz) with nanometer precision. We demonstrate sorting and manipulation of individual DNA molecules. In conjunction with laminar flows and fluorescence, we also show precise control of the chemical environment of a sample with simultaneous monitoring. Such a controllable trapping device has the potential for high-throughput precision measurements on chip. PMID:24776649

Effect of Diluent on Ultra-low Temperature Curable Conductive Silver Adhesive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xingli; Wang, Likun; Liao, Qingwei; Yan, Chao; Du, Haibo; Qin, Lei

2018-03-01

The ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive needed urgently for the surface conductive treatment of piezoelectric composite material. The effect of diluent acetone on ultra-low temperature curable conductive silver adhesive were investigated for surface conductive treatment of piezoelectric composite material. In order to improve the operability and extend the life of the conductive adhesive, the diluent was added to dissolve and disperse conductive adhesive. With the increase of the content of diluent, the volume resistivity of conductive adhesive decreased at first and then increased, and the shear strength increased at first and then decreased. When the acetone content is 10%, the silver flaky bonded together, arranged the neatest, the smallest gap, the most closely connected, the surface can form a complete conductive network, and the volume resistivity is 2.37 × 10-4Ω · cm, the shear strength is 5.13MPa.

Advances in NO2 sensing with individual single-walled carbon nanotube transistors

PubMed Central

Muoth, Matthias; Roman, Cosmin; Haluska, Miroslav; Hierold, Christofer

2014-01-01

Summary The charge carrier transport in carbon nanotubes is highly sensitive to certain molecules attached to their surface. This property has generated interest for their application in sensing gases, chemicals and biomolecules. With over a decade of research, a clearer picture of the interactions between the carbon nanotube and its surroundings has been achieved. In this review, we intend to summarize the current knowledge on this topic, focusing not only on the effect of adsorbates but also the effect of dielectric charge traps on the electrical transport in single-walled carbon nanotube transistors that are to be used in sensing applications. Recently, contact-passivated, open-channel individual single-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistors have been shown to be operational at room temperature with ultra-low power consumption. Sensor recovery within minutes through UV illumination or self-heating has been shown. Improvements in fabrication processes aimed at reducing the impact of charge traps have reduced the hysteresis, drift and low-frequency noise in carbon nanotube transistors. While open challenges such as large-scale fabrication, selectivity tuning and noise reduction still remain, these results demonstrate considerable progress in transforming the promise of carbon nanotube properties into functional ultra-low power, highly sensitive gas sensors. PMID:25551046

Advances in NO2 sensing with individual single-walled carbon nanotube transistors.

PubMed

Chikkadi, Kiran; Muoth, Matthias; Roman, Cosmin; Haluska, Miroslav; Hierold, Christofer

2014-01-01

The charge carrier transport in carbon nanotubes is highly sensitive to certain molecules attached to their surface. This property has generated interest for their application in sensing gases, chemicals and biomolecules. With over a decade of research, a clearer picture of the interactions between the carbon nanotube and its surroundings has been achieved. In this review, we intend to summarize the current knowledge on this topic, focusing not only on the effect of adsorbates but also the effect of dielectric charge traps on the electrical transport in single-walled carbon nanotube transistors that are to be used in sensing applications. Recently, contact-passivated, open-channel individual single-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistors have been shown to be operational at room temperature with ultra-low power consumption. Sensor recovery within minutes through UV illumination or self-heating has been shown. Improvements in fabrication processes aimed at reducing the impact of charge traps have reduced the hysteresis, drift and low-frequency noise in carbon nanotube transistors. While open challenges such as large-scale fabrication, selectivity tuning and noise reduction still remain, these results demonstrate considerable progress in transforming the promise of carbon nanotube properties into functional ultra-low power, highly sensitive gas sensors.

Investigation of Bose Condensation in Ideal Bose Gas Trapped under Generic Power Law Potential in d Dimension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehedi Faruk, Mir; Sazzad Hossain, Md.; Muktadir Rahman, Md.

2016-02-01

The changes in characteristics of Bose condensation of ideal Bose gas due to an external generic power law potential U=\\sumi=1dci\\vert xi/ai\\vertni are studied carefully. Detailed calculation of Kim et al. (J. Phys. Condens. Matter 11 (1999) 10269) yielded the hierarchy of condensation transitions with changing fractional dimensionality. In this manuscript, some theorems regarding specific heat at constant volume CV are presented. Careful examination of these theorems reveal the existence of hidden hierarchy of the condensation transition in trapped systems as well.

Optical trapping gold nanoparticles by a pulse laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, XiaoYu; Wang, Feng

2010-11-01

Gold nanoparticles are widely employed in nanomaterials, nanobiotechnology and health care, but generally they are considered difficult to trap stably. Compared with the continuous laser which is popular to the optical trapping, pulse laser has a relatively larger power in its work pulse, which is useful for trap particles. So this paper comprehensively analyzes the forces (the radiation forces, the gravitation, and the Brownian motion) on the gold nanoparticles in the optical tweezers formed by a pulse laser, through building up a mathematical model. Finally gets the dependence relation between the characteristics of the pulse laser and that of the gold nanoparticles.

Virial Coefficients from Unified Statistical Thermodynamics of Quantum Gases Trapped under Generic Power Law Potential in d Dimension and Equivalence of Quantum Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bahauddin, Shah Mohammad; Mehedi Faruk, Mir

2016-09-01

From the unified statistical thermodynamics of quantum gases, the virial coefficients of ideal Bose and Fermi gases, trapped under generic power law potential are derived systematically. From the general result of virial coefficients, one can produce the known results in d = 3 and d = 2. But more importantly we found that, the virial coefficients of Bose and Fermi gases become identical (except the second virial coefficient, where the sign is different) when the gases are trapped under harmonic potential in d = 1. This result suggests the equivalence between Bose and Fermi gases established in d = 1 (J. Stat. Phys. DOI 10.1007/s10955-015-1344-4). Also, it is found that the virial coefficients of two-dimensional free Bose (Fermi) gas are equal to the virial coefficients of one-dimensional harmonically trapped Bose (Fermi) gas.

Ultralow Damping in Nanometer-Thick Epitaxial Spinel Ferrite Thin Films.

PubMed

Emori, Satoru; Yi, Di; Crossley, Sam; Wisser, Jacob J; Balakrishnan, Purnima P; Khodadadi, Behrouz; Shafer, Padraic; Klewe, Christoph; N'Diaye, Alpha T; Urwin, Brittany T; Mahalingam, Krishnamurthy; Howe, Brandon M; Hwang, Harold Y; Arenholz, Elke; Suzuki, Yuri

2018-06-08

Pure spin currents, unaccompanied by dissipative charge flow, are essential for realizing energy-efficient nanomagnetic information and communications devices. Thin-film magnetic insulators have been identified as promising materials for spin-current technology because they are thought to exhibit lower damping compared with their metallic counterparts. However, insulating behavior is not a sufficient requirement for low damping, as evidenced by the very limited options for low-damping insulators. Here, we demonstrate a new class of nanometer-thick ultralow-damping insulating thin films based on design criteria that minimize orbital angular momentum and structural disorder. Specifically, we show ultralow damping in <20 nm thick spinel-structure magnesium aluminum ferrite (MAFO), in which magnetization arises from Fe 3+ ions with zero orbital angular momentum. These epitaxial MAFO thin films exhibit a Gilbert damping parameter of ∼0.0015 and negligible inhomogeneous linewidth broadening, resulting in narrow half width at half-maximum linewidths of ∼0.6 mT around 10 GHz. Our findings offer an attractive thin-film platform for enabling integrated insulating spintronics.

Ultralow-threshold multiphoton-pumped lasing from colloidal nanoplatelets in solution

PubMed Central

Li, Mingjie; Zhi, Min; Zhu, Hai; Wu, Wen-Ya; Xu, Qing-Hua; Jhon, Mark Hyunpong; Chan, Yinthai

2015-01-01

Although multiphoton-pumped lasing from a solution of chromophores is important in the emerging fields of nonlinear optofluidics and bio-photonics, conventionally used organic dyes are often rendered unsuitable because of relatively small multiphoton absorption cross-sections and low photostability. Here, we demonstrate highly photostable, ultralow-threshold multiphoton-pumped biexcitonic lasing from a solution of colloidal CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets within a cuvette-based Fabry–Pérot optical resonator. We find that colloidal nanoplatelets surprisingly exhibit an optimal lateral size that minimizes lasing threshold. These nanoplatelets possess very large gain cross-sections of 7.3 × 10−14 cm2 and ultralow lasing thresholds of 1.2 and 4.3 mJ cm−2 under two-photon (λexc=800 nm) and three-photon (λexc=1.3 μm) excitation, respectively. The highly polarized emission from the nanoplatelet laser shows no significant photodegradation over 107 laser shots. These findings constitute a more comprehensive understanding of the utility of colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles as the gain medium in high-performance frequency-upconversion liquid lasers. PMID:26419950

Tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect of morphine in mice: blockage by ultra-low dose naltrexone.

PubMed

Roshanpour, Maryam; Ghasemi, Mehdi; Riazi, Kiarash; Rafiei-Tabatabaei, Neda; Ghahremani, Mohammad Hossein; Dehpour, Ahmad Reza

2009-02-01

The present study evaluated the development of tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect of morphine in a mouse model of clonic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole, and whether ultra-low doses of the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone which selectively block G(s) opioid receptors were capable of preventing the observed tolerance. The results showed that the morphine anticonvulsant effect could be subject to tolerance after repeated administration. Both the development and expression of tolerance were inhibited by ultra-low doses of naltrexone, suggesting the possible involvement of G(s)-coupled opioid receptors in the development of tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect of morphine.

Carbon transfer from magnesia-graphite ladle refractories to ultra-low carbon steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russo, Andrew Arthur

Ultra-low carbon steels are utilized in processes which require maximum ductility. Increases in interstitial carbon lower the ductility of steel; therefore, it is important to examine possible sources of carbon. The refractory ladle lining is one such source. Ladle refractories often contain graphite for its desirable thermal shock and slag corrosion resistance. This graphite is a possible source of carbon increase in ultra-low carbon steels. The goal of this research is to understand and evaluate the mechanisms by which carbon transfers to ultra-low carbon steel from magnesia-graphite ladle refractory. Laboratory dip tests were performed in a vacuum induction furnace under an argon atmosphere to investigate these mechanisms. Commercial ladle refractories with carbon contents between 4-12 wt% were used to investigate the effect of refractory carbon content. Slag-free dip tests and slag-containing dip tests with varying MgO concentrations were performed to investigate the influence of slag. Carbon transfer to the steel was controlled by steel penetrating into the refractory and dissolving carbon in dip tests where no slag was present. The rate limiting step for this mechanism is convective mass transport of carbon into the bulk steel. No detectable carbon transfer occurred in dip tests with 4 and 6 wt%C refractories without slag because no significant steel penetration occurred. Carbon transfer was controlled by the corrosion of refractory by slag in dip tests where slag was present.

Collisional quenching at ultralow energies: controlling efficiency with internal state selection.

PubMed

Bovino, S; Bodo, E; Gianturco, F A

2007-12-14

Calculations have been carried out for the vibrational quenching of excited H(2) molecules which collide with Li(+) ions at ultralow energies. The dynamics has been treated exactly using the well-known quantum coupled-channel expansions over different initial vibrational levels. The overall interaction potential has been obtained from the calculations carried out earlier by our group using highly correlated ab initio methods. The results indicate that specific features of the scattering observables, e.g., the appearance of Ramsauer-Townsend minima in elastic channel cross sections and the marked increase of the cooling rates from specific initial states, can be linked to potential properties at vanishing energies (sign and size of scattering lengths) and to the presence of either virtual states or bound states. The suggestion is made such that by selecting the initial state preparation of the molecular partners, the ionic interactions would be amenable to controlling quenching efficiency at ultralow energies.

First-Principles Determination of Ultralow Thermal Conductivity of monolayer WSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Wu-Xing; Chen, Ke-Qiu

2015-10-01

By using first-principles calculations combined with the phonon Boltzmann transport equation, we systematically investigate the phonon transport of monolayer WSe2. Compared with other 2D materials, the monolayer WSe2 is found to have an ultralow thermal conductivity due to the ultralow Debye frequency and heavy atom mass. The room temperature thermal conductivity for a typical sample size of 1 μm is 3.935  W/m K, which is one order of magnitude lower than that of MoS2. And the room temperature thermal conductivity can be further decreased by about 95% in 10 nm sized samples. Moreover, we also find the ZA phonons have the dominant contribution to the thermal conductivity, and the relative contribution is almost 80% at room temperature, which is remarkably higher than that for monolayer MoS2. This is because the ZA phonons have longer lifetime than that of LA and TA phonons in monolayer WSe2.

Single and dual fiber nano-tip optical tweezers: trapping and analysis.

PubMed

Decombe, Jean-Baptiste; Huant, Serge; Fick, Jochen

2013-12-16

An original optical tweezers using one or two chemically etched fiber nano-tips is developed. We demonstrate optical trapping of 1 micrometer polystyrene spheres at optical powers down to 2 mW. Harmonic trap potentials were found in the case of dual fiber tweezers by analyzing the trapped particle position fluctuations. The trap stiffness was deduced using three different models. Consistent values of up to 1 fN/nm were found. The stiffness linearly decreases with decreasing light intensity and increasing fiber tip-to-tip distance.

Measurement of Trap Length for an Optical Trap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wrbanek, Susan Y.

2009-01-01

The trap length along the beam axis for an optical trap formed with an upright, oil-immersion microscope was measured. The goals for this effort were twofold. It was deemed useful to understand the depth to which an optical trap can reach for purposes of developing a tool to assist in the fabrication of miniature devices. Additionally, it was desired to know whether the measured trap length favored one or the other of two competing theories to model an optical trap. The approach was to trap a microsphere of known size and mass and raise it from its initial trap position. The microsphere was then dropped by blocking the laser beam for a pre-determined amount of time. Dropping the microsphere in a free-fall mode from various heights relative to the coverslip provides an estimate of how the trapping length changes with depth in water in a sample chamber on a microscope slide. While it was not possible to measure the trap length with sufficient precision to support any particular theory of optical trap formation, it was possible to find regions where the presence of physical boundaries influenced optical traps, and determine that the trap length, for the apparatus studied, is between 6 and 7 m. These results allow more precise control using optical micromanipulation to assemble miniature devices by providing information about the distance over which an optical trap is effective.

A Silicon Disk with Sandwiched Piezoelectric Springs for Ultra-low Frequency Energy Harvesting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, J.; Zhang, L.; Yamashita, T.; Takei, R.; Makimoto, N.; Kobayashi, T.

2015-12-01

Exploiting the sporadic availability of energy by energy harvesting devices is an attractive solution to power wireless sensor nodes and many other distributed modules for much longer operation duration and much lower maintenance cost after they are deployed. MEMS energy harvesting devices exhibit unique advantageous of super-compact size, mass productivity, and easy-integration with sensors, actuators and other integrated circuits. However, MEMS vibration energy harvesting devices are rather difficult to be used practically due to their poor response to most of the ambient vibrations at ultra-low frequency range. In this paper, a micromachined silicon disk with sandwiched piezoelectric springs was successfully developed with resonant frequency of 15.36∼42.42 Hz and quality factor of 39∼55 for energy harvesting. Footprint size of the device was 6 mm × 6 mm, which is less than half of the piezoelectric cantilevers, while the device can scavenge reasonably high power of 0.57 μW at the acceleration of 0.1 g. The evaluation results also suggested that the device was quite sensitive as a sensor for selective monitoring of vibrations at a certain frequency.

The Technical and Performance Characteristics of a Low-Cost, Simply Constructed, Black Light Moth Trap

PubMed Central

White, Peter J. T.; Glover, Katharine; Stewart, Joel; Rice, Amanda

2016-01-01

The universal mercury vapor black light trap is an effective device used for collecting moth specimens in a wide variety of habitats; yet, they can present challenges for researchers. The mercury vapor trap is often powered by a heavy automotive battery making it difficult to conduct extensive surveys in remote regions. The mercury vapor trap also carries a considerable financial cost per trap unit, making trapping challenging with low research budgets. Here, we describe the development and trapping properties of a lighter, simply constructed, and less expensive trap. The LED funnel trap consists of a funnel, soda bottles with plastic vanes, and is powered by rechargeable 9-V batteries. Two strips of low-wavelength LEDs are used as attractants. We tested the trapping parameters of this trap design compared to a standard mercury vapor trap over 10 trap nights in a suburban woodlot in the summer of 2015. The mercury vapor trap caught significantly more moth individuals than the LED trap (average of 78 vs 40 moths per trap night; P < 0.05), and significantly more species than the LED trap (23 vs 15 per trap night; P < 0.05); the mercury vapor trap caught a total of 104 macromoth species over the duration of the study, compared to a total of 87 by the LED trap. Despite the lower yields, the low cost of the LED trap (<$30 ea.) makes it superior to the mercury vapor trap in cost-acquisition per moth species and per moth individual trapped. The LED trap may be a viable alternative to the standard mercury vapor trap, facilitating insect trapping in more diverse settings. PMID:26936923

Miniaturized magnet-less RF electron trap. II. Experimental verification

DOE PAGES

Deng, Shiyang; Green, Scott R.; Markosyan, Aram H.; ...

2017-06-15

Atomic microsystems have the potential of providing extremely accurate measurements of timing and acceleration. But, atomic microsystems require active maintenance of ultrahigh vacuum in order to have reasonable operating lifetimes and are particularly sensitive to magnetic fields that are used to trap electrons in traditional sputter ion pumps. Our paper presents an approach to trapping electrons without the use of magnetic fields, using radio frequency (RF) fields established between two perforated electrodes. The challenges associated with this magnet-less approach, as well as the miniaturization of the structure, are addressed. These include, for example, the transfer of large voltage (100–200 V)more » RF power to capacitive loads presented by the structure. The electron trapping module (ETM) described here uses eight electrode elements to confine and measure electrons injected by an electron beam, within an active trap volume of 0.7 cm 3. The operating RF frequency is 143.6 MHz, which is the measured series resonant frequency between the two RF electrodes. It was found experimentally that the steady state electrode potentials on electrodes near the trap became more negative after applying a range of RF power levels (up to 0.15 W through the ETM), indicating electron densities of ≈3 × 10 5 cm -3 near the walls of the trap. The observed results align well with predicted electron densities from analytical and numerical models. The peak electron density within the trap is estimated as ~1000 times the electron density in the electron beam as it exits the electron gun. Finally, this successful demonstration of the RF electron trapping concept addresses critical challenges in the development of miniaturized magnet-less ion pumps.« less

Operational Parameters, Considerations, and Design Decisions for Resource-Constrained Ion Trap Mass Spectrometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Danell, Ryan M.; VanAmerom, Friso H. W.; Pinnick, Veronica; Cotter, Robert J.; Brickerhoff, William; Mahaffy, Paul

2011-01-01

Mass spectrometers are increasingly finding applications in new and unique areas, often in situations where key operational resources (i.e. power, weight and size) are limited. One such example is the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA). This instrument is a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop an ion trap mass spectrometer for chemical analysis on Mars. The constraints on such an instrument are significant as are the performance requirements. While the ideal operating parameters for an ion trap are generally well characterized, methods to maintain analytical performance with limited power and system weight need to be investigated and tested. Methods Experiments have been performed on two custom ion trap mass spectrometers developed as prototypes for the MOMA instrument. This hardware consists of quadrupole ion trap electrodes that are 70% the size of common commercial instrumentation. The trapping RF voltage is created with a custom tank circuit that can be tuned over a range of RF frequencies and is driven using laboratory supplies and amplifiers. The entire instrument is controlled with custom Lab VIEW software that allows a high degree of flexibility in the definition of the scan function defining the ion trap experiment. Ions are typically generated via an internal electron ionization source, however, a laser desorption source is also in development for analysis of larger intact molecules. Preliminary Data The main goals in this work have been to reduce the power required to generate the radio frequency trapping field used in an ion trap mass spectrometer. Generally minimizing the power will also reduce the volume and mass of the electronics to support the instrument. In order to achieve optimum performance, commercial instruments typically utilize RF frequencies in the 1 MHz range. Without much concern for power usage, they simply generate the voltage required to access the mass range of interest. In order to reduce the

Study of ultra-low emittance design for SPEAR3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, M. -H.; Huang, X.; Safranek, J.

2015-09-17

Since its 2003 construction, the SPEAR3 synchrotron light source at SLAC has continuously improved its performance by raising beam current, top-off injection, and smaller emittance. This makes SPEAR3 one of the most productive light sources in the world. Now, to further enhance the performance of SPEAR3, we are looking into the possibility of converting SPEAR3 to an ultra-low emittance storage ring within its site constraint.

A programmable ultra-low noise X-band exciter.

PubMed

MacMullen, A; Hoover, L R; Justice, R D; Callahan, B S

2001-07-01

A programmable ultra-low noise X-band exciter has been developed using commercial off-the-shelf components. Its phase noise is more than 10 dB below the best available microwave synthesizers. It covers a 7% frequency band with 0.1-Hz resolution. The X-band output at +23 dBm is a combination of signals from an X-band sapphire-loaded cavity oscillator (SLCO), a low noise UHF frequency synthesizer, and special-purpose frequency translation and up-conversion circuitry.

Self-assisted optothermal trapping of gold nanorods under two-photon excitation

PubMed Central

Chen, Hongtao; Gratton, Enrico; Digman, Michelle A

2017-01-01

We report a self-assisted optothermal trapping and patterning of gold nanorods (GNRs) on glass surfaces with a femtosecond laser. We show that GNRs are not only the trapping targets, but also can enhance the optothermal trapping of other particles. This trapping phenomenon is the net result of thermophoresis and a convective flow caused by localized heating. The heating is due to the conversion of absorbed photons into heat at GNR’s longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelength. First, we investigated the optothermal trapping of GNRs at their LSPR wavelength on the glass surface with as low as 0.5 mW laser power. The trapping range was observed to be larger than a typical field of view, e.g. 210 μm × 210 μm here. Second, by adjusting the distance between the laser focus and the glass surface, ring patterns of GNRs on the glass surface were obtained. These patterns could be controlled by the laser power and the numerical aperture of the microscope objective. Moreover, we examined the spectral emission of GNRs under different trapping conditions using the spectral phasor approach to reveal the temperature and association status of GNRs. Our study will help understanding manipulation of flows in solution and in biological systems that can be applied in future investigations of GNR-induced heating and flows. PMID:28355163

Measurement of untruncated nuclear spin interactions via zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blanchard, J. W.; Sjolander, T. F.; King, J. P.; Ledbetter, M. P.; Levine, E. H.; Bajaj, V. S.; Budker, D.; Pines, A.

2015-12-01

Zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance (ZULF NMR) provides a new regime for the measurement of nuclear spin-spin interactions free from the effects of large magnetic fields, such as truncation of terms that do not commute with the Zeeman Hamiltonian. One such interaction, the magnetic dipole-dipole coupling, is a valuable source of spatial information in NMR, though many terms are unobservable in high-field NMR, and the coupling averages to zero under isotropic molecular tumbling. Under partial alignment, this information is retained in the form of so-called residual dipolar couplings. We report zero- to ultralow-field NMR measurements of residual dipolar couplings in acetonitrile-2-13C aligned in stretched polyvinyl acetate gels. This permits the investigation of dipolar couplings as a perturbation on the indirect spin-spin J coupling in the absence of an applied magnetic field. As a consequence of working at zero magnetic field, we observe terms of the dipole-dipole coupling Hamiltonian that are invisible in conventional high-field NMR. This technique expands the capabilities of zero- to ultralow-field NMR and has potential applications in precision measurement of subtle physical interactions, chemical analysis, and characterization of local mesoscale structure in materials.

Comparison of low- and ultralow-dose computed tomography protocols for quantitative lung and airway assessment.

PubMed

Hammond, Emily; Sloan, Chelsea; Newell, John D; Sieren, Jered P; Saylor, Melissa; Vidal, Craig; Hogue, Shayna; De Stefano, Frank; Sieren, Alexa; Hoffman, Eric A; Sieren, Jessica C

2017-09-01

Quantitative computed tomography (CT) measures are increasingly being developed and used to characterize lung disease. With recent advances in CT technologies, we sought to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of lung imaging at low- and ultralow-radiation doses with the use of iterative reconstruction (IR), tube current modulation (TCM), and spectral shaping. We investigated the effect of five independent CT protocols reconstructed with IR on quantitative airway measures and global lung measures using an in vivo large animal model as a human subject surrogate. A control protocol was chosen (NIH-SPIROMICS + TCM) and five independent protocols investigating TCM, low- and ultralow-radiation dose, and spectral shaping. For all scans, quantitative global parenchymal measurements (mean, median and standard deviation of the parenchymal HU, along with measures of emphysema) and global airway measurements (number of segmented airways and pi10) were generated. In addition, selected individual airway measurements (minor and major inner diameter, wall thickness, inner and outer area, inner and outer perimeter, wall area fraction, and inner equivalent circle diameter) were evaluated. Comparisons were made between control and target protocols using difference and repeatability measures. Estimated CT volume dose index (CTDIvol) across all protocols ranged from 7.32 mGy to 0.32 mGy. Low- and ultralow-dose protocols required more manual editing and resolved fewer airway branches; yet, comparable pi10 whole lung measures were observed across all protocols. Similar trends in acquired parenchymal and airway measurements were observed across all protocols, with increased measurement differences using the ultralow-dose protocols. However, for small airways (1.9 ± 0.2 mm) and medium airways (5.7 ± 0.4 mm), the measurement differences across all protocols were comparable to the control protocol repeatability across breath holds. Diameters, wall thickness, wall area fraction

Enhanced and selective optical trapping in a slot-graphite photonic crystal.

PubMed

Krishnan, Aravind; Huang, Ningfeng; Wu, Shao-Hua; Martínez, Luis Javier; Povinelli, Michelle L

2016-10-03

Applicability of optical trapping tools for nanomanipulation is limited by the available laser power and trap efficiency. We utilized the strong confinement of light in a slot-graphite photonic crystal to develop high-efficiency parallel trapping over a large area. The stiffness is 35 times higher than our previously demonstrated on-chip, near field traps. We demonstrate the ability to trap both dielectric and metallic particles of sub-micron size. We find that the growth kinetics of nanoparticle arrays on the slot-graphite template depends on particle size. This difference is exploited to selectively trap one type of particle out of a binary colloidal mixture, creating an efficient optical sieve. This technique has rich potential for analysis, diagnostics, and enrichment and sorting of microscopic entities.

Mass-manufacturable polymer microfluidic device for dual fiber optical trapping.

PubMed

De Coster, Diane; Ottevaere, Heidi; Vervaeke, Michael; Van Erps, Jürgen; Callewaert, Manly; Wuytens, Pieter; Simpson, Stephen H; Hanna, Simon; De Malsche, Wim; Thienpont, Hugo

2015-11-30

We present a microfluidic chip in Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for optical trapping of particles in an 80µm wide microchannel using two counterpropagating single-mode beams. The trapping fibers are separated from the sample fluid by 70µm thick polymer walls. We calculate the optical forces that act on particles flowing in the microchannel using wave optics in combination with non-sequential ray-tracing and further mathematical processing. Our results are compared with a theoretical model and the Mie theory. We use a novel fabrication process that consists of a premilling step and ultraprecision diamond tooling for the manufacturing of the molds and double-sided hot embossing for replication, resulting in a robust microfluidic chip for optical trapping. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, we show the trapping capabilities of the hot embossed chip by trapping spherical beads with a diameter of 6µm, 8µm and 10µm and use the power spectrum analysis of the trapped particle displacements to characterize the trap strength.

Ultra-low voltage electrowetting using graphite surfaces.

PubMed

Lomax, Deborah J; Kant, Pallav; Williams, Aled T; Patten, Hollie V; Zou, Yuqin; Juel, Anne; Dryfe, Robert A W

2016-10-26

The control of wetting behaviour underpins a variety of important applications from lubrication to microdroplet manipulation. Electrowetting is a powerful method to achieve external wetting control, by exploiting the potential-dependence of the liquid contact angle with respect to a solid substrate. Addition of a dielectric film to the surface of the substrate, which insulates the electrode from the liquid thereby suppressing electrolysis, has led to technological advances such as variable focal-length liquid lenses, electronic paper and the actuation of droplets in lab-on-a-chip devices. The presence of the dielectric, however, necessitates the use of large bias voltages (frequently in the 10-100 V range). Here we describe a simple, dielectric-free approach to electrowetting using the basal plane of graphite as the conducting substrate: unprecedented changes in contact angle for ultra-low voltages are seen below the electrolysis threshold (50° with 1 V for a droplet in air, and 100° with 1.5 V for a droplet immersed in hexadecane), which are shown to be reproducible, stable over 100 s of cycles and free of hysteresis. Our results dispel conventional wisdom that reversible, hysteresis-free electrowetting can only be achieved on solid substrates with the use of a dielectric. This work paves the way for the development of a new generation of efficient electrowetting devices using advanced materials such as graphene and monolayer MoS 2 .

Thermal electric vapor trap arrangement and method

DOEpatents

Alger, Terry

1988-01-01

A technique for trapping vapor within a section of a tube is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes a conventional, readily providable thermal electric device having a hot side and a cold side and means for powering the device to accomplish this. The cold side of this device is positioned sufficiently close to a predetermined section of the tube and is made sufficiently cold so that any condensable vapor passing through the predetermined tube section is condensed and trapped, preferably within the predetermined tube section itself.

Thermal electric vapor trap arrangement and method

DOEpatents

Alger, T.

1988-03-15

A technique for trapping vapor within a section of a tube is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes a conventional, readily providable thermal electric device having a hot side and a cold side and means for powering the device to accomplish this. The cold side of this device is positioned sufficiently close to a predetermined section of the tube and is made sufficiently cold so that any condensable vapor passing through the predetermined tube section is condensed and trapped, preferably within the predetermined tube section itself. 4 figs.

Ultralow dose dentomaxillofacial CT imaging and iterative reconstruction techniques: variability of Hounsfield units and contrast-to-noise ratio

PubMed Central

Bischel, Alexander; Stratis, Andreas; Kakar, Apoorv; Bosmans, Hilde; Jacobs, Reinhilde; Gassner, Eva-Maria; Puelacher, Wolfgang; Pauwels, Ruben

2016-01-01

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether application of ultralow dose protocols and iterative reconstruction technology (IRT) influence quantitative Hounsfield units (HUs) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in dentomaxillofacial CT imaging. Methods: A phantom with inserts of five types of materials was scanned using protocols for (a) a clinical reference for navigated surgery (CT dose index volume 36.58 mGy), (b) low-dose sinus imaging (18.28 mGy) and (c) four ultralow dose imaging (4.14, 2.63, 0.99 and 0.53 mGy). All images were reconstructed using: (i) filtered back projection (FBP); (ii) IRT: adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-50 (ASIR-50), ASIR-100 and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR); and (iii) standard (std) and bone kernel. Mean HU, CNR and average HU error after recalibration were determined. Each combination of protocols was compared using Friedman analysis of variance, followed by Dunn's multiple comparison test. Results: Pearson's sample correlation coefficients were all >0.99. Ultralow dose protocols using FBP showed errors of up to 273 HU. Std kernels had less HU variability than bone kernels. MBIR reduced the error value for the lowest dose protocol to 138 HU and retained the highest relative CNR. ASIR could not demonstrate significant advantages over FBP. Conclusions: Considering a potential dose reduction as low as 1.5% of a std protocol, ultralow dose protocols and IRT should be further tested for clinical dentomaxillofacial CT imaging. Advances in knowledge: HU as a surrogate for bone density may vary significantly in CT ultralow dose imaging. However, use of std kernels and MBIR technology reduce HU error values and may retain the highest CNR. PMID:26859336

Uncertainty in particle number modal analysis during transient operation of compressed natural gas, diesel, and trap-equipped diesel transit buses.

PubMed

Holmén, Britt A; Qu, Yingge

2004-04-15

The relationships between transient vehicle operation and ultrafine particle emissions are not well-known, especially for low-emission alternative bus technologies such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel buses equipped with particulate filters/traps (TRAP). In this study, real-time particle number concentrations measured on a nominal 5 s average basis using an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) for these two bus technologies are compared to that of a baseline catalyst-equipped diesel bus operated on ultralow sulfur fuel (BASE) using dynamometer testing. Particle emissions were consistently 2 orders of magnitude lower for the CNG and TRAP compared to BASE on all driving cycles. Time-resolved total particle numbers were examined in terms of sampling factors identified as affecting the ability of ELPI to quantify the particulate matter number emissions for low-emitting vehicles such as CNG and TRAP as a function of vehicle driving mode. Key factors were instrument sensitivity and dilution ratio, alignment of particle and vehicle operating data, sampling train background particles, and cycle-to-cycle variability due to vehicle, engine, after-treatment, or driver behavior. In-cycle variability on the central business district (CBD) cycle was highest for the TRAP configuration, but this could not be attributed to the ELPI sensitivity issues observed for TRAP-IDLE measurements. Elevated TRAP emissions coincided with low exhaust temperature, suggesting on-road real-world particulate filter performance can be evaluated by monitoring exhaust temperature. Nonunique particle emission maps indicate that measures other than vehicle speed and acceleration are necessary to model disaggregated real-time particle emissions. Further testing on a wide variety of test cycles is needed to evaluate the relative importance of the time history of vehicle operation and the hysteresis of the sampling train/dilution tunnel on ultrafine particle emissions. Future studies should

Investigation of the Performance of an Ultralow-Dark-Count Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subashchandran, Shanthi; Okamoto, Ryo; Zhang, Labao; Tanaka, Akira; Okano, Masayuki; Kang, Lin; Chen, Jian; Wu, Peiheng; Takeuchi, Shigeki

2013-10-01

The realization of an ultralow-dark-count rate (DCR) along with the conservation of high detection efficiency (DE) is critical for many applications using single photon detectors in quantum information technologies, material sciences, and biological sensing. For this purpose, a fiber-coupled superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) with a meander-type niobium nitride nanowire (width: 50 nm) is studied. Precise measurements of the bias current dependence of DE are carried out for a wide spectral range (from 500 to 1650 nm in steps of 50 nm) using a white light source and a laser line Bragg tunable band-pass filter. An ultralow DCR (0.0015 cps) and high DE (32%) are simultaneously achieved by the SNSPD at a wavelength of 500 nm.

Monitoring Pest Insect Traps by Means of Low-Power Image Sensor Technologies

PubMed Central

López, Otoniel; Rach, Miguel Martinez; Migallon, Hector; Malumbres, Manuel P.; Bonastre, Alberto; Serrano, Juan J.

2012-01-01

Monitoring pest insect populations is currently a key issue in agriculture and forestry protection. At the farm level, human operators typically must perform periodical surveys of the traps disseminated through the field. This is a labor-, time- and cost-consuming activity, in particular for large plantations or large forestry areas, so it would be of great advantage to have an affordable system capable of doing this task automatically in an accurate and a more efficient way. This paper proposes an autonomous monitoring system based on a low-cost image sensor that it is able to capture and send images of the trap contents to a remote control station with the periodicity demanded by the trapping application. Our autonomous monitoring system will be able to cover large areas with very low energy consumption. This issue would be the main key point in our study; since the operational live of the overall monitoring system should be extended to months of continuous operation without any kind of maintenance (i.e., battery replacement). The images delivered by image sensors would be time-stamped and processed in the control station to get the number of individuals found at each trap. All the information would be conveniently stored at the control station, and accessible via Internet by means of available network services at control station (WiFi, WiMax, 3G/4G, etc.). PMID:23202232

Monitoring pest insect traps by means of low-power image sensor technologies.

PubMed

López, Otoniel; Rach, Miguel Martinez; Migallon, Hector; Malumbres, Manuel P; Bonastre, Alberto; Serrano, Juan J

2012-11-13

Monitoring pest insect populations is currently a key issue in agriculture and forestry protection. At the farm level, human operators typically must perform periodical surveys of the traps disseminated through the field. This is a labor-, time- and cost-consuming activity, in particular for large plantations or large forestry areas, so it would be of great advantage to have an affordable system capable of doing this task automatically in an accurate and a more efficient way. This paper proposes an autonomous monitoring system based on a low-cost image sensor that it is able to capture and send images of the trap contents to a remote control station with the periodicity demanded by the trapping application. Our autonomous monitoring system will be able to cover large areas with very low energy consumption. This issue would be the main key point in our study; since the operational live of the overall monitoring system should be extended to months of continuous operation without any kind of maintenance (i.e., battery replacement). The images delivered by image sensors would be time-stamped and processed in the control station to get the number of individuals found at each trap. All the information would be conveniently stored at the control station, and accessible via Internet by means of available network services at control station (WiFi, WiMax, 3G/4G, etc.).

50 CFR 697.19 - Trap limits and trap tag requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... vessels fishing with lobster traps. 697.19 Section 697.19 Wildlife and Fisheries FISHERY CONSERVATION AND... requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps. (a) Area 1 trap limits. The Area 1 trap limit is 800 traps. Federally permitted lobster fishing vessels shall not fish with, deploy in, possess in, or haul back more...

3D-printed external light trap for solar cells.

PubMed

van Dijk, Lourens; Paetzold, Ulrich W; Blab, Gerhard A; Schropp, Ruud E I; di Vece, Marcel

2016-05-01

We present a universally applicable 3D-printed external light trap for enhanced absorption in solar cells. The macroscopic external light trap is placed at the sun-facing surface of the solar cell and retro-reflects the light that would otherwise escape. The light trap consists of a reflective parabolic concentrator placed on top of a reflective cage. Upon placement of the light trap, an improvement of 15% of both the photocurrent and the power conversion efficiency in a thin-film nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) solar cell is measured. The trapped light traverses the solar cell several times within the reflective cage thereby increasing the total absorption in the cell. Consequently, the trap reduces optical losses and enhances the absorption over the entire spectrum. The components of the light trap are 3D printed and made of smoothened, silver-coated thermoplastic. In contrast to conventional light trapping methods, external light trapping leaves the material quality and the electrical properties of the solar cell unaffected. To explain the theoretical operation of the external light trap, we introduce a model that predicts the absorption enhancement in the solar cell by the external light trap. The corresponding calculated path length enhancement shows good agreement with the empirically derived value from the opto-electrical data of the solar cell. Moreover, we analyze the influence of the angle of incidence on the parasitic absorptance to obtain full understanding of the trap performance. © 2015 The Authors. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Diffuse Surface Scattering in the Plasmonic Resonances of Ultralow Electron Density Nanospheres.

PubMed

Monreal, R Carmina; Antosiewicz, Tomasz J; Apell, S Peter

2015-05-21

Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) have recently been identified in extremely diluted electron systems obtained by doping semiconductor quantum dots. Here, we investigate the role that different surface effects, namely, electronic spill-out and diffuse surface scattering, play in the optical properties of these ultralow electron density nanosystems. Diffuse scattering originates from imperfections or roughness at a microscopic scale on the surface. Using an electromagnetic theory that describes this mechanism in conjunction with a dielectric function including the quantum size effect, we find that the LSPRs show an oscillatory behavior in both position and width for large particles and a strong blue shift in energy and an increased width for smaller radii, consistent with recent experimental results for photodoped ZnO nanocrystals. We thus show that the commonly ignored process of diffuse surface scattering is a more important mechanism affecting the plasmonic properties of ultralow electron density nanoparticles than the spill-out effect.

Note: Ultra-low birefringence dodecagonal vacuum glass cell.

PubMed

Brakhane, Stefan; Alt, Wolfgang; Meschede, Dieter; Robens, Carsten; Moon, Geol; Alberti, Andrea

2015-12-01

We report on an ultra-low birefringence dodecagonal glass cell for ultra-high vacuum applications. The epoxy-bonded trapezoidal windows of the cell are made of SF57 glass, which exhibits a very low stress-induced birefringence. We characterize the birefringence Δn of each window with the cell under vacuum conditions, obtaining values around 10(-8). After baking the cell at 150 °C, we reach a pressure below 10(-10) mbar. In addition, each window is antireflection coated on both sides, which is highly desirable for quantum optics experiments and precision measurements.

Encoding Random Hot Spots of a Volume Gold Nanorod Assembly for Ultralow Energy Memory.

PubMed

Dai, Qiaofeng; Ouyang, Min; Yuan, Weiguang; Li, Jinxiang; Guo, Banghong; Lan, Sheng; Liu, Songhao; Zhang, Qiming; Lu, Guang; Tie, Shaolong; Deng, Haidong; Xu, Yi; Gu, Min

2017-09-01

Data storage with ultrahigh density, ultralow energy, high security, and long lifetime is highly desirable in the 21st century and optical data storage is considered as the most promising way to meet the challenge of storing big data. Plasmonic coupling in regularly arranged metallic nanoparticles has demonstrated its superior properties in various applications due to the generation of hot spots. Here, the discovery of the polarization and spectrum sensitivity of random hot spots generated in a volume gold nanorod assembly is reported. It is demonstrated that the two-photon-induced absorption and two-photon-induced luminescence of the gold nanorods adjacent to such hot spots are enhanced significantly because of plasmonic coupling. The polarization, wavelength, and spatial multiplexing of the hot spots can be realized by using an ultralow energy of only a few picojoule per pulse, which is two orders of magnitude lower than the value in the state-of-the-art technology that utilizes isolated gold nanorods. The ultralow recording energy reduces the cross-talk between different recording channels and makes it possible to realize rewriting function, improving significantly both the quality and capacity of optical data storage. It is anticipated that the demonstrated technology can facilitate the development of multidimensional optical data storage for a greener future. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Impulse Excitation Internal Friction Study of Dislocation and Point Defect Interactions in Ultra-Low Carbon Bake-Hardenable Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Il-Chan; Kang, Deok-Gu; De Cooman, Bruno C.

2014-04-01

The simultaneous presence of interstitial solutes and dislocations in an ultra-low carbon bake-hardenable steel gives rise to two characteristic peaks in the internal friction (IF) spectrum: the dislocation-enhanced Snoek peak and the Snoek-Kê-Köster peak. These IF peaks were used to study the dislocation structure developed by the pre-straining and the static strain aging effect of C during the bake-hardening process. A Ti-stabilized interstitial-free steel was used to ascertain the absence of a γ-peak in the IF spectrum of the deformed ultra-low carbon steel. The analysis of the IF data shows clearly that the bake-hardening effect in ultra-low carbon steel is entirely due to atmosphere formation, with the dislocation segment length being the main parameter affecting the IF peak amplitude. Recovery annealing experiments showed that the rearrangement of the dislocation structure lead to the elimination of the C atmosphere.

Matter-wave dark solitons in boxlike traps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sciacca, M.; Barenghi, C. F.; Parker, N. G.

2017-01-01

Motivated by the experimental development of quasihomogeneous Bose-Einstein condensates confined in boxlike traps, we study numerically the dynamics of dark solitons in such traps at zero temperature. We consider the cases where the side walls of the box potential rise either as a power law or a Gaussian. While the soliton propagates through the homogeneous interior of the box without dissipation, it typically dissipates energy during a reflection from a wall through the emission of sound waves, causing a slight increase in the soliton's speed. We characterize this energy loss as a function of the wall parameters. Moreover, over multiple oscillations and reflections in the boxlike trap, the energy loss and speed increase of the soliton can be significant, although the decay eventually becomes stabilized when the soliton equilibrates with the ambient sound field.

Ultralow-fatigue shape memory alloy films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chluba, Christoph; Ge, Wenwei; Lima de Miranda, Rodrigo; Strobel, Julian; Kienle, Lorenz; Quandt, Eckhard; Wuttig, Manfred

2015-05-01

Functional shape memory alloys need to operate reversibly and repeatedly. Quantitative measures of reversibility include the relative volume change of the participating phases and compatibility matrices for twinning. But no similar argument is known for repeatability. This is especially crucial for many future applications, such as artificial heart valves or elastocaloric cooling, in which more than 10 million transformation cycles will be required. We report on the discovery of an ultralow-fatigue shape memory alloy film system based on TiNiCu that allows at least 10 million transformation cycles. We found that these films contain Ti2Cu precipitates embedded in the base alloy that serve as sentinels to ensure complete and reproducible transformation in the course of each memory cycle.

Position-insensitive long range inductive power transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwan, Christopher H.; Lawson, James; Yates, David C.; Mitcheson, Paul D.

2014-11-01

This paper presents results of an improved inductive wireless power transfer system for reliable long range powering of sensors with milliwatt-level consumption. An ultra-low power flyback impedance emulator operating in open loop is used to present the optimal load to the receiver's resonant tank. Transmitter power modulation is implemented in order to maintain constant receiver power and to prevent damage to the receiver electronics caused by excessive received voltage. Received power is steady up to 3 m at around 30 mW. The receiver electronics and feedback system consumes 3.1 mW and so with a transmitter input power of 163.3 W the receiver becomes power neutral at 4.75 m. Such an IPT system can provide a reliable alternative to energy harvesters for supplying power concurrently to multiple remote sensors.

Dynamic-load-enabled ultra-low power multiple-state RRAM devices.

PubMed

Yang, Xiang; Chen, I-Wei

2012-01-01

Bipolar resistance-switching materials allowing intermediate states of wide-varying resistance values hold the potential of drastically reduced power for non-volatile memory. To exploit this potential, we have introduced into a nanometallic resistance-random-access-memory (RRAM) device an asymmetric dynamic load, which can reliably lower switching power by orders of magnitude. The dynamic load is highly resistive during on-switching allowing access to the highly resistive intermediate states; during off-switching the load vanishes to enable switching at low voltage. This approach is entirely scalable and applicable to other bipolar RRAM with intermediate states. The projected power is 12 nW for a 100 × 100 nm(2) device and 500 pW for a 10 × 10 nm(2) device. The dynamic range of the load can be increased to allow power to be further decreased by taking advantage of the exponential decay of wave-function in a newly discovered nanometallic random material, reaching possibly 1 pW for a 10×10 nm(2) nanometallic RRAM device.

Development of a dedicated ethanol ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV): Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dodge, L.; Bourn, G.; Callahan, T.

The objective of this project was to develop a commercially competitive vehicle powered by ethanol (or an ethanol blend) that can meet California`s ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standards and equivalent corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) energy efficiency for a light-duty passenger car application. The definition of commercially competitive is independent of fuel cost, but does include technical requirements for competitive power, performance, refueling times, vehicle range, driveability, fuel handling safety, and overall emissions performance. This report summarizes the fourth and final phase of this project, and also the overall project. The focus of this report is the technology used tomore » develop a dedicated ethanol-fueled ULEV, and the emissions results documenting ULV performance. Some of the details for the control system and hardware changes are presented in two appendices that are SAE papers. The demonstrator vehicle has a number of advanced technological features, but it is currently configured with standard original equipment manufacturer (OEM) under-engine catalysts. Close-coupled catalysts would improve emissions results further, but no close-coupled catalysts were available for this testing. Recently, close-coupled catalysts were obtained, but installation and testing will be performed in the future. This report also briefly summarizes work in several other related areas that supported the demonstrator vehicle work.« less

Ultra-low noise optical phase-locked loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayotte, Simon; Babin, André; Costin, François

2014-03-01

The relative phase between two fiber lasers is controlled via a high performance optical phase-locked loop (OPLL). Two parameters are of particular importance for the design: the intrinsic phase noise of the laser (i.e. its linewidth) and a high-gain, low-noise electronic locking loop. In this work, one of the lowest phase noise fiber lasers commercially available was selected (i.e. NP Photonics Rock fiber laser module), with sub-kHz linewidth at 1550.12 nm. However, the fast tuning mechanism of such lasers is through stretching its cavity length with a piezoelectric transducer which has a few 10s kHz bandwidth. To further increase the locking loop bandwidth to several MHz, a second tuning mechanism is used by adding a Lithium Niobate phase modulator in the laser signal path. The OPLL is thus divided into two locking loops, a slow loop acting on the laser piezoelectric transducer and a fast loop acting on the phase modulator. The beat signal between the two phase-locked lasers yields a highly pure sine wave with an integrated phase error of 0.0012 rad. This is orders of magnitude lower than similar existing systems such as the Laser Synthesizer used for distribution of photonic local oscillator (LO) for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array radio telescope in Chile. Other applications for ultra-low noise OPLL include coherent power combining, Brillouin sensing, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), fiber optic gyroscopes, phased array antenna and beam steering, generation of LOs for next generation coherent communication systems, coherent analog optical links, terahertz generation and coherent spectroscopy.

Monolayer semiconductor nanocavity lasers with ultralow thresholds.

PubMed

Wu, Sanfeng; Buckley, Sonia; Schaibley, John R; Feng, Liefeng; Yan, Jiaqiang; Mandrus, David G; Hatami, Fariba; Yao, Wang; Vučković, Jelena; Majumdar, Arka; Xu, Xiaodong

2015-04-02

Engineering the electromagnetic environment of a nanometre-scale light emitter by use of a photonic cavity can significantly enhance its spontaneous emission rate, through cavity quantum electrodynamics in the Purcell regime. This effect can greatly reduce the lasing threshold of the emitter, providing a low-threshold laser system with small footprint, low power consumption and ultrafast modulation. An ultralow-threshold nanoscale laser has been successfully developed by embedding quantum dots into a photonic crystal cavity (PCC). However, several challenges impede the practical application of this architecture, including the random positions and compositional fluctuations of the dots, extreme difficulty in current injection, and lack of compatibility with electronic circuits. Here we report a new lasing strategy: an atomically thin crystalline semiconductor--that is, a tungsten diselenide monolayer--is non-destructively and deterministically introduced as a gain medium at the surface of a pre-fabricated PCC. A continuous-wave nanolaser operating in the visible regime is thereby achieved with an optical pumping threshold as low as 27 nanowatts at 130 kelvin, similar to the value achieved in quantum-dot PCC lasers. The key to the lasing action lies in the monolayer nature of the gain medium, which confines direct-gap excitons to within one nanometre of the PCC surface. The surface-gain geometry gives unprecedented accessibility and hence the ability to tailor gain properties via external controls such as electrostatic gating and current injection, enabling electrically pumped operation. Our scheme is scalable and compatible with integrated photonics for on-chip optical communication technologies.

Monolayer semiconductor nanocavity lasers with ultralow thresholds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Sanfeng; Buckley, Sonia; Schaibley, John R.; Feng, Liefeng; Yan, Jiaqiang; Mandrus, David G.; Hatami, Fariba; Yao, Wang; Vučković, Jelena; Majumdar, Arka; Xu, Xiaodong

2015-04-01

Engineering the electromagnetic environment of a nanometre-scale light emitter by use of a photonic cavity can significantly enhance its spontaneous emission rate, through cavity quantum electrodynamics in the Purcell regime. This effect can greatly reduce the lasing threshold of the emitter, providing a low-threshold laser system with small footprint, low power consumption and ultrafast modulation. An ultralow-threshold nanoscale laser has been successfully developed by embedding quantum dots into a photonic crystal cavity (PCC). However, several challenges impede the practical application of this architecture, including the random positions and compositional fluctuations of the dots, extreme difficulty in current injection, and lack of compatibility with electronic circuits. Here we report a new lasing strategy: an atomically thin crystalline semiconductor--that is, a tungsten diselenide monolayer--is non-destructively and deterministically introduced as a gain medium at the surface of a pre-fabricated PCC. A continuous-wave nanolaser operating in the visible regime is thereby achieved with an optical pumping threshold as low as 27 nanowatts at 130 kelvin, similar to the value achieved in quantum-dot PCC lasers. The key to the lasing action lies in the monolayer nature of the gain medium, which confines direct-gap excitons to within one nanometre of the PCC surface. The surface-gain geometry gives unprecedented accessibility and hence the ability to tailor gain properties via external controls such as electrostatic gating and current injection, enabling electrically pumped operation. Our scheme is scalable and compatible with integrated photonics for on-chip optical communication technologies.

Simulation of single-molecule trapping in a nanochannel

PubMed Central

Robinson, William Neil; Davis, Lloyd M.

2010-01-01

The detection and trapping of single fluorescent molecules in solution within a nanochannel is studied using numerical simulations. As optical forces are insufficient for trapping molecules much smaller than the optical wavelength, a means for sensing a molecule’s position along the nanochannel and adjusting electrokinetic motion to compensate diffusion is assessed. Fluorescence excitation is provided by two adjacently focused laser beams containing temporally interleaved laser pulses. Photon detection is time-gated, and the displacement of the molecule from the middle of the two foci alters the count rates collected in the two detection channels. An algorithm for feedback control of the electrokinetic motion in response to the timing of photons, to reposition the molecule back toward the middle for trapping and to rapidly reload the trap after a molecule photobleaches or escapes, is evaluated. While accommodating the limited electrokinetic speed and the finite latency of feedback imposed by experimental hardware, the algorithm is shown to be effective for trapping fast-diffusing single-chromophore molecules within a micron-sized confocal region. Studies show that there is an optimum laser power for which loss of molecules from the trap due to either photobleaching or shot-noise fluctuations is minimized. PMID:20799801

An electrostatic autoresonant ion trap mass spectrometer.

PubMed

Ermakov, A V; Hinch, B J

2010-01-01

A new method for ion extraction from an anharmonic electrostatic trap is introduced. Anharmonicity is a common feature of electrostatic traps which can be used for small scale spatial confinement of ions, and this feature is also necessary for autoresonant ion extraction. With the aid of ion trajectory simulations, novel autoresonant trap mass spectrometers (ART-MSs) have been designed based on these very simple principles. A mass resolution approximately 60 is demonstrated for the prototypes discussed here. We report also on the pressure dependencies, and the (mV) rf field strength dependencies of the ART-MS sensitivity. Importantly the new MS designs do not require heavy magnets, tight manufacturing tolerances, introduction of buffer gases, high power rf sources, nor complicated electronics. The designs described here are very inexpensive to implement relative to other instruments, and can be easily miniaturized. Possible applications are discussed.

Effects of ultralow oxygen and vacuum treatments on bed bug (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) survival

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Control of bed bugs has always been problematic, balancing among efficacy, safety, and cost. In this study, ultralow oxygen (ULO) and vacuum treatments were tested on bed bugs to develop a safer, effective, and environmental friendly solution to bed bug infestations. ULO treatments were establishe...

Field evaluation of a new light trap for phlebotomine sand flies.

PubMed

Gaglio, Gabriella; Napoli, Ettore; Falsone, Luigi; Giannetto, Salvatore; Brianti, Emanuele

2017-10-01

Light traps are one of the most common attractive method for the collection of nocturnal insects. Although light traps are generally referred to as "CDC light traps", different models, equipped with incandescent or UV lamps, have been developed. A new light trap, named Laika trap 3.0, equipped with LED lamps and featured with a light and handy design, has been recently proposed into the market. In this study we tested and compared the capture performances of this new trap with those of a classical light trap model under field conditions. From May to November 2013, a Laika trap and a classical light trap were placed biweekly in an area endemic for sand flies. A total of 256 sand fly specimens, belonging to 3 species (Sergentomyia minuta, Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus neglectus) were collected during the study period. The Laika trap captured 126 phlebotomine sand flies: P. perniciosus (n=38); S. minuta (n=88), a similar number of specimens (130) and the same species were captured by classical light trap which collected also 3 specimens of P. neglectus. No significant differences in the capture efficiency at each day of trapping, neither in the number of species or in the sex of sand flies were observed. According to results of this study, the Laika trap may be a valid alternative to classical light trap models especially when handy design and low power consumption are key factors in field studies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intracavity optical trapping with Ytterbium doped fiber ring laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayed, Rania; Kalantarifard, Fatemeh; Elahi, Parviz; Ilday, F. Omer; Volpe, Giovanni; Maragò, Onofrio M.

2013-09-01

We propose a novel approach for trapping micron-sized particles and living cells based on optical feedback. This approach can be implemented at low numerical aperture (NA=0.5, 20X) and long working distance. In this configuration, an optical tweezers is constructed inside a ring cavity fiber laser and the optical feedback in the ring cavity is controlled by the light scattered from a trapped particle. In particular, once the particle is trapped, the laser operation, optical feedback and intracavity power are affected by the particle motion. We demonstrate that using this configuration is possible to stably hold micron-sized particles and single living cells in the focal spot of the laser beam. The calibration of the optical forces is achieved by tracking the Brownian motion of a trapped particle or cell and analysing its position distribution.

Trapping force and optical lifting under focused evanescent wave illumination.

PubMed

Ganic, Djenan; Gan, Xiaosong; Gu, Min

2004-11-01

A physical model is presented to understand and calculate trapping force exerted on a dielectric micro-particle under focused evanescent wave illumination. This model is based on our recent vectorial diffraction model by a high numerical aperture objective operating under the total internal condition. As a result, trapping force in a focused evanescent spot generated by both plane wave (TEM00) and doughnut beam (TEM*01) illumination is calculated, showing an agreement with the measured results. It is also revealed by this model that unlike optical trapping in the far-field region, optical axial trapping force in an evanescent focal spot increases linearly with the size of a trapped particle. This prediction shows that it is possible to overcome the force of gravity to lift a polystyrene particle of up to 800 nm in radius with a laser beam of power 10 microW.

Note: Ultra-low birefringence dodecagonal vacuum glass cell

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brakhane, Stefan, E-mail: brakhane@iap.uni-bonn.de; Alt, Wolfgang; Meschede, Dieter

We report on an ultra-low birefringence dodecagonal glass cell for ultra-high vacuum applications. The epoxy-bonded trapezoidal windows of the cell are made of SF57 glass, which exhibits a very low stress-induced birefringence. We characterize the birefringence Δn of each window with the cell under vacuum conditions, obtaining values around 10{sup −8}. After baking the cell at 150 °C, we reach a pressure below 10{sup −10} mbar. In addition, each window is antireflection coated on both sides, which is highly desirable for quantum optics experiments and precision measurements.

GaN on Diamond with Ultra-Low Thermal Barrier Resistance

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-31

GaN-on-Diamond with Ultra-Low Thermal Barrier Resistance Xing Gu1, Cathy Lee1, Jinqiao Xie1, Edward Beam1, Michael Becker2, Timothy A. Grotjohn2...Bristol BS8 1TL, UK Abstract: We investigated the effective thermal boundary resistance (TBReff) of GaN-on-Diamond interfaces for diamond growth... thermal boundary resistance; TBReff , interfacial layers; high density dielectric Introduction While GaN-based RF transistors, typically on SiC

Laser-induced rotation and cooling of a trapped microgyroscope in vacuum

PubMed Central

Arita, Yoshihiko; Mazilu, Michael; Dholakia, Kishan

2013-01-01

Quantum state preparation of mesoscopic objects is a powerful playground for the elucidation of many physical principles. The field of cavity optomechanics aims to create these states through laser cooling and by minimizing state decoherence. Here we demonstrate simultaneous optical trapping and rotation of a birefringent microparticle in vacuum using a circularly polarized trapping laser beam—a microgyroscope. We show stable rotation rates up to 5 MHz. Coupling between the rotational and translational degrees of freedom of the trapped microgyroscope leads to the observation of positional stabilization in effect cooling the particle to 40 K. We attribute this cooling to the interaction between the gyroscopic directional stabilization and the optical trapping field. PMID:23982323

Rotatable Small Permanent Magnet Array for Ultra-Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Instrumentation: A Concept Study.

PubMed

Vogel, Michael W; Giorni, Andrea; Vegh, Viktor; Pellicer-Guridi, Ruben; Reutens, David C

2016-01-01

We studied the feasibility of generating the variable magnetic fields required for ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry with dynamically adjustable permanent magnets. Our motivation was to substitute traditional electromagnets by distributed permanent magnets, increasing system portability. The finite element method (COMSOL®) was employed for the numerical study of a small permanent magnet array to calculate achievable magnetic field strength, homogeneity, switching time and magnetic forces. A manually operated prototype was simulated and constructed to validate the numerical approach and to verify the generated magnetic field. A concentric small permanent magnet array can be used to generate strong sample pre-polarisation and variable measurement fields for ultra-low field relaxometry via simple prescribed magnet rotations. Using the array, it is possible to achieve a pre-polarisation field strength above 100 mT and variable measurement fields ranging from 20-50 μT with 200 ppm absolute field homogeneity within a field-of-view of 5 x 5 x 5 cubic centimetres. A dynamic small permanent magnet array can generate multiple highly homogeneous magnetic fields required in ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instruments. This design can significantly reduce the volume and energy requirements of traditional systems based on electromagnets, improving portability considerably.

An Ultralow-Power Sleep Spindle Detection System on Chip.

PubMed

Iranmanesh, Saam; Rodriguez-Villegas, Esther

2017-08-01

This paper describes a full system-on-chip to automatically detect sleep spindle events from scalp EEG signals. These events, which are known to play an important role on memory consolidation during sleep, are also characteristic of a number of neurological diseases. The operation of the system is based on a previously reported algorithm, which used the Teager energy operator, together with the Spectral Edge Frequency (SEF50) achieving more than 70% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The algorithm is now converted into a hardware analog based customized implementation in order to achieve extremely low levels of power. Experimental results prove that the system, which is fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology, is able to operate from a 1.25 V power supply consuming only 515 nW, with an accuracy that is comparable to its software counterpart.

Traceable low and ultra-low temperatures in The Netherlands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peruzzi, A.; Bosch, W. A.

2009-02-01

The basis for worldwide uniformity of low and ultra-low temperature measurements is provided by two international temperature scales, the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) for temperatures above 0.65 K and the Provisional Low Temperature Scale of 2000 (PLTS-2000) for temperatures in the range 0.9 mK to 1 K. Over the past 10 years, the thermometry research in the Netherlands provided substantial contributions to the definition, realization and dissemination of these scales. We first give an overview of the Dutch contributions to the ITS-90 realization: a) 3He and 4He vapour pressure thermometer range of the ITS-90, 0.65 K to 4 K (1997), b) 4He interpolating constant volume gas thermometry for the ITS-90 range 3 K to 24.5 K (2007) and c) cryogenic fixed points for the ITS-90 range 13.8 K to 273.16 K (2005). Then we highlight our work on 3He melting pressure thermometry from 10 mK to 1 K (2003) to support the dissemination of the PLTS-2000. Finally we present the current status of the Dutch calibration facilities and dissemination devices providing for traceable low and ultra-low temperatures for use in science and industry: a) the NMi-VSL cryogenic calibration facility for the range 0.65 K to 273.16 K and b) the SRD1000 superconductive reference devices for the range 10 mK to 1 K.

Low-power wireless medical sensor platform.

PubMed

Dolgov, Arseny B; Zane, Regan

2006-01-01

Long-term, low duty cycle monitoring of patients with a variety of disabilities or health concerns is often required. In this paper, we discuss the design considerations and implementation of an ultra-low power wireless medical sensor platform, suitable for a wide range of medical and sports applications. A hardware demonstration prototype based on readily available components is presented with sensors for 3-axis acceleration, temperature and galvanic skin response. Detailed power measurements and operation results are shown, demonstrating a sensor life span of more than 10 years on a single 200 mAh lithium watch battery using low current standby techniques with an average power of less than 5 muW and a 10 second sample interval.

Quadrupole ion traps and trap arrays: geometry, material, scale, performance.

PubMed

Ouyang, Z; Gao, L; Fico, M; Chappell, W J; Noll, R J; Cooks, R G

2007-01-01

Quadrupole ion traps are reviewed, emphasizing recent developments, especially the investigation of new geometries, guided by multiple particle simulations such as the ITSIM program. These geometries include linear ion traps (LITs) and the simplified rectilinear ion trap (RIT). Various methods of fabrication are described, including the use of rapid prototyping apparatus (RPA), in which 3D objects are generated through point-by-point laser polymerization. Fabrication in silicon using multilayer semi-conductor fabrication techniques has been used to construct arrays of micro-traps. The performance of instruments containing individual traps as well as arrays of traps of various sizes and geometries is reviewed. Two types of array are differentiated. In the first type, trap arrays constitute fully multiplexed mass spectrometers in which multiple samples are examined using multiple sources, analyzers and detectors, to achieve high throughput analysis. In the second, an array of individual traps acts collectively as a composite trap to increase trapping capacity and performance for a single sample. Much progress has been made in building miniaturized mass spectrometers; a specific example is a 10 kg hand-held tandem mass spectrometer based on the RIT mass analyzer. The performance of this instrument in air and water analysis, using membrane sampling, is described.

Factors affecting the transverse force measurements of an optical trap: I

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Tiffany A.; Wright, Amanda; Gleeson, Helen F.; Dickenson, Mark; Mullin, Tom; Murray, Andrew

2002-03-01

The transverse force of an optical trap is usually measured by equating the trapping force to the viscous drag force applied to the trapped particle according to Stokes' Law. Under normal conditions, the viscous drag force on a trapped particle is proportional to the fluid velocity of the medium. In this paper we show that an increase of particle concentration within the medium affects force measurements. In order to trap the particle, 1064 nm light from a Nd:YVO4 laser was brought to a focus in a sample slide, of thickness around 380 microns, by using an inverted Zeiss microscope objective, with NA equals 1.3. The slide was filled with distilled water containing 6 micron diameter polystyrene spheres. Measurements were taken at a fluid velocity of 0.75 microns/sec, achieved by moving the sample stage with a piezo-electric transducer whilst a particle was held stationary in the trap. The laser power required to hold a sphere at different trap depths for various concentrations was measured. Significant weakening of the trap was found for concentrations >0.03% solids by weight, becoming weaker for higher trap depths. These results are explained in terms of aberrations, particle-particle interactions and distortion of the beam due to particle-light interactions.

Possible Mechanism of Action of the Electromagnetic Fields of Ultralow Frequency on G-protein

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nava, J. J. Godina; Segura, M. A. Rodríguez; García, M. N. Jiménez; Cadena, M. S. Reyes

2008-08-01

Based in several clinical achievements and mathematical simulation of the immune sytem, previously studied, permit us to establish that a possible Mechanism of Action of ultralow frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF) is on G-protein as it has been proposed in specialized literature.

Ultralow-Loss CMOS Copper Plasmonic Waveguides.

PubMed

Fedyanin, Dmitry Yu; Yakubovsky, Dmitry I; Kirtaev, Roman V; Volkov, Valentyn S

2016-01-13

Surface plasmon polaritons can give a unique opportunity to manipulate light at a scale well below the diffraction limit reducing the size of optical components down to that of nanoelectronic circuits. At the same time, plasmonics is mostly based on noble metals, which are not compatible with microelectronics manufacturing technologies. This prevents plasmonic components from integration with both silicon photonics and silicon microelectronics. Here, we demonstrate ultralow-loss copper plasmonic waveguides fabricated in a simple complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible process, which can outperform gold plasmonic waveguides simultaneously providing long (>40 μm) propagation length and deep subwavelength (∼λ(2)/50, where λ is the free-space wavelength) mode confinement in the telecommunication spectral range. These results create the backbone for the development of a CMOS plasmonic platform and its integration in future electronic chips.

Enhancement of mosquito trapping efficiency by using pulse width modulated light emitting diodes.

PubMed

Liu, Yu-Nan; Liu, Yu-Jen; Chen, Yi-Chian; Ma, Hsin-Yi; Lee, Hsiao-Yi

2017-01-06

In this study, a light-driving bug zapper is presented for well controlling the diseases brought by insects, such as mosquitoes. In order to have the device efficient to trap the insect pests in off-grid areas, pulse width modulated light emitting diodes (PWM-LED) combined with a solar power module are proposed and implemented. With specific PWM electric signals to drive the LED, it is found that no matter what the ability of catching insects or the consumed power efficiency can be enhanced thus. It is demonstrated that 40% of the UV LED consumed power and 25.9% of the total load power consumption can be saved, and the trapped mosquitoes are about 250% increased when the PWM method is applied in the bug zapper experiments.

Enhancement of mosquito trapping efficiency by using pulse width modulated light emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yu-Nan; Liu, Yu-Jen; Chen, Yi-Chian; Ma, Hsin-Yi; Lee, Hsiao-Yi

2017-01-01

In this study, a light-driving bug zapper is presented for well controlling the diseases brought by insects, such as mosquitoes. In order to have the device efficient to trap the insect pests in off-grid areas, pulse width modulated light emitting diodes (PWM-LED) combined with a solar power module are proposed and implemented. With specific PWM electric signals to drive the LED, it is found that no matter what the ability of catching insects or the consumed power efficiency can be enhanced thus. It is demonstrated that 40% of the UV LED consumed power and 25.9% of the total load power consumption can be saved, and the trapped mosquitoes are about 250% increased when the PWM method is applied in the bug zapper experiments.

Results from a Test Fixture for button BPM Trapped Mode Measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cameron,P.; Bacha, B.; Blednykh, A.

2009-05-04

A variety of measures have been suggested to mitigate the problem of button BPM trapped mode heating. A test fixture, using a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf and custom machined components, was assembled to validate the simulations. We present details of the fixture design, measurement results, and a comparison of the results with the simulations. A brief history of the trapped mode button heating problem and a set of design rules for BPM button optimization are presented elsewhere in these proceedings. Here we present measurements on a test fixture that was assembled to confirm, if possible, a subset of those rules: (1)more » Minimize the trapped mode impedance and the resulting power deposited in this mode by the beam. (2) Maximize the power re-radiated back into the beampipe. (3) Maximize electrical conductivity of the outer circumference of the button and minimize conductivity of the inner circumference of the shell, to shift power deposition from the button to the shell. The problem is then how to extract useful and relevant information from S-parameter measurements of the test fixture.« less

Surface Traps in Colloidal Quantum Dots: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Perspective

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Surface traps are ubiquitous to nanoscopic semiconductor materials. Understanding their atomistic origin and manipulating them chemically have capital importance to design defect-free colloidal quantum dots and make a leap forward in the development of efficient optoelectronic devices. Recent advances in computing power established computational chemistry as a powerful tool to describe accurately complex chemical species and nowadays it became conceivable to model colloidal quantum dots with realistic sizes and shapes. In this Perspective, we combine the knowledge gathered in recent experimental findings with the computation of quantum dot electronic structures. We analyze three different systems: namely, CdSe, PbS, and CsPbI3 as benchmark semiconductor nanocrystals showing how different types of trap states can form at their surface. In addition, we suggest experimental healing of such traps according to their chemical origin and nanocrystal composition. PMID:28972763

Surface Traps in Colloidal Quantum Dots: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Perspective.

PubMed

Giansante, Carlo; Infante, Ivan

2017-10-19

Surface traps are ubiquitous to nanoscopic semiconductor materials. Understanding their atomistic origin and manipulating them chemically have capital importance to design defect-free colloidal quantum dots and make a leap forward in the development of efficient optoelectronic devices. Recent advances in computing power established computational chemistry as a powerful tool to describe accurately complex chemical species and nowadays it became conceivable to model colloidal quantum dots with realistic sizes and shapes. In this Perspective, we combine the knowledge gathered in recent experimental findings with the computation of quantum dot electronic structures. We analyze three different systems: namely, CdSe, PbS, and CsPbI 3 as benchmark semiconductor nanocrystals showing how different types of trap states can form at their surface. In addition, we suggest experimental healing of such traps according to their chemical origin and nanocrystal composition.

Spatial and contrast resolution of ultralow dose dentomaxillofacial CT imaging using iterative reconstruction technology

PubMed Central

Bischel, Alexander; Stratis, Andreas; Bosmans, Hilde; Jacobs, Reinhilde; Gassner, Eva-Maria; Puelacher, Wolfgang; Pauwels, Ruben

2017-01-01

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine how iterative reconstruction technology (IRT) influences contrast and spatial resolution in ultralow-dose dentomaxillofacial CT imaging. Methods: A polymethyl methacrylate phantom with various inserts was scanned using a reference protocol (RP) at CT dose index volume 36.56 mGy, a sinus protocol at 18.28 mGy and ultralow-dose protocols (LD) at 4.17 mGy, 2.36 mGy, 0.99 mGy and 0.53 mGy. All data sets were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and the following IRTs: adaptive statistical iterative reconstructions (ASIRs) (ASIR-50, ASIR-100) and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Inserts containing line-pair patterns and contrast detail patterns for three different materials were scored by three observers. Observer agreement was analyzed using Cohen's kappa and difference in performance between the protocols and reconstruction was analyzed with Dunn's test at α = 0.05. Results: Interobserver agreement was acceptable with a mean kappa value of 0.59. Compared with the RP using FBP, similar scores were achieved at 2.36 mGy using MBIR. MIBR reconstructions showed the highest noise suppression as well as good contrast even at the lowest doses. Overall, ASIR reconstructions did not outperform FBP. Conclusions: LD and MBIR at a dose reduction of >90% may show no significant differences in spatial and contrast resolution compared with an RP and FBP. Ultralow-dose CT and IRT should be further explored in clinical studies. PMID:28059562

Monolayer semiconductor nanocavity lasers with ultralow thresholds

DOE PAGES

Wu, Sanfeng; Buckley, Sonia; Schaibley, John R.; ...

2015-03-16

Engineering the electromagnetic environment of a nanoscale light emitter by a photonic cavity can significantly enhance its spontaneous emission rate through cavity quantum electrodynamics in the Purcell regime. This effect can greatly reduce the lasing threshold of the emitter 1–5, providing the ultimate low-threshold laser system with small footprint, low power consumption and ultrafast modulation. A state-of-the-art ultra-low threshold nanolaser has been successfully developed though embedding quantum dots into photonic crystal cavity (PhCC) 6–8. However, several core challenges impede the practical applications of this architecture, including the random positions and compositional fluctuations of the dots 7, extreme difficulty in currentmore » injection8, and lack of compatibility with electronic circuits 7,8. Here, we report a new strategy to lase, where atomically thin crystalline semiconductor, i.e., a tungsten-diselenide (WSe 2) monolayer, is nondestructively and deterministically introduced as a gain medium at the surface of a pre-fabricated PhCC. A new type of continuous-wave nanolaser operating in the visible regime is achieved with an optical pumping threshold as low as 27 nW at 130 K, similar to the value achieved in quantum dot PhCC lasers 7. The key to the lasing action lies in the monolayer nature of the gain medium, which confines direct-gap excitons to within 1 nm of the PhCC surface. The surface-gain geometry allows unprecedented accessibilities to multi-functionalize the gain, enabling electrically pumped operation. Our scheme is scalable and compatible with integrated photonics for on-chip optical communication technologies.« less

Comparison of Trapping Performance Between the Original BG-Sentinel® Trap and BG-Sentinel 2® Trap (1).

PubMed

Arimoto, Hanayo; Harwood, James F; Nunn, Peter J; Richardson, Alec G; Gordon, Scott; Obenauer, Peter J

2015-12-01

Recently, the BG-Sentinel® trap (BGS) trap has been reconfigured for increased durability during harsh field conditions. We evaluated the attractiveness of this redesigned trap, BG-Sentinel 2® (BGS2), and its novel granular lure cartridge system relative to the original trap and lure. Granular lures containing different combinations of lactic acid, ammonia, hexanoic acid, and octenol were also evaluated. Lure cartridges with all components except octenol trapped significantly more Aedes albopictus than lures containing octenol. This new granular lure combination and original BG-Lure® system were paired with BGS and BGS2 traps to compare relative attractiveness of the lures and the traps. All evaluations were conducted under field conditions in a suburban neighborhood in northeastern Florida from July to October 2014. Overall, the average numbers of Ae. albopictus collected by BGS or BGS2 were similar regardless of the lure type (i.e., mesh bag versus granules) (P  =  0.56). The functionality and durability of both trap models are discussed.

III-V heterostructure tunnel field-effect transistor.

PubMed

Convertino, C; Zota, C B; Schmid, H; Ionescu, A M; Moselund, K E

2018-07-04

The tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) is regarded as one of the most promising solid-state switches to overcome the power dissipation challenge in ultra-low power integrated circuits. TFETs take advantage of quantum mechanical tunneling hence exploit a different current control mechanism compared to standard MOSFETs. In this review, we describe state-of-the-art development of TFET both in terms of performances and of materials integration and we identify the main remaining technological challenges such as heterojunction defects and oxide/channel interface traps causing trap-assisted-tunneling (TAT). Mesa-structures, planar as well as vertical geometries are examined. Conductance slope analysis on InAs/GaSb nanowire tunnel diodes are reported, these two-terminal measurements can be relevant to investigate the tunneling behavior. A special focus is dedicated to III-V heterostructure TFET, as different groups have recently shown encouraging results achieving the predicted sub-thermionic low-voltage operation.

III–V heterostructure tunnel field-effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Convertino, C.; Zota, C. B.; Schmid, H.; Ionescu, A. M.; Moselund, K. E.

2018-07-01

The tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) is regarded as one of the most promising solid-state switches to overcome the power dissipation challenge in ultra-low power integrated circuits. TFETs take advantage of quantum mechanical tunneling hence exploit a different current control mechanism compared to standard MOSFETs. In this review, we describe state-of-the-art development of TFET both in terms of performances and of materials integration and we identify the main remaining technological challenges such as heterojunction defects and oxide/channel interface traps causing trap-assisted-tunneling (TAT). Mesa-structures, planar as well as vertical geometries are examined. Conductance slope analysis on InAs/GaSb nanowire tunnel diodes are reported, these two-terminal measurements can be relevant to investigate the tunneling behavior. A special focus is dedicated to III–V heterostructure TFET, as different groups have recently shown encouraging results achieving the predicted sub-thermionic low-voltage operation.

Variable-temperature cryogenic trap for the separation of gas mixtures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Des Marais, D. J.

1978-01-01

The paper describes a continuous variable-temperature U-shaped cold trap which can both purify vacuum-line combustion products for subsequent stable isotopic analysis and isolate the methane and ethane constituents of natural gases. The canister containing the trap is submerged in liquid nitrogen, and, as the gas cools, the gas mixture components condense sequentially according to their relative vapor pressures. After the about 12 min required for the bottom of the trap to reach the liquid-nitrogen temperature, passage of electric current through the resistance wire wrapped around the tubing covering the U-trap permits distillation of successive gas components at optimal temperatures. Data on the separation achieved for two mixtures, the first being typical vacuum-line combustion products of geochemical samples such as rocks and the second being natural gas, are presented, and the thermal behavior and power consumption are reported.

Demonstration of ultra-low NA rare-earth doped step index fiber for applications in high power fiber lasers.

PubMed

Jain, Deepak; Jung, Yongmin; Barua, Pranabesh; Alam, Shaiful; Sahu, Jayanta K

2015-03-23

In this paper, we report the mode area scaling of a rare-earth doped step index fiber by using low numerical aperture. Numerical simulations show the possibility of achieving an effective area of ~700 um² (including bend induced effective area reduction) at a bend diameter of 32 cm from a 35 μm core fiber with a numerical aperture of 0.038. An effective single mode operation is ensured following the criterion of the fundamental mode loss to be lower than 0.1 dB/m while ensuring the higher order modes loss to be higher than 10 dB/m at a wavelength of 1060 nm. Our optimized modified chemical vapor deposition process in conjunction with solution doping process allows fabrication of an Yb-doped step index fiber having an ultra-low numerical aperture of ~0.038. Experimental results confirm a Gaussian output beam from a 35 μm core fiber validating our simulation results. Fiber shows an excellent laser efficiency of ~81%and aM² less than 1.1.

Raman Spectroscopy of Optically Trapped Single Biological Micro-Particles

PubMed Central

Redding, Brandon; Schwab, Mark J.; Pan, Yong-le

2015-01-01

The combination of optical trapping with Raman spectroscopy provides a powerful method for the study, characterization, and identification of biological micro-particles. In essence, optical trapping helps to overcome the limitation imposed by the relative inefficiency of the Raman scattering process. This allows Raman spectroscopy to be applied to individual biological particles in air and in liquid, providing the potential for particle identification with high specificity, longitudinal studies of changes in particle composition, and characterization of the heterogeneity of individual particles in a population. In this review, we introduce the techniques used to integrate Raman spectroscopy with optical trapping in order to study individual biological particles in liquid and air. We then provide an overview of some of the most promising applications of this technique, highlighting the unique types of measurements enabled by the combination of Raman spectroscopy with optical trapping. Finally, we present a brief discussion of future research directions in the field. PMID:26247952

Characterization of photoactivated singlet oxygen damage in single-molecule optical trap experiments.

PubMed

Landry, Markita P; McCall, Patrick M; Qi, Zhi; Chemla, Yann R

2009-10-21

Optical traps or "tweezers" use high-power, near-infrared laser beams to manipulate and apply forces to biological systems, ranging from individual molecules to cells. Although previous studies have established that optical tweezers induce photodamage in live cells, the effects of trap irradiation have yet to be examined in vitro, at the single-molecule level. In this study, we investigate trap-induced damage in a simple system consisting of DNA molecules tethered between optically trapped polystyrene microspheres. We show that exposure to the trapping light affects the lifetime of the tethers, the efficiency with which they can be formed, and their structure. Moreover, we establish that these irreversible effects are caused by oxidative damage from singlet oxygen. This reactive state of molecular oxygen is generated locally by the optical traps in the presence of a sensitizer, which we identify as the trapped polystyrene microspheres. Trap-induced oxidative damage can be reduced greatly by working under anaerobic conditions, using additives that quench singlet oxygen, or trapping microspheres lacking the sensitizers necessary for singlet state photoexcitation. Our findings are relevant to a broad range of trap-based single-molecule experiments-the most common biological application of optical tweezers-and may guide the development of more robust experimental protocols.

Characterization of Photoactivated Singlet Oxygen Damage in Single-Molecule Optical Trap Experiments

PubMed Central

Landry, Markita P.; McCall, Patrick M.; Qi, Zhi; Chemla, Yann R.

2009-01-01

Abstract Optical traps or “tweezers” use high-power, near-infrared laser beams to manipulate and apply forces to biological systems, ranging from individual molecules to cells. Although previous studies have established that optical tweezers induce photodamage in live cells, the effects of trap irradiation have yet to be examined in vitro, at the single-molecule level. In this study, we investigate trap-induced damage in a simple system consisting of DNA molecules tethered between optically trapped polystyrene microspheres. We show that exposure to the trapping light affects the lifetime of the tethers, the efficiency with which they can be formed, and their structure. Moreover, we establish that these irreversible effects are caused by oxidative damage from singlet oxygen. This reactive state of molecular oxygen is generated locally by the optical traps in the presence of a sensitizer, which we identify as the trapped polystyrene microspheres. Trap-induced oxidative damage can be reduced greatly by working under anaerobic conditions, using additives that quench singlet oxygen, or trapping microspheres lacking the sensitizers necessary for singlet state photoexcitation. Our findings are relevant to a broad range of trap-based single-molecule experiments—the most common biological application of optical tweezers—and may guide the development of more robust experimental protocols. PMID:19843445

Scalable implementation of boson sampling with trapped ions.

PubMed

Shen, C; Zhang, Z; Duan, L-M

2014-02-07

Boson sampling solves a classically intractable problem by sampling from a probability distribution given by matrix permanents. We propose a scalable implementation of boson sampling using local transverse phonon modes of trapped ions to encode the bosons. The proposed scheme allows deterministic preparation and high-efficiency readout of the bosons in the Fock states and universal mode mixing. With the state-of-the-art trapped ion technology, it is feasible to realize boson sampling with tens of bosons by this scheme, which would outperform the most powerful classical computers and constitute an effective disproof of the famous extended Church-Turing thesis.

Rotatable Small Permanent Magnet Array for Ultra-Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Instrumentation: A Concept Study

PubMed Central

Vegh, Viktor; Reutens, David C.

2016-01-01

Object We studied the feasibility of generating the variable magnetic fields required for ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry with dynamically adjustable permanent magnets. Our motivation was to substitute traditional electromagnets by distributed permanent magnets, increasing system portability. Materials and Methods The finite element method (COMSOL®) was employed for the numerical study of a small permanent magnet array to calculate achievable magnetic field strength, homogeneity, switching time and magnetic forces. A manually operated prototype was simulated and constructed to validate the numerical approach and to verify the generated magnetic field. Results A concentric small permanent magnet array can be used to generate strong sample pre-polarisation and variable measurement fields for ultra-low field relaxometry via simple prescribed magnet rotations. Using the array, it is possible to achieve a pre-polarisation field strength above 100 mT and variable measurement fields ranging from 20–50 μT with 200 ppm absolute field homogeneity within a field-of-view of 5 x 5 x 5 cubic centimetres. Conclusions A dynamic small permanent magnet array can generate multiple highly homogeneous magnetic fields required in ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instruments. This design can significantly reduce the volume and energy requirements of traditional systems based on electromagnets, improving portability considerably. PMID:27271886

In situ plasma removal of surface contaminants from ion trap electrodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haltli, Raymond A.

2015-05-01

In this thesis, the construction and implementation of an in situ plasma discharge designed to remove surface contaminants from electrodes in an ion trapping experimental system is presented with results. In recent years, many advances have been made in using ion traps for quantum information processing. All of the criteria defined by DiVincenzo for using ion traps for implementing a quantum computer have been individually demonstrated, and in particular surface traps provide a scalable platform for ions. In order to be used for quantum algorithms, trapped ions need to be cooled to their motional (quantum mechanical) ground state. One ofmore » the hurdles in integrating surface ion traps for a quantum computer is minimizing electric field noise, which causes the ion to heat out of its motional ground state and which increases with smaller ion-to-electrode distances realized with surface traps. Surface contamination of trap electrodes is speculated to be the primary source of electric field noise. The main goal achieved by this work was to implement an in situ surface cleaning solution for surface electrode ion traps, which would not modify the ion trap electrode surface metal. Care was taken in applying the RF power in order to localize a plasma near the trap electrodes. A method for characterizing the energy of the plasma ions arriving at the ion trap surface is presented and results for plasma ion energies are shown. Finally, a method for quantifying the effectiveness of plasma cleaning of trap electrodes, using the surface analysis technique of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for measuring the amount and kind of surface contaminants, is described. A significant advantage of the trap electrode surface cleaning method presented here is the minimal changes necessary for implementation on a working ion trap experimental system.« less

2 kV slanted tri-gate GaN-on-Si Schottky barrier diodes with ultra-low leakage current

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Jun; Matioli, Elison

2018-01-01

This letter reports lateral GaN-on-Si power Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with unprecedented voltage-blocking performance by integrating 3-dimensionally a hybrid of tri-anode and slanted tri-gate architectures in their anode. The hybrid tri-anode pins the voltage drop at the Schottky junction (VSCH), despite a large applied reverse bias, fixing the reverse leakage current (IR) of the SBD. Such architecture led to an ultra-low IR of 51 ± 5.9 nA/mm at -1000 V, in addition to a small turn-on voltage (VON) of 0.61 ± 0.03 V. The slanted tri-gate effectively distributes the electric field in OFF state, leading to a remarkably high breakdown voltage (VBR) of -2000 V at 1 μA/mm, constituting a significant breakthrough from existing technologies. The approach pursued in this work reduces the IR and increases the VBR without sacrificing the VON, which provides a technology for high-voltage SBDs, and unveils the unique advantage of tri-gates for advanced power applications.

50 CFR 697.19 - Trap limits and trap tag requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... vessels fishing with lobster traps. 697.19 Section 697.19 Wildlife and Fisheries FISHERY CONSERVATION AND... requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps. (a) Trap limits for vessels fishing or authorized to fish... management area designation certificate or valid limited access American lobster permit specifying one or...

50 CFR 697.19 - Trap limits and trap tag requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... vessels fishing with lobster traps. 697.19 Section 697.19 Wildlife and Fisheries FISHERY CONSERVATION AND... requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps. (a) Trap limits for vessels fishing or authorized to fish... management area designation certificate or valid limited access American lobster permit specifying one or...

Modeling of reference operating scenario of GOL-NB multiple-mirror trap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Postupaev, V. V., E-mail: V.V.Postupaev@inp.nsk.su; Yurov, D. V.

Currently, the GOL-NB multiple-mirror trap is being developed at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. The main scientific goal pursued by building GOL-NB is direct demonstration of suppression of longitudinal losses of particles and energy from the trap by using sections with a multiple-mirror magnetic field, which can be attached to the central gas-dynamic trap. Plasma heating in GOL-NB will be accomplished by neutral beam injection with a power of up to 1.5MW. The paper presents the first results of modeling the dynamics of the plasma parameters and fast ions under the reference operatingmore » scenario of the trap in which traditional short magnetic mirrors, rather than multiple-mirror sections, are attached to the central trap. In such a configuration, the plasma lifetime in the trap is expected to be minimal. The modeling was performed by using the DOL kinetic code. As a result, the initial conditions of the experiments are refined and the requirements to the system of maintaining the particle balance in the trap are determined.« less

50 CFR 697.19 - Trap limits and trap tag requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... vessels fishing with lobster traps. 697.19 Section 697.19 Wildlife and Fisheries FISHERY CONSERVATION AND... requirements for vessels fishing with lobster traps. (a) Trap limits for vessels fishing or authorized to fish in any Nearshore Management Area. (1) Through August 31, 2003, vessels fishing in or issued a...

A low-cost, ultra-fast and ultra-low noise preamplifier for silicon avalanche photodiodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasmi, Khaled

2018-02-01

An ultra-fast and ultra-low noise preamplifier for amplifying the fast and weak electrical signals generated by silicon avalanche photodiodes has been designed and developed. It is characterized by its simplicity, compactness, reliability and low cost of construction. A very wide bandwidth of 300 MHz, a very good linearity from 1 kHz to 280 MHz, an ultra-low noise level at the input of only 1.7 nV Hz-1/2 and a very good stability are its key features. The compact size (70 mm  ×  90 mm) and light weight (45 g), as well as its excellent characteristics, make this preamplifier very competitive compared to any commercial preamplifier. The preamplifier, which is a main part of the detection system of a homemade laser remote sensing system, has been successfully tested. In addition, it is versatile and can be used in any optical detection system requiring high speed and very low noise electronics.

The Effect of Ultralow-Dose Transdermal Estradiol on Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women

PubMed Central

Waetjen, L. Elaine; Brown, Jeanette S.; Vittinghoff, Eric; Ensrud, Kristine E.; Pinkerton, JoAnn; Wallace, Robert; Macer, Judith L.; Grady, Deborah

2006-01-01

OBJECTIVE To estimate the effect of 2 years of treatment with ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol (E2) on incontinence in postmenopausal women. METHODS Ultra Low Dose Transdermal estRogen Assessment (ULTRA) was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of unopposed ultralow-dose (0.014 mg/d) transdermal E2 for prevention of osteoporosis in 417 postmenopausal women aged 60 to 80 years. Frequency of incontinence episodes was assessed at baseline and after 4 months and 2 years of treatment using a self-reported questionnaire. We used an intention-to-treat analysis to compare change in incontinence frequency, improved (decreased 2 or more episodes per week), unchanged (increased or decreased no more than 1 episode per week), or worsened (increased 2 or more episodes per week) between the E2 and placebo groups among women with and without at least weekly incontinence at baseline. RESULTS At baseline, the prevalence of at least weekly incontinence was similar between E2 and placebo groups (43%). After 2 years, there was no difference between groups in the proportions of women with incontinence at baseline whose incontinence improved, worsened, or was unchanged. The odds ratio for worsening incontinence in the E2 compared with placebo group was 1.35 (95% confidence interval 0.75–2.42. In women without incontinence at baseline, the odds of developing at least weekly incontinence after 2 years in the E2 compared with placebo group was not significant (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 0.7–2.2). CONCLUSION Two years of treatment with unopposed ultralow-dose transdermal E2 did not substantially change the frequency of incontinence symptoms or alter the risk of developing at least weekly incontinence. PMID:16260511

Potentiation of buprenorphine antinociception with ultra-low dose naltrexone in healthy subjects.

PubMed

Hay, J L; La Vincente, S F; Somogyi, A A; Chapleo, C B; White, J M

2011-03-01

Previous reports have demonstrated greater antinociception following administration of a buprenorphine/naloxone combination compared to buprenorphine alone among healthy volunteers. The aim of the current investigation was to determine whether buprenorphine antinociception could be enhanced with the addition of ultra-low dose naltrexone, using a range of dose ratios. A repeated-measures, double-blind, cross-over trial was undertaken with 10 healthy participants. The effects of each buprenorphine:naltrexone ratio (100:1, 133:1, 166:1, and 200:1) on cold pressor tolerance time and respiration were compared to the effects of buprenorphine only. The 166:1 ratio was associated with significantly greater tolerance time to cold pressor pain than buprenorphine alone. Minimal respiratory depression and few adverse events were observed in all conditions. These findings suggest that, as previously described with naloxone, the addition of ultra-low dose naltrexone can enhance the antinociceptive effect of buprenorphine in humans. This potentiation is dose-ratio dependent and occurs without a concomitant increase in adverse effects. Copyright © 2010 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancement of mosquito trapping efficiency by using pulse width modulated light emitting diodes

PubMed Central

Liu, Yu-Nan; Liu, Yu-Jen; Chen, Yi-Chian; Ma, Hsin-Yi; Lee, Hsiao-Yi

2017-01-01

In this study, a light-driving bug zapper is presented for well controlling the diseases brought by insects, such as mosquitoes. In order to have the device efficient to trap the insect pests in off-grid areas, pulse width modulated light emitting diodes (PWM-LED) combined with a solar power module are proposed and implemented. With specific PWM electric signals to drive the LED, it is found that no matter what the ability of catching insects or the consumed power efficiency can be enhanced thus. It is demonstrated that 40% of the UV LED consumed power and 25.9% of the total load power consumption can be saved, and the trapped mosquitoes are about 250% increased when the PWM method is applied in the bug zapper experiments. PMID:28059148

A Study of Submicron Grain Boundary Precipitates in Ultralow Carbon 316LN Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Downey, S.; Han, K.; Kalu, P. N.; Yang, K.; Du, Z. M.

2010-04-01

This article reports our efforts in characterization of an ultralow carbon 316LN-type stainless steel. The carbon content in the material is one-third that in a conventional 316LN, which further inhibits the formation of grain boundary carbides and therefore sensitizations. Our primary effort is focused on characterization of submicron size precipitates in the materials with the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique complemented by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Thermodynamic calculations suggested that several precipitates, such as M23C6, Chi, Sigma, and Cr2N, can form in a low carbon 316LN. In the steels heat treated at 973 K (700 °C) for 100 hours, a combination of EBSD and AES conclusively identified the grain boundary precipitates (≥100 nm) as Cr2N, which has a hexagonal closed-packed crystallographic structure. Increases of the nitrogen content promote formation of large size Cr2N precipitates. Therefore, prolonged heat treatment at relatively high temperatures of ultralow carbon 316LN steels may result in a sensitization.

Next Generation JPL Ultra-Stable Trapped Ion Atomic Clocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burt, Eric; Tucker, Blake; Larsen, Kameron; Hamell, Robert; Tjoelker, Robert

2013-01-01

Over the past decade, trapped ion atomic clock development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has focused on two directions: 1) new atomic clock technology for space flight applications that require strict adherence to size, weight, and power requirements, and 2) ultra-stable atomic clocks, usually for terrestrial applications emphasizing ultimate performance. In this paper we present a new ultra-stable trapped ion clock designed, built, and tested in the second category. The first new standard, L10, will be delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory for use in characterizing DoD space clocks.

Understanding Democracy and Development Traps Using a Data-Driven Approach.

PubMed

Ranganathan, Shyam; Nicolis, Stamatios C; Spaiser, Viktoria; Sumpter, David J T

2015-03-01

Methods from machine learning and data science are becoming increasingly important in the social sciences, providing powerful new ways of identifying statistical relationships in large data sets. However, these relationships do not necessarily offer an understanding of the processes underlying the data. To address this problem, we have developed a method for fitting nonlinear dynamical systems models to data related to social change. Here, we use this method to investigate how countries become trapped at low levels of socioeconomic development. We identify two types of traps. The first is a democracy trap, where countries with low levels of economic growth and/or citizen education fail to develop democracy. The second trap is in terms of cultural values, where countries with low levels of democracy and/or life expectancy fail to develop emancipative values. We show that many key developing countries, including India and Egypt, lie near the border of these development traps, and we investigate the time taken for these nations to transition toward higher democracy and socioeconomic well-being.

Understanding Democracy and Development Traps Using a Data-Driven Approach

PubMed Central

Ranganathan, Shyam; Nicolis, Stamatios C.; Spaiser, Viktoria; Sumpter, David J.T.

2015-01-01

Abstract Methods from machine learning and data science are becoming increasingly important in the social sciences, providing powerful new ways of identifying statistical relationships in large data sets. However, these relationships do not necessarily offer an understanding of the processes underlying the data. To address this problem, we have developed a method for fitting nonlinear dynamical systems models to data related to social change. Here, we use this method to investigate how countries become trapped at low levels of socioeconomic development. We identify two types of traps. The first is a democracy trap, where countries with low levels of economic growth and/or citizen education fail to develop democracy. The second trap is in terms of cultural values, where countries with low levels of democracy and/or life expectancy fail to develop emancipative values. We show that many key developing countries, including India and Egypt, lie near the border of these development traps, and we investigate the time taken for these nations to transition toward higher democracy and socioeconomic well-being. PMID:26487983

Design of ultra-low power biopotential amplifiers for biosignal acquisition applications.

PubMed

Zhang, Fan; Holleman, Jeremy; Otis, Brian P

2012-08-01

Rapid development in miniature implantable electronics are expediting advances in neuroscience by allowing observation and control of neural activities. The first stage of an implantable biosignal recording system, a low-noise biopotential amplifier (BPA), is critical to the overall power and noise performance of the system. In order to integrate a large number of front-end amplifiers in multichannel implantable systems, the power consumption of each amplifier must be minimized. This paper introduces a closed-loop complementary-input amplifier, which has a bandwidth of 0.05 Hz to 10.5 kHz, an input-referred noise of 2.2 μ Vrms, and a power dissipation of 12 μW. As a point of comparison, a standard telescopic-cascode closed-loop amplifier with a 0.4 Hz to 8.5 kHz bandwidth, input-referred noise of 3.2 μ Vrms, and power dissipation of 12.5 μW is presented. Also for comparison, we show results from an open-loop complementary-input amplifier that exhibits an input-referred noise of 3.6 μ Vrms while consuming 800 nW of power. The two closed-loop amplifiers are fabricated in a 0.13 μ m CMOS process. The open-loop amplifier is fabricated in a 0.5 μm SOI-BiCMOS process. All three amplifiers operate with a 1 V supply.

Specific gravity and API gravity of biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blends

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel made from vegetable oils and animal fats. In 2006, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency mandated a maximum sulfur content of 15 ppm in on-road diesel fuels. Processing to produce the new ultra-low sulfur petrodiesel (ULSD) alters specific gravity (SG) and othe...

Impact of degree heterogeneity on the behavior of trapping in Koch networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhongzhi; Gao, Shuyang; Xie, Wenlei

2010-12-01

Previous work shows that the mean first-passage time (MFPT) for random walks to a given hub node (node with maximum degree) in uncorrelated random scale-free networks is closely related to the exponent γ of power-law degree distribution P(k )˜k-γ, which describes the extent of heterogeneity of scale-free network structure. However, extensive empirical research indicates that real networked systems also display ubiquitous degree correlations. In this paper, we address the trapping issue on the Koch networks, which is a special random walk with one trap fixed at a hub node. The Koch networks are power-law with the characteristic exponent γ in the range between 2 and 3, they are either assortative or disassortative. We calculate exactly the MFPT that is the average of first-passage time from all other nodes to the trap. The obtained explicit solution shows that in large networks the MFPT varies lineally with node number N, which is obviously independent of γ and is sharp contrast to the scaling behavior of MFPT observed for uncorrelated random scale-free networks, where γ influences qualitatively the MFPT of trapping problem.

Stable Trapping of Multielectron Helium Bubbles in a Paul Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joseph, E. M.; Vadakkumbatt, V.; Pal, A.; Ghosh, A.

2017-06-01

In a recent experiment, we have used a linear Paul trap to store and study multielectron bubbles (MEBs) in liquid helium. MEBs have a charge-to-mass ratio (between 10^{-4} and 10^{-2} C/kg) which is several orders of magnitude smaller than ions (between 10^6 and 10^8 C/kg) studied in traditional ion traps. In addition, MEBs experience significant drag force while moving through the liquid. As a result, the experimental parameters for stable trapping of MEBs, such as magnitude and frequency of the applied electric fields, are very different from those used in typical ion trap experiments. The purpose of this paper is to model the motion of MEBs inside a linear Paul trap in liquid helium, determine the range of working parameters of the trap, and compare the results with experiments.

Ultra-low profile Ovation device: is it the definitive solution for EVAR?

PubMed

de Donato, G; Setacci, F; Sirignano, P; Galzerano, G; Borrelli, M P; di Marzo, L; Setacci, C

2014-02-01

When Juan Parodi implanted an endograft in a human body for the first time on September 7, 1990 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the delivery system of the handmade device was primitive, extremely rigid, and had a bulky profile of 27 French (F). Since then, stent-graft technology has evolved rapidly, limitations of earlier-generation devices have been overtaken, and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) eligibility has increased enormously. Nevertheless (still) challenging aortoiliac anatomy such as short and complex proximal aortic neck seal zones and narrow access vessels are responsible for EVAR ineligibility in up to 50% of cases. The Ovation Prime abdominal stent-graft system (TriVascular, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, USA) is a trimodular device designed with the aortic body delivered via a flexible, hydrophilic-coated, ultra-low profile catheter (14-F outer diameter - OD). The aortic body is provided with a suprarenal nitinol stent with anchors that provide active fixation, while a network of rings and channels that are inflated with a low-viscosity radiopaque polymer during stent-graft deployment, provides effective sealing. The previous EVAR technology aimed to both anchor and seal using stents combined with fabric, with neither optimized for their roles and each forced to compete for the same space within their delivery catheters, which inevitably led to larger profile of the delivery system. The technical revolution of the Ovation endograft includes the idea to truly uncouple the stages of stent-graft fixation and seal during the procedure. In the Ovation endograft platform, stent and fabric are not competing the same space within the delivery system and an ultra-low profile delivery can be achieved without compromise. With such a low-profile delivery catheter, approximately 90% of men and 70% of women with abdominal aortic aneurysm have access vessel diameters considered fit for endovascular repair. The aim of this review paper was to analyze the main properties of

Engineering Ultra-Low Work Function of Graphene.

PubMed

Yuan, Hongyuan; Chang, Shuai; Bargatin, Igor; Wang, Ning C; Riley, Daniel C; Wang, Haotian; Schwede, Jared W; Provine, J; Pop, Eric; Shen, Zhi-Xun; Pianetta, Piero A; Melosh, Nicholas A; Howe, Roger T

2015-10-14

Low work function materials are critical for energy conversion and electron emission applications. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that an ultralow work function graphene is achieved by combining electrostatic gating with a Cs/O surface coating. A simple device is built from large-area monolayer graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition, transferred onto 20 nm HfO2 on Si, enabling high electric fields capacitive charge accumulation in the graphene. We first observed over 0.7 eV work function change due to electrostatic gating as measured by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and confirmed by conductivity measurements. The deposition of Cs/O further reduced the work function, as measured by photoemission in an ultrahigh vacuum environment, which reaches nearly 1 eV, the lowest reported to date for a conductive, nondiamond material.

Chromatic dispersion effects in ultra-low coherence interferometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lychagov, V V; Ryabukho, V P

2015-06-30

We consider the properties of an interference signal shift from zero-path-difference position in the presence of an uncompensated dispersive layer in one of the interferometer arms. It is experimentally shown that in using an ultra-low coherence light source, the formation of the interference signal is also determined by the group velocity dispersion, which results in a nonlinear dependence of the position of the interference signal on the geometrical thickness of the dispersive layer. The discrepancy in the dispersive layer and compensator refractive indices in the third decimal place is experimentally shown to lead to an interference signal shift that ismore » an order of magnitude greater than the pulse width. (interferometry)« less

Evaluation of propane combustion traps for collection of Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) in southern Israel.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Traps used for mosquitoes can possibly used to capture phlebotomine sand flies as well, but little testing has been done. Traps powered by propane could be extremely useful because most produce their own carbon dioxide (CO2), which can increase the number of sand flies captured. Scientists at the US...

How Many Ultra-Low Delta-v Near Earth Objects Remain Undiscovered? Implications for missions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elvis, Martin; Ranjan, Sukrit; Galache, Jose Luis; Murphy, Max

2015-08-01

The past decade has witnessed considerable growth of interest in missions to Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). NEOs are considered prime targets for manned and robotic missions, for both scientific objectives as well as in-situ resource utilization including harvesting of water for propellant and life support and mining of high-value elements for sale on Earth. Appropriate targets are crucial to such missions. Hence, ultra-low delta-v mission targets are strongly favored. Some mission architectures rely on the discovery of more ultra-low delta-v NEOs. In fact the approved and executed NEO missions have all targeted asteroids with ultra-low LEO to asteroid rendezvous delta-v <5.5 km/s.In this paper, we estimate the total NEO population as a function of delta-v, and how many remain to be discovered in various size ranges down to ~100m. We couple the NEOSSat-1 model (Greenstreet et al., 2012) to the NEO size distribution derived from the NEOWISE survey (Mainzer et al., 2011b) to compute an absolute NEO population model. We compare the Minor Planet Center (MPC) catalog of known NEOs to this NEO population model. We compute the delta-v from LEO to asteroid rendezvous orbits using a modified Shoemaker-Helin (S-H) formalism that empirically removes biases found comparing S-H with the results from NHATS. The median delta-v of the known NEOs is 7.3 km/s, the median delta-v predicted by our NEO model is 9.8 km/s, suggesting that undiscovered objects are biased to higher delta-v. The survey of delta-v <10.3 km/s NEOs is essentially complete for objects with diameter D >300 m. However, there are tens of thousands of objects with delta-v <10.3 km/s to be discovered in the D = 50 - 300 m size class (H = 20.4 - 24.3). Our work suggests that there are 100 yet-undiscovered NEOs with delta-v < 5:8 km/s, and 1000 undiscovered NEOs with v < 6.3 km/s. We conclude that, even with complete NEO surveys, the selection of good (i.e. ultra-low delta-v) mission targets is limited given current

COLD TRAPS

DOEpatents

Thompson, W.I.

1958-09-30

A cold trap is presented for removing a condensable component from a gas mixture by cooling. It consists of a shell, the exterior surface of which is chilled by a refrigerant, and conductive fins welded inside the shell to condense the gas, and distribute the condensate evenly throughout the length of the trap, so that the trap may function until it becomes completely filled with the condensed solid. The contents may then be removed as either a gas or as a liquid by heating the trap. This device has particuinr use as a means for removing uranium hexafluoride from the gaseous diffusion separation process during equipment breakdown and repair periods.

GeneImp: Fast Imputation to Large Reference Panels Using Genotype Likelihoods from Ultralow Coverage Sequencing

PubMed Central

Spiliopoulou, Athina; Colombo, Marco; Orchard, Peter; Agakov, Felix; McKeigue, Paul

2017-01-01

We address the task of genotype imputation to a dense reference panel given genotype likelihoods computed from ultralow coverage sequencing as inputs. In this setting, the data have a high-level of missingness or uncertainty, and are thus more amenable to a probabilistic representation. Most existing imputation algorithms are not well suited for this situation, as they rely on prephasing for computational efficiency, and, without definite genotype calls, the prephasing task becomes computationally expensive. We describe GeneImp, a program for genotype imputation that does not require prephasing and is computationally tractable for whole-genome imputation. GeneImp does not explicitly model recombination, instead it capitalizes on the existence of large reference panels—comprising thousands of reference haplotypes—and assumes that the reference haplotypes can adequately represent the target haplotypes over short regions unaltered. We validate GeneImp based on data from ultralow coverage sequencing (0.5×), and compare its performance to the most recent version of BEAGLE that can perform this task. We show that GeneImp achieves imputation quality very close to that of BEAGLE, using one to two orders of magnitude less time, without an increase in memory complexity. Therefore, GeneImp is the first practical choice for whole-genome imputation to a dense reference panel when prephasing cannot be applied, for instance, in datasets produced via ultralow coverage sequencing. A related future application for GeneImp is whole-genome imputation based on the off-target reads from deep whole-exome sequencing. PMID:28348060

Trapping of ultracold polar molecules with a thin-wire electrostatic trap.

PubMed

Kleinert, J; Haimberger, C; Zabawa, P J; Bigelow, N P

2007-10-05

We describe the realization of a dc electric-field trap for ultracold polar molecules, the thin-wire electrostatic trap (TWIST). The thin wires that form the electrodes of the TWIST allow us to superimpose the trap onto a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In our experiment, ultracold polar NaCs molecules in their electronic ground state are created in the MOT via photoassociation, achieving a continuous accumulation in the TWIST of molecules in low-field seeking states. Initial measurements show that the TWIST trap lifetime is limited only by the background pressure in the chamber.

On the elimination of pulse wave velocity in stroke volume determination from the ultralow-frequency displacement ballistocardiogram.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1964-03-01

A hydrodynamic model of the systemic circulatory system was mounted on an ultralow-frequency ballistocardiograph (ULF-BCG). The relationship between stroke volume and ballistocardiographic amplitude was investigated for different pulse wave velocitie...

Raman spectra and optical trapping of highly refractive and nontransparent particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Changan; Li, Yong-qing

2002-08-01

We measured the Raman spectra of single optically trapped highly refractive and nontransparent microscopic particles suspended in a liquid using an inverted confocal laser-tweezers-Raman-spectroscopy system. A low-power diode-laser beam of TEM00 mode was used both for optical trapping and Raman excitation of refractive, absorptive, and reflective metal particles. To form a stable trap for a nontransparent particle, the beam focus was located near the top of the particle and the particle was pushed against a glass plate by the axial repulsive force. Raman spectra from single micron-sized crystals with high index of refraction including silicon, germanium, and KNbO3, and from absorptive particles of black and color paints were recorded. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of R6G and phenylalanine molecules absorbed on the surface of a trapped cluster of silver particles was also demonstrated.

[Species specificity, age factors, and various neurochemical correlates of the animal spontaneous behavior after exposure to electromagnetic field of the ultralow intensity].

PubMed

Shtemberg, A S; Uzbekov, M G; Shikhov, S N; Bazian, A S; Cherniakov, G M

2000-01-01

Behavioral and neurochemical reactions of small laboratory animals (mice and rats of different age) under exposure to ultralow-intensity electromagnetic fields (EMF, frequency of 4200 and 970 MHz, modulated by a quasistochastic signal in the range of 20-20,000 Hz, power density 15 microW/cm2, specific body absorption rate up to 4.5 mJ/kg) were studied. The EMF basically inhibited the locomotor and exploratory activity in the "open-field" test. The species- and age-specific features rather than radiation conditions dominated. However, decrease in the EMF frequency considerably intensified the observed effect. Change in animal behavior was accompanied by shifts in neurochemical processes, i.e., sharp activation of serotoninergic and inhibition of morepinephrinergic system.

Direct Observation of Ultralow Vertical Emittance using a Vertical Undulator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wootton, Kent

2015-09-17

In recent work, the first quantitative measurements of electron beam vertical emittance using a vertical undulator were presented, with particular emphasis given to ultralow vertical emittances [K. P. Wootton, et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams, 17, 112802 (2014)]. Using this apparatus, a geometric vertical emittance of 0.9 ± 0.3 pm rad has been observed. A critical analysis is given of measurement approaches that were attempted, with particular emphasis on systematic and statistical uncertainties. The method used is explained, compared to other techniques and the applicability of these results to other scenarios discussed.

Resonance magnetoplasticity in ultralow magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alshits, V. I.; Darinskaya, E. V.; Koldaeva, M. V.; Petrzhik, E. A.

2016-09-01

Resonance relaxation displacements of dislocations in NaCl crystals placed in crossed static and alternating ultralow magnetic fields in the electron paramagnetic resonance scheme are discussed. The Earth's magnetic field B Earth ≈ 50μT and other fields in the range of 26-261 μT are used as the static field. New strongly anisotropic properties of the effect have been revealed. Frequency spectra including numerous peaks of paths at low pump frequencies beginning with 10 kHz, as well as the quartet of equidistant peaks at high frequencies ( 1.4 MHz at B= B Earth), have been measured. The effect is also observed in the pulsed pump field with a resonance duration of 0.5 μs. Resonance changes have been detected in the microhardness of ZnO, triglycine sulfate, and potassium hydrogen phthalate crystals after their exposure in the Earth's magnetic field in the same electron paramagnetic resonance scheme.

A comparison of commercial light-emitting diode baited suction traps for surveillance of Culicoides in northern Europe.

PubMed

Hope, Andrew; Gubbins, Simon; Sanders, Christopher; Denison, Eric; Barber, James; Stubbins, Francesca; Baylis, Matthew; Carpenter, Simon

2015-04-22

The response of Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to artificial light sources has led to the use of light-suction traps in surveillance programmes. Recent integration of light emitting diodes (LED) in traps improves flexibility in trapping through reduced power requirements and also allows the wavelength of light used for trapping to be customized. This study investigates the responses of Culicoides to LED light-suction traps emitting different wavelengths of light to make recommendations for use in surveillance. The abundance and diversity of Culicoides collected using commercially available traps fitted with Light Emitting Diode (LED) platforms emitting ultraviolet (UV) (390 nm wavelength), blue (430 nm), green (570 nm), yellow (590 nm), red (660 nm) or white light (425 nm - 750 nm with peaks at 450 nm and 580 nm) were compared. A Centre for Disease Control (CDC) UV light-suction trap was also included within the experimental design which was fitted with a 4 watt UV tube (320-420 nm). Generalised linear models with negative binomial error structure and log-link function were used to compare trap abundance according to LED colour, meteorological conditions and seasonality. The experiment was conducted over 49 nights with 42,766 Culicoides caught in 329 collections. Culicoides obsoletus Meigen and Culicoides scoticus Downes and Kettle responded indiscriminately to all wavelengths of LED used with the exception of red which was significantly less attractive. In contrast, Culicoides dewulfi Goetghebuer and Culicoides pulicaris Linnaeus were found in significantly greater numbers in the green LED trap than in the UV LED trap. The LED traps collected significantly fewer Culicoides than the standard CDC UV light-suction trap. Catches of Culicoides were reduced in LED traps when compared to the standard CDC UV trap, however, their reduced power requirement and small size fulfils a requirement for trapping in logistically challenging areas or where many

Tailoring the Nanoporous Architecture of Hydrogels to Exploit Entropic Trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Nan; Ugaz, Victor M.

2010-09-01

Macromolecules embedded in a nanoporous matrix display anomalous transport behavior in the entropic trapping regime. But these phenomena have not been widely explored in hydrogel matrices because it has not been clear how to link them to the underlying heterogeneous nanopore morphology. Here we introduce a theoretical model that establishes this connection and describe microchip DNA electrophoresis experiments that demonstrate how entropic trapping effects can be exploited to yield a trend of increasing resolving power with DNA size (the opposite of what is conventionally observed).

Comparative evaluation of the efficiency of the BG-Sentinel trap, CDC light trap and Mosquito-oviposition trap for the surveillance of vector mosquitoes.

PubMed

Li, Yiji; Su, Xinghua; Zhou, Guofa; Zhang, Hong; Puthiyakunnon, Santhosh; Shuai, Shufen; Cai, Songwu; Gu, Jinbao; Zhou, Xiaohong; Yan, Guiyun; Chen, Xiao-Guang

2016-08-12

The surveillance of vector mosquitoes is important for the control of mosquito-borne diseases. To identify a suitable surveillance tool for the adult dengue vector Aedes albopictus, the efficacy of the BG-Sentinel trap, CDC light trap and Mosquito-oviposition trap (MOT) on the capture of vector mosquitoes were comparatively evaluated in this study. The capture efficiencies of the BG-Sentinel trap, CDC light trap and Mosquito-oviposition trap for common vector mosquitoes were tested in a laboratory setting, through the release-recapture method, and at two field sites of Guangzhou, China from June 2013 to May 2014. The captured mosquitoes were counted, species identified and compared among the three traps on the basis of species. In the release-recapture experiments in a laboratory setting, the BG-Sentinel trap caught significantly more Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus than the CDC light trap and Mosquito-ovitrap, except for Anopheles sinensis. The BG-Sentinel trap had a higher efficacy in capturing female rather than male Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus, but the capture in CDC light traps displayed no significant differences. In the field trial, BG-Sentinel traps collected more Aedes albopictus than CDC light traps and MOTs collected in both urban and suburban areas. The BG-Sentinel trap was more sensitive for monitoring the population density of Aedes albopictus than the CDC light trap and MOT during the peak months of the year 2013. However, on an average, CDC light traps captured significantly more Cx. quinquefasciatus than BG-Sentinel traps. The population dynamics of Cx. quinquefasciatus displayed a significant seasonal variation, with the lowest numbers in the middle of the year. This study indicates that the BG-Sentinel trap is more effective than the commonly used CDC light trap and MOT in sampling adult Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. We recommend its use in the surveillance of dengue vector mosquitoes in China.

Unusual Case of Suicide With a Modified Trap Gun.

PubMed

Vadysinghe, Amal; Dassanayake, Prasanna; Wickramasinghe, Medhani

2017-06-01

Trap gun is an illegal, locally manufactured gun with a basic trip system used to hunt wild animals. The body of a 28-year-old man was found in the jungle in supine position with both legs apart. A trap gun was between the legs pointing toward the cranial side of the body. It had 2 free wires that were not connected together. There was no evidence of foul play.The body had a single-entry wound (2.5-cm diameter) in the anterior chest, with blackening, burning, and tattooing. Six metal particles and nylon clothing material were embedded into soft tissue. No exit wound was found. Toxicology analysis reported an alcohol level of 72 mg/dL. The cause of death was multiple shrapnel injury to the chest at close to intermediate range by a single discharge from a trap gun. Circumstance was concluded as suicide.Ballistic and firearm experts opined that an illegal, manually operated, battery-powered ignition device was used to ignite the gun powder. We report the first case of suicide by a modified trap gun in literature.

Cryogenic ultra-low power dissipation operational amplifiers with GaAs JFETs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hibi, Yasunori; Matsuo, Hiroshi; Ikeda, Hirokazu; Fujiwara, Mikio; Kang, Lin; Chen, Jian; Wu, Peiheng

2016-01-01

To realize a multipixel camera for astronomical observation, we developed cryogenic multi-channel readout systems using gallium arsenide junction field-effect transistor (GaAs JFET) integrated circuits (ICs). Based on our experience with these cryogenic ICs, we designed, manufactured, and demonstrated operational amplifiers requiring four power supplies and two voltage sources. The amplifiers operate at 4.2 K with an open-loop gain of 2000. The gain-bandwidth product can expect 400 kHz at a power dissipation of 6 μW. In performance evaluations, the input-referred voltage noise was 4 μVrms/Hz0.5 at 1 Hz and 30 nVrms/Hz0.5 at 10 kHz, respectively. The noise power spectrum density was of type 1/f and extended to 10 kHz.

An Optical Trap for Relativistic Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ping

2002-11-01

Optical traps have achieved remarkable success recently in confining ultra-cold matter.Traps capable of confining ultra-hot matter, or plasma, have also been built for applications such as basic plasma research and thermonuclear fusion. For instance, low-density plasmas with temperature less than 1 keV have been confined with static magnetic fields in Malmberg-Penning traps. Low-density 10-50 keV plasmas are confined in magnetic mirrors and tokamaks. High density plasmas have been trapped in optical traps with kinetic energies up to 10 keV [J. L. Chaloupka and D. D. Meyerhofer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 4538 (1999)]. We present the results of experiment, theory and numerical simulation on an optical trap capable of confining relativistic plasma. A stationary interference grating with submicron spacing is created when two high-power (terawatt) laser pulses of equal wavelength (1-micron) are focused from orthogonal directions to the same point in space and time in high density underdense plasma. Light pressure gradients bunch electrons into sheets located at the minima of the interference pattern. The density of the bunched electrons is found to be up to ten times the background density, which is orders-of-magnitude above that previously reported for other optical traps or plasma waves. The amplitudes and frequencies of multiple satellites in the scattered spectrum also indicate the presence of a highly nonlinear ion wave and an electron temperature about 100 keV. Energy transfer from the stronger beam to the weaker beam is also observed. Potential applications include a test-bed for detailed studies of relativistic nonlinear scattering, a positron source and an electrostatic wiggler. This research is also relevant to fast igniter fusion or ion acceleration experiments, in which laser pulses with intensities comparable to those used in the experiment may also potentially beat [Y. Sentoku, et al., Appl. Phys. B 74, 207215 (2002)]. The details of a specific application, the

Improved atom number with a dual color magneto—optical trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Qiang; Luo, Xin-Yu; Gao, Kui-Yi; Wang, Xiao-Rui; Chen, Dong-Min; Wang, Ru-Quan

2012-04-01

We demonstrate a novel dual color magneto—optical trap (MOT), which uses two sets of overlapping laser beams to cool and trap 87Rb atoms. The volume of cold cloud in the dual color MOT is strongly dependent on the frequency difference of the laser beams and can be significantly larger than that in the normal MOT with single frequency MOT beams. Our experiment shows that the dual color MOT has the same loading rate as the normal MOT, but much longer loading time, leading to threefold increase in the number of trapped atoms. This indicates that the larger number is caused by reduced light induced loss. The dual color MOT is very useful in experiments where both high vacuum level and large atom number are required, such as single chamber quantum memory and Bose—Einstein condensation (BEC) experiments. Compared to the popular dark spontaneous-force optical trap (dark SPOT) technique, our approach is technically simpler and more suitable to low power laser systems.

Efficiency at Maximum Power Output of a Quantum-Mechanical Brayton Cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yuan; He, Ji-Zhou; Gao, Yong; Wang, Jian-Hui

2014-03-01

The performance in finite time of a quantum-mechanical Brayton engine cycle is discussed, without introduction of temperature. The engine model consists of two quantum isoenergetic and two quantum isobaric processes, and works with a single particle in a harmonic trap. Directly employing the finite-time thermodynamics, the efficiency at maximum power output is determined. Extending the harmonic trap to a power-law trap, we find that the efficiency at maximum power is independent of any parameter involved in the model, but depends on the confinement of the trapping potential.

Optoelectronically probing the density of nanowire surface trap states to the single state limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, Yaping

2015-02-01

Surface trap states play a dominant role in the optoelectronic properties of nanoscale devices. Understanding the surface trap states allows us to properly engineer the device surfaces for better performance. But characterization of surface trap states at nanoscale has been a formidable challenge using the traditional capacitive techniques. Here, we demonstrate a simple but powerful optoelectronic method to probe the density of nanowire surface trap states to the single state limit. In this method, we choose to tune the quasi-Fermi level across the bandgap of a silicon nanowire photoconductor, allowing for capture and emission of photogenerated charge carriers by surface trap states. The experimental data show that the energy density of nanowire surface trap states is in a range from 109 cm-2/eV at deep levels to 1012 cm-2/eV near the conduction band edge. This optoelectronic method allows us to conveniently probe trap states of ultra-scaled nano/quantum devices at extremely high precision.

Chemical reactions studied at ultra-low temperature in liquid helium clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huisken, Friedrich; Krasnokutski, Serge A.

Low-temperature reaction rates are important ingredients for astrophysical reaction networks modeling the formation of interstellar matter in molecular clouds. Unfortunately, such data is difficult to obtain by experimental means. In an attempt to study low-temperature reactions of astrophysical interest, we have investigated relevant reactions at ultralow temperature in liquid helium droplets. Being prepared by supersonic expansion of helium gas at high pressure through a nozzle into a vacuum, large helium clusters in the form of liquid droplets constitute nano-sized reaction vessels for the study of chemical reactions at ultra-low temperature. If the normal isotope {sup 4}He is used, the heliummore » droplets are superfluid and characterized by a constant temperature of 0.37 K. Here we present results obtained for Mg, Al, and Si reacting with O{sub 2}. Mass spectrometry was employed to characterize the reaction products. As it may be difficult to distinguish between reactions occurring in the helium droplets before they are ionized and ion-molecule reactions taking place after the ionization, additional techniques were applied to ensure that the reactions actually occurred in the helium droplets. This information was provided by measuring the chemiluminescence light emitted by the products, the evaporation of helium atoms by the release of the reaction heat, or by laser-spectroscopic identification of the reactants and products.« less

Abdominal CT with model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR): initial results of a prospective trial comparing ultralow-dose with standard-dose imaging.

PubMed

Pickhardt, Perry J; Lubner, Meghan G; Kim, David H; Tang, Jie; Ruma, Julie A; del Rio, Alejandro Muñoz; Chen, Guang-Hong

2012-12-01

The purpose of this study was to report preliminary results of an ongoing prospective trial of ultralow-dose abdominal MDCT. Imaging with standard-dose contrast-enhanced (n = 21) and unenhanced (n = 24) clinical abdominal MDCT protocols was immediately followed by ultralow-dose imaging of a matched series of 45 consecutively registered adults (mean age, 57.9 years; mean body mass index, 28.5). The ultralow-dose images were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Standard-dose series were reconstructed with FBP (reference standard). Image noise was measured at multiple predefined sites. Two blinded abdominal radiologists interpreted randomly presented ultralow-dose images for multilevel subjective image quality (5-point scale) and depiction of organ-based focal lesions. Mean dose reduction relative to the standard series was 74% (median, 78%; range, 57-88%; mean effective dose, 1.90 mSv). Mean multiorgan image noise for low-dose MBIR was 14.7 ± 2.6 HU, significantly lower than standard-dose FBP (28.9 ± 9.9 HU), low-dose FBP (59.2 ± 23.3 HU), and ASIR (45.6 ± 14.1 HU) (p < 0.001). The mean subjective image quality score for low-dose MBIR (3.0 ± 0.5) was significantly higher than for low-dose FBP (1.6 ± 0.7) and ASIR (1.8 ± 0.7) (p < 0.001). Readers identified 213 focal noncalcific lesions with standard-dose FBP. Pooled lesion detection was higher for low-dose MBIR (79.3% [169/213]) compared with low-dose FBP (66.2% [141/213]) and ASIR (62.0% [132/213]) (p < 0.05). MBIR shows great potential for substantially reducing radiation doses at routine abdominal CT. Both FBP and ASIR are limited in this regard owing to reduced image quality and diagnostic capability. Further investigation is needed to determine the optimal dose level for MBIR that maintains adequate diagnostic performance. In general, objective and subjective image quality measurements do

Sub-threshold standard cell library design for ultra-low power biomedical applications.

PubMed

Li, Ming-Zhong; Ieong, Chio-In; Law, Man-Kay; Mak, Pui-In; Vai, Mang-I; Martins, Rui P

2013-01-01

Portable/Implantable biomedical applications usually exhibit stringent power budgets for prolonging battery life time, but loose operating frequency requirements due to small bio-signal bandwidths, typically below a few kHz. The use of sub-threshold digital circuits is ideal in such scenario to achieve optimized power/speed tradeoffs. This paper discusses the design of a sub-threshold standard cell library using a standard 0.18-µm CMOS technology. A complete library of 56 standard cells is designed and the methodology is ensured through schematic design, transistor width scaling and layout design, as well as timing, power and functionality characterization. Performance comparison between our sub-threshold standard cell library and a commercial standard cell library using a 5-stage ring oscillator and an ECG designated FIR filter is performed. Simulation results show that our library achieves a total power saving of 95.62% and a leakage power reduction of 97.54% when compared with the same design implemented by the commercial standard cell library (SCL).

Nematode-Trapping Fungi.

PubMed

Jiang, Xiangzhi; Xiang, Meichun; Liu, Xingzhong

2017-01-01

Nematode-trapping fungi are a unique and intriguing group of carnivorous microorganisms that can trap and digest nematodes by means of specialized trapping structures. They can develop diverse trapping devices, such as adhesive hyphae, adhesive knobs, adhesive networks, constricting rings, and nonconstricting rings. Nematode-trapping fungi have been found in all regions of the world, from the tropics to Antarctica, from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. They play an important ecological role in regulating nematode dynamics in soil. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the majority of nematode-trapping fungi belong to a monophyletic group in the order Orbiliales (Ascomycota). Nematode-trapping fungi serve as an excellent model system for understanding fungal evolution and interaction between fungi and nematodes. With the development of molecular techniques and genome sequencing, their evolutionary origins and divergence, and the mechanisms underlying fungus-nematode interactions have been well studied. In recent decades, an increasing concern about the environmental hazards of using chemical nematicides has led to the application of these biological control agents as a rapidly developing component of crop protection.

Fast selective trapping and release of picoliter droplets in a 3D microfluidic PDMS multi-trap system with bubbles.

PubMed

Rambach, Richard W; Biswas, Preetika; Yadav, Ashutosh; Garstecki, Piotr; Franke, Thomas

2018-02-12

The selective manipulation and incubation of individual picoliter drops in high-throughput droplet based microfluidic devices still remains challenging. We used a surface acoustic wave (SAW) to induce a bubble in a 3D designed multi-trap polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device to manipulate multiple droplets and demonstrate the selection, incubation and on-demand release of aqueous droplets from a continuous oil flow. By controlling the position of the acoustic actuation, individual droplets are addressed and selectively released from a droplet stream of 460 drops per s. A complete trapping and releasing cycle can be as short as 70 ms and has no upper limit for incubation time. We characterize the fluidic function of the hybrid device in terms of electric power, pulse duration and acoustic path.

[Electric traction magnetic fields of ultra-low frequency as an occupational risk factor of ischemic heart disease].

PubMed

Ptitsyna, N G; Kudrin, V A; Villorezi, D; Kopytenko, Iu A; Tiasto, M I; Kopytenko, E A; Bochko, V A; Iuchchi, N

1996-01-01

The study was inspired by earlier results that displayed influence of variable natural geomagnetic field (0.005-10 Hz range-ultra-low frequencies) on circulatory system, indicated possible correlation between industrial ultra-low frequency fields and prevalence of myocardial infarction. The authors conducted unique measurements of ultra-low frequency fields produced by electric engines. The results were compared with data on morbidity among railway transport workers. The findings are that level of magnetic variations in electric locomotive cabin can exceed 280 micro Tesla, whereas that in car sections reaches 50 micro Tesla. Occurrence of coronary heart disease among the locomotive operators appeared to be 2.0 + 0.2 times higher than that among the car section operators. Higher risk of coronary heart disease in the locomotive operators is associated with their increased occupational magnetic load.

Performance study of personal inhalable aerosol samplers at ultra-low wind speeds.

PubMed

Sleeth, Darrah K; Vincent, James H

2012-03-01

The assessment of personal inhalable aerosol samplers in a controlled laboratory setting has not previously been carried out at the ultra-low wind speed conditions that represent most modern workplaces. There is currently some concern about whether the existing inhalable aerosol convention is appropriate at these low wind speeds and an alternative has been suggested. It was therefore important to assess the performance of the most common personal samplers used to collect the inhalable aerosol fraction, especially those that were designed to match the original curve. The experimental set-up involved use of a hybrid ultra-low speed wind tunnel/calm air chamber and a rotating, heating breathing mannequin to measure the inhalable fraction of aerosol exposure. The samplers that were tested included the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Button, and GSP inhalable samplers as well as the closed-face cassette sampler that has been (and still is) widely used by occupational hygienists in many countries. The results showed that, down to ∼0.2 m s(-1), the samplers matched the current inhalability criterion relatively well but were significantly greater than this at the lowest wind speed tested. Overall, there was a significant effect of wind speed on sampling efficiency, with lower wind speeds clearly associated with an increase in sampling efficiency.

Assessment of the feasibility of an ultra-low power, wireless digital patch for the continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs.

PubMed

Hernandez-Silveira, Miguel; Ahmed, Kamran; Ang, Su-Shin; Zandari, Fahriya; Mehta, Tinaz; Weir, Rebecca; Burdett, Alison; Toumazou, Chris; Brett, Stephen J

2015-05-19

Vital signs are usually recorded at 4-8 h intervals in hospital patients, and deterioration between measurements can have serious consequences. The primary study objective was to assess agreement between a new ultra-low power, wireless and wearable surveillance system for continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs and a widely used clinical vital signs monitor. The secondary objective was to examine the system's ability to automatically identify and reject invalid physiological data. Single hospital centre. Heart and respiratory rate were recorded over 2 h in 20 patients undergoing elective surgery and a second group of 41 patients with comorbid conditions, in the general ward. Primary outcome measures were limits of agreement and bias. The secondary outcome measure was proportion of data rejected. The digital patch provided reliable heart rate values in the majority of patients (about 80%) with normal sinus rhythm, and in the presence of abnormal ECG recordings (excluding aperiodic arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation). The mean difference between systems was less than ±1 bpm in all patient groups studied. Although respiratory data were more frequently rejected as invalid because of the high sensitivity of impedance pneumography to motion artefacts, valid rates were reported for 50% of recordings with a mean difference of less than ±1 brpm compared with the bedside monitor. Correlation between systems was statistically significant (p<0.0001) for heart and respiratory rate, apart from respiratory rate in patients with atrial fibrillation (p=0.02). Overall agreement between digital patch and clinical monitor was satisfactory, as was the efficacy of the system for automatic rejection of invalid data. Wireless monitoring technologies, such as the one tested, may offer clinical value when implemented as part of wider hospital systems that integrate and support existing clinical protocols and workflows. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited

Mode division multiplexing technology for single-fiber optical trapping axial-position adjustment.

PubMed

Liu, Zhihai; Wang, Lei; Liang, Peibo; Zhang, Yu; Yang, Jun; Yuan, Libo

2013-07-15

We demonstrate trapped yeast cell axial-position adjustment without moving the optical fiber in a single-fiber optical trapping system. The dynamic axial-position adjustment is realized by controlling the power ratio of the fundamental mode beam (LP01) and the low-order mode beam (LP11) generated in a normal single-core fiber. In order to separate the trapping positions produced by the two mode beams, we fabricate a special fiber tapered tip with a selective two-step method. A yeast cell of 6 μm diameter is moved along the optical axis direction for a distance of ~3 μm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the trapping position adjustment without moving the fiber for single-fiber optical tweezers. The excitation and utilization of multimode beams in a single fiber constitutes a new development for single-fiber optical trapping and makes possible more practical applications in biomedical research fields.

Molybdenum disulfide for ultra-low detection of free radicals: electrochemical response and molecular modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Ankur; Rawal, Takat B.; Neal, Craig J.; Das, Soumen; Rahman, Talat S.; Seal, Sudipta

2017-06-01

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) offers attractive properties due to its band gap modulation and has led to significant research-oriented applications (i.e. DNA and protein detection, cell imaging (fluorescent label) etc.). In biology, detection of free radicals (i.e. reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen (NO*) species are very important for early discovery and treatment of diseases. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the ultra-low (pico-molar) detection of pharmaceutically relevant free radicals using MoS2 for electrochemical sensing. We present pico- to nano- molar level sensitivity in smaller MoS2 with S-deficiency as revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, the detection mechanism and size-dependent sensitivity have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) showing the change in electronic density of states of Mo atoms at edges which lead to the preferred adsorption of H2O2 on Mo edges. The DFT analysis signifies the role of size and S-deficiency in the higher catalytic activity of smaller MoS2 particles and, thus, ultra-low detection.

Burst-mode optical label processor with ultralow power consumption.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Salah; Nakahara, Tatsushi; Ishikawa, Hiroshi; Takahashi, Ryo

2016-04-04

A novel label processor subsystem for 100-Gbps (25-Gbps × 4λs) burst-mode optical packets is developed, in which a highly energy-efficient method is pursued for extracting and interfacing the ultrafast packet-label to a CMOS-based processor where label recognition takes place. The method involves performing serial-to-parallel conversion for the label bits on a bit-by-bit basis by using an optoelectronic converter that is operated with a set of optical triggers generated in a burst-mode manner upon packet arrival. Here we present three key achievements that enabled a significant reduction in the total power consumption and latency of the whole subsystem; 1) based on a novel operation mechanism for providing amplification with bit-level selectivity, an optical trigger pulse generator, that consumes power for a very short duration upon packet arrival, is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, 2) the energy of optical triggers needed by the optoelectronic serial-to-parallel converter is reduced by utilizing a negative-polarity signal while employing an enhanced conversion scheme entitled the discharge-or-hold scheme, 3) the necessary optical trigger energy is further cut down by half by coupling the triggers through the chip's backside, whereas a novel lens-free packaging method is developed to enable a low-cost alignment process that works with simple visual observation.

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps

PubMed Central

Hong, Seokjun; Lee, Minjae; Kwon, Yeong-Dae; Cho, Dong-il "Dan"; Kim, Taehyun

2017-01-01

Ions trapped in a quadrupole Paul trap have been considered one of the strong physical candidates to implement quantum information processing. This is due to their long coherence time and their capability to manipulate and detect individual quantum bits (qubits). In more recent years, microfabricated surface ion traps have received more attention for large-scale integrated qubit platforms. This paper presents a microfabrication methodology for ion traps using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology, including the fabrication method for a 14 µm-thick dielectric layer and metal overhang structures atop the dielectric layer. In addition, an experimental procedure for trapping ytterbium (Yb) ions of isotope 174 (174Yb+) using 369.5 nm, 399 nm, and 935 nm diode lasers is described. These methodologies and procedures involve many scientific and engineering disciplines, and this paper first presents the detailed experimental procedures. The methods discussed in this paper can easily be extended to the trapping of Yb ions of isotope 171 (171Yb+) and to the manipulation of qubits. PMID:28872137

Euler buckling-induced folding and rotation of red blood cells in an optical trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, A.; Sinha, Supurna; Dharmadhikari, J. A.; Roy, S.; Dharmadhikari, A. K.; Samuel, J.; Sharma, S.; Mathur, D.

2006-03-01

We investigate the physics of an optically driven micromotor of biological origin. When a single, live red blood cell (RBC) is placed in an optical trap, the normal biconcave disc shape of the cell is observed to fold into a rod-like shape. If the trapping laser beam is circularly polarized, the folded RBC rotates. A model based on geometric considerations, using the concept of buckling instabilities, captures the folding phenomenon; the rotation of the cell is rationalized using the Poincaré sphere. Our model predicts that (i) at a critical power of the trapping laser beam the RBC shape undergoes large fluctuations, and (ii) the torque that is generated is proportional to the power of the laser beam. These predictions are verified experimentally. We suggest a possible mechanism for the emergence of birefringent properties in the RBC in the folded state.

Observations of geomagnetically trapped light isotopes by NINA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakaldin, A.; Galper, A.; Koldashov, S.; Korotkov, M.; Leonov, A.; Mikhailov, V.; Murashov, A.; Voronov, S.; Bidoli, V.; Casolino, M.; De Pascale, M.; Furano, G.; Iannucci, A.; Morselli, A.; Picozza, P.; Sparvoli, R.; Boezio, M.; Bonvicini, V.; Cirami, R.; Vacci, A.; Zampa, N.; Ambriola, M.; Bellotti, R.; sCafagna, F.; Ciacio, F.; Circella, M.; De Marzo, C.; Adriani, O.; Papini, P.; Spillantini, P.; Straulino, S.; Vannuccini, E.; Bartalucci, S.; Ricci, M.; Castellini, G.; Wizard-NINA Collaboration

2001-08-01

The detector NINA aboard the satellite Resurs-01N4 detected hydrogen and helium isotopes geomagnetically trapped, while crossing the South Atlantic Anomaly. Deuterium and tritium at L-shell<1.2 were unambiguously recognized. The 3 He and 4 He power-law spectra, reconstructed at L-shell=1.2 and B<0.22 G, have indices equal to 2.30±0.08 in the energy range 12-50 MeV/n, and 3.4±0.2 in 10-40 MeV/n respectively. The measured 3 He/4 He ratio bring to the conclusion that the main source of radiation belt light isotopes is the interaction of trapped protons with residual atmospheric helium.

Experimental Observation of the Effects of Translational and Rotational Electrode Misalignment on a Planar Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Yuan; Decker, Trevor K.; McClellan, Joshua S.; Wu, Qinghao; De la Cruz, Abraham; Hawkins, Aaron R.; Austin, Daniel E.

2018-04-01

The performance of miniaturized ion trap mass analyzers is limited, in part, by the accuracy with which electrodes can be fabricated and positioned relative to each other. Alignment of plates in a two-plate planar LIT is ideal to characterize misalignment effects, as it represents the simplest possible case, having only six degrees of freedom (DOF) (three translational and three rotational). High-precision motorized actuators were used to vary the alignment between the two ion trap plates in five DOFs—x, y, z, pitch, and yaw. A comparison between the experiment and previous simulations shows reasonable agreement. Pitch, or the degree to which the plates are parallel along the axial direction, has the largest and sharpest impact to resolving power, with resolving power dropping noticeably with pitch misalignment of a fraction of a degree. Lateral displacement (x) and yaw (rotation of one plate, but plates remain parallel) both have a strong impact on ion ejection efficiency, but little effect on resolving power. The effects of plate spacing (y-displacement) on both resolving power and ion ejection efficiency are attributable to higher-order terms in the trapping field. Varying the DC (axial) trapping potential can elucidate the effects where more misalignments in more than one DOF affect performance. Implications of these results for miniaturized ion traps are discussed. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Rubidium Cloud Size in a Magneto-Optical Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatwin-Davies, A.; Kong, T.; Behr, J. A.; Gorelov, A.; Pearson, M.

2008-05-01

Preparations for a search for exotic 20 - 556 keV-mass particles emitted during the nuclear 2-body decay of ^86Rb confined in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are underway at TRIUMF. Such emissions would correspond to a peak in the recoil momentum distribution at a momentum lower than that caused by 556 keV γ emission. The stable isotope ^85Rb is being used to optimize the experimental apparatus since its atomic hyperfine splitting is similar to that of ^86Rb, producing similar laser cooling properties. The size of the cloud of trapped atoms directly affects the achievable momentum resolution of the recoil and must hence be minimized. A Doppler-limited model for cloud size ignoring cooling beyond that generated by the photon scattering force is presented and compared with experimental data. Analysis suggested reducing the intensity and red-detuning from resonance of the trapping light from optimal values for atom collection. We also better balanced the power in the trapping beams. Recent data in disagreement with a Doppler-limited theory indicate sub-Doppler cooling mechanisms (J. Dalibard and C. Cohen-Tannoudji, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 6, 2023 (1989)) are now at work. A cloud full width at half-maximum of less than 0.25 mm has since been achieved.

A molecular dynamics simulation study on trapping ions in a nanoscale Paul trap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Xiongce; Krstic, Predrag S

2008-01-01

We found by molecular dynamics simulations that a low energy ion can be trapped effectively in a nanoscale Paul trap in both vacuum and in aqueous environment when appropriate AC/DC electric fields are applied to the system. Using the negatively charged chlorine ion as an example, we show that the trapped ion oscillates around the center of the nanotrap with the amplitude dependent on the parameters of the system and applied voltage. Successful trapping of the ion within nanoseconds requires electric bias of GHz frequency, in the range of hundreds of mV. The oscillations are damped in the aqueous environment,more » but polarization of the water molecules requires application of the higher voltage biases to reach the improved stability of the trapping. Application of a supplemental DC driving field along the trap axis can effectively drive the ion off the trap center and out of the trap, opening a possibility of studying DNA and other biological molecules using embedded probes while achieving a full control of their translocation and localization in the trap.« less

Sensitivity of new detection method for ultra-low frequency gravitational waves with pulsar spin-down rate statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yonemaru, Naoyuki; Kumamoto, Hiroki; Takahashi, Keitaro; Kuroyanagi, Sachiko

2018-04-01

A new detection method for ultra-low frequency gravitational waves (GWs) with a frequency much lower than the observational range of pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) was suggested in Yonemaru et al. (2016). In the PTA analysis, ultra-low frequency GWs (≲ 10-10 Hz) which evolve just linearly during the observation time span are absorbed by the pulsar spin-down rates since both have the same effect on the pulse arrival time. Therefore, such GWs cannot be detected by the conventional method of PTAs. However, the bias on the observed spin-down rates depends on relative direction of a pulsar and GW source and shows a quadrupole pattern in the sky. Thus, if we divide the pulsars according to the position in the sky and see the difference in the statistics of the spin-down rates, ultra-low frequency GWs from a single source can be detected. In this paper, we evaluate the potential of this method by Monte-Carlo simulations and estimate the sensitivity, considering only the "Earth term" while the "pulsar term" acts like random noise for GW frequencies 10-13 - 10-10 Hz. We find that with 3,000 milli-second pulsars, which are expected to be discovered by a future survey with the Square Kilometre Array, GWs with the derivative of amplitude of about 3 × 10^{-19} {s}^{-1} can in principle be detected. Implications for possible supermassive binary black holes in Sgr* and M87 are also given.

Sorption vacuum trap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrington, A. E.; Caruso, A. J.

1970-01-01

Modified sorption trap for use in high vacuum systems contains provisions for online regeneration of sorbent material. Trap is so constructed that it has a number of encapsulated resistance heaters and a valving and pumping device for removing gases from heated sorbing material. Excessive downtime is eliminated with this trap.

Efficient Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells with Tunable Color enabled by an Ultralow-Bandgap Nonfullerene Acceptor.

PubMed

Cui, Yong; Yang, Chenyi; Yao, Huifeng; Zhu, Jie; Wang, Yuming; Jia, Guoxiao; Gao, Feng; Hou, Jianhui

2017-11-01

Semitransparent organic solar cells (OSCs) show attractive potential in power-generating windows. However, the development of semitransparent OSCs is lagging behind opaque OSCs. Here, an ultralow-bandgap nonfullerene acceptor, "IEICO-4Cl", is designed and synthesized, whose absorption spectrum is mainly located in the near-infrared region. When IEICO-4Cl is blended with different polymer donors (J52, PBDB-T, and PTB7-Th), the colors of the blend films can be tuned from purple to blue to cyan, respectively. Traditional OSCs with a nontransparent Al electrode fabricated by J52:IEICO-4Cl, PBDB-T:IEICO-4Cl, and PTB7-Th:IEICO-4Cl yield power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 9.65 ± 0.33%, 9.43 ± 0.13%, and 10.0 ± 0.2%, respectively. By using 15 nm Au as the electrode, semitransparent OSCs based on these three blends also show PCEs of 6.37%, 6.24%, and 6.97% with high average visible transmittance (AVT) of 35.1%, 35.7%, and 33.5%, respectively. Furthermore, via changing the thickness of Au in the OSCs, the relationship between the transmittance and efficiency is studied in detail, and an impressive PCE of 8.38% with an AVT of 25.7% is obtained, which is an outstanding value in the semitransparent OSCs. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Influence of trap location on the efficiency of trapping in dendrimers and regular hyperbranched polymers.

PubMed

Lin, Yuan; Zhang, Zhongzhi

2013-03-07

The trapping process in polymer systems constitutes a fundamental mechanism for various other dynamical processes taking place in these systems. In this paper, we study the trapping problem in two representative polymer networks, Cayley trees and Vicsek fractals, which separately model dendrimers and regular hyperbranched polymers. Our goal is to explore the impact of trap location on the efficiency of trapping in these two important polymer systems, with the efficiency being measured by the average trapping time (ATT) that is the average of source-to-trap mean first-passage time over every staring point in the whole networks. For Cayley trees, we derive an exact analytic formula for the ATT to an arbitrary trap node, based on which we further obtain the explicit expression of ATT for the case that the trap is uniformly distributed. For Vicsek fractals, we provide the closed-form solution for ATT to a peripheral node farthest from the central node, as well as the numerical solutions for the case when the trap is placed on other nodes. Moreover, we derive the exact formula for the ATT corresponding to the trapping problem when the trap has a uniform distribution over all nodes. Our results show that the influence of trap location on the trapping efficiency is completely different for the two polymer networks. In Cayley trees, the leading scaling of ATT increases with the shortest distance between the trap and the central node, implying that trap's position has an essential impact on the trapping efficiency; while in Vicsek fractals, the effect of location of the trap is negligible, since the dominant behavior of ATT is identical, respective of the location where the trap is placed. We also present that for all cases of trapping problems being studied, the trapping process is more efficient in Cayley trees than in Vicsek fractals. We demonstrate that all differences related to trapping in the two polymer systems are rooted in their underlying topological structures.

Funnel traps capture a higher proportion of juvenile Great Tits Parus major than automatic traps

USGS Publications Warehouse

Senar, J.C.; Domenech, J.; Conroy, M.J.

1999-01-01

We compared capture rates of Great Tits at funnel traps, where several birds can be captured at once so that some decoy effect may appear, to those obtained at automatic traps, where only one bird can be trapped at a time, at trapping stations in northeastern Spain. Juvenile birds were mainly captured at funnel traps (79% of juvenile captures), whereas adult plumaged birds were captured at both types of traps (51% of captures were at the funnel traps) (test between ages, P<0.001). Juvenile Great Tits had lower body condition as measured by ptilochronology (P<0.01). These birds are more easily trapped in funnel traps, which may be acting as decoy traps, and thus are vulnerable to the same kinds of biases (eg age or body condition) that have been previously documented for decoy traps.

Metal–Organic–Inorganic Nanocomposite Thermal Interface Materials with Ultralow Thermal Resistances

DOE PAGES

Yegin, Cengiz; Nagabandi, Nirup; Feng, Xuhui; ...

2017-02-27

As electronic devices get smaller and more powerful, energy density of energy storage devices increases continuously, and moving components of machinery operate at higher speeds, the need for better thermal management strategies is becoming increasingly important. The removal of heat dissipated during the operation of electronic, electrochemical, and mechanical devices is facilitated by high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs) which are utilized to couple devices to heat sinks. Here in this paper, we report a new class of TIMs involving the chemical integration of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), soft organic linkers, and a copper matrix -- which are prepared by chemisorption-coupledmore » electrodeposition approach. These hybrid nanocomposites demonstrate bulk thermal conductivities ranging from 211 to 277 W/(m.K), which are very high considering their relatively low elastic modulus values on the order of 21.2 to 28.5 GPa. The synergistic combination of these properties lead to the ultra-low total thermal resistivity values in the range of 0.38 to 0.56 mm 2.K/W for a typical bondline thickness of 30-50 um, advancing the current state-of-art transformatively. Moreover, its coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is 11 ppm/K, forming a mediation zone with a low thermally-induced axial stress due to its close proximity to the CTE of most coupling surfaces needing thermal management.« less

Metal–Organic–Inorganic Nanocomposite Thermal Interface Materials with Ultralow Thermal Resistances

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yegin, Cengiz; Nagabandi, Nirup; Feng, Xuhui

As electronic devices get smaller and more powerful, energy density of energy storage devices increases continuously, and moving components of machinery operate at higher speeds, the need for better thermal management strategies is becoming increasingly important. The removal of heat dissipated during the operation of electronic, electrochemical, and mechanical devices is facilitated by high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs) which are utilized to couple devices to heat sinks. Here in this paper, we report a new class of TIMs involving the chemical integration of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), soft organic linkers, and a copper matrix -- which are prepared by chemisorption-coupledmore » electrodeposition approach. These hybrid nanocomposites demonstrate bulk thermal conductivities ranging from 211 to 277 W/(m.K), which are very high considering their relatively low elastic modulus values on the order of 21.2 to 28.5 GPa. The synergistic combination of these properties lead to the ultra-low total thermal resistivity values in the range of 0.38 to 0.56 mm 2.K/W for a typical bondline thickness of 30-50 um, advancing the current state-of-art transformatively. Moreover, its coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is 11 ppm/K, forming a mediation zone with a low thermally-induced axial stress due to its close proximity to the CTE of most coupling surfaces needing thermal management.« less

Metal-Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposite Thermal Interface Materials with Ultralow Thermal Resistances.

PubMed

Yegin, Cengiz; Nagabandi, Nirup; Feng, Xuhui; King, Charles; Catalano, Massimo; Oh, Jun Kyun; Talib, Ansam J; Scholar, Ethan A; Verkhoturov, Stanislav V; Cagin, Tahir; Sokolov, Alexei V; Kim, Moon J; Matin, Kaiser; Narumanchi, Sreekant; Akbulut, Mustafa

2017-03-22

As electronic devices get smaller and more powerful, energy density of energy storage devices increases continuously, and moving components of machinery operate at higher speeds, the need for better thermal management strategies is becoming increasingly important. The removal of heat dissipated during the operation of electronic, electrochemical, and mechanical devices is facilitated by high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs) which are utilized to couple devices to heat sinks. Herein, we report a new class of TIMs involving the chemical integration of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), soft organic linkers, and a copper matrix-which are prepared by the chemisorption-coupled electrodeposition approach. These hybrid nanocomposites demonstrate bulk thermal conductivities ranging from 211 to 277 W/(m K), which are very high considering their relatively low elastic modulus values on the order of 21.2-28.5 GPa. The synergistic combination of these properties led to the ultralow total thermal resistivity values in the range of 0.38-0.56 mm 2 K/W for a typical bond-line thickness of 30-50 μm, advancing the current state-of-art transformatively. Moreover, its coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is 11 ppm/K, forming a mediation zone with a low thermally induced axial stress due to its close proximity to the CTE of most coupling surfaces needing thermal management.

Two-species mixing in a nested Penning trap for antihydrogen trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ordonez, C. A.; Weathers, D. L.

2008-08-01

There exists an international quest to trap neutral antimatter in the form of antihydrogen for scientific study. One method that is being developed for trapping antihydrogen employs a nested Penning trap. Such a trap serves to mix positrons and antiprotons so as to produce low energy antihydrogen atoms. Mixing is achieved when the confinement volumes of the two species overlap one another. In the work presented here, a theoretical understanding of the mixing process is developed by analyzing a mixing scheme that was recently reported [G. Gabrielse et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 113001 (2008)]. The results indicate that positron space charge or collisions among antiprotons may substantially reduce the fraction of antiprotons that have an energy suitable for antihydrogen trapping.

Lightweight, Light-Trapped, Thin GaAs Solar Cells for Spacecraft Applications.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-10-05

improve the efficiency of this type of cell. 2 The high efficiency and light weight of the cover glass supported GaAs solar cell can have a significant...is a 3-mil cover glass and 1-mil silicone adhesive on the front surface of the GaAs solar cell. Power Output 3000 400 -{ 2400 { N 300 S18200 W/m2...the ultra-thin, light-trapped GaAs solar ceill 3. Incorporate light trapping. 0 external quantum efficiency at 850 nm increased by 5.2% 4. Develop

A compositional origin to ultralow-velocity zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Samuel P.; Thorne, Michael S.; Miyagi, Lowell; Rost, Sebastian

2015-02-01

We analyzed vertical component short-period ScP waveforms for 26 earthquakes occurring in the Tonga-Fiji trench recorded at the Alice Springs Array in central Australia. These waveforms show strong precursory and postcursory seismic arrivals consistent with ultralow-velocity zone (ULVZ) layering beneath the Coral Sea. We used the Viterbi sparse spike detection method to measure differential travel times and amplitudes of the postcursor arrival ScSP and the precursor arrival SPcP relative to ScP. We compare our measurements to a database of 340,000 synthetic seismograms finding that these data are best fit by a ULVZ model with an S wave velocity reduction of 24%, a P wave velocity reduction of 23%, a thickness of 8.5 km, and a density increase of 6%. This 1:1 VS:VP velocity decrease is commensurate with a ULVZ compositional origin and is most consistent with highly iron enriched ferropericlase.

Isobar Separation in a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer by Mass-Selective Re-Trapping.

PubMed

Dickel, Timo; Plaß, Wolfgang R; Lippert, Wayne; Lang, Johannes; Yavor, Mikhail I; Geissel, Hans; Scheidenberger, Christoph

2017-06-01

A novel method for (ultra-)high-resolution spatial mass separation in time-of-flight mass spectrometers is presented. Ions are injected into a time-of-flight analyzer from a radio frequency (rf) trap, dispersed in time-of-flight according to their mass-to-charge ratios and then re-trapped dynamically in the same rf trap. This re-trapping technique is highly mass-selective and after sufficiently long flight times can provide even isobaric separation. A theoretical treatment of the method is presented and the conditions for optimum performance of the method are derived. The method has been implemented in a multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer and mass separation powers (FWHM) in excess of 70,000, and re-trapping efficiencies of up to 35% have been obtained for the protonated molecular ion of caffeine. The isobars glutamine and lysine (relative mass difference of 1/4000) have been separated after a flight time of 0.2 ms only. Higher mass separation powers can be achieved using longer flight times. The method will have important applications, including isobar separation in nuclear physics and (ultra-)high-resolution precursor ion selection in multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Isobar Separation in a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer by Mass-Selective Re-Trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dickel, Timo; Plaß, Wolfgang R.; Lippert, Wayne; Lang, Johannes; Yavor, Mikhail I.; Geissel, Hans; Scheidenberger, Christoph

2017-06-01

A novel method for (ultra-)high-resolution spatial mass separation in time-of-flight mass spectrometers is presented. Ions are injected into a time-of-flight analyzer from a radio frequency (rf) trap, dispersed in time-of-flight according to their mass-to-charge ratios and then re-trapped dynamically in the same rf trap. This re-trapping technique is highly mass-selective and after sufficiently long flight times can provide even isobaric separation. A theoretical treatment of the method is presented and the conditions for optimum performance of the method are derived. The method has been implemented in a multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer and mass separation powers (FWHM) in excess of 70,000, and re-trapping efficiencies of up to 35% have been obtained for the protonated molecular ion of caffeine. The isobars glutamine and lysine (relative mass difference of 1/4000) have been separated after a flight time of 0.2 ms only. Higher mass separation powers can be achieved using longer flight times. The method will have important applications, including isobar separation in nuclear physics and (ultra-)high-resolution precursor ion selection in multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Studies of lipid vesicle mechanics using an optical fiber dual-beam trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinon, Tessa M.; Hirst, Linda S.; Sharping, Jay E.

2011-03-01

Fiber-based optical traps can be used for manipulating micron-sized dielectric particles such as microspheres and biological cells. Here we study the mechanics of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) which are held and stretched by light forces in a fiber-based dual-beam optical trap. Our GUVs are suspended in a buffer solution and encapsulate various concentrations and molecular weights of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymer yielding a range of refractive index contrasts and trapping conditions. We find that we can trap GUVs in solution with index contrasts of less than 0.01. We explore the mechanical response of the GUV membrane to a range of forces which are proportional to laser power and refractive index contrast. Our trapping system is a compact and inexpensive platform and trapping is viewed in real time under a microscope. We hypothesize that forces within the high-tension regime will induce a linear response in vesicle surface area. This project sets the stage for membrane mechanics and lipid phase change studies. Grant: NSF award #DMR 0852791, ``CAREER: Self-Assembly of Polyunsaturated Lipids and Cholesterol in the Cell Membrane.''

Advances in laser and tissue interactions: laser microbeams and optical trapping (Invited Paper)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serafetinides, Alexander A.; Makropoulou, Mersini; Papadopoulos, Dimitris; Papagiakoumou, Eirini; Pietreanu, D.

2005-04-01

The increasing use of lasers in biomedical research and clinical praxis leads to the development and application of new, non-invasive, therapeutic, surgical and diagnostic techniques. In laser surgery, the theory of ablation dictates that pulsed mid-infrared laser beams exhibit strong absorption by soft and hard tissues, restricting residual thermal damage to a minimum zone. Therefore, the development of high quality 3 μm lasers is considered to be an alternative for precise laser ablation of tissue. Among them are the high quality oscillator-two stages amplifier lasers developed, which will be described in this article. The beam quality delivered by these lasers to the biological tissue is of great importance in cutting and ablating operations. As the precision of the ablation is increased, the cutting laser interventions could well move to the microsurgery field. Recently, the combination of a laser scalpel with an optical trapping device, under microscopy control, is becoming increasingly important. Optical manipulation of microscopic particles by focused laser beams, is now widely used as a powerful tool for 'non-contact' micromanipulation of cells and organelles. Several laser sources are employed for trapping and varying laser powers are used in a broad range of applications of optical tweezers. For most of the lasers used, the focal spot of the trapping beam is of the order of a micron. As the trapped objects can vary in size from hundreds of nanometres to hundreds of microns, the technique has recently invaded in to the nanocosomos of genes and molecules. However, the use of optical trapping for quantitative research into biophysical processes requires accurate calculation of the optical forces and torques acting within the trap. The research and development efforts towards a mid-IR microbeam laser system, the design and realization efforts towards a visible laser trapping system and the first results obtained using a relatively new calibration method to

Trapping and assembling of particles and live cells on large-scale random gold nano-island substrates

PubMed Central

Kang, Zhiwen; Chen, Jiajie; Wu, Shu-Yuen; Chen, Kun; Kong, Siu-Kai; Yong, Ken-Tye; Ho, Ho-Pui

2015-01-01

We experimentally demonstrated the use of random plasmonic nano-islands for optical trapping and assembling of particles and live cells into highly organized pattern with low power density. The observed trapping effect is attributed to the net contribution due to near-field optical trapping force and long-range thermophoretic force, which overcomes the axial convective drag force, while the lateral convection pushes the target objects into the trapping zone. Our work provides a simple platform for on-chip optical manipulation of nano- and micro-sized objects, and may find applications in physical and life sciences. PMID:25928045

Rotational dynamics and heating of trapped nanovaterite particles (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arita, Yoshihiko; Richards, Joseph M.; Mazilu, Michael; Spalding, Gabriel C.; Skelton Spesyvtseva, Susan E.; Craig, Derek; Dholakia, Kishan

2016-09-01

Rotational control over optically trapped particles has gained significant prominence in recent years. The marriage between light fields possessing optical angular momentum and the material properties of microparticles has been useful to controllably spin particles in liquid, air and vacuum. The rotational degree of freedom adds new functionality to optical traps: in addition to allowing fundamental tests of optical angular momentum, the transfer of spin angular momentum in particular can allow measurements of local viscosity and exert local stresses on cellular systems. We demonstrate optical trapping and controlled rotation of nanovaterite crystals. These particles represent the smallest birefringent crystals ever trapped and set into rotation. Rotation rates of up to 5kHz in water are recorded, representing the fastest rotation to date for dielectric particles in liquid. Laser-induced heating results in the superlinear behaviour of the rotation rate as a function of trap power. We study both the rotational and translational modes of trapped nanovaterite crystals. The particle temperatures derived from those two optomechanical modes are in good agreement, which is supported by a numerical model revealing that the observed heating is dominated by absorption of light by the particles rather than by the surrounding liquid. A comparison is performed with trapped silica particles of similar size. The use of nanovaterite particles open up new studies for levitated optomechanics in vacuum as well as microrheological properties of cells or biological media. Their size and low heating offers prospects of viscosity measurements in ultra-small volumes and potentially simpler uptake by cellular media.

Magnetic trapping of neutrons

PubMed

Huffman; Brome; Butterworth; Coakley; Dewey; Dzhosyuk; Golub; Greene; Habicht; Lamoreaux; Mattoni; McKinsey; Wietfeldt; Doyle

2000-01-06

Accurate measurement of the lifetime of the neutron (which is unstable to beta decay) is important for understanding the weak nuclear force and the creation of matter during the Big Bang. Previous measurements of the neutron lifetime have mainly been limited by certain systematic errors; however, these could in principle be avoided by performing measurements on neutrons stored in a magnetic trap. Neutral-particle and charged-particle traps are widely used for studying both composite and elementary particles, because they allow long interaction times and isolation of particles from perturbing environments. Here we report the magnetic trapping of neutrons. The trapping region is filled with superfluid 4He, which is used to load neutrons into the trap and as a scintillator to detect their decay. Neutrons in the trap have a lifetime of 750(+330)(-200) seconds, mainly limited by their beta decay rather than trap losses. Our experiment verifies theoretical predictions regarding the loading process and magnetic trapping of neutrons. Further refinement of this method should lead to improved precision in the neutron lifetime measurement.

Nanonewton optical force trap employing anti-reflection coated, high-refractive-index titania microspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jannasch, Anita; Demirörs, Ahmet F.; van Oostrum, Peter D. J.; van Blaaderen, Alfons; Schäffer, Erik

2012-07-01

Optical tweezers are exquisite position and force transducers and are widely used for high-resolution measurements in fields as varied as physics, biology and materials science. Typically, small dielectric particles are trapped in a tightly focused laser and are often used as handles for sensitive force measurements. Improvement to the technique has largely focused on improving the instrument and shaping the light beam, and there has been little work exploring the benefit of customizing the trapped object. Here, we describe how anti-reflection coated, high-refractive-index core-shell particles composed of titania enable single-beam optical trapping with an optical force greater than a nanonewton. The increased force range broadens the scope of feasible optical trapping experiments and will pave the way towards more efficient light-powered miniature machines, tools and applications.

Study of ultra-low emittance design for Spear3 using longitudinal gradient dipole

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, M. -H.; Huang, X.; Safranek, J.

2015-09-24

Since its 2003 construction, the SPEAR3 synchrotron light source at SLAC has continuously improved its performance by raising beam current, top-off injection, and smaller emittance. This makes SPEAR3 one of the most productive light sources in the world. Now to further enhance the performance of SPEAR3, we are looking into the possibility of converting SPEAR3 to an ultra-low emittance storage ring within its site constraint.

Deuterium trapping in tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poon, Michael

Tungsten is one of the primary material candidates being investigated for use in the first-wall of a magnetic confinement fusion reactor. An ion accelerator was used to simulate the type of ion interaction that may occur at a plasma-facing material. Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) was the primary tool used to analyze the effects of the irradiation. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) was used to determine the distribution of trapped D in the tungsten specimen. The tritium migration analysis program (TMAP) was used to simulate thermal desorption profiles from the D depth distributions. Fitting of the simulated thermal desorption profiles with the measured TDS results provided values of the D trap energies. Deuterium trapping in single crystal tungsten was studied as a function of the incident ion fluence, ion flux, irradiation temperature, irradiation history, and surface impurity levels during irradiation. The results show that deuterium was trapped at vacancies and voids. Two deuterium atoms could be trapped at a tungsten vacancy, with trapping energies of 1.4 eV and 1.2 eV for the first and second D atoms, respectively. In a tungsten void, D is trapped as atoms adsorbed on the inner walls of the void with a trap energy of 2.1 eV, or as D2 molecules inside the void with a trap energy of 1.2 eV. Deuterium trapping in polycrystalline tungsten was also studied as a function of the incident fluence, irradiation temperature, and irradiation history. Deuterium trapping in polycrystalline tungsten also occurs primarily at vacancies and voids with the same trap energies as in single crystal tungsten; however, the presence of grain boundaries promotes the formation of large surface blisters with high fluence irradiations at 500 K. In general, D trapping is greater in polycrystalline tungsten than in single crystal tungsten. To simulate mixed materials comprising of carbon (C) and tungsten, tungsten specimens were pre-irradiated with carbon ions prior to D

Status and outlook of CHIP-TRAP: The Central Michigan University high precision Penning trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redshaw, M.; Bryce, R. A.; Hawks, P.; Gamage, N. D.; Hunt, C.; Kandegedara, R. M. E. B.; Ratnayake, I. S.; Sharp, L.

2016-06-01

At Central Michigan University we are developing a high-precision Penning trap mass spectrometer (CHIP-TRAP) that will focus on measurements with long-lived radioactive isotopes. CHIP-TRAP will consist of a pair of hyperbolic precision-measurement Penning traps, and a cylindrical capture/filter trap in a 12 T magnetic field. Ions will be produced by external ion sources, including a laser ablation source, and transported to the capture trap at low energies enabling ions of a given m / q ratio to be selected via their time-of-flight. In the capture trap, contaminant ions will be removed with a mass-selective rf dipole excitation and the ion of interest will be transported to the measurement traps. A phase-sensitive image charge detection technique will be used for simultaneous cyclotron frequency measurements on single ions in the two precision traps, resulting in a reduction in statistical uncertainty due to magnetic field fluctuations.

Evaluation method for acoustic trapping performance by tracking motion of trapped microparticle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Hae Gyun; Ham Kim, Hyung; Yoon, Changhan

2018-05-01

We report a method to evaluate the performances of a single-beam acoustic tweezer using a high-frequency ultrasound transducer. The motion of a microparticle trapped by a 45-MHz single-element transducer was captured and analyzed to deduce the magnitude of trapping force. In the proposed method, the motion of a trapped microparticle was analyzed from a series of microscopy images to compute trapping force; thus, no additional equipment such as microfluidics is required. The method could be used to estimate the effective trapping force in an acoustic tweezer experiment to assess cell membrane deformability by attaching a microbead to the surface of a cell and tracking the motion of the trapped bead, which is similar to a bead-based assay that uses optical tweezers. The results showed that the trapping force increased with increasing acoustic intensity and duty factor, but the force eventually reached a plateau at a higher acoustic intensity. They demonstrated that this method could be used as a simple tool to evaluate the performance and to optimize the operating conditions of acoustic tweezers.

Finding trap stiffness of optical tweezers using digital filters.

PubMed

Almendarez-Rangel, Pedro; Morales-Cruzado, Beatriz; Sarmiento-Gómez, Erick; Pérez-Gutiérrez, Francisco G

2018-02-01

Obtaining trap stiffness and calibration of the position detection system is the basis of a force measurement using optical tweezers. Both calibration quantities can be calculated using several experimental methods available in the literature. In most cases, stiffness determination and detection system calibration are performed separately, often requiring procedures in very different conditions, and thus confidence of calibration methods is not assured due to possible changes in the environment. In this work, a new method to simultaneously obtain both the detection system calibration and trap stiffness is presented. The method is based on the calculation of the power spectral density of positions through digital filters to obtain the harmonic contributions of the position signal. This method has the advantage of calculating both trap stiffness and photodetector calibration factor from the same dataset in situ. It also provides a direct method to avoid unwanted frequencies that could greatly affect calibration procedure, such as electric noise, for example.

Raman gas self-organizing into deep nano-trap lattice

PubMed Central

Alharbi, M.; Husakou, A.; Chafer, M.; Debord, B.; Gérôme, F.; Benabid, F.

2016-01-01

Trapping or cooling molecules has rallied a long-standing effort for its impact in exploring new frontiers in physics and in finding new phase of matter for quantum technologies. Here we demonstrate a system for light-trapping molecules and stimulated Raman scattering based on optically self-nanostructured molecular hydrogen in hollow-core photonic crystal fibre. A lattice is formed by a periodic and ultra-deep potential caused by a spatially modulated Raman saturation, where Raman-active molecules are strongly localized in a one-dimensional array of nanometre-wide sections. Only these trapped molecules participate in stimulated Raman scattering, generating high-power forward and backward Stokes continuous-wave laser radiation in the Lamb–Dicke regime with sub-Doppler emission spectrum. The spectrum exhibits a central line with a sub-recoil linewidth as low as ∼14 kHz, more than five orders of magnitude narrower than conventional-Raman pressure-broadened linewidth, and sidebands comprising Mollow triplet, motional sidebands and four-wave mixing. PMID:27677451

Biotechnological traps for the reduction of inflammation due to cardiopulmonary bypass operations.

PubMed

Grano, Valentina; Salamino, Franca; Melloni, Edon; Minafra, Roberto; Regola, Eliana; Diano, Nadia; Nicolucci, Carla; Attanasio, Angelina; Nappi, Gianantonio; Cotrufo, Maurizio; Maresca, Lucio; De Santo, Natale Gaspare; Mita, Damiano Gustavo

2006-07-01

Cardiopulmonary bypass induces a systemic inflammatory response (SIR), characterized by the activation of cellular and humoral elements, with concomitant release of neutrophil elastase and matrix-metallo proteinases. In the present study, the protease release during extracorporeal circulation in 28 patients undergoing cardiac surgical operations was monitored using casein zymography. A peak in protease activity was found in all patients at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. Plasma samples of patients were allowed to interact with different traps obtained by immobilizing different protease inhibitors on specific carriers. alpha1-Antitrypsin, Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor, Elastatinal or Leupeptin were used as inhibitors and were covalently immobilized by diazotization or by condensation. A reduction in the proteolytic activity of the plasma samples was observed after interaction with the different traps. The most efficient traps, i.e. the ones displaying greatest power to inhibit protease activity, were those obtained by immobilizing Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor and Leupeptin. The biocompatibility of traps was also tested. Results show that protease activity in blood can be decreased by our protease traps.

Quantum mechanics in rotating-radio-frequency traps and Penning traps with a quadrupole rotating field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abe, K.; Hasegawa, T.

2010-03-15

Quantum-mechanical analysis of ion motion in a rotating-radio-frequency (rrf) trap or in a Penning trap with a quadrupole rotating field is carried out. Rrf traps were introduced by Hasegawa and Bollinger [Phys. Rev. A 72, 043404 (2005)]. The classical motion of a single ion in this trap is described by only trigonometric functions, whereas in the conventional linear radio-frequency (rf) traps it is by the Mathieu functions. Because of the simple classical motion in the rrf trap, it is expected that the quantum-mechanical analysis of the rrf traps is also simple compared to that of the linear rf traps. Themore » analysis of Penning traps with a quadrupole rotating field is also possible in a way similar to the rrf traps. As a result, the Hamiltonian in these traps is the same as the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator, and energy levels and wave functions are derived as exact results. In these traps, it is found that one of the vibrational modes in the rotating frame can have negative energy levels, which means that the zero-quantum-number state (''ground'' state) is the highest energy state.« less

An Orbital Trap Mass Analyzer Using a Hybrid Magnetic-Electric Field: A Simulation Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Chongsheng; Wu, Fangling; Ding, Li; Ding, Chuan-Fan

2018-03-01

An orbital ion trap mass analyzer employing hybrid magnetic-electric field was designed and simulated. The trap has a rotational symmetrical structure and the hybrid trapping field was created in a toroidal space between 12 pairs of sector detection electrodes. Ion injection and ion orbital motion inside the trap were simulated using SIMION 8.1 with a user Lua program, and the required electric and magnetic field were investigated. The image charge signal can be picked up by the 12 pairs of detection electrodes and the mass resolution was evaluated using FFT. The simulated resolving power for the optimized configuration over 79,000 FWHM was obtained at the magnetic induction intensity of 0.5 Tesla in the simulation. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Ultralow refractive index optical films with enhanced mechanical performance obtained by hybrid glancing angle deposition.

PubMed

Trottier-Lapointe, W; Zabeida, O; Schmitt, T; Martinu, L

2016-11-01

Ultralow refractive index materials (n less than 1.38 at 550 nm) are of particular interest in the context of antireflective coatings, allowing one to enhance their overall optical performance. However, application of such materials is typically limited by their mechanical properties. In this study, we explore the characteristics of a new category of hybrid (organic/inorganic) SiOCH thin films prepared by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) using electron beam evaporation of SiO₂ in the presence of an organosilicon precursor. The resulting layers exhibited n as low as 1.2, showed high elastic rebound, and generally better mechanical properties than their inorganic counterparts. In addition, hybrid GLAD films were found to be highly hydrophobic. The performance of the films is discussed in terms of their hybridicity (organic/inorganic) ratio determined by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry as well as the presence of anisotropy assessed by the nanostructure-based spectroscopic ellipsometry model. Finally, we demonstrate successful implementation of the ultralow-index material in a complete antireflective stack.

A new ring-shape high-temperature superconducting trapped-field magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheng, Jie; Zhang, Min; Wang, Yawei; Li, Xiaojian; Patel, Jay; Yuan, Weijia

2017-09-01

This paper presents a new trapped-field magnet made of second-generation high-temperature superconducting (2G HTS) rings. This so-called ring-shape 2G HTS magnet has the potential to provide much stronger magnetic fields relative to existing permanent magnets. Compared to existing 2G HTS trapped- field magnets, e.g. 2G HTS bulks and stacks, this new ring-shape 2G HTS magnet is more flexible in size and can be made into magnets with large dimensions for industrial applications. Effective magnetization is the key to being able to use trapped-field magnets. Therefore, this paper focuses on the magnetization mechanism of this new magnet using both experimental and numerical methods. Unique features have been identified and quantified for this new type of HTS magnet in the field cooling and zero field cooling process. The magnetization mechanism can be understood by the interaction between shielding currents and the penetration of external magnetic fields. An accumulation in the trapped field was observed by using multiple pulse field cooling. Three types of demagnetization were studied to measure the trapped-field decay for practical applications. Our results show that this new ring-shape HTS magnet is very promising in the trapping of a high magnetic field. As a super-permanent magnet, it will have a significant impact on large-scale industrial applications, e.g. the development of HTS machines with a very high power density and HTS magnetic resonance imaging devices.

Development of Ultra-Low Noise, High Performance III-V Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs) for Focal Plane Array Staring Image Sensor Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-02-06

Ultra-Low Noise , High Performance lll-V Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors ( QWIPs ) for Focal Plane Array Staring Image Sensor Systems i Submitted to i... QWIP , the noise is increased by the square root of the gain ,(g and the detectivity D" is reduced by this same factor. As shown in Fig. 3.18, the optimum...PI .4totekotP044l .t.,me. O IM A. AGENCY use ONLY (Leave blank) 1. y.p0AT J *fY E AND OATES CO r S - 0 1 DWveop cTteOf Ultra-Low Noise , High

Microfabricated ion trap array

DOEpatents

Blain, Matthew G [Albuquerque, NM; Fleming, James G [Albuquerque, NM

2006-12-26

A microfabricated ion trap array, comprising a plurality of ion traps having an inner radius of order one micron, can be fabricated using surface micromachining techniques and materials known to the integrated circuits manufacturing and microelectromechanical systems industries. Micromachining methods enable batch fabrication, reduced manufacturing costs, dimensional and positional precision, and monolithic integration of massive arrays of ion traps with microscale ion generation and detection devices. Massive arraying enables the microscale ion traps to retain the resolution, sensitivity, and mass range advantages necessary for high chemical selectivity. The reduced electrode voltage enables integration of the microfabricated ion trap array with on-chip circuit-based rf operation and detection electronics (i.e., cell phone electronics). Therefore, the full performance advantages of the microfabricated ion trap array can be realized in truly field portable, handheld microanalysis systems.

Optimization of multifunnel traps for emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): influence of size, trap coating, and color.

PubMed

Francese, Joseph A; Rietz, Michael L; Mastro, Victor C

2013-12-01

Field assays were conducted in southeastern and south-central Michigan in 2011 and 2012 to optimize green and purple multifunnel (Lindgren funnel) traps for use as a survey tool for the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. Larger sized (12- and 16-unit) multifunnel traps caught more beetles than their smaller-sized (4- and 8-unit) counterparts. Green traps coated with untinted (white) fluon caught almost four times as many adult A. planipennis as Rain-X and tinted (green) fluon-coated traps and almost 33 times more beetles than untreated control traps. Purple multifunnel traps generally caught much lower numbers of A. planipennis adults than green traps, and trap catch on them was not affected by differences in the type of coating applied. However, trap coating was necessary as untreated control purple traps caught significantly less beetles than traps treated with Rain-X and untinted or tinted (purple) fluon. Proportions of male beetles captured were generally much higher on green traps than on purple traps, but sex ratios were not affected by trap coating. In 2012, a new shade of purple plastic, based on a better color match to an attractive purple paint than the previously used purple, was used for trapping assays. When multifunnel traps were treated with fluon, green traps caught more A. planipennis adults than both shades of purple and a prism trap that was manufactured based on the same color match. Trap catch was not affected by diluting the fluon concentration applied to traps to 50% (1:1 mixture in water). At 10%, trap catch was significantly lowered.

A photon recycling approach to the denoising of ultra-low dose X-ray sequences.

PubMed

Hariharan, Sai Gokul; Strobel, Norbert; Kaethner, Christian; Kowarschik, Markus; Demirci, Stefanie; Albarqouni, Shadi; Fahrig, Rebecca; Navab, Nassir

2018-06-01

Clinical procedures that make use of fluoroscopy may expose patients as well as the clinical staff (throughout their career) to non-negligible doses of radiation. The potential consequences of such exposures fall under two categories, namely stochastic (mostly cancer) and deterministic risks (skin injury). According to the "as low as reasonably achievable" principle, the radiation dose can be lowered only if the necessary image quality can be maintained. Our work improves upon the existing patch-based denoising algorithms by utilizing a more sophisticated noise model to exploit non-local self-similarity better and this in turn improves the performance of low-rank approximation. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in its properly designed and parameterized noise model and the elimination of initial estimates. This reduces the computational cost significantly. The algorithm has been evaluated on 500 clinical images (7 patients, 20 sequences, 3 clinical sites), taken at ultra-low dose levels, i.e. 50% of the standard low dose level, during electrophysiology procedures. An average improvement in the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) by a factor of around 3.5 has been found. This is associated with an image quality achieved at around 12 (square of 3.5) times the ultra-low dose level. Qualitative evaluation by X-ray image quality experts suggests that the method produces denoised images that comply with the required image quality criteria. The results are consistent with the number of patches used, and they demonstrate that it is possible to use motion estimation techniques and "recycle" photons from previous frames to improve the image quality of the current frame. Our results are comparable in terms of CNR to Video Block Matching 3D-a state-of-the-art denoising method. But qualitative analysis by experts confirms that the denoised ultra-low dose X-ray images obtained using our method are more realistic with respect to appearance.

TRAP/SEE Code Users Manual for Predicting Trapped Radiation Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Armstrong, T. W.; Colborn, B. L.

2000-01-01

TRAP/SEE is a PC-based computer code with a user-friendly interface which predicts the ionizing radiation exposure of spacecraft having orbits in the Earth's trapped radiation belts. The code incorporates the standard AP8 and AE8 trapped proton and electron models but also allows application of an improved database interpolation method. The code treats low-Earth as well as highly-elliptical Earth orbits, taking into account trajectory perturbations due to gravitational forces from the Moon and Sun, atmospheric drag, and solar radiation pressure. Orbit-average spectra, peak spectra per orbit, and instantaneous spectra at points along the orbit trajectory are calculated. Described in this report are the features, models, model limitations and uncertainties, input and output descriptions, and example calculations and applications for the TRAP/SEE code.

Density of Trap States and Auger-mediated Electron Trapping in CdTe Quantum-Dot Solids.

PubMed

Boehme, Simon C; Azpiroz, Jon Mikel; Aulin, Yaroslav V; Grozema, Ferdinand C; Vanmaekelbergh, Daniël; Siebbeles, Laurens D A; Infante, Ivan; Houtepen, Arjan J

2015-05-13

Charge trapping is an ubiquitous process in colloidal quantum-dot solids and a major limitation to the efficiency of quantum dot based devices such as solar cells, LEDs, and thermoelectrics. Although empirical approaches led to a reduction of trapping and thereby efficiency enhancements, the exact chemical nature of the trapping mechanism remains largely unidentified. In this study, we determine the density of trap states in CdTe quantum-dot solids both experimentally, using a combination of electrochemical control of the Fermi level with ultrafast transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, and theoretically, via density functional theory calculations. We find a high density of very efficient electron traps centered ∼0.42 eV above the valence band. Electrochemical filling of these traps increases the electron lifetime and the photoluminescence quantum yield by more than an order of magnitude. The trapping rate constant for holes is an order of magnitude lower that for electrons. These observations can be explained by Auger-mediated electron trapping. From density functional theory calculations we infer that the traps are formed by dicoordinated Te atoms at the quantum dot surface. The combination of our unique experimental determination of the density of trap states with the theoretical modeling of the quantum dot surface allows us to identify the trapping mechanism and chemical reaction at play during charge trapping in these quantum dots.

Ultra-low density microcellular polymer foam and method

DOEpatents

Simandl, Ronald F.; Brown, John D.

1996-01-01

An ultra-low density, microcellular open-celled polymer foam and a method for making such foam. A polymer is dissolved in a heated solution consisting essentially of at least one solvent for the dissolution of the polymer in the heated solution and the phase inversion of the dissolved polymer to a liquid gel upon sufficient cooling of the heated solution. The heated solution is contained in a containment means provided with a nucleating promoting means having a relatively rough surface formed of fixed nucleating sites. The heated solution is cooled for a period of time sufficient to form a liquid gel of the polymer by phase inversion. From the gel, a porous foam having a density of less than about 12.0 mg/cm.sup.3 and open porosity provided by well interconnected strut morphology is formed.

Ultra-low density microcellular polymer foam and method

DOEpatents

Simandl, R.F.; Brown, J.D.

1996-03-19

An ultra-low density, microcellular open-celled polymer foam and a method for making such foam are disclosed. A polymer is dissolved in a heated solution consisting essentially of at least one solvent for the dissolution of the polymer in the heated solution and the phase inversion of the dissolved polymer to a liquid gel upon sufficient cooling of the heated solution. The heated solution is contained in a containment means provided with a nucleating promoting means having a relatively rough surface formed of fixed nucleating sites. The heated solution is cooled for a period of time sufficient to form a liquid gel of the polymer by phase inversion. From the gel, a porous foam having a density of less than about 12.0 mg/cm{sup 3} and open porosity provided by well interconnected strut morphology is formed.

Ultralow-field and spin-locking relaxation dispersion in postmortem pig brain.

PubMed

Dong, Hui; Hwang, Seong-Min; Wendland, Michael; You, Lixing; Clarke, John; Inglis, Ben

2017-12-01

To investigate tissue-specific differences, a quantitative comparison was made between relaxation dispersion in postmortem pig brain measured at ultralow fields (ULF) and spin locking at 7 tesla (T). The goal was to determine whether ULF-MRI has potential advantages for in vivo human brain imaging. Separate specimens of gray matter and white matter were investigated using an ULF-MRI system with superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) signal detection to measure T1ULF at fields from 58.7 to 235.0 μT and using a commercial MRI scanner to measure T1ρ7T at spin-locking fields from 5.0 to 235.0 μT. At matched field strengths, T1ρ7T is 50 to 100% longer than T1ULF. Furthermore, dispersion in T1ULF is close to linear between 58.7 and 235 µT, whereas dispersion in T1ρ7T is highly nonlinear over the same range. A subtle elbow in the T1ULF dispersion at approximately 140 µT is tentatively attributed to the local dipolar field of macromolecules. It is suggested that different relaxation mechanisms dominate each method and that ULF-MRI has a fundamentally different sensitivity to the macromolecular structure of neural tissue. Ultralow-field MRI may offer distinct, quantitative advantages for human brain imaging, while simultaneously avoiding the severe heating limitation imposed on high-field spin locking. Magn Reson Med 78:2342-2351, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Rotation of an optically trapped vaterite microsphere measured using rotational Doppler effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xinlin; Xiao, Guangzong; Xiong, Wei; Yang, Kaiyong; Luo, Hui; Yao, Baoli

2018-03-01

The angular velocity of a vaterite microsphere spinning in the optical trap is measured using rotational Doppler effect. The perfectly spherical vaterite microspheres are synthesized via coprecipitation in the presence of silk fibroin nanospheres. When trapped by a circularly polarized beam, the vaterite microsphere is uniformly rotated in the trap center. The probe beams containing two Laguerre-Gaussian beams of opposite topological charge l = ± 7, l = ± 8, and l = ± 9 are illuminated on the spinning vaterite. By analyzing the backscattered light, a frequency shift is observed scaling with the rotation rate of the vaterite microsphere. The multiplicative enhancement of the frequency shift proportion to the topological charge has greatly improved the measurement precision. The reliability and practicability of this approach are verified through varying the topological charge of the probe beam and the trapping laser power. In consideration of the excellent measurement precision of the rotation frequency, this technique might be generally applicable in studying the torsional properties of micro-objects.

Detecting trap states in planar PbS colloidal quantum dot solar cells

PubMed Central

Jin, Zhiwen; Wang, Aiji; Zhou, Qing; Wang, Yinshu; Wang, Jizheng

2016-01-01

The recently developed planar architecture (ITO/ZnO/PbS-TBAI/PbS-EDT/Au) has greatly improved the power conversion efficiency of colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics (QDPVs). However, the performance is still far below the theoretical expectations and trap states in the PbS-TBAI film are believed to be the major origin, characterization and understanding of the traps are highly demanded to develop strategies for continued performance improvement. Here employing impedance spectroscopy we detect trap states in the planar PbS QDPVs. We determined a trap state of about 0.34 eV below the conduction band with a density of around 3.2 × 1016 cm−3 eV−1. Temperature dependent open-circuit voltage analysis, temperature dependent diode property analysis and temperature dependent build-in potential analysis consistently denotes an below-bandgap activation energy of about 1.17–1.20 eV. PMID:27845392

Power-gated 32 bit microprocessor with a power controller circuit activated by deep-sleep-mode instruction achieving ultra-low power operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koike, Hiroki; Ohsawa, Takashi; Miura, Sadahiko; Honjo, Hiroaki; Ikeda, Shoji; Hanyu, Takahiro; Ohno, Hideo; Endoh, Tetsuo

2015-04-01

A spintronic-based power-gated micro-processing unit (MPU) is proposed. It includes a power control circuit activated by the newly supported power-off instruction for the deep-sleep mode. These means enable the power-off procedure for the MPU to be executed appropriately. A test chip was designed and fabricated using 90 nm CMOS and an additional 100 nm MTJ process; it was successfully operated. The guideline of the energy reduction effects for this MPU was presented, using the estimation based on the measurement results of the test chip. The result shows that a large operation energy reduction of 1/28 can be achieved when the operation duty is 10%, under the condition of a sufficient number of idle clock cycles.

A versatile strategy for gene trapping and trap conversion in emerging model organisms.

PubMed

Kontarakis, Zacharias; Pavlopoulos, Anastasios; Kiupakis, Alexandros; Konstantinides, Nikolaos; Douris, Vassilis; Averof, Michalis

2011-06-01

Genetic model organisms such as Drosophila, C. elegans and the mouse provide formidable tools for studying mechanisms of development, physiology and behaviour. Established models alone, however, allow us to survey only a tiny fraction of the morphological and functional diversity present in the animal kingdom. Here, we present iTRAC, a versatile gene-trapping approach that combines the implementation of unbiased genetic screens with the generation of sophisticated genetic tools both in established and emerging model organisms. The approach utilises an exon-trapping transposon vector that carries an integrase docking site, allowing the targeted integration of new constructs into trapped loci. We provide proof of principle for iTRAC in the emerging model crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis: we generate traps that allow specific developmental and physiological processes to be visualised in unparalleled detail, we show that trapped genes can be easily cloned from an unsequenced genome, and we demonstrate targeting of new constructs into a trapped locus. Using this approach, gene traps can serve as platforms for generating diverse reporters, drivers for tissue-specific expression, gene knockdown and other genetic tools not yet imagined.

Trap efficiency of reservoirs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brune, Gunnar M.

1953-01-01

Forty-four records of reservoir trap efficiency and the factors affecting trap efficiency are analyzed. The capacity-inflow (C/I) ratio is found to offer a much closer correlation with trap efficiency than the capacity-watershed (C/W) ratio heretofore widely used. It appears likely from the cases studied that accurate timing of venting or sluicing operations to intercept gravity underflows can treble or quadruple the amount of sediment discharged from a reservoir. Desilting basins, because of their shape and method of operation, may have trap efficiencies above 90 pct even with very low C/I ratios.Semi-dry reservoirs with high C/I ratios, like John Martin Reservoir, may have trap efficiencies as low as 60 pct. Truly “dry” reservoirs, such as those in the Miami Conservancy District, probably have trap efficiencies in the 10 to 40 pct range, depending upon C/I ratio

A horizontally polarizing liquid trap enhances the tabanid-capturing efficiency of the classic canopy trap.

PubMed

Egri, Á; Blahó, M; Száz, D; Kriska, G; Majer, J; Herczeg, T; Gyurkovszky, M; Farkas, R; Horváth, G

2013-12-01

Host-seeking female tabanid flies, that need mammalian blood for the development of their eggs, can be captured by the classic canopy trap with an elevated shiny black sphere as a luring visual target. The design of more efficient tabanid traps is important for stock-breeders to control tabanids, since these blood-sucking insects can cause severe problems for livestock, especially for horse- and cattle-keepers: reduced meat/milk production in cattle farms, horses cannot be ridden, decreased quality of hides due to biting scars. We show here that male and female tabanids can be caught by a novel, weather-proof liquid-filled black tray laid on the ground, because the strongly and horizontally polarized light reflected from the black liquid surface attracts water-seeking polarotactic tabanids. We performed field experiments to reveal the ideal elevation of the liquid trap and to compare the tabanid-capturing efficiency of three different traps: (1) the classic canopy trap, (2) the new polarization liquid trap, and (3) the combination of the two traps. In field tests, we showed that the combined trap captures 2.4-8.2 times more tabanids than the canopy trap alone. The reason for the larger efficiency of the combined trap is that it captures simultaneously the host-seeking female and the water-seeking male and female tabanids. We suggest supplementing the traditional canopy trap with the new liquid trap in order to enhance the tabanid-capturing efficiency.

The Heidelberg compact electron beam ion traps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micke, P.; Kühn, S.; Buchauer, L.; Harries, J. R.; Bücking, T. M.; Blaum, K.; Cieluch, A.; Egl, A.; Hollain, D.; Kraemer, S.; Pfeifer, T.; Schmidt, P. O.; Schüssler, R. X.; Schweiger, Ch.; Stöhlker, T.; Sturm, S.; Wolf, R. N.; Bernitt, S.; Crespo López-Urrutia, J. R.

2018-06-01

Electron beam ion traps (EBITs) are ideal tools for both production and study of highly charged ions (HCIs). In order to reduce their construction, maintenance, and operation costs, we have developed a novel, compact, room-temperature design, the Heidelberg Compact EBIT (HC-EBIT). Four already commissioned devices operate at the strongest fields (up to 0.86 T) reported for such EBITs using permanent magnets, run electron beam currents up to 80 mA, and energies up to 10 keV. They demonstrate HCI production, trapping, and extraction of pulsed Ar16+ bunches and continuous 100 pA ion beams of highly charged Xe up to charge state 29+, already with a 4 mA, 2 keV electron beam. Moreover, HC-EBITs offer large solid-angle ports and thus high photon count rates, e.g., in x-ray spectroscopy of dielectronic recombination in HCIs up to Fe24+, achieving an electron-energy resolving power of E/ΔE > 1500 at 5 keV. Besides traditional on-axis electron guns, we have also implemented a novel off-axis gun for laser, synchrotron, and free-electron laser applications, offering clear optical access along the trap axis. We report on its first operation at a synchrotron radiation facility demonstrating the resonant photoexcitation of highly charged oxygen.

Ultrafine PM emissions from natural gas, oxidation-catalyst diesel, and particle-trap diesel heavy-duty transit buses.

PubMed

Holmén, Britt A; Ayala, Alberto

2002-12-01

This paper addresses how current technologies effective for reducing PM emissions of heavy-duty engines may affect the physical characteristics of the particles emitted. Three in-use transit bus configurations were compared in terms of submicron particle size distributions using simultaneous SMPS measurements under two dilution conditions, a minidiluter and the legislated constant volume sampler (CVS). The compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled and diesel particulate filter (DPF)-equipped diesel configurations are two "green" alternatives to conventional diesel engines. The CNG bus in this study did not have an oxidation catalyst whereas the diesel configurations (with and without particulate filter) employed catalysts. The DPF was a continuously regenerating trap (CRT). Particle size distributions were collected between 6 and 237 nm using 2-minute SMPS scans during idle and 55 mph steady-state cruise operation. Average particle size distributions collected during idle operation of the diesel baseline bus operating on ultralow sulfur fuel showed evidence for nanoparticle growth under CVS dilution conditions relative to the minidiluter. The CRT effectively reduced both accumulation and nuclei mode concentrations by factors of 10-100 except under CVS dilution conditions where nuclei mode concentrations were measured during 55 mph steady-state cruise that exceeded baseline diesel concentrations. The CVS data suggest some variability in trap performance. The CNG bus had accumulation mode concentrations 10-100x lower than the diesel baseline but often displayed large nuclei modes, especially under CVS dilution conditions. Partly this may be explained by the lack of an oxidation catalyst on the CNG, but differences between the minidiluter and CVS size distributions suggest that dilution ratio, temperature-related wall interactions, and differences in tunnel background between the diluters contributed to creating nanoparticle concentrations that sometimes exceeded diesel

Design and fabrication of micro-hotplates made on a polyimide foil: electrothermal simulation and characterization to achieve power consumption in the low mW range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Courbat, J.; Canonica, M.; Teyssieux, D.; Briand, D.; de Rooij, N. F.

2011-01-01

The design of ultra-low power micro-hotplates on a polyimide (PI) substrate supported by thermal simulations and characterization is presented. By establishing a method for the thermal simulation of very small scale heating elements, the goal of this study was to decrease the power consumption of PI micro-hotplates to a few milliwatts to make them suitable for very low power applications. To this end, the mean heat transfer coefficients in air of the devices were extracted by finite element analysis combined with very precise thermographic measurements. A simulation model was implemented for these hotplates to investigate both the influence of their downscaling and the bulk micromachining of the polyimide substrate to lower their power consumptions. Simulations were in very good agreement with the experimental results. The main parameters influencing significantly the power consumption at such dimensions were identified and guidelines were defined allowing the design of very small (15 × 15 µm) and ultra-low power heating elements (6 mW at 300 °C). These very low power heating structures enable the realization of flexible sensors, such as gas, flow or wind sensors, for applications in autonomous wireless sensors networks or RFID applications and make them compatible with large-scale production on foil such as roll-to-roll or printing processes.

Observation of a single-beam gradient-force optical trap for dielectric particles in air.

PubMed

Omori, R; Kobayashi, T; Suzuki, A

1997-06-01

A single-beam gradient-force optical trap for dielectric particles, which relies solely on the radiation pressure force of a TEM(00)-mode laser light, is demonstrated in air for what is believed to be the first time. It was observed that micrometer-sized glass spheres with a refractive index of n=1.45 remained trapped in the focus region for more than 30 min, and we could transfer them three dimensionally by moving the beam focus and the microscope stage. A laser power of ~40 mW was sufficient to trap a 5- microm -diameter glass sphere. The present method has several distinct advantages over the conventional optical levitation method.

Trapping in scale-free networks with hierarchical organization of modularity.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhongzhi; Lin, Yuan; Gao, Shuyang; Zhou, Shuigeng; Guan, Jihong; Li, Mo

2009-11-01

A wide variety of real-life networks share two remarkable generic topological properties: scale-free behavior and modular organization, and it is natural and important to study how these two features affect the dynamical processes taking place on such networks. In this paper, we investigate a simple stochastic process--trapping problem, a random walk with a perfect trap fixed at a given location, performed on a family of hierarchical networks that exhibit simultaneously striking scale-free and modular structure. We focus on a particular case with the immobile trap positioned at the hub node having the largest degree. Using a method based on generating functions, we determine explicitly the mean first-passage time (MFPT) for the trapping problem, which is the mean of the node-to-trap first-passage time over the entire network. The exact expression for the MFPT is calculated through the recurrence relations derived from the special construction of the hierarchical networks. The obtained rigorous formula corroborated by extensive direct numerical calculations exhibits that the MFPT grows algebraically with the network order. Concretely, the MFPT increases as a power-law function of the number of nodes with the exponent much less than 1. We demonstrate that the hierarchical networks under consideration have more efficient structure for transport by diffusion in contrast with other analytically soluble media including some previously studied scale-free networks. We argue that the scale-free and modular topologies are responsible for the high efficiency of the trapping process on the hierarchical networks.

Surface-electrode point Paul trap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Tony Hyun; Herskind, Peter F.; Chuang, Isaac L.

2010-10-15

We present a model as well as experimental results for a surface electrode radiofrequency Paul trap that has a circular electrode geometry well suited for trapping single ions and two-dimensional planar ion crystals. The trap design is compatible with microfabrication and offers a simple method by which the height of the trapped ions above the surface may be changed in situ. We demonstrate trapping of single {sup 88}Sr{sup +} ions over an ion height range of 200-1000 {mu}m for several hours under Doppler laser cooling and use these to characterize the trap, finding good agreement with our model.

Avalanches and plasticity for colloids in a time dependent optical trap

DOE PAGES

Olson Reichhardt, Cynthia Jane; McDermott, Danielle Marie; Reichhardt, Charles

2015-08-25

Here, with the use of optical traps it is possible to confine assemblies of colloidal particles in two-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional arrays. Here we examine how colloidal particles rearrange in a quasi-one-dimensional trap with a time dependent confining potential. The particle motion occurs both through slow elastic uniaxial distortions as well as through abrupt large-scale two-dimensional avalanches associated with plastic rearrangements. During the avalanches the particle velocity distributions extend over a broad range and can be fit to a power law consistent with other studies of plastic events mediated by dislocations.

Acquisition, preprocessing, and reconstruction of ultralow dose volumetric CT scout for organ-based CT scan planning

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yin, Zhye, E-mail: yin@ge.com; De Man, Bruno; Yao, Yangyang

Purpose: Traditionally, 2D radiographic preparatory scan images (scout scans) are used to plan diagnostic CT scans. However, a 3D CT volume with a full 3D organ segmentation map could provide superior information for customized scan planning and other purposes. A practical challenge is to design the volumetric scout acquisition and processing steps to provide good image quality (at least good enough to enable 3D organ segmentation) while delivering a radiation dose similar to that of the conventional 2D scout. Methods: The authors explored various acquisition methods, scan parameters, postprocessing methods, and reconstruction methods through simulation and cadaver data studies tomore » achieve an ultralow dose 3D scout while simultaneously reducing the noise and maintaining the edge strength around the target organ. Results: In a simulation study, the 3D scout with the proposed acquisition, preprocessing, and reconstruction strategy provided a similar level of organ segmentation capability as a traditional 240 mAs diagnostic scan, based on noise and normalized edge strength metrics. At the same time, the proposed approach delivers only 1.25% of the dose of a traditional scan. In a cadaver study, the authors’ pictorial-structures based organ localization algorithm successfully located the major abdominal-thoracic organs from the ultralow dose 3D scout obtained with the proposed strategy. Conclusions: The authors demonstrated that images with a similar degree of segmentation capability (interpretability) as conventional dose CT scans can be achieved with an ultralow dose 3D scout acquisition and suitable postprocessing. Furthermore, the authors applied these techniques to real cadaver CT scans with a CTDI dose level of less than 0.1 mGy and successfully generated a 3D organ localization map.« less

Ecological and evolutionary traps

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schlaepfer, Martin A.; Runge, M.C.; Sherman, P.W.

2002-01-01

Organisms often rely on environmental cues to make behavioral and life-history decisions. However, in environments that have been altered suddenly by humans, formerly reliable cues might no longer be associated with adaptive outcomes. In such cases, organisms can become 'trapped' by their evolutionary responses to the cues and experience reduced survival or reproduction. Ecological traps occur when organisms make poor habitat choices based on cues that correlated formerly with habitat quality. Ecological traps are part of a broader phenomenon, evolutionary traps, involving a dissociation between cues that organisms use to make any behavioral or life-history decision and outcomes normally associated with that decision. A trap can lead to extinction if a population falls below a critical size threshold before adaptation to the novel environment occurs. Conservation and management protocols must be designed in light of, rather than in spite of, the behavioral mechanisms and evolutionary history of populations and species to avoid 'trapping' them.

[Trapping techniques for Solenopsis invicta].

PubMed

Liang, Xiao-song; Zhang, Qiang; Zhuang, Yiong-lin; Li, Gui-wen; Ji, Lin-peng; Wang, Jian-guo; Dai, Hua-guo

2007-06-01

A field study was made to investigate the trapping effects of different attractants, traps, and wind directions on Solenopsis invicta. The results showed that among the test attractants, TB1 (50 g fishmeal, 40 g peptone, 10 ml 10% sucrose water solution and 20 ml soybean oil) had the best effect, followed by TB2 (ham), TB6 (100 g cornmeal and 20 ml soybean oil) and TB4 (10 ml 10% sucrose water solution, 100 g sugarcane powder and 20 ml soybean oil), with a mean capture efficiency being 77.6, 58.7, 29 and 7.7 individuals per trap, respectively. No S. invicta was trapped with TB3 (10 ml 10% sucrose water solution, 100 g cornmeal and 20 ml soybean oil) and TB5 (honey). Tube trap was superior to dish trap, with a trapping efficiency of 75.2 and 35 individuals per trap, respectively. The attractants had better effects in leeward than in windward.

Experiments to trap dust particles by a wire simulating an electron beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saeki, Hiroshi; Momose, Takashi; Ishimaru, Hajime

1991-11-01

Motion of trapped dust particles has been previously analyzed using high-energy bremsstrahlung data obtained during dust trapping in the TRISTAN accumulation ring. Because it is difficult to observe the actual motions of dust particles trapped in an electron beam due to the strong synchrotron light background, we carried out experiments to trap sample dust particles with a Cu wire simulating an electron beam. A negative potential was slowly applied to the wire using a high voltage dc power supply. Motions of dust particles trapped by the wire were recorded with a video camera system. In an experiment using a Cu wire (1.5 mm in diameter) with no magnetic field, the charged dust particle made vertical oscillation about the wire. In another experiment using the same wire but with a vertical magnetic field (0.135 T) simulating a bending magnetic field, both vertical and horizontal oscillating motions perpendicular to the wire were observed. Furthermore, it was found that the dust particle moved in the longitudinal direction of the wire in the bending magnetic field. Therefore, it is expected that charged dust particles trapped by the electric field of the electron beam oscillate vertically where there is no magnetic field in the TRISTAN accumulation ring. It is also expected that trapped dust particles where there is a bending magnetic field oscillate horizontally and vertically as the particle drifts in a longitudinal direction along the ring.

Effect of bait quantity and trap color on the trapping efficacy of the pheromone trap for the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.

PubMed

Abuagla, Abdullah Mohamed; Al-Deeb, Mohammad Ali

2012-01-01

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Curculionidae: Coleoptera), is not native to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since its arrival in 1985, it has been causing major damage to date palm trees. A primary control strategy has been the use of pheromone baited traps. The objectives of this study were to determine the quantity of bait, and the best trap color, to obtain the maximum catch of R. ferrugineus under field conditions in the UAE. Traps with 100, 300, or 500 g of dates as bait collected the same number of R. ferrugineus adults. Captures in black traps were significantly higher than captures in red, yellow, or white traps. Thus, using a black pheromone trap containing 100 g of dates can significantly enhance R. ferrugineus control efforts, and can help considerably in reducing the red palm weevil's deleterious impact on date palm production in UAE.

Optical lattice clock with atoms confined in a shallow trap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lemonde, Pierre; Wolf, Peter; Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Pavillon de Breteuil, 92312 Sevres Cedex

2005-09-15

We study the trap depth requirement for the realization of an optical clock using atoms confined in a lattice. We show that site-to-site tunneling leads to a residual sensitivity to the atom dynamics hence requiring large depths [(50-100)E{sub r} for Sr] to avoid any frequency shift or line broadening of the atomic transition at the 10{sup -17}-10{sup -18} level. Such large depths and the corresponding laser power may, however, lead to difficulties (e.g., higher-order light shifts, two-photon ionization, technical difficulties) and therefore one would like to operate the clock in much shallower traps. To circumvent this problem we propose themore » use of an accelerated lattice. Acceleration lifts the degeneracy between adjacents potential wells which strongly inhibits tunneling. We show that using the Earth's gravity, much shallower traps (down to 5E{sub r} for Sr) can be used for the same accuracy goal.« less

Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction-V: Impact on Image Quality in Ultralow-Dose Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

PubMed

Benz, Dominik C; Gräni, Christoph; Mikulicic, Fran; Vontobel, Jan; Fuchs, Tobias A; Possner, Mathias; Clerc, Olivier F; Stehli, Julia; Gaemperli, Oliver; Pazhenkottil, Aju P; Buechel, Ronny R; Kaufmann, Philipp A

The clinical utility of a latest generation iterative reconstruction algorithm (adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction [ASiR-V]) has yet to be elucidated for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). This study evaluates the impact of ASiR-V on signal, noise and image quality in CCTA. Sixty-five patients underwent clinically indicated CCTA on a 256-slice CT scanner using an ultralow-dose protocol. Data sets from each patient were reconstructed at 6 different levels of ASiR-V. Signal intensity was measured by placing a region of interest in the aortic root, LMA, and RCA. Similarly, noise was measured in the aortic root. Image quality was visually assessed by 2 readers. Median radiation dose was 0.49 mSv. Image noise decreased with increasing levels of ASiR-V resulting in a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio in the RCA and LMA (P < 0.001). Correspondingly, image quality significantly increased with higher levels of ASiR-V (P < 0.001). ASiR-V yields substantial noise reduction and improved image quality enabling introduction of ultralow-dose CCTA.

Evaluation of trapping-web designs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lukacs, P.M.; Anderson, D.R.; Burnham, K.P.

2005-01-01

The trapping web is a method for estimating the density and abundance of animal populations. A Monte Carlo simulation study is performed to explore performance of the trapping web for estimating animal density under a variety of web designs and animal behaviours. The trapping performs well when animals have home ranges, even if the home ranges are large relative to trap spacing. Webs should contain at least 90 traps. Trapping should continue for 5-7 occasions. Movement rates have little impact on density estimates when animals are confined to home ranges. Estimation is poor when animals do not have home ranges and movement rates are rapid. The trapping web is useful for estimating the density of animals that are hard to detect and occur at potentially low densities. ?? CSIRO 2005.

Lean NOx Trap Catalysis for Lean Natural Gas Engine Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parks, II, James E; Storey, John Morse; Theiss, Timothy J

the efficiency and emissions of natural gas reciprocating engines are being pursued. Approaches include: stoichiometric engine operation with exhaust gas recirculation and three-way catalysis, advanced combustion modes such as homogeneous charge compression ignition, and extension of the lean combustion limit with advanced ignition concepts and/or hydrogen mixing. The research presented here addresses the technical approach of combining efficient lean spark-ignited natural gas combustion with low emissions obtained from a lean NOx trap catalyst aftertreatment system. This approach can be applied to current lean engine technology or advanced lean engines that may result from related efforts in lean limit extension. Furthermore, the lean NOx trap technology has synergy with hydrogen-assisted lean limit extension since hydrogen is produced from natural gas during the lean NOx trap catalyst system process. The approach is also applicable to other lean engines such as diesel engines, natural gas turbines, and lean gasoline engines; other research activities have focused on those applications. Some commercialization of the technology has occurred for automotive applications (both diesel and lean gasoline engine vehicles) and natural gas turbines for stationary power. The research here specifically addresses barriers to commercialization of the technology for large lean natural gas reciprocating engines for stationary power. The report presented here is a comprehensive collection of research conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on lean NOx trap catalysis for lean natural gas reciprocating engines. The research was performed in the Department of Energy's ARES program from 2003 to 2007 and covers several aspects of the technology. All studies were conducted at ORNL on a Cummins C8.3G+ natural gas engine chosen based on industry input to simulate large lean natural gas engines. Specific technical areas addressed by the research include: NOx reduction efficiency

Ultra-low power, highly uniform polymer memory by inserted multilayer graphene electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Byung Chul; Seong, Hyejeong; Kim, Jong Yun; Koo, Beom Jun; Kim, Sung Kyu; Yang, Sang Yoon; Gap Im, Sung; Choi, Sung-Yool

2015-12-01

Filament type resistive random access memory (RRAM) based on polymer thin films is a promising device for next generation, flexible nonvolatile memory. However, the resistive switching nonuniformity and the high power consumption found in the general filament type RRAM devices present critical issues for practical memory applications. Here, we introduce a novel approach not only to reduce the power consumption but also to improve the resistive switching uniformity in RRAM devices based on poly(1,3,5-trimethyl-3,4,5-trivinyl cyclotrisiloxane) by inserting multilayer graphene (MLG) at the electrode/polymer interface. The resistive switching uniformity was thereby significantly improved, and the power consumption was markedly reduced by 250 times. Furthermore, the inserted MLG film enabled a transition of the resistive switching operation from unipolar resistive switching to bipolar resistive switching and induced self-compliance behavior. The findings of this study can pave the way toward a new area of application for graphene in electronic devices.

Examination of cryogenic filters for multistage RF filtering in ultralow temperature experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zavyalov, V. V.; Chernyaev, S. A.; Shein, K. V.; Shukaleva, A. G.; Arutyunov, K. Yu

2018-03-01

Cryo-filters are essential while studying electronic properties of nanoscale structures at very low temperatures. In this report we present the simple measuring methodology and experimental impedance characteristics of customized lumped filters cooled down to 4.2K in the 10 Hz-500 MHz frequency range. In particular, we tested the home-made permalloy-core RL filters, the MurataTMChip Ferrite Bead filter, and the ToshibaTMAmobeadsTMcores. We use the high-frequency generalization of four-terminal sensing method to account for the wiring retardation effects, which are important when working with ultralow temperature systems.

Renal calculi in pregnancy? The role of ultralow-dose CT

PubMed Central

Nash, Zachary; Mascarenhas, Lawrence

2013-01-01

Presented is a case of an acute, right flank, loin to groin pain in the third trimester of an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy. Renal calculi was suspected clinically and supported by radiological evidence. Temporising treatment was undertaken successfully by retrograde ureteric stenting, which became blocked, secondarily resulting in a percutaneous nephrostomy. Good symptomatic control was achieved before the delivery at 38 weeks and 1 day gestation. Postpartum intravenous urogram and ureteroscopy did not reveal evidence of calculi. The patient does not recall passing a stone. With existing diagnostic modalities having poor sensitivity and specificity, the clinical role of ultralow-dose CT is explored, in light of recent new evidence. PMID:23729704

Note: Expanding the bandwidth of the ultra-low current amplifier using an artificial negative capacitor.

PubMed

Xie, Kai; Liu, Yan; Li, XiaoPing; Guo, Lixin; Zhang, Hanlu

2016-04-01

The bandwidth and low noise characteristics are often contradictory in ultra-low current amplifier, because an inevitable parasitic capacitance is paralleled with the high value feedback resistor. In order to expand the amplifier's bandwidth, a novel approach was proposed by introducing an artificial negative capacitor to cancel the parasitic capacitance. The theory of the negative capacitance and the performance of the improved amplifier circuit with the negative capacitor are presented in this manuscript. The test was conducted by modifying an ultra-low current amplifier with a trans-impedance gain of 50 GΩ. The results show that the maximum bandwidth was expanded from 18.7 Hz to 3.3 kHz with more than 150 times of increase when the parasitic capacitance (∼0.17 pF) was cancelled. Meanwhile, the rise time decreased from 18.7 ms to 0.26 ms with no overshot. Any desired bandwidth or rise time within these ranges can be obtained by adjusting the ratio of cancellation of the parasitic and negative capacitance. This approach is especially suitable for the demand of rapid response to weak current, such as transient ion-beam detector, mass spectrometry analysis, and fast scanning microscope.

Non-invasive paper-based microfluidic device for ultra-low detection of urea through enzyme catalysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suresh, Vignesh; Qunya, Ong; Kanta, Bera Lakshmi; Yuh, Lee Yeong; Chong, Karen S. L.

2018-03-01

This work describes the design, fabrication and characterization of a paper-based microfluidic device for ultra-low detection of urea through enzyme catalysis. The microfluidic system comprises an entry port, a fluidic channel, a reaction zone and two electrodes (contacts). Wax printing was used to create fluidic channels on the surface of a chromatography paper. Pre-conceptualized designs of the fluidic channel are wax-printed on the paper substrate while the electrodes are screen-printed. The paper printed with wax is heated to cause the wax reflow along the thickness of the paper that selectively creates hydrophilic and hydrophobic zones inside the paper. Urease immobilized in the reaction zone catalyses urea into releasing ions and, thereby, generating a current flow between the electrodes. A measure of current with respect to time at a fixed potential enables the detection of urea. The methodology enabled urea concentration down to 1 pM to be detected. The significance of this work lies in the use of simple and inexpensive paper-based substrates to achieve detection of ultra-low concentrations of analytes such as urea. The process is non-invasive and employs a less cumbersome two-electrode assembly.

Precise and low-cost monitoring of plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) pest activity in pyramid traps with cameras.

PubMed

Selby, R D; Gage, S H; Whalon, M E

2014-04-01

Incorporating camera systems into insect traps potentially benefits insect phenology modeling, nonlethal insect monitoring, and research into the automated identification of traps counts. Cameras originally for monitoring mammals were instead adapted to monitor the entrance to pyramid traps designed to capture the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Using released curculios, two new trap designs (v.I and v.II) were field-tested alongside conventional pyramid traps at one site in autumn 2010 and at four sites in autumn 2012. The traps were evaluated on the basis of battery power, ease-of-maintenance, adaptability, required-user-skills, cost (including labor), and accuracy-of-results. The v.II design fully surpassed expectations, except that some trapped curculios were not photographed. In 2012, 13 of the 24 traps recorded every curculio entering the traps during the 18-d study period, and in traps where some curculios were not photographed, over 90% of the omissions could be explained by component failure or external interference with the motion sensor. Significantly more curculios entered the camera traps between 1800 and 0000 hours. When compared with conventional pyramid traps, the v.I traps collected a similar number of curculios. Two observed but not significant trends were that the v.I traps collected twice as many plum curculios as the v.II traps, while at the same time the v.II traps collected more than twice as many photos per plum curculio as the v.I traps. The research demonstrates that low-cost, precise monitoring of field insect populations is feasible without requiring extensive technical expertise.

Optical Trapping-Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy System for Single Aerosol Particle Measurements

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-02-17

ADDRESS (ES) U.S. Army Research Office P.O. Box 12211 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211 Final Report REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 11. SPONSOR...focused 532 nm laser ( Bermuda grass smut spores, horizontal illumination at power of 4.5 mW, focus length = 10 mm, UV quartz cuvette is from Starna...Cells, Inc.) (b) Single bioaerosol particles trapped using a focused 405 nm laser ( Bermuda grass smut spores, upward illumination at power of 2.0

Perineal pseudocontinent colostomy for ultra-low rectal adenocarcinoma: the muscular graft as a pseudosphincter.

PubMed

Souadka, Amine; Majbar, Mohammed Anass; Amrani, Laila; Souadka, Abdelilah

2016-10-01

The aim of this study was to analyze objectively the role of the muscular graft in the continence using manometric study in the patients who underwent pseudocontinent perineal colostomy after abdominoperineal resection for rectal adenocarcinoma. This was a retrospective study including all the patients from January 2002 to December 2009 who underwent an abdominoperineal resection followed by perineal pseudocontinent colostomy for ultra-low rectal adenocarcinoma and agreed to perform the manometric evaluation of the muscular graft. Fifteen patients were included, six males and nine females, with a mean age of 50 years. According to Kirwan's classification, 2 (13.3%) patients had normal continence (Stage A) had 10 (66.6%) no soiling (stage B) and 3 (20%) patients had minimal soiling (Stage C). The manometric evaluation was performed after a median period of 12 months post-surgery. The mean maximal resting and squeeze pressures were respectively 41 cmH2O and 59 cmH2O and the mean colonic sensory volume was 12 ml. This study showed that the musculae graft of Pseudocontinent Perineal colostomy acted as a hypotonic sphincter that pressure can increase during the voluntary squeeze. These data may help to clarify the functional outcomes of this technique after APR for ultra-low rectal adenocarcinoma.

ERASE-Seq: Leveraging replicate measurements to enhance ultralow frequency variant detection in NGS data

PubMed Central

Kamps-Hughes, Nick; McUsic, Andrew; Kurihara, Laurie; Harkins, Timothy T.; Pal, Prithwish; Ray, Claire

2018-01-01

The accurate detection of ultralow allele frequency variants in DNA samples is of interest in both research and medical settings, particularly in liquid biopsies where cancer mutational status is monitored from circulating DNA. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies employing molecular barcoding have shown promise but significant sensitivity and specificity improvements are still needed to detect mutations in a majority of patients before the metastatic stage. To address this we present analytical validation data for ERASE-Seq (Elimination of Recurrent Artifacts and Stochastic Errors), a method for accurate and sensitive detection of ultralow frequency DNA variants in NGS data. ERASE-Seq differs from previous methods by creating a robust statistical framework to utilize technical replicates in conjunction with background error modeling, providing a 10 to 100-fold reduction in false positive rates compared to published molecular barcoding methods. ERASE-Seq was tested using spiked human DNA mixtures with clinically realistic DNA input quantities to detect SNVs and indels between 0.05% and 1% allele frequency, the range commonly found in liquid biopsy samples. Variants were detected with greater than 90% sensitivity and a false positive rate below 0.1 calls per 10,000 possible variants. The approach represents a significant performance improvement compared to molecular barcoding methods and does not require changing molecular reagents. PMID:29630678

ECCENTRICITY TRAP: TRAPPING OF RESONANTLY INTERACTING PLANETS NEAR THE DISK INNER EDGE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ogihara, Masahiro; Ida, Shigeru; Duncan, Martin J., E-mail: ogihara@geo.titech.ac.j, E-mail: ida@geo.titech.ac.j, E-mail: duncan@astro.queensu.c

2010-10-01

Using orbital integration and analytical arguments, we have found a new mechanism (an 'eccentricity trap') to halt type I migration of planets near the inner edge of a protoplanetary disk. Because asymmetric eccentricity damping due to disk-planet interaction on the innermost planet at the disk edge plays a crucial role in the trap, this mechanism requires continuous eccentricity excitation and hence works for a resonantly interacting convoy of planets. This trap is so strong that the edge torque exerted on the innermost planet can completely halt type I migrations of many outer planets through mutual resonant perturbations. Consequently, the convoymore » stays outside the disk edge, as a whole. We have derived a semi-analytical formula for the condition for the eccentricity trap and predict how many planets are likely to be trapped. We found that several planets or more should be trapped by this mechanism in protoplanetary disks that have cavities. It can be responsible for the formation of non-resonant, multiple, close-in super-Earth systems extending beyond 0.1 AU. Such systems are being revealed by radial velocity observations to be quite common around solar-type stars.« less

A Low-Power CMOS Front-End for Photoplethysmographic Signal Acquisition With Robust DC Photocurrent Rejection.

PubMed

Wong, A K Y; Kong-Pang Pun; Yuan-Ting Zhang; Ka Nang Leung

2008-12-01

A micro-power CMOS front-end, consisting of a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and an ultralow cutoff frequency lowpass filter for the acquisition of photoplethysmographic signal (PPG) is presented. Robust DC photocurrent rejection for the pulsed signal source is achieved through a sample-and-hold stage in the feed-forward signal path and an error amplifier in the feedback path. Ultra-low cutoff frequency of the filter is achieved with a proposed technique that incorporates a pair of current-steering transistors that increases the effective filter capacitance. The design was realized in a 0.35-mum CMOS technology. It consumes 600 muW at 2.5 V, rejects DC photocurrent ranged from 100 nA to 53.6 muA, and achieves lower-band and upper-band - 3-dB cutoff frequencies of 0.46 and 2.8 Hz, respectively.

Secretion Trap Tagging of Secreted and Membrane-Spanning Proteins Using Arabidopsis Gene Traps

Treesearch

Andrew T. Groover; Joseph R. Fontana; Juana M. Arroyo; Cristina Yordan; W. Richard McCombie; Robert A. Martienssen

2003-01-01

Secreted and membrane-spanning proteins play fundamental roles in plant development but pose challenges for genetic identification and characterization. We describe a "secretion trap" screen for gene trap insertions in genes encoding proteins routed through the secretory pathway. The gene trap transposon encodes a ß-glucuronidase reporter enzyme...

Optical trapping via guided resonance modes in a Slot-Suzuki-phase photonic crystal lattice.

PubMed

Ma, Jing; Martínez, Luis Javier; Povinelli, Michelle L

2012-03-12

A novel photonic crystal lattice is proposed for trapping a two-dimensional array of particles. The lattice is created by introducing a rectangular slot in each unit cell of the Suzuki-Phase lattice to enhance the light confinement of guided resonance modes. Large quality factors on the order of 10⁵ are predicted in the lattice. A significant decrease of the optical power required for optical trapping can be achieved compared to our previous design.

Volatile Release From The Siberian Traps Inferred From Melt Inclusions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Black, Benjamin A.; Elkins-Tanton, Linda T.; Rowe, Michael C.; Ukstins Peate, Ingrid

2010-05-01

concentrations in the range of one weight percent. Visscher et al. (2004) proposed that chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFCs) may have played a major role in the terrestrial end-Permian extinction. These CFCs are powerful catalysts for the breakdown of ozone, a process which can expose the biosphere to increased ultraviolet radiation. Measurements of elevated chlorine and fluorine from the Siberian Traps may thus provide a concrete source for CFCs that could have triggered this kill mechanism.

Optical trapping and Raman spectroscopy of single nanostructures using standing-wave Raman tweezers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Mu-ying; He, Lin; Chen, Gui-hua; Yang, Guang; Li, Yong-qing

2017-08-01

Optical tweezers integrated with Raman spectroscopy allows analyzing a single trapped micro-particle, but is generally less effective for individual nano-sized objects in the 10-100 nm range. The main challenge is the weak gradient force on nanoparticles that is insufficient to overcome the destabilizing effect of scattering force and Brownian motion. Here, we present standing-wave Raman tweezers for stable trapping and sensitive characterization of single isolated nanostructures with a low laser power by combining a standing-wave optical trap (SWOT) with confocal Raman spectroscopy. This scheme has stronger intensity gradients and balanced scattering forces, and thus is more stable and sensitive in measuring nanoparticles in liquid with 4-8 fold increase in the Raman signals. It can be used to analyze many nanoparticles that cannot be measured with single-beam Raman tweezers, including individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), graphene flakes, biological particles, polystyrene beads (100 nm), SERS-active metal nanoparticles, and high-refractive semiconductor nanoparticles with a low laser power of a few milliwatts. This would enable sorting and characterization of specific SWCNTs and other nanoparticles based on their increased Raman fingerprints.

Field evaluation of indoor thermal fog and ultra-low volume applications for control of Aedes aegypti, in Thailand

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Efficacies of a hand-held thermal fogger (PatriotTM) and hand-held Ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayer (TwisterTM) with combinations of two different adulticides and an insect growth regulator (pyriproxyfen) were field assessed and compared for their impact on reducing dengue vector populations in Thaila...

Combined acoustic and optical trapping

PubMed Central

Thalhammer, G.; Steiger, R.; Meinschad, M.; Hill, M.; Bernet, S.; Ritsch-Marte, M.

2011-01-01

Combining several methods for contact free micro-manipulation of small particles such as cells or micro-organisms provides the advantages of each method in a single setup. Optical tweezers, which employ focused laser beams, offer very precise and selective handling of single particles. On the other hand, acoustic trapping with wavelengths of about 1 mm allows the simultaneous trapping of many, comparatively large particles. With conventional approaches it is difficult to fully employ the strengths of each method due to the different experimental requirements. Here we present the combined optical and acoustic trapping of motile micro-organisms in a microfluidic environment, utilizing optical macro-tweezers, which offer a large field of view and working distance of several millimeters and therefore match the typical range of acoustic trapping. We characterize the acoustic trapping forces with the help of optically trapped particles and present several applications of the combined optical and acoustic trapping, such as manipulation of large (75 μm) particles and active particle sorting. PMID:22025990

Higher order microfibre modes for dielectric particle trapping and propulsion

PubMed Central