Photorefractive half-adder: beam-fanning for optical generation of ‘SUM’ and ‘CARRY’

Optical implementation of an adder of arithmetic units that processes binary numbers is outlined. Dynamic range compression using biasing illumination in beam-fanning geometry as observed in a photorefractive BaTiO₃:Fe crystal forms the underlying principle of operation. By proper choice of polarization for two input signals, XOR and AND operations are realized. These two operations are essentially analogous to SUM and CARRY generation for binary addition. By providing shift (only in case of CARRY) and feedback, experimental results for half-adder are obtained. In addition, the technique forms a very simple way of implementing ‘original carries’ as required for full-adder. The geometry proposed is simple, energy-efficient and can be easily extended to multi-wavelength operations thus achieving spectral parallelism in optical domain.     

Bipolar quantum corrections in resolving individual dopants in ‘atomistic’ device simulation

In ‘atomistic’ device simulation the resolving of discrete charges onto a fine-grained simulation mesh can lead to problems. The sharply resolved Coloumb potential can cause simulation artefacts to appear in classical simulation environments using Boltzmann or Fermi–Dirac statistics. Various methods have been proposed in an effort to reduce or eliminate such artefacts as the localisation of mobile carriers by sharply resolved Coulomb wells, however they have met with limited success. In this paper we present an alternative approach for handling discrete charges in drift diffusion ‘atomistic’ simulations by properly introducing the related quantum mechanical effects using the density gradient formalism for both electrons and holes. This eliminates the trapping of mobile charge in heavily doped regions of the device and the related artefacts in the simulated device characteristics.     

Comparison of ‘blue’ and ‘infrared’ emission bands in thermoluminescence of alkali feldspars

Dating quaternary sediments by thermoluminescence (TL) or optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) calls for a detailed knowledge of the luminescence of feldspars. TL of the various alkali feldspars ((K, Na) Si₃AlO₈) display many common features, and some of these cause great difficulties for dating. After long storage following ionizing irradiation, the TL of most alkali feldspars is known to fade away by “anomalous fading”, which is incompatible with dating. This effect had been attributed to tunnel recombination. Following irradiation, a very intense tunnelling afterglow is observed at temperatures down to liquid nitrogen, in accordance with the observed rate of fading. This emission has a Gaussian spectrum entirely in the infrared (IR) with a maximum at 1.7 eV. It displays an important thermal quenching from 77 to 300 K. Its intensity is related with the ‘disorder’ of the crystal lattice. At higher temperatures, in TL proper, two emission bands can be separated. One is the well-studied complex visible emission, distributed over the spectral region from UV to orange, but mostly ‘blue’. The other is the ‘infrared’ band already observed at lower temperatures, which is attributed to Fe³⁺ ions. These two bands are clearly separated, with the spectral maxima, respectively, below and above 600 nm. They have also different kinetics, the glow peaks temperatures are different. But these two different bands are also coupled in many ways, they have parallel growth and fading. With ‘disordered’ feldspars, the ‘blue’ emission displays anomalous fading, which is stronger than that of the ‘infrared’. The infrared emission is more stable, which may be interesting for the purpose of dating.     

Adaptivity and ‘Per learning’

One of the key points addressed by Per Bak in his models of brain function was that biological neural systems must be able not just to learn, but also to adapt—to quickly change their behaviour in response to a changing environment. I discuss this in the context of various simple learning rules and adaptive problems, centred around the Chialvo-Bak ‘minibrain’ model (Neurosci. 90 (1999) 1137).     

Technological features of ‘gnathia’ pottery

‘Gnathia’ pottery samples, dating back to the mid‐fourth and third century BC, from the archaeological site of Egnazia (Fasano, Brindisi, Italy) have been characterised from the physical‐chemical, mineralogical and morphological points of view. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray energy‐dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analyses have been carried out on the ceramic body, black gloss, white, yellow and red over‐paintings of fragments, with the aim of outlining technological features and defining the nature of coatings and decorations. Analytical results confirm from both a technological and morphological/decorative point of view the close relationship between ‘Gnathia’ pottery and red figured pottery, particularly with the Apulian red figured from which it takes its inspiration. At the same time the experimental results highlight shared characteristics and differences with both Attic and Apulian red figured productions. The biggest difference is in the utilisation of the ‘ingobbio rosso’ layer that covers the ceramic body. This does not seem to be based on aesthetic grounds, as in the case of Apulian red figured pottery, but on application of acquired production processes, since ‘Gnathia’ pottery was made in the same workshops as red figured pottery. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extending the age range of optical dating using single ‘supergrains’ of quartz

Luminescence dating methods have been used to obtain reliable age estimates for quartz sediments deposited within the last 500 ka, but it has proven difficult to extend the age range much beyond this limit. Here we report the results of a study of individual quartz grains from Australian sedimentary deposits that range in age from 250 to 950 ka. A small number of the grains examined are strongly luminescent and saturate at unusually high doses. These ‘supergrains’ may permit reliable age determination to 1 Ma, and possibly beyond. Some other grains are in, or close to, dose-saturation, so that only minimum age estimates may be obtained. Most of the grains examined are very weakly luminescent and have palaeodoses much less than expected, while the palaeodoses of some grains cannot be estimated because of anomalous dose–response characteristics. We offer some possible explanations for the behaviour of aberrant grains.     

Traffic flow models with ‘slow-to-start’ rules

We investigate two models for traffic flow with modified acceleration (‘slow-to-start’) rules. Even in the simplest case v_max = 1 these rules break the ‘particle-hole’ symmetry of the model. We determine the fundamental diagram (flow-density relationship) using the so-called car-oriented mean-field approach (COMF) which yields the exact solution of the basic model with v_max = 1. Here we find that this is no longer true for the models with modified acceleration rules, but the results are still in good agreement with simulations. We also compare the effects of the two different slow-to-start rules and discuss their relevance for real traffic. In addition, in one of these models we find a new phase transition to a completely jammed state.     

Constructing ‘hair’ for the three charge hole

It has been found that the states of the 2-charge extremal D1–D5 system are given by smooth geometries that have no singularity and no horizon individually, but a ‘horizon’ does arise after ‘coarse-graining’. To see how this concept extends to the 3-charge extremal system, we construct a perturbation on the D1–D5 geometry that carries one unit of momentum charge P. The perturbation is found to be regular everywhere and normalizable, so we conclude that at least this state of the 3-charge system behaves like the 2-charge states. The solution is constructed by matching (to several orders) solutions in the inner and outer regions of the geometry. We conjecture the general form of ‘hair’ expected for the 3-charge system, and the nature of the interior of black holes in general.     

Predicting ‘lifetime’ of fibre optics exposed to radiation

Fibre optics communications systems are rapidly replacing ‘wired’ links in a variety of applications. The fibre links have proven to be smaller and lighter than either simple wire or coaxial lines. In addition, the fibre systems are immune to all forms of electrical interference (RFI; EMI; static electricity, etc.). Because of the very nature of the passive fibre lines, electrical disturbances may be considered as part of a benign environment, as contrasted with a hostile counterpart, such as high-energy particle fields which are prevalent in a nuclear reactor or other radiation-producing machine. It is known that nuclear radiation may damage the optical transmission properties of fibre optics waveguides. Described herein is the relationship between radiation flux and subsequent damage to the fibre waveguides. Some data, curves and calculations and supporting references are presented. And, finally, a procedure is given as an aid to predicting the ‘lifetime’ of a fibre optics link when it is exposed to the damaging effects of radiation.     

Enhanced gauge symmetry from ‘toric’ G2 cones

We discuss the construction of M‐theory compactifications on ‘toric’ G₂ cones, a class of models which generalize those recently considered by Acharya and Witten. We explain our criteria for identifying the gauge group content of such theories and briefly discuss the associated metrics.     

Unfamiliar integrals and motions down the ‘plug-hole’ potential

The orbits in the potentials ψ=−CzR⁻²+ζ(R), (ζ arbitrary) have integrals E, and . Thus the z-velocity is proportional to the number of turns made around the axis! The Poisson Bracket [h,I] is not zero so Liouville’s integrability theorem does not apply. Starting from the self-similar potential with ζ∝R⁻¹, we find some orbits that spiral around cones and explore general orbits in this strange system.     

‘Locking and unlocking control’ of photochromism of naphthopyran derivative

A ‘locking and unlocking control’ for a photochromic molecular system has been developed by using a photochromic naphthopyran derivative 1a as the model compound. With UV light irradiation, the colorless solution of 1a underwent ring‐opening photoisomerization and converted to a purple solution 1b , which quickly faded back to a colorless solution with visible light (λ ≥ 480 nm) irradiation or in the dark. Addition of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate to the solution of 1b produced a complex compound 2b , accompanying the color change from purple to blue. It was found that 2b remained photochemically inactive. With the addition of diethanolamine, however, the ‘locked’ photoreaction of 2b could be unlocked and converted back to 1b , in which the photochromism was recovered. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Routine x‐ray fluorescence analysis of powder materials using the ‘VERBA‐XRF’ mode

A new version of the ‘VERBA‐XRF’ mode was developed for the determination of the contents of principal elements with atomic numbers Z > 10 and SUM9, that is, the sum of the contents of complementary elements with Z < 9 in powder materials without alloying with borax. An original set of equations provides determination of the SUM9. Analysis was made on 120 samples: dust from electric filters, clay, clinker, gypsum, bauxite, slag, candle‐end, shale, schlamm and chalk. The results obtained in the determination of the elements Fe, Ti, Ca, K, S, Si, Al and Mg have relative standard errors of 1–2%. The availability of the value of the SUM9 provided the possibility of determining chemical compositions in samples. The content of mineral white in natural gypsum was calculated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The concentration effect on the ‘hydrophobic’ and ‘hydrophilic’ behaviour around DMSO in dilute aqueous DMSO solutions. A computer simulation study

We have carried out a molecular dynamics study of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in water at 298 K at two different densities by simulating two different concentrations: 0.055 and 0.19 mole fraction. We have found an enhancement in the structure of water, an effect that becomes more pronounced as the concentration of DMSO increases. At both concentrations there is a well-defined hydration structure around the oxygen atom of DMSO, which is able to establish strong hydrogen bonds with surrounding water molecules. An increase in the concentration of DMSO depletes the solution of bulk water molecules, reducing the number of hydrogen bonds that water can have in the immediate vicinity of DMSO but increasing the strength of the hydrogen bonds made between the oxygen atom of DMSO and water. There is clear evidence of ‘hydrophobic’ hydration around the methyl groups of DMSO, which is enhanced as the concentration of DMSO increases.     

Reconstruction of vibroacoustic fields in half-space by using hybrid near-field acoustical holography

In this paper we examine the accuracy and efficiency of reconstructing the vibroacoustic quantities generated by a vibrating structure in half-space by using hybrid near-field acoustic holography (NAH) and modified Helmholtz equation least squares (HELS) formulations. In hybrid NAH, we combine modified HELS with an inverse boundary element method (IBEM) to reconstruct a vibroacoustic field. The main advantage of this approach is that the majority of the input data can be regenerated but not measured, thus the efficiency is greatly enhanced. In modified HELS, we expand the field acoustic pressure in terms of outgoing and incoming spherical waves and specify the corresponding expansion coefficients by solving a system of equations obtained by matching the assumed-form solution to the measured acoustic pressure. Here the system of equations is ill conditioned and Tikhonov regularization is implemented through singular value decomposition (SVD) and the generalized cross-validation (GCV) method. Numerical examples of a dilating and oscillating spheres and finite cylinder are demonstrated. Test results show that hybrid NAH can yield a more accurate reconstruction than does a modified HELS, but a modified HELS is more efficient than is hybrid NAH [Work supported by NSF].     

A probabilistic approach to quantum mechanics based on ‘tomograms’

It is usually believed that a picture of Quantum Mechanics in terms of true probabilities cannot be given due to the uncertainty relations. Here we discuss a tomographic approach to quantum states that leads to a probability representation of quantum states. This can be regarded as a classical‐like formulation of quantum mechanics which avoids the counterintuitive concepts of wave function and density operator. The relevant concepts of quantum mechanics are then reconsidered and the epistemological implications of such approach discussed.     

Miniaturized universal imaging device using fluidic lens

We report the achievement of a highly versatile imager consisting of a tunable fluidic lens with a wide tuning range and three fixed lenses. The device has a volume of less than 1 cm(3) and a short total track length of 12.5 cm. It can function as a regular camera with an ultrawide autofocusing range and as a microscope with 3 microm resolution.