Mismatched shaping schemes for bit-interleaved coded modulation

We consider bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) schemes where, instead of the true bit or symbol probabilities and the constellation used at the transmitter, the decoder uses arbitrary probabilities or reference constellations. We study the corresponding low- and high- signal-to-noise-ratio regimes and show that even in the presence of this extra sources of mismatch, BICM has a negligible penalty with respect to coded modulation. © 2012 IEEE.

New application of temperature-dependent modelling of high temperature superconductors: Quench propagation and pulse magnetization

We present temperature-dependent modeling of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) to understand HTS electromagnetic phenomena where temperature fluctuation plays a nontrivial role. Thermal physics is introduced into the well-developed H-formulation model, and the effect of temperature-dependent parameters is considered. Based on the model, we perform extensive studies on two important HTS applications: quench propagation and pulse magnetization. A micrometer-scale quench model of HTS coil is developed, which can be used to estimate minimum quench energy and normal zone propagation velocity inside the coil. In addition, we study the influence of inhomogeneity of HTS bulk during pulse magnetization. We demonstrate how the inhomogeneous distribution of critical current inside the bulk results in varying degrees of heat dissipation and uniformity of final trapped field. The temperature- dependent model is proven to be a powerful tool to study the thermally coupled electromagnetic phenomena of HTS. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Ultrashort pulse generation in diode laser devices

The generation of ultrashort optical pulses by semiconductor lasers has been extensively studied for many years. A number of methods, including gain-/Q-switching and different types of mode locking, have been exploited for the generation of picosecond and sub-picosecond pulses [1]. However, the shortest pulses produced by diode lasers are still much longer and weaker than those that are generated by advanced mode-locked solid-state laser systems [2]. On the other hand, an interesting class of devices based on superradiant emission from multiple contact diode laser structures has also been recently reported [3]. Superradiance (SR) is a transient quantum optics phenomenon based on the cooperative radiative recombination of a large number of oscillators, including atoms, molecules, e-h pairs, etc. SR in semiconductors can be used for the study of fundamental properties of e-h ensembles such as photon-mediated pairing, non-equilibrium e-h condensation, BSC-like coherent states and related phenomena. Due to the intrinsic parameters of semiconductor media, SR emission typically results in the generation of a high-power optical pulse or pulse train, where the pulse duration can be much less than 1 ps, under optimised bias conditions. Advantages of this technique over mode locking in semiconductor laser structures include potentially shorter pulsewidths and much larger peak powers. Moreover, the pulse repetition rate of mode-locked pulses is fixed by the cavity round trip time, whereas the repetition rate of SR pulses is controlled by the current bias and can be varied over a wide range. © 2012 IEEE.

Investigations of current limiting properties of the MgB2 wires subjected to pulse overcurrents in the benchtop tester

A laboratory scale desktop test system including a cryogenic system, an AC pulse generation system and a real time data acquisition program in LabView/DAQmx, has been developed to evaluate the quench properties of MgB 2 wires as an element in a superconducting fault current limiter under pulse overcurrents at 25K in self-field conditions. The MgB2 samples started from a superconducting state and demonstrated good current limiting properties characterized by a fast transition to the normal state during the first half of the cycle and a continuously limiting effect in the subsequent cycles without burnouts. The experimental and numerical simulation results on the quench behaviour indicate the feasibility of using MgB 2 for future superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) applications. © IOP Publishing Ltd.

The use of an MgB2 hollow cylinder and pulse magnetized (RE)BCO bulk for magnetic levitation applications

Both MgB2 and (RE)BCO bulk materials can provide a highly compact source of magnetic field when magnetized. The properties of these materials when magnetized by a pulsed field are potentially useful for a number of applications, including magnetic levitation. This paper reports on pulsed field magnetization of single 25 mm diameter (RE)BCO bulks using a recently constructed pulse magnetization facility, which allows an automated sequence of pulses to be delivered. The facility allows measurement of force between a magnetized (RE)BCO bulk and a bulk MgB2 hollow cylinder, which is field cooled in the field of the magnetized (RE)BCO bulk. Hysteresis cycling behavior for small displacement is also measured to extract the stiffness value. The levitation forces up to 500 N were obtained, the highest ever measured between two bulks and proves the concept of a bulk-bulk superconducting bearing design. © 2002-2011 IEEE.

1.5 GHz picosecond pulse generation from a monolithic waveguide laser with a graphene-film saturable output coupler

We fabricate a saturable absorber mirror by coating a graphenefilm on an output coupler mirror. This is then used to obtain Q-switched mode-locking from a diode-pumped linear cavity channel waveguide laser inscribed in Ytterbium-doped Bismuthate Glass. The laser produces 1.06 ps pulses at ∼1039 nm, with a 1.5 GHz repetition rate, 48% slope efficiency and 202 mW average output power. This performance is due to the combination of the graphene saturable absorber and the high quality optical waveguides in the laser glass. © 2013 Optical Society of America.

Local stability results for the collective behaviors of infinite populations of pulse-coupled oscillators

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of pulse-coupled integrate-and-fire oscillators. Because the stability analysis of finite populations is intricate, we investigate stability results in the approximation of infinite populations. In addition to recovering known stability results of finite populations, we also obtain new stability results for infinite populations. In particular, under a weak coupling assumption, we solve for the continuum model a conjecture still prevailing in the finite dimensional case. © 2011 IEEE.

3 Gbit/s LED-based step index plastic optical fiber link using multilevel pulse amplitude modulation

Multilevel PAM is investigated for a LED-based SI-POF link. Using PAM-8, transmission at a record 3 Gbit/s is demonstrated for a maximum length of 25 m step index POF with offline post-receiver processing. © 2013 OSA.

High power, low-jitter encoded picosecond pulse generation using an rf-locked self-q-switched multicontact GaAs/GaAlAs diode laser

The RF locking of a self-Q-switching diode laser is shown to reduce the jitter of a 2.48 GHz train of 1 W peak power picosecond pulses to less than 300 fs. By using direct modulation of the loss in the Q-switched laser, direct encoding of data has been achieved at rates in excess of 2 Gbit/s.

Narrow line high power picosecond pulse generation in a multicontact distributed feedback laser using modified Q switching

High power bandwidth-limited picosecond pulses with peak powers in excess of 200 mW have been generated using multi-contact distributed feedback laser diodes for the first time. The pulses have widths typically less than 10 ps, time-bandwidth products of as little as 0·24, and can be generated on demand at generator limited repetition rates of up to 140 MHz.

Ultrashort pulse generation in diode lasers

The basic ideas and current state of the art of ultrashort pulse generation by injection lasers are reviewed. All developed techniques, including gain switching, Q-switching, and mode-locking are described and compared. A simple theoretical treatment of a diode laser which emits picosecond light pulses is discussed. Some fundamental limits of the pulse parameters are discussed. Finally, compression of chirped optical pulses by optical fibres and the soliton effect is considered. © 1992 Chapman & Hall.

Nanotubes complexed with DNA and proteins for resistive-pulse sensing

We use a resistive-pulse technique to analyze molecular hybrids of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) wrapped in either single-stranded DNA or protein. Electric fields confined in a glass capillary nanopore allow us to probe the physical size and surface properties of molecular hybrids at the single-molecule level. We find that the translocation duration of a macromolecular hybrid is determined by its hydrodynamic size and solution mobility. The event current reveals the effects of ion exclusion by the rod-shaped hybrids and possible effects due to temporary polarization of the SWNT core. Our results pave the way to direct sensing of small DNA or protein molecules in a large unmodified solid-state nanopore by using nanofilaments as carriers. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

3 Gbit/s LED-based step index plastic optical fiber link using multilevel pulse amplitude modulation

Multilevel PAM is investigated for a LED-based SI-POF link. Using PAM-8, transmission at a record 3 Gbit/s is demonstrated for a maximum length of 25 m step index POF with offline post-receiver processing. © 2013 OSA.