Cryogenic on-chip multiplexer for the study of quantum transport in 256 split-gate devices

We present a multiplexing scheme for the measurement of large numbers of mesoscopic devices in cryogenic systems. The multiplexer is used to contact an array of 256 split gates on a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure, in which each split gate can be measured individually. The low-temperature conductance of split-gate devices is governed by quantum mechanics, leading to the appearance of conductance plateaux at intervals of 2e^2/h. A fabrication-limited yield of 94% is achieved for the array, and a "quantum yield" is also defined, to account for disorder affecting the quantum behaviour of the devices. The quantum yield rose from 55% to 86% after illuminating the sample, explained by the corresponding increase in carrier density and mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas. The multiplexer is a scalable architecture, and can be extended to other forms of mesoscopic devices. It overcomes previous limits on the number of devices that can be fabricated on a single chip due to the number of electrical contacts available, without the need to alter existing experimental set ups.

Epitaxy of III-V semiconductor nanowires towards optoelectronic devices

GaAs and InP based nanowires were grown epitaxially on GaAs or InP (111)B substrates by MOCVD via VLS mechanism. In this paper, I will give an overview of nanowire research activities in our group. © 2009 IEEE.

Characterization of the surface acoustic wave devices based on ZnO/nanocrystalline diamond structures

Nanocrystalline ZnO films with strong (0002) texture and fine grains were deposited onto ultra-nanocrystalline diamond (UNCD) layers on silicon using high target utilization sputtering technology. The unique characteristic of this sputtering technique allows room temperature growth of smooth ZnO films with a low roughness and low stress at high growth rates. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices were fabricated on ZnO/UNCD structure and exhibited good transmission signals with a low insertion loss and a strong side-lobe suppression for the Rayleigh mode SAW. Based on the optimization of the layered structure of the SAW device, a good performance with a coupling coefficient of 5.2% has been realized, promising for improving the microfluidic efficiency in droplet transportation comparing with that of the ZnO/Si SAW device. An optimized temperature coefficient of frequency of -23.4 ppm°C-1 was obtained for the SAW devices with the 2.72 μm-thick ZnO and 1.1 μm-thick UNCD film. Significant thermal effect due to the acoustic heating has been redcued which is related to the temperature stability of the ZnO/UNCD SAW device. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

On the effects of turbulence modelling in design optimisation for high-lift devices

Aerodynamic shape optimisation is being increasingly utilised as a design tool in the aerospace industry. In order to provide accurate results, design optimisation methods rely on the accuracy of the underlying CFD methods applied to obtain aerodynamic forces for a given configuration. Previous studies of the authors have highlighted that the variation of the order of accuracy of the CFD solver with a fixed turbulence model affects the resulting optimised airfoil shape for a single element airfoil. The accuracy of the underlying CFD model is even more relevant in the context of high-lift configurations where an accurate prediction of flow is challenging due to the complex flow physics involving transition and flow separation phenomena. This paper explores the effect of the fidelity of CFD results for a range of turbulence models within the context of the computational design of aircraft configurations. The NLR7301 multi-element airfoil (main wing and flap) is selected as the baseline configuration, because of the wealth of experimental an computational results available for this configuration. An initial validation study is conducted in order to establish optimal mesh parameters. A bi-objective shape optimisation problem is then formulated, by trying to reveal the trade-off between lift and drag coefficients at high angles of attack. Optimisation of the airfoil shape is performed with Spalart-Allmaras, k - ω SST and k - o realisable models. The results indicate that there is consistent and complementary impact to the optimum level achieved from all the three different turbulence models considered in the presented case study. Without identifying particular superiority of any of the turbu- lence models, we can say though that each of them expressed favourable influence towards different optimality routes. These observations lead to the exploration of new avenues for future research. © 2012 AIAA.

On the effects of turbulence modelling in design optimisation for high-lift devices

Aerodynamic shape optimisation is being increasingly utilised as a design tool in the aerospace industry. In order to provide accurate results, design optimisation methods rely on the accuracy of the underlying CFD methods applied to obtain aerodynamic forces for a given configuration. Previous studies of the authors have highlighted that the variation of the order of accuracy of the CFD solver with a fixed turbulence model affects the resulting optimised airfoil shape for a single element airfoil. The accuracy of the underlying CFD model is even more relevant in the context of high-lift configurations where an accurate prediction of flow is challenging due to the complex flow physics involving transition and flow separation phenomena. This paper explores the effect of the fidelity of CFD results for a range of turbulence models within the context of the computational design of aircraft configurations. The NLR7301 multi-element airfoil (main wing and flap) is selected as the baseline configuration, because of the wealth of experimental an computational results available for this configuration. An initial validation study is conducted in order to establish optimal mesh parameters. A bi-objective shape optimisation problem is then formulated, by trying to reveal the trade-off between lift and drag coefficients at high angles of attack. Optimisation of the airfoil shape is performed with Spalart-Allmaras, k - ω SST and k - ε realisable models. The results indicate that there is consistent and complementary impact to the optimum level achieved from all the three different turbulence models considered in the presented case study. Without identifying particular superiority of any of the turbu- lence models, we can say though that each of them expressed favourable influence towards different optimality routes. These observations lead to the exploration of new avenues for future research. © 2012 by the authors.

Parametric guidance for turbulent noise reduction from poroelastic trailing edges and owls

The interaction of a turbulent eddy with a semi-infinite, poroelastic edge is examined with respect to the effects of both elasticity and porosity on the efficiency of aerodynamic noise generation. The edge is modelled as a thin plate poroelastic plate, which is known to admit fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-power noise dependences on a characteristic velocity U of the turbulent eddy. The associated acoustic scattering problem is solved using the Wiener-Hopf technique for the case of constant plate properties. For the special cases of porous-rigid and impermeable-elastic plate conditions, asymptotic analysis of the Wiener- Hopf kernel function furnishes the parameter groups and their ranges where U5, U6, and U7 behaviours are expected to occur. Results from this analysis attempt to help guide the search for passive edge treatments to reduce trailing-edge noise that are inspired by the wing features of silently flying owls. Furthermore, the appropriateness of the present model to the owl noise problem is discussed with respect to the acoustic frequencies of interest, wing chord-lengths, and foraging behaviour across a representative set of owl species.

Exploring an effective model of new product development in medical devices: A knowledge cluster approach

This study proposes a new product development (NPD) model that aims to improve the effectiveness of innovative NPD in the medical devices. By adopting open innovation theory and applying an in-depth investigation methodology, this paper proposes a knowledge cluster that improves the integration of interdisciplinary human resources and enhances the acquirement of innovative technologies. A knowledge cluster approach helps gather, organise, synthesise, and accumulate knowledge in order to become the impetus for innovation. Although enterprises are no longer the principals of research and development, they should still be capable of integrating professional physicians, external groups, and individuals through the knowledge cluster platform. However, in order to support an effective NPD model, enterprises should provide adequate incentives and trust to external individuals or groups willing to contribute their expertise and knowledge to this knowledge cluster platform. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Aeroacoustic source measurement methods for characterizing the sound generated by ducted flow devices with higher-order modes.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) method 5136 is widely used in industry and academia to determine the sound power radiated into a duct by fans and other flow devices. The method involves placing the device at the center of a long cylindrical duct with anechoic terminations at each end to eliminate reflections. A single off-axis microphone is used on the inlet and outlet sides that can theoretically capture the plane-wave mode amplitudes but this does not provide enough information to fully account for higher-order modes. In this study, the "two-port" source model is formulated to include higher-order modes and applied for the first three modes. This requires six independent surface pressure measurements on each side or "port." The resulting experimental set-up is much shorter than the ISO rig and does not require anechoic terminations. An array of six external loudspeaker sources is used to characterize the passive part of the two-port model and the set-up provides a framework to account for transmission of higher-order modes through a fan. The relative importance of the higher-order modes has been considered and their effect on inaccuracies when using the ISO method to find source sound power has been analyzed.

Parametrically excited MEMS vibration energy harvesters with design approaches to overcome the initiation threshold amplitude

Resonant-based vibration harvesters have conventionally relied upon accessing the fundamental mode of directly excited resonance to maximize the conversion efficiency of mechanical-to-electrical power transduction. This paper explores the use of parametric resonance, which unlike the former, the resonant-induced amplitude growth, is not limited by linear damping and wherein can potentially offer higher and broader nonlinear peaks. A numerical model has been constructed to demonstrate the potential improvements over the convention. Despite the promising potential, a damping-dependent initiation threshold amplitude has to be attained prior to accessing this alternative resonant phenomenon. Design approaches have been explored to passively reduce this initiation threshold. Furthermore, three representative MEMS designs were fabricated with both 25 and 10 μm thick device silicon. The devices include electrostatic cantilever-based harvesters, with and without the additional design modification to overcome initiation threshold amplitude. The optimum performance was recorded for the 25 μm thick threshold-aided MEMS prototype with device volume ∼0.147 mm3. When driven at 4.2 ms -2, this prototype demonstrated a peak power output of 10.7 nW at the fundamental mode of resonance and 156 nW at the principal parametric resonance, as well as a 23-fold decrease in initiation threshold over the purely parametric prototype. An approximate doubling of the half-power bandwidth was also observed for the parametrically excited scenario. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Effect of bandgap narrowing on performance of modern power devices

The effect of the bandgap narrowing (BGN) on performance of power devices is investigated in detail in this paper. The analysis reveals that the change in the energy band structure caused by BGN can strongly affect the conductivity modulation of the bipolar devices resulting in a completely different performance. This is due to the modified injection efficiency under high-level injection conditions. Using a comprehensive analysis of the injection efficiency in a p-n junction, an analytical model for this phenomenon is developed. BGN model tuning has been proved to be essential in accurately predicting the performance of a lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). Other devices such as p-i-n diodes or punch-through IGBTs are significantly affected by the BGN, while others, such as field-stop IGBTs or power MOSFETs, are only marginally affected. © 2013 IEEE.

Computational engineering design for micro-scale combustion devices: A thermally improved configuration

A multi-objective design optimisation study has been carried out with the objectives to improve the overall efficiency of the device and to reduce the fuel consumption for the proposed micro-scale combustor design configuration. In a previous study we identified the topology of the combustion chamber that produced improved behaviour of the device in terms of the above design criteria. We now extend our design approach, and we propose a new configuration by the addition of a micro-cooling channel that will improve the thermal behaviour of the design as previously suggested in literature. Our initial numerical results revealed an improvement of 2.6% in the combustion efficiency when we applied the micro-cooling channel to an optimum design configuration we identified from our earlier multi-objective optimisation study, and under the same operating conditions. The computational modelling of the combustion process is implemented in the commercial computational fluid dynamics package ANSYS-CFX using Finite Rate Chemistry and a single step hydrogen-air reaction. With this model we try to balance good accuracy of the combustion solution and at the same time practicality within the context of an optimisation process. The whole design system comprises also the ANSYS-ICEM CFD package for the automatic geometry and mesh generation and the Multi-Objective Tabu Search algorithm for the design space exploration. We model the design problem with 5 geometrical parameters and 3 operational parameters subject to 5 design constraints that secure practicality and feasibility of the new optimum design configurations. The final results demonstrate the reliability and efficiency of the developed computational design system and most importantly we assess the practicality and manufacturability of the revealed optimum design configurations of micro-combustor devices. Copyright © 2013 by ASME.