A 10-bit 50-MS/s sample-and-hold circuit with low distortion sampling switches

A fully-differential switched-capacitor sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit used in a 10-bit 50-MS/s pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC) was designed and fabricated using a 0.35-μm CMOS process. Capacitor fliparound architecture was used in the S/H circuit to lower the power consumption. In addition, a gain-boosted operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) was designed with a DC gain of 94 dB and a unit gain bandwidth of 460 MHz at a phase margin of 63 degree, which matches the S/H circuit. A novel double-side bootstrapped switch was used, improving the precision of the whole circuit. The measured results have shown that the S/H circuit reaches a spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of 67 dB and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 62.1 dB for a 2.5 MHz input signal with 50 MS/s sampling rate. The 0.12 mm~2 S/H circuit operates from a 3.3 V supply and consumes 13.6 mW.

A New Method to Investigate InGaAsP Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes Using a Digital Sampling Oscilloscope

A near-infrared single-photon detection system is established by using pigtailed InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes. With a 50GHz digital sampling oscilloscope, the function and process of gated-mode (Geiger-mode) single-photon detection are intuitionally demonstrated for the first time. The performance of the detector as a gated-mode single-photon counter at wavelengths of 1310 and 1550nm is investigated. At the operation temperature of 203K,a quantum efficiency of 52% with a dark count probability per gate of 2. 4 * 10~(-3), and a gate pulse repetition rate of 50kHz are obtained at 1550nm. The corresponding parameters are 43% , 8. 5 * 10~(-3), and 200kHz at 238K.

Analysis of current induced by long internal solitary waves in stratified ocean

An approximate theoretical expression for the current induced by long internal solitary waves is presented when the ocean is continuously or two-layer stratified. Particular attention is paid to characterizing velocity fields in terms of magnitude, flow components, and their temporal evolution/spatial distribution. For the two-layer case, the effects of the upper/lower layer depths and the relative layer density difference upon the induced current are further studied. The results show that the horizontal components are basically uniform in each layer with a shear at the interface. In contrast, the vertical counterparts vary monotonically in the direction of the water depth in each layer while they change sign across the interface or when the wave peak passes through. In addition, though the vertical components are generally one order of magnitude smaller than the horizontal ones, they can never be neglected in predicting the heave response of floating platforms in gravitationally neutral balance. Comparisons are made between the partial theoretical results and the observational field data. Future research directions regarding the internal wave induced flow field are also indicated.

Characteristics of the sampling paddle modules of neutron wall from the cosmic ray test

In the construction of a large area neutron detector (neutron wall) that is used to detect neutrons at GeV energies, the performances of all the sampling paddle modules prepared for the neutron wall are investigated with a specially designed test bench. Tested by cosmic rays, an average intrinsic time resolution of 222.5 ps is achieved at the center of the modules. The light attenuation length and the effective speed of the light in the module are also investigated.

A spatial sampling optimization package using MSN theory

The density and distribution of spatial samples heavily affect the precision and reliability of estimated population attributes. An optimization method based on Mean of Surface with Nonhomogeneity (MSN) theory has been developed into a computer package with the purpose of improving accuracy in the global estimation of some spatial properties, given a spatial sample distributed over a heterogeneous surface; and in return, for a given variance of estimation, the program can export both the optimal number of sample units needed and their appropriate distribution within a specified research area. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation and application of micro-sampling system for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Two Meinhard microconcentric nebulizers, model AR30-07-FM02 and AR 30-07-FM005, were employed as a self-installed micro-sampling system for inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The FM02 nebulizer at 22 muL/min of solution uptake rate gave the relative standard deviations of 7.6%, 3.0%, 2.7%, 1.8% for determinations (n = 10) of 20 mug/L Be, Co, In and Bi, respectively, and the detection limits (3s) of 0.14, 0.10, 0.02 and 0.01 mug/L for Be, Co In and Bi, respectively. The mass intensity of In-115 obtained by this micro-sampling system was 60% of that by conventional pneumatic nebulizer system at 1.3 mL/min. The analytical results for La, Ce, Pr and Nd in 20 muL Wistar rat amniotic fluid obtained by the present micro-sampling system were precisely in good agreement with those obtained using conventional pneumatic nebulization system.

Vertical distribution of bacterial and archaeal communities along discrete layers of a deep-sea cold sediment sample at the East Pacific Rise (similar to 13 degrees N)

The community structure and vertical distribution of prokaryotes in a deep-sea (ca. 3,191 m) cold sediment sample (ca. 43 cm long) collected at the East Pacific Rise (EPR) similar to 13 degrees N were studied with 16SrDNA-based molecular analyses. Total community DNA was extracted from each of four discrete layers EPRDS-1, -2, -3 and -4 (from top to bottom) and 16S rDNA were amplified by PCR. Cluster analysis of DGGE profiles revealed that the bacterial communities shifted sharply between EPRDS-1 and EPRDS-2 in similarity coefficient at merely 49%. Twenty-three sequences retrieved from DGGE bands fell into 11 groups based on BLAST and bootstrap analysis. The dominant groups in the bacterial communities were Chloroflexi, Gamma proteobacteria, Actinobacterium and unidentified bacteria, with their corresponding percentages varying along discrete layers. Pairwise Fst (F-statistics) values between the archaeal clone libraries indicated that the archaeal communities changed distinctly between EPRDS-2 and EPRDS-3. Sequences from the archaeal libraries were divided to eight groups. Crenarchaea Marine Group I (MGI) was prevalent in EPRDS-1 at 83%, while Uncultured Crenarchaea group II B (UCII B) abounded in EPRDS-4 at 61%. Our results revealed that the vertically stratified distribution of prokaryotic communities might be in response to the geochemical settings and suggested that the sampling area was influenced by hydrothermalism. The copresence of members related to hydrothermalism and cold deep-sea environments in the microbial community indicated that the area might be a transitional region from hydrothermal vents to cold deep-sea sediments.

Characteristics and flux of settling particulate matter in neritic waters: The southern Yellow Sea and the East China Sea

The typology and flux of settling particulate matter (SPM) were investigated based on sediment trap sampling at six typical stations in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. The settling particulate matter in the neritic seas was sorted into three categories, lithogenic particles, living organisms, and particle aggregates. The mass of individual organisms is an important portion of particulate matter in the neritic waters. The aggregates contain six types, mucus aggregates, fecal pellets, diatom aggregates, silicoflagellate aggregates, tintinnids, and miscellaneous aggregates, of which the silicoflagellate aggregates and tintinnids are the most abundant in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. High particle fluxes, such as 215 to 874 g m(-2). day(-1) SPM in the bottom layer, were found at three stations where the water was well mixed, and the maximum flux was detected in the boundary area between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, where a wide nepheloid layer was present. Hence, particle flux in neritic waters can be easily shifted by water turbulence. The net vertical flux (123 to 961 mg C day(-1)), the contribution of lateral advection to resuspension flux (5 to 76%), and the particulate organic carbon export ratio (18 to 60%) were estimated for the other three stations where the water was stratified. The highest values were all found in the upwelling area off the Zhejiang coast, suggesting that the area of high productivity provides a high net vertical flux of SPM. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Third-order Stokes wave solutions for interfacial internal waves in a three-layer density-stratified fluid

Interfacial internal waves in a three-layer density-stratified fluid are investigated using a singular method, and third-order asymptotic solutions of the velocity potentials and third-order Stokes wave solutions of the associated elevations of the interfacial waves are presented based on the small amplitude wave theory. as expected, the third-order solutions describe the third-order nonlinear modification and the third-order nonlinear interactions between the interfacial waves. The wave velocity depends on not only the wave number and the depth of each layer but also on the wave amplitude.