Numerically stable Monte Carlo-burnup-thermal hydraulic coupling schemes

This paper presents stochastic implicit coupling method intended for use in Monte-Carlo (MC) based reactor analysis systems that include burnup and thermal hydraulic (TH) feedbacks. Both feedbacks are essential for accurate modeling of advanced reactor designs and analyses of associated fuel cycles. In particular, we investigate the effect of different burnup-TH coupling schemes on the numerical stability and accuracy of coupled MC calculations. First, we present the beginning of time step method which is the most commonly used. The accuracy of this method depends on the time step length and it is only conditionally stable. This work demonstrates that even for relatively short time steps, this method can be numerically unstable. Namely, the spatial distribution of neutronic and thermal hydraulic parameters, such as nuclide densities and temperatures, exhibit oscillatory behavior. To address the numerical stability issue, new implicit stochastic methods are proposed. The methods solve the depletion and TH problems simultaneously and use under-relaxation to speed up convergence. These methods are numerically stable and accurate even for relatively large time steps and require less computation time than the existing methods. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coupling model uncertainty for coupled rainfall/runoff and surface water quality models in river problems

Coupled hydrology and water quality models are an important tool today, used in the understanding and management of surface water and watershed areas. Such problems are generally subject to substantial uncertainty in parameters, process understanding, and data. Component models, drawing on different data, concepts, and structures, are affected differently by each of these uncertain elements. This paper proposes a framework wherein the response of component models to their respective uncertain elements can be quantified and assessed, using a hydrological model and water quality model as two exemplars. The resulting assessments can be used to identify model coupling strategies that permit more appropriate use and calibration of individual models, and a better overall coupled model response. One key finding was that an approximate balance of water quality and hydrological model responses can be obtained using both the QUAL2E and Mike11 water quality models. The balance point, however, does not support a particularly narrow surface response (or stringent calibration criteria) with respect to the water quality calibration data, at least in the case examined here. Additionally, it is clear from the results presented that the structural source of uncertainty is at least as significant as parameter-based uncertainties in areal models. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Respiratory pattern of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

Cetacean respiration usually happen in bouts. The most widely applied quantitative method used to analyze the structure of these bouts is the log(e)-survivorship analysis, based on the assumption that the respiratory intervals are distributed as negative exponentials. However, for the data collected from three captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), we failed to obtain a convergent result with the application of log,survivorship analysis. However, the two-Gaussian model, which was recently proposed to analyze the feeding behavior of cows, was successfully fitted to the data. According to the fitting results, the overall respiratory pattern of the captive Yangtze finless porpoises can be described as a dive with a mean duration of around 30-40 s, followed by two or three ventilations with a mean interval of approximately 9 s. The average intra-bout intervals during both active and inactive periods are constant at 7.7-9.9 s for all individuals. However, when shifting from active to inactive states, the adult male and female decrease their mean numbers of respirations per bout and average length of inter-bout respiratory intervals, while the estimates of both parameters increase for the juvenile female. It was pointed out that the two-Gaussian model might be more adequate for cetacean respiratory-bout structure analyses than the log(e)-survivorship technique.

Linear multimodal actuation through discrete coupling

Due to technological limitations, robot actuators are often designed for specific tasks with narrow performance goals, whereas a wide range of behaviors is necessary for autonomous robots in uncertain complex environments. In an effort to increase the versatility of actuators, we introduce a new concept of multimodal actuation (MMA) that employs dynamic coupling in the form of clutches and brakes to change its mode of operation. The dynamic coupling allows motors and passive elements such as springs to be engaged and disengaged within a single actuator. We apply the concept to a linear series elastic actuator which uses friction brakes controlled online for the dynamic coupling. With this prototype, we are able to demonstrate several modes of operation including stiff position control, series elastic actuation as well as the possibility to store and release energy in a controlled manner for explosive tasks such as jumping. In this paper, we model the proposed concept of actuation and show a systematic performance analysis of the physical prototype that we developed in our laboratory. © 1996-2012 IEEE.

Linear multi-modal actuation through discrete coupling

Due to technological limitations robot actuators are often designed for specific tasks with narrow performance goals, whereas a wide range of output and behaviours is necessary for robots to operate autonomously in uncertain complex environments. We present a design framework that employs dynamic couplings in the form of brakes and clutches to increase the performance and diversity of linear actuators. The couplings are used to switch between a diverse range of discrete modes of operation within a single actuator. We also provide a design solution for miniaturized couplings that use dry friction to produce rapid switching and high braking forces. The couplings are designed so that once engaged or disengaged no extra energy is consumed. We apply the design framework and coupling design to a linear series elastic actuator (SEA) and show that this relatively simple implementation increases the performance and adds new behaviours to the standard design. Through a number of performance tests we are able to show rapid switching between a high and a low impedance output mode; that the actuator's spring can be charged to produce short bursts of high output power; and that the actuator has additional passive and rigid modes that consume no power once activated. Robots using actuators from this design framework would see a vast increase in their behavioural diversity and improvements in their performance not yet possible with conventional actuator design. © 2012 IEEE.

Ultracompact triplexer by coupling and decoupling of multiple photonic crystal waveguides

We investigate numerically the self-imaging effect in a system of multiple coupled photonic crystal waveguides (M-CPCWs) with asymmetric coupling. Then two couplers of 2-CPCWs and 3-CPCWs are cascaded to form an ultracompact triplexer by employing coupling and decoupling of M-CPCWs. The wavelength of 1310 nm propagates along the input direction because the M-CPCWs are decoupled at the same decoupling frequency. The other two wavelengths (1490 and 1550 nm) are separated by combining multimode interference and the dual mode coupling effect. Only by introducing a single defect near the crossing point between two output photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) are the high extinction ratios for the three wavelengths achieved simultaneously.

Mechanism on Effect of Surface Plasmons Coupling with InGaN/GaN Quantum Wells: Enhancement and Suppression of Photoluminescence Intensity

The photoluminescence (PL) intensity enhancement and suppression mechanism on surface plasmons (SPs) coupling with InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) have been systematically studied. The SP-QW coupling behaviors in the areas of GaN cap layer coated with silver thin film were compared at different temperatures and excitation powers. It is found that the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the light emitting diodes (LEDs) varies with temperature and excitation power, which in turn results in anomalous emission enhancement and suppression tendency related to SP-QW coupling. The observation is explained by the balance between the extraction efficiency of SPs and the IQE of LEDs

Mode coupling and vertical radiation loss for whispering-gallery modes in 3-D microcavities

The characteristics of whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) in 3-D cylindrical, square, and triangular microcavities with vertical optical confinement of semiconductors are numerically investigated by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. For a microcylinder with a vertical refractive index 3.17/3.4/3.17 and a center layer thickness 0.2 mu m, Q-factors of transverse electric (TE) WGMs around wavelength 1550 nm are smaller than 10(3), as the radius R < 4 mu m and reach the orders of 10(4) and 10(6) as R = 5 and 6 mu m, respectively. However, the Q-factor of transverse magnetic (TM) WGMs at wavelength 1.659 mu m reaches 7.5 x 10(5) as R = 1 mu m. The mode coupling between the WGMs and vertical radiation modes in the cladding layer results in vertical radiation loss for the WGMs. In the microcylinder, the mode wavelength of TM WGM is larger than the cutoff wavelength of the vertical radiation mode with the same mode numbers, so TM WGMs cannot couple with the vertical radiation mode and have high Q-factor. In contrast, TE WGMs can couple with the corresponding vertical radiation mode in the 3-D microcylinder as R < 5 mu m. However, the mode wavelength of the TE WGM approaches (is larger than) the cutoff wavelength of the corresponding radiation modes at R = 5 mu m (6 mu m), so TE WGMs have high Q-factors in such microcylinders too. The results show that a critical lateral size is required for obtaining high, Q-factor TE WGMs in the 3-D microcylinder. For 3-D square and triangular microcavities, we also find that the Q-factor of TM WGM is larger than that of TE WGM.

Effects of coupling lens on optical refrigeration of semiconductors

Optical refrigeration of semiconductors is encountering efficiency difficulties caused by nonradiative recombination and luminescence trapping. A commonly used approach for enhancing luminescence efficiency of a semiconductor device is coupling a lens with the device. We quantitatively study the effects of a coupling lens on optical refrigeration based on rate equations and photon recycling, and calculated cooling efficiencies of different coupling mechanisms and of different lens materials. A GaAs/GaInP heterostructure coupled with a homo-epitaxial GaInP hemispherical lens is recommended.

Magnetic coupling properties of mn-doped ZnO nanowires: First-principles calculations

Based on the density functional theory, we study the magnetic coupling properties of Mn-doped ZnO nanowires. For the nanowires with passivated surfaces, the antiferromagnetic state is found and the Mn atoms have a clustering tendency. When the distance between two Mn atoms is large, the system energetically favors the paramagnetic or spin-glass state. For the nanowires with unpassivated surfaces, the ferromagnetic (FM) coupling states appear between the two nearest Mn atoms, and the zinc vacancies can further stabilize the FM states between them. The electrons with enough concentration possibly mediate the FM coupling due to the negative exchange splitting of conduction band minimum induced by the s-d coupling, which could be useful in nanomaterial design for spintronics. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Design and optimization of photonic crystal coupling layer for bi-color quantum well infrared photodetectors

Finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is used for the simulation and analysis of electromagnetic field in the top coupling layer of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP). Simulation results demonstrated the coupling efficiencies and distributions of electromagnetic (EM) field in a variety of 2D photonic crystal coupling layer structures. A photonic crystal structure for bi-color-QWIP is demonstrated with high coupling efficiency for two wavelengths.

Excitonic bright-to-dark transition induced by spin-orbit coupling

The center-of-mass motion of quasi-two-dimensional excitons with spin-orbit coupling is calculated within the framework of effective mass theory. The results indicate that the spin-orbit coupling will induce a controllable bright-to-dark transition in a quasi-two-dimensional exciton system. This procedure can work as a way to increase the lifetime of excitons. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

A new phototransistor with uni-travelling-carrier and optically gradual coupling properties

Based on appropriate combination of different band-gap InGaAsP, a new edge-coupled two-terminal double heterojunction phototransistor (ECTT-DHPT) was designed and fabricated, which is double heterojunction, free-aluminium, and works under uni-travelling-carrier mode and optically gradual coupling mode. This device is fully compatible with monolithic micro-wave integrated circuits (MMIC) and heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) in material and process. The DC characteristics reveal that the new ECTT-DHPT can perform good optoelectronic mix operation and linear amplification operation by optically biased at two appropriate value respectively. Responsivity of more than 52 A/W and dark current of 70 nA (when V-EC = 1 V) were obtained.

Magnetic coupling properties of rare-earth metals (Gd, Nd) doped ZnO: First-principles calculations

The electronic structure and magnetic coupling properties of rare-earth metals (Gd, Nd) doped ZnO have been investigated using first-principles methods. We show that the magnetic coupling between Gd or Nd ions in the nearest neighbor sites is ferromagnetic. The stability of the ferromagnetic coupling between Gd ions can be enhanced by appropriate electron doping into ZnO Gd system and the room-temperature ferromagnetism can be achieved. However, for ZnO Nd system, the ferromagnetism between Nd ions can be enhanced by appropriate holes doping into the sample. The room-temperature ferromagnetism can also be achieved in the n-conducting ZnO Nd sample. Our calculated results are in good agreement with the conclusions of the recent experiments. The effect of native defects (V-Zn, V-O) on the ferromagnetism is also discussed. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI 10.1063/1.3176490]

Chirp-free optical modulation using a silicon push-pull coupling microring

We propose a silicon ring-based optical modulation method to perform chirp-free optical modulations. In this scheme, we locate the light to be modulated at the resonance of the ring and tune the coupling coefficient between the ring and the straight waveguide by using a push-pull coupling structure. The chirp-free phase modulation can be achieved by varying the coupling coefficient in a large range, which can modify the coupling condition of the ring such that the input light experiences an abrupt phase shift of pi at the output. If the coupling coefficient is adjusted in a small range such that the coupling condition of the ring is kept unchanged, only the intensity of the light will be modulated. This leads to chirp-free intensity modulation. Our simulations performed at 10 Gbits/s confirm the feasibility of the proposal. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America