The optoelectronic swept-frequency laser and its applications in ranging, three-dimensional imaging, and coherent beam combining of chirped-seed amplifiers

This thesis explores the design, construction, and applications of the optoelectronic swept-frequency laser (SFL). The optoelectronic SFL is a feedback loop designed around a swept-frequency (chirped) semiconductor laser (SCL) to control its instantaneous optical frequency, such that the chirp characteristics are determined solely by a reference electronic oscillator. The resultant system generates precisely controlled optical frequency sweeps. In particular, we focus on linear chirps because of their numerous applications. We demonstrate optoelectronic SFLs based on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and distributed-feedback lasers (DFBs) at wavelengths of 1550 nm and 1060 nm. We develop an iterative bias current predistortion procedure that enables SFL operation at very high chirp rates, up to 10^16 Hz/sec. We describe commercialization efforts and implementation of the predistortion algorithm in a stand-alone embedded environment, undertaken as part of our collaboration with Telaris, Inc. We demonstrate frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) ranging and three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a 1550 nm optoelectronic SFL.

We develop the technique of multiple source FMCW (MS-FMCW) reflectometry, in which the frequency sweeps of multiple SFLs are "stitched" together in order to increase the optical bandwidth, and hence improve the axial resolution, of an FMCW ranging measurement. We demonstrate computer-aided stitching of DFB and VCSEL sweeps at 1550 nm. We also develop and demonstrate hardware stitching, which enables MS-FMCW ranging without additional signal processing. The culmination of this work is the hardware stitching of four VCSELs at 1550 nm for a total optical bandwidth of 2 THz, and a free-space axial resolution of 75 microns.

We describe our work on the tomographic imaging camera (TomICam), a 3-D imaging system based on FMCW ranging that features non-mechanical acquisition of transverse pixels. Our approach uses a combination of electronically tuned optical sources and low-cost full-field detector arrays, completely eliminating the need for moving parts traditionally employed in 3-D imaging. We describe the basic TomICam principle, and demonstrate single-pixel TomICam ranging in a proof-of-concept experiment. We also discuss the application of compressive sensing (CS) to the TomICam platform, and perform a series of numerical simulations. These simulations show that tenfold compression is feasible in CS TomICam, which effectively improves the volume acquisition speed by a factor ten.

We develop chirped-wave phase-locking techniques, and apply them to coherent beam combining (CBC) of chirped-seed amplifiers (CSAs) in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The precise chirp linearity of the optoelectronic SFL enables non-mechanical compensation of optical delays using acousto-optic frequency shifters, and its high chirp rate simultaneously increases the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold of the active fiber. We characterize a 1550 nm chirped-seed amplifier coherent-combining system. We use a chirp rate of 5*10^14 Hz/sec to increase the amplifier SBS threshold threefold, when compared to a single-frequency seed. We demonstrate efficient phase-locking and electronic beam steering of two 3 W erbium-doped fiber amplifier channels, achieving temporal phase noise levels corresponding to interferometric fringe visibilities exceeding 98%.

Microglia in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices in individuals with autism

In this thesis, we explore the density of the microglia in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices of individuals with autism to investigate the hypothesis that neuroinflammation is involved in autism. We describe in our findings an increase in microglial density in two disparate cortical regions, frontal insular cortex and visual cortex, in individuals with autism (Tetreault et al., 2012). Our results imply that there is a global increase in the microglial density and neuroinflammation in the cerebral cortex of individuals with autism.

We expanded our cerebellar study to additional neurodevelopmental disorders that exhibit similar behaviors to autism spectrum disorder and have known cerebellar pathology. We subsequently found a more than threefold increase in the microglial density specific to the molecular layer of the cerebellum, which is the region of the Purkinje and parallel fiber synapses, in individuals with autism and Rett syndrome. Moreover, we report that not only is there an increase in microglia density in the molecular layer, the microglial cell bodies are significantly larger in perimeter and area in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and Rett syndrome compared to controls that implies that the microglia are activated. Additionally, an individual with Angelman syndrome and the sibling of an individual with autism have microglial densities similar to the individuals with autism and Rett syndrome. By contrast, an individual with Joubert syndrome, which is a developmental hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, had a normal density of microglia, indicating the specific pathology in the cerebellum does not necessarily result in increased microglial densities. We found a significant decrease in Purkinje cells specific to the cerebellar vermis in individuals with autism.

These findings indicate the importance for investigation of the Purkinje synapses in autism and that the relationship between the microglia and the synapses is of great utility in understanding the pathology in autism. Together, these data provide further evidence for the neuroinflammation hypothesis in autism and a basis for future investigation of neuroinflammation in autism. In particular, investigating the function of microglia in modifying synaptic connectivity in the cerebellum may provide key insights into developing therapeutics in autism spectrum disorder.

Catalytic conversion of nitrogen to ammonia by an iron model complex

Threefold symmetric Fe phosphine complexes have been used to model the structural and functional aspects of biological N₂ fixation by nitrogenases. Low-valent bridging Fe-S-Fe complexes in the formal oxidation states Fe(II)Fe(II), Fe(II)/Fe(I), and Fe(I)/Fe(I) have been synthesized which display rich spectroscopic and magnetic behavior. A series of cationic tris-phosphine borane (TPB) ligated Fe complexes have been synthesized and been shown to bind a variety of nitrogenous ligands including N₂H₄, NH₃, and NH₂-. These complexes are all high spin S = 3/2 and display EPR and magnetic characteristics typical of this spin state. Furthermore, a sequential protonation and reduction sequence of a terminal amide results in loss of NH₃ and uptake of N₂. These stoichiometric transformations represent the final steps in potential N₂ fixation schemes.

Treatment of an anionic FeN₂ complex with excess acid also results in the formation of some NH₃, suggesting the possibility of a catalytic cycle for the conversion of N₂ to NH₃ mediated by Fe. Indeed, use of excess acid and reductant results in the formation of seven equivalents of NH₃ per Fe center, demonstrating Fe mediated catalytic N₂ fixation with acids and protons for the first time. Numerous control experiments indicate that this catalysis is likely being mediated by a molecular species.

A number of other phosphine ligated Fe complexes have also been tested for catalysis and suggest that a hemi-labile Fe-B interaction may be critical for catalysis. Additionally, various conditions for the catalysis have been investigated. These studies further support the assignment of a molecular species and delineate some of the conditions required for catalysis.

Finally, combined spectroscopic studies have been performed on a putative intermediate for catalysis. These studies converge on an assignment of this new species as a hydrazido(2-) complex. Such species have been known on group 6 metals for some time, but this represents the first characterization of this ligand on Fe. Further spectroscopic studies suggest that this species is present in catalytic mixtures, which suggests that the first steps of a distal mechanism for N₂ fixation are feasible in this system.

Wind-driven desertification: process modeling, remote monitoring, and forecasting

Arid and semiarid landscapes comprise nearly a third of the Earth's total land surface. These areas are coming under increasing land use pressures. Despite their low productivity these lands are not barren. Rather, they consist of fragile ecosystems vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance.

The purpose of this thesis is threefold: (I) to develop and test a process model of wind-driven desertification, (II) to evaluate next-generation process-relevant remote monitoring strategies for use in arid and semiarid regions, and (III) to identify elements for effective management of the world's drylands.

In developing the process model of wind-driven desertification in arid and semiarid lands, field, remote sensing, and modeling observations from a degraded Mojave Desert shrubland are used. This model focuses on aeolian removal and transport of dust, sand, and litter as the primary mechanisms of degradation: killing plants by burial and abrasion, interrupting natural processes of nutrient accumulation, and allowing the loss of soil resources by abiotic transport. This model is tested in field sampling experiments at two sites and is extended by Fourier Transform and geostatistical analysis of high-resolution imagery from one site.

Next, the use of hyperspectral remote sensing data is evaluated as a substantive input to dryland remote monitoring strategies. In particular, the efficacy of spectral mixture analysis (SMA) in discriminating vegetation and soil types and detennining vegetation cover is investigated. The results indicate that hyperspectral data may be less useful than often thought in determining vegetation parameters. Its usefulness in determining soil parameters, however, may be leveraged by developing simple multispectral classification tools that can be used to monitor desertification.

Finally, the elements required for effective monitoring and management of arid and semiarid lands are discussed. Several large-scale multi-site field experiments are proposed to clarify the role of wind as a landscape and degradation process in dry lands. The role of remote sensing in monitoring the world's drylands is discussed in terms of optimal remote sensing platform characteristics and surface phenomena which may be monitored in order to identify areas at risk of desertification. A desertification indicator is proposed that unifies consideration of environmental and human variables.

A paisagem sonora eletrônica: a construção de novas audibilidades no cinema

Novas tecnologias, entendidas como parte integrante dos ambientes midiáticos contemporâneos, ajudam a conformar novos modelos perceptivos. O surgimento e a proliferação de tecnologias de síntese e de modelagem de sons por meios eletrônicos recria a relação entre o espaço presente no filme e as referências significantes que possuímos desse espaço. Os sons destacam-se dos objetos empíricos, alargando o campo de significações e de afetações sensoriais. Ao criar novas relações entre o corpo do espectador e uma inédita paisagem sonora eletrônica, novas tecnologias de som, como parte de um processo mais amplo das mídias, demandam um maior envolvimento da plateia. Dispositivos de imersão, efeitos especiais, uma nova distribuição espacial do ambiente sonoro, maior fidelidade e potência, reproduzem o encantamento físico despertado pelos primeiros cinemas. Para analisar o surgimento de novas audibilidades, novas formas de investigar o mundo a partir dessas tecnologias e dessa atual paisagem sonora, este trabalho procura uma abordagem tríplice. Inicialmente, procuramos fazer uma descrição de cunho fenomenológico da experiência cinematográfica. Em seguida, utilizamos propostas da Teoria das Materialidades para falar das afetações físicas induzidas pelo espaço sonoro eletrônico. Por último, utilizamos a perspectiva das ciências cognitivas que nos diz que corpo, cérebro e ambiente neste caso um ambiente extremamente tecnológico fazem parte de um mesmo processo dinâmico

Sobre o gozo na clínica psicanalítica com mulheres devastadas

A presente pesquisa sobre o gozo na clínica com mulheres devastadas teve como foco o lugar ocupado pelo gozo em seu aspecto mortífero, de excesso e falta de medida, que se manifesta no âmbito das parcerias amorosas. Partindo das experiências relatadas por algumas analisandas, que as descrevem como "sair do corpo", "ficar louca", "descontrolada" ou "fora de si", e das formulações psicanalíticas a respeito do gozo feminino, buscou-se discutir a questão a partir dos referenciais propostos por Freud e Lacan no que diz respeito à constituição da feminilidade e do feminino, tais como a catástrofe e a devastação na ligação com a mãe e com o parceiro, a forma erotomaníaca de amar, além das duas formas de gozo nas mulheres. Entre os temas abordados nesta dissertação destacam-se as operações da castração e do Complexo de Édipo, juntamente com o seu elemento central, o falo, que permitem trazer à discussão algumas consequências para as mulheres, sobretudo as posições implicadas, a saber: o falo e a mascarada. O conceito de gozo é examinado através de três ser mascarada articulações principais. Primeiramente, a tentativa de Freud, que parece a mais antiga na psicanálise, de circunscrever um gozo propriamente feminino, ligado à satisfação da pulsão pela via da zona vaginal; em segundo lugar, o pensamento de Lacan em Diretrizes para um congresso sobre a sexualidade feminina (1958), em que ele recupera a questão freudiana do congresso sobre a sexualidade feminina gozo feminino, e posteriormente no Seminário 7:a ética da psicanálise (1959-1960), desenvolvido durante o período de preparação para o referido congresso, no qual Lacan eleva o gozo ao estatuto de conceito. Como desdobramento, encontram-se algumas articulações clínicas acerca do gozo devastador nos relacionamentos amorosos, tomando como referência a personagem da Erwartung, op. 17 , de Arnold Schoenberg e as mulheres que encontramos no dia a dia da clínica.

Turbomachinery computational fluid dynamics: asymptotes and paradigm shifts.

This paper reviews the development of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) specifically for turbomachinery simulations and with a particular focus on application to problems with complex geometry. The review is structured by considering this development as a series of paradigm shifts, followed by asymptotes. The original S1-S2 blade-blade-throughflow model is briefly described, followed by the development of two-dimensional then three-dimensional blade-blade analysis. This in turn evolved from inviscid to viscous analysis and then from steady to unsteady flow simulations. This development trajectory led over a surprisingly small number of years to an accepted approach-a 'CFD orthodoxy'. A very important current area of intense interest and activity in turbomachinery simulation is in accounting for real geometry effects, not just in the secondary air and turbine cooling systems but also associated with the primary path. The requirements here are threefold: capturing and representing these geometries in a computer model; making rapid design changes to these complex geometries; and managing the very large associated computational models on PC clusters. Accordingly, the challenges in the application of the current CFD orthodoxy to complex geometries are described in some detail. The main aim of this paper is to argue that the current CFD orthodoxy is on a new asymptote and is not in fact suited for application to complex geometries and that a paradigm shift must be sought. In particular, the new paradigm must be geometry centric and inherently parallel without serial bottlenecks. The main contribution of this paper is to describe such a potential paradigm shift, inspired by the animation industry, based on a fundamental shift in perspective from explicit to implicit geometry and then illustrate this with a number of applications to turbomachinery.

1.55 mu m Ge islands resonant-cavity-enhanced detector with high-reflectivity bottom mirror

A 1.55 mum Ge islands resonant-cavity-enhanced (RCE) detector with high-reflectivity bottom mirror was fabricated by a simple method. The bottom mirror was deposited in the hole formed by anisotropically etching in a basic solution from the back side of the sample with the buried SiO2 layer in silicon-on-insulator substrate as the etch-stop layer. Reflectivity spectrum indicates that the mirror deposited in the hole has a reflectivity as high as 99% in the range of 1.2-1.65 mum. The peak responsivity of the RCE detector at 1543.8 nm is 0.028 mA/W and a full width at half maximum of 5 nm is obtained. Compared with the conventional p-i-n photodetector, the responsivity of RCE detector has a nearly threefold enhancement. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Photovoltage and luminescence study of stacked InAs/GaAs self-organized quantum dots

The ground and excited state excitonic transitions of stacked InAs self-organized quantum dots (QDs) in a laser diode structure are studied. The interband absorption transitions of QDs are investigated by non-destructive PV spectra, indicating that the strongest absorption is related to the excited states with a high density and coincides with the photon energy of lasing emission. The temperature and excitation (electric injection) intensity dependences of photoluminescence and electroluminescence indicate the influence of state filling effect on the luminescence of threefold stacked QDs. The results indicate that different coupling channels exist between electronic states in both vertical and lateral directions.

Si-based membrane resonant cavity enhanced photodetectors

Si-based membrane RCE photodetectors were introduced. The RCE photodiodes were fabricated on silicon membranes formed from SOI substrate. Compared with the conventional p-i-n photodiode, the responsivity has a threefold enhancement.

1.55 mu m Ge islands resonant-cavity-enhanced narrowband detector

The high quality Ge islands material with 1.55 mu m photo-response grown on Sol substrate is reported. Due to the modulation of the cavity formed by the mirrors at the surface and the buried SiO2 interface, seven sharp and strong peaks with narrow linewidth are found. And a 1.55 mu m Ge islands resonant-cavity-enhanced (RCE) detector with narrowband was fabricated by a simple method. The bottom mirror was deposited in the hole formed by anisotropically etching, in a basic solution from the backside of the sample with the buried SiO2 layer in silicon-on-insulator substrate as the etch-stop layer. Reflectivity spectrum indicates that the mirror deposited in the hole has a reflectivity as high as 99% in the range of 1.2-1.65 mu m. The peak responsivity of the RCE detector at 1543.8 nm is 0.028 mA/W and a full width at half maximum of 5 nm is obtained. Compared with the conventional p-i-n photodetector, the responsivity of RCE detector has a nearly threefold enhancement.

Photovoltage and luminescence study of stacked InAs/GaAs self-organized quantum dots

The ground and excited state excitonic transitions of stacked InAs self-organized quantum dots (QDs) in a laser diode structure are studied. The interband absorption transitions of QDs are investigated by non-destructive PV spectra, indicating that the strongest absorption is related to the excited states with a high density and coincides with the photon energy of lasing emission. The temperature and excitation (electric injection) intensity dependences of photoluminescence and electroluminescence indicate the influence of state filling effect on the luminescence of threefold stacked QDs. The results indicate that different coupling channels exist between electronic states in both vertical and lateral directions.

Primmorphs from archaeocytes-dominant cell population of the sponge Hymeniacidon perleve: Improved cell proliferation and spiculogenesis

Marine sponges (Porifera) possess an extraordinary diversity of bioactive metabolites for new drug discovery and development. In vitro cultivation of sponge cells in a bioreactor system is very attractive for the sustainable production of sponge-derived bioactive metabolites; however, it is still a challenging task. The recent establishment of sponge primmorphs, multicellular aggregates from dissociated mixed-cell population (MCP), has been widely acknowledged to hold great promise for cultivation in vitro. Here we present a new method to establish an in vitro sponge primmorph culture from archaeocyte-dominant cell population (ADCP) enriched by a Ficoll gradient, rather than a mixed-cell population (MCP). Our rationale is based upon the totipotency (the ability of a cell to differentiate into other cell types) of archaeocyte cells and the different biological functions of various sponge cell types. A sponge, Hymeniacidon perleve collected from the China Yellow Sea was used as a model system for this investigation. Distinct dynamics of primmorph formation were observed while significant increases in DNA synthesis, cell proliferation (up to threefold), and cell growth (up to fourfold) were achieved. Furthermore, a time-dependent spiculogenesis was clearly demonstrated in our longterm culture, indicating high metabolic activity of primmorphs from the ADCP. This new method represents an important step forward to advance sponge cell culture in vitro that may lead to commercial exploitation of sponge-derived drugs. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Organic thin-film transistors having inorganic/organic double gate insulators

Bottom-contact organic thin-film transistors (BC OTFTs) based on inorganic/organic double gate insulators were demonstrated. The double gate insulators consisted of tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) with high dielectric constant (kappa) as the first gate insulator and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) with low kappa as the second gate insulator. The devices have carrier mobilities larger than 10(-2) cm(2)/V s, on/off current ratio greater than 10(5), and the threshold voltage of -14 V, which is threefold larger field-effect mobility and an order of magnitude larger on/off current ratio than the OTFTs with a Ta2O5 gate insulator. The leakage current was decreased from 2.4x10(-6) to 7.4x10(-8) A due to the introduction of the OTS second dielectric layer. The results demonstrated that using inorganic/organic double insulator as the gate dielectric layer is an effective method to fabricate OTFTs with improved electric characteristics.

Overlay Network Creation and Maintenance with Selfish Users

Overlay networks have been used for adding and enhancing functionality to the end-users without requiring modifications in the Internet core mechanisms. Overlay networks have been used for a variety of popular applications including routing, file sharing, content distribution, and server deployment. Previous work has focused on devising practical neighbor selection heuristics under the assumption that users conform to a specific wiring protocol. This is not a valid assumption in highly decentralized systems like overlay networks. Overlay users may act selfishly and deviate from the default wiring protocols by utilizing knowledge they have about the network when selecting neighbors to improve the performance they receive from the overlay. This thesis goes against the conventional thinking that overlay users conform to a specific protocol. The contributions of this thesis are threefold. It provides a systematic evaluation of the design space of selfish neighbor selection strategies in real overlays, evaluates the performance of overlay networks that consist of users that select their neighbors selfishly, and examines the implications of selfish neighbor and server selection to overlay protocol design and service provisioning respectively. This thesis develops a game-theoretic framework that provides a unified approach to modeling Selfish Neighbor Selection (SNS) wiring procedures on behalf of selfish users. The model is general, and takes into consideration costs reflecting network latency and user preference profiles, the inherent directionality in overlay maintenance protocols, and connectivity constraints imposed on the system designer. Within this framework the notion of user’s "best response" wiring strategy is formalized as a k-median problem on asymmetric distance and is used to obtain overlay structures in which no node can re-wire to improve the performance it receives from the overlay. Evaluation results presented in this thesis indicate that selfish users can reap substantial performance benefits when connecting to overlay networks composed of non-selfish users. In addition, in overlays that are dominated by selfish users, the resulting stable wirings are optimized to such great extent that even non-selfish newcomers can extract near-optimal performance through naïve wiring strategies. To capitalize on the performance advantages of optimal neighbor selection strategies and the emergent global wirings that result, this thesis presents EGOIST: an SNS-inspired overlay network creation and maintenance routing system. Through an extensive measurement study on the deployed prototype, results presented in this thesis show that EGOIST’s neighbor selection primitives outperform existing heuristics on a variety of performance metrics, including delay, available bandwidth, and node utilization. Moreover, these results demonstrate that EGOIST is competitive with an optimal but unscalable full-mesh approach, remains highly effective under significant churn, is robust to cheating, and incurs minimal overheads. This thesis also studies selfish neighbor selection strategies for swarming applications. The main focus is on n-way broadcast applications where each of n overlay user wants to push its own distinct file to all other destinations as well as download their respective data files. Results presented in this thesis demonstrate that the performance of our swarming protocol for n-way broadcast on top of overlays of selfish users is far superior than the performance on top of existing overlays. In the context of service provisioning, this thesis examines the use of distributed approaches that enable a provider to determine the number and location of servers for optimal delivery of content or services to its selfish end-users. To leverage recent advances in virtualization technologies, this thesis develops and evaluates a distributed protocol to migrate servers based on end-users demand and only on local topological knowledge. Results under a range of network topologies and workloads suggest that the performance of the distributed deployment is comparable to that of the optimal but unscalable centralized deployment.