Design of Hilbert transformers with tunable THz bandwidths using a reconfigurable integrated optical FIR filter

We present the design and analysis of a wideband and tunable optical Hilbert transformer (OHT) using a tunable waveguide-based finite-impulse response (FIR) filter structure by using the digital filter design method and the Remez algorithm. The tunable Nth-order waveguide-based FIR filter, which simply consists of N delay lines, N tunable couplers, N tunable phase shifters and a combiner, can be tuned, by thermally adjusting the tunable couplers and tunable phase shifters, to tune the bandwidth of an OHT using silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, the simulation results have an excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. The tunable OHT can function as a wideband and tunable 90° phase shifter and thus has many potential applications. The two unique features of wideband characteristic (up to ~ 2 THz) and tunable bandwidth (THz tuning range) of the proposed OHT cannot be obtained from the existing OHTs.     

Passive tracking of a moving source by a single observer in shallow water

Tracking of a moving source (MS) in shallow water is analyzed. The noisy observations of bearing, β, and any two time delays, τ₁ and τ₂, are made by a single observer, as opposed to spatially separated observers. Here, the time delays, τ₁ and τ₂, are, respectively, the differences in arrival times between the surface reflected path and direct path signals, and between the bottom reflected path and direct path signals [1]. The estimation process of MS kinematics is greatly aided by the two time delay measurements. These measurements impart consistency to the observation equations at each instant of time. In contrast to noisy bearings-only motion analysis, tracking is performed in a three-dimensional frame with concomitant advantages. Principally, the unwieldy requirement for a velocity change, anterior to convergence of the Kalman filter, is eliminated. The convergence time for the filter is greatly diminished. Furthermore, the filter displays a low operational threshold. Its stability is maintained when mismodeling exists, either in the observation or in the kinematical models.     

Analysis of BPSK homodyne receivers based on modified balanced optical phase-locked loop in the presence of non-negligible loop propagation delay

Optical homodyne receivers based on modified balanced optical phase-locked loop is analyzed taking into account loop propagation delay. This modified loop contains all the components of a standard BOPLL in conjunction of an additional phase modulator. This modified loop offers a much improved tracking performance and also shows good improvements in the reduction performance over previously reported methods, like, relaxed line-width requirement and improved lock-in range. This study for the first time shows the imperfect-phase-recovery-induced power penalty as a function of laser line-width with the optimum phase deviations in the presence of non-negligible loop propagation delay. It is found that in order to maintain a 10⁻¹⁰ BER system performance with ξ = 1, R = 1 A/W, P_R = −53 dBm, Δυ = 1 MHz, phase modulator sensitivity K_PM = 10 rad/V and 10° phase deviation between the two transmitted bits, the loop delay must be kept below 3 ns. Further, the required line-width with the non-negligible loop delay time is evaluated and found to be (2.1 × 10⁻³)/τ, where τ (s) is the loop delay. This number corresponds to BER = 10⁻¹⁰, imperfect phase recovery power penalty of 1 dB and phase modulator sensitivity K_PM = 20 rad/V.     

Beyond the pulse-area theorem: Role of the absorption and the dispersion in the propagation of weak ultrashort resonant pulses

We present here some fundamental but yet underlooked features of the propagation of weak ultrashort pulses (with Δ_dτ << 1, where Δ_d is the Doppler width and τ is the pulse duration) in resonant atomic media. We show that the pulse area behaviour and the pulse spectrum at resonance are governed by the usual optical depth (α₀L, where α₀ is the absorption coefficient at resonance and L the length of the medium), whereas the pertinent parameter that governs the severity of the dispersion effects and the distortion of the pulse is the dispersion parameter e_disp = (α₀L)Δ_dτ that we introduce. Paradoxical effect such as distortionless propagation (e.g. e_disp << 1) with vanishing pulse area (when α₀L >> 1) can then explained within this formalism.     

1 × N add-drop filter structures using one dense wavelength division multiplexing thin-film filter

This paper proposes 1 × N add-drop filter structures in which only one thin-film filter (TF) is used. Our key idea is based on a combination of an angle-multiplexing concept and the flexibility of the optical fiber to allow a multiwavelength optical beam hit the TF several times, each time at a different angle but same position. Due to the TF angle sensitivity, the desired wavelength optical beam corresponding to the incident angle is therefore spatially isolated from the main optical beam. Our first TF-based 1 × N add-drop filter structure is arranged in a reflective design in which N wavelength optical beams can be dropped out from the main channel. For our transmissive architecture, N − 2 channels are directed to their associated output terminals while the remaining λ_N−1 and λ_N wavelength optical beams are sent out at the same port. Experimental proof of concept for our reflective TF-based 1 × 3 add-drop filter using one off-the-shelf TF, a triple fiber-optic collimator, and an optical circulator separates two wavelength optical beams with their channel spacing of 0.8 nm from the main channel. In this case, measured optical losses of 0.67 dB, 1.66 dB, and 2.59 dB are obtained for the first, the second, and the remaining dropped wavelength optical beams, respectively. Optical crosstalk and polarization dependent loss of <−18 dB and <0.08 dB are also investigated, respectively.     

IMPLEMENTATION OF A BROADBAND DUCT ANC SYSTEM USING ADAPTIVE SPATIALLY FEEDFORWARD STRUCTURE

An adaptive spatially feedforward algorithm is proposed for broadband attenuation of noise in ducts. Acoustic feedback generally exists in this active noise control structure. Munjal and Eriksson (1988 Journal of Acoustical Society of America84, 1086-1093) derived an ideal controller for the spatially feedforward structure. The ideal controller can be partitioned into two parts. The first part represents a repetitive controller that can be implemented by an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter, whereas the second part represents the dynamics of transducer that can be implemented by a finite impulse response (FIR) filter. In the paper, the IIR filter is merged with the original plant. The FIR filter is adaptively updated by the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm to accommodate perturbations and uncertainties in the system. The proposed algorithm is implemented via a floating point digital signal processor and compared with other commonly used algorithms such as the Filtered-X LMS algorithm, the feedback neutralization algorithm, and the Filtered-U LMS algorithm. Experimental results show that the system has attained 15·7 dB maximal attenuation in the frequency band 200-600 Hz.     

Effects of time delay on transient behavior of a time-delayed metastable system subjected to cross-correlated noises

The effects of time delay on the transient properties of a time-delayed metastable system subjected to cross-correlated noises are studied by means of a stochastic simulation method. It is found that: (i) Both additive noise and multiplicative noise can produce the noise enhanced stability (NES) effect; (ii) The time delay induces critical behavior on the NES, i.e., there is a critical value of the delay time τ_c1≈2.2, above which the time delay increases the stability of the system enhanced by the additive noise, and below which the NES effect induced by the additive noise disappears; (iii) There exists another critical value of the delay time τ_c2≈3.0, above which the time delay increases the stability of the system enhanced by the multiplicative noise and below which the time delay decreases it.     

Colored Gaussian noises induced stochastic resonance and stability transition for an insect growth system driven by a multiplicative periodic signal

In this paper, we focus on investigating the steady-state shift behaviors and the stochastic resonance phenomenon (SR) for a biological insect population system with a multiplicative periodic signal caused by the terms of the colored multiplicative and additive noises. Our research results imply that the multiplicative noise and the self-correlation of the additive noise can weaken the stability of the biological system and restrain the growth of the insect population, while the additive noise and the self-correlation time of the multiplicative noise can strengthen the stability of the insect system and facilitate the biological population to breed. As regards to the phenomenon of the SR evoked by a multiplicative periodic signal, noise terms and their correlation times, the computed results show that the additive noise intensity M and the self- correlation time τ₁ of the multiplicative noise can both improve the SR effect. Inversely, the multiplicative noise intensity Q and the self-correlation time τ₂ of the additive noise can suppress together the SR phenomenon. Whereas, it should be pointed out that in the SNR-Q and SNR-M plots, the two self-correlation times can both motivate a resonant peak, but not change the peak value of the SNR no matter how the two noise correlation times vary.     

Semiconductor laser amplitude and phase noises effects in coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry C-OFDR

We study the effects of the semiconductor laser noise on the generated beat signal, in Coherent Optical Domain Reflectometry device. By using a general laser noise analytical model, based on Volterra non-linear treatment of laser rate equations, we find a novel general expression of the beat photocurrent. We show that the coherence and the incoherence cases are observed for a different delay time intervals than the ones known in literature. We show that the coherence domain corresponds to a delay time lower than the half of the laser coherence time τ₀<1/2τ_c, and the incoherence domain corresponds for τ₀>2τ_c. An original shape of the beat signal autocorrelation function affected by the laser noises is obtained.     

Spectral switching-based fan-out architecture and information processing in free-space

In this paper, we elaborate different type of spectral switching techniques and spectral switching-based information processing (SSBIP) schemes. On the basis of theoretical, experimental and empirical studies carried out so far on spectral switching, we demonstrate novel type of interference-induced 1 × N (1 input N outputs) and 1 × N × M (1 input N × M outputs) spectral switching-based fan-out architectures for information transmission in free-space. In addition, a comprehensive analysis is presented to explore the feasibility of SSBIP scheme in contrast to the recent technological advancements. The spectral switching-based techniques are contrived ideas but might find potential applications in optical computing, state-of-the-art technique like SIMO (single-input multiple-output), free-space optical (FSO) interconnects and polychromatic light-based FSO communications.     

Pruned optical banyan networks on vertical stacking scheme for faster connection establishment

In this paper, we address the issue of faster connection establishment in a large vertically stacked optical Banyan (VSOB) network. The best known global routing algorithm, which turns an N × N crosstalk-free VSOB network into a rearrangeably non-blocking one, has time complexity O (NlogN). This is quite large compared to O (NlogN) time complexity of a single plane banyan network, which is a self-routing network with very high blocking probability. For a large size of switching network this O (NlogN) time complexity may result unacceptably long delay. Therefore, an optical network with very low blocking probability and O (NlogN) time complexity will be useful. Previously proposed Plane Fixed Routing (PFR) algorithm has O (logN) time complexity but results in higher than 2% blocking probability with zero-crosstalk constraint for a network as large as 4096 × 4096 at full load. In this paper, first we propose the pruning of VSOB networks that reduces the hardware cost by almost 30%. The networks can still use the PFR algorithm and results in the same blocking probability. However, we show that the blocking probability can be reduced dramatically while keeping the optimum time complexity O (logN) by allowing only a small amount of crosstalk. Then, we propose a new kind of switching networks in which extra regular banyan planes have been added with the pruned VBOS (P-VSOB) networks. Necessary routing algorithms, namely, PFR_RS and PFR_LS show that this new switching network can reduce the blocking probability to very low value even with zero-crosstalk constraint while keeping the hardware cost 3almost the same as for P-VSOB networks. Both these algorithms also have time complexity O (NlogN).     

Effects of low frequency near metal-insulator transition temperatures on polycrystalline La0.65Ca0.35Mn1−yFeyO3 (where y=0.05-0.10) ceramic oxides

The ac electrical properties of 5-10% Fe doped polycrystalline sample have been investigated by complex impedance analysis over the frequency and temperature ranges of 1-100 kHz and 77-300 K, respectively. The average normalized change (ΔZ′/Δf)/Z₀ has been deduced for these Fe doped CMR samples which shows an increasing trend with iron doping. The most pronounced effect of frequencies is at T_c, with the increase of Fe doping it is observed that not only T_c is lowered substantially but also the height of the peaks of real part of impedance (Z′) is increased which in turn decreases considerably with the increase of the ac field. An equivalent circuit model, R_g(R_gbC_gb), i.e. a resistor-capacitor network, has been proposed to explain the impedance results at different temperatures. The plot between τ and 1/T gives a straight line from where relaxation time (τ₀) has been deduced. The correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model has been employed and the binding energy of the defect states is estimated to be between 0.39 and 0.25 eV while the minimum hoping distance varies within the range of 2.93-5.21 Å for these 5-10% Fe doped LCM samples.     

Reflectance and ellipsometric study of anodic film on platinum electrode

The anodic films on platinum electrode in 0.05 M sulfuric acid solution were examined by means of ellipsometry. By measuring the relative phase retardation (Δ), relative amplitude reduction (tanψ) and also the intensity of the reflected polarized light, the optical constants of the films (n, k) and thickness (τ) at various potentials were obtained. The results showed that the optical properties of the film remain nearly constant (n = 2.8, k = 1.7) while the thickness increases from 2 Å to 5 Å with anodic potential. From this evidence, it is concluded that the film is made of an oxide of platinum forming a definite phase.     

The critical phenomenon and the re-entrance phenomenon in the anti-tumor model induced by the time delay

The effects of time delay τ on an anti-tumor model driven by a multiplicative noise and a periodic signal are investigated. The results obtained from the small delay approximation and numerical simulations indicate: (i) For the absence of the periodic signal in the system, the two-peak structure of the stationary probability distribution transforms into the single-peak structure with the increasing τ, and τ exists a critical value τc. For τ<τc, the stationary mean value 〈x〉_st of the cell population decreases as the noise intensity D increases, however, for τ>τc, the 〈x〉_st increases as the D increases; (ii) For the presence of the periodic signal in the system, the structure of the signal-to-noise ratio with changes of the D exhibits the transitions of one peak → two peaks → one peak as τ increases.     

Impact of time delay and a multiplicative periodic signal on stochastic resonance and steady states shift for a stochastic insect outbreak system subjected to Gaussian noises

In this paper, we aim to investigate comprehensively the steady-states characteristics, the stochastic resonance phenomenon and the mean decline time for an insect outbreak system caused by the terms of the multiplicative, additive noises and time delay,. Our results exhibit that the multiplicative noise and the time delay can both reduce the stability of the biological system and speed up the extinction process of the insect population, while the additive noise can decrease the possibility of the decline of the biological population by a wide margin and make contribution to the survival and reproduction of the insect system to some extent. On the other hand, as regards to the stochastic resonance phenomenon (SR) induced by noise terms, time delay term and a weak multiplicative periodic signal, the numerical results show that the multiplicative noise intensity Q always suppresses the SR effect in any case, while the additive noise intensity M can inhibit the SR effect in the case of a big value of Q, but excite the maximum of the SNR for the case of a small value of Q. Moreover, time delay τ exerts mainly the inhibitory effect on the SR phenomenon except that in the SNR-Q plot.     

Dielectric relaxation study of poly(ethylene glycols) using TDR technique

Temperature dependent dielectric relaxation and thermodynamic properties of polyethylene glycols HO[CH₂CH₂O)_nH with number average molecular weight 200 (n = 4), 300 (n = 7), 400 (n = 9) and 600 (n = 14) g mol^− 1 have been studied using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) in the frequency range 10 MHz to 20 GHz. The frequency dependence of the complex dielectric permittivity is analyzed by the Havriliak-Negami expression. The static permittivity ε₀, high frequency limiting static permittivity ε_∞, average relaxation time τ₀ and thermodynamic energy parameters such as free energy, enthalpy of activation and entropy of activation have been determined. The average free energy of activation ΔF_τ for PEG molecules was found to be in the range 4-5 kcal mol^− 1. The values of entropy ΔS_τ for PEG-200, PEG-400 and PEG-600 molecules were found to be positive while entropy ΔS_τ for PEG-300 molecules was found negative, which confirms that the configuration of PEG-300 involved in the dipolar orientation has an activated state, which is more ordered than the normal state compared to PEG-200, PEG-400 and PEG-600 molecules.     

Performance analysis of 45° coupled structure of optical waveguide based on electro-optical printed circuit board

In this paper, the non-ideal 45° coupled structure of the optical waveguide was simulated and analyzed by the finite element theory. Since the doctor-blade and grinding methods were used to product the electro-optical printed circuit board (EOPCB), the thickness of the core layer and the length of the 45° mirror side will be, respectively, in the variation of ±2 μm. In this case, output power values were calculated when the TE10 and TE20 were separately used as input signal; then they were individually compared with the ideal output power values. It can be seen that Δ% is not more than 0.45% by the TE10 wave, while Δ% is not more than 3.5% by the TE20 wave. The variation of output power compared with the input power is very small; this technology was more suitable for the actual EOPCB production.     

Sub-millimeter wave spectroscopy of CHD2OH: a-type and asymmetry induced c-type transitions in the lowest three torsional sub-levels

The sub-millimeter wave (SMMW) spectral measurements using a fast scan backward wave oscillator based spectrometer have been carried out for asymmetrically deuterated methanol CHD₂OH (Methanol-D₂). Transition frequencies have an estimated uncertainty of about ±50 kHz. Albeit the complexity in the spectra, assignments were possible for a large number of a-type (ΔK = 0) transitions. In the course of the assignment process a strong c-type (ΔK = 1) Q-branch connecting two states of different symmetry species has been identified. This Q-branch assignment is significant because it is forbidden in the normal parent species CH₃OH. It becomes allowed in the current species due to the effects of the asymmetry introduced by the off-axis deuterium in the hindering potential to the internal rotation in the molecule. The assignments are rigorously confirmed using combination relations which required the measurement of some other related lines. To our knowledge this is the first time such symmetry breaking transitions are reported in CHD₂OH and in fact this is the first time the SMMW spectrum of CHD₂OH is being reported. Detailed spectral study of this molecule in the IR and FIR regions is in progress and will be reported elsewhere. Detailed study of the identification optically pumped FIR laser line is underway.     

A skew ray tracing-based approach to the error analysis of optical elements with flat boundary surfaces

This study applies skew ray tracing based on a 4×4 homogeneous coordinate transformation matrix and Snell's law to develop a detailed methodology for analyzing the errors of a ray's light path as it passes through optical elements with flat boundary surfaces. The error analysis methodology considers two fundamental sources of light path error, namely (1) the translational errors (ΔX_i, ΔY_i and ΔZ_i) and rotational errors (ΔΓ_i, ΔΨ_i and ΔΦ_i) which determine the deviation of the light path at each boundary surface in terms of the coordinate frame attached to that surface, and (2) the differential changes induced in the incident point and unit directional vector of the refracted/reflected ray by differential changes in the position and unit directional vector of the light source. The validity of the proposed methodology is verified using a solid glass corner-cube.     

Effects of time delay and non-Gaussian noise on the dynamics of a perceptual bistability

In this paper, we investigate the effects of time delay and non-Gaussian noise on the dynamics properties of the attractor network model of perceptual bistability. Using delay Fokker–Planck equation and projection operator method, the stationary probability distribution P_st(x), the associated relaxation time T_c, and the normalized correlation function C(s) for perceptual bistability are obtained, respectively. Research results show that: (i) the time delay τ and the correlation time τ₀ from non-Gaussian noise can induce the change of the peaks in the P_st(x), i.e., the transition of the system appears; (ii) there exhibits an optimal value of the τ₀ or τ by which the T_c or C(s) is maximum, this maximum shows the τ₀ or τ first reduces the stability of the attractor network model of perceptual bistability in the steady state, and then enhances it; and (iii) the noise intensity P or departure q from the Gaussian noise only enhances the stability of the attractor network model of perceptual bistability in the steady state.