Reduction of nonlinear impairments in fiber transmission system using fiber and/or transmitter diversity

A multi-fiber architecture is proposed to mitigate the nonlinear impairments in fiber-optic systems. The power launched to each fiber is reduced in multi-fiber architecture as compared to the case of single fiber leading to reduction in nonlinear impairments. The optical pulses propagating in the fibers undergo different amount of phase shifts and timing delays. Optical and electrical equalization techniques to compensate for these channel effects are discussed. Our numerical simulation results show that for unrepeatered systems, the performance (Q factor) is improved by 6.2 dB using 8-fiber configuration as compared to single-fiber system. In addition, for multi-span system, the transmission reach at a bit error rate (BER) of 2.1 × 10^? 3 is quadrupled in 8-fiber configuration.     

Preparation and electrochemical characterization of cation- and anion-exchange/polyaniline composite membranes

Composite membranes were prepared by chemical polymerization of a thin layer of polyaniline (PANI) in the presence of a high oxidant concentration on a single face of a sulfonated cation-exchange membrane (CEM) and quaternary aminated anion-exchange membrane (AEM). IR and SEM studies for both types of membranes confirmed PANI loading on the ion-exchange membranes. PANI composite ion-exchange membranes were characterized as a function of the polymerization time by ion-exchange capacity, coating density, and membrane conductance measurements. Membrane potential measurements were performed in various electrolyte solutions in order to observe the selectivity of these membranes for different types of counterions. Membrane potential data in conjunction with membrane conductance data was interpreted on the basis of frictional considerations between membrane matrix and solute. Electrodialysis experiments, using PANI composite ion-exchange membranes with 4 h polymerization time, were performed in single and mixed electrolyte solutions for observing electromigration of solute across PANI composite ion-exchange membranes. Relative dialytic rates of Na(2)SO(4), CaCl(2), and CuCl(2) were estimated with reference to NaCl on the basis of electrodialysis experiments and it was concluded that it is possible to separate different electrolytes using PANI composite ion-exchange membranes.     

Comparative studies on electrochemical characterization of homogeneous and heterogeneous type of ion-exchange membranes

Interpolymer films of poly-ethylene and styrene-divinyl benzene copolymer were subjected to chlorosulfonation or chloromethylation then amination for the preparation of homogeneous type of cation- or anion-exchange membranes, respectively. Heterogeneous types of ion-exchange membranes were prepared from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as binder and ion-exchange resin powder in tetrahydrofuran solvent. Membrane potential and conductance measurements have been carried out in NaCl(aq), CuCl₂(aq) and AlCl₃(aq) solutions at different concentrations to investigate the relationship between concentration of fixed charges and electrochemical properties of these membranes. On the basis of the micro-heterogeneous model, describing the micro-structure of the membrane material, the counter-ion diffusion coefficients were estimated. Membrane conductance data, along with values of concentration of fixed ionic site in the membrane, were used for the estimation of the tortuosity factor and salt permeability employing non-equilibrium thermodynamic principles. It was concluded that electrochemical transport properties of homogeneous type of ion-exchange membranes are superior to those for heterogeneous type of ion-exchange membranes. However, both types of membranes are suitable for electrodriven separation of mono-, bi- and tri-valent electrolytes.     

SOA-based multi-wavelength laser using fiber Bragg gratings

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a triple-wavelength fiber ring laser using a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in conjunction with a series of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The three channels operate at 1554.4, 1555.3, and 1556.1 nm with a peak power above ?25 dBm and optical signal-to-noise (OSNR) above 30 dB at SOA drive current of 350 mA under the room temperature. The proposed laser configuration has the advantages of a simple and compact structure, multi-wavelength operation and the system can be upgraded to generate more wavelengths by increasing the number of FBG used.     

Elastic scattering of \sf{59.54}-keV \sf{\gamma}-rays in elements with \sf{22 \leq {Z} \leq {92}} at momentum transfer \sf{0.4 \leq {x} \leq 4.7~{\AA}^{\sf -1}}

Differential cross sections for elastic scattering of the 59.54 keV γ-rays in elements with 22 ≤Z ≤92 have been measured over the angular range 10^○–160^○corresponding to the momentum transfer 0.4 ≤x ≤4.7 Å^-1. The measurements at forward and backward angles were performed using the ²⁴¹Am radioactive point-source, target and the Ge detectors in the transmission and reflection arrangements, respectively. The measured differential scattering cross sections are compared with those based on the form-factor (FF) formalism and state-of-the-art S-matrix calculations to differentiate between their relative efficacies and to check angular-dependence of the anomalous scattering factors (ASF) incorporated as correction to the modified form-factor (MF). The S-matrix values exhibit agreement with the measured data at backward angles and differences ～10% at forward angles. The scattering cross sections based on the MF including ASF’s are in general lower at various angles by up to 20% for medium- and high-Z elements. The observed deviations being higher at the forward angles infer possibility of angular-dependence of ASF’s.     

Growth morphology of zinc tris(thiourea) sulphate crystals

The growth morphology of crystals of zinc tris(thiourea) sulphate (ZTS) is investigated experimentally, and computed using the Hartman-Perdok approach. Attachment energies of the observed habit faces are calculated for determining their relative morphological importance. A computer code is developed for carrying out these calculations. A special procedure is adopted for computing the cohesive energy of a slice of the structure parallel to any rational crystallographic plane. For estimating the cohesive energies, formal charges on the experimentally determined atomic positions in the molecules of ZTS are calculated by ab initio molecular-orbital computations, with wave functions obtained by the Hartree-Fock procedure. Fairly good agreement with the observed crystal morphology is obtained for a model of growth mechanism in which ZTS is assumed to exist in solution sa szinc tris(thiourea) ions and sulphate ions.     

Relative wavefunctions, vertex functions and coupling constants for the virtual decay of 4He

The d + d, t + p and h + n relative wavefunctions and their asymptotic normalizations are considered in the framework of the generator coordinate method (GCM) and compared with ATMS (amalgamation of two-body correlation into multiple scattering processes) method which used the realistic Reid soft core interaction. The asymptotic normalization of relative wavefunctions provide various coupling constants, the cluster probability amplitude (the so-called Z ^1/2-factor) and matter RMS radii. These wavefunctions are also used to obtain ⁴He − d − d, ⁴He − t − p and ⁴He − h − n vertex functions in the virtual decay of ⁴He. The extrapolation of vertex functions for negative values of q ² upto the corresponding poles provide the vertex constants which are comparable with other estimates. It is noticed that in GCM the coupling constants C ² for ⁴He − d − d vertex is less than 2 as has been obtained in the forward dispersion relation technique.     

Ionic switching in mehanochemically synthesized Ag2S-Sb2S3 amorphous superionic conductor

Highly ionically conducting amorphous samples of Ag₂S·xSb₂S₃ (x=0.15−0.40) are mechanochemically synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), DTA/DSC, electrical and electrochemical methods. The electrical conductivity measurements are carried out as a function of frequency (5 Hz – 13 MHz) and temperature (300 – 380 K). While the ac conductivity of x=0.40 composition obeys the well-known power law σ (ω)=σ (0) + A ωⁿ over the whole frequency range, the x=0.30 sample obeys the above relation only at lower temperatures. The compositions x=0.20 and 0.15 do not follow the famous dispersion relation at higher (MHz) frequencies. The conductivity isotherms of these a-SICs do not superimpose upon application of Summerfield scaling. The scaling behaviour and the variation of ac conductivity with frequency for x=0.20 and 0.15 are explained in terms of switching from the predominantly ionic (at lower frequencies) to the predominantly electronic conduction (at higher frequencies). Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Ionic Devices, Anna University, Channai, India, Nov. 28–30, 2003.     

Effect of Distortions on an Annular Optical Fiber Waveguide

We present the modal analysis and dispersion curves of some asymmetric annular optical-fiber waveguides. The proposed cross-sections can be conceived as having the shape of a distorted annular circular waveguide and leads to a tolerance study of deformation in an annular optical-fiber waveguide. We obtain mathematical expressions for the modes of the proposed waveguides using boundary matching techniques under some logical assumptions. We observe that the proposed distortions are able to tune the cutoff values of annular circular waveguide at desired levels.