Extraordinary electron transmission through a periodic array of quantum dots

We study electron transmission through a periodic array of quantum dots (QD) sandwiched between doped semiconductor leads. When the Fermi wavelength of tunneling electron exceeds the array lattice constant, the off-resonant per QD conductance is enhanced by several orders of magnitude relative to the single-QD conductance. The physical mechanism of the enhancement is delocalization of a small fraction of system eigenstates caused by coherent coupling of QDs via the electron continuum in the leads.     

Anisotropic elastic interactions of a periodic dislocation array.

A method for calculating the anisotropic elastic energy of a dislocation dipole in a periodic cell is derived in which the infinite image summation is absolutely convergent. The core energy of a screw dislocation in Si, extracted from atomistic simulation, is shown to be manifestly system size invariant. Existence of special cell geometry where complete cancellation of elastic interactions occurs is demonstrated.     

Prediction of the spatial characteristics of higher mode sound transmission through a periodic slit screen

Periodic slit screens are often installed in rectangular apertures either to mask the opening or to reduce transmitted noise. This investigation considers the higher-order scattered and transmitted sound from a point source through a periodic screen mounted in a rigid baffle. In particular, this paper considers the spatial characteristics, or directivity, of the scattered field for a particular higher order mode. Uncoupled higher-order mode analysis is used to estimate the scattered and transmitted sound fields for the selected mode of the aperture without the presence of the screen. Transmission coefficients for the screens are then calculated using the well established equivalent mass layer effect and applied to the calculated higher-order mode scattered and transmitted sound pressures. Using an anechoic chamber, measurements were made over a small arc of the scattered sound field through a range of screens of different aspect ratios but the same porosity. The screens consisted of equally spaced open slits and solid laths and the number of slits was reduced to change the aspect ratio. In each case the point source was positioned on the impinging side of the aperture so as to drive one particular scattered higher-order aperture mode at or near cut-on. Comparison of the measured and predicted sound pressures indicate that good estimates of the sound field can be obtained through the approach of applying simple corrections for the presence of the screens to the estimates for the open aperture established using uncoupled calculations for the higher-order modes. It is also shown that the results for a specific mode excited at one particular frequency are applicable at other excitation frequencies provided that the correct non-dimensionalisation is applied.     

Resonance scattering of sound by spheroidal elastic bodies and shells

The resonances of spheroidal elastic bodies (prolate and oblate) in the form of solid bodies and shells are determined using dynamic elasticity theory and Debye potentials. In addition to analytic solutions, results of computer calculations are presented for the angular characteristics and scattering cross sections of spheroidal elastic bodies.     

Low-frequency sound transmission through a gas-liquid interface

Typically, sound speed in gases is smaller and mass density is much smaller than in liquids, resulting in a very strong acoustic impedance contrast at a gas-liquid interface. Sound transmission through a boundary with a strong impedance contrast is normally very weak. This paper studies the power output of localized sound sources and acoustic power fluxes through a plane gas-liquid interface in a layered medium. It is shown that, for low-frequency sound, a phenomenon of anomalous transparency can occur where most of the acoustic power generated by a source in a liquid half-space can be radiated into a gas half-space. The main physical mechanism responsible for anomalous transparency is found to be an acoustic power transfer by inhomogeneous (evanescent) waves in the plane-wave decomposition of the acoustic field in the liquid. The effects of a liquid's stratification and of guided sound propagation in the liquid on the anomalous transparency of the gas-liquid interface are considered. Geophysical and biological implications of anomalous transparency of water-air interface to infrasound are indicated.     

Low-frequency sound transmission through a gas-solid interface

Sound transmission through gas-solid interfaces is usually very weak because of the large contrast in wave impedances at the interface. Here, it is shown that diffraction effects can lead to a dramatic increase in the transparency of gas-solid interfaces at low frequencies, resulting in the bulk of energy emitted by compact sources within a solid being radiated into a gas. The anomalous transparency is made possible by power fluxes in evanescent body waves and by excitation of interface waves. Sound transmission into gas is found to be highly sensitive to absorption of elastic waves within a solid.     

Scattering of low-frequency pulsed sound signals from elastic cylindrical shells

A method and experimental setup intended for measuring the amplitude and phase of acoustic field in the near zone of a scatterer are described. The results of measuring the scattering characteristics of low-frequency sound signals scattered by elastic cylindrical shells are analyzed.     

Electronic transport through a periodic array of quantum-dot rings

Using the tight-binding approximation and the transfer matrix method, this paper studies the electronic transport properties through a periodic array of quantum-dot (QD) rings threaded by a magnetic flux. It demonstrates that the even--odd parity of the QD number in a single ring and the number of the QD rings in the array play a crucial role in the electron transmission. For a single QD ring, the resonance and antiresonance transmission depend not only on the applied magnetic flux but also on the difference between the number of QDs on the two arms of the ring. For an array of QD rings, the transmission properties are related not only to the even--odd parity of the number $N_{0}$ of QDs in the single ring but also to the even--odd parity of the ring number $N$ in the array. When the incident electron energy is aligned with the site energy, for the array of $N$ rings with $N_{0}={\rm odd}$ the antiresonance transmission cannot occur but the resonance transmission may occur and the transmission spectrum has $N$ resonance peaks ($N-1$ resonance peaks) in a period for $N={\rm odd}$ (for $N={\rm even}$). For the array of $N$ rings with $N_{0}={\rm even}$ the transmission properties depend on the flux threading the ring and the QD number on one arm of the ring. These results may be helpful in designing QD devices.     

Numerical modeling of the exterior-to-interior transmission of impulsive sound through three-dimensional,thin-walled elastic structures

Exterior propagation of impulsive sound and its transmission through three-dimensional, thin-walled elastic structures, into enclosed cavities, are investigated numerically in the framework of linear dynamics. A model was developed in the time domain by combining two numerical tools: (i) exterior sound propagation and induced structural loading are computed using the image-source method for the reflected field (specular reflections) combined with an extension of the Biot–Tolstoy–Medwin method for the diffracted field, (ii) the fully coupled vibro-acoustic response of the interior fluid–structure system is computed using a truncated modal-decomposition approach. In the model for exterior sound propagation, it is assumed that all surfaces are acoustically rigid. Since coupling between the structure and the exterior fluid is not enforced, the model is applicable to the case of a light exterior fluid and arbitrary interior fluid(s). The structural modes are computed with the finite-element method using shell elements. Acoustic modes are computed analytically assuming acoustically rigid boundaries and rectangular geometries of the enclosed cavities. This model is verified against finite-element solutions for the cases of rectangular structures containing one and two cavities, respectively.     

The transmission of sound through a cavity-backed finite plate

This paper is concerned with the influence of a finite cavity backing a finite panel on the transmission of sound through the panel and on the vibration of the panel. Such phenomena as negative transmission loss, combined panel and cavity resonance, coincidence and cavity resonance are readily identified from the final expressions. A graphical technique, first used in a one-dimensional study of this case, is shown to be applicable in the three dimensional case to predict frequencies of interest. The theoretical analysis is compared with experimental results and with the predictions of other workers.     

Enhancing low frequency sound transmission measurements using a synthesis method

The characterization of low frequency sound transmission between two rooms via a flexible panel is investigated experimentally in this work. Previously, the individual effects of the transmission suite on the measured sound reduction index have been studied analytically, and the results have been compared with the ideal case of having free field radiation conditions on both sides of the panel. A new approach is proposed using a near-field array of loudspeakers driven by a set of optimized signals such that a diffuse pressure field is reproduced on the surface of the partition to be tested. The practical effectiveness of this method is assessed when using a set of 16 acoustic sources located in the source reverberant room in close proximity to an aluminium panel. The experimental results obtained confirm the dependence of the characterized sound reduction index on the particular test chamber considered in the low frequency range. They also validate the proposed synthesis method for providing an estimate that only depends on the properties of the partition itself.     

Critical process of extraordinary optical transmission through periodic subwavelength hole array: Hole-assisted evanescent-field coupling

We present a new explanation of the extraordinary optical transmission through subwavelength hole array in metal films. By using the classical coupled-wave theory, we analyzed the coupling process between light and the surface plasmons wave on metal films with hole array. The analysis shows clearly the physical mechanism of extraordinary optical transmission. The calculation demonstrates that, instead of energy flux directly passing through the holes, the electromagnetic modes could exchange energy by overlapping the evanescent fields under the assistance of hole array. The periodicity of the array provides the momentum-matching condition to present the transmission peaks. The theory exhibits a good agreement with the experimental results reported in every detail.     

The effect of external mean flow on sound transmission through double-walled cylindrical shells lined with poroelastic material

Sound transmission through a system of double shells, lined with poroelastic material in the presence of external mean flow, is studied. The porous material is modeled as an equivalent fluid because shear wave contributions are known to be insignificant. This is achieved by accounting for the energetically most dominant wave types in the calculations. The transmission characteristics of the sandwich construction are presented for different incidence angles and Mach numbers over a wide frequency range. It is noted that the transmission loss exhibits three dips on the frequency axis as opposed to flat panels where there are only two such frequencies—results are discussed in the light of these observations. Flow is shown to decrease the transmission loss below the ring frequency, but increase this above the ring frequency due to the negative stiffness and the damping effect added by the flow. In the absence of external mean flow, porous material provides superior insulation for most part of the frequency band of interest. However, in the presence of external flow, this is true only below the ring frequency—above this frequency, the presence of air gap in sandwich constructions is the dominant factor that determines the acoustic performance. In the absence of external flow, an air gap always improves sound insulation.     

Influence of viscosity on the diffraction of sound by a periodic array of screens

The paper contains an analysis of the transmission of a pressure wave through a periodic grating including the influence of the air viscosity. The system of equations in this case consists of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations associated with no-slip boundary conditions on solid surfaces. The problem is reduced to two hypersingular integral equations for determining the velocity components along the slits. These equations are solved by using Galerkin's method with some special trial functions. The results can be applied in designing protective screens for miniature microphones realized in the technology of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). In this case, the physical dimensions of the device are on the order of the viscous boundary layer so that the viscosity cannot be neglected. The microfluidic model of the screen consists of a periodic array of slits in a substrate. The analysis indicates that the openings in the screen should be on the order of 10 microm in order to avoid excessive attenuation of the signal.     

Feedback control of sound transmission through a double glazed window

One way to tackle the control of stochastic noise in three dimensions is to reduce the sound transmission to the zone of interest. In buildings, windows are often the weak link in protecting the interior from outside noise. In particular, double glazed windows have a poor sound insulation at low frequency around the mass-air-mass resonance (double wall resonance). Since passive means for windows are exhausted, an active controller that increases the transmission loss in the low-frequency range is an attractive approach to reduce the noise level in buildings. Previously suggested feedforward controllers need reference microphones to measure the disturbance outside and error microphones for the adaptation somewhere in the room. For a real window this is unpractical or even unfeasible. These limitations can be overcome with the feedback controller presented here, which only uses sensors and actuators in the cavity of the double glazed window. Four different controllers—two feedforward and two feedback strategies—are designed, implemented and compared. With feedback the noise transmission around the mass-air-mass resonance can be reduced by , compared to with a feedforward controller.     

Simple sound transmission loss measurements using a modified impedance tube technique

A method of comparing the sound transmission characteristics of various materials, and combinations of materials, is presented, using a modified impedance tube technique. The procedure proved to be relatively quick and inexpensive in comparison with standard reverberation suite tests, and is therefore particularly useful for the qualitative ranking of multiple samples.The limitations of the technique are discussed in some detail, and particular emphasis is given to the problems of small sample size and method of mounting in the apparatus.     

Control of sound and vibration for cylindrical shells by utilizing a periodic structure of functionally graded material

A periodic shell made of functionally graded material (FGM) is proposed in this Letter. Wave propagation and vibration transmission in the FGM periodic shell for different circumferential modes are investigated. By illustrating the dynamical behavior of the periodic FGM shell within the pass/stop band frequency ranges, the mechanism of wave propagation and vibration transmission in the shell are illuminated. Moreover, the suppression characteristics of structure-borne sound in the internal field of the shell, either within the stop or pass band frequency ranges, are studied.     

Extraordinary optical transmission through a subwavelength composite hole-pillar array

We numerically investigate the transmission properties of a subwavelength composite hole-pillar array. As the radius of the pillar increases, the transmission properties experience a complex evolution. It is found that the magnetic dipole resonance of the pillar suppresses the surface plasmon polariton resonance(SPPR) at the gold-air interface. There are two strong transmission peaks associated with the magnetic dipole resonance of pillar and SPPR at the gold-silica interface. A peak associated with magnetic quadrupole resonance of the pillar is observed. Moreover, there is a weak peak associated with the coupling between the whispering-gallery plasmon(WGP) mode and magnetic dipole. Our work is helpful for making a dual band optical filter.     

At-sea measurements of sound penetration into sediments using a buried vertical synthetic array

Acoustic bottom penetration experiments were carried out in a medium-grain sandy bottom at a site in St. Andrews Bay, Florida. These investigations used a new buried, vertical, one-dimensional synthetic array system where a small hydrophone was water-jetted into the sediment to a depth of approximately 2 m. Once buried, this hydrophone was mounted to a vertical robotics stage that translated the hydrophone upward in 1-cm increments. A broadband (3 to 80 kHz) spherical source, positioned 50 cm above the sediment-water interface, was used to insonify the sediment. Measurements were made with insonification angles above and below the critical angle by changing the horizontal distance of the source relative to the insertion point. This new measurement system is detailed, and results are presented that include temporal, frequency, and wavenumber analysis for natural and roughened interfaces. The measured compressional sound speed and attenuation are shown to be self-consistent using the Kramers-Kronig relation. Furthermore, only a single fast compressional wave was observed. There was no observation of a second slower compressional wave as predicted by some applications of the Biot model to unconsolidated water-saturated porous media.     

Elastic resonances of a periodic array of fluid-filled cylindrical cavities embedded in an elastic matrix

The resonant scattering by a periodic infinite array of fluid-filled cylindrical cavities in an elastic matrix is studied. The exact reflection and transmission coefficients of the array are calculated by means of a multiple scattering formalism taking into account all the interactions between the cavities. Numerical results are next given for low frequencies for which only the longitudinal and transverse zero modes propagate. A first study based on the analysis of the transmission coefficients clearly shows that the resonances of the array can be classified into two sets: those close to the resonances of a single cavity and those due to a resonant coupling between a cavity and its nearer neighbors. The resonant coupling is due to the interaction between the whispering-gallery surface waves propagating around each cavity. In the case of cavities with very close spacing, it is observed that the dispersion curves of the waves propagating along the array can also be classified into two sets: those with a positive group velocity have cut-off frequencies that correspond to the resonances of a single cavity, those with a negative group velocity have cut-off frequencies that correspond to the resonances resulting from the strong coupling. A new method for the analysis of the resonances is presented. It is based on the properties of the scattering matrix and consists in studying the resonant eigenvalues of the scattering matrix of the array once the background is removed. For the detection of very fine resonances, as well as in the separation of several resonances very close to each other, this method proves to be more efficient than one based on the analysis of the reflection and transmission coefficients.