Using electrical noise to enhance the ability of humans to detect subthreshold mechanical cutaneous stimuli

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon wherein the response of a nonlinear system to a weak input signal is optimized by the presence of a particular, nonzero level of noise. Our objective was to demonstrate cross-modality SR in human sensory perception. Specifically, we were interested in testing the hypothesis that the ability of an individual to detect a subthreshold mechanical cutaneous stimulus can be significantly enhanced by introducing a particular level of electrical noise. Psychophysical experiments were performed on 11 healthy subjects. The protocol consisted of the presentation of: (a) a subthreshold mechanical stimulus plus electrical noise, or (b) no mechanical stimulus plus electrical noise. The intensity of the electrical noise was varied between trials. Each subject's ability to identify correctly the presence of the mechanical stimulus was determined as a function of the noise intensity. In 9 of the 11 subjects, the introduction of a particular level of electrical noise significantly enhanced the subject's ability to detect the subthreshold mechanical cutaneous stimulus. In 2 of the 11 subjects, the introduction of electrical noise did not significantly change the subject's ability to detect the mechanical stimulus. These findings indicate that input electrical noise can serve as a negative masker for subthreshold mechanical tactile stimuli, i.e., electrical noise can increase the detectability of weak mechanical signals. Thus, for SR-type effects to be observed in human sensory perception, the noise and stimulus need not be of the same modality. From a bioengineering and clinical standpoint, this work suggests that an electrical noise-based technique could be used to improve tactile sensation in humans when the mechanical stimulus is around or below threshold. (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics.     

Temperature-dependent third cumulant of tunneling noise

Poisson statistics predicts that the shot noise in a tunnel junction has a temperature independent third cumulant e(2)I, determined solely by the mean current I. Experimental data, however, show a puzzling temperature dependence. We demonstrate theoretically that the third cumulant becomes strongly temperature dependent and may even change sign as a result of feedback from the electromagnetic environment. In the limit of a noninvasive (zero-impedance) measurement circuit in thermal equilibrium with the junction, we find that the third cumulant crosses over from e(2)I at low temperatures to -e(2)I at high temperatures.     

四阶累积量对角切片法提取舰船辐射噪声特征

从理论上分析了四阶累积量的特性,由此将四阶累积量分为三部分:第一为三次频率(相位)耦合部分的四阶累积量,第二是双对频率(相位)耦合(ω₁+ω₂=ω₃+ω₄)部分的四阶累积量,第三为无上述两种耦合部分的四阶累积量。在此基础上,用四阶累积量的对角切片分析并提取了实际舰船辐射噪声的三次频率(相位)耦合特征、双对频率(相位)耦合特征以及子带“能量”分布特征,并将这些特征送入神经网络分类器对舰船进行分类识别,取得了A,B,C三类舰船正确识别率分别为92.5%,92.7%,88.6%的良好效果,从而验证了该方法的有效性和实用性。     

Non-Gaussianity dynamics of two-mode squeezed number states subject to different types of noise based on cumulant theory

We provide a measure to characterize the non-Gaussianity of phase-space function of bosonic quantum states based on the cumulant theory. We study the non-Gaussianity dynamics of two-mode squeezed number states by analyzing the phase-averaged kurtosis for two different models of decoherence: amplitude damping model and phase damping model.For the amplitude damping model, the non-Gaussianity is very fragile and completely vanishes at a finite time. For the phase damping model, such states exhibit rich non-Gaussian characters. In particular, we obtain a transition time that such states can transform from sub-Gaussianity into super-Gaussianity during the evolution. Finally, we compare our measure with the existing measures of non-Gaussianity under the independent dephasing environment.     

How to detect melting in laser heating diamond anvil cell

Research on the melting phenomenon is the most challenging work in the high pressure/temperature field. Until now,large discrepancies still exist in the melting curve of iron, the most interesting and extensively studied element in geoscience research. Here we present a summary about techniques detecting melting in the laser heating diamond anvil cell.     

Communicating with noise: How chaos and noise combine to generate secure encryption keys

An approach for the secure transmission of encrypted messages using chaos and noise is presented in this paper. The method is based on the synchronization of certain types of chaotic oscillators in response to a common noise input. This allows two distant oscillators to generate identical output which can be used as a key for encryption and decryption of a message signal. The noiselike synchronizing input-which contains no message information-is communicated to identical oscillators in the transmitter and the receiver over a public channel. The encrypted message is also sent over a public channel, while the key is never transmitted at all. The chaotic nature of the oscillators which generate the key and the randomness of the signal driving the process combine to make the recovery of the key by an eavesdropper extremely difficult. We evaluate system performance with respect to security and robustness and show that a robust and secure system can be obtained. (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics.     

How much quantum noise of amplifiers is detrimental to entanglement

We analyze the effect of the quantum noise of an amplifier on the entanglement properties of an input state. We consider both phase insensitive and phase sensitive amplification and specialize to Gaussian states for which entanglement measures are well developed. In the case of phase insensitive amplification in which both the modes are symmetrically amplified, we find that the entanglement in the output state vanishes if the intensity gain exceeds a limiting value 2/(1+exp[-E_N]) where E_N is the logarithmic negativity of the input state which quantifies the initial entanglement between the two modes. The entanglement between the two modes at the output is found to be more robust if only one mode is amplified.     

How the money machine may help to reduce railway noise in Europe

The need to reduce railway noise, particularly from freight transport in international traffic, is recognized by all stakeholders in the field. Solutions are currently available to provide a significant reduction, and research is underway to investigate further options. Several recent studies clearly show that noise abatement at the source (i.e., vehicles and track) are to be preferred over solutions that affect noise propagation (e.g., barriers) or noise reception (façade insulation) when it comes to overall life cycle cost. In spite of these three important conclusions, the necessary noise reduction at source is not yet taking place, with some small-scale exceptions. The parties involved agree that financial and economical constraints prevent the process of noise reduction from starting. The present paper presents the results of the second consensus building workshop in the STAIRRS project. It explores the possible financial and economic instruments that may help to launch the necessary developments.     

Calculation of noise maps around electrical energy substations

This work is aimed at studying the noise caused by the transformers found in electrical substations located in calm areas in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Although the level itself reaching the nearby buildings is not high if compared to other noise sources commonly found in a large city, they produce an annoying noise due to its low frequency tonal components. Two substations and their surroundings have been analyzed and acoustically mapped. The results have shown that some houses receive up to 35 dB(A) near one of the substations, which may led to some discomfort. It has also been noticed that a good planning of a substation, mainly of the firewalls, may help putting the houses under acoustical shadows.     

One-dimensional hybrid simulation of the electrical asymmetry effect caused by the fourth-order harmonic in dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasma

A one-dimensional hybrid model was developed to study the electrical asymmetry effect(EAE) caused by the fourthorder harmonic in a dual-frequency capacitively coupled Ar plasma.The self-bias voltage caused by the fourth-order frequency changes periodically with the phase angle,and the cycle of self-bias with the phase angle is π/2,which is half of that in the second-order case.The influence of the phase angle between the fundamental and its fourth-order frequency on the ion density profiles and the ion energy distributions(IEDs) were studied.Both the ion density profile and the IEDs can be controlled by the phase angle,which provides a convenient way to adjust the sheath characters without changing the main discharge parameters.     

利用遗传算法由电阻抗计算四阶带通箱的低频响应

提出了一种基于电阻抗得到四阶带通扬声器系统低频频率响应的方法。该方法无需消声室,首先建立扬声器系统的电阻抗集中参数电路模型并测量得到电阻抗曲线,然后运用遗传算法优化模型中的元件参数值,使得由模型计算得到的阻抗曲线与测得的阻抗曲线相吻合,再根据模型计算得到低频响应曲线。测量结果表明理论曲线与实测曲线相吻合,说明基于电阻抗得到低频响应的方法是可行的和有效的。     

How to detect the Chandler and the annual wobble of the Earth with a large ring laser gyroscope

We demonstrate a 16 m(2) helium-neon ring laser gyroscope with sufficient sensitivity and stability to directly detect the Chandler wobble of the rotating Earth. The successful detection of both the Chandler and the annual wobble is verified by comparing the time series of the ring laser measurements against the "C04 series" of Earth rotation data from the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service.     

How to increase the efficiency of the electrical discharge method for destruction of nonconductive solid materials

The paper deals with the relevance of using electrical discharge technology for construction works in the city. The technical capabilities of the installation for the multi-borehole electro-discharge splitting off and destruction of rocks and concrete are described. The ways to increase the efficiency of the electrical discharge method for the destruction of solids are proposed. In order to augment the discharge circuit energy, the energy storage is separated into two individual capacitor batteries. The throttle with the inductance of 28.6 μH is installed in one of the batteries, which increases the duration of the channel energy release to 400 μs and the efficiency of electrical discharge splitting off of concrete.     

用一类特定的双耦合Duffing振子系统检测强色噪声背景中的周期信号

通过分析耦合参数作用、系统所呈现大尺度周期相态的复杂性以及与系统在无噪声条件下状态的比较，得出耦合振子系统的动力学行为比同类单振子系统的复杂，周期相态更稳定、抗噪能力更强.用构造的一类含特定恢复力项双中强度耦合Duffing振子系统检测色噪声背景中的谐波、方波信号，信噪比分别达到-111.0和-108.45dB. 关键词： 特定双耦合 Duffing振子系统 色噪声 周期信号 信噪比