Time-stretch oscilloscope with dual-channel differential detection front end for monitoring of 100 Gb/s return-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift keying data

Optical performance monitoring of high-capacity networks is one of the enabling technologies of future reconfigurable optical switch networks. In such networks, rapid performance evaluation of data streams becomes challenging due to the use of advanced modulation formats and high data rates. The time-stretch enhanced recording oscilloscope offers a potential solution to monitoring high-rate data in a practical time scale. Here we demonstrate an architecture with a differential detection front end for simultaneous I/Q data monitoring of a 100 gigabits/s return-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift keying signal. This demonstration shows the potential of this technology for rapid performance monitoring of high-rate optical data streams that employ advanced modulation formats.     

Reverse micelle synthesis of perovskite oxide nanoparticles

La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_xFe_1−xO_3−δ (LSCF), La_0.6Sr_0.4Cu_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ, Ba_0.5Sr_0.4Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ and LaFeO_3−δ nanoparticles were synthesized by a reverse micelle procedure. Controlling the size of the micelles through the water:oil phase ratio enabled synthesis of phase pure perovskite particles with average sizes from 14 nm to 50 nm. Small amounts of an impurity phase, likely cobalt oxide, were detected in the XRD spectrum of high cobalt content samples of LSCF (x = 0.8). La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ nanoparticles were utilized to coat the surface of a dense thin-film La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ solid oxide fuel cell cathode. The polarization resistance of the nanoparticle coated electrode, measured at open circuit in air at 973 K, was 20% lower than an equivalent un-coated electrode.     

Efficient visible-light-induced photocatalytic degradation of MO on the Cr-nanocrystalline titania-S

In order to improve visible light photocatalytic activities of the nanometer TiO₂, a novel and efficient Cr,S-codoped TiO₂ (Cr-TiO₂-S) photocatalyst was prepared by precipitation-doping method. The crystalline structure, morphology, particle size, and chemical structure of Cr-TiO₂-S were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques, respectively. Results indicate that the doping of Cr and S, cause absorption edge shifts to the visible light region (λ > 420 nm) compare to the pure TiO₂, reduces average size of the TiO₂ crystallites, enhances desired lattice distortion of Ti, promotes separation of photo-induced electron and hole pair, and thus improves pollutant decomposition under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activities of Cr-TiO₂-S nanoparticles were evaluated using the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) as probe reaction under the irradiation of UV and visible light and it was observed that the Cr-TiO₂-S photocatalyst shows higher visible photocatalytic activity than the pure TiO₂. The optimal Cr-TiO₂-S concentration to obtain the highest photocatalytic activity was 5 mol% for both of Cr and S.     

Evolution of Zn based high purity phases under NH3 gas atmosphere and their PL properties

We report here the evolution of zinc based high purity phases with novel morphologies such as Zn₃N₂ hollow structures, ZnO nanowires and nanopowders, as well as metallic Zn layered hexagonal microparticles at progressively increased reaction temperature of 600 °C, 700 °C, 800 °C under NH₃ gas atmosphere using Zn powder precursor and keeping all other experimental parameters unchanged. Growth mechanism for Zn₃N₂ obtained by nitridation, ZnO by oxidation and Zn microparticles via thermal evaporation & condensation process are discussed briefly. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Photoluminescence (PL) studies have revealed very interesting and infrequently observed emission bands at 378 and 661 nm for Zn₃N₂, 359 and 396 nm for ZnO as well as 389 nm for Zn polyhedral microparticles.     

Magnetic, magnetocaloric, and magnetotransport properties of RCo1.8Mn0.2 (R=Er, Ho, Dy, and Tb) compounds

The magnetic, magnetocaloric, and magnetotransport properties of RCo_1.8Mn_0.2 (R=Er, Ho, Dy, and Tb) were studied by room temperature X-ray diffraction, magnetization, and resistivity measurements at a temperature interval of 5-400 K and magnetic fields up to 5 T. The Curie temperature of RCo₂ was found to increase significantly when 10% Mn was substituted for Co. The effective paramagnetic moments were found to be in reasonable agreement with their theoretical values. A large magnetoresistance (MR) of Δρ/ρ_o≈−13.5% for R=Ho at T≈153 K for ΔH=5 T has been observed. The maximum relative cooling capacities vary from 467 J/kg at low temperature for R=Er to 202 J/kg at the near room temperature for R=Tb.     

Microstructure-property relationship in magnetoelectric bulk composites

We present systematic studies that comprise phase connectivity and dielectric, multiferroic (MF) and magnetoelectric (ME) properties of (x) Ni_0.8Co_0.2Fe₂O₄+(1−x) Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.67Ti_0.33O₃ [where x=0.15, 0.30 and 0.45] ME composites prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method. Scanning electron microscopic images of the composites predict different types of connectivity schemes viz 3-0, 3-1 and 3-3. The phase transition temperature of PMN-PT is independent of Ni_0.8Co_0.2Fe₂O₄ content. Room temperature P-E and M-H loops indicate the simultaneous existence of ferroelectric/magnetic ordering. In order to study the possibility of monitoring electrical ordering by means of a magnetic field, ME measurements were carried out. The composition-dependent phase connectivity was well co-related to formation of percolation path and inturn magnetoelectric output.     

Effect of sintering temperature and the particle size on the structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Li0.5Fe2.5O4

Sintering temperature and particle size dependent structural and magnetic properties of lithium ferrite (Li_0.5Fe_2.5O₄) were synthesized and sintered at four different temperatures ranging from 875 to 1475 K in the step of 200 K. The sample sintered at 875 K was also treated for four different sintering times ranging from 4 to 16 h. Samples sintered at 1475 K have the cubic spinel structure with a small amount of α-Fe₂O₃ (hematite) and γ-Fe₂O₃ (maghemite). The samples sintered at≤1275 K do not show hematite and maghemite phases and the crystals form the single phase spinel structure with the cation ordering on octahedral sites. Particle size of lithium ferrite is in the range of 13-45 nm, and is depend on the sintering temperature and sintering time. The saturation magnetization increased from 45 to 76 emu/g and coercivity decreases from 151 to 139 Oe with an increase in particle size. Magnetization temperature curve recorded in ZFC and FC modes in an external magnetic field of 100 Oe. Typical blocking effects are observed below about 244 K. The dielectric constant increases with an increase in sintering temperature and particle size.     

The role of entropy in word ranking

Entropy as a measure of complexity in the systems has been applied for ranking the words in the human written texts. We introduce a novel approach to evaluate accuracy for retrieved indices. We also have an illustrative comparison between proposed entropic metrics and some other methods in extracting the keywords. It seems that, some of the discussed metrics apply similar features for word ranking in the text. This work recommend the entropy as a systematic measure in text mining.