Flat-top interleavers with chromatic dispersion compensator based on phase dispersive free space Mach-Zehnder interferometer

In this paper, novel interleavers using circular cavities (CC) in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) has been presented and demonstrated for the first time, in which CCs act as phase dispersive mirrors which exhibit a periodic dependence on the frequency of light. Three implementation schemes have been proposed and investigated. Theoretical analysis shows the spectral characteristics of each scheme in a 50-GHz channel spacing application. Furthermore, the chromatic dispersion (CD) of each output comb can be flattened within passband by appending an additional CC. The result shows that the proposed designs with novel interferometer technique can simultaneously provide flat top passbands, high isolation stopband and low CD value as well.     

Preparation of antimicrobial poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles were prepared by electrospinning PVA/silver nitrate (AgNO₃) aqueous solutions, followed by short heat treatment, and their antimicrobial activity was investigated for wound dressing applications. Since PVA is a water soluble and biocompatible polymer, it is one of the best materials for the preparation of wound dressing nanofibers. After heat treatment at 155 °C for 3 min, the PVA/AgNO₃ nanofibers became insoluble, while the Ag⁺ ions therein were reduced so as to produce a large number of Ag nanoparticles situated preferentially on their surface. The residual Ag⁺ ions were reduced by subsequent UV irradiation for 3 h. The average diameter of the Ag nanoparticles after the heat treatment was 5.9 nm and this value increased slightly to 6.3 nm after UV irradiation. It was found that most of the Ag⁺ ions were reduced by the simple heat treatment. The PVA nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles showed very strong antimicrobial activity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2468–2474, 2006     

Tchebychev acceleration technique for large scale nonsymmetric matrices

Summary The acceleration by Tchebychev iteration for solving nonsymmetric eigenvalue problems is dicussed. A simple algorithm is derived to obtain the optimal ellipse which passes through two eigenvalues in a complex plane relative to a reference complex eigenvalue. New criteria are established to identify the optimal ellipse of the eigenspectrum. The algorithm is fast, reliable and does not require a search for all possible ellipses which enclose the spectrum. The procedure is applicable to nonsymmetric linear systems as well.     

无催化纳米氧化锌的制备及其光学性质研究

本文采用无催化剂直接蒸发高纯Zn粉,在800℃氧气氛条件下,在Si(111)衬底上生长得到以四角状为主的纳米ZnO(T-ZnO)。T-ZnO纳米线每个角约互成110°,长度约为1.5μm,直径100nm左右;Raman分析表明E2(H)普遍存在于各形态的ZnO;光致发光光谱表明,T-ZnO纳米线的光致发光除了与材料性质有关,还与杂质缺陷有关,蓝绿光带是ZnO的缺陷产生的。     

A solar radio moving type IV burst of expanding arches type involving multi-sources

A complex solar radio moving type IV burst was observed on 23 September 1998 with the broadband (1.0–2.0 GHz and 2.6–3.8 GHz) spectrometers with high temporal and spectral resolutions at National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC). Comparing to the high spatial resolution data of Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT), we find that this burst is a rare type of moving type IV burst which is caused by the expanding arches, and the spatial structure oscillations of the radio sources are related with the time structure pulsations of the radio emission. Furthermore, the burst is associated with the multiple quasi-periodic long-term pulsations, and this suggests the existence of multi-scale magnetic structures in a large expanding coronal arch. We think the moving type IV burst is due to the synchrotron emission of the energetic electrons trapped in the expanding arch, and the multiple quasi-periodic pulsations are due to the second harmonic plasma emission.     

The Recognition of Double Euler Trails in Series-Parallel Networks

Given a series-parallel network (network, for short)N, its dual networkN′ is given by interchanging the series connection and the parallel connection of networkN. We usually use a series-parallel graph to represent a network. LetG[N] andG[N′] be graph representations ofNandN′, respectively. A sequence of edgese₁, e₂,…,e_kis said to form a common trail on (G[N], G[N′]) if it is a trail on bothG[N] andG[N′]. If a common trail covers all of the edges inG[N] andG[N′], it is called adouble Euler trail.However, there are many different graph representations for a network. We say that a networkNhas a double Euler trail (DET) if there is a common Euler trail for someG[N] and someG[N′]. Finding a DET in a network is essential for optimizing the layout area of a complementary CMOS functional cell. Maziasz and Hayes (IEEE Trans. Computer-Aided Design9(1990), 708–719) gave a linear time algorithm for solving the layout problem in fixedG[N] andG[N′] and an exponential algorithm for finding the optimal cover in a network without fixing graph representations. In this paper, we study properties of subnetworks of a DET network. According to these properties, we propose an algorithm that automatically generates the rules for composition of trail cover classes. On the basis of these rules, a linear time algorithm for recognizing DET networks is presented. Furthermore, we also give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a double Euler circuit in a network.     

The magnetic properties of Be-codoped GaMnN grown via molecular beam epitaxy

GaMnN and Be-codoped GaMnN were grown via molecular beam epitaxy using a single GaN precursor and their structural and magnetic properties were examined. X-ray diffraction and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements revealed that the grown layers are homogeneous without precipitates. The saturation magnetization of GaMnN has increased from ∼4 to ∼16 emu/cm³ via codoping of Be. The d–d exchange interaction between Mn atoms was discussed for the ferromagnetism of GaMnN.     

Oil Migration in Chocolate

Oil migration in filled chocolates limits shelf life due to texture changes and loss of visual appeal. Spatial and temporal oil concentration changes of a two-layer chocolate and peanut butter filling system, which models a filled chocolate, were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. Formulations of chocolate varied with respect to particle size, milk fat content and emulsifier level. Sorption-time experimental data was used to establish the best fit diffusion coefficient for a Fickian diffusion model. On the basis of the comparison of spatial experimental data to the model, Fickian diffusion alone does not account for oil migration. Authors' address: Michael J. McCarthy, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA     

Controllable Magnetic Focusing of Cold Atoms on a Chip

We propose a new lens scheme to focus cold atoms by using a controllable inhomogeneous magnetic field from a square current-carrying wire fabricated on a chip. The spatial distributions of the magnetic field are calculated, and the results show that the generated magnetic field is a two-dimensional （2D） quadrupole one and can be used to focus cold atoms or a cold atomic beam. The dynamic processes of cold atoms passing through our square wire layout and its focusing properties are studied by using Monte Carlo simulations. Our study shows that the atomic clouds can be focused effectively by our magnetic lens scheme, and the focal length of the atomic lens and its radius of focused spot can be continuously changed by adjusting the current in the wires.     

Large Sample Properties of Mixture Models with Covariates for Competing Risks

We study the large-sample properties of a class of parametric mixture models with covariates for competing risks. The models allow general distributions for the survival times and incorporate the idea of long-term survivors. Asymptotic results are obtained under a commonly assumed independent censoring mechanism and some modest regularity conditions on the survival distributions. The existence, consistency, and asymptotic normality of maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters of the model are rigorously derived under general sufficient conditions. Specific conditions for particular models can be derived from the general conditions for ready check. In addition, a likelihood-ratio statistic is proposed to test various hypotheses of practical interest, and its asymptotic distribution is provided.