Micromagnetic analysis of transition noise for high-density perpendicular recording

In this paper, specific issues related to high-density perpendicular magnetic recording processes, such as transition noise properties and cross-track correlation lengths, were investigated with the help of micromagnetic analysis. The effects of media parameters were taken into consideration, including intergranular exchange coupling, and exchange distribution, irregular grain shapes, magnetization saturation distribution, and anisotropy distribution. The micromagnetic simulation results showed that the effect of anisotropy distribution on transition noise is more significant than magnetization saturation distribution, and it is crucial to reduce this effect to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, a new method to further estimate the partial erasure threshold was proposed to approximate the partial erasure effects, and the relation between the microtrack jitter and total track jitter was investigated.     

The Design of Single Mode Large Cross-section Glass-based Waveguides for Photonic Integrated Circuits

This paper presents our recent simulation results and novel designs of single mode large cross-section glass-based waveguides for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Simulations were performed using an in-house Finite Difference (FD) based mode solver and the FD Beam propagation Method (FD-BPM). Our simulation results show that this innovative technology could provide a simplified means to couple optical energy efficiently between optical components in a single chip. This would provide the base for the future large-scale integration of optical components in PICs. The novel idea of using single mode large cross-section glass-based waveguides as an optical integration platform is an evolutionary innovative solution for the monolithic integration of optical components, in which the glass-based structures act both as waveguides and as an optical bench for integration. This allows easy and efficient optical coupling between optical components and optical fibres, removing costly and tedious alignment problems and considerably reducing optical coupling losses in PICs. We expect that the glass-based waveguide PICs technology will enable the emergence of a new generation of compact, reliable, high speed, and multifunctional devices.     

On the torsion of Jacobians of principal modular curves of level 3<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Superscript>

We demonstrate that the 3-power torsion points of the Jacobians of the principal modular curves X(3ⁿ) are fixed by the kernel of the canonical outer Galois representation of the pro-3 fundamental group of the projective line minus three points. The proof proceeds by demonstrating the curves in question satisfy a two-part criterion given by Anderson and Ihara. Two proofs of the second part of the criterion are provided; the first relies on a theorem of Shimura, while the second uses the moduli interpretation. Received: 30 September 2005     

A Note on the Kissing Numbers of Superballs

The lower bounds for the translative kissing numbers of superballs are studied in this note. We improve the bound given by Larman and Zong. Furthermore, we give a constructive bound based on algebraic-geometry codes that also improves the bound by Larman and Zong in almost all cases.     

A web-based workforce management system for Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd

Labour scheduling plays an important and critical role in Sainsburys day to day operations and profitability. The integrated workforce management solution for Sainsburys is an intelligent solution for the operational deployment of human resources, integrated business forecasting, generation and calculation of workload and staff scheduling. The workforce management technology has provided Sainsburys with a fully web-based and centralised system that produces optimised schedules for all employees satisfying the forecasted demand of work with granularity of fifteen minutes. The system is configured to respect all operational and business requirements as well as employee contractual constraints. This paper introduces the workforce management solution system designed, developed and implemented for Sainsburys. We concentrate on two modelling structures, namely the work pattern model and optimisation model, and briefly discuss the optimisation process.     

High power single-frequency continuous-wave Nd:YVO4 master-oscillator power amplifier

We report a highly-efficient, high-power, single-frequency Nd:YVO₄ master-oscillator power-amplifier with near-diffraction-limited output beam quality. A diode-pumped Nd:YVO₄ ring laser incorporating a passive method for suppressing axial-mode-hopping was employed as the master-oscillator, and was amplified by a three-stage diode-end-pumped Nd:YVO₄ amplifier, yielding 79 W of output with an extraction efficiency of 29%. The overall power gain was 15 dB for an input power from the master-oscillator of 2.4 W, and the M² parameter was less than 1.5 at the maximum power. The prospects for a further increase of power and brightness via this approach are considered. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Da; 42.60.Jf     

Homoclinic and Periodic Orbits Arising Near the Heteroclinic Cycle Connecting Saddle-focus and Saddle Under Reversible Condition

In this paper, we study the dynamical behavior for a 4-dimensional reversible system near its heteroclinic loop connecting a saddle-focus and a saddle. The existence of infinitely many reversible 1-homoclinic orbits to the saddle and 2-homoclinic orbits to the saddle-focus is shown. And it is also proved that, corresponding to each 1-homoclinic （resp. 2-homoclinic） orbit F, there is a spiral segment such that the associated orbits starting from the segment are all reversible 1-periodic （resp. 2-periodic） and accumulate onto F. Moreover, each 2-homoclinic orbit may be also accumulated by a sequence of reversible 4-homoclinic orbits.