Multi-channel gain and noise figure evaluation of Raman/EDFA hybrid amplifiers

We present detailed multi-channel experimental characterization of different configurations of single pump hybrid Raman-erbium doped fiber (EDF) amplifiers. The incorporation of an EDF section in a dispersion compensating Raman amplifier is demonstrated to provide superior performance than Raman only system. It is shown that the multi-channel gain spectrum is quite different form the single-channel case. We have also measured the polarization dependent gain (PDG) of the hybrid amplifier configurations and results show that different configurations of hybrid amplifiers have different PDG effects on long-haul optically amplified link.     

String tension,gluebal masses and finite size effects in lattice SU(3)

We estimate the string tension by looking at Wilson loops and measuring the correlation between Wilson lines at g² = 1.0 for lattice SU(3). The bound $\text{Λ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>L</mtext>}}\text{σ}\text{?0.0087 ± 0.0011}$ is larger than the previous results. The mass of the 0⁺⁺ glueball is also estimated. The finite size effects on these quantities are shown to be large by comparing results on a 6³ × 10 lattice with those on 9⁴ lattice.     

Titrimetric determination of gold by precipitation with hydroquinone

A rapid method for the volumetric determination of gold is described. Gold(III) is reduced to metal with excess of hydroquinone at room temperature and the excess is titrated with ceric sulphate. The effect of chloride ion on the reducibility of gold(III) to the metal is discussed. This method can be successfully employed for the determination of gold in presence of certain base and noble metals. The method was successfully adopted for the determination of gold in a commercial sample.     

An extended-length coil design for peripheral MR angiography.

Magnetic resonance angiography of the peripheral vascular system has been hampered by the limited view provided by available imaging coils. We have constructed an extended-length, split-saddle design radiofrequency (rf) coil for peripheral angiography. The two coil halves are inductively coupled, to each other and to the rf source. Details regarding the construction of the coil and comparison of the performance with the knee coil are described here. This coil provides the benefit of a larger field of view but with image quality comparable to that of a commercial knee coil.     

Principle of massive support in the opposed anvil high pressure apparatus

The Bridgman anvil technique offers a simple and versatile means of generating very high pressures required in solid state studies. The opposed anvil technique is based on the principle of massive support. The practical case of a gasketted anvil is considered, and an expression for the maximum pressure generated under massive support is derived in terms of the geometric parameters, the strength of the anvil material and the gasket properties. In particular, for a given maximum pressure, it is possible to calculate the taper angle, the taper height and the gasket thickness from this expression. The anvil is assumed to be in the elastic region under load. Good agreement is obtained between the calculated and the experimental values for the massive support factor (msf) for various taper angles. By choosing the proper geometry, it is possible to achieve a pressure as high as 130 kbar in an alloy steel anvil. It has been clearly found that the straight portion, where the taper ends, does not really take any part in changing the stress pattern. Thus the minimum straight portion can serve the purpose, and will result in material saving. Anvils exhibit yielding at very high pressure. It is also pointed out that a further strengthening of the anvil can extend the ultimate pressure. Several methods of further strengthening the anvils are discussed.     

The photoelectron spectra of gaseous alkali perrhenates

The HeI photoelectron spectra of the gaseous alkali perrhenates have been obtained using a high-temperature cylindrical mirror electron spectrometer equipped with an internally located, resistance-heated sample oven. The ionization energies have been assigned molecular-orbital origins using MO calculations and comparisons with X-ray photoelectron data, UV-visible electronic spectra, and electron diffraction experiments.     

Eigenvalue spectra of random matrices for neural networks

The dynamics of neural networks is influenced strongly by the spectrum of eigenvalues of the matrix describing their synaptic connectivity. In large networks, elements of the synaptic connectivity matrix can be chosen randomly from appropriate distributions, making results from random matrix theory highly relevant. Unfortunately, classic results on the eigenvalue spectra of random matrices do not apply to synaptic connectivity matrices because of the constraint that individual neurons are either excitatory or inhibitory. Therefore, we compute eigenvalue spectra of large random matrices with excitatory and inhibitory columns drawn from distributions with different means and equal or different variances.     

Review of recent developments in OR/MS research in disaster operations management

Potential consequences of disasters involve overwhelming economic losses, large affected populations and serious environmental damages. Given these devastating effects, there is an increasing interest in developing measures in order to diminish the possible impact of disasters, which gave rise to the field of disaster operations management (DOM). In this paper we review recent OR/MS research in DOM. Our work is a continuation of a previous review from Altay and Green (2006). Our purpose is to evaluate how OR/MS research in DOM has evolved in the last years and to what extent the gaps identified by Altay and Green (2006) have been covered. Our findings show no drastic changes or developments in the field of OR/MS in DOM since the publication of Altay and Green (2006). Additionally to our comparative analysis, we present an original evaluation about the most common assumptions in recent OR/MS literature in DOM. Based on our findings we provide future research directions in order to make improvements in the areas where lack of research is detected.