Noise Stability of SIS Receivers

There is a strong interest in the submillimeter astronomy community to increase the IF bandwidth of SIS receivers in order to better facilitate broad spectral linewidth and continuum observations of extragalactic sources. However, with an increase in receiver IF bandwidth there is a decrease in the mixer stability. This in turn effects the integration efficiency and quality of the measurement. In order to better understand the noise mechanisms responsible for reducing the receiver stability, we employed a technique first described by D.W. Allan and later elaborated upon by Schieder et al. In this paper we address a variety of factors that degrade the noise stability of SIS receivers. The goal of this exercise is to make recommendations aimed at maximizing SIS receiver stability.     

Low-macroscopic field emission from nanocrystalline Al doped SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films synthesized by sol–gel technique

We have observed low-macroscopic field electron emission from wide bandgap nanocrystalline Al doped SnO₂ thin films deposited on glass substrates. The emission properties have been studied for different anode-sample spacings and for different Al concentrations in the films. The turn-on field and approximate work function were calculated and we have tried to explain the emission mechanism from this. The turn-on field was found to vary in the range 5.6–7.5 V/μm for a variation of anode sample spacing from 80–120 μm. The turn-on field was also found to vary from 4.6–5.68 V/μm for a fixed anode-sample separation of 80 μm with a variation of Al concentration in the films 8.16–2.31%. The Al concentrations in the films have been measured by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Optical transmittance measurement of the films showed a high transparency with a direct bandgap ∼3.98 eV. Due to the wide bandgap, the electron affinity of the film decreased. This, along with the nanocrystalline nature of the films, enhanced the field emission properties. PACS 81.20.Fw; 61.10.-i; 79.70.+q     

Synthesis of chiral oxa- and azacycle-fused anthraquinone derivatives

A convenient protocol for the synthesis of chiral pyran and piperidine ring-fused anthraquinone derivatives has been developed from (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-glyceraldehyde using sequential applications of enyne metathesis, Diels–Alder reaction and aromatization as key steps.     

An enantiodivergent synthesis of both (+)- and (−)-disparlure from (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde

Reduction of ketone 3 derived from (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde 1 with some common hydrides took place with syn-selectivity. The resulting major product 4a has been exploited as a common chiral template to prepare both enantiomers Ia,b of disparlure.     

A simple mathematical model for seasonal planktonic blooms

We show how the inclusion of the defense strategy by different species can alter the prediction of simple models. One of the defense strategy by the phytoplankton population against their grazer is the release of toxic chemicals. In turn the zooplankton population reduces there predation rate over toxin producing phytoplankton (TPP) to protect themselves from those toxic chemicals. Thus, when the level of toxicity is high, the grazing pressure is low and when the level of toxicity is low or when the toxin is absent, the grazing pressure is high. Here we have considered a TPP–zooplankton system where the rate of toxin liberation and the predation rate vary with zooplankton abundance. We observe that our proposed model has the potential to show different dynamical behaviour that are similar to that seen in real‐world situations. Further, we consider three different functional forms for the distribution of the toxins and compare them using latin hypercube sampling technique and found that the functional forms seem to have no effect in determining the final outcome of the system. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mesomorphism of lanthanide-containing Schiff's base complexes with dodecyl sulphate counterions

Liquid crystalline complexes of the formula [Ln(LH)₃(DOS)₃] have been synthesized, where Ln is a trivalent rare earth-ion (Y, La-Lu, except Pm), LH is the ligand N-octadecyl-4-tetradecyloxysalicylaldimine and DOS is the dodecyl sulphate counterion. Although the Schiff 's base ligands do not exhibit mesomorphism, the complexes do (SmA phase). The mesophase behaviour of these compounds has been investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, high temperature X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The stoichiometry of the complexes remains constant throughout the lanthanide series.     

A convenient synthesis of pyrrolopyridines and 2-substituted indoles by gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization

We have developed a gold-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of variously substituted acetylenic amines under mild conditions, which yields pyrrolopyridines and 2-substituted indoles, quantitatively. The cycloisomerization of acetylenic amines was achieved with AuCl₃ as catalyst without the use of base, acid or N-protecting group.     

Regret aversion and annuity risk in defined contribution pension plans

The high value of the implicit option to choose a retirement date at which interest rates are particularly high and life annuities relatively cheap, leads to the possibility to introduce regret aversion in the retirement investment decision of defined contribution plan participants. As a remedy for regret aversion in retirement investment decisions, this paper develops and prices a lookback option on a life annuity contract. We determine a closed-form option value under the restriction that the option holder invests risklessly during the time to maturity of the option and without the guarantee that the exact amount of retirement wealth is converted into a life annuity at retirement. Thereafter the investment restriction is relaxed and the guarantee of exact conversion is imposed and the option is priced via Monte Carlo simulations in an economic environment with a stochastic discount factor. Option price sensitivities are determined via the pricing of alternative options. We find that the price of a lookback option, with a maturity of three years, amounts to 8%–9% of the wealth at the option issuance date. The option price is highly sensitive to the exercise price of the option, i.e. pricing alternative options (e.g. Asian) substantially lowers the price. Time to maturity and interest rate volatility are other important option price drivers. Asset allocation decisions and initial interest rates hardly affect the option price.