On the detection of chipless RFID through signal space representation

paper presents a novel approach to model and represent chipless radio-frequency identification (RFID) frequency signatures. The approach involves the geometrical representation of chipless RFID frequency signatures in a signal space. A small set of orthonormal basis functions is derived using singular value decomposition in order to represent the 2 ^b possible tag signatures of a b-bit chipless tag. Each tag signature is represented as a point in an L-dimensional signal space, and minimum distance detection is used to extract the information bit sequence of the tag. Detection error probability is also examined through analytical derivations and Monte Carlo simulation. A set of 3-bit tags were fabricated to validate the approach. Experimental results show that the new approach is capable of accurately detecting information contained in chipless RFID tags. This approach offers a solid mathematical framework for developing novel detection methods for chipless tags.     

Fabrication and Simulation of an Indium Gallium Arsenide Quantum-Dot-Gate Field-Effect Transistor (QDG-FET) with ZnMgS as a Tunnel Gate Insulator

An indium gallium arsenide quantum-dot-gate field-effect transistor using Zn_0.95Mg_0.05S as the gate insulator is presented in this paper, showing three output states which can be used in multibit logic applications. The spatial wavefunction switching effect in this transistor has been investigated, and modeling simulations have shown supporting evidence that additional output states can be achieved in one transistor.     

Nonvolatile Memories Using Quantum Dot (QD) Floating Gates Assembled on II–VI Tunnel Insulators

This paper presents preliminary data on quantum dot gate nonvolatile memories using nearly lattice-matched ZnS/Zn_0.95Mg_0.05S/ZnS tunnel insulators. The GeO _x -cladded Ge and SiO _x -cladded Si quantum dots (QDs) are self-assembled site-specifically on the II–VI insulator grown epitaxially over the Si channel (formed between the source and drain region). The pseudomorphic II–VI stack serves both as a tunnel insulator and a high-κ dielectric. The effect of Mg incorporation in ZnMgS is also investigated. For the control gate insulator, we have used Si₃N₄ and SiO₂ layers grown by plasma- enhanced chemical vapor deposition.     

Enhanced frequency upconversion of Sm3+ ions by elliptical Au nanoparticles in dichroic Sm3+: Au-antimony glass nanocomposites

Dichroic Sm³⁺: Au-antimony glass nanocomposites are synthesized in a new reducing glass (dielectric) matrix (mol%) K₂O–B₂O₃–Sb₂O₃ (KBS) by a single-step melt-quench technique involving selective thermochemical reduction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) results indicate that Au⁰ nanoparticles are grown along the (2 0 0) plane direction. The transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image reveals the elliptical Au⁰ nanoparticles having major axis range 12–17 nm. Dichroic behavior is due to elliptical shape of Au⁰ nanoparticles of aspect ratio ～1.2. Au⁰ NPs of concentration of 0.03 wt% (4.1 × 10¹⁸ atoms/cm³) drastically enhances the intensity (～7-folds) of electric dipole ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_9/2 red transition (636 nm) of Sm³⁺ ions and then attenuates with further increase in Au⁰ concentration. The magnetic dipole ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_5/2 green (566 nm) and ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2 orange (602 nm) transitions remain almost unaffected by presence of nano Au⁰. Local field enhancement (LFE) induced by Au⁰ SPR and energy transfer (ET) from fluorescent Au⁰ → Sm³⁺ ions are found to be responsible for the enhancement while reverse ET from Sm³⁺ → Au⁰ and optical re-absorption due to Au⁰ SPR for attenuation.     

Effects of nano-YAG (Y3Al5O12) crystallization on the structure and photoluminescence properties of Nd3+-doped K2O–SiO2–Y2O3–Al2O3 glasses

Nd³⁺-doped precursor glass in the K₂O–SiO₂–Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃ (KSYA) system was prepared by the melt-quench technique. The transparent Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) glass–ceramics were derived from this glass by a controlled crystallization process at 750 °C for 5–100 h. The formation of YAG crystal phase, size and morphology with progress of heat-treatment was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transformed infrared reflectance spectroscopy (FT-IRRS). The crystallite sizes obtained from XRD are found to increase with heat-treatment time and vary in the range 25–40 nm. The measured photoluminescence spectra have exhibited emission transitions of ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_J (J = 9/2, 11/2 and 13/2) from Nd³⁺ ions upon excitation at 829 nm. It is observed that the photoluminescence intensity and excited state lifetime of Nd³⁺ ions decrease with increase in heat-treatment time. The present study indicates that the incorporation of Nd³⁺ ions into YAG crystal lattice enhance the fluorescence performance of the glass–ceramic nanocomposites.     

Radiation-pressure acceleration of ion beams from nanofoil targets: the leaky light-sail regime

A new ion radiation-pressure acceleration regime, the "leaky light sail," is proposed which uses sub-skin-depth nanometer foils irradiated by circularly polarized laser pulses. In the regime, the foil is partially transparent, continuously leaking electrons out along with the transmitted laser field. This feature can be exploited by a multispecies nanofoil configuration to stabilize the acceleration of the light ion component, supplementing the latter with an excess of electrons leaked from those associated with the heavy ions to avoid Coulomb explosion. It is shown by 2D particle-in-cell simulations that a monoenergetic proton beam with energy 18 MeV is produced by circularly polarized lasers at intensities of just 101? W/cm2. 100 MeV proton beams are obtained by increasing the intensities to 2 × 102? W/cm2.     

Bimodal Functionality in a Porous Covalent Triazine Framework by Rational Integration of an Electron‐Rich and ‐Deficient Pore Surface

A porous covalent triazine framework (CTF) consisting of both an electron‐deficient central triazine core and electron‐rich aromatic building blocks is reported. Taking advantage of the dual nature of the pore surface, bimodal functionality has been achieved. The electron deficiency in the central core has been utilized to address one of the pertinent problems in chemical industries, namely separation of benzene from its cyclic saturated congener, that is, cyclohexane. Also, by virtue of the electron‐rich aromatic rings with Lewis basic sites, aqueous‐phase chemical sensing of a nitroaromatic compound of highly explosive nature (2,4,6‐trinitrophenol; TNP) has been achieved. The present compound supersedes the performance of previously reported COFs in both the aspects. Notably, this reports the first example of pore‐surface engineering leading to bimodal functionality in CTFs.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and antibacterial activity of a group of mononuclear manganese(II) Schiff base complexes

Five mononuclear complexes of manganese(II) of a group of the general formula, [MnL(NCS)₂] where the Schiff base L = N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (L¹), (1); N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)benzylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (L²), (2); N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]propane-1,2-diamine (L³), (3); N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene]propane-1,2-diamine (L⁴), (4) and N,N′-bis[(pyridin-2-yl)benzylidene]propane-1,2-diamine (L⁵), (5) have been prepared. The syntheses have been achieved by reacting manganese chloride with the corresponding tetradentate Schiff bases in presence of thiocyanate in the molar ratio of 1:1:2. The complexes have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and other physicochemical studies, including crystal structure determination of 1, 2 and 4. Structural studies reveal that the complexes 1, 2 and 4 adopt highly distorted octahedral geometry. The antibacterial activity of all the complexes and their respective Schiff bases has been tested against Gram(+) and Gram(−) bacteria.