Optical switching and logic gates with hybrid plasmonic-photonic crystal nanobeam cavities

We propose a hybrid resonance architecture in which a plasmonic element is coupled to a silicon-on-insulator photonic crystal nanobeam cavity operating at telecom wavelengths. It benefits from the combined characteristics of the photonic cavity and the plasmonic element, and exploits the unique properties of Fano resonances resulting from interactions between the continuum and the localized cavity states. As confirmed through 3D time-domain simulations, a strong cavity mode damping by the plasmonic element offers mechanisms of controlling a probe signal propagating in the nanobeam. It makes possible to create optical switching devices and logic gates relying on any optical nonlinear effect.     

Measurements of freezing‐point depression to evaluate rubber network structure. Crosslinking of natural rubber with dicumyl peroxide

An experimental approach based on the freezing‐point depression of a solvent in a swollen gel has been developed to characterize the structure of rubber networks. This property depends on the conditions required for the formation of crystalline nuclei, which are limited by the elastomer network restrictions. Information about the functionality, spatial distribution, and number of crosslinks can be obtained by the use of this easy and ready experimental method. Application of the tube model of rubber elasticity in the uniaxial stress–strain experiments of natural rubber samples vulcanized with dicumyl peroxide yields the characteristic parameters of the rubber networks, which are in concordance with the network structures predicted by the freezing point method. Finally influence of vulcanization conditions in network structure and its relationship with the mechanical properties was evaluated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 544–556, 2007     

Quantum computation with ions in microscopic traps

We discuss a possible experimental realization of fast quantum gates with high fidelity with ions confined in microscopic traps. The original proposal of this physical system for quantum computation comes from Cirac and Zoller (Nature 404, 579 (2000)). In this paper we analyse a sensitivity of the ion-trap quantum gate on various experimental parameters which was omitted in the original proposal. We address imprecision of laser pulses, impact of photon scattering, nonzero temperature effects and influence of laser intensity fluctuations on the total fidelity of the two-qubit phase gate.     

All-optical logic AND-NOR gate with three inputs based on cross-gain modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier

We report the realization of a novel all-optical logic AND-NOR gate based on cross-gain modulation (XGM). The used scheme requires only one SOA to perform the logic gate with three input signals. A 8.5 dB dynamic extinction ratio with a switching time of about 650 ps for the rise time and 100 ps for the fall time.     

Solidification or Melting Initiation over a Limited Portion of an Edge in a Plate

This paper proposes a method for obtaining short-time analytical solutions to problems in pure heat conduction, and heat conduction with phase change. The method employs the notion of fictitious initial temperatures in some fictitious extensions of the original phase region. Analytical results obtained in the case of a heat conduction problem in a rectangular plate are presented first and compared with numerical solutions. This analytical solution is also required later in the determination of liquid temperature in the phase change problem. The method is then extended to a two-phase solidification problem in which solidification starts over a limited portion of one of the vertical edges of the rectangular plate. The freezing front in this case consists of spread along the vertical edge and growth towards the interior. The spread along the edge can have asymptotic behaviour not commonly found. The method is applicable to other geometries, e.g. inside and outside of a long cylinder, a three-dimensional slab, etc.     

Injection moulding of thermoplastics. I. Freezing-off at gates

The injection moulding of thermoplastics involves, during mould filling, flow of a hot molten polymer into a mould network, the walls of which are so cold that the polymer freezes on them. During the constant pressure drop part of the filling stage, but not during the preceding constant flow-rate part, freezing-off, that is premature blockage of the mould network by frozen polymer, is possible. A semi-quantitative analysis of such freezing-off at a gate is presented here. The length-scales and time-scales of all the relevant physical processes occurring during freezing-off are identified and a criterion is obtained which enables the occurrence of freezing-off to be predicted, at least crudely. a _j constant - b _jk constant - Br Brinkman number - Br ₀ initial Brinkman number - Gz Graetz number - Gz ₀ initial Graetz number - h _c half-height of flat cavity - h _g half-height of flat gate - h _g ^* half-height of polymer melt region in flat gate - L _c length of cavity - L _f filled length - L _g length of gate - m viscosity shear-rate exponent - P pressure drop - Q volumetric flow-rate - r radial coordinate in round gate and cavity - R _c radius of round cavity - R _g radius of round gate - R _g ^* radius of polymer melt region in round gate - Sf Stefan number - t time - t _f freeze-off time - T temperature - T _i inlet polymer melt temperature - T _m melting temperature of polymer - T _w gate wall temperature - u _r radial velocity in round gate - u _x axial velocity in flat gate - u _y transverse velocity in flat gate - u _z axial velocity in round gate - w _c width of flat channel - w _g width of flat gate - x axial coordinate in flat gate and cavity - y transverse coordinate in flat gate and cavity - z axial coordinate in round gate and cavity - thermal conductivity of molten polymer - thermal conductivity of frozen polymer - heat capacity of molten polymer - heat capacity of frozen polymer - _h ratio of half-height of flat gate to that of flat cavity - _R ratio of radius of round gate to that of round cavity - _w ratio of width of flat gate to that of flat cavity - dimensionless axial coordinate in round gate and cavity - dimensionless transverse coordinate in flat gate and cavity - ^* dimensionless half-height of polymer melt region in flat gate - dimensionless temperature - _i dimensionless inlet temperature - _j j-th term in power series expansion of dimensionless temperature - thermal diffusivity ratio - dimensionless filled length - latent heat of fusion of polymer - µ viscosity - µ ₀ unit shear-rate viscosity - v _j j-th eigenvalue - j-th zero of zeroth-order Bessel function of first kind - dimensionless axial coordinate in flat gate and cavity - _c dimensionless pressure drop in cavity - _g dimensionless pressure drop in gate - density of molten polymer - density of frozen polymer - dimensionless radial coordinate in round gate and cavity - ^* dimensionless radius of polymer melt region in round gate - dimensionless time - _f dimensionless freeze-off time - ₀ dimensionless time at start of final phase of freezing-off - rescaled dimensionless time - rescaled dimensionless freeze-off time - rescaled dimensionless time at start of final phase of freezing-off - dimensionless similarity variable - dummy variable - scaled dimensionless axial coordinate in gate     

Coupling of Biomolecular Logic Gates with Electronic Transducers: From Single Enzyme Logic Gates to Sense/Act/Treat Chips

The integration of biomolecular logic principles with electronic transducers allows designing novel digital biosensors with direct electrical output, logically triggered drug‐release, and closed‐loop sense/act/treat systems. This opens new opportunities for advanced personalized medicine in the context of theranostics. In the present work, we will discuss selected examples of recent developments in the field of interfacing enzyme logic gates with electrodes and semiconductor field‐effect devices. Special attention is given to an enzyme OR/Reset logic gate based on a capacitive field‐effect electrolyte‐insulator‐semiconductor sensor modified with a multi‐enzyme membrane. Further examples are a digital adrenaline biosensor based on an AND logic gate with binary YES/NO output and an integrated closed‐loop sense/act/treat system comprising an amperometric glucose sensor, a hydrogel actuator, and an insulin (drug) sensor.     

‘Pourbaix sensors’: fluorescent molecular logic gates for pE and pH

Abstract

From the cross-fertilisation of fluorescent pH indicators and fluorescent redox switches, our group has established a new class of molecular sensor that operates as two-input molecular logic gates. These molecular sensors, known as ‘Pourbaix sensors’, are named in honour of Marcel Pourbaix, who developed the pH–potential diagrams for the various states of metal ion species in aqueous solution. This review highlights the evolution of ‘Pourbaix sensors’ based on anthracene and naphthalimide fluorophores. Potential applications of this class of molecule in fields such as corrosion science, cell biology and biomedical diagnostics are highlighted.