Multiuser detection for DS-CDMA UWB in the home environment

We demonstrate the effectiveness of multiuser detection for an ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse based direct sequence spread spectrum system using code division multiple access. Extensive simulations were run using channel soundings of the 2-8 GHz band collected in a residential setting and characterized by a high level of multipath fragmentation. We show that the adaptive minimum mean square error (MMSE) multiuser detection (MUD) receivers are able to gather multipath energy and reject intersymbol and interchip interference for these channels to a much greater extent than RAKE receivers with 4 and 8 arms. We also demonstrate the adaptive MMSE is able to reject a narrowband IEEE 802.11a OFDM interferer, even for signal-to-interference ratio as severe as -30 dB. We show the adaptive MMSE exhibits only a 6 dB penalty relative to the single user case for the heavy multi-access interference (number of asynchronous users equal to spreading code length). The practical RAKE receivers were incapable of effectively rejecting either the strong narrowband interference or the heavily loaded wideband interference. Even more moderate levels of interference caused significant degradation in the performance of the practical RAKE receivers.     

Moment-method analysis of large, axially symmetric reflectorantennas using entire-domain functions

The moment-method technique utilizing entire domain basis functions is applied to the analysis of large, axially symmetric reflector antennas. The electric surface current is modeled as a finite series of sinusoids whose domain consists of the entire generating curve. This expansion results in a matrix size of less than 5% of that produced with subdomain basis functions. Only a slight increase in the CPU requirements occurs from this analysis. The results from this technique show good agreement when compared to both physical optics and a subdomain-based moment-method formulation on small, axially fed paraboloidal and hyperboloidal reflector antennas. Extension to a large 100-λ paraboloidal reflector with f/D=0.4 produces results comparable to that obtained using physical optics. Convergence is obtained with as few as two expansion terms per wavelength. Discretization of the generating curve with four points per wavelength leads to results which agree within 0.5 dB over data from a more densely defined curve     

Temperature and Composition Dependent Optical Properties of CdSe/CdS Dot/Rod-Based Aerogel Networks

Employing nanocrystals (NCs) as building blocks of porous aerogel network structures allows the conversion of NC materials into macroscopic solid structures while conserving their unique nanoscopic properties. Understanding the interplay of the network formation and its influence on these properties like size-dependent emission is a key to apply techniques for the fabrication of novel nanocrystal aerogels. In this work, CdSe/CdS dot/rod NCs possessing two different CdSe core sizes were synthesized and converted into porous aerogel network structures. Temperature-dependent steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements were performed to expand the understanding of the optical and electronic properties of these network structures generated from these two different building blocks and correlate their optical with the structural properties. These investigations reveal the influence of network formation and aerogel production on the network-forming nanocrystals. Based on the two investigated NC building blocks and their aerogel networks, mixed network structures with various ratios of the two building blocks were produced and likewise optically characterized. Since the different building blocks show diverse optical response, this technique presents a straightforward way to color-tune the resulting networks simply by choosing the building block ratio in connection with their quantum yield.     

Radiation cones from feed-support struts of symmetric paraboloidal antennas

Wide-angle radiation associated with the plane-wave component of the field in the focal space of a paraboloidal reflector is computed by integrating the currents induced on the feed-support struts. This component of radiation is locally maximum on radiation cones which lie along the axis of each strut. Comparison with data measured for the Dwingeloo radio telescope indicates good agreement for the position, width, and intensity of these cones, even at levels 50 dB below the peak of the main beam.     

Application of the geometrical theory of diffraction to Cassegrain subreflectors with laterally defocused feeds

The geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) as formulated by R. G. Kouyoumjian has been applied to predict the radiation characteristics of hyperboloidal subreflectors with laterally defocused feeds. In caustic or multicaustic directions the scattered fields are determined using an equivalent ring current placed along the edge of the subreflector. The theoretical results are compared to measured amplitude and phase data. In order to improve the agreement, the blocking effects of the feed horn have been accounted for using the geometrical theory of diffraction. The calculated subreflector fields have been used to illuminate a paraboloid from which the scattered field is determined by physical optics. The results are compared to those obtained using a laterally defocused equivalent paraboloid.     

A Visible Light Photocatalytic Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling/Dehydrogenation/6π‐Cyclization/Oxidation Cascade: Synthesis of 12‐Nitroindoloisoquinolines from 2‐Aryltetrahydroisoquinolines

A visible light‐induced photocatalytic dehydrogenation/6π‐cyclization/oxidation cascade converts 1‐(nitromethyl)‐2‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines into novel 12‐nitro‐substituted tetracyclic indolo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline derivatives. Various photocatalysts promote the reaction in the presence of air and a base, the most efficient being 1‐aminoanthraquinone in combination with K₃PO₄. Further, the 12‐nitroindoloisoquinoline products can be accessed directly from C1‐unfunctionalized 2‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines by extending the one‐pot protocol with a foregoing photocatalytic cross‐dehydrogenative coupling reaction, resulting in a quadruple cascade transformation.     

A resistive sheet approximation for mesh reflector antennas

A simplified method of estimating the equivalent surface resistance of a reflecting mesh is presented. The equivalent resistance is obtained from the approximate mesh reflection coefficients, which are based on averaged boundary conditions. This resistance approximation allows an integral equation solution for the mesh reflector that is a simple extension of that for the perfectly conducting reflector. Paraboloid radiation patterns using physical optics in conjunction with the reflection coefficients are compared to an E-field integral equation solution for a resistive surface. The agreement is excellent for low to moderate resistance values, even in the sidelobe regions     

A subspace approach to adaptive narrow-band interferencesuppression in DSSS

We address the problem of suppression of a digital narrow-band interferer in direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications. We focus on the adaptive suppression method proposed by Honig, Madhow and Verdti (see IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol.41, p.944-960, 1995) for wide-band interference, applying it to a narrow-band interferer. We identify the eigenspaces of the system dynamics to analyze the convergence of the adaptive version of the minimum mean square error (MMSE) algorithm for this application. Using this subspace approach we are able to: (1) significantly decrease the convergence times via a new constraint on the step size in adaptation; (2) introduce a simple parameterization of the mean output energy (MOE) and signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) to compare performance of various receivers; and (3) identify modes of operation where the algorithm will cease to effectively cancel interference. We propose a new adaptive receiver that avoids the convergence anomalies identified, while capitalizing on the new step size for faster convergence. Simulation results to support theoretical results are presented