31,498 research outputs found
Edaq530: a transparent, open-end and open-source measurement solution in natural science education
We present Edaq530, a low-cost, compact and easy-to-use digital measurement
solution consisting of a thumb-sized USB-to-sensor interface and a measurement
software. The solution is fully open-source, our aim being to provide a viable
alternative to professional solutions. Our main focus in designing Edaq530 has
been versatility and transparency. In this paper, we shall introduce the
capabilities of Edaq530, complement it by showing a few sample experiments, and
discuss the feedback we have received in the course of a teacher training
workshop in which the participants received personal copies of Edaq530 and
later made reports on how they could utilise Edaq530 in their teaching
Elaborating Transition Interface Sampling Methods
We review two recently developed efficient methods for calculating rate
constants of processes dominated by rare events in high-dimensional complex
systems. The first is transition interface sampling (TIS), based on the
measurement of effective fluxes through hypersurfaces in phase space. TIS
improves efficiency with respect to standard transition path sampling (TPS)
rate constant techniques, because it allows a variable path length and is less
sensitive to recrossings. The second method is the partial path version of TIS.
Developed for diffusive processes, it exploits the loss of long time
correlation. We discuss the relation between the new techniques and the
standard reactive flux methods in detail. Path sampling algorithms can suffer
from ergodicity problems, and we introduce several new techniques to alleviate
these problems, notably path swapping, stochastic configurational bias Monte
Carlo shooting moves and order-parameter free path sampling. In addition, we
give algorithms to calculate other interesting properties from path ensembles
besides rate constants, such as activation energies and reaction mechanisms.Comment: 36 pages, 5 figure
A FPGA system for QRS complex detection based on Integer Wavelet Transform
Due to complexity of their mathematical computation, many QRS detectors are implemented in software and cannot operate in real time. The paper presents a real-time hardware based solution for this task. To filter ECG signal and to extract QRS complex it employs the Integer Wavelet Transform. The system includes several components and is incorporated in a single FPGA chip what makes it suitable for direct embedding in medical instruments or wearable health care devices. It has sufficient accuracy (about 95%), showing remarkable noise immunity and low cost. Additionally, each system component is composed of several identical blocks/cells what makes the design highly generic. The capacity of today existing FPGAs allows even dozens of detectors to be placed in a single chip. After the theoretical introduction of wavelets and the review of their application in QRS detection, it will be shown how some basic wavelets can be optimized for easy hardware implementation. For this purpose the migration to the integer arithmetic and additional simplifications in calculations has to be done. Further, the system architecture will be presented with the demonstrations in both, software simulation and real testing. At the end, the working performances and preliminary results will be outlined and discussed. The same principle can be applied with other signals where the hardware implementation of wavelet transform can be of benefit
Laser angle sensor development
Electrical and optical parameters were developed for a two axis (pitch/roll) laser angle sensor. The laser source and detector were mounted in the plenum above the model. Two axis optical distortion measurements of flow characteristics in a 0.3 transonic cryogenic tunnel were made with a shearing interferometer. The measurement results provide a basis for estimating the optical parameters of the laser angle sensor. Experimental and analytical information was generated on model windows to cover the reflector. A two axis breadboard was assembled to evaluate different measurement concepts. The measurement results were used to develop a preliminary design of a laser angle sensor. Schematics and expected performance specifications are included
Surface code architecture for donors and dots in silicon with imprecise and nonuniform qubit couplings
A scaled quantum computer with donor spins in silicon would benefit from a
viable semiconductor framework and a strong inherent decoupling of the qubits
from the noisy environment. Coupling neighbouring spins via the natural
exchange interaction according to current designs requires gate control
structures with extremely small length scales. We present a silicon
architecture where bismuth donors with long coherence times are coupled to
electrons that can shuttle between adjacent quantum dots, thus relaxing the
pitch requirements and allowing space between donors for classical control
devices. An adiabatic SWAP operation within each donor/dot pair solves the
scalability issues intrinsic to exchange-based two-qubit gates, as it does not
rely on sub-nanometer precision in donor placement and is robust against noise
in the control fields. We use this SWAP together with well established global
microwave Rabi pulses and parallel electron shuttling to construct a surface
code that needs minimal, feasible local control.Comment: Published version - more detailed discussions, robustness to
dephasing pointed out additionall
The density of critical percolation clusters touching the boundaries of strips and squares
We consider the density of two-dimensional critical percolation clusters,
constrained to touch one or both boundaries, in infinite strips, half-infinite
strips, and squares, as well as several related quantities for the infinite
strip. Our theoretical results follow from conformal field theory, and are
compared with high-precision numerical simulation. For example, we show that
the density of clusters touching both boundaries of an infinite strip of unit
width (i.e. crossing clusters) is proportional to .
We also determine numerically contours for the density of clusters crossing
squares and long rectangles with open boundaries on the sides, and compare with
theory for the density along an edge.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Minor revision
An Energy Feedback System for the MIT/Bates Linear Accelerator
We report the development and implementation of an energy feedback system for
the MIT/Bates Linear Accelerator Center. General requirements of the system are
described, as are the specific requirements, features, and components of the
system unique to its implementation at the Bates Laboratory. We demonstrate
that with the system in operation, energy fluctuations correlated with the 60
Hz line voltage and with drifts of thermal origin are reduced by an order of
magnitude
Automated mixed traffic vehicle control and scheduling study
The operation and the expected performance of a proposed automatic guideway transit system which uses low speed automated mixed traffic vehicles (AMTVs) were analyzed. Vehicle scheduling and headway control policies were evaluated with a transit system simulation model. The effect of mixed traffic interference on the average vehicle speed was examined with a vehicle pedestrian interface model. Control parameters regulating vehicle speed were evaluated for safe stopping and passenger comfort. Some preliminary data on the cost and operation of an experimental AMTV system are included. These data were the result of a separate task conducted at JPL, and were included as background information
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