Low-Power, High-Speed Transceivers for Network-on-Chip Communication

Networks on chips (NoCs) are becoming popular as they provide a solution for the interconnection problems on large integrated circuits (ICs). But even in a NoC, link-power can become unacceptably high and data rates are limited when conventional data transceivers are used. In this paper, we present a low-power, high-speed source-synchronous link transceiver which enables a factor 3.3 reduction in link power together with an 80% increase in data-rate. A low-swing capacitive pre-emphasis transmitter in combination with a double-tail sense-amplifier enable speeds in excess of 9 Gb/s over a 2 mm twisted differential interconnect, while consuming only 130 fJ/transition without the need for an additional supply. Multiple transceivers can be connected back-to-back to create a source-synchronous transceiver-chain with a wave-pipelined clock, operating with 6sigma offset reliability at 5 Gb/s

FACT -- The G-APD revolution in Cherenkov astronomy

Since two years, the FACT telescope is operating on the Canary Island of La Palma. Apart from its purpose to serve as a monitoring facility for the brightest TeV blazars, it was built as a major step to establish solid state photon counters as detectors in Cherenkov astronomy. The camera of the First G-APD Cherenkov Telesope comprises 1440 Geiger-mode avalanche photo diodes (G-APD), equipped with solid light guides to increase the effective light collection area of each sensor. Since no sense-line is available, a special challenge is to keep the applied voltage stable although the current drawn by the G-APD depends on the flux of night-sky background photons significantly varying with ambient light conditions. Methods have been developed to keep the temperature and voltage dependent response of the G-APDs stable during operation. As a cross-check, dark count spectra with high statistics have been taken under different environmental conditions. In this presentation, the project, the developed methods and the experience from two years of operation of the first G-APD based camera in Cherenkov astronomy under changing environmental conditions will be presented.Comment: Proceedings of the Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (IEEE-NSS/MIC), 201

Range-resolved interferometric signal processing using sinusoidal optical frequency modulation

A novel signal processing technique using sinusoidal optical frequency modulation of an inexpensive continuous-wave laser diode source is proposed that allows highly linear interferometric phase measurements in a simple, self-referencing setup. Here, the use of a smooth window function is key to suppress unwanted signal components in the demodulation process. Signals from several interferometers with unequal optical path differences can be multiplexed, and, in contrast to prior work, the optical path differences are continuously variable, greatly increasing the practicality of the scheme. In this paper, the theory of the technique is presented, an experimental implementation using three multiplexed interferometers is demonstrated, and detailed investigations quantifying issues such as linearity and robustness against instrument drift are performed

Fibre segment interferometry using code-division multiplexed optical signal processing for strain sensing applications

A novel optical signal processing scheme for multiplexing fibre segment interferometers is proposed. The continuous-wave, homodyne technique combines code-division multiplexing with single-sideband modulation. It uses only one electro-optic phase modulator to achieve both range separation and quadrature interferometric phase measurement. This scheme is applied to fibre segment interferometry, where a number of long-gauge length interferometric fibre sensors are formed by subtracting pairs of signals from equidistantly placed, weak back reflectors. In this work we give a detailed account of the signal processing involved and, in particular, explore aspects such as electronic bandwidth requirements, noise, crosstalk and linearity, which are important design considerations. A signal bandwidth of ±20 kHz permits the resolution of phase change rates of 2.5 × 104 rad s-1 for each of the four 16.5 m long segments in our setup. We show that dynamic strain resolutions below 0.2 nanostrain Hz-0.5 at 2 m sensor gauge length are achievable, even with an inexpensive diode laser. When used in applications that require only relative strain change measurements, this scheme compares well to more established techniques and can provide high-fidelity yet cost-effective measurements

APOLLO: the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation: Instrument Description and First Detections

A next-generation lunar laser ranging apparatus using the 3.5 m telescope at the Apache Point Observatory in southern New Mexico has begun science operation. APOLLO (the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation) has achieved one-millimeter range precision to the moon which should lead to approximately one-order-of-magnitude improvements in the precision of several tests of fundamental properties of gravity. We briefly motivate the scientific goals, and then give a detailed discussion of the APOLLO instrumentation.Comment: 37 pages; 10 figures; 1 table: accepted for publication in PAS

Quantification of signaling networks

Studies in living system in the past several decades have generated qualitative understanding of the molecular interactions resulting in large networks. These networks were essentially deciphered by breaking the components of a cell through a reductionist approach. Biological networks comprising of interactions between genes, proteins and metabolites co-ordinate in the regulation of cellular processes. However, understanding the cellular function also requires quantitative information including network dynamics, which results due to an inherent design principle embedded in the network. Interactions within the network are well organized to form a definite regulatory structure, which in turn exhibits different emergent properties. The property of the network helps the cell to achieve the desired phenotypic state in a controlled manner. The dynamics of the network or the relationship between network structure and cellular behavior cannot be understood intuitively from the interaction map of the network. Computational methods can now be employed to study these networks at system level. The field of systems biology looks at integrating the interaction maps obtained through molecular biological approach. Various studies at the system level have been reported for pathways namely chemotactic response in bacteria, cell cycle and osmotic signaling in yeast, growth factor stimulated signaling pathways in mammals. This review focuses on understanding signaling networks with the help of mathematical models