46,824 research outputs found
A wireless ultrasonic NDT sensor system
Ultrasonic condition monitoring technologies have been traditionally utilized in industrial and construction environments where structural integrity is of concern. Such techniques include active systems with either single or multiple transmit-receiver combinations used to obtain defect positioning and magnitude. Active sensors are implemented in two ways; in a thickness operation mode, or as an area-mapping tool operating over longer distances. In addition, passive ultrasonic receivers can be employed to detect and record acoustic emission activity. Existing equipment requires cabling for such systems leading to expensive, complicated installations. This work describes the development and operation of a system that combines these existing ultrasonic technologies with modern wireless techniques within a miniaturized, battery-operated design. A completely wireless sensor has been designed that can independently record and analyze ultrasonic signals. Integrated into the sensor are custom ultrasonic transducers, associated analogue drive and receive electronics, and a Texas Instruments Digital Signal Processor (DSP) used to both control the system and implement the signal processing routines. BlueTooth wireless communication is used for connection to a central observation station, from where network operation can be controlled. Extending battery life is of prime importance and the device employs several strategies to do this. Low voltage transducer excitation suffers from poor signal-to-noise ratios, which can be enhanced by signal processing routines implemented on the DSP. Routines investigated include averaging, digital filtering and pulse compression
An introduction to quantum filtering
This paper provides an introduction to quantum filtering theory. An
introduction to quantum probability theory is given, focusing on the spectral
theorem and the conditional expectation as a least squares estimate, and
culminating in the construction of Wiener and Poisson processes on the Fock
space. We describe the quantum It\^o calculus and its use in the modelling of
physical systems. We use both reference probability and innovations methods to
obtain quantum filtering equations for system-probe models from quantum optics.Comment: 41 pages, 1 figur
Nonparametric Uncertainty Quantification for Stochastic Gradient Flows
This paper presents a nonparametric statistical modeling method for
quantifying uncertainty in stochastic gradient systems with isotropic
diffusion. The central idea is to apply the diffusion maps algorithm to a
training data set to produce a stochastic matrix whose generator is a discrete
approximation to the backward Kolmogorov operator of the underlying dynamics.
The eigenvectors of this stochastic matrix, which we will refer to as the
diffusion coordinates, are discrete approximations to the eigenfunctions of the
Kolmogorov operator and form an orthonormal basis for functions defined on the
data set. Using this basis, we consider the projection of three uncertainty
quantification (UQ) problems (prediction, filtering, and response) into the
diffusion coordinates. In these coordinates, the nonlinear prediction and
response problems reduce to solving systems of infinite-dimensional linear
ordinary differential equations. Similarly, the continuous-time nonlinear
filtering problem reduces to solving a system of infinite-dimensional linear
stochastic differential equations. Solving the UQ problems then reduces to
solving the corresponding truncated linear systems in finitely many diffusion
coordinates. By solving these systems we give a model-free algorithm for UQ on
gradient flow systems with isotropic diffusion. We numerically verify these
algorithms on a 1-dimensional linear gradient flow system where the analytic
solutions of the UQ problems are known. We also apply the algorithm to a
chaotically forced nonlinear gradient flow system which is known to be well
approximated as a stochastically forced gradient flow.Comment: Find the associated videos at: http://personal.psu.edu/thb11
AMiBA: Broadband Heterodyne CMB Interferometry
The Y. T. Lee Array for Microwave Background (AMiBA) has reported the first
science results on the detection of galaxy clusters via the Sunyaev Zel'dovich
effect. The science objectives required small reflectors in order to sample
large scale structures (20') while interferometry provided modest resolutions
(2'). With these constraints, we designed for the best sensitivity by utilizing
the maximum possible continuum bandwidth matched to the atmospheric window at
86-102GHz, with dual polarizations. A novel wide-band analog correlator was
designed that is easily expandable for more interferometer elements. MMIC
technology was used throughout as much as possible in order to miniaturize the
components and to enhance mass production. These designs will find application
in other upcoming astronomy projects. AMiBA is now in operations since 2006,
and we are in the process to expand the array from 7 to 13 elements.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, ApJ in press; a version with high resolution
figures available at
http://www.asiaa.sinica.edu.tw/~keiichi/upfiles/AMiBA7/mtc_highreso.pd
Gravitational waves from coalescing binaries and Doppler experiments
Doppler tracking of interplanetary spacecraft provides the only method
presently available for broad-band searches of low frequency gravitational
waves. The instruments have a peak sensitivity around the reciprocal of the
round-trip light-time T of the radio link connecting the Earth to the
space-probe and therefore are particularly suitable to search for coalescing
binaries containing massive black holes in galactic nuclei. A number of Doppler
experiments -- the most recent involving the probes ULYSSES, GALILEO and MARS
OBSERVER -- have been carried out so far; moreover, in 2002-2004 the CASSINI
spacecraft will perform three 40 days data acquisition runs with expected
sensitivity about twenty times better than that achieved so far. Central aims
of this paper are: (i) to explore, as a function of the relevant instrumental
and astrophysical parameters, the Doppler output produced by in-spiral signals
-- sinusoids of increasing frequency and amplitude (the so-called chirp); (ii)
to identify the most important parameter regions where to concentrate intense
and dedicated data analysis; (iii) to analyze the all-sky and all-frequency
sensitivity of the CASSINI's experiments, with particular emphasis on possible
astrophysical targets, such as our Galactic Centre and the Virgo Cluster.Comment: 52 pages, LaTeX, 19 Postscript Figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Mode-locked dysprosium fiber laser: picosecond pulse generation from 2.97 to 3.30 {\mu}m
Mode-locked fiber laser technology to date has been limited to sub-3 {\mu}m
wavelengths, despite significant application-driven demand for compact
picosecond and femtosecond pulse sources at longer wavelengths. Erbium- and
holmium-doped fluoride fiber lasers incorporating a saturable absorber are
emerging as promising pulse sources for 2.7--2.9 {\mu}m, yet it remains a major
challenge to extend this coverage. Here, we propose a new approach using
dysprosium-doped fiber with frequency shifted feedback (FSF). Using a simple
linear cavity with an acousto-optic tunable filter, we generate 33 ps pulses
with up to 2.7 nJ energy and 330 nm tunability from 2.97 to 3.30 {\mu}m
(3000--3400 cm^-1)---the first mode-locked fiber laser to cover this spectral
region and the most broadly tunable pulsed fiber laser to date. Numerical
simulations show excellent agreement with experiments and also offer new
insights into the underlying dynamics of FSF pulse generation. This highlights
the remarkable potential of both dysprosium as a gain material and FSF for
versatile pulse generation, opening new opportunities for mid-IR laser
development and practical applications outside the laboratory.Comment: Accepted for APL Photonics, 22nd August 201
Engineering Gaussian states of light from a planar microcavity
Quantum fluids of light in a nonlinear planar microcavity can exhibit
antibunched photon statistics at short distances due to repulsive polariton
interactions. We show that, despite the weakness of the nonlinearity, the
antibunching signal can be amplified orders of magnitude with an appropriate
free-space optics scheme to select and interfere output modes. Our results are
understood from the unconventional photon blockade perspective by analyzing the
approximate Gaussian output state of the microcavity. In a second part, we
illustrate how the temporal and spatial profile of the density-density
correlation function of a fluid of light can be reconstructed with free-space
optics. Also here the nontrivial (anti)bunching signal can be amplified
significantly by shaping the light emitted by the microcavity
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