Design of generalized Chebyshev lumped element filters by computer optimisation

A numerical method for the optimization of symmetrical lumped element low-pass and band-pass filters with a generalized Chebyshev response is considered. By exploiting the fact that a network based on generalized Chebyshev prototype has a prescribed number of turning points in the insertion loss and an identical number of independent parameters which can be assigned as variables to adjust their levels, the method gives fast convergence

Working life estimate of the tubular T-joint by application of the LEFM concept

© 2018 The Authors. The crack growth in tubular joints usually occurs along the weld's toe. That is the point where the chord and brace intersect. The semi-elliptical crack appears in this area from the initial flaw that was created during the welding. Sensitivity to fatigue depends on combination of cyclic loading, initial defects, environmental influences and the hot spot stresses, which are result of the walls' bending during the loading of a structure. The principles of the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) are applied here to crack growth in the tubular T-joint, subjected to axial load, in-plane and anti-plane bending. Influences of the level and type of loading, as well as of the joint's geometrical characteristics, on the fatigue crack propagation and consequently on the working life of the welded joint, are considered. Based on the conducted analysis, which implies a set of assumptions, one can draw sufficiently relevant conclusion on the remaining working life of the tubular T-joint. The assumptions included: the crack shape is semi-elliptical, there is only one crack propagating through the tube wall, the cyclic plastic zone at the crack tip is small with respect to other geometrical variables and the crack grows only if the difference between the stress intensity factor values at maximal and minimal loads is greater than the stress intensity factor necessary for the fatigue crack growth initiation. Results are presented in the form of diagrams from which can be seen that for the same load level the longer working life is achieved for the axial load of the joint than for the in-plane bending, while the values for the anti-plane bending lie between these two limiting results

Resonant-Frequency Discharge in a Multi-Cell Radio Frequency Cavity

We are reporting experimental results on a microwave discharge operating at resonant frequency in a multi-cell radio frequency (RF) accelerator cavity. Although the discharge operated at room temperature, the setup was constructed so that it could be used for plasma generation and processing in fully assembled active superconducting radio-frequency cryo-module. This discharge offers a mechanism for removal of a variety of contaminants, organic or oxide layers, and residual particulates from the interior surface of RF cavities through the interaction of plasma-generated radicals with the cavity walls. We describe resonant RF breakdown conditions and address the issues related to resonant detuning due to sustained multi-cell cavity plasma. We have determined breakdown conditions in the cavity, which was acting as a plasma vessel with distorted cylindrical geometry. We discuss the spectroscopic data taken during plasma removal of contaminants and use them to evaluate plasma parameters, characterize the process, and estimate the volatile contaminant product removal

Characterization of a Plasmoid in the Afterglow of a Supersonic Flowing Microwave Discharge

We performed a detailed characterization a plasmoid in the afterglow region of an Ar supersonic microwave cavity discharge. The supersonic flow was generated using a convergent-divergent nozzle upstream of the discharge region. A cylindrical cavity was used to sustain a discharge in the pressure range of 100-600 Pa. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to observe populations of excited and ionic species in the plasmoid region. Plasmoid formation in the supersonic flowing afterglow located downstream from the primary microwave cavity discharge was characterized by measuring the radial and axial distributions of Argon excited states and Argon ions. More experiments are being carried out on the plasmoid to understand the discharge parameters within the region, i.e. rotational temperature, vibrational temperature, electron density, and how the electrodynamic and aerodynamic effects combine to form this plasmoid

Measurements of Population Densities of Metastable and Resonant Levels of Argon Using Laser Induced Fluorescence

We present a new approach to measure population densities of Ar I metastable and resonant excited states in low temperature Ar plasmas at pressures higher than 1 Torr. This approach combines the time resolved laser induced fluorescence technique with the kinetic model of Ar. The kinetic model of Ar is based on calculating the population rates of metastable and resonant levels by including contributions from the processes that affect population densities of Ar I excited states. In particular, we included collisional quenching processes between atoms in the ground state and excited states, since we are investigating plasma at higher pressures. We also determined time resolved population densities of Ar I 2 p excited states by employing optical emission spectroscopy technique. Time resolved Ar I excited state populations are presented for the case of the post-discharge of the supersonic flowing microwave discharge at pressures of 1.7 and 2.3 Torr. The experimental set-up consists of a pulsed tunable dye laser operating in the near infrared region and a cylindrical resonance cavity operating in TE111 mode at 2.45 GHz. Results show that time resolved population densities of Ar I metastable and resonant states oscillate with twice the frequency of the discharge

ntLink: a toolkit for de novo genome assembly scaffolding and mapping using long reads

With the increasing affordability and accessibility of genome sequencing data, de novo genome assembly is an important first step to a wide variety of downstream studies and analyses. Therefore, bioinformatics tools that enable the generation of high-quality genome assemblies in a computationally efficient manner are essential. Recent developments in long-read sequencing technologies have greatly benefited genome assembly work, including scaffolding, by providing long-range evidence that can aid in resolving the challenging repetitive regions of complex genomes. ntLink is a flexible and resource-efficient genome scaffolding tool that utilizes long-read sequencing data to improve upon draft genome assemblies built from any sequencing technologies, including the same long reads. Instead of using read alignments to identify candidate joins, ntLink utilizes minimizer-based mappings to infer how input sequences should be ordered and oriented into scaffolds. Recent improvements to ntLink have added important features such as overlap detection, gap-filling and in-code scaffolding iterations. Here, we present three basic protocols demonstrating how to use each of these new features to yield highly contiguous genome assemblies, while still maintaining ntLink's proven computational efficiency. Further, as we illustrate in the alternate protocols, the lightweight minimizer-based mappings that enable ntLink scaffolding can also be utilized for other downstream applications, such as misassembly detection. With its modularity and multiple modes of execution, ntLink has broad benefit to the genomics community, from genome scaffolding and beyond. ntLink is an open-source project and is freely available from https://github.com/bcgsc/ntLink.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure