371 research outputs found
Simplified Frame and Symbol Synchronization for 4–CPFSK with h=0.25
This paper examines the problem of rapid frame and symbol synchronization techniques intended particularly for constant envelope modulation formats M–CPFSK with modulation index h=1/M which are used in strictly bandwidth limited narrowband industrial applications. The data aided and non data aided versions of the algorithm based on digital frequency discrimination are discussed and compared against the synchronization techniques found in literature. Sample wise pattern correlation technique for joint frame and symbol synchronization is also studied. With the focus on a practical digital implementation the advantages and disadvantages of the described approaches are discussed
Implementation of Industrial Narrow Band Communication System into SDR Concept
The rapid expansion of the digital signal processing has penetrated recently into a sphere of high performance industrial narrow band communication systems which had been for long years dominated by the traditional analog circuit design. Although it brings new potential to even increase the efficiency of the radio channel usage it also forces new challenges and compromises radio designers have to face. In this article we describe the design of the IF sampling industrial narrowband radio receiver, optimize a digital receiver structure implemented in a single FPGA circuit and study the performance of such radio receiver architecture. As an evaluation criterion the communication efficiency in form of maximum usable receiver sensitivity, co-channel rejection, adjacent channel selectivity and radio blocking measurement have been selected
Field-Induced Magnetic and Structural Domain Alignment in PrO2
We present a neutron diffraction study of the magnetic structure of single
crystal PrO2 under applied fields of 0-6 T. As the field is increased, changes
are observed in the magnetic Bragg intensities. These changes are found to be
irreversible when the field is reduced, but the original intensities can be
recovered by heating to T > 122 K, then re-cooling in zero field. The
antiferromagnetic ordering temperature TN = 13.5 K and the magnetic periodicity
are unaffected by the applied field. We also report measurements of the
magnetic susceptibility of single crystal PrO2 under applied fields of 0-7 T.
These show strong anisotropy, as well as an anomaly at T = 122 +/- 2 K which
coincides with the temperature TD = 120 +/- 2 K at which a structural
distortion occurs. For fields applied along the [100] direction the
susceptibility increases irreversibly with field in the temperature range TN <
T < TD. However, for fields along [110] the susceptibility is independent of
field in this range. We propose structural domain alignment, which strongly
influences the formation of magnetic domains below TN, as the mechanism behind
these changes.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables. Minor typographical changes in v
Field-induced commensurate long-range order in the Haldane-gap system NDMAZ
High-field neutron diffraction studies of the new quantum-disordered S=1
linear-chain antiferromagnet Ni(CHN)N(ClO) (NDMAZ)
are reported. At T=70 mK, at a critical field T applied along the
(013) direction, a phase transition to a commensurate N\'{e}el-like ordered
state is observed. The results are discussed in the context of existing
theories of quantum phase transitions in Haldane-gap antiferromagnets, and in
comparions with previous studies of the related system
Ni(CHN)N(PF)
Anisotropic magnetic field responses of ferroelectric polarization in a trigonal multiferroic CuFe1-xAlxO2 (x=0.015)
We have investigated magnetic field dependences of a ferroelectric
incommensurate-helimagnetic order in a trigonal magneto-electric (ME)
multiferroic CuFe1-xAlxO2 with x=0.015, which exhibits the ferroelectric phase
as a ground state, by means of neutron diffraction, magnetization and
dielectric polarization measurements under magnetic fields applied along
various directions. From the present results, we have established the H-T
magnetic phase diagrams for the three principal directions of magnetic fields;
(i) parallel to the c axis, (ii) parallel to the helical axis, and (iii)
perpendicular to the c and the helical axes. While the previous dielectric
polarization (P) measurements on CuFe1-xGaxO2 with x=0.035 have demonstrated
that the magnetic field dependence of the `magnetic domain structure' results
in distinct magnetic field responses of P [S. Seki et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.,
103 237601 (2009)], the present study have revealed that the anisotropic
magnetic field dependence of the ferroelectric helimagnetic order `in each
magnetic domain' can be also a source of a variety of magnetic field responses
of P in CuFe1-xAxO2 systems (A=Al, Ga).Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Current use pesticides in soil and air from two agricultural sites in South Africa: implications for environmental fate and human exposure
Concerns about the possible negative impacts of current use pesticides (CUPs) for both the environment and human health have increased worldwide. However, the knowledge on the occurrence of CUPs in soil and air and the related human exposure in Africa is limited. This study investigated the presence of 30 CUPs in soil and air at two distinct agricultural sites in South Africa and estimated the human exposure and related risks to rural residents via soil ingestion and inhalation (using hazard quotients, hazard index and relative potency factors). We collected 12 soil and 14 air samples over seven days during the main pesticide application season in 2018. All samples were extracted, purified and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. In soils, nine CUPs were found, with chlorpyrifos, carbaryl and tebuconazole having the highest concentrations (up to 63.6, 1.10 and 0.212 ng g(-1), respectively). In air, 16 CUPs were found, with carbaryl, tebuconazole and terbuthylazine having the highest levels (up to 25.0, 22.2 and 1.94 pg m(-3), respectively). Spatial differences were observed between the two sites for seven CUPs in air and two in soils. A large dominance towards the particulate phase was found for almost all CUPs, which could be related to mass transport kinetics limitations (non-equilibrium) following pesticide application. The estimated daily intake via soil ingestion and inhalation of individual pesticides ranged from 0.126 fg kg(-1) day(-1) (isoproturon) to 14.7 ng kg(-1) day(-1) (chlorpyrifos). Except for chlorpyrifos, soil ingestion generally represented a minor exposure pathway compared to inhalation (i.e. <5%). The pesticide environmental exposure largely differed between the residents of the two distinct agricultural sites in terms of levels and composition. The estimated human health risks due to soil ingestion and inhalation of pesticides were negligible although future studies should explore other relevant pathways
Understanding the enhancement and temperature-dependency of the self-healing and electromechanical properties of dielectric elastomers containing mixed pendant polar groups
High permittivity self-healing dielectric elastomers have the potential to achieve long life, reusability, damage tolerance and enhanced energy density for energy harvesting devices and actuators. The self-healing performance of elastomers and usable temperature range can be affected by the chemical interactions present in the material. Self-healing thermoplastic elastomer styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymers were prepared by introducing hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions through chemically grafting of polar groups to SBS: methyl thioglycolate (MG) and thioglycolic acid (TG). The mechanical properties were significantly affected by the strength of the hydrogen bonding network in the elastomers, whilst a high relative permittivity of εr ≈ 9.2 with a low loss of tan δ ≈ 0.01 was achieved. In addition, a disorder-to-order phase morphology transition was observed upon increasing the TG content due to the increased hydrogen-bonding network within SBS. At room temperature the self-healed 80/20 MG/TG-SBS exhibited a strain at break of 139% with a recovery ratio of 47.7%, and when healed at 80 °C for 3 hrs exhibited an increased strain at break of 230% with a recovery ratio of 79%. Analysis of FTIR and 1H NMR indicated that the presence of a stronger hydrogen bonding network increased the thermal resistance of the elastomers. The temperature-dependency of the self-healing behaviour was interpreted as the combined effect of hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and chain interdiffusion. This work provides an in-depth understanding of how to tune the electromechanical and self-healing properties of elastomers by tailoring the type and concentration of pendent polar groups. It indicates that intrinsic modification is critical for the development of next generation high performance dielectric elastomers for actuator or energy harvesting devices operating at elevated temperatures
Electronic properties of a heavy fermion U Ru0.92Rh0.08 2Si2 single crystal
U Ru0.92Rh0.08 2Si2, prepared using a modified Czochralski method. Our study, that also includes neutron diffraction results, shows all the heavy fermion signatures of pristine URu2Si2; however, the superconductivity, hidden order, and remnant weak antiferromagnetic orders are absent. Instead, the ground state of the doped system can be classified as a spin liquid that preserves the heavy fermion character. U Ru0.92Rh0.08 2Si2 exhibits a short range magnetic order distinguished by reflections of a Lorentzian profile at qIII 1 2 1 2 1 2 positions that disappear above 15 K. The short range order seems to be a precursor of a long range magnetic order that occurs with higher Rh concentration. We indicate that these short range fluctuations involve, at least partially, inelastic scattering processe
Phase Decomposition and Chemical Inhomogeneity in Nd2-xCexCuO4
Extensive X-ray and neutron scattering experiments and additional
transmission electron microscopy results reveal the partial decomposition of
Nd2-xCexCuO4 (NCCO) in a low-oxygen-fugacity environment such as that typically
realized during the annealing process required to create a superconducting
state. Unlike a typical situation in which a disordered secondary phase results
in diffuse powder scattering, a serendipitous match between the in-plane
lattice constant of NCCO and the lattice constant of one of the decomposition
products, (Nd,Ce)2O3, causes the secondary phase to form an oriented,
quasi-two-dimensional epitaxial structure. Consequently, diffraction peaks from
the secondary phase appear at rational positions (H,K,0) in the reciprocal
space of NCCO. Additionally, because of neodymium paramagnetism, the
application of a magnetic field increases the low-temperature intensity
observed at these positions via neutron scattering. Such effects may mimic the
formation of a structural superlattice or the strengthening of
antiferromagnetic order of NCCO, but the intrinsic mechanism may be identified
through careful and systematic experimentation. For typical reduction
conditions, the (Nd,Ce)2O3 volume fraction is ~1%, and the secondary-phase
layers exhibit long-range order parallel to the NCCO CuO2 sheets and are 50-100
angstromsthick. The presence of the secondary phase should also be taken into
account in the analysis of other experiments on NCCO, such as transport
measurements.Comment: 15 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
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