New Models of f(R) Theories of Gravity

We introduce new models of f(R) theories of gravity that are generalization of Horava-Lifshitz gravity.Comment: 16 pages, typos corrected, v2:minor changes, references adde

Coherent optical binary polarisation shift keying heterodyne system in the free-space optical turbulence channel

In this paper, analytical and simulation results for the bit error rate (BER) performance and fading penalty of a coherent optical binary polarization shift keying (2PolSK) heterodyne system adopted for a free space optical (FSO) communication link modeled as the log-normal and the negative exponential atmospheric turbulence channels are presented. The conditional and unconditional BER expressions are derived, demonstrating the comprehensive similarity between the 2PolSK and the binary frequency shift keying (2FSK) schemes with regards to the system sensitivity. The power penalty due to the non-ideal polarization beam splitter (PBS) is also analyzed. The receiver sensitivity employing 2PolSK is compared with other modulation schemes in the presence of turbulence and the phase noise. The results show that 2PolSK offers improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance compared to the binary amplitude shift keying (2ASK)

Prospect of Making Ceramic Shell Mold by Ceramic Laser Fusion

Manufacturing prototypical castings by conventional investment casting not only takes several weeks, but also is prohibitively expensive. Z Corporation in USA, EOS GmbH and IPT in Germany employ the techniques of 3DP and SLS respectively to make directly ceramic shell molds for metal castings. Although those techniques dramatically reduce time expenditure and production cost, each layer cannot be thinner than 50 µm because of using powder to pave layers. The dimensional accuracy and roughness of the castings still cannot meet the specification of precision casting. Therefore, in this paper the ceramic laser fusion (CLF) was used to pave layers. Each layer can be thinner than 25 µm, so that the step effect can be diminished and the workpiece surface can be smoother; drying time will be shortened dramatically. Moreover, the inherent solid-state support formed by green portion has the capability of preventing upward and downward deformation of the scanned cross sections. In order to make shell mold which meets the roughness requirement (Rq=3.048µm) of the precision casting, following issues have to be further studied: (1) design a proper ceramic shell mold structure, (2) design a paving chamber for paving a complete green layer which can be easily collapsed, (3) cut down drying time, (4) optimize laser scanning process parameters with the smallest distortion, (5) eliminate sunken area, (6) reduce layer thickness to less than13µm, (7) control power to guarantee the energy uniformly absorbed by workpiece, and (8) develop a method which can directly clean green portion in cavity from gate.Mechanical Engineerin

A comparison of the local spiral structure from Gaia DR2 and VLBI maser parallaxes

Context. The Gaia mission has released the second data set (Gaia DR2), which contains parallaxes and proper motions for a large number of massive, young stars. Aims. We investigate the spiral structure in the solar neighborhood revealed by Gaia DR2 and compare it with that depicted by VLBI maser parallaxes. Methods. We examined three samples with different constraints on parallax uncertainty and distance errors and stellar spectral types: (1) all OB stars with parallax errors of less than 10%; (2) only O-type stars with 0.1 mas errors imposed and with parallax distance errors of less than 0.2 kpc; and (3) only O-type stars with 0.05 mas errors imposed and with parallax distance errors of less than 0.3 kpc. Results. In spite of the significant distance uncertainties for stars in DR2 beyond 1.4 kpc, the spiral structure in the solar neighborhood demonstrated by Gaia agrees well with that illustrated by VLBI maser results. The O-type stars available from DR2 extend the spiral arm models determined from VLBI maser parallaxes into the fourth Galactic quadrant, and suggest the existence of a new spur between the Local and Sagittarius arms.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in A&

ESR evidence for disordered magnetic phase from ultra-small carbon nanotubes embedded in zeolite nanochannels

A multi-frequency electron spin resonance (ESR) study provides evidence for the occurrence of low temperature ferromagnetic/spin-glass behavior in aligned arrays of sub-nanometer single walled carbon nanotubes confined in zeolite nano-channels, owing to sp2-type non-bonding carbon associated localized states with density of ~3 x 1019 /g. Features related to the much anticipated conduction ESR are not detected. In the paramagnetic phase, the ESR linewidth is found to be weakly dependent on microwave frequency.Comment: Accepted to be published in EuroPhysics Letter

Photonic Crystal Lasers Grown on CMOS-Compatible on-Axis Si(001)

Semiconductor photonic crystal (PC) lasers are regarded as promising ultra-compact light sources with ultra-low energy consumption. Here, we demonstrate PC lasers monolithically grown on CMOS-compatible on-axis Si (001) substrate with an ultra-low threshold of ∼0.6 μ W