Dry microfoams: Formation and flow in a confined channel

We present an experimental investigation of the agglomeration of microbubbles into a 2D microfoam and its flow in a rectangular microchannel. Using a flow-focusing method, we produce the foam in situ on a microfluidic chip for a large range of liquid fractions, down to a few percent in liquid. We can monitor the transition from separated bubbles to the desired microfoam, in which bubbles are closely packed and separated by thin films. We find that bubble formation frequency is limited by the liquid flow rate, whatever the gas pressure. The formation frequency creates a modulation of the foam flow, rapidly damped along the channel. The average foam flow rate depends non-linearly on the applied gas pressure, displaying a threshold pressure due to capillarity. Strong discontinuities in the flow rate appear when the number of bubbles in the channel width changes, reflecting the discrete nature of the foam topology. We also produce an ultra flat foam, reducing the channel height from 250 $\mu$m to 8 $\mu$m, resulting in a height to diameter ration of 0.02; we notice a marked change in bubble shape during the flow.Comment: 7 pages; 7 figures; 1 tex file+ 22 eps-file

PAC-Bayesian Analysis of Martingales and Multiarmed Bandits

We present two alternative ways to apply PAC-Bayesian analysis to sequences of dependent random variables. The first is based on a new lemma that enables to bound expectations of convex functions of certain dependent random variables by expectations of the same functions of independent Bernoulli random variables. This lemma provides an alternative tool to Hoeffding-Azuma inequality to bound concentration of martingale values. Our second approach is based on integration of Hoeffding-Azuma inequality with PAC-Bayesian analysis. We also introduce a way to apply PAC-Bayesian analysis in situation of limited feedback. We combine the new tools to derive PAC-Bayesian generalization and regret bounds for the multiarmed bandit problem. Although our regret bound is not yet as tight as state-of-the-art regret bounds based on other well-established techniques, our results significantly expand the range of potential applications of PAC-Bayesian analysis and introduce a new analysis tool to reinforcement learning and many other fields, where martingales and limited feedback are encountered

Renormalization group approach for the scattering off a single Rashba impurity in a helical liquid

The occurrence of two-particle inelastic backscattering has been conjectured in helical edge states of topological insulators and is expected to alter transport. In this Letter, by using a renormalization group approach, we provide a microscopic derivation of this process, in the presence of a time-reversal invariant Rashba impurity potential. Unlike previous approaches to the problem, we are able to prove that such an effect only occurs in the presence of electron-electron interactions. Furthermore, we find that the linear conductance as a function of temperature exhibits a crossover between two scaling behaviors: $T^{4K}$ for $K>1/2$ and $T^{8K-2}$ for $K<1/2$, with $K$ the Luttinger parameter.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Corresponds to published versio

PAC-Bayesian Analysis of the Exploration-Exploitation Trade-off

We develop a coherent framework for integrative simultaneous analysis of the exploration-exploitation and model order selection trade-offs. We improve over our preceding results on the same subject (Seldin et al., 2011) by combining PAC-Bayesian analysis with Bernstein-type inequality for martingales. Such a combination is also of independent interest for studies of multiple simultaneously evolving martingales.Comment: On-line Trading of Exploration and Exploitation 2 - ICML-2011 workshop. http://explo.cs.ucl.ac.uk/workshop

Plasmonic behavior of III-V semiconductors in far-infrared and terahertz range

Background: In this article, III-V semiconductors are proposed as materials for far-infrared and terahertz plasmonic applications. We suggest criteria to estimate appropriate spectral range for each material including tuning by fine doping and magnetic field. Methods: Several single-crystal wafer samples (n, p-doped GaAs, n-doped InP, and n, p-doped and undoped InSb) are characterized using reflectivity measurement and their optical properties are described using the Drude-Lorentz model, including magneto-optical anisotropy. Results: The optical parameters of III-V semiconductors are presented. Moreover, strong magnetic modulation of permittivity was demonstrated on the undoped InSb crystal wafer in the terahertz spectral range. Description of this effect is presented and the obtained parameters are compared with a Hall effect measurement. Conclusion: Analyzing the phonon/free carrier contribution to the permittivity of the samples shows their possible use as plasmonic materials; the surface plasmon properties of semiconductors in the THz range resemble those of noble metals in the visible and near infrared range and their properties are tunable by either doping or magnetic field.Web of Science13art. no. 1

Differential GPS for small UAS using consumer-grade single-frequency receivers

Consumer-grade single-frequency GPS receivers with their known limitations are the predominant means of localization for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). More intricate maneuvers such as automatic landings require a level of accuracy this class of receivers does not provide. As a contribution to improve the positioning accuracy without sacrificing the low-cost approach of this class of vehicles, a Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) has been developed, based on consumer-grade single-frequency miniature GPS receivers both for the base station and airborne positioning. On the part of the airborne receiver, the conventional approach of carrier phase smoothing has been extended by incorporating Doppler measurements to propagate the position during carrier phase signal outages or in the event of cycle slips. Pseudoranges and the augmented carrier phase observations are merged by means of an indirect linear Kalman filter in the position domain. The characteristics of the error state allow for some simplifications that reduce the computing effort of the filter. To evaluate the system’s performance under dynamic conditions, raw GPS data have been collected on a ground based moving platform and processed with Simulink. The results show a significantly improved 3D position accuracy compared to the standalone receiver solution