Gravitational Waves in G4v

Gravitational coupling of the propagation four-vectors of matter wave functions is formulated in flat space-time. Coupling at the momentum level rather than at the "force-law" level greatly simplifies many calculations. This locally Lorentz-invariant approach (G4v) treats electromagnetic and gravitational coupling on an equal footing. Classical mechanics emerges from the incoherent aggregation of matter wave functions. The theory reproduces, to first order beyond Newton, the standard GR results for Gravity-Probe B, deflection of light by massive bodies, precession of orbits, gravitational red shift, and total gravitational-wave energy radiated by a circular binary system. Its predictions of total radiated energy from highly eccentric Kepler systems are slightly larger than those of similar GR treatments. G4v predictions differ markedly from those of GR for the gravitational-wave radiation patterns from rotating massive systems, and for the LIGO antenna pattern. The predicted antenna patterns have been shown to be highly distinguishable in the case of continuous gravitational-wave sources, and should therefore be testable as data from Advanced LIGO becomes available over the next few years.Comment: 37 pages, 14 figure

Collective electrodynamics I

Standard results of electromagnetic theory are derived from the direct interaction of macroscopic quantum systems; the only assumptions used are the Einstein-deBroglie relations, the discrete nature of charge, the Green's function for the vector potential, and the continuity of the wave function. No reference is needed to Maxwell's equations or to traditional quantum formalism. Correspondence limits based on classical mechanics are shown to be inappropriate

A notation for designing restoring logic circuitry in CMOS

We introduce a programming notation in which every syntactically correct program specifies a restoring logic component, i.e., a component whose outputs are permanently connected, via "not too many" transistors, to the power supply. It is shown how the specified components can be translated into transistor diagrams for CMOS integrated circuits. As these components are designed as strict hierarchies, it is hoped that the translation of the transistor diagrams into layouts for integrated circuits can be accomplished mechanically

A silicon model of auditory localization

The barn owl accurately localizes sounds in the azimuthal plane, using interaural time difference as a cue. The time-coding pathway in the owl's brainstem encodes a neural map of azimuth, by processing interaural timing information. We have built a silicon model of the time-coding pathway of the owl. The integrated circuit models the structure as well as the function of the pathway; most subcircuits in the chip have an anatomical correlate. The chip computes all outputs in real time, using analog, continuous-time processing

Neuromorphic Engineering: Overview and Potential

It is evident to even the most casual observer that the nervous systems of animals are able to accomplish feats that cannot be approached by our most powerful computing systems. Given the exponential increase in computing power over the last 45 years, our inability to rival the common housefly has become downright embarrassing. What is going on

Neural computation in analog VLSI

Neural systems found in the brains of even very simple animals are amazingly effective at performing computations on information arising in the natural world. Neural structures expend less than a millionth of the power required by our most advanced digital signal processing technology for a similar task. At the level of a single device, however, our silicon technology can much more closely approach the energy requirements of structures in the brain. The nervous system achieves its remarkable effectiveness by using the fundamental device physics to define its computational primitives. In addition, algorithmic structures that emphasize spatial locality make best use of limited wiring resources. A deeper understanding of the design approach used by neural systems may make possible a new, and very powerful, engineering discipline

The Evolution of Electronic Photography

Silver-based photography was invented in the mid-1800s, and has existed in its modem form for over 100 years. More than 60 million film cameras will be sold this year, a larger number than for any previous year. In spite of the explosion in digital technology for other applications, digital camera technology still produces images that arc vastly inferior to film images. Recent developments in silicon image sensors have made possible the direct capture of images that exceed the quality of film images. Over the next decade, cameras based on these principles will supplant film cameras in nearly all applications. In many ways, electronic photography has gone through evolutionary steps closely paralleling those experienced in the early days of film photography. The current leading-edge technology will be discussed, with referenced to its place in the evolutionary sequence

Computers That Put the Power Where It Belongs

In the next ten years almost every facet of our society will be automated to some degree. Whether this will be a change for the good or for the bad will depend on how it is done

Neuromorphic analogue VLSI

Neuromorphic systems emulate the organization and function of nervous systems. They are usually composed of analogue electronic circuits that are fabricated in the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) medium using very large-scale integration (VLSI) technology. However, these neuromorphic systems are not another kind of digital computer in which abstract neural networks are simulated symbolically in terms of their mathematical behavior. Instead, they directly embody, in the physics of their CMOS circuits, analogues of the physical processes that underlie the computations of neural systems. The significance of neuromorphic systems is that they offer a method of exploring neural computation in a medium whose physical behavior is analogous to that of biological nervous systems and that operates in real time irrespective of size. The implications of this approach are both scientific and practical. The study of neuromorphic systems provides a bridge between levels of understanding. For example, it provides a link between the physical processes of neurons and their computational significance. In addition, the synthesis of neuromorphic systems transposes our knowledge of neuroscience into practical devices that can interact directly with the real world in the same way that biological nervous systems do

The Nature of Light: What are "Photons"?

We are told that our present understanding of physical law was ushered in by the Quantum Revolution, which began around 1900 and was brought to fruition around 1930 with the formulation of modern Quantum Mechanics. The "photon" was supposed to be the centerpiece of this revolution, conveying much of its conceptual flavor. What happened during that period was a rather violent redirection of the prevailing world view in and around physics - a process that has still not settled. In this paper I critically review the evolution of the concepts involved, from the time of Maxwell up to the present day. At any given time, discussions in and around any given topic take place using a language that presupposes a world view or zeitgeist. The world view itself limits what ideas are expressible. We are all prisoners of the language we have created to develop our understanding to its present state. Thus the very concepts and ways of thinking that have led to progress in the past are often the source of blind spots that prevent progress into the future. The most insidious property of the world view at any point in time is that it involves assumptions that are not stated. In what follows we will have a number of occasions to point out the assumptions in the current world view, and to develop a new world view based on a quite different set of assumptions