Modelling of a novel high-impedance matching layer for high frequency (>30 MHz) ultrasonic transducers

This work describes a new approach to impedance matching for ultrasonic transducers. A single matching layer with high acoustic impedance of 16 MRayls is demonstrated to show a bandwidth of around 70%, compared with conventional single matching layer designs of around 50%. Although as a consequence of this improvement in bandwidth, there is a loss in sensitivity, this is found to be similar to an equivalent double matching layer design. Designs are calculated by using the KLM model and are then verified by FEA simulation, with very good agreement Considering the fabrication difficulties encountered in creating a high-frequency double matched design due to the requirement for materials with specific acoustic impedances, the need to accurately control the thickness of layers, and the relatively narrow bandwidths available for conventional single matched designs, the new approach shows advantages in that alternative (and perhaps more practical) materials become available, and offers a bandwidth close to that of a double layer design with the simplicity of a single layer design. The disadvantage is a trade-off in sensitivity. A typical example of a piezoceramic transducer matched to water can give a 70% fractional bandwidth (comparable to an ideal double matched design of 72%) with a 3 dB penalty in insertion loss.<br/

Hamiltonian lattice quantum chromodynamics at finite density with Wilson fermions

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at sufficiently high density is expected to undergo a chiral phase transition. Understanding such a transition is of particular importance for neutron star or quark star physics. In Lagrangian SU(3) lattice gauge theory, the standard approach breaks down at large chemical potential $\mu$, due to the complex action problem. The Hamiltonian formulation of lattice QCD doesn't encounter such a problem. In a previous work, we developed a Hamiltonian approach at finite chemical potential $\mu$ and obtained reasonable results in the strong coupling regime. In this paper, we extend the previous work to Wilson fermions. We study the chiral behavior and calculate the vacuum energy, chiral condensate and quark number density, as well as the masses of light hadrons. There is a first order chiral phase transition at zero temperature.Comment: 23 pages. Version accepted for publication in Physical Review

ZOOpt: Toolbox for Derivative-Free Optimization

Recent advances of derivative-free optimization allow efficient approximating the global optimal solutions of sophisticated functions, such as functions with many local optima, non-differentiable and non-continuous functions. This article describes the ZOOpt (https://github.com/eyounx/ZOOpt) toolbox that provides efficient derivative-free solvers and are designed easy to use. ZOOpt provides a Python package for single-thread optimization, and a light-weighted distributed version with the help of the Julia language for Python described functions. ZOOpt toolbox particularly focuses on optimization problems in machine learning, addressing high-dimensional, noisy, and large-scale problems. The toolbox is being maintained toward ready-to-use tool in real-world machine learning tasks

The Interactions of Eco-Labeling, Environment, and International Trade

A simple graphical model has been developed to examine the relationship between eco-labelling, international trade and environment. This paper analyses that labelling can possibly have adverse effect on environment when the supply of environment-friendly good is greater than the demand of the friendly good pre-labelling (fig.2). In a dynamic setting, however, this situation could be reversed by shifts of demand and supply curves of environment-friendly products (fig.3). The theoretical model predicts change of product prices, which in turn can alter international trade. In bilateral trade, the interaction with country 2 will result in an improvement in the environmental situation in country 1 only if there is offsetting demand for the environment-friendly good from that country. The environmental situation in country 1 would worsen under international trade only if there is offsetting excess supply of the environment-friendly products from abroad. An empirical case of US tuna export is studied and “dolphin-safe” labelling is found to have a negative coefficient with tuna export volume from US to Canada