Real & Simulated QPSK Up-Converted Signals by a Sampling Method Using a Cascaded MZMs Link

This study focuses on a novel concept of transmitting of a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation by an electro-optical frequency up-conversion using a cascaded Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZMs) link. Furthermore, we conduct and compare the results obtained by simulations using the Virtual Photonics Inc. (VPI) (Berlin, Germany) simulator and real-world experiments. The design and operating regime peculiarities of the MZM used as a sampling up-converter mixer in a radio over fiber (RoF) system are also analyzed. Besides, the simulation and experimental results of static and dynamic characteristics of the MZM have approximately the same behavior. The conversion gain of the cascaded MZMs link is simulated over many mixing frequencies and it can decrease from 17.5 dB at 8.3 GHz to −4.5 dB at 39.5 GHz. However, in real world settings, it may decrease from 15.5 dB at 8.3 GHz to −6 dB at 39.5 GHz. The maximum frequency range is attained at 78.5 GHz for up-conversion through simulations. Error vector magnitude (EVM) values have been done to evaluate the performance of our system. An EVM of 16% at a mixing frequency of 39.5 GHz with a bit rate of 12.5 Gbit/s was observed with the considering sampling technique, while it reached 19% in real-world settings with a sampling frequency of 39.5 GHz and a bit rate of 12.5 Gbit/s.

Harnessing Nutritional Benefits of Spirulina platensis: Standardization of Cultivating Conditions of Spirulina in Kilimanjaro

Malnutrition remains a challenge in Tanzania, notwithstanding government initiatives and health education geared towards assuaging the problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there will be more than 600,000 severely malnourished children in Tanzania by the year 2030. In particular, protein based malnutrition remains the greatest challenge due to the irreplaceable nature of its essential amino acids. Macronutrients and micronutrients which are found in Spirulina platensis have been recommended by WHO to address malnutrition in developing countries. Spirulina platensis is a filamentous Cyanobacterium microalgae with the highest recorded protein content of plant origin with several immune boosting nutrients. Spirulina cultivation requires sufficient aeration, proper light intensity and salinity for maximum biomass yield, cell productivity, specific growth rate, and protein content. This paper presents the findings of a study carried out in Kilimanjaro on the optimized conditions, locally and economically tailored approach system required to grow spirulina in the region. The study established the use of food grade organic media with low-cost urea as nitrogen source, a greenhouse average temperature of 30–32 °C in the months between December to March, alkalinity of 5 g/L, mixing frequency of 3 times per day/100 L and partial shading, as the optimum conditions for outdoor cultivation of spirulina. Keywords: Malnutrition, Spirulina, Protein, growth condition

Self-Mixing Signal Characteristics of Complex-Coupled Distributed-Feedback Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Lasers

Self-mixing interference (SMI) in terahertz quantum cascade lasers (THz QCLs) is one of the significant approaches for coherent THz imaging and sensing techniques. Here, the output characteristics of SMI in distributed feedback (DFB) THz QCLs from the index-to the gain-coupling regimes are studied using the coupled wave theory and the multi-mode rate equation method. A mode hopping phenomenon is found to occur when the DFB coupling factor changes from index-coupling to gain-coupling, and the characteristics of the self-mixing signals of DFB-QCLs change greatly with this mode hopping. With the modulus of the coupling factor fixed and its argument varied from 0 to π/2, an extreme point of the self-mixing frequency and power signals of DFB-QCLs is found at π/9 due to the mode hopping. For index-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs, both the varying ranges of the self-mixing frequency signals and amplitudes of power signals increase with increasing DFB coupling factor argument. For gain-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs, with increasing argument value, the amplitude of the self-mixing power signal increases, but the varying range of the self-mixing frequency signal decreases. With the argument of the coupling factor fixed, we also found that the varying ranges of the self-mixing frequency signals decrease with increasing modulus for both index-coupling dominated and gain-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs. For index-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs, the amplitudes of the self-mixing power signals decrease with increasing modulus; however, the amplitudes of the self-mixing power signals of gain-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs increase. With the argument of the coupling factor fixed, for index-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs, we found that the varying ranges of the self-mixing frequency signals and amplitudes of power signals decrease with the increasing modulus. For gain-coupling dominated DFB-QCLs, with the coupling factor modulus increasing, the varying ranges of the self-mixing frequency signals decrease, however, the amplitudes of the self-mixing power signals increase. These results may help with the application of DFB-QCLs to self-mixing interferometers.

Measurement of the CKM angle γ and $$ {B}_s^0\hbox{-} {\overline{B}}_s^0 $$ mixing frequency with $$ {B}_s^0\to {D}_s^{\mp }{h}^{\pm }{\pi}^{\pm }{\pi}^{\mp } $$ decays

The CKM angle γ is measured for the first time from mixing-induced CP violation between $$ {B}_s^0\to {D}_s^{\mp }{K}^{\pm }{\pi}^{\pm }{\pi}^{\mp } $$ B s 0 → D s ∓ K ± π ± π ∓ and $$ {\overline{B}}_s^0\to {D}_s^{\pm }{K}^{\mp }{\pi}^{\mp }{\pi}^{\pm } $$ B ¯ s 0 → D s ± K ∓ π ∓ π ± decays reconstructed in proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1 recorded with the LHCb detector. A time-dependent amplitude analysis is performed to extract the CP-violating weak phase γ − 2βs and, subsequently, γ by taking the $$ {B}_s^0\hbox{-} {\overline{B}}_s^0 $$ B s 0 ‐ B ¯ s 0 mixing phase βs as an external input. The measurement yields γ = (44 ± 12)° modulo 180°, where statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined. An alternative model-independent measurement, integrating over the five-dimensional phase space of the decay, yields $$ \gamma =\left({44}_{-13}^{+20}\right){}^{\circ} $$ γ = 44 − 13 + 20 ° modulo 180°. Moreover, the $$ {B}_s^0\hbox{-} {\overline{B}}_s^0 $$ B s 0 ‐ B ¯ s 0 oscillation frequency is measured from the flavour-specific control channel $$ {B}_s^0\to {D}_s^{-}{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-} $$ B s 0 → D s − π + π + π − to be ∆ms = (17.757 ± 0.007(stat) ± 0.008(syst)) ps−1, consistent with and more precise than the current world-average value.

Development of the composition of a lubricant for injection under pressure with high sedimentation stability

The article describes the requirements for the lubricant used in injection molding of non-ferrous alloys. A methodology for conducting research to determine the sedimentation stability of a prepared lubricant is presented, as well as the results of a study of the sedimentation stability of a lubricant used in non-ferrous alloy die casting. It was established that in order to significantly increase the sedimentation stability of the compositions of lubricants for casting silumin based on the selected components, it is necessary to pre-heat the initial components to a temperature of at least 80 °C and mix them at a rotational speed of the dispersant blades of at least 6000 min–1. The optimal mode of lubrication with high sedimentation stability (more than 200 days) is observed at the following temperature and time indicators: the temperature of the heating of the starting components is at least 90 °C, the mixing time is 5 minutes, and the mixing frequency is 18000 min–1.