Theoretical Demonstration of Security Improvement of Optical Phased Array Based on Optically Injection-Locked Lasers

The high security of optical phased array (OPA) signals is an important requirement for OPA-based optical wireless communication (OWC). We propose a method for improving the security of OPA-based OWC systems using optically injection-locked (OIL) semiconductor lasers. We theoretically demonstrate the amplitude and phase modulation of OIL-OPA elements by controlling the injection-locking parameters of the OIL lasers. When a Taylor window function is applied as the amplitude profile of the OPA transmitter, the sidelobe level decreases by 22 dB and the unsecured distance reduces 10 times compared to the case without the Taylor window function. In addition, the unsecured area factor becomes 0.8%.

Large internal variability dominates over global warming signal in observed lower stratospheric QBO amplitude

Global warming projections of dynamics are less robust than projections of thermodynamics. However, robust aspects of the thermodynamics can be used to constrain some dynamical aspects. This paper argues that tropospheric expansion under global warming (a thermodynamical process) explains changes in the amplitude of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) in the lower and middle stratosphere (a dynamical process). A theoretical scaling for tropospheric expansion of approximately 6 hPa K−1 is derived, which agrees well with global climate model (GCM) experiments. Using this theoretical scaling, the response of QBO amplitude to global warming is predicted by shifting the climatological QBO amplitude profile upwards by 6 hPa per Kelvin of global warming. In global warming simulations, QBO amplitude in the lower- to mid-stratosphere shifts upwards as predicted by tropospheric expansion. Applied to observations, the tropospheric expansion framework suggests a historical weakening of QBO amplitude at 70 hPa of 3% decade−1 from 1953-2020. This expected weakening trend is half of the 6% decade−1 from 1953-2012 detected and attributed to global warming in a recent study. The previously reported trend was reinforced by record low QBO amplitudes during the mid-2000s, from which the QBO has since recovered. Given the modest weakening expected on physical grounds, past decadal modulations of QBO amplitude are reinterpreted as a hitherto unrecognized source of internal variability. This large internal variability dominates over the global warming signal, such that despite 65 years of observations, there is not yet a statistically significant weakening trend.

Thermonuclear X-ray bursts from 4U 1636 − 536 observed with AstroSat

ABSTRACT We report results obtained from the study of 12 thermonuclear X-ray bursts in six AstroSat observations of a neutron star X-ray binary and well-known X-ray burster, 4U 1636 − 536. Burst oscillations (BOs) at ∼ 581 Hz are observed with 4–5σ confidence in three of these X-ray bursts. The rising phase BOs show a decreasing trend of the fractional rms amplitude at 3σ confidence, by far the strongest evidence of thermonuclear flame spreading observed with AstroSat. During the initial 0.25 s of the rise a very high value ($34.0\pm 6.7{{{\ \rm per\ cent}}}$) is observed. The concave shape of the fractional amplitude profile provides a strong evidence of latitude-dependent flame speeds, possibly due to the effects of the Coriolis force. We observe decay phase oscillations with amplitudes comparable to that observed during the rising phase, plausibly due to the combined effect of both surface modes, as well as the cooling wake. The Doppler shifts due to the rapid rotation of the neutron star might cause hard pulses to precede the soft pulses, resulting in a soft lag. The distance to the source estimated using the photospheric radius expansion bursts is consistent with the known value of ∼6 kpc.

Simulation of multimodal optical coherence tomography for biomedical diagnostics: comprehensive full-wave description based on ballistic scattering of arbitrary-profile beams

We present a computationally efficient full-wave spectral model of OCT-scan formation with the following capabilities/features: (i) the illuminating beam may have arbitrary phase-amplitude profile with allowance of a sharp diaphragm; (ii) paraxial approximation that limits the degree of focusing/divergence is not used; (iii) the broadly used approximation of ballistic (single) scattering by discrete scatterers is assumed without additional limitations on the density of scatterers, their distribution in space and scattering strengths with possible frequency-dependence; (iv) besides rigorous accounting for the influence of focusing/divergence of the waves, factors describing the wave decay can readily be introduced by analogy with Monte-Carlo approaches; (v) arbitrary measurement noises can easily be added to simulate required signal-to-noise ratios. The model also allows one to account for arbitrary (e.g., random or flow/deformation-induced) displacements of scatterers between subsequently generated scans. Thus, in view of the above-listed features the model can be characterized as comprehensive in the framework of ballistic scattering by discrete scatterers. The model is computationally efficient due to the use of only rapid summations and fast Fourier transforms. Main model features are illustrated, including simulations of OCT scans for a nearly non-diverging Bessel beam and a focused Gaussian beam, with the possibility to introduce at the tissue boundary arbitrary aberrations represented via Zernike polynomials often utilized for describing aberrations in ophthalmology. The unprecedented flexibility and high computational efficacy of the model open a broad range of possibilities for studying OCT-scan properties and developing new methods of their processing for biomedical diagnostics.

Side-lobe Level Reduction of an Optical Phased Array Using Amplitude and Phase Modulation of Array Elements Based on Optically Injection-Locked Semiconductor Lasers

The side-lobe level (SLL) in optical phased array (OPA) systems should be reduced to ensure their high performance. We investigate theoretically the performance of an OPA based on optically injection-locked (OIL) semiconductor lasers. The phase and amplitude of the OIL laser are modulated by controlling the injection-locking parameters to reduce the SLL as well as to achieve beam steering. We successfully achieved an SLL reduction of >16 dB when compared with the uniform amplitude profile based on the application of the Taylor window function profile to the injection-locked OPA elements. The reduced SLL and high power efficiency achieved in this study can expedite the use of OPA in real field applications, such as free-space communication, imaging, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR).

Sunyaev-Zel’dovich detection of the galaxy cluster Cl J1449+0856 at z = 1.99: The pressure profile in uv space

We present Atacama Large Millimetre Array and Atacama Compact Array observations of the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect in the z = 2 galaxy cluster Cl J1449+0856, an X-ray-detected progenitor of typical massive clusters in the present day Universe. While in a cleaned but otherwise untouched 92 GHz map of this cluster little to no negative signal is visible, careful subtraction of known sub-millimetre emitters in the uv plane reveals a decrement at 5σ significance. The total signal is −190 ± 36 μJy, with a peak offset by 5″–9″ (∼50 kpc) from both the X-ray centroid and the still-forming brightest cluster galaxy. A comparison of the recovered uv-amplitude profile of the decrement with different pressure models allows us to derive total mass constraints consistent with the ∼6 × 1013M⊙ estimated from X-ray data. Moreover, we find no strong evidence for a deviation of the pressure profile with respect to local galaxy clusters, although a slight tension at small-to-intermediate spatial scales suggests a flattened central profile, opposite to that seen in a cool core and possibly an AGN-related effect. This analysis of the lowest mass single SZ detection so far illustrates the importance of interferometers when observing the SZ effect in high-redshift clusters, the cores of which cannot be considered quiescent, such that careful subtraction of galaxy emission is necessary.

Microsleeps are Associated with Stage-2 Sleep Spindles from Hippocampal-Temporal Network

Behavioral microsleeps are associated with complete disruption of responsiveness for [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s to 15[Formula: see text]s. They can result in injury or death, especially in transport and military sectors. In this study, EEGs were obtained from five nonsleep-deprived healthy male subjects performing a 1[Formula: see text]h 2D tracking task. Microsleeps were detected in all subjects. Microsleep-related activities in the EEG were detected, characterized, separated from eye closure-related activity, and, via source-space-independent component analysis and power analysis, the associated sources were localized in the brain. Microsleeps were often, but not always, found to be associated with strong alpha-band spindles originating bilaterally from the anterior temporal gyri and hippocampi. Similarly, theta-related activity was identified as originating bilaterally from the frontal-orbital cortex. The alpha spindles were similar to sleep spindles in terms of frequency, duration, and amplitude-profile, indicating that microsleeps are equivalent to brief instances of Stage-2 sleep.

Sensitivity enhancement in MAS NMR of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei using sideband selective double-frequency sweeps

Sensitivity enhancement of the NMR signal of the half-integer spin quadrupolar nuclei under magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions is demonstrated using the DFS (Double Frequency Sweep) enhancement scheme. It has been shown, both through numerical simulations and by experiments, that with a sinusoidal amplitude profile a narrow band DFS scheme performs much better than a DFS scheme with a large bandwidth. The total enhancement compares favorably to the hyperbolic secant (HS) pulse scheme under MAS. Finally, we report the robustness of this DFS scheme with respect to variation of different experimental parameters, making it a very attractive choice for acquiring sensitivity-enhanced NMR experiments of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei.

Non-Contact Measurement of Nugget Size of Spot Welding Using Focused Air-Coupled Ultrasound

Spot welding is widely used in the various fields of engineering and industries. Since the size, shape and mechanical properties of a nugget which is a zone melted and re-solidified during welding are closely related to the strength of the welded structure, quantitative evaluations of them are strongly required. In this work, an air-coupled ultrasound technique with focused transducers has been used for non-contact measurements of spot welds of steel plates. One-dimensional scanning in transmission configuration using a pair of focused air-coupled ultrasonic transducers operating with tone burst waves at 0.3 MHz is performed to obtain the amplitude profile of the transmitted ultrasound through the nugget area of a spot weld. A simple method for determining the nugget size from the profile of the transmitted ultrasound is proposed. To verify the validity of the method, calibration samples which imitate spot welds having different sizes of nuggets are prepared and used for demonstrating nugget size determinations. In addition, the proposed method has been applied to evaluate several spot welds fabricated with different electric currents (5 kA – 9 kA).