Random Fiber Grating Characterization Based on OFDR and Transfer Matrix Method

Random fiber gratings (RFGs) have shown great potential applications in fiber sensing and random fiber lasers. However, a quantitative relationship between the degree of randomness of the RFG and its spectral response has never been analyzed. In this paper, two RFGs with different degrees of randomness are first characterized experimentally by optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). Experimental results show that the high degree of randomness leads to low backscattering strength of the grating and strong strength fluctuations in the spatial domain. The local spectral response of the grating exhibits multiple peaks and a large peak wavelength variation range when its degree of randomness is high. The linewidth of its fine spectrum structures shows scaling behavior with the grating length. In order to find a quantitative relationship between the degree of randomness and spectrum property of RFG, entropy was introduced to describe the degree of randomness induced by period variation of the sub-grating. Simulation results showed that the average reflectivity of the RFG in dB scale decreased linearly with increased sub-grating entropy, when the measured wavelength range was smaller than the peak wavelength variation range of the sub-grating. The peak reflectivity of the RFG was determined by κ2LΔP (where κ is the coupling coefficient, L is the grating length, ΔP is period variation range of the sub-grating) rather than κL when ΔP is larger than 8 nm in the spatial domain. The experimental results agree well with the simulation results, which helps to optimize the RFG manufacturing processes for future applications in random fiber lasers and sensors.

The magnetization of the ocean floor: stress and fracturing of titanomagnetite particles by low-temperature oxidation

SUMMARY The natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of the ocean floor is carried by titanomagnetite grains that undergo low-temperature oxidation after initial cooling. Progressing oxidation is known to generate shrinkage cracks in grains larger than approximately 5 μm, and is suspected to control the long wavelength variation of NRM-intensity across the ocean floor. Here we develop a quantitative theory of single-phase oxidation and crack formation by solving the vacancy-diffusion equation that describes the oxidation process for spherical titanomagnetite particles, where the diffusion coefficient strongly decreases with vacancy concentration. The latter dependence has been experimentally demonstrated and is essential to explain the peculiarities of the observed variations of oxidation-degree with ocean-floor age. The calculated diffusion profiles provide the exact stress distributions inside oxidized titanomagnetite spheres, and predict a size limit for shrinkage-crack formation that agrees with microscopic observations of crack appearance in ocean-floor basalt samples. The new diffusion model provides a unified explanation of long-known experimental facts that (1) temperatures for the onset of low-temperature oxidation during laboratory heating are theoretically estimated as 200–400 ○C, depending on grain size and (2) that heating to 400–500 ○C is required to obtain a sufficiently high degree of oxidation z ≈ 0.8 for the development of high-temperature exsolution lamellae. Calculations for ocean-floor conditions quantitatively suggest that a rapid decrease of NRM intensity during the first 40 ka results from a deflection of magnetization by strong stresses that emerge in titanomagnetite grains of subcritical sizes, and randomization of domain-state by crack formation in larger grains.

Theory of low-temperature deuteric oxidation with application to time evolution of ocean magnetic anomalies

<p>The NRM of the ocean floor is carried by titanomagnetite grains that undergo low-temperature oxidation after initial cooling. Progressing oxidation is known to generate shrinkage cracks in   grains larger than approximately 5 mkm, and is suspected to   control the long wavelength variation of NRM-intensity across the ocean floor. Here we develop a quantitative theory of single-phase oxidation and crack formation by solving the vacancy-diffusion equation that describes the oxidation process for spherical titanomagnetite particles, where the diffusion coefficient strongly decreases with vacancy concentration. The latter dependence has been experimentally demonstrated and is essential to explain the peculiarities of the observed variations of oxidation-degree with ocean-floor age. The calculated diffusion profiles provide the exact stress distributions inside oxidized titanomagnetite spheres, and  predict a size limit for shrinkage-crack formation that agrees   with   microscopic observations of crack appearance in ocean-floor basalt samples. The new diffusion model provides a unified explanation of long-known experimental facts that 1) temperatures for the onset of low-temperature oxidation during laboratory heating are theoretically estimated as 200-400 °C, depending on grain size, and 2) that heating to 400-500 °C is required to obtain a sufficiently high degree of oxidation z about 0.8  for the development of  high-temperature exsolution lamellae. Calculations for ocean-floor conditions    quantitatively suggest that a rapid decrease of NRM intensity during the first 40 ka  results from  a deflection of magnetization by strong stresses that emerge in titanomagnetite grains of sub-critical sizes, and randomization of domain-state by crack formation in larger grains. This work was supported by Russian Science Foundation grant 19-47-04110401 (VS)<br><br></p>

Variation in length of alpha waves reveals how forebrain activity is organized

Background The cerebral cortex is composed of functional units known as columns. The “two levels” hypothesis states that the activity in a column is either at a high level or at a normal, relatively low level. Measurements indicate that the duration of the high activity in a column is around 450 ms. The number of highly active columns is often 4–5. These data are from previous studies on alpha waves in electroencephalograms. The idea is that alpha waves are created when a regulating system keeps the number of highly active columns within proper limits. If this is true, then regulating signals determines the length of the alpha waves, which opens up for a possibility to test the hypothesis. Methods and results Wavelengths were measured in sequences of alpha waves, and distinctive patterns in the wavelength variation were found. The elements of these patterns were repeated at intervals that exactly matched the predicted duration of high activity in individual columns. Conclusions The discovery of patterns in the wavelength variation confirms the central part of the two levels hypothesis. The patterns reveal the actual number of highly active columns. Moreover, the duration of high activity in a column can be measured. Number and duration outside the optimal ranges may lead to a variety of symptoms.

Температурная зависимость характеристик полупроводниковых лазеров с узкими квантовыми ямами спектрального диапазона 1.55 μm на основе бесфосфорных гетероструктур

The InGaAs/InGaAlAs laser diodes of the 1.55-μm spectral range were studied. It is shown that carbon doping at the level of 1012 cm-2 per quantum well makes it possible in these laser structures to reduce the temperature coefficient of lasing wavelength variation, as well as to increase the characteristic temperatures of the threshold current and differential efficiency in the temperature range from 16°C to about 50°C while simultaneously increasing the threshold density current and reducing the differential efficiency.

Early Monitoring of Rebar Corrosion Evolution Based on FBG Sensor

Cracks of structural members caused by rebar corrosion directly influence the service life of reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, it is important to monitor early corrosion evolution of the rebar and take the early steps to overcome the situation. In this paper, the response relationship between wavelength variation of Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor and mass loss rate of the rebar is derived. The accuracy of the proposed theoretical model is verified by the electricity accelerated rebar corrosion experiment. It indicates that the theoretical model matches well with the tested value. Moreover, in this study, real-time online early monitoring of rebar corrosion evolution is built.

A Combined XRD, Solvatochromic, and Cyclic Voltammetric Study of Poly (3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Doped with Sulfonated Polyarylethersulfones: Towards New Conducting Polymers

Despite the poor solubility in organic solvents, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is one of the most successful conducting polymers. To improve PEDOT conductivity, the dopants commonly used are molecules/polymers carrying sulfonic functionalities. In addition to these species, sulfonated polyarylethersulfone (SPAES), obtained via homogeneous synthesis with different degrees of sulfonation (DS), can be used thanks to both the tight control over the DS and the charge separation present in SPAES structure. Here, PEDOTs having enhanced solubility in the chosen reaction solvents (N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) were synthesized via a high-concentration solvent-based emulsion polymerization with very low amounts of SPAES as dopant (1% w/w with respect to EDOT monomer), characterized by different DS. The influence of solvents and of the adopted doping agent was studied on PEDOT_SPAESs analyzing (i) the chemical structure, comparing via X-ray diffraction (XRD) the crystalline structures of undoped and commercial PEDOTs with PEDOT_SPAES’ amorphous structure; (ii) solvatochromic behavior, observing UV absorption wavelength variation as solvents and SPAES’ DS change; and (iii) electrochemical properties: voltammetric peak heights of PEDOT_SPAES cast onto glassy carbon electrodes differ for each solvent and in general are better than the ones obtained for neat SPAES, PEDOTs, and glassy carbon.