Kilohertz Frequency Research Articles

A Repetitive Nanosecond Pulse Source for Generation of Large Volume Streamer Discharge

Using a unipolar pulse with the rise time and the pulse duration in the order of microsecond as the primary pulse, a nanosecond pulse with the repetitive frequency of several kilohertz is generated by a spark gap switch. By varying both the inter-pulse duration and the pulse frequency, the voltage recovery rate of the spark gap switch is investigated at different working conditions such as the gas pressure, the gas composition as well as the bias voltage. The results reveal that either increase in gas pressure or addition of SF6 to the air can increase the voltage recovery rate. The effect of gas composition on the voltage recovery rate is discussed based on the transferring and distribution of the residual space charges. The repetitive nanosecond pulse source is also applied to the generation of large volume, and the discharge currents are measured to investigate the effect of pulse repetition rate on the large volume streamer discharge.

A sodium ordering transition above room temperature in Na xCoO 2 deduced by mechanical spectrum

The mechanical spectrum of Na 0.66CoO 2 above room temperature was measurement using the vibrating reed method at kilohertz frequency. A novel transition was observed around 427 K as indicated by temperature-dependent internal friction and resonance frequency. The characteristic transition temperature is defined as the start of a step increase of resonance frequency with the decrease of temperature, which is concurrent with the decrease of internal friction below a plateau. At the same time, this characteristic transition temperature shifts towards lower temperatures at a lower cooling rate, or higher heating rate during its respective thermodynamic processes. This unconventional behavior seems to be explained by critical slowing down at a second-order phase transition. Furthermore, sodium ordering is expected for this phase transition.

Advances in magnetometry through miniaturization

Recent innovations may lead to magnetic sensors that are smaller, more sensitive, and/or cost less than current magnetometers. Examples of this are the chip scale atomic magnetometer, magnetic tunnel junctions with MgO barriers, and a device for minimizing the effect of 1∕f noise, the microelectromechanical system (MEMS) flux concentrator. In the chip scale atomic magnetometer, researchers have been able to fabricate the light source, optics, heater, optical cell, and photodiode detector in a stack that passes through a silicon wafer. Theoretical and subsequent experimental work has led to the observation of magnetoresistance values of 400% at room temperature in magnetic tunnel junctions with MgO barriers. This large magnetoresistance occurs because electrons in the majority band can tunnel more easily through the MgO barrier than electrons in the minority band. The MEMS flux concentrator has the potential to increase the sensitivity of magnetic sensors at low frequencies by more than an order of magnitude. The MEMS flux concentrator does this by shifting the operating frequency to higher frequencies where the 1∕f noise is much smaller. The shift occurs because the motion of flux concentrators on MEMS flaps modulates the field at kilohertz frequencies at the position of the sensor. Though miniaturization is generally beneficial, trade-offs are necessary because some properties, such as noise, worsen with decreasing size.

The underwater acoustic testing of modest sized panel materials using a multi-element array technique in a laboratory test vessel

The underwater acoustic properties of materials can be assessed in panel form via a simple single hydrophone measurement technique which is ideally conducted on large test panels in open water. Alternatively measurements may be conducted in a laboratory test vessel which is capable of simulating ocean conditions. However, physical limitations imposed by the constraints of the vessel, including a reduction in test panel dimensions, require modification of the traditional technique to allow measurements to be made down to low kilohertz frequencies. This can be achieved by, in addition to a directional source, the use of a directional receiver in the form of a planar multi-hydrophone array. The technique is described and illustrated with measurements of reflection loss and insertion loss between 1 kHz and 7 kHz performed on a test panel in a pressure vessel through changing hydrostatic pressure from ambient to 2.8 MPa. The efficacy of this technique is considered with simulated multi-hydrophone array measurements on a scaled panel in an open tank.

Continuous and Damped Vibration Detection Based on Fiber Diversity Detection Sensor by Rayleigh Backscattering

An optical fiber vibration sensor based on a polarization diversity scheme has been developed to study structural vibration properties under external disturbance. The polarization diversity scheme has improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by over 13 dB with capability of detection frequency of sub-hertz to tens of kilo- hertz. The minimum dynamic strain we have detected is 3 nepsiv, and the SNR of the sensor is >37 dB without any averaging. For the first time, Rayleigh backscattering has been utilized to detect continuous and damped vibration generated by a piezo fiber stretcher and vibrating cantilever with a frequency range of sub-hertz to 16 kHz. We also use this sensor and polarization analyzer to characterize the polarization state change and phase shift of the piezo fiber stretcher in transmission and Rayleigh backscattering up to kilohertz frequency, both results agrees quantitatively.

Initial studies on microelectromechanical system flux concentrators

To take advantage of the potential offered by the recent increase in the magnetoresistance of magnetic tunnel junctions, it is necessary to address the problem of 1∕f noise. ARL has been working on a device, the microelectromechanical system (MEMS) flux concentrator, that mitigates this problem by modulating the sensed magnetic field so that the sensor operates at a higher frequency region where the 1∕f noise is smaller. Initial results of testing the device are reported. Though the final step in the fabrication of the device appears to have adversely affected the MEMS motion, two important results were obtained. They are (1) applying the large amplitude voltage at kilohertz frequencies necessary to drive the MEMS structure does not increase the background noise and (2) even though the width of the drive voltage is several hertz, one can demodulate the signal using a lock-in amplifier in order to extract 1Hz modulation signals. This last result shows that the sensor can be used to detect slow moving or varying magnetic anomalies.

A mechanical spectrum study of double perovskite Y 1− xCa xBaCuFeO 5+δ

The mechanical spectrum of double perovskite Y BaCuFeO 5+δ was measured using the vibrating reed method from 100 K to room temperature at kilohertz frequency. A sharp internal friction peak around 203 K and a broad one around 260 K were observed in Y BaCuFeO 5+δ. A deviation of the temperature dependent reduced modulus from linear behavior above 203 K is observed which is concurrent with the sharp internal friction peak. This suggests a phase transition mechanism of the sharp internal friction peak. The intensities of the two internal friction peaks were both depressed upon partial Ca substitution of Y. By comparison of the mechanical spectrum with the bilayer superconductor Y Ba 2Cu 3O 7+δ, one kind of transition in double perovskite oxide is proposed for the sharp internal friction peak.

Low-power high-speed current comparator design

A new current comparator is proposed that is optimised for low power consumption whilst maintaining high speed. This novel comparator design offers a reduction in power consumption of over three orders of magnitude compared with other high-speed designs, and allows picoampere current decisions at kilohertz frequencies. Circuit simulations were performed in Cadence software for a standard 0.35 µm process.

Bispectral Analysis of Harmonic Oscillations Measured using Beam Emission Spectroscopy and Magnetic Probes in CHS

The coherent MHD oscillation, which consists of the fundamental frequency of several kilohertz and its higher harmonics, (harmonic oscillation: HO) has been observed in Compact Helical System. HO consists of two pairs of harmonic series. One is located in the core region near the ι = 0.5 rational surface (denoted as “HO (core)”), the other is located in the edge region near the ι = 1.0 rational surface (denoted as “HO (edge)”). In the present study, bispectral analysis is applied to the fluctuation data, for which HO is measured by beam emission spectroscopy (BES) and using magnetic probes. The analysis has revealed that fundamental mode of HO in both the magnetic and core density fluctuations have phase correlation with the harmonics including fundamental oscillation, while HO in edge density fluctuation does not have such phase correlation. Mode numbers of HOs are identical for harmonic components having different frequencies, i.e., m/n = -2/1 for HO (core) and m/n = -1/1 for HO (edge). It suggests that the generation of harmonics cannot be interpreted simply as mode coupling because the summation rule for the wavenumber is not satisfied, even though the bicoherence value is significant. The bicoherence value and relative amplitude of higher harmonics correlate with each other, which suggests that bicoherence indicates the degree of distortion of the signals.

Real-time detection, control, and sorting of microfluidic droplets.

We report the design and implementation of capacitive detection and control of microfluidic droplets in microfluidic devices. Integrated microfluidic chip(s) with detectioncontrol circuit enables us to monitor in situ the individual volume of droplets, ranging from nanoliter to picoliter, velocity and even composition, with an operation frequency of several kilohertz. Through electronic feedback, we are able to easily count, sort, and direct the microfluidic droplets. Potential applications of this approach can be employed in the areas of biomicrofluidic processing, microchemical reactions as well as digital microfluidics.

On the relation between high frequency acoustic emissions in near-surface rocks and the electric field in the near-ground atmosphere

A field instrument package was installed for synchronous measurements of acoustic emission in rocks at frequencies of 0.1–10000 Hz and the vertical gradient of electric potential in near-ground atmosphere. These investigations for the first time revealed a relationship between emission disturbances in the kilohertz frequency range due to deformation of near-surface rocks and the electric field. The relationship may be observed both during seismically quiet periods and at the final phase of earthquake precursory periods.

High-frequency torsional modal testing of a long cylinder by magnetostriction

The torsional modal testing of cylindrical bodies still remains formidable. This is because pure torsional eigenfrequencies typically lying in the kilohertz frequency range are nearly impossible to excite by popular excitation methods. In this study, a torsional modal testing method using a set of magnetostrictive patches, specially arranged permanent magnets, and solenoids is investigated to cover a frequency range of a few kilohertz. The use of magnetostrictive patches for the testing was motivated by torsional wave experiments using the patches, but the use of special magnet configurations was a key to successful modal testing. The developed method was validated with experiments.

High-Throughput DNA Droplet Assays Using Picoliter Reactor Volumes

The online characterization and detection of individual droplets at high speeds, low analyte concentrations, and perfect detection efficiencies is a significant challenge underpinning the application of microfluidic droplet reactors to high-throughput chemistry and biology. Herein, we describe the integration of confocal fluorescence spectroscopy as a high-efficiency detection method for droplet-based microfluidics. Issues such as surface contamination, rapid mixing, and rapid detection, as well as low detections limits have been addressed with the approach described when compared to conventional laminar flow-based fluidics. Using such a system, droplet size, droplet shape, droplet formation frequencies, and droplet compositions can be measured accurately and precisely at kilohertz frequencies. Taking advantage of this approach, we demonstrate a high-throughput biological assay based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). By attaching a FRET donor (Alexa Fluor 488) to streptavidin and labeling a FRET acceptor (Alexa Fluor 647) on one DNA strand and biotin on the complementary strand, donor and acceptor molecules are brought in proximity due to streptavidin-biotin binding, resulting in FRET. Fluorescence bursts of the donor and acceptor from each droplet can be monitored simultaneously using separate avalanche photodiode detectors operating in single photon counting mode. Binding assays were investigated and compared between fixed streptavidin and DNA concentrations. Binding curves fit perfectly to Hill-Waud models, and the binding ratio between streptavidin and biotin was evaluated and found to be in agreement with the biotin binding sites on streptavidin. FRET efficiency for this FRET pair was also investigated from the binding results. Efficiency results show that this detection system can precisely measure FRET even at low FRET efficiencies.

Noise analysis and noise reduction methods in kilohertz pump-probe experiments

We analyze sources of noise in kilohertz frequency pump/probe experiments and present a method for reducing experimental noise by identifying and filtering noisy shots. The power spectrum of instrumental noise shows high frequency, small amplitude modulations which cannot be averaged out. A histogram analysis shows that low frequency, large amplitude signals pose a serious obstacle to signal averaging for improved signal to noise. In kilohertz frequency pump/probe experiments, this low frequency noise typically arises from laser scatter due to bubbles, dust, and defects. We quantify the effectiveness in analyzing and rejecting these large amplitude signals which can produce a hindrance to the effectiveness of signal averaging.

Comparison of the Hypoalgesic Efficacy of Low-Frequency and Burst-Modulated Kilohertz Frequency Currents

A within-subject randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare monophasic pulsed current (PC) with a frequency of 50 Hz and a phase duration of 500 microseconds with burst-modulated alternating current (BMAC) (1-kHz alternating current, burst modulated at a frequency of 50 Hz with a 20% duty cycle) to establish whether there were differences in hypoalgesic efficacy as assessed by cold pain threshold measurements. Twenty-two young adults who were healthy and drawn from a population of students of La Trobe University volunteered to participate in the study. Nineteen subjects (7 male, 12 female) met the inclusion criteria. Each participant experienced monophasic PC and BMAC. Time to cold pain threshold was measured before, during, and after the electrical stimulation intervention. Both PC and BMAC currents were effective at elevating the cold pain threshold, although there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 currents during stimulation. Pulsed current and BMAC appear to be equally effective at elevating the cold pain threshold. Analysis indicated that if any real difference exists, it would only be apparent with large (100) subject numbers. Any differences in hypoalgesic efficacy thus are not likely to be clinically important.

An experimental investigation of analog delay generation for dynamic control of microsensors and atomic force microscopy

We present an implementation of pure-time-delay generation in analog signals located in the kilo-Hertz frequency band. The controlled constant delays that are produced engage in a feedback system to investigate the dynamic response of microcantilevers. Delayed systems offer a vast richness of eigenvalues resulting in the possibility of excitations at frequencies other than that of the fundamental mode. Different cantilever actuation and delay generation approaches are investigated and compared, and detailed experimental observation of the dynamic response of the system is presented. Based on our results, an acoustic excitation is devised that may be used as an efficient sensor.

Characterization of sonochemical reactors by chemical dosimetry

AbstractIrradiation of ultrasonic waves induces cavitation in a solution, and a chemical action instigated by radicals occurs. This chemical action is reported to be most efficient in the region of several hundred kilohertz frequencies. Application of sonochemistry based on ultrasonic chemical action remains at the laboratory scale and has not yet reached the industrial practical scale. In order to realize practical applications of sonochemistry, there is a need to scale‐up the sonochemical reactors. For this purpose, we used a 490‐kHz cylindrical sonochemical reactor that is long in the irradiation direction, and used potassium iodide (KI) dosimetry, sonochemical luminescence, and calorimetry to evaluate the sonochemical reaction efficiency and reaction field of the reactor. We performed the evaluation with the ultrasonic irradiation direction in the horizontal and vertical directions. As a result, we observed sonochemical luminescence and a rise in temperature near the reflection surface, for both the horizontal and vertical irradiation. For the horizontal irradiation, the I3− concentration was evenly distributed in the irradiation direction. Moreover, we found that the sonochemical reaction efficiency was the same for both the horizontal irradiation and the vertical irradiation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 90(8): 1– 8, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20315

A mechanical spectrum study of bilayer cuprate La 1.82Sr 0.18CaCu 2O 6+δ

The mechanical spectrum of bilayer cuprate La 1.82Sr 0.18CaCu 2O 6+δ (La2126) was measured using the vibrating reed method from 30 K to room temperature at kilohertz frequency. A clear modulus softening was observed at 223 K accompanied by a sharp internal friction peak, which evidences a phase transition. Another broad internal friction peak around 250 K was observed, accompanied by a large modulus change. This contrasts with the broad internal friction peak of Ca doped Y Ba 2Cu 3O 7−δ (Y123) for which no clear modulus change was observed. The main contribution to the broad internal friction peak of La2126 is expected to be from the glass transition of the interstitial oxygen atoms.

Effect of stagnant-layer conductivity on the electric permittivity of concentrated colloidal suspensions

A long-lasting experience in the electrokinetics of suspensions has shown that the so-called standard model may be partly in error in explaining experimental data. In this model, the stagnant layer is considered nonconducting (Ksigmai=0), and only the diffuse layer contributes to the total surface conductivity (Ksigma=Ksigmad). In the present work, the authors analyze the consequences of assuming a nonzero stagnant layer conductivity on the permittivity of concentrated suspensions. Using a cell model to account for the particle-particle interactions, and a well established ion adsorption isotherm on the inner region of the double layer, the authors find the frequency-dependent electric permittivity of suspensions of spherical particles with volume fractions of solids up to above 40%. It is demonstrated that the addition of Ksigmai significantly increases the contributions of the double layer to the polarization of the suspension: the alpha or concentration polarization at low (kilohertz) frequencies, and the Maxwell-Wagner-O'Konski (associated with conductivity mismatch between particle and medium) one at intermediate (megahertz) frequencies. While checking for the possibility that the results obtained in conditions of Ksigmai not equal 0 could be reproduced assuming Ksigmai=0 and raising Ksigmad to reach identical total Ksigma, it is found that this is approximately possible in the calculation of the permittivity. Interestingly, this does not occur in the case of electrophoretic mobility, where the situations Ksigma=Ksigmad and Ksigma=Ksigmad+Ksigmai (for equal Ksigma) can be distinguished for all frequencies. This points to the importance of using more than one electrokinetic technique to properly evaluate not only the zeta potential but other transport properties of concentrated suspensions, particularly Ksigmai.

Audio-frequency heating of particulate magnetic systems

This paper presents theoretical and experimental studies on the magnetodynamics and energy dissipation in suspensions of small ferromagnetic particles with magnetic hysteresis and mechanical mobility in an AC magnetic field. Energy absorption by particles suspended in a solid, liquid or gas environment and subjected to high frequency magnetic fields is of great interest for cancer treatment by hyperthermia, chemical technology, biotechnology and smart materials science. Sub-micron needle-like γ-Fe 2O 3 particles dispersed in liquid were subjected in this study to a 430 Hz magnetic field with an intensity of up to 10 5 A/m. Dynamic magnetization loops were measured in parallel to the energy dissipated in the samples. Combined magnetomechanical dynamics of particle dispersions was simulated by using a chain-of-spheres model allowing for incoherent magnetic field reversal. In liquid dispersions, within the kilohertz frequency range, the mechanical mobility of particles does not interfere with their hysteretic magnetic reversal that makes heat release comparable to that observed with solids; for instance, in the present study using γ-Fe 2O 3 particles in liquid subjected to 10 4 Hz field exhibited heat release rates from 250 up to 600 W per 1 cm 3 of the dry particle content.