Pump Current Research Articles

Non-evaporable getter pump operations in the TCV tokamak

A non-evaporable getter pump using the ZAO alloy was installed on TCV and operated during the 2019 experimental campaign. The pump performance, determined from in-situ pumping speed measurements, indicates that current getter pump technologies are well suited to tokamak operations with high power exhaust plasmas, and provide an interesting alternative for applications in fusion experiments.

Investigations with all optical sequential circuit at higher data rate

Abstract All optical signal processing is one of the growing area, finds relevance where fast computing speed is one of the vital concern. Optical sequential logic system is the backbone of the ultrafast processing network. Accordingly, this article explores proposed optical sequential schemes for the JK and T-type optical flip flop’s investigation at higher data rate. The outputs have been verified for the JK and T-type flip flops. Numerical simulations showed ER of 11.6 and 10 dB for the executed designs. Design have been investigated for variation in pump current, data rate (10–100 Gbps), peak power, bias voltage yielded the optimal performance with ER of over 12 dB. This schematic is simple excludes expensive optoelectronic translation and outcomes are well helpful for the design of complex sequential logic operations.

Hemolysis at low blood flow rates: in-vitro and in-silico evaluation of a centrifugal blood pump

BackgroundTreating severe forms of the acute respiratory distress syndrome and cardiac failure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an established therapeutic option. Neonatal or pediatric patients receiving ECMO, and patients undergoing extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) represent low-flow applications of the technology, requiring lower blood flow than conventional ECMO. Centrifugal blood pumps as a core element of modern ECMO therapy present favorable operating characteristics in the high blood flow range (4 L/min–8 L/min). However, during low-flow applications in the range of 0.5 L/min–2 L/min, adverse events such as increased hemolysis, platelet activation and bleeding complications are reported frequently.MethodsIn this study, the hemolysis of the centrifugal pump DP3 is evaluated both in vitro and in silico, comparing the low-flow operation at 1 L/min to the high-flow operation at 4 L/min.ResultsIncreased hemolysis occurs at low-flow, both in vitro and in silico. The in-vitro experiments present a sixfold higher relative increased hemolysis at low-flow. Compared to high-flow operation, a more than 3.5-fold increase in blood recirculation within the pump head can be observed in the low-flow range in silico.ConclusionsThis study highlights the underappreciated hemolysis in centrifugal pumps within the low-flow range, i.e. during pediatric ECMO or ECCO2R treatment. The in-vitro results of hemolysis and the in-silico computational fluid dynamic simulations of flow paths within the pumps raise awareness about blood damage that occurs when using centrifugal pumps at low-flow operating points. These findings underline the urgent need for a specific pump optimized for low-flow treatment. Due to the inherent problems of available centrifugal pumps in the low-flow range, clinicians should use the current centrifugal pumps with caution, alternatively other pumping principles such as positive displacement pumps may be discussed in the future.

Исследование динамики выходной оптической мощности полупроводниковых лазеров (1070 nm) с маломодовым латеральным волноводом мезаполосковой конструкции при сверхвысоких токах накачки

At ultrahigh levels of pulsed current pumping, the characteristics of semiconductor lasers based on an asymmetric heterostructure with a broadened lateral waveguide of a mesa-stripe design are studied. A peak power of 5.1 W is demonstrated at a pump current amplitude of 10 A. Three types of spatial dynamics of laser radiation are determined: the first one is a slow (~ 200 ns) intensity profile variation along the lateral near field at initial level of pump currents; the second one is a presence of fast (~ 10 ns) processes of mode competition at moderate pump currents; the third one is a chaotic temporal behavior of the output power at maximum pump currents.

Broadband and Tunable 920-nm Femtosecond Pulse Generated by an All-Fiber Er:Fiber Laser System

Fiber-optic Cherenkov radiation (FOCR) is a promising nonlinear process that is widely used for nonlinear wavelength conversion. In this study, an all-fiber 920-nm femtosecond pulse source is experimentally demonstrated by using Cherenkov radiation. The 4-nJ 150-fs 1550-nm amplified seed pulse source ensures highly efficient 920-nm pulse generation. Cherenkov radiation is stimulated by inputting the high-energy ultrashort pulse to a highly nonlinear fiber. The dispersion values of the highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) are carefully chosen to generate CR pulses at 920 nm. The generated pulse has a 150-pJ single pulse energy and a 232-fs pulse duration. The typical 30-nm bandwidth can support a sub-50-fs transform-limited pulse duration. The pump current can be adjusted to tune the central wavelength of the pulse source over 905–930 nm. This very simple approach can generate 920-nm femtosecond pulses. The wavelength range is useful for a wide range of applications, such as two-photon microscopy (TPM) in bio-imaging and so on.

Роль тепловых дрейфов нуля в магнитооптических зеемановских лазерных гироскопах

The paper is devoted to the current problem of gyroscopy in general and its magneto-optical laser branch in particular: further increase in the accuracy of gyroscopes while maintaining their stable operation in real operating conditions. The problem is considered and studied by the example of the magneto-optical Zeeman laser gyroscope, which is one of the effective types of laser gyroscope. The development and improvement of the technolo-gy for creating this type of gyroscopes makes it possible to significantly re-duce the sources of the gyroscope zero drift and yet, retain the other properties and performance parameters. The study and validation of the possibility of a significant reduction in the gyroscope key control currents, such as the pumping currents of the active medium and the control currents of frequency bias, will increase the measuring accuracy of the gyroscope, and, accordingly, the accuracy of navigation systems based on them.

AlGaInAs/InP semiconductor lasers with an ultra-narrow waveguide and an increased electron barrier

Semiconductor lasers based on AlGaInAs/InP heterostructures with an ultra-narrow waveguide and an increased electron barrier layer are developed. It is shown that the use of this waveguide in conjunction with profiled doping ensures a balance between internal optical losses and heat resistance. Additional use of strained wide-bandgap layers as blocking barriers limiting electron leakage from the active region makes it possible to increase the output power at the same pump current. The developed lasers with a stripe contact 100 μm wide demonstrate at room temperature an output optical power of 4.0 – 4.4 W (pump current 14 A) in a continuous-wave regime and 15 – 17 W (100 A) in a pulsed regime (100 ns, 1 kHz) at wavelengths of 1450 – 1500 nm.

Radiative Recombination and Impact Ionization in Semiconductor Nanostructures (a Review)

The processes of radiative recombination and impact ionization in light-emitting structures based on bulk semiconductors, heterostructures with high potential barriers, nanostructures with deep quantum wells, and nanocrystals with quantum dots are reviewed. It is shown that enhancement of the quantum efficiency and luminescence optical power in all the investigated structures is caused by a common physical mechanism, specifically, the creation of additional electron–hole pairs during impact ionization by hot carriers heated at the high band offset at the heterointerface under current pumping or by the multiplication of carriers in nanocrystals upon multiexciton generation under illumination by high-energy photons.

Uego Sensor for Monitoring Humidity at the Cathode of PEM Stacks

One of the greatest challenges associated with PEMFCs is the water balance in thefuel cell stack. Depending upon the load and the operating conditions, the fuel cell membranes have a propensity to both flood and dry-out. If the PEM is not adequately humidified, the conductivity of the protons decreases, which causes reduced performance. Excess water also can create an issue by inhibiting the reactants from diffusing to the catalyst sites by flooding of the electrodes and gas channels if the water removal is insufficient. Current humidity sensing technologies are not capable of meeting the demands required for this harsh environment.Zirconia-based electrochemical sensors for measuring the oxygen concentration in the automotive exhaust have been used on vehicles for nearly 40 years. Single and double-zirconia-cell sensors have been developed which have high sensitivity and a wide range of operation (up to 25%). These are amperometric sensors are based on oxygen pumping which involves the transfer of oxygen from one side of a zirconia cell to the other by passing an electric current through the device. Since these sensors operate over a wide range, they are referred to as “wide-range oxygen” or “universal exhaust gas oxygen” (UEGO) sensors and can be used over a broad range of A/F measurement and control. All gasoline vehicles, as well as most diesel powertrains employ UEGO sensors to meet the emission requirements. The double-cell amperometric sensor also can be used to measure the concentration of other oxygen-containing molecules, e.g. H2O, CO2, SO2, and NOx [3]. In order to measure the H2O concentration for example, a voltage is applied across the pump-cell that is greater than the dissociation potential for H2O. The resulting oxygen generated from the decomposition of water is then measured via an increase in pumping current by the UEGO sensor and is proportional to the H2O concentration in the gas. If other oxygen-containing molecules are present in the measurement gas, the voltage across the pump cell can be varied over the dissociation potentials of these gases. For H2O/air mixtures, the concentration of oxygen can be measured at a lower potential. A second voltage larger than the dissociation potential of the measurement gas, H2O, is applied to measure the concentration of oxygen plus water. The water concentration can be determined by subtracting the pumping current due to oxygen from the pumping current due to the combination of the two gases. Other gases can also be measured in a similar fashion. These measurements can be achieved without any modification to the existing sensor hardware. A simple modification to the electronic control circuitry is all that is required to perform this type of measurement. Figure 1 shows the sensitivity of a commercially available UEGO sensor for the dissociation of H2O as a function of Nernst sensing voltage (Vs). Vs is a measurement of the oxygen concentration in the measurement cavity. A typical operating value for the sensing voltage Vs for oxygen measurement is 450 mV which corresponds to a concentration of ~ppm. The plot below was generated from data measured in the lab at various water concentrations in a carrier gas of dry nitrogen. From the plot it is evident that water dissociation is occurring at potentials less than 800 mV. Additionally, the output begins to saturate at a potential approaching 1100 mV, suggesting that full dissociation of the water has been achieved. Figure 2 shows the sensitivity (pumping current) of the same sensor as a function of water concentration for Vs = 1080 mV. Once again, the carrier gas is dry nitrogen. The output is linear in water concentration.The water balance at the cathode is particularly difficult to manage because water accumulates due to the reaction and the clogging of the small channels. Controlling this water balance requires accurate water concentration measurements at temperatures approaching 100°C and pressures up to 3 bar absolute. The application of this humidity sensing technology to measure the water concentration at the cathode of PEMFCs will be discussed. Figure 1

Resonant amplification of surface plasmon polaritons with an electric current in a single-walled carbon nanotube lying on a spatially modulated substrate

We discuss the possibility of using a direct electric current pump in order to amplify a mid-infrared surface plasmon polariton (SPP) in a single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) deposited on a substrate. Amplification is achieved providing that the phase velocity of the SPP and the drift velocity of the charge carriers in the nanotube are matched. Calculating the amplification characteristics involves numerical simulations that allow to account for the influence of the substrate on the dispersion and inhomogeneity of the plasmon mode field distribution across the CNT. The spectral behaviour of an amplified SPP is shown to exhibit a high sensitivity to variations of the refractive index of the substrate supporting the CNT. We propose a design for the resonant amplification of SPPs with a DC current pump, in which a distributed resonator is obtained with a periodical modulation of the refractive index of the substrate.

Vortices in Nonequilibrium Photon Condensates.

We present a theoretical study of vortices in arrays of photon condensates. Even when interactions are negligible, as is the case in current experiments, pumping and losses can lead to a finite vortex core size. While some properties of photon condensate vortices, such as their self-acceleration and the generation of vortex pairs by a moving vortex resemble those in lasers and interacting polariton condensates far from equilibrium, in several aspects they differ from previously studied systems: the vortex core size is determined by the balance between pumping and tunneling, the core appears oblate in the direction of its motion, and new vortex pairs can spontaneously nucleate in the core region.

Helicobacter pylori screening in clinical routine during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction

Potent antithrombotic therapy has significantly improved prognosis for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), however, at a price of increased bleeding risk. Chronic gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) commonly causes upper gastrointestinal bleeding and is proposed as a risk factor for subsequent bleeding post AMI. The prevalence of active Hp in a current AMI population and the feasibility of Hp screening as part of routine clinical care are unclear. To determine the prevalence of active Hp infection in a contemporary AMI cohort and to establish the feasibility of Hp diagnosis as part of routine clinical MI care. Multicenter, prospective cohort study. Two university hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden. Patients admitted for AMI between November 6, 2019 and April 4, 2020. After written informed consent, Hp diagnostics was performed with a bedside urea breath test (Diabact, Mayoly Spindler) incorporated into routine care during the hospitalization period. Positive test for Hp infection. The primary outcome was the prevalence of Hp infection. Secondary aims included predictive factors in patient characteristics and outcomes which were obtained from linkage with national registries. Predefined subgroup analyses included stratification for proton pump inhibitor use and infarct type. Three hundred and ten consecutive AMI patients (median age 67; 23% female; 41% ST-elevation MI [STEMI]) were enrolled. Overall, the Hp prevalence was 20% (95%CI, 15.5-24.7). Hp positive status was significantly more common in smokers compared with nonsmokers (36% vs 21%, respectively; P < .05) and in patients presenting with STEMI compared with Non-STEMI (26% vs 15%, respectively; P = .02). The latter observation remained significant after multivariable adjustment. After exclusion of 97 subjects with current proton pump inhibitor use, the Hp prevalence was 24% (95%CI, 18.9-31.0). Active Hp infection is common in a contemporary AMI population and may represent a modifiable risk factor for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which has been hitherto disregarded. Hp screening as part of clinical routine during AMI hospitalization was feasible. A future randomized trial is needed to determine whether routine Hp screening and subsequent eradication therapy reduces bleeding complications and improves prognosis. Question: Is Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection sufficiently common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to consider systematic screening, and can Hp diagnostics be performed during AMI hospitalization? In this multicenter prospective cohort study of 310 consecutive AMI patients, Hp infection was established in at least 20% of patients. Infected patients were significantly more likely to be active smokers and to present with ST-elevation MI. Meaning: Hp screening as part of clinical routine during AMI hospitalization was feasible. Given the high Hp prevalence detected, Hp diagnostics and eradication to reduce bleeding complications and to improve prognosis after AMI should be further investigated.

A Study of the Spatial-Emission Characteristics of Quantum-Cascade Lasers for the 8-μm Spectral Range

Near- and far-fields of quantum-cascade lasers emitting in the spectral range near 8 μm have been studied. For all laser samples with a ridge width of 20 and 50 μm, lasing on the fundamental waveguide mode with a divergence of ~50° was observed for all laser samples with a ridge width of 20 and 50 μm along the “fast” axis. Along the “slow” axis, a multimode lasing and a competition between the fundamental and higher waveguide modes, which is manifested for lasers with a ridge width of 50 μm in an increase in the emission divergence from ~10° near the threshold to >50° when the lasing threshold is exceeded by a factor of 2–3. The divergence along the “slow” axis for lasers with ridge width of 22 μm remained invariable in the whole range of pumping currents and equaled ~50°. That there is a substantial contribution from the fundamental mode to the total emission intensity of quantum-cascade lasers, which is apparent from the far-field intensity distribution pattern, cannot be established exclusively on the basis of results obtained in near-field measurements.

Precision measurement of single-electron current with quantized Hall array resistance and Josephson voltage

A single electron pump was incorporated with a quantum Hall resistance and a Josephson voltage for the current evaluation in the framework of Ohm’s law. The pump current of about 60 pA level was amplified by a stable amplifier with a gain of 103 to induce a Hall voltage of about 60 mV level across a 1 MΩ Hall resistance array, which was compared with the Josephson voltage. The gain of the current amplifier was calibrated with a cryogenic current comparator bridge. For two different drive frequencies and repeated thermal cycles, the comparisons demonstrated that the pump current averaged over the first plateau was equal to ef within the combined uncertainty level of 0.3 × 10−6 (k = 1).

Monensin-Induced Increase in Intracellular Na+ Induces Changes in Na+ and Ca2+ Currents and Regulates Na+-K+ and Na+-Ca2+ Transport in Cardiomyocytes

Background/Aims: Monensin, an Na ionophore, increases intracellular Na ([Na]i). Alteration of [Na]i influences ion transport through the sarcolemmal membrane. So far, the effects of monensin on ventricular myocytes have not been examined in detail. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism via which monensin-evoked increases in [Na]i affect the membrane potential and currents in ventricular myocytes of guinea pigs. Methods: Membrane potentials and currents were measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in single myocytes. The concentration of intracellular Ca ([Ca]i) was evaluated by measuring fluorescence intensity of Fluo-4. Results: Monensin (10⁻⁵M) shortened the action potential duration (APD) and reduced the amplitude of the plateau phase. In addition, monensin decreased the sodium current (I_Na) and shifted the inactivation curve to the hyperpolarized direction. Moreover, it decreased the L-type calcium current (I_Ca). However, this effect was attenuated by increasing the buffering capacity of [Ca]i. The Na-Ca exchange current (I_Na-Ca) was activated particularly in the reverse mode. Na-K pump current (I_Na-K) was also activated. Notably, the inward rectifying K current (I_K1) was not affected, and the change in the delayed outward K current (I_K) was not evident. Conclusion: These results suggest that the monensin-induced shortened APD and reduced amplitude of the plateau phase are primarily due to the decrease in the I_Ca, the activation of the reverse mode of I_Na-Ca, and the increased I_Na-K, and second due to the decreased I_Na. The I_K and the I_K1 may not be associated with the abovementioned changes induced by monensin. The elevation of [Na]i can exert multiple influences on electrophysiological phenomena in cardiac myocytes.

Plasma sprayed alumina-yttria composite ceramic coating for electrical insulation applications

A composite ceramic coating consisting of 50:50 weight fraction of alumina (Al2O3)-yttria (Y2O3) blend was deposited as an electrically insulating topcoat on Oxygen-Free Electronic Copper (OFEC) substrates with a cermet interlayer of 30 wt% NiAl-70 wt% Al2O3 blend, both deposited by Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) process, and with a NiCrAlY bond coat deposited by High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) process for application in Direct Current (DC) conduction pump of the sodium-cooled fast reactor. The cermet interlayer in between topcoat and bond coat is beneficial for a reduction in the thermal expansion mismatch stresses and further contribute to the improvement in the thermal fatigue life of the multilayer coating system. The coated samples were subjected to a thermal fatigue cycle between 600 °C and 200 °C, simulating sodium-cooled fast reactor temperature patterns in regular operation and transient conditions. The multilayer composite ceramic coating with cermet interlayer successfully endured up to 1000 thermal cycles with no cracking, spallation, or delamination of the topcoat. Surface cross-sectional micrographs before and after the thermal cycle revealed neither significant changes in the splat and lamellae morphology nor distribution of phases, except for the densification effects. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed neither phase change nor the formation of any new phase upon thermal cycling. The adhesion test as per ASTM-C633 revealed that the bonding strength of the coatings lower by ~20% after thermal cycling. The insulation resistance of thermal cycled samples showed a two order reduction in the magnitude, compared to that of the as-coated samples.

A Negative Charge Pump Using Enhanced Pumping Clock for Low-Voltage DRAM

As the supply voltage decreases, there is a need for a high-speed negative charge pump circuit, for example, to produce the back-bias voltage (VBB) with high pumping efficiency at a low supply voltage (VDD). Beyond the basic negative charge pump circuit with the small area overhead, advanced schemes such as hybrid pump circuit (HCP) and cross-coupled hybrid pump circuits (CHPC) were introduced to improve the pumping efficiency and pump down speed. However, they still suffer from pumping efficiency degradation, low level |VBB|, and small pumping currents at very low VDD. A novel negative charge pump using an enhanced pumping clock is proposed. The proposed cross-coupled charge pump consists of the enhanced pumping clock generator (ECG) having a pair of inverters and PMOS latch circuit to produce an enhanced control signal with a greater amplitude, thereby working efficiently especially at low supply voltages. The proposed scheme is validated with a HSPICE simulation using the TSMC 180 nm process. The proposed scheme can be operated down to VDD = 0.4 V, and |VBB|/VDD is obtained to be 86.1% at VDD = 0.5 V and Cload = 20 nF. Compared to the state-of-the-art CHPC scheme, the pumping efficiency is larger by 35% at VDD = 0.6 V and RL = 10 KΩ, and the pumping current is 2.17 times greater at VDD = 1.2 V and VBB = 0 V, making the circuit suitable for very low supply voltage applications in DRAMs.

Analytical expression for the width of quantum cascade laser frequency comb

An analytical expression for the maximum potential bandwidth of the frequency modulated comb naturally occurring in free running quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) has been derived. The maximum bandwidth is not as wide as the one attainable in passively mode locked lasers, but wider than that in the actively mode locked ones. The bandwidth is shown to critically depend on the flatness of the gain spectrum and the cavity length and less so on pump current. The results firmly establish that the performance of QCL frequency combs can be on par with combs generated by other means.

Diel vertical migration into anoxic and high-pCO2 waters: acoustic and net-based krill observations in the Humboldt Current

A select group of marine organisms can enter the Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) and even anoxic waters, while performing diel vertical migration (DVM). DVM of the euphausiid Euphausia eximia off northern Chile in the spring of 2015 was documented based on acoustic measurements using an echo sounder along with net samplings. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were obtained using a vertical profiler, and water samples were collected to obtain in situ nitrite (NO2−) concentrations as well as pHT, total alkalinity (AT), and therefore carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) was estimated. Krill were found to migrate up to the surface (0–50 m) during the night and returned to ca. 200–300 m depth during the day, spending between 11 and 14 h at these layers. At the surface, DO and NO2− concentrations were 208 and 0.14 μM respectively, while pHT was 8.04 and 405 μatm pCO2. In contrast, at the deeper layers (200–300 m), DO and NO2− were < 3 and 6.3 μM respectively, with pHT 7.53 and 1490 μatm pCO2. The pHT and high pCO2 values at depths represent the conditions predicted for open ocean waters in a worst-case global warming scenario by 2150. The acoustic scatter suggested that > 60% of the krill swarms enter the OMZ and anoxic waters during the daytime. These frequent migrations suggest that krill can tolerate such extreme conditions associated with anoxic and high-pCO2 waters. The inferences drawn from the observation of these migrations might have strong implications for the current oceanic carbon pump models, highlighting the need for understanding the molecular and physiological adaptations allowing these migrations.

Groundwater hydrodynamics and sustainability of Addis Ababa city aquifer

In the past two decades, Addis Ababa city has been under continuous demand of additional water supply improvement due to critical shortage of supply became particularly a serious problem at the outskirts of topographically high places. In order to overcome the existing problem, groundwater development optioned as emergency water supply project. However, the development continued without giving attention to its sustainability and now takes about 63% of the share. Over the last decade, many well-fields have been drilled; Akaki, Legedadi-Legetafo-Ayat, South-Ayat-North-Fanta, and Addis Ababa pocket areas in the same watershed that have an area about 1490 km2. The main objective of this study was to assess the groundwater hydrodynamics and sustainable utilization of the sources. For the study, 166 deep borehole completion and pumping test well fields within and around Addis Ababa were used. From the analysis it was found that hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity in the watershed vary from 0.02 to 256 m/day and 5.4 × 101 to 2.16 × 104 m2/day respectively. The major aquifers are fractured & scoriaceous basalt, scoria, fractured ignimbrite or a combination of these rocks. Analysis of water level contour map for Akaki well-field indicated that 84.50% of the current pumping water levels were below the dynamic water level. In particular, old Akaki well-field has been severely depleted. Out of 24 drilled wells, 13 of them are abandoned as water level and discharge have significantly declined. Despite huge importance of groundwater, it has been understood poorly and undervalued. It is a finite resource and the aquifers can become depleted as this extraction rates which exceed recharge rates. Therefore, groundwater management should be practiced through reliable aquifer characterization, sustainable development, planning of conjunctive use of surface water and artificial recharge.