Wide Range Of Modulation Frequencies Research Articles

Precision bound and optimal control in periodically modulated continuous quantum thermal machines.

We use Floquet formalism to study fluctuations in periodically modulated continuous quantum thermal machines. We present a generic theory for such machines, followed by specific examples of sinusoidal, optimal, and circular modulations, respectively. The thermodynamic uncertainty relations (TUR) hold for all modulations considered. Interestingly, in the case of sinusoidal modulation, the TUR ratio assumes a minimum at the heat engine to refrigerator transition point, while the chopped random basis optimization protocol allows us to keep the ratio small for a wide range of modulation frequencies. Furthermore, our numerical analysis suggests that TUR can show signatures of heat engine to refrigerator transition, for more generic modulation schemes. We also study bounds in fluctuations in the efficiencies of such machines; our results indicate that fluctuations in efficiencies are bounded from above for a refrigerator and from below for an engine. Overall, this study emphasizes the crucial role played by different modulation schemes in designing practical quantum thermal machines.

Tests of human auditory temporal resolution: preliminary investigation of ZEST parameters for amplitude modulation detection.

Auditory temporal resolution plays a critical role in the everyday experience of listening to complex acoustic patterns. Amplitude modulation detection thresholds are widely used to measure auditory temporal resolution. In an attempt to develop a standardized clinical test of auditory temporal resolution, we used ZEST (Zippy Estimation by Sequential Testing, a Bayesian threshold estimation procedure, to measure amplitude modulation detection thresholds. ZEST utilizes prior knowledge about a listener's thresholds, as represented by a probability density function of the thresholds, and psychometric functions of the listener's responses. This paper reports a preliminary study in which ZEST parameters that could be used for measurements of amplitude modulation detection thresholds were sought. For this purpose, we created histograms of the detection thresholds for a wide range of modulation frequencies, measured the psychometric functions of amplitude modulation detection, and performed computer simulations of ZEST threshold estimation. The results suggested that, with appropriately-set parameters, ZEST allows for the accurate estimation of amplitude modulation detection thresholds within 20 trials.

Dynamic polarization response of polarization-maintaining fibers by periodic thermal cycling method.

We report a periodic thermal cycling method to investigate the dynamic response of the polarization of a laser propagating through polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber, driven by periodic weak temperature modulation. Consequently, temperature modulation on the surface of the coating material of the PM fiber was found to cause a continuous periodic change in the polarization state of the output laser without approaching the steady state of the resulting dynamic polarization response. Additionally, the response was found to depend on the temperature-modulation frequency and amplitude. These experimental results are qualitatively in good agreement with that of the simple theoretical model. Our research would be applied not only to the method of measuring properties of a PM optical fiber by utilizing the continuous modulation of the differential refractive index with a wide modulation-frequency range but also to various applications of the dynamic control of the periodic refractive index in materials.

Pumping current in a non-Markovian N -state model

A periodically modulated N-state model whose dynamics is governed by a time-convoluted generalized master equation is theoretically analyzed. It is shown that this non-Markovian master equation can be converted to a Markovian master equation having a larger transition matrix, which affords easier analysis. The behavior of this model is investigated by focusing on the cycle-averaged pumping current. In the adiabatic limit, the geometrical current is calculated analytically, and compared to numerical results which are available for a wide range of modulation frequencies.

Three-Wave CO2 Laser with Acousto-Optic Q-Switching

The operating principle and features of the oscillating process for a three-wave CO2 laser with acousto-optic Q-switching are described. Optimization of the active-medium composition and its excitation conditions as well as the choice of oscillating lines allow oscillation with an output power up to 5 W per line in a stable multiwave mode to be obtained. An efficient Q-switching method for a three-wave CO2 laser is demonstrated and enables the output radiation to be controlled in both a wide spectral range and a wide range of modulation frequencies. A method for separating signals with different wavelengths by spacing signals in time has been experimentally implemented using an external selective modulator to simplify data acquisition and processing.

Space-time modulation of turbulence in co-flow jets

This paper focuses on the effects of a space-time dependent periodic stirring of a moderately turbulent planar co-flow jet configuration. The baseline flow is agitated in time and in space by small-scale turbulent perturbations in combination with large-scale modulation imposed at the inflow plane of a rectangular domain of size L × L × 2L in the x, y and z directions respectively. The prescribed large-scale modulation is characterized by a single modulation frequency ω and modulation wave-number, K. A parametric study at different modulation frequencies and wave-numbers is performed. We evaluate the system response to the external agitation in terms of key dynamic properties of the flow, e.g., the total kinetic energy ET, the global averaged dissipation rate and additional flow mixing properties. For low modulation frequencies, e.g., ω=0.5ω0, where ω0 is the large scale-turn over frequency, ω0=U1/D, with U1 and D being relevant velocity and length scales, and at given wave-number K, we observe that ET follows the imposed oscillation with a periodic amplitude response that is sustained at locations further from the inflow plane, whereas for higher frequencies, the response amplitude rapidly decays. Results of the global dissipation rate show the development of a definite maximum value of the response amplitude at frequencies on the order of ω0 for any modulation wave-number K. To investigate in more detail the effects of modulated turbulence on the jet mixing properties, a passive scalar was injected at the inflow plane. The spreading of the scalar surface in the agitated jet was monitored for a wide range of modulation frequencies. In general, results show enhanced mixing efficiency when the main jet is modulated at frequencies near ω0 and low K values.

Suppression of Systematic Errors in Brillouin Optical Correlation Domain Analysis Based on Injection-Locking

Brillouin optical correlation domain analysis (BOCDA) is an established method for the measurement of Brillouin frequency distribution, where direct modulation of a distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) is usually adopted to implement a frequency-modulated light source. Recently, we reported that a phase delay occurring between the amplitude and frequency variations, called AM-FM phase delay, in the output of the modulated DFB-LD can cause considerable errors in the Brillouin frequency measured by a BOCDA system. The error induced by the AM-FM phase delay is systematic since it cannot be suppressed by averaging process while constantly distorts the distribution map of Brillouin frequency. In this paper, we demonstrate the suppression of the adverse effects of the AM-FM phase delay using an injection-locked DFB-LD as a light source of BOCDA system. Theoretical explanation on the origin of the systematic error in the BOCDA measurement is provided by simulations. The investigation on the modulation characteristics of the master and slave LD's in the injection-locking is performed, the result of which shows that the injection locking not only reduces the depth of amplitude modulation, but also keeps the phase delay of near 180° in a wide range of modulation frequency. In test measurements, the systematic errors are reduced by more than 70% on average using the slave LD as a common light source of the BOCDA system.

A high-speed single sideband generator using a magnetic tunnel junction spin torque nano-oscillator

An important property of spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) is their ability to produce a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is very critical for communication applications. We here demonstrate a novel single sideband (SSB) modulation phenomenon using a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)-based STNO, which saves transmission bandwidth and in principle should minimize attenuation for wireless communication. Experimentally, lower single sidebands (LSSBs) have been successfully demonstrated over a wide range of modulation frequency, fm = 150 MHz-1 GHz. The observed LSSBs are determined by the intrinsic properties of the device, which can be modeled well by a nonlinear frequency and amplitude modulation formulation and reproduced in macrospin simulations. Moreover, our macrospin simulation results show that the range of modulation current and modulation frequency for generating SSBs can be controlled by the field-like torque and biasing conditions.

Amplitude modulation rate dependent topographic organization of the auditory steady-state response in human auditory cortex

Periodic modulations of an acoustic feature, such as amplitude over a certain frequency range, leads to phase locking of neural responses to the envelope of the modulation. Using electrophysiological methods this neural activity pattern, also called the auditory steady-state response (aSSR), is visible following frequency transformation of the evoked response as a clear spectral peak at the modulation frequency. Despite several studies employing the aSSR that show, for example, strongest responses for ∼40 Hz and an overall right-hemispheric dominance, it has not been investigated so far to what extent within auditory cortex different modulation frequencies elicit aSSRs at a homogenous source or whether the localization of the aSSR is topographically organized in a systematic manner. The latter would be suggested by previous neuroimaging works in monkeys and humans showing a periodotopic organization within and across distinct auditory fields. However, the sluggishness of the signal from these neuroimaging works prohibit inferences with regards to the fine-temporal features of the neural response. In the present study, we employed amplitude-modulated (AM) sounds over a range between 4 and 85 Hz to elicit aSSRs while recording brain activity via magnetoencephalography (MEG). Using beamforming and a fine spatially resolved grid restricted to auditory cortical processing regions, our study revealed a topographic representation of the aSSR that depends on AM rate, in particular in the medial-lateral (bilateral) and posterior-anterior (right auditory cortex) direction. In summary, our findings confirm previous studies that showing different AM rates to elicit maximal response in distinct neural populations. They extend these findings however by also showing that these respective neural ensembles in auditory cortex actually phase lock their activity over a wide modulation frequency range.

Neural coding of time-varying interaural time differences and time-varying amplitude in the inferior colliculus.

Binaural cues occurring in natural environments are frequently time varying, either from the motion of a sound source or through interactions between the cues produced by multiple sources. Yet, a broad understanding of how the auditory system processes dynamic binaural cues is still lacking. In the current study, we directly compared neural responses in the inferior colliculus (IC) of unanesthetized rabbits to broadband noise with time-varying interaural time differences (ITD) with responses to noise with sinusoidal amplitude modulation (SAM) over a wide range of modulation frequencies. On the basis of prior research, we hypothesized that the IC, one of the first stages to exhibit tuning of firing rate to modulation frequency, might use a common mechanism to encode time-varying information in general. Instead, we found weaker temporal coding for dynamic ITD compared with amplitude modulation and stronger effects of adaptation for amplitude modulation. The differences in temporal coding of dynamic ITD compared with SAM at the single-neuron level could be a neural correlate of "binaural sluggishness," the inability to perceive fluctuations in time-varying binaural cues at high modulation frequencies, for which a physiological explanation has so far remained elusive. At ITD-variation frequencies of 64 Hz and above, where a temporal code was less effective, noise with a dynamic ITD could still be distinguished from noise with a constant ITD through differences in average firing rate in many neurons, suggesting a frequency-dependent tradeoff between rate and temporal coding of time-varying binaural information.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Humans use time-varying binaural cues to parse auditory scenes comprising multiple sound sources and reverberation. However, the neural mechanisms for doing so are poorly understood. Our results demonstrate a potential neural correlate for the reduced detectability of fluctuations in time-varying binaural information at high speeds, as occurs in reverberation. The results also suggest that the neural mechanisms for processing time-varying binaural and monaural cues are largely distinct.

Segregating two simultaneous sounds in elevation using temporal envelope: Human psychophysics and a physiological model.

The ability to segregate simultaneous sound sources based on their spatial locations is an important aspect of auditory scene analysis. While the role of sound azimuth in segregation is well studied, the contribution of sound elevation remains unknown. Although previous studies in humans suggest that elevation cues alone are not sufficient to segregate simultaneous broadband sources, the current study demonstrates they can suffice. Listeners segregating a temporally modulated noise target from a simultaneous unmodulated noise distracter differing in elevation fall into two statistically distinct groups: one that identifies target direction accurately across a wide range of modulation frequencies (MF) and one that cannot identify target direction accurately and, on average, reports the opposite direction of the target for low MF. A non-spiking model of inferior colliculus neurons that process single-source elevation cues suggests that the performance of both listener groups at the population level can be accounted for by the balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs in the model. These results establish the potential for broadband elevation cues to contribute to the computations underlying sound source segregation and suggest a potential mechanism underlying this contribution.

Optomechanical laser cooling with mechanical modulations

We theoretically study the laser cooling of optomechanical cavities when the mechanical resonance frequency and damping depend on time. In the regime of weak optomechanical coupling we extend the theory of laser cooling using an adiabatic approximation. We discuss the modifications of the cooling dynamics and compare it with numerical simulations in a wide range of modulation frequencies.

Imaging of the Dust Acoustic Wave to Explore Synchronization

A self-excited dust acoustic wave is synchronized by sinusoidal modulation of the ion density, and the wave is imaged by planar laser-light scattering. Space-time diagrams based on the images reveal how the nonlinearity of the plasma’s response causes the wave’s frequency to be synchronized to a multiple of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 of the modulation frequency. Space-time diagrams also reveal wave front merging as is observed for a wide range of modulation frequencies.

Self-injected semiconductor distributed feedback lasers for frequency chirp stabilization

It is well known that semiconductor distributed feedback lasers (DFB) are key devices for optical communications. However direct modulation applications are limited by the frequency chirp induced by current modulation. We demonstrate that a proper external control laser operation leads to chirp-to-power ratio (CPR) stabilization over a wide range of modulation frequencies as compared to the free-running case. Under experimentally selected optical feedback conditions, the CPR decreases significantly in the adiabatic regime from about 650 MHz/mW in the solitary case down to 65 MHz/mW. Experimental results are also confirmed by numerical investigations based on the transfer matrix method. Simulations point out the possible optimization of the CPR in the adiabatic regime by considering a judicious cavity design in conjunction with a proper external control. These results demonstrate important routes for improving the transmission performance in optical telecommunication systems.

On the frequency correction in temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry of the glass transition

Temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) is based on conventional DSC but with a sinusoidally modulated temperature path. Simulations of TMDSC signals were performed for Corning EAGLE XG glass over a wide range of modulation frequencies. Our results reveal that the frequency correction commonly used in the interpretation of TMDSC signals leads to a master nonreversing heat flow curve independent of modulation frequency, provided that sufficiently high frequencies are employed in the TMDSC measurement. A master reversing heat flow curve can also be generated through the frequency correction. The resulting glass transition temperature from the frequency corrected reversing heat flow is thereby shown to be independent of frequency.

Floquet analysis of the modulated two-mode Bose-Hubbard model

We study the tunneling dynamics in a time-periodically modulated two-mode Bose-Hubbard model using Floquet theory. We consider situations where the system is in the self-trapping regime and either the tunneling amplitude, the interaction strength, or the energy difference between the modes is modulated. In the former two cases, the tunneling is enhanced in a wide range of modulation frequencies, while in the latter case the resonance is narrow. We explain this difference with the help of Floquet analysis. If the modulation amplitude is weak, the locations of the resonances can be found using the spectrum of the non-modulated Hamiltonian. Furthermore, we use Floquet analysis to explain the coherent destruction of tunneling (CDT) occurring in a large-amplitude modulated system. Finally, we present two ways to create a NOON state (a superposition of $N$ particles in mode 1 with zero particles in mode 2 and vice versa). One is based on a coherent oscillation caused by detuning from a partial CDT. The other makes use of an adiabatic variation of the modulation frequency. This results in a Landau-Zener type of transition between the ground state and a NOON-like state.

Two-channel recording of auditory-evoked potentials to detect age-related deficits in temporal processing

Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and envelope and frequency following responses (EFRs and FFRs) are widely used to study aberrant auditory processing in conditions such as aging. We have previously reported age-related deficits in auditory processing for rapid amplitude modulation (AM) frequencies using EFRs recorded from a single channel. However, sensitive testing of EFRs along a wide range of modulation frequencies is required to gain a more complete understanding of the auditory processing deficits. In this study, ABRs and EFRs were recorded simultaneously from two electrode configurations in young and old Fischer-344 rats, a common auditory aging model. Analysis shows that the two channels respond most sensitively to complementary AM frequencies. Channel 1, recorded from Fz to mastoid, responds better to faster AM frequencies in the 100–700 Hz range of frequencies, while Channel 2, recorded from the inter-aural line to the mastoid, responds better to slower AM frequencies in the 16–100 Hz range. Simultaneous recording of Channels 1 and 2 using AM stimuli with varying sound levels and modulation depths show that age-related deficits in temporal processing are not present at slower AM frequencies but only at more rapid ones, which would not have been apparent recording from either channel alone. Comparison of EFRs between un-anesthetized and isoflurane-anesthetized recordings in young animals, as well as comparison with previously published ABR waveforms, suggests that the generators of Channel 1 may emphasize more caudal brainstem structures while those of Channel 2 may emphasize more rostral auditory nuclei including the inferior colliculus and the forebrain, with the boundary of separation potentially along the cochlear nucleus/superior olivary complex. Simultaneous two-channel recording of EFRs help to give a more complete understanding of the properties of auditory temporal processing over a wide range of modulation frequencies which is useful in understanding neural representations of sound stimuli in normal, developmental or pathological conditions.

Variations in Carrier Pulse Rate and the Perception of Amplitude Modulation in Cochlear Implant Users

A major focus of recent attempts to enhance cochlear implant (CI) systems has been to increase the rate at which pulses are delivered to the electrode array. One basis for these attempts has been the expectation that faster stimulation rates would lead to an enhanced representation of temporal modulation information. However, there is recent physiological and behavioral evidence to suggest that the reverse may be the case. Here, the effects of stimulation rate on the perception of amplitude modulation were assessed using both modulation detection and modulation frequency discrimination tasks for a range of pulse rates extending considerably higher than the highest rate tested in previous studies and for different speech-relevant modulation frequencies. Detection of sinusoidal amplitude modulation was assessed in five CI users using monopolar pulse trains presented to a single electrode at rates of 482, 723, 1447, 2894, and 5787 pulses per second (pps). Adaptive procedures were used to find the minimal detectable modulation depth at modulation frequencies of 10 and 100 Hz and at carrier levels of 25%, 50%, and 75% of the electrode's dynamic range. Discrimination of modulation frequency was examined for the same range of pulse rates for the highest carrier level. Similar adaptive procedures determined the minimum increase in modulation frequency that could be detected relative to reference modulation frequencies of 10, 100, and 200 Hz. In both tasks, level roving was implemented to minimize possible loudness cues. Consistent with previous evidence, modulation detection thresholds were better for higher carrier levels and lower modulation frequencies. When modulation depth at threshold was expressed in terms of the ratio of the depth of the modulation and the carrier level in dB (i.e., 20 log m), performance was significantly better at lower pulse rates. However, when modulation depth was expressed relative to dynamic range, the effect of pulse rate was no longer significant, reflecting the fact that dynamic range increases with pulse rate. Modulation frequency discrimination clearly worsened with increasing modulation frequency, but there was no significant effect of pulse rate. In contrast to some recent evidence, no clearly harmful effect of higher pulse rates on modulation perception was found. However, even with very fast stimulation rates, tested over a wide range of modulation frequencies and with two different tasks, there is no evidence of benefit from faster stimulation rates in the perception of amplitude modulation.

2D Analysis of the Effects of Geometry on the Response of High-$T_{\rm c}$ Superconductive Bolometric Detectors

We present a new approach for analytical modeling and calculating the response of high-T c superconductive transition edge sensors in a wide range of modulation frequencies for different configurations of the film patterns. The method used here is based on solving the heat transfer differential equation for two different time varying heat sources, which are related to the absorbed radiated power. The used method employs two-dimensional boundary conditions for describing meander-line patterned devices. The results from the applied method are in better agreement with those obtained from the frequency response measurements of the characterized samples, than the previously developed models. In addition, the method is capable of being used for analysing the effect of the device configurative parameters on its ultimate sensitivity. Therefore, it has also been applied to investigate the effects of changing track and spacing width, substrate thickness, and absorption coefficient of the absorber layer on the magnitude of bolometric response. In this calculation, the effect of surface absorption caused by the superconducting thin film and absorber layer, as well as bulk absorption in the depth of the substrate are considered simultaneously. Analytical results are presented and compared with previous analytical works and measured data from YBCO samples. Through extensive numerical calculations, we demonstrate that the responsivity of superconductor bolometers is a strong function of geometry, and there exists an optimal track width to spacing ratio of about 0.2.

Analysis of chromatic dispersion-induced second-harmonic distortions including laser dynamics to the second order

We perform analysis of chromatic dispersion-induced second-harmonic distortions including laser diode dynamics. Investigating laser diode dynamics fully to the second order, we derive analytical expressions for intensity and frequency modulation indices. Using these, we accurately model chromatic dispersion-induced second-harmonic distortions for signals produced by a directly modulated distributed feedback laser. The results agree well with numerical solutions, as well as with experimental results for a wide range of modulation frequencies and fiber lengths.