Tunable polarization comb based on the electromagnetically induced transparency with hybrid metal-graphene metamaterial

Noted a linear-to-circular polarization comb based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) with hybrid metal-graphene metamaterial in terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. Due to the near field coupling between the bright mode of metal cut-wire (MCW) and multiple dark modes, the multi-peak EIT effect is exhibited under the x-polarized incidence supported by the three-level theory. With another orthogonal MCW etched on the back of the SiO2, the asymmetry responses in both polarized incidences (x- and y-polarized waves) further triggers the linear-to-circular polarization conversion (LTCPC). The values of four corresponding circular-polarized frequencies combined with transmission coefficients respectively are 0.90 THz with 0.45, 1.02 THz with 0.64, 1.15 THz with 0.60, 1.32 THz with 0.53, confirmed via relevant axial ratios and the electric field distributions. On the other hand, the drastic phase changes in transparent windows raise high group delays, among which the maximum value approaches 325 ps. Additionally, DC-voltage-driven graphene strips are doped at both ends of the back MCW to enhance the reconfigurability, superior tunable transmission behaviors illuminated by y-polarization with obvious changes at 0.90 THz and 1.02 THz can be achieved with the dynamic Fermi level fluctuating between 0.01 eV and 0.8 eV. Such an implementation creates a novel path to polarization modulators, signal transceivers, and information transmission devices.

Baseline-dependent clock offsets in VLBI data analysis

The primary goal of the geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) technique is to provide highly accurate terrestrial and celestial reference frames as well as Earth orientation parameters. In compliance with the concept of VLBI, additional parameters reflecting relative offsets and variations of the atomic clocks of the radio telescopes have to be estimated. In addition, reality shows that in many cases significant offsets appear in the observed group delays for individual baselines which have to be compensated for by estimating so-called baseline-dependent clock offsets (BCOs). For the first time, we systematically investigate the impact of BCOs to stress their importance for all kinds of VLBI data analyses. For our investigations, we concentrate on analyzing data from both legacy networks of the CONT17 campaign. Various aspects of BCOs including their impact on the estimates of geodetically important parameters, such as station coordinates and Earth orientation parameters, are investigated. In addition, some of the theory behind the BCO determination, e.g., the impact of changing the reference clock in the observing network on the BCO estimate is introduced together with the relationship between BCOs and triangle delay closures. In conclusion, missing channels, and here in particular at S band, affecting the ionospheric delay calibration, are identified to be the dominant cause for the occurrence of significant BCOs in VLBI data analysis.

Group-Managed Real Options

We study a standard real-option problem in which sequential decisions are made through voting by a group of members with heterogeneous beliefs. We show that, when facing both investment and abandonment timing decisions, the group behavior cannot be replicated by that of a representative “median” member. As a result, members’ disagreement generates inertia—the group delays investment relative to a single-agent case—and underinvestment—the group rejects projects that are supported by a majority of members, acting in autarky. These coordination frictions hold in groups of any size, for general voting protocols, and are exacerbated by belief polarization.

Designs, Experiments, and Applications of Multichannel Structures for Hearing Aids

The structures of common multichannel processing for hearing aids include equal bandwidth (BW) finite impulse response (FIR) filter bank, nonuniform BW FIR filter bank, and fast Fourier transform (FFT) plus inverse FFT (IFFT). This paper analyzes their operation principles, indicates the design methods by means of MATLAB R2018b resources, and describes the main characteristics: synthetical ripple, bank filters’ group delays, and individual filter sidelobe attenuation. Three schemes are proposed: equal BW sixteen-filter bank, logarithmic BW eight-filter bank, and 128-point FFT plus IFFT with overlap-add operation. To build the experimental modules, we introduce the settings of spectrum scopes, the acquirement of realistic speech and noises, and the gain enhancing/reducing needs of hearing aid features; the characteristics of synthetical outputs confirm precise control ability of the multichannel modules and differences between the three schemes. Subsequently, this paper illustrates two applications of the multichannel structures in hearing aids, the equal BW sixteen-filter bank with spectral subtraction (SS) for an artificial intelligence (AI) noise reduction (NR) and 128-point FFT plus IFFT spectral distortion removal for a directional microphone (DM). In Amy’s speech mixed with ringing, milk steamer, and strong wind noises separately, the SS processor improves signal-noise-ratio (SNR) by 6.5 to 15.9 dB. By measuring waveforms and spectra at the DM input and output, the DM system seamlessly removes the spectral distortion.

Design and Fabrication of a Novel Ultra Compact Microstrip Diplexer Using Interdigital and Spiral Cells

A dual-band bandpass-bandpass microstrip diplexer with very small size and good performance is designed in this work. The proposed diplexer has a novel structure which is introduced for the first time in this paper. In comparison with the previously reported diplexers, it occupies the most compact size of 0.002 λg2 (226.7 mm2), fabricated on 0.787 mm dielectric substrate height. The resonance frequencies of the presented diplexer are located at 0.76 GHz and 1.79 GHz making it suitable for the global system for mobile communications (GSM) applications. It has a wide flat channels with two fractional bandwidths (FBWs) of 41.1% and 50%. Another feature of the proposed diplexer is its ability to suppress the harmonics. It can attenuate the 1st to 7th harmonics. Moreover, it has low insertion losses and low group delays at both channels while the isolation and return losses are acceptable. Finally, the proposed diplexer is fabricated and measured to verify the simulation results, where a good agreement between the simulation and measurement results is obtained.

Short-baseline interferometry local-tie experiments at the Onsala Space Observatory

We present results from observation, correlation and analysis of interferometric measurements between the three geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) stations at the Onsala Space Observatory. In total, 25 sessions were observed in 2019 and 2020, most of them 24 h long, all using X band only. These involved the legacy VLBI station ONSALA60 and the Onsala twin telescopes, ONSA13NE and ONSA13SW, two broadband stations for the next-generation geodetic VLBI global observing system (VGOS). We used two analysis packages: $$\nu $$ ν Solve to pre-process the data and solve ambiguities, and ASCOT to solve for station positions, including modelling gravitational deformation of the radio telescopes and other significant effects. We obtained weighted root mean square post-fit residuals for each session on the order of 10–15 ps using group-delays and 2–5 ps using phase-delays. The best performance was achieved on the (rather short) baseline between the VGOS stations. As the main result of this work, we determined the coordinates of the Onsala twin telescopes in VTRF2020b with sub-millimetre precision. This new set of coordinates should be used from now on for scheduling, correlation, as a priori for data analyses, and for comparison with classical local-tie techniques. Finally, we find that positions estimated from phase-delays are offset $$\sim +3$$ ∼ + 3 mm in the up-component with respect to group-delays. Additional modelling of (elevation dependent) effects may contribute to the future understanding of this offset.

An Area-efficient Microstrip Diplexer with a Novel Structure and Low Group Delay for Microwave Wireless Applications

In this work, a novel structure of a microstrip diplexer consisting of coupled patch cells is presented. It works at 2.5 GHz and 4.7 GHz for wireless applications. The proposed structure is well miniaturized with a compact area of 0.015 λg2, fabricated on 0.787 mm substrate height. It has two wide fractional bandwidths (FBWs) of 28% and 17.9% at the lower and upper channels, respectively. Another feature of the proposed design is the low group delays, which are better than 0.4 ns for both channels. Moreover, the designed diplexer can suppress the harmonics up to 10 GHz. Meanwhile, the insertion losses at both channels are low. The design method is based on proposing an approximated equivalent LC circuit of a novel basic resonator. The information about the resonator behavior is extracted from the even and odd modes analysis of the proposed equivalent LC circuit. Finally, our introduced diplexer is fabricated and measured to verify the simulation results, where the simulated and measured results are in good agreement.

Plasmonic refractive index sensor with multi-channel Fano resonances based on MIM waveguides

A multi-channel Fano resonant structure is proposed and analyzed based on subwavelength metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguides. First, two MIM output ports associated with specific side-coupled cavities are designed to locate at the center and quarter positions of an end-coupled cavity, respectively. Since the interference between the dark and bright modes, dual-channel Fano resonances with asymmetrical lines shapes are obtained at both ports, respectively. High sensitivity and figure of merits are investigated. Besides, phase shifts are also investigated leading to positive and negative group delays available at the Fano peaks and dips, respectively. Likewise, two extra output ports with identical resonant cavities are placed on the other side of the end-coupled cavity. In this case, four-channel Fano resonances with considerable performances are obtained. The proposed structure is analyzed by the coupled mode theory and the finite difference time domain method. It is believed this device can be used as a chip-scale refractive index sensor and optical filter.