Pump Requirements for Parametric Amplification and Generation of Surface Waves on YZ LiNbO3
Absfract-Expressions are developed for estimating the threshold electric fields required for parametric amplification or generation of surface waves in piezoelectric materials utilizing the nonlinear characteristics of the material. When applied to Y Z LiNbOa, they yield values in excess of 20 kV/cm under the most optimistic, yet still realistic, conditions. These values are too Iarge for amplification or generation to be considered for practical applications. Several pump electrode geometries and circuit matching techniques were investigated to determine the best obtainable pump circuit performance. An interdigital electrode separated from the crystal by a small gap was found to be the most efficient pump electrode geometry and was capable of producing approximately ZkV/cm of field per watt’‘2 of input pump power.
Frequency conversion through nonlinear mixing in acoustic waves
Frequency conversion is an essential tool in modern communication devices. Traditionally, frequency conversion is achieved through parametric coupling via nonlinear inductors or capacitors whose reactance is modulated by a carrier wave. In this study, nonlinear acoustic Lamb wave devices are explored for simultaneous signal filtering and frequency conversion. Three sets of interdigitated transducers are fabricated on a piezoelectric aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film to provide a carrier wave, a low-power signal wave, and to receive a frequency converted mixed wave. Two devices are fabricated and tested to demonstrate frequency upconversion and downconversion by utilizing mechanical nonlinearity of AlN, and the results are compared to a nonlinear circuit model. The nonlinear circuit model is used to link experimentally observed phenomenon to the acoustic material's intrinsic nonlinearity. The nonlinearity of AlN reaches a maximum of 2.8% with a carrier wave power at 28 dBm. An analytical model is used to predict device performance along with physical dimensions. These analytical results show that nonlinear acoustic mixers and filters can approach sub-millimeter sizes, which is orders-of-magnitude smaller than conventional structures using nonlinear inductors and capacitors.
Denitrification of PVA-immobilized denitrifying photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Abstract A newly isolated denitrifying strain, Rhodobacter sphaeroides NII2 was immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel, and the properties of the cells in the gel were examined. The immobilized cells had low or almost no denitrification activity, but the cells were activated by incubation in light with culture medium for denitrification containing 0.5% nitrate and no other nitrogen source. Cells grown in the dark were activated by incubation at an earlier stage and to a higher rate than the light-grown cells. The activation was markedly enhanced in the PVA gel with a low cell concentration. The immobilized cells consumed nitrate with a temporary accumulation of NO 2 and evolved nitrogen gas. The immobilized cells could use various organic compounds as electron donors for denitrification. Thus, the immobilized cells were applied to a continuous treatment of synthetic wastewater using an aparatus devised by this laboratory. The results showed an efficient removal of NO 3 -N from the test water.