This paper is intended to be a resource for programmers needing to optimize a DSP’s power consumption strictly through software. The paper will provide a basic introduction into power consumption background, measurement techniques, and then go into the details of power optimization, focusing on three main areas: algorithmic optimization, taking advantage of hardware features (low power modes, clock control, and voltage control), and data flow optimization with a discussion into the functionality and power considerations when using fast SRAM type memories (common for cache) and DDR SDRAM. This work includes examples and results as tested on Freescale’s current state of the art Digital Signal Processors. / text

This thesis describes aspects of dynamics of solid state systems which are relevant to quantum metrology and computation. It may be divided into three research directions (parts). For the first part, a new method to enhance precision measurements that makes use of a sensor’s environment to amplify its response to weak external perturbations is described. In this method a “central” spin is used to sense the dynamics of surrounding spins, which are affected by the external perturbations that are being measured. The enhancement in precision is determined by the number of spins that are coupled strongly to the central spin and is resilient to various forms of decoherence. For polarized environments, nearly Heisenberg-limited precision measurements can be achieved. The second part of the thesis focuses on the decoherence of Majorana fermions. Specializing to the experimentally relevant case where each mode interacts with its own bath we present a method to study the effect of external perturbations on these modes. We analyze a generic gapped fermionic environment (bath) interacting via tunneling with individual Majorana modes - components of a qubit. We present examples with both static and dynamic perturbations (noise), and derive a rate of information loss for Majorana memories, that depends on the spectral density of both the noise and the fermionic bath. For the third part of the thesis we discuss vortices in topological superconductors which we model as closed finite systems, each with an odd number of real fermionic modes. We show that even in the presence of many-body interactions, there are always at least two fermionic operators that commute with the Hamiltonian. There is a zero mode corresponding to the total Majorana operator [1] as well as additional linearly independent zero modes, one of which is continuously connected to the Majorana mode in the non-interacting limit. We also show that in the situation where there are two or more well separated vortices their zero modes have non-Abelian Ising statistics under braiding. / Physics

As the hydrodynamic theory breaks down with the local density ap- proximation in the fermionic superfluid with spin-polarization, we develop a general formalism of the adiabatic dynamics for the low-lying collective modes in the BEC-BCS crossover, which is exact in the adiabatic limit. This adi- abatic dynamic theory is based on a static density functional theory of the spin-polarized superfluid system, which we derive as a generalization of the conventional density functional theory of superfluid for current experimental interests. A special case where the system is uniform and analytically solv- able is studied in detail. We show that our adiabatic equations of motion are reduced to the hydrodynamic equations of motion within local density approx- imation, which provides a solid microscopic foundation for the well-publicized phenomenological hydrodynamic theory. / text

The focus of this research is characterizing a new material system composed of carbon and graphite foams, which has potential in a wide variety of applications encompassing aerospace, military, offshore, power production and other commercial industries. The benefits of this new material include low cost, light weight, fire-resistance, good energy absorption, and thermal insulation or conduction as desired. The objective of this research is to explore the bulk material properties and failure modes of the carbon foam through experimental and computational analysis in order to provide a better understanding and assessment of the material for successful design in future applications. Experiments are conducted according to ASTM standards to determine the mechanical properties and failure modes of the carbon foam. Sandwich beams composed of open cell carbon foam cores and carbon-epoxy laminate face sheets are tested in the flexure condition using a four point setup. The primary failure mode is shear cracks developing in the carbon foam core at a critical axial strain value of 2,262 με. In addition to flexure, the carbon foam is loaded under tensile and shear loads to determine the respective material moduli. Computational analysis is undertaken to further investigate the carbon foam's failure modes and material characteristics in the sandwich beam configuration. Initial estimates are found using classical laminated plate theory and a linear finite element model. Poor results were obtained due to violation of assumptions used in both cases. Thus, an additional computational analysis incorporating three dimensional strain-displacement relationships into the finite element analysis is used. Also, a failure behavior pattern for the carbon foam core is included to simulate the unique failure progression of the carbon foam on a microstructure level. Results indicate that displacements, strains and stresses from the flexure experiments are closely predicted by this two parameter progressive damage model. The final computational model consisted of a bond line (interface) study to determine the source of the damage initiation, and it is concluded that damage initiates in the carbon foam, not at the bond line.

A search for B decays to quasi two-body charmless final states involving a pseudoscalar η′ meson recoiling against a K∗ vector meson is described. This thesis primarily describes the analysis of two of the six possible decay channels, with the other four channels necessarily included as the subdecay modes are combined to give an overall branching fraction measurement. The method of analysis is a multivariate maximum likelihood fit for each subdecay channel. The likelihood curves for both modes are then combined, firstly with two other charged modes to yield an overall charged result, and finally the four charged modes are combined with two neutral modes to give an overall branching fraction and significance for the decay channel B → η′K∗. All results use the full Run 1 to Run 4 datasets, comprising 210.5 fb−1 of data, equivalent to 232 million BB pairs, gathered by the BABAR detector at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in Menlo Park, California. The measured branching fractions and upper limits at 90% confidence limit (CL) are: B(B+ → η′ηππK∗+ K+π0) < 9.5 × 10−6B(B+ → η′ργK∗+ K+π0) < 22 × 10−6.The four-mode combined fit determined the branching fraction for the decay B+ → η′K∗+: B(B+ → η′K∗+) < 7.9 × 10−6. The six-mode combined fit determined the branching fraction for the decay B → η′K∗: B(B → η′K∗) = (4.1 ± 1.0 ± 0.5) × 10−6 at a significance of 5.6 standard deviations.

The McTronX Research Group at the North-West University is conducting research in the field of Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) with the aim of establishing a knowledge base for future industry consultation. AMBs are environmentally friendly and are a necessity in the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR), a South-African initiated project, which is predicted to be the means of supplying Africa and many other countries with modular energy in the future. Aside from the PBMR, there are numerous other AMB industrial applications. The aim of this project is to develop a comprehensive AMB model that considers the effect that rotor dynamics has on an AMB system. This model is used to analyse a double radial AMB, capable of suspending a rigid- and flexible rotor, to explain previously noticed phenomena. Two modelling methods are focussed on namely the System Matrix Method and Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) both of which are implemented in MATLAB®. The rigid rotor model is firstly implemented as a point mass in state-space form followed by use of the TMM to analyse its bending modes. The stability and critical speeds of the system are analysed due to a change in the supports' properties along with rotor gyroscopy and its effect on the system. During analysis of the flexible rotor the TMM was used via a similar approach as was followed with the rigid rotor. The results indicate that the system is experiencing lower than expected damping due to the model that is used within the control loop. The previously assumed rotor model in the control loop is not sufficient to describe its complex behaviour. This causes the unexpected damping characteristics. This project suggests future work to be conducted in expanding the frequency domain model of the rotor within the control loop to account for its physical shape. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Computer and Electronical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The McTronX Research Group at the North-West University is conducting research in the field of Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) with the aim of establishing a knowledge base for future industry consultation. AMBs are environmentally friendly and are a necessity in the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR), a South-African initiated project, which is predicted to be the means of supplying Africa and many other countries with modular energy in the future. Aside from the PBMR, there are numerous other AMB industrial applications. The aim of this project is to develop a comprehensive AMB model that considers the effect that rotor dynamics has on an AMB system. This model is used to analyse a double radial AMB, capable of suspending a rigid- and flexible rotor, to explain previously noticed phenomena. Two modelling methods are focussed on namely the System Matrix Method and Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) both of which are implemented in MATLAB®. The rigid rotor model is firstly implemented as a point mass in state-space form followed by use of the TMM to analyse its bending modes. The stability and critical speeds of the system are analysed due to a change in the supports' properties along with rotor gyroscopy and its effect on the system. During analysis of the flexible rotor the TMM was used via a similar approach as was followed with the rigid rotor. The results indicate that the system is experiencing lower than expected damping due to the model that is used within the control loop. The previously assumed rotor model in the control loop is not sufficient to describe its complex behaviour. This causes the unexpected damping characteristics. This project suggests future work to be conducted in expanding the frequency domain model of the rotor within the control loop to account for its physical shape. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Computer and Electronical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This dissertation explores the neural coding and mechanisms associated with consciousness by analyzing electrical rhythms of the brain under altered states of consciousness, namely epilepsy and anesthesia. First, transformation of neural coding under epileptogenic conditions is examined by computing the Volterra kernels in a rodent epilepsy model, where the epileptogenic condition is induced by altering the concentrations of Mg2+ and K+ of the perfusate for different levels of excitability. Principal dynamic modes (PDMs) are further deduced from the Volterra kernels to compare the changes in neural dynamics under epileptogenic conditions. The integrating PDMs are shown to dominate at all levels of excitability in terms of their relative contributions to the overall response, whereas the dominant frequency responses of the differentiating PDMs shift to higher ranges under epileptogenic conditions, from ripple activities (75 - 200 Hz) to fast ripple activities (200 - 500 Hz). Second, markers of anesthetic states are explored by analyzing amplitude and phase of brain rhythms as well as their interaction and modulation, utilizing electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded from patients undergoing anesthesia. Anesthesia shifts the power to low frequency rhythms, especially alpha rhythms. Additionally anesthesia increases the coupling between alpha rhythms and gamma rhythms while disrupting the coupling between alpha rhythms and ripples (70 - 200 Hz). The results also indicate that the dose responses (i.e. depth of anesthesia) are not necessarily monophasic or linear. The commonality and differences of the changes in brain rhythms associated with these conditions are discussed to elucidate on the possible underlying mechanisms involved in producing consciousness.

This thesis proposes the platform for the observation of a new type of electromagnetic interface mode, Coupled Interface Mode, and studies the utilization of this mode in second order nonlinear interaction in AlGaAs. The dispersion relations for theoretical examination of the modes are developed and used to design a waveguide structure that accommodates a three wave mixing process utilizing coupled interface modes. The waveguides are fabricated according to optimized fabrication recipes and characterized for linear and nonlinear properties. Second harmonic generation is adopted for the demonstration of nonlinear interaction, due to its convenient experimental set-up. Three different laser sources are used to pump the waveguides and second harmonic light is generated and characterized. Coupled interface modes in conjunction with other types of modes also existing within the same structures, offer the possibility to explore three-wave mixing processes such as sum and difference frequency generation.

This dissertation explores the neural coding and mechanisms associated with consciousness by analyzing electrical rhythms of the brain under altered states of consciousness, namely epilepsy and anesthesia. First, transformation of neural coding under epileptogenic conditions is examined by computing the Volterra kernels in a rodent epilepsy model, where the epileptogenic condition is induced by altering the concentrations of Mg2+ and K+ of the perfusate for different levels of excitability. Principal dynamic modes (PDMs) are further deduced from the Volterra kernels to compare the changes in neural dynamics under epileptogenic conditions. The integrating PDMs are shown to dominate at all levels of excitability in terms of their relative contributions to the overall response, whereas the dominant frequency responses of the differentiating PDMs shift to higher ranges under epileptogenic conditions, from ripple activities (75 - 200 Hz) to fast ripple activities (200 - 500 Hz). Second, markers of anesthetic states are explored by analyzing amplitude and phase of brain rhythms as well as their interaction and modulation, utilizing electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded from patients undergoing anesthesia. Anesthesia shifts the power to low frequency rhythms, especially alpha rhythms. Additionally anesthesia increases the coupling between alpha rhythms and gamma rhythms while disrupting the coupling between alpha rhythms and ripples (70 - 200 Hz). The results also indicate that the dose responses (i.e. depth of anesthesia) are not necessarily monophasic or linear. The commonality and differences of the changes in brain rhythms associated with these conditions are discussed to elucidate on the possible underlying mechanisms involved in producing consciousness.