9,063 research outputs found
Depth-3 Circuit Lower Bounds for k-OV
Get PDFThe 2-Orthogonal Vectors (2-OV) problem is the following: given two tuples A and B of n Boolean vectors, each of dimension d, decide if there exist vectors u ∈ A, and v ∈ B, such that u and v are orthogonal. This problem, and its generalization k-OV defined analogously for k tuples, are central problems in the area of fine-grained complexity. One of the major conjectures in fine-grained complexity is that k-OV cannot be solved by a randomised algorithm in n^{k-ε}poly(d) time for any constant ε > 0.
In this paper, we are interested in unconditional lower bounds against k-OV, but for weaker models of computation than the general Turing Machine. In particular, we are interested in circuit lower bounds to computing k-OV by Boolean circuit families of depth 3 of the form OR-AND-OR, or equivalently, a disjunction of CNFs.
We show that for all k ≤ d, any disjunction of t-CNFs computing k-OV requires size Ω((n/t)^k). In particular, when k is a constant, any disjunction of k-CNFs computing k-OV needs to use Ω(n^k) CNFs. This matches the brute-force construction, and for each fixed k > 2, this is the first unconditional Ω(n^k) lower bound against k-OV for a computation model that can compute it in size O(n^k). Our results partially resolve a conjecture by Kane and Williams [Daniel M. Kane and Richard Ryan Williams, 2019] (page 12, conjecture 10) about depth-3 AC⁰ circuits computing 2-OV.
As a secondary result, we show an exponential lower bound on the size of AND∘OR∘AND circuits computing 2-OV when d is very large. Since 2-OV reduces to k-OV by projections trivially, this lower bound works against k-OV as well
Identifying Value Chain Trade-offs from Fruit and Vegetable Aggregation Services in Bangladesh Using a System Dynamics Approach
No full textIdentifying Value Chain Trade-offs from Fruit and Vegetable Aggregation Services in Bangladesh Using a System Dynamics Approac
Effect of metal work function of asymmetric dielectric tunnel FET on its performance
No full textIn the present era, with the advancement of various non-conventional devices, hardware components dimensions are shrinking to great extent. Among those, significant part of researchers focus is drawn by Tunnel Field Effect Transistors (TFETs), because of their fundamental attribute of carriers conduction through built-in tunnelling mechanism. In this work, an asymmetric gate Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (TFET) is reported and discussed. This device structure relies on Asymmetric Dual Material Double Gate Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (ADMDG TFET) with reduced oxide thickness of 0.5 nm and optimised metal work function used at the gate terminal of the proposed TFET. For the performance analysis of such a short channel device, the relevant parameters, like threshold voltage, electric field, drain current, surface potential, Ion, Ioff and Subthreshold Swing (SS), have been considered. The proposed structure is simulated by means of the 2-D Sentaurus TCAD tool. The results report significantly low OFF-state current (Ioff), considerably improved ON-state current (Ion), and enhanced SS
Discussion of “seismic uplift capacity of horizontal strip anchors using a modified pseudodynamic approach” by anindya pain, deepankar choudhury, and s. K. Bhattacharyya
No full textThe discussers appreciate the authors for presenting an interesting paper on the determination of seismic uplift capacity of shallow horizontal strip anchors embedded in cohesionless soil using a modified pseudodynamic approach. The authors have extended the applicability of the new pseudodynamic approach proposed by Bellezza (2014). Steedman and Zeng (1990) first proposed pseudodynamic approach by considering the effect of the finite shear-wave velocity, horizontal seismic acceleration, and amplification of vibrations. Later, Choudhury and Nimbalkar (2005) modified the pseudodynamic approach proposed by Steedman and Zeng (1990), wherein they incorporated the effect of vertical acceleration due to vertically propagating primary waves. The effects of time, the phase difference, and the effect of amplification in both the shear and primary waves propagating through the soil were taken into account in this modified pseudodynamic approach. Numerous problems have been solved using this modified pseudodynamic approach proposed by Choudhury and Nimbalkar (2005). Again, there are two main disadvantages associated with the modified pseudodynamic approach: (1) zero-stress boundary conditions at the ground surface are not satisfied, and (2) amplification of the acceleration value is assumed to vary linearly toward the ground surface. By satisfying zero-stress boundary conditions at the ground surface, both vertical and horizontal accelerations were derived (Choudhury and Katdare 2013) considering earthquake waves, such as shear, primary, and Rayleigh waves. However, the variation of phase, but not the magnitude of acceleration, was taken into account. Recently, a new pseudodynamic approach was suggested by Bellezza (2014) to obtain the active thrust on a rigid retaining wall, where the aforementioned shortcomings associated with the modified pseudodynamic approach can be eliminated. In this new pseudodynamic approach proposed by Bellezza (2014), only the equation of the horizontal acceleration is derived in a closed-form fashion considering the soil as a Kelvin–Voigt material. The authors used this new pseudodynamic approach developed by Bellezza (2014) to compute the seismic uplift capacity of horizontal strip anchors, which is an important contribution to the application of this new pseudodynamic approach aiming to overcome the disadvantages stated as earlier
Effects of neutralization on the structure and properties of an ionomer
No full textAbstract not availableYan Gao, Namita Roy Choudhury, Naba K. Dutt
Modeling the neutral hydrogen distribution in the post-reionization Universe: intensity mapping
No full textWe model the distribution of neutral hydrogen (HI) in the post-reionization era and investigate its detectability in 21 cm intensity mapping with future radio telescopes like the Square Kilometer array (SKA). We rely on high resolution hydrodynamical N-body simulations that have a state-of-the-art treatment of the low density photoionized gas in the inter-galactic medium (IGM). The HI is assigned a-posteriori to the gas particles following two different approaches: a halo-based method in which HI is assigned only to gas particles residing within dark matter halos; a particle-based method that assigns HI to all gas particles using a prescription based on the physical properties of the particles. The HI statistical properties are then compared to the observational properties of Damped Lyman-alpha Absorbers (DLAs) and of lower column density systems and reasonable good agreement is found for all the cases. Among the halo-based method, we further consider two different schemes that aim at reproducing the observed properties of DLAs by distributing HI inside halos: one of this results in a much higher bias for DLAs, in agreement with recent observations, which boosts the 21 cm power spectrum by a factor similar to 4 with respect to the other recipe. Furthermore, we quantify the contribution of HI in the diffuse IGM to both Omega(HI) and the HI power spectrum finding to be subdominant in both cases. We compute the 21 cm power spectrum from the simulated HI distribution and calculate the expected signal for both SKAl-mid and SKAl-low configurations at 2.4 <= z <= 4. We find that SKA will be able to detect the 21 cm power spectrum, in the non-linear regime, up to k similar to 1h/Mpc for SKAl-mid and k similar to 5h/Mpc for SKAl-low with 100 hours of observations. We also investigate the perspective of imaging the HI distribution. Our findings indicate that SKAl-low could detect the most massive HI peaks with a signal to noise ratio (SNR) higher than 5 for an observation time of about 1000 hours at z = 4, for a synthesized beam width of 2'. Detection at redshifts z >= 2.4 with SKAl-mid would instead require a much longer observation time to achieve a comparable SNR level. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab srl
Studies On Polymer Hydrogel Electrolytes For Application In Electrochemical Capacitors And Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells
No full textIn recent years, electrochemical capacitors have emerged as devices with the potential to enable major advances in electrical energy storage. Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) are akin to conventional capacitors but employ higher surface-area electrodes and thinner dielectrics to achieve larger capacitances. This helps ECs to attain energy densities greater than those of conventional capacitors and power densities greater than those of batteries. Akin to conventional capacitors, ECs also have high cycle-lives and can be charged and discharged rapidly. But ECs are yet to match the energy densities of mid to high-end batteries and fuel cells.
On the basis of mechanism involved in the charge-storage process, ECs are classified as electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) or pseudocapacitors. Charge storage in EDLCs and pseudocapacitors is brought about by non-faradaic and faradaic processes, respectively. Faradaic process, such as an oxidation-reduction reaction, involves the transfer of charge between electrode and electrolyte. By contrast, a non-faradaic process does not use a chemical mechanism and charges are distributed on surfaces by physical processes that do not involve any chemical reaction.
ECs employ both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes in either liquid or solid form, the latter providing the advantages of freedom from leakage of any liquid component, compactness, reliability and large operating potential-window. In the literature, polymer electrolytes are the most widely studied solid electrolytes. Complexation of functional-groups of certain polymers with cations results in the formation of polymer-cation complexes commonly referred to as solid-polymer electrolytes (SPEs). Mixing a polymer with an alkali metal salt dissolved in an organic solvent result in the formation of a polymer gel electrolyte. Organic solvents with low molecular-weights, such as ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate, employed in polymer gel electrolytes are commonly referred to as plasticizers. When water is used as a plasticizer, the polymer electrolyte is called a polymer hydrogel electrolyte.
Part I of the thesis is directed to studies pertaining to Polymer Hydrogel Electrolytes for Electrochemical Capacitors and comprises four sections. After a brief survey of literature on polymer hydrogel electrolytes employed in ECs in Section I.1, Section I.2 of Part I describes the studies on electrochemical capacitors employing cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane electrolytes with varying perchloric acid dopant concentration. Acidic poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane electrolytes (PHMEs) with different perchloric acid concentrations are prepared by cross-linking poly (vinyl alcohol) with glutaraldehyde in the presence of a protonic acid acting as a catalyst under ambient conditions. PHMEs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry in conjunction with relevant electrochemical techniques. An optimised electrochemical capacitor assembled employing PHME in conjunction with black pearl carbon (BPC) electrodes yields a maximum specific capacitance value of about 96 F g-1, phase angle value of about 79o and a discharge capacitance value of about 88 F g-1. Section I.3 of Part I describes the studies on cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol)/ploy (acrylic acid) blend hydrogel electrolytes for electrochemical capacitors. Acidic poly (vinyl alcohol)/poly (acrylic acid) blend hydrogel electrolytes (BHEs) have been prepared by cross-linking poly (vinyl alcohol)/poly (acrylic acid) blend with glutaraldehyde in presence of perchloric acid. These acidic BHEs have been treated suitably to realize alkaline and neutral BHEs. Thermal characteristics and glass-transition behavior of BHEs have been followed by differential scanning calorimetry. Ionic conduction in acidic BHEs has been found to take place by Grötthus-type mechanism while polymer segmental motion mechanism is predominantly responsible for ion motion in alkaline and neutral BHEs. Ionic conductivity of BHEs has been found to range between 10-3 and 10-2 S cm-1 at 298 K. Electrochemical capacitors assembled with acidic PVA hydrogel electrolyte yield a maximum specific capacitance of about 60 and 1000 F g-1 with BPC and RuOx.xH2O/C electrodes, respectively. Section I.4 of Part I describes the studies on gelatin hydrogel electrolytes and their application to electrochemical capacitors. Gelatin hydrogel electrolytes (GHEs) with varying NaCl concentrations have been prepared by cross-linking an aqueous solution of gelatin with aqueous glutaraldehyde under ambient conditions, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic chronopotentiometry. Glass transition temperatures for GHEs range between 340 and 377 K depending on the dopant concentration. Ionic conductivity behavior of GHEs is studied with varying concentrations of gelatin, glutaraldehyde and NaCl, and conductivity values are found to vary between 10-3 and 10-1 S cm-1 under ambient conditions. GHEs have a potential window of about 1 V with BPC electrodes. The ionic conductivity of pristine and 0.25 N NaCl-doped GHEs follows Arrhenius behavior with activation energy values of 1.9×10-4 and 1.8×10-4 eV, respectively. Electrochemical capacitors employing GHEs in conjunction with black pearl carbon electrodes are assembled and studied. Optimal values for capacitance, phase angle, and relaxation time constant of about 81 F g-1, 75o, and 0.03 s are obtained for 3 M NaCl-doped GHE, respectively. EC with pristine GHE exhibits continuous cycle life for about 4.3 h as against 4.7 h for the electrochemical capacitor with 3 M NaCl-doped GHE.
Unlike electrochemical capacitors, fuel cells do not store the charge internally but instead use a continuous supply of fuel from an external storage tank. Thus, fuel cells have the potential to solve the most challenging problem associated with the electrochemical capacitors, namely their limited energy-density. A fuel cell is an electrochemical power source with advantages of both the combustion engine and the battery. Like a combustion engine, a fuel cell will run as long as it is provided with fuel; and like a battery, fuel cells convert chemical energy directly to electrical energy. As an electrochemical power source, fuel cells are not subjected to the Carnot limitations of combustion (heat) engines. A fuel cell operates quietly and efficiently and, when hydrogen is used as a fuel, it generates only power and potable water. Thus, a fuel cell is a so called ‘zero-emission engine’.
In the past, several fuel cell concepts have been tested in various laboratories but the systems that are being potentially considered for commercial developments are: (i) Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFCs), (ii) Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFCs), (iii) Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs), (iv) Solid-Polymer-Electrolyte-Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (SPE-DMFCs), (v) Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs) and (vi) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs).
Among the aforesaid systems, PEFCs that employ hydrogen as fuel are considered attractive power systems for quick start-up and ambient-temperature operations. Ironically, however, hydrogen as fuel is not available freely in the nature. Accordingly, it has to be generated from a readily available hydrogen carrying fuel such as natural gas, which needs to be reformed. But, such a process leads to generation of hydrogen with some content of carbon monoxide, which even at minuscule level is detrimental to the fuel cell performance. Pure hydrogen can be generated through water electrolysis but hydrogen thus generated needs to be stored as compressed / liquefied gas, which is cost-intensive. Therefore, certain hydrogen carrying organic fuels such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, ethylene glycol, and diethyl ether have been considered for fuelling PEFCs directly. Among these, methanol with a hydrogen content of about 13 wt. % (specific energy = 6.1 kWh kg-1) is the most attractive organic liquid. PEFCs using methanol directly as fuel are referred to as SPE-DMFCs. But SPE-DMFCs suffer from methanol crossover across the polymer electrolyte membrane, which affects the cathode performance and hence the cell performance during its operation. SPE-DMFCs also have inherent limitations of low open-circuit-potential and low electrochemical-activity. An obvious solution to the aforesaid problems is to explore other promising hydrogen carrying fuels such as sodium borohydride, which has a hydrogen content of about 11 wt. %. Such fuel cells are called direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFCs).
Part II of the thesis includes studies on direct borohydride fuel cells and comprises three sections. After a brief introduction to DBFCs in section II.1, Section II.2 describes studies on an alkaline direct borohydride fuel cell with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. A peak power density of about 150 mW cm-2 at a cell voltage of 540 mV could be achieved from the optimized DBFC operating at 70oC. Section II.3 describes studies on poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane as electrolyte for direct borohydride fuel cells. This DBFC employs a poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane as electrolyte, an AB5 Misch metal alloy as anode, and a gold-plated stainless steel mesh as cathode in conjunction with aqueous alkaline solution of sodium borohydride as fuel and aqueous acidified solution of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The performance of the PHME-based DBFC in respect of peak power outputs, ex-situ cross-over of oxidant, fuel, anolyte and catholyte across the membrane electrolytes, utilization efficiencies of fuel and oxidant as also cell performance durability under ambient conditions are compared with a similar DBFC employing a Nafion®-117 membrane electrolyte (NME). Peak power densities of about 30 and 40 mW cm-2 are observed for the DBFCs with PHME and NME, respectively. The PHME and NME-based DBFCs exhibit cell potentials of about 1.2 and 1.4 V, respectively, at a load current density of 10 mA cm-2 for 100 h.
Publications of Nurul Alam Choudhury
1. Gelatin hydrogel electrolytes and their application to electrochemical supercapacitors, N. A. Choudhury, S. Sampath, and A. K. Shukla, J. Electrochem. Soc., 155 (2008) A74.
2. Cross-linked polymer hydrogel electrolytes for electrochemical capacitors, N. A. Choudhury, A. K. Shukla, S. Sampath, and S. Pitchumani, J. Electrochem. Soc., 153 (2006) A614.
3. Hydrogel-polymer electrolytes for electrochemical capacitors: an overview, N. A. Choudhury, S. Sampath, and A. K. Shukla, Energy and Environmental Science (In Press).
4. Cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane electrolytes with varying perchloric acid dopant concentration and their application to electrochemical capacitors, N. A. Choudhury, S. Sampath, and A. K. Shukla, J. Chem. Sc. (Submitted)
5. An alkaline direct borohydride fuel cell with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant, N. A. Choudhury, R. K. Raman, S. Sampath, and A. K. Shukla, J. Power Sources, 143 (2005) 1.
6. Poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane as electrolyte for direct borohydride fuel cells, N. A. Choudhury, S. K. Prashant, S. Pitchumani, P. Sridhar, and A. K. Shukla, J. Chem. Sc. (Submitted).
7. A phenyl-sulfonic acid anchored carbon-supported platinum catalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cell electrodes, G. Selvarani, A. K. Sahu, N. A. Choudhury, P. Sridhar, S. Pitchumani, and A. K. Shukla, Electrochim. Acta, 52 (2007) 4871.
8. A high-output voltage direct borohydride fuel cell, R. K. Raman, N. A. Choudhury, and A. K. Shukla, Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., 7 (2004) A 488.
9. Carbon-supported Pt-Fe alloy as a methanol-resistant oxygen-reduction catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells, A. K. Shukla, R. K. Raman, N. A. Choudhury, K. R. Priolkar, P. R. Sarode, S. Emura, and R. Kumashiro, J. Electroanal. Chem., 563 (2004) 181
A surface potential-model based parameter extraction of Si–Ge-pocket n-TFET
No full textThis paper presents an algorithm based approach for TFET (Tunnel Field Effect Transistor) design. A numerous number of meta-heuristic algorithms have been used to procure the best device dimension for a Si–Ge (Silicon–Germanium) pocket n-TFET. The foremost important task is to find an alternative to hit and trails based device optimization and thereby improve the device performance by using those techniques. The algorithm based approach requires an objective function. The surface potential based models efficiently represents the device physical properties, thus surface potential based model is used as an objective function. The impact of the channel length, of the Si–Ge layer and device thickness, as well as of oxide thickness are studied by considering them as design variables. The design process involves simulating and validating the obtained dimensions in Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD). State of art techniques are being outperformed by this algorithmic approach and out of all applied algorithms the Human Behavior Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (HBPSO) is more accurate. An ON-current of 4.8 × 10–4 A and OFF-current of 4.8 × 10–12 A is achieved by optimizing the structure
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