Willy Ranson

Integrated Waveguide Structure for Highly Sensitive THz Spectroscopy of Nano-Liter Liquids in Capillary Tubes

Terahertz dielectric spectroscopy permits the study of biomolecular interactions. However, water induces high attenuation of electromagnetic waves in the THz frequency range, obscuring the response of biomolecules. The developed sensor overcomes this problem by concentrating the THz wave propagating in an integrated waveguide on a small liquid volume contained within a capillary tube. Detailed electromagnetic modeling shows efiective interaction between the THz waves and liquids. Transmission measurement results for capillary tubes fllled with water and methanol mixtures demonstrate a substantial increase in sensitivity to changes of liquid permittivity. The current integrated sensor facilitates THz spectroscopy of biological liquids: a case study on bufiered human serum albumin solution demonstrates a great potential to complement biochemical analytical tools.

Autocreative hierarchy II: dynamics self-organization, emergence and level-changing

Natural systems are characterized more by the way they change than by their appearance at any one moment in time. There is, however, no self-consistent theory capable of ascribing the development of living hierarchical organisms to conventional scientific rationality. We have derived a generic model for the dynamics and evolution of natural hierarchical systems. We present the resultant birational dynamics which may be attributed to a real hierarchy. We describe the nature of self-organization and of emergence in hierarchies, and the rationality which may be employed to move between scalar levels. We propose the use of diffusely-rational recursive Dempster-Shafer-probability to model inter-hierarchical-level complex regions, and consider its implications. The evolution of living from nonliving systems is attributed to a change in the style of emergence which characterizes the appearance of new scalar levels.

A Framework for Computing Like Nature

We address the context within which ‘Natural’ computation can be carried out, and conclude that a birational ecosystemic hierarchical framework would provide for computation which is closer to Nature. This presages a major philosophical change in the way Science can be carried out. A consequence is that all system properties appear as intermediates between unattainable dimensional extremes; even existence itself. We note that Classical and Quantum mechanical paradigms make up a complementary pair. What we wish to do is to bring all of Science under a generalized umbrella of entity and its ecosystem, and then characterize different types of entity by their relationships with their relevant ecosystems. The most general way to do this is to move the ecosystemic paradigm up to the level of its encompassing logic, creating a complementary pair of conceivably different logics – one for the entity we are focusing on; one for the ecosystem within which it exists – and providing for their quasi-autonomous birational interaction.

Wet silicon bulk micromachined THz waveguides for low-loss integrated sensor applications

Wet Si bulk micromachining enables producing hexagonally shaped waveguides (WH) with superior performance and are applicable to low THz frequency range. We discuss the fabrication process, hexagonal cross-section analysis, and balance between loss mitigation and operational frequency band of WH.

Localisation and nonlocality in computation

It is becoming necessary to carefully re-evaluate the meaning we attach to the term computation. This paper considers the conditions prerequisite to the implementation of a general description of computation which is formulated in terms of reactions to environmental stimuli, and which can be used to model natural processes and consequently information processing in cells and tissues.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF AN IN0.53GA0.47AS-INP RESONANT PLASMA WAVEGUIDE MODULATOR FOR MEDIUM-INFRARED LIGHT

We report on the first experimental study of a medium‐infrared waveguide modulator based on the coupling between a dielectric grating coupler and an In0.53Ga0.47As–InP waveguide, operating near cut off, and containing a resonant semiconductor plasma. The prototype designed for demonstrating this novel effect was grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The experimental results show low power (225 mW), low voltage (15 V) operation for obtaining a modulation depth of 30%. The overall transmission efficiency is, however, rather low (0.5%) due to the wet chemical etching techniques used for defining the grating structure.

Hierarchy and the Nature of Information

We address the nature of information from a systemic structural point of view. Starting from the Natural hierarchy of living systems, we elucidate its decomposition into two partial hierarchies associated with its extant levels and inter-level regions, respectively. External observation of a hierarchical system involves the generation of approximate hyperscalar representations of these two partials, which then reintegrate to give a singular metascalar result. We relate Havel’s categories of reality and Peirce’s categories of experience to this result, and indicate that the ultimate result of the reintegration of hyperscalar data and context is a sign which is information.

Back to the Future: Anatomy of a System

System design and implementation targets operation in the future. Success depends on anticipation and timely response. Artificial systems are designed to emulate living organisms, but do they really do that? Does our existing image of a system reflect life? We have dissected widely held organizational concepts and misconceptions to try and establish the essential “anatomy” of a system. This paper reports our conclusions. “A system” implies unity: quantum‐mechanical “systems” are unified by entanglement; Newtonian ones are inescapably fragmented. A Newtonian system is not directly unified: we are inevitably a part of the system: the necessary entanglement is provided by our brains! We conclude that system unification is always through quantum‐mechanical entanglement. Artificial systems can never be both Newtonian and autonomous. Anticipation of future events requires multiply‐scaled models of the environment, created in the past for use in the future. These, must be united through entanglement into a syste...

Bi-Sapient Structures for Intelligent Control

The control of autonomous systems requires provision of at least a synthetic form of intelligence or sapience. While descriptions of these are common, there is no current model which relates their definitions to the physical structure of an information-processing system. Sapience is a direct result of hierarchical structure. In this chapter we describe the self-consistent general model of a birational hierarchy, and associate data, information, understanding, sapience and wisdom with aspects of its constitution. In a birational hierarchy there are two sapiences, one associated with each hyperscalar correlation, and their interactions support the most general information-processing relationship – wisdom. One and the same general model applies both to material structure and information-processing structure: the brain is the unique example of material-structural and information-processingstructural correspondence.We attribute the stabilization of dynamic self-observation to anticipative stasis neglect, and propose that neuron mirroring provides a useful metaphor for all of the brain’s information-processing, including the bi-sapient interactionswhich generate auto-empathy.We conclude that hyperscalar bi-sapience is responsible for Metzinger’s ‘illusory self’, for Theory of Self, presence transfer, and Theory of Mind, and indicate how multiscalar access from within hyperscale provides a massive advantage in promoting survival.

Novel illumination and parameter extraction technique for the characterization of multilayer structures in the GHz range with deep sub-wavelength resolution

a new fast contact-free nondestructive technique (NDT) for the characterization of multilayer dielectric structures, potentially backed by a metal or water layer is proposed. By means of a novel blind analysis method of the time dependent reflected electromagnetic signal, detailed information can be obtained on the geometrical and electromagnetic parameters such as the complex valued dielectric permittivity and magnetic susceptibility of each layer of the structure. We will validate the novel technique for different materials in the 10 GHz range and compare the novel results with S-parameter measurements in the frequency domain by means of a VNA. We will discuss the impact of non-idealities on the accuracy of the retrieved parameters. Actual estimations indicate that electronic measurement systems of today allow deep sub-millimeter depth resolution, almost independently of the frequency. For a 10 GHz signal e.g. this corresponds to substantial sub-wavelength depth resolution. The novel technique has the potential for deployment in a wide range of applications ranging from the piping industry, wind energy industry, automotive, biotechnology, food industry, pharmacy and so on.