Zoltan Gingl

A STOCHASTIC RESONATOR IS ABLE TO GREATLY IMPROVE SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO

Abstract After a decade of doubts, for the first time in the history of stochastic resonance (SR), we demonstrate that a simple stochastic resonator does greatly improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a periodic signal with additive Gaussian noise. The particular stochastic resonator is a level-crossing detector (LCD) driven by the sum of a periodic spike train signal and a band-limited Gaussian white noise. To reach the improvement of the SNR, the stochastic resonator has to work in the strongly nonlinear response limit and the noise has to have a high cut-off frequency compared to the reciprocal duration of the spikes. We demonstrate by analog and computer simulations that the SNR gain goes beyond four orders of magnitude at practical conditions. These findings get a particular importance due the fact that simplest neurone models behave very similarly to our arrangement, so the results might have direct applications in neural systems.

Effect of postural changes on arterial baroreflex sensitivity assessed by the spontaneous sequence method and Valsalva manoeuvre in healthy subjects.

The objective of this study was to compare the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) assessed by the new, non-invasive, spontaneous sequence method (BRS-sequence) with the Valsalva manoeuvrebased BRS. Fourteen healthy volunteers were studied in the supine position, during 60° head-up tilt (HUT) and during −30° head-down tilt (HDT). Blood pressure and R-R intervals were continuously and non-invasively recorded using a Finapres device. The BRS-sequence was assessed by analysing the slopes of spontaneously occurring sequences of three or more consecutive beats in which systolic blood pressure and R-R interval of the following beat increased or decreased in the same direction in a linear fashion; it was compared with data obtained during the Valsalva manoeuvre in each position. The time and frequency domain indices of R-R interval variability were also evaluated. The mean difference of BRS between the two non-invasive methods was 3.86 ms/mmHg with a standard deviation of 9.14 ms/mmHg. BRS was decreased during HUT and increased during HDT as assessed by both techniques. The changes in BRS were associated with vagal withdrawal and sympathetic activation during HUT and enhancement in the cardiac vagal tone and reduction in the sympathetic activity during HDT. We conclude that the BRS-sequence technique provides a reliable method to study the neural control of the circulation, although the body position in consecutive measurements needs to be standardized.

On the anomalous behavior of the relative amplitude of rts noise

For the relative amplitude of the random telegraph signal noise (RTS) in a MOS transistor ΔG/G=ΔI/I=1/N=qgm/WlCoxI often holds with N the total number of free carriers. Here, strong deviations from this simple behavior will be explained in terms of strategic (high field region) or less strategic trap positions (low field region) in a non-uniform channel ignoring mobility modulation. Calculations show that in a channel with N=103 and a nonuniform current distribution, the relative RTS amplitude can vary between 10−5 and 10−2. The analytical expressions to calculate the relative amplitude of the RTS noise for two and four terminal geometries are presented. The levelling off in the 1/N dependence for extremely low N in the subthreshold region is explained via the solution of the Poisson equation showing that this phenomenon occurs for Qdepletion≥Qinversion even in a uniform channel.

1/f noise in systems showing stochastic resonance

Stochastic resonator systems with input and/or output 1/f noise have been studied. Disordered magnets/dielectrics serve as examples for the case of output 1/f noise with white noise (thermal excitation) at the input of the resonators. Due to the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, the output noise is related to the out-of-phase component of the periodic peak of the output spectrum. Spin glasses and ferromagnets serve as interesting examples of coupled stochastic resonators. A proper coupling can lead to an extremely large signal-to-noise ratio. As a model system, a l/f-noise-driven Schmitt trigger has been investigated experimentally to study stochastic resonance with input 1/f noise. Under proper conditions, we have found several new nonlinearity effects, such as peaks at even harmonics, holes at even harmonics, and 1/f noise also in the output spectrum.

Signal-to-noise ratio gain by stochastic resonance in a bistable system

It was shown recently that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) could be improved by stochastic resonance (SR) in certain monostable systems and certain systems with monotonous nonlinearity working in the nonlinear response (NLR) regime. Here we demonstrate th

Biased percolation and abrupt failure of electronic devices

We propose a new percolation model as an aid to understand abrupt failure of electronic devices. It is called biased percolation because we assume that local Joule heating determines the probability of generating defects causing percolative breakdown of the device. We take as a simple geometry a homogeneous thin film, modelled as a two-dimensional resistor network. By carrying out Monte Carlo simulations we investigate the evolution of the system including: the damage pattern, current distribution, resistance degradation, resistance relative fluctuations and its power spectrum associated with 1/f noise. Our results show that biased percolation efficiently simulates degradation of thin films in good agreement with available experiments and predicts several features that should take place close to the abrupt failure of most devices.

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO GAIN IN NON-DYNAMICAL AND DYNAMICAL BISTABLE STOCHASTIC RESONATORS

It has recently been reported that in some systems showing stochastic resonance, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the output can significantly exceed that at the input; in other words, SNR gain is possible. We took two such systems, the non-dynamical Schmitt trigger and the dynamical double wellpotential, and using numerical and mixed-signal simulation techniques, we examined what SNR gains these systems can provide. In the non-linear response limit, we obtained SNR gains much greater than unity for both systems. In addition to the classical narrow-band SNR definition, we also measured the ratio of the total power of the signal to the power of the noise part, and it showed even better signal improvement. Here we present a brief review of our results, and scrutinise, for both the Schmitt-trigger and the double well potential, the behaviour of the SNR gain by stochastic resonance for different signal amplitudes and duty cycles. We also discuss the mechanism of providing gains greater than unity.

Human autonomic responses to blood donation

In order to characterize autonomic responses to acute volume loss, supine ECG, blood pressure (BP) and uncalibrated breathing signal (UBS) recordings were taken before and after blood donation in 48 healthy volunteers. Time and frequency domain parameters of RR interval (RRI), BP and UBS variability were determined. Baroreflex gain was calculated by the technique of the spontaneous sequences and cross-spectral analysis. The systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean BP (MAP) increased after the blood withdrawal. The central frequency of breathing and mean heart rate did not change. RRI variability increased in low frequency band (LF), tended to decrease in high frequency band (HF). Systolic BP variability increased in both frequency bands, but was statistically significant only in the high frequency band. Diastolic BP power increased in both frequencies. From the different baroreflex gain estimates, up sequence BRS and HF alpha index decreased significantly. The phase angle between RRI and systolic blood pressure powers in LF band did not change (-58 +/- 24 degrees and -54 +/- 26 degrees ). In the high frequency range, the phase became more negative (-1 +/- 29 degrees and -17 +/- 32 degrees, p = 0.001). The withdrawal of 350-400 ml blood in 5 min resulted in sympathetic activation, which was reflected in increased systolic, diastolic and mean BP. The increased BP oscillation was a sensitive marker of the minor volume depletion. This was coupled by increased RRI oscillation via baroreflex mechanisms in the LF band. Changes in the RRI and BP oscillations in the HF band showed no similar coupling. That points to the fact that RRI oscillations in this band should not be explained entirely by baroreflex mechanisms. Vagal withdrawal was reflected in decreased root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), decreased HF RRI power and decreased up sequence BRS.

A high-sensitivity, near-infrared tunable-diode-laser-based photoacoustic water-vapour-detection system for automated operation

A photoacoustic sensor system for automatic detection of low concentrations of water vapour is described in this paper. A Littman-configuration external-cavity diode laser operating at 1125 nm was used as a light source in combination with a high-sensitivity measuring photoacoustic cell, a reference photoacoustic cell and PC-controlled electronics. The system was calibrated with synthetic gas samples and a detection limit of 13 µmol per mol of water vapour was determined. Adsorption/desorption phenomena at the walls of the measuring photoacoustic cell were found to be an important limiting factor for the sensitivity of the system.

Noise Properties in the Ideal Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise Secure Communication System

In this paper we determine the noise properties needed for unconditional security for the ideal Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise (KLJN) secure key distribution system using simple statistical analysis. It has already been shown using physical laws that resistors and Johnson-like noise sources provide unconditional security. However real implementations use artificial noise generators, therefore it is a question if other kind of noise sources and resistor values could be used as well. We answer this question and in the same time we provide a theoretical basis to analyze real systems as well.