(Vocus/PRWEB) 22 March 2011
This week, Toyohashi University of Technology publishes the March issue of Toyohashi Tech e-Newsletter, which includes highlights of some of the top papers from researchers at the university. Featured in these highlights are reports of the worlds first one-bit digital counter on a single chip, and an innovative new millimeter sized microactuator. The on-line e-Newsletter includes further news and views from one of Japans most dynamic science and technology based universities, including a focus on an infrared photodetector that exploits plasmon resonance on the surface of gold nanorods.
The Research Highlights section offers easy to understand summaries of research papers, and can be found at: http://www.tut.ac.jp/english/newsletter/research_highlights/index.html. The following topics are featured:
Optoelectronic integrated circuits: Silicon and nitride LEDs integrated onto a single chip for one-bit digital counters
The use of silicon in photonic devices, such as LEDs and lasers, has been problematic due to the fact that silicon has an indirect bandgap. Now, a team of researchers has overcome this problem by combining silicon devices with direct bandgap semiconductors to successfully produce the first realization of an optoelectronic integrated circuit that is a one-bit digital counter.
Innovative microactuators: Compact 3.5 mm cubic rotary-linear piezoelectric actuator
Tomoaki Mashimo has overcome the difficulties in producing millimeter sized microactuators by developing a device that can deliver reliable torque and thrust for applications in microelectromechanical systems, micro-medical devices and microrobotics. The miniaturization was achieved due to the simplicity of the design. The microactuators simple design lends itself to many other applications as well says Mashimo.
Health and environment: New microorganisms for cleaning up PCB contamination
Using specialized bacteria, researchers have developed a bioremediation method for reducing the harmful effects of a group of pollutants called polychlorinated biphenyls. By modifying the existing microorganism Dehalobacter the team was able to increase the limited range of pollutants which the microorganism can effectively act upon.
Coating technology: Interaction of free falling copper droplets with heated substrates
The physical mechanisms underlying interactions between the surfaces of materials and coatings sprayed onto them are poorly understood. To clarify these mechanisms, researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering have analyzed what happens when millimeter sized drops of molten copper are applied to a surface by the so-called splat process under a range of conditions.
Neuroscience: Blue in the face
In studying the way we perceive other human faces, much research has been carried out into how facial configuration effects both N170 neural responses to facial stimuli as well as gamma band oscillations in the brain. In a new study, researchers have examined the role of colour in facial perception, finding that blue faces elicit a greater N170 response but have no effect on gamma band oscillations.
Toyohashi Tech inventions and inventors come under the spotlight in the section Tech-Overtures. This time, an innovative infrared photodetector exploiting plasmon resonance at the surface of the gold nanorods is explained. Such technology can be used for high efficiency infra-red photodetectors for optical communications systems:
http://www.tut.ac.jp/english/newsletter/tech_overtures/index.html
Other features of Toyohashi Tech e-Newsletter include:
