Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984
Discovery of topological LC circuits transporting EM waves without backscattering
In 2015, this research team successfully demonstrated topological properties in light and microwaves in a honeycomb lattice of dielectric cylinders, such as silicon. This time, the team revealed theoretically in a microstrip, a flat circuit, that electromagnetic waves attain topological properties when the metallic strips form a honeycomb pattern and the intra-hexagon and inter-hexagon strip widths are different. The team also fabricated microstrips and measured electric fields on their surfaces, and successfully observed the detailed structure of topological electromagnetic modes, where vortices of electromagnetic energy polarized in a specific direction are generated during the wave propagation.
This research demonstrates that topological propagation of electromagnetic waves can be induced using conventional materials in a simple structure. Because topological electromagnetic wave propagation is immune to backscatter even when pathways turn sharply, designs of compact electromagnetic circuits become possible, leading to miniaturization and high integration of electronics devices. In addition, the direction of vortex and the vorticity associated with topological electromagnetic modes may be used as data carriers in high-density information communications. All these features may contribute to the development of advanced information society represented by IoT and autonomous vehicles.
(Score: 3, Informative) by deimtee on Monday December 31 2018, @03:42AM
And you are wrong about the sprinklers. In at least some buildings I have worked in, if one little glass vial pops and a sprinkler goes off, then the almighty pumps kick in and blow them all out so that all the sprinklers go off. There are also systems where the fire alarm will trigger those pumps.
Not sure of the exact figures, but it was something like a static water pressure of 10psi, if it dropped below 5psi then the pumps came on and pushed 200psi through the pipes. This was in a large single level building. Figures are probably different for multistory, unless they have independent systems per floor. If the building is large enough the system probably has zones. The one I saw triggered was when a forklift managed to bump one. Made a mess of the whole warehouse, but not the rest of the place.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.