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Lopez, Daniel

Publications and source records attributed to Lopez, Daniel.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Extraordinary frequency stabilization by resonant nonlinear mode coupling

Here, we show that a self-sustained oscillator with a frequency-selective element operating with two nonlinearly coupled modes can achieve a level of frequency stability well beyond that available using single-mode operation. The system of interest consists of a self-sustained oscillator based on a nonlinear primary mode that is coupled via an internal resonance to a passive secondary mode. Analysis of a generic model for this resonance with both additive and multiplicative noises reveals that the stability improvements accrue from two sources: (i) nonlinear frequency veering in the primary mode, a classical analogue to quantum-level repulsion, that eliminates amplitude-to-frequency noise conversion; and (ii) phase cleaning of the oscillator through an intrinsic phase constraint arising from synchronization of the modes. This latter effect can significantly reduce the effects of intrinsic frequency fluctuations of the primary mode, which are not accessible by any known strategy using single-mode operation. The theoretical predictions are supported by experimental measurements of a microelectromechanical systems-based oscillator that demonstrate a reduction in oscillator line width of several orders of magnitude. This approach offers a means of optimizing frequency stability in self-sustained oscillators, which has direct implications for applications in timekeeping and sensing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ultrafast photonic micro-systems

A microelectromechanical device for diffracting optical beams comprises a diffractive element suspended over a channel. The diffractive element is configured to receive an optical beam and diffract and/or transmit the optical beam based on an orientation of the diffractive element. At least one torsional actuator is operatively connected to the diffractive element. The at least one torsional actuator is configured to selectively adjust the orientation of the diffractive element. The diffractive element has a diffractive element resonant frequency that is nearly the same as a resonant frequency of the optical beam.

Wang, Jin↗
DOE OSTI2023

Predictive performance of multi-model ensemble forecasts of COVID-19 across European nations

Background: Short-term forecasts of infectious disease burden can contribute to situational awareness and aid capacity planning. Based on best practice in other fields and recent insights in infectious disease epidemiology, one can maximise the predictive performance of such forecasts if multiple models are combined into an ensemble. Here, we report on the performance of ensembles in predicting COVID-19 cases and deaths across Europe between 08 March 2021 and 07 March 2022. Methods: We used open-source tools to develop a public European COVID-19 Forecast Hub. We invited groups globally to contribute weekly forecasts for COVID-19 cases and deaths reported by a standardised source for 32 countries over the next 1–4 weeks. Teams submitted forecasts from March 2021 using standardised quantiles of the predictive distribution. Each week we created an ensemble forecast, where each predictive quantile was calculated as the equally-weighted average (initially the mean and then from 26th July the median) of all individual models’ predictive quantiles. We measured the performance of each model using the relative Weighted Interval Score (WIS), comparing models’ forecast accuracy relative to all other models. We retrospectively explored alternative methods for ensemble forecasts, including weighted averages based on models’ past predictive performance. Results: Over 52 weeks, we collected forecasts from 48 unique models. We evaluated 29 models’ forecast scores in comparison to the ensemble model. We found a weekly ensemble had a consistently strong performance across countries over time. Across all horizons and locations, the ensemble performed better on relative WIS than 83% of participating models’ forecasts of incident cases (with a total N=886 predictions from 23 unique models), and 91% of participating models’ forecasts of deaths (N=763 predictions from 20 models). Across a 1–4 week time horizon, ensemble performance declined with longer forecast periods when forecasting cases, but remained stable over 4 weeks for incident death forecasts. In every forecast across 32 countries, the ensemble outperformed most contributing models when forecasting either cases or deaths, frequently outperforming all of its individual component models. Among several choices of ensemble methods we found that the most influential and best choice was to use a median average of models instead of using the mean, regardless of methods of weighting component forecast models. Conclusions: Our results support the use of combining forecasts from individual models into an ensemble in order to improve predictive performance across epidemiological targets and populations during infectious disease epidemics. Our findings further suggest that median ensemble methods yield better predictive performance more than ones based on means. Our findings also highlight that forecast consumers should place more weight on incident death forecasts than incident case forecasts at forecast horizons greater than 2 weeks. Funding: AA, BH, BL, LWa, MMa, PP, SV funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant 1R01GM109718, NSF BIG DATA Grant IIS-1633028, NSF Grant No.: OAC-1916805, NSF Expeditions in Computing Grant CCF-1918656, CCF-1917819, NSF RAPID CNS-2028004, NSF RAPID OAC-2027541, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 75D30119C05935, a grant from Google, University of Virginia Strategic Investment Fund award number SIF160, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) under Contract No. HDTRA1-19-D-0007, and respectively Virginia Dept of Health Grant VDH-21-501-0141, VDH-21-501-0143, VDH-21-501-0147, VDH-21-501-0145, VDH-21-501-0146, VDH-21-501-0142, VDH-21-501-0148. AF, AMa, GL funded by SMIGE - Modelli statistici inferenziali per governare l'epidemia, FISR 2020-Covid-19 I Fase, FISR2020IP-00156, Codice Progetto: PRJ-0695. AM, BK, FD, FR, JK, JN, JZ, KN, MG, MR, MS, RB funded by Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland with grant 28/WFSN/2021 to the University of Warsaw. BRe, CPe, JLAz funded by Ministerio de Sanidad/ISCIII. BT, PG funded by PERISCOPE European H2020 project, contract number 101016233. CP, DL, EA, MC, SA funded by European Commission - Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology through the contract LC-01485746, and Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades and FEDER, with the project PGC2018-095456-B-I00. DE., MGu funded by Spanish Ministry of Health / REACT-UE (FEDER). DO, GF, IMi, LC funded by Laboratory Directed Research and Development program of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) under project number 20200700ER. DS, ELR, GG, NGR, NW, YW funded by National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (R35GM119582; the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIGMS or the National Institutes of Health). FB, FP funded by InPresa, Lombardy Region, Italy. HG, KS funded by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. IV funded by Agencia de Qualitat i Avaluacio Sanitaries de Catalunya (AQuAS) through contract 2021-021OE. JDe, SMo, VP funded by Netzwerk Universitatsmedizin (NUM) project egePan (01KX2021). JPB, SH, TH funded by Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant 05M18SIA). KH, MSc, YKh funded by Project SaxoCOV, funded by the German Free State of Saxony. Presentation of data, model results and simulations also funded by the NFDI4Health Task Force COVID-19 ( https://www.nfdi4health.de/task-force-covid-19-2 ) within the framework of a DFG-project (LO-342/17-1). LP, VE funded by Mathematical and Statistical modelling project (MUNI/A/1615/2020), Online platform for real-time monitoring, analysis and management of epidemic situations (MUNI/11/02202001/2020); VE also supported by RECETOX research infrastructure (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic: LM2018121), the CETOCOEN EXCELLENCE (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/17-043/0009632), RECETOX RI project (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16-013/0001761). NIB funded by Health Protection Research Unit (grant code NIHR200908). SAb, SF funded by Wellcome Trust (210758/Z/18/Z).

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

A universal metasurface transfer technique for heterogeneous integration

Metasurfaces offer a versatile platform for engineering the wavefront of light using nanostructures with subwavelength dimensions and hold great promise for dramatically miniaturizing conventional optical elements due to their small footprint and broad functionality. However, metasurfaces so far have been mainly demonstrated on bulky and planar substrates that are often orders of magnitude thicker than the metasurface itself. Conventional substrates not only nullify the reduced footprint advantage of metasurfaces, but also limit their application scenarios. The bulk substrate also determines the metasurface dielectric environment, with potentially undesired optical effects that undermine the optical performance. Here we develop a universal polymer-assisted transfer technique to tackle this challenge by decoupling the substrate employed on the fabrication of metasurfaces from that used for the target application. As an example, Huygens’ metasurfaces with 120 nm thickness in the visible range (532 nm) are demonstrated to be transferred onto a 100 nm thick freestanding SiN x membrane while maintaining excellent structural integrity and optical performance of diffraction-limited focusing. This transfer method not only enables the thinnest dielectric metalens to the best of our knowledge, but also opens up new opportunities in integrating cascaded and multilayer metasurfaces, as well as the heterogeneous integration with nonconventional substrates and various electronic/photonic devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Optics-on-a-chip for ultrafast manipulation of 350-MHz hard x-ray pulses

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are miniature devices integrated into a vast range of industrial and consumer applications. Optical MEMS are developed for dynamic spatiotemporal control in lightwave manipulation and communication as modulators, switches, multiplexers, spectrometer, etc. However, they have not been shown to function similarly in sub-nm wavelength regimes, namely, with hard x-rays, as high-brilliance pulsed x-rays have proven powerful for addressing challenges in time-domain science, from energy conversion to neurobiological control. While desirable temporal properties of x-ray pulses can be enhanced by optics, conventional x-ray optics are inherently massive in size, hence, never dynamic. We demonstrate highly ultrafast x-ray optics-on-a-chip based on MEMS capable of modulating hard x-ray pulses exceeding 350 MHz, 10 3 × higher than any other mechanical modulator, with a pulse purity >10 6 without compromising the spectral brilliance. Moreover, the timing characteristics of the devices can be tuned on-the-fly to deliver optimal pulse properties to create a host of dynamic x-ray instruments and applications, impossible with traditional optics of 10 9 × bulkier and more massive. The advent of the ultrafast optics-on-a-chip heralds a new paradigm of x-ray photonics, time-domain science, and accelerator diagnostics, especially at not only the future-generation light sources that offer coherent and high-frequency pulses but also lab-based facilities that normally do not offer timing structures.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Kirigami Engineering—Nanoscale Structures Exhibiting a Range of Controllable 3D Configurations

Abstract Kirigami structures provide a promising approach to transform flat films into 3D complex structures that are difficult to achieve by conventional fabrication approaches. By designing the cutting geometry, it is shown that distinct buckling‐induced out‐of‐plane configurations can be obtained, separated by a sharp transition characterized by a critical geometric dimension of the structures. In situ electron microscopy experiments reveal the effect of the ratio between the in‐plane cut size and film thickness on out‐of‐plane configurations. Moreover, geometrically nonlinear finite element analyses (FEA) accurately predict the out‐of‐plane modes measured experimentally, their transition as a function of cut geometry, and provide the stress–strain response of the kirigami structures. The combined computational–experimental approach and results reported here represent a step forward in the characterization of thin films experiencing buckling‐induced out‐of‐plane shape transformations and provide a path to control 3D configurations of micro‐ and nanoscale buckling‐induced kirigami structures. The out‐of‐plane configurations promise great utility in the creation of micro‐ and nanoscale systems that can harness such structural behavior, such as optical scanning micromirrors, novel actuators, and nanorobotics. This work is of particular significance as the kirigami dimensions approach the sub‐micrometer scale which is challenging to achieve with conventional micro‐electromechanical system technologies.

Zhang, Xu↗
DOE OSTI2020

A micromirror array with annular partitioning for high-speed random-access axial focusing

Dynamic axial focusing functionality has recently experienced widespread incorporation in microscopy, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), adaptive optics and material processing. However, the limitations of existing varifocal tools continue to beset the performance capabilities and operating overhead of the optical systems that mobilize such functionality. The varifocal tools that are the least burdensome to operate (e.g. liquid crystal, elastomeric or optofluidic lenses) suffer from low (≈100 Hz) refresh rates. Conversely, the fastest devices sacrifice either critical capabilities such as their dwelling capacity (e.g. acoustic gradient lenses or monolithic micromechanical mirrors) or low operating overhead (e.g. deformable mirrors). Here, we present a general-purpose random-access axial focusing device that bridges these previously conflicting features of high speed, dwelling capacity and lightweight drive by employing low-rigidity micromirrors that exploit the robustness of defocusing phase profiles. Geometrically, the device consists of an 8.2 mm diameter array of piston-motion and 48-μm-pitch micromirror pixels that provide 2π phase shifting for wavelengths shorter than 1100 nm with 10–90% settling in 64.8 μs (i.e., 15.44 kHz refresh rate). The pixels are electrically partitioned into 32 rings for a driving scheme that enables phase-wrapped operation with circular symmetry and requires <30 V per channel. Optical experiments demonstrated the array’s wide focusing range with a measured ability to target 29 distinct resolvable depth planes. Overall, the features of the proposed array offer the potential for compact, straightforward methods of tackling bottlenecked applications, including high-throughput single-cell targeting in neurobiology and the delivery of dense 3D visual information in AR/VR.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ultrathin, polarization-independent, achromatic metalens for focusing visible light

An optical device includes a titanium dioxide substrate layer on a quartz base of a substrate. The substrate is configured to focus light in visible wavelength spectrum of 400 nm to 700 nm. The substrate comprises a first zone and a second zone. In some embodiments, the first zone and the second zone are concentric circles. A plurality of resonators are disposed on the substrate, the plurality of resonators comprising a first plurality corresponding to the first zone and a second plurality corresponding to the second zone. Each resonator is comprised of a dielectric material with a defined thickness “t” in the range of 30 nm to 300 nm. Each resonator has a radius “r” in the range of 30 nm to 300 nm and a gap “g” between adjacent resonators in the range of 5 nm to 200 nm. The first plurality of resonators in the first zone have a first radius within a first radius range that is different from a second radius range of the second plurality of resonators in the second zone. The plurality of resonators form a metasurface that defines at least in part an ultra-thin achromatic lens of the optical device.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2020

Chapter 5: Food Security

The current food system (production, transport, processing, packaging, storage, retail, consumption, loss and waste) feeds the great majority of world population and supports the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Since 1961, food supply per capita has increased more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of nitrogen fertilisers (increase of about 800%) and water resources for irrigation (increase of more than 100%). However, an estimated 821 million people are currently undernourished, 151 million children under five are stunted, 613 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 suffer from iron deficiency, and 2 billion adults are overweight or obese. The food system is under pressure from non-climate stressors (e.g., population and income growth, demand for animal-sourced products), and from climate change. These climate and non-climate stresses are impacting the four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability).

Mbow, Cheikh↗
DOE OSTI2019

Ultra-flat optical device with high transmission efficiency

An optical device includes a nanostructured transparent dielectric film, which is a Huygens metasurface. The Huygens metasurface imparts a phase change to light propagating through or reflecting from the surface. The phase change can be achieved by means of a resonant interaction between light and the Huygens resonators, resulting in a controllable phase change of 0 to 2π with approximately 100% light transmission characterized by a below 0.1 dielectric loss tangent of delta and with the height of the resonators less than the wavelength of light. In one embodiment, the metasurface includes titanium dioxide, but many materials or stacks of different materials may be used. The optical device is functional throughout the visible spectrum between 380 and 700 nm. The nanostructured transparent dielectric film includes a plurality of Huygens resonators. The phase and the amplitude of the nanostructured transparent dielectric film are modulated by arranging the plurality of Huygens resonators such that certain properties, including the radius and height of each Huygens resonator, as well as the gap between two adjacent Huygens resonators, are controlled to optimize the performance of the optical device within the visible spectrum.

Czaplewski, David A.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nonlinear Mode Coupling and One-to-One Internal Resonances in a Monolayer WS 2 Nanoresonator

Nanomechanical resonators make exquisite force sensors due to their small footprint, low dissipation, and high frequencies. Because the lowest resolvable force is limited by ambient thermal noise, resonators are either operated at cryogenic temperatures or coupled to a high-finesse optical or microwave cavity to reach sub aN Hz -1/2 . sensitivity. Here, we show that operating a monolayer WS 2 nanoresonator in the strongly nonlinear regime can lead to comparable force sensitivities at room temperature. Cavity interferometry was used to transduce the nonlinear response of the nanoresonator, which was characterized by multiple pairs of 1:1 internal resonance. Some of the modes exhibited exotic line shapes due to the appearance of Hopf bifurcations, where the bifurcation frequency varied linearly with the driving force and forms the basis of the advanced sensing modality. The modality is less sensitive to the measurement bandwidth, limited only by the intrinsic frequency fluctuations, and therefore, advantageous in the detection of weak incoherent forces.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Bifurcation Generated Mechanical Frequency Comb

Here, we demonstrate a novel response of a nonlinear micromechanical resonator when operated in a region of strong, nonlinear mode coupling. The system is excited with a single drive signal and its response is characterized by periodic amplitude modulations that occur at timescales based on system parameters. The periodic amplitude modulations of the resonator are a consequence of nonlinear mode coupling and are responsible for the emergence of a “frequency-comb” regime in the spectral response. By considering a generic model for a 1:3 internal resonance, we demonstrate that the novel behavior results from a saddle node on an invariant circle (SNIC) bifurcation. The ability to control the operating parameters of the micromechanical structures reported here makes the simple micromechanical resonator an ideal test bed to study the dynamic response of SNIC behavior demonstrated in mechanical, optical, and biological systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Direct observation of coherent energy transfer in nonlinear micromechanical oscillators

Energy dissipation is an unavoidable phenomenon of physical systems that are directly coupled to an external environmental bath. In an oscillatory system, it leads to the decay of the oscillation amplitude. In situations where stable oscillations are required, the energy dissipated by the vibrations is usually compensated by replenishment from external energy sources. Consequently, if the external energy supply is removed, the amplitude of oscillations start to decay immediately, since there is no means to restitute the energy dissipated. Here, we demonstrate a novel dissipation engineering strategy that can support stable oscillations without supplying external energy to compensate losses. The fundamental intrinsic mechanism of resonant mode coupling is used to redistribute and store mechanical energy among vibrational modes and coherently transfer it back to the principal mode when the external excitation is off. To experimentally demonstrate this phenomenon, we exploit the nonlinear dynamic response of microelectromechanical oscillators to couple two different vibrational modes through an internal resonance.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

The in vivo structure of biological membranes and evidence for lipid domains

Examining the fundamental structure and processes of living cells at the nanoscale poses a unique analytical challenge, as cells are dynamic, chemically diverse, and fragile. A case in point is the cell membrane, which is too small to be seen directly with optical microscopy and provides little observational contrast for other methods. As a consequence, nanoscale characterization of the membrane has been performed ex vivo or in the presence of exogenous labels used to enhance contrast and impart specificity. Here, we introduce an isotopic labeling strategy in the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis to investigate the nanoscale structure and organization of its plasma membrane in vivo. Through genetic and chemical manipulation of the organism, we labeled the cell and its membrane independently with specific amounts of hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D). These isotopes have different neutron scattering properties without altering the chemical composition of the cells. From neutron scattering spectra, we confirmed that the B. subtilis cell membrane is lamellar and determined that its average hydrophobic thickness is 24.3 ± 0.9 Ångstroms (Å). Furthermore, by creating neutron contrast within the plane of the membrane using a mixture of H- and D-fatty acids, we detected lateral features smaller than 40 nm that are consistent with the notion of lipid rafts. These experiments—performed under biologically relevant conditions—answer long-standing questions in membrane biology and illustrate a fundamentally new approach for systematic in vivo investigations of cell membrane structure.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) manipulators for control of nanoparticle coupling interactions

A nanopositioning system for producing a coupling interaction between a first nanoparticle and a second nanoparticle. A first MEMS positioning assembly includes an electrostatic comb drive actuator configured to selectively displace a first nanoparticle in a first dimension and an electrode configured to selectively displace the first nanoparticle in a second dimensions. Accordingly, the first nanoparticle may be selectively positioned in two dimensions to modulate the distance between the first nanoparticle and a second nanoparticle that may be coupled to a second MEMS positioning assembly. Modulating the distance between the first and second nanoparticles obtains a coupling interaction between the nanoparticles that alters at least one material property of the nanoparticles applicable to a variety of sensing and control applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses using MEMS-based X-ray optics

A method and apparatus are provided for implementing Bragg-diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses using MicroElectroMechanical systems (MEMS) based diffractive optics. An oscillating crystalline MEMS device generates a controllable time-window for diffraction of the incident X-ray radiation. The Bragg-diffraction leveraged modulation of X-ray pulses includes isolating a particular pulse, spatially separating individual pulses, and spreading a single pulse from an X-ray pulse-train.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

The Immunogenicity of Peptoid-Protein Conjugates

We demonstrate that a peptoid composed of five monomers and attached via a maleimide linker to a carrier protein elicits anti-peptoid, anti-linker and anti-carrier antibodies in rabbits. Specific antipeptoid antibodies were affinity purified and used to reproducibly retrieve three specific peptoid-coupled beads from 20,000 irrelevant peptoid-beads using magnetic screening.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗