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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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30 records · Page 2

Reflective Fiber Temperature Probe Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance towards Low-Cost and Wireless Interrogation

Reflection fiber temperature sensors functionalized with plasmonic nanocomposite material using intensity-based modulation are demonstrated for the first time. Characteristic temperature optical response of the reflective fiber sensor is experimentally tested using Au-incorporated nanocomposite thin films deposited on the fiber tip, and theoretically validated using a thin-film-optic-based optical waveguide model. By optimizing the Au concentration in a dielectric matrix, Au nanoparticles (NP) exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption band in a visible wavelength that shows a temperature sensitivity ~0.025%/°C as a result of electron–electron and electron–phonon scattering of Au NP and the surrounding matrix. Detailed optical material properties of the on-fiber sensor film are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused-ion beam (FIB)-assisted transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Airy’s expression of transmission and reflection using complex optical constants of layered media is used to model the reflective optical waveguide. A low-cost wireless interrogator based on a photodiode transimpedance-amplifier (TIA) circuit with a low-pass filter is designed to integrate with the sensor. The converted analog voltage is wirelessly transmitted via 2.4 GHz Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocols. Feasibility is demonstrated for portable, remotely interrogated next-generation fiber optic temperature sensors with future capability for monitoring additional parameters of interest.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Miniaturized Millimeter-Wave Multilayer Filter Design Using Additive Manufacturing

Here, this article presents an innovative, fully additive manufactured approach to millimeter-wave multilayer circuits. An aerosol jet printer is used to fabricate a multilayer stepped-impedance low-pass filter. By leveraging the second layer for miniaturization, we achieve a more compact design. By precisely controlling conductor separation and utilizing 3-D printing technology, we were able to optimize the width of the high- and low-impedance segments for optimal filter performance. Two filter types were successfully fabricated: a low-pass microstrip filter and a low-pass stripline filter, both with a cutoff frequency near 29 GHz and exhibiting acceptable stopband attenuation. The stripline configuration allows for a 36% decrease in the stripline waveguide conductor area while achieving a great passband insertion loss of just 0.62 dB, enabled by aerosol jet printing (AJP). The line loss of both designs was characterized using a microstrip through line and a stripline through line. Both designs demonstrated low overall loss, with the microstrip line exhibiting a loss of 0.26 dB/mm and the stripline having a loss of 0.37 dB/mm at 29 GHz. This work demonstrates a multilayer integration solution and offers an advantage in reducing the size of RF circuits such as filter banks for next-generation integrated RF front ends.

additive manufacturing↗

On-Chip Single-Layer Integration of Diamond Spins with Microwave and Plasmonic Channels

On-chip scalable integration represents a major challenge for practical quantum devices. One particular challenge is to implement on-chip optical readout of spins in diamond. This readout requires simultaneous application of optical and microwave fields along with the efficient collection of fluorescence. These requirements are typically met using bulk optical components and dedicated microwave lines. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an on-chip integrated interface for diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) spin-state preparation and readout, implemented in a planar single layer with only one patterning step. A nanodiamond with NV centers is positioned inside a v-groove waveguide milled in a thick gold film. The gold film carries the microwave control signal, while the v-groove acts as a fluorescence collector and, potentially, as an integrated pump filter. Hence, the device dimensions and fabrication complexity are substantially reduced. Our approach fosters further development of ultracompact nanoscale quantum sensors and quantum information processing devices on a monolithic platform.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Bound States in the Continuum on a Silicon Chip with Dynamic Tuning

Expanding bound states in the continuum (BIC) beyond photonic crystal systems may enable broader applications benefiting from the unique properties of BIC states. We use photonic integrated circuit to realize a Fabry-Pérot BIC on a silicon chip. The devices consist of cascaded ring resonators with tunable resonance frequencies and phase delays. As a result, the BIC state is dynamically tuned with electrical I/O. We analyze the mechanism of the formation of BIC states in this waveguide system and point out the fundamental differences between the BIC states and electromagnetically induced transparency states in integrated photonics. The high transmission protected by the BIC state enables versatile optical filters, which are capable of independent control over switching, peak position, and quality factor. We also demonstrate the scalability of this platform. As a result, this integrated silicon photonic platform brings opportunities for practical BIC applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Narrowband microwave-photonic notch filters using Brillouin-based signal transduction in silicon

Abstract The growing demand for bandwidth makes photonic systems a leading candidate for future telecommunication and radar technologies. Integrated photonic systems offer ultra-wideband performance within a small footprint, which can naturally interface with fiber-optic networks for signal transmission. However, it remains challenging to realize narrowband (∼MHz) filters needed for high-performance communications systems using integrated photonics. In this paper, we demonstrate all-silicon microwave-photonic notch filters with 50× higher spectral resolution than previously realized in silicon photonics. This enhanced performance is achieved by utilizing optomechanical interactions to access long-lived phonons, greatly extending available coherence times in silicon. We use a multi-port Brillouin-based optomechanical system to demonstrate ultra-narrowband (2.7 MHz) notch filters with high rejection (57 dB) and frequency tunability over a wide spectral band (6 GHz) within a microwave-photonic link. We accomplish this with an all-silicon waveguide system, using CMOS-compatible fabrication techniques.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

CMOS-fabricated ultraviolet light modulator using low-loss alumina piezo-optomechanical photonics

Ultra-violet (UV) and near-UV wavelengths are necessary for many important optical transitions for quantum technologies and various sensing mechanisms for biological and chemical detection. However, all well-known photonic platforms have excessively high losses in the UV, which has prevented photonic integrated circuits (PICs) being used to address these and other important application spaces. Photonic waveguides using low-loss alumina cores and silicon dioxide cladding have emerged as a promising solution because of alumina’s large optical bandgap and the high quality of films enabled by atomic layer deposition. These properties allow passive, low-loss waveguide operation down to at least 266 nm using multimode widths. However, to the best of our knowledge, active alumina PICs have only been realized using thermo-optic tuning, which precludes switching speeds shorter than approximately 100 microseconds, high circuit densities, and cryogenically compatible operation. Here, we introduce a CMOS-fabricated, piezo-optomechanical PIC platform using alumina waveguides and piezoelectric aluminum nitride strain actuators. The platform allows for sub-microsecond switching times, high circuit densities, and cryogenic operation which is desired in many UV PIC applications. We demonstrate a high-performance, reconfigurable optical filter operating at wavelengths as low as 320 nm. The filter has a 6-nanosecond switching time, a loaded linewidth of 3.3 GHz, tuning rate of 28 V/linewidth, and a hold power of less than 20 nW at one linewidth detuning. This work establishes the foundations for a new class of CMOS-fabricated, rapidly reconfigurable, and low-power UV photonic circuits compatible with wavelengths as low as 225 nm.

Castillo, Zachary A. [Sandia National Laboratories↗

Wavelength selective filtering with non-radial array of microstructure elements

A non-radial array of microstructure elements provides enhanced wavelength selective filtering. The elements are arranged along a line that does not intersect the center of the core. In this configuration, the first coupling element in an array that is nearest to the core is a non-integer array unit spacing from the main waveguide where the array unit spacing is defined as the flat to flat distance of a hexagonal cell.

Kiani, Leily S.↗

Luminescent Solar Concentrator Tandem-on-Silicon with above 700mV Passivated Contact Silicon Bottom Cell

Luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) tandem-on-silicon (Si) provides a route towards achieving higher than 30% overall efficiency which can overcome the theoretical efficiency limit of a single junction Si cell. Here, we present optical coupling and performance of high Voc passivated contact Si bottom cell for LSC tandem-on-Si where the top module consists of highly efficient luminophores and an array of micro InGaP cells embedded in a poly (lauryl methacrylate) waveguide. In this device configuration, InGaP cell area coverage is only ~0.5% of the total LSC area which significantly reduces the high cost III-V material usage. The performance of Si sub-cell is investigated under LSC spectrum and is compared against the measurement done under 1 um thick InGaP filter which mimics the spectrum seen by Si bottom cell in a conventional III-V/Si tandem. V oc of greater than 700 mV has been observed for the passivated contact Si bottom cell in these tandem applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Engineering the beat phenomenon of quasi-Rayleigh waves for regions with minimal Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) amplitude

Surface Acoustic Waves (SAW) are prevalent in a variety of scientific fields. Typically, the ability to manipulate these surface waves has a significant impact on the efficacy of any SAW-based device. In this paper, we present a simple method for designing localized regions that have minimal SAW amplitude. These localized regions have valley-like drops in SAW amplitude and are achieved by using the spatial beat phenomenon of quasi-Rayleigh waves. Controlling the beat phenomenon allows us to manipulate where and how these localized regions appear in the waveguide. In particular, the localized regions can be designed to have variable widths and can be positioned consecutively due to minimal wave scattering. The design methodology and physics are described in detail, and several supplementary simulations are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method. Finally, we briefly discuss how the proposed approach could potentially be exploited to implement a localized high-pass filter and enables SAW wave propagation that avoids surface obstacles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Lithium-niobate-on-insulator waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

Here, we demonstrate waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors on thin-film lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 , LN). Using a 250 μm-long NbN superconducting nanowire lithographically defined on top of a 125 μm-long LN nanowaveguide, an on-chip detection efficiency of 46% is realized with simultaneous high performance in dark count rates and timing jitter. As LN possesses high χ (2) second-order nonlinear and electro-optic properties, an efficient single-photon detector on thin-film LN opens up the possibility to construct a small-scale fully integrated quantum photonic chip, which includes single-photon sources, filters, tunable quantum gates, and detectors.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Observation of a THz-sub-THz spontaneous coherent undulator radiation driven by a low energy electron beam from a thermionic RF electron gun

In this work, we report observations of an intense, multi-band, sub-THz and THz radiation extracted from a similar to 2-3 MeV electron beam with a flat transverse profile propagating in an oversized rectangular waveguide placed into a 3.25 mm gap of a planar undulator having 1.3 cm period and similar to 20 cm length. Radiation outcoupling is accomplished using a horn antenna and a miniature permanent in-vacuum magnet separating the mm-sub-mm-waves and electron beam. A table-top experiment utilizes a radio frequency thermionic electron gun delivering a thousand momentum-chirped microbunches per macropulse and an alpha-magnet producing microbunches of a sub-mm length. Total radiated energy of a sub-millijoule per a microsecond radio frequency macropulse is demonstrated with flux more than ten micro-Joules per centimeter squared. With 1 THz filter the energy measured is about 1 microjoule and flux of a few micro-Joules per centimeter squared.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A New Plasma Radar Concept for Simultaneous Magnetic and Density Measurements

An innovative, compact 288GHz interferometer has been fabricated, tested, installed and successfully demonstrated on the LAPD-U magnetized plasma at UCLA. The system takes advantage of frequency modulated (FM) radar techniques to deliver a compact heterodyne system. In addition, the reflected power from the source is taken advantage of to eliminate the need for additional quasi-optical components. Electron density in LAPD-U plasma has recently been increased substantially thereby requiring a higher frequency/shorter wavelength interferometer to avoid deleterious refractive effects. This system satisfies those needs. The system uses a 96GHz varactor tuned Gunn oscillator which passes to a passive tripler. This tripler has ~3% conversion efficiency. The 288GHz radiation is then coupled to free space using a so-called dual-mode or Pickett horn. The output 288GHz beam is then coupled to an aspheric lens manufactured from low-loss, high-density polyethylene. This lens is employed to collimate the emerging beam. Small axial adjustment of the lens position can also be used to create a slowly focusing beam so as to optimize the measured signal. In addition, up-down or side-to-side adjustment of the lens can be utilized to steer the beam vertically or horizontally – again to optimize alignment. The propagating beam passes through a beam splitter and then through a water-free, bubble-free fused quartz window into the LAPD-U vacuum vessel. The beam-splitter is a thin sheet of G10 which reflects a small fraction of the incident power (~5 %) towards a zero-bias detector optimized for the frequency range from 220 to 300GHz. Note that waveguides at this frequency have dimensions of ~0.9mm x 0.45mm and so have very large conductive losses. This drives the use of quasi-optical propagation. The detector requires no DC bias and is very responsive (> 1V/mW into 1MΩ). Radiation is coupled to the detector via a similar lens-horn arrangement used for the launch. This reflected beam acts as the local oscillator or reference millimeter-wave beam for the detector. The remainder of the launched source beam then enters the LAPD-U vacuum vessel and passes through the plasma at the mid-plane until reaching the opposing port which is closed off with an aluminum flange. This flange is used as a mirror to retroreflect the incident 288GHz beam back along its path. The retroreflected beam exits the input port but does NOT couple directly into the zero-bias detector. Instead, the majority of the return power continues towards the 288GHz source. As mentioned above the transmitted beam enters the source a second time. This would appear undesirable. However, at these frequencies multipliers are highly non-linear elements which results in a significant portion of the return beam (~20%) re-emerging from the multiplier and horn and then coupling via the G10 beam-splitter to the zero-bias detector. This approach eliminated the need for a second quasi-optical beam-splitter. The system is extremely compact measuring approximately 28 inches x 20 inches. The above did not explain how heterodyne operation was achieved. As mentioned above the Gunn oscillator is able to be varactor tuned. This allows a low voltage to be applied to control the operating frequency of the Gunn oscillator. During heterodyne operation a sawtooth shaped voltage is applied to the varactor at 750kHz using an 80MHz Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG). This voltage changes the Gunn frequency linearly during the up-sweep which is then reset abruptly at the sawtooth crash to be immediately followed by another linear sweep. Passage through the 288GHz multiplier triples the frequency change experienced by the electromagnetic wave. These frequency changes are small – tens of megahertz. This FM radar approach results in the launched electromagnetic wave frequencies at the detector for the reference and plasma wave to be different. The approximately 10 ns delay propagation delay for the plasma beam results in the local oscillator and plasma beams NOT having an identical frequency – there is in fact a fixed difference frequency. The frequency tuning level of the Gunn oscillator is then adjusted so that there is ONE cycle of this difference frequency during each linear ramp. During the sawtooth crash or downward re-sweep this one cycle replays in reverse but on a very fast timescale. The process then repeats. Low-pass filtering eliminates the fast re-sweep to leave a pure sine wave heterodyne signal. When the plasma is present it introduces a phase delay in the sine wave (caused by the extremely small Doppler shift resulting from the optical path length change). Of course, to measure this phase change we need a reference. This is simply obtained from an arbitrary waveform generator which provides a synchronized output pulse train which again is low pass filtered to obtain a 750kHz sinusoidal voltage reference for the interferometer. The interferometer was installed on LAPD-U where it has worked reliably and has established that electron densities exceeding 1x10 13 cm -3 are routinely achieved. In addition, the system sensitivity was able to easily observe density fluctuation at frequencies up to 50kHz. FM Radar techniques have enabled a full demonstration of a compact, sensitive, high frequency (288GHz/1mm) heterodyne interferometer.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗