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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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At least 55 records · Page 3

Computational optical physical unclonable function

A system or method for encryption of data includes a light source, a random optical element and a light detection element. The light source is arranged to transmit an input data signal to the random optical element. The light source is incident on the random optical element such that the input data signal is randomly scattered by the random optical element to generate an image at on the detector disposed at an output of the random optical element. The image received by the detector is applied to a compressive sensing algorithm to generate a transfer function. The transfer function defines a relationship between the input data signal and the image to enable estimation and reconstruction of the input data signal.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Computational optical physical unclonable function

A system or method for encryption of data includes a light source, a random optical element and a light detection element. The light source is arranged to transmit an input data signal to the random optical element. The light source is incident on the random optical element such that the input data signal is randomly scattered by the random optical element to generate an image at on the detector disposed at an output of the random optical element. The image received by the detector is applied to a compressive sensing algorithm to generate a transfer function. The transfer function defines a relationship between the input data signal and the image to enable estimation and reconstruction of the input data signal.

Birch, Gabriel Carlisle↗

Systems and methods for optical physical unclonable parameters

An article of manufacture includes a substrate and a security primitive deposited on the substrate. The security primitive includes a transition metal dichalcogenide having a varying thickness. According to various embodiments, the transition metal dichalcogenide comprises a chalcogen atom (X) selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te and a transition metal (M) selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Hf, and Zr. The security primitive is pixelated into a plurality of discrete regions having different luminescence. A security primitive key includes a first set of data values corresponding to a first set of coordinates of a first region and a second set of data values corresponding to a second set of coordinates of a second region. In some embodiments, the security primitive key is digitally captured through an optical reader and verified by querying a database.

Shahrjerdi, Davood↗

Erbium-doped borosilicate glasses containing various amounts of P{sub 2}O{sub 5} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}: Influence of the silica content on the structure and thermal, physical, optical and luminescence properties

Highlights: • Er{sup 3+} doped borosilicate glasses were processed with different compositions and characterizations. • An increase in the SiO{sub 2} content leads to a silicate-rich environment around the Er{sup 3+} site. • An increase in the SiO{sub 2} content decreases the Er{sup 3+} absorption cross-section at 980 nm. • Glasses with 60 mol% of SiO{sub 2} exhibit a stronger emission intensity at 1530 nm than glasses with x = 50. • Highest 1.5 μm emission intensity was achieved for the Al and P containing glass with 60 mol% of SiO{sub 2}. - Abstract: The influence of the silica content on several properties of Er-doped borosilicate glasses in the presence of various amounts of P{sub 2}O{sub 5} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} has been investigated. The introduction of P{sub 2}O{sub 5} and/or Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} are responsible for structural modifications in the glass network through a charge-compensation mechanism related to the formation of negatively-charged PO{sub 4} and AlO{sub 4} groups or through the formation of AlPO{sub 4}-like structural units. In this paper, we show that an increase in the SiO{sub 2} content leads to a silicate-rich environment around the Er{sup 3+} site, resulting in an increased dependence of the Er{sup 3+} ions optical and luminescence properties on the P{sub 2}O{sub 5} and/or Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} concentration. The highest emission intensity at 1.5 μm was achieved for the glass with an equal proportion of P and Al in the glass system with 60 mol% of SiO{sub 2}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Manipulating Quantum Systems: An Assessment of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics in the United States

The AMO2020 decadal report took a forward-looking perspective on how the different elements that constitute AMO science provide a broad interdisciplinary driver for capitalizing on future opportunities in the scientific community. Goals for this project were to produce a report that (1) displays AMO science as a vital field that relates and unifies broad scientific endeavors; (2) discusses how AMO is supplying these and other fields with emerging technologies and fulfilling national needs; (3) identifies new opportunities, compelling scientific questions, and themes that have arisen from recent advances and accomplishments in the AMO field; (4) explains how AMO science meets workforce, educational, and other societal needs; and (5)makes recommendations for a strategy to fully realize the potential at the frontiers of AMO science. The study also compared the trajectory of AMO science in the US in the context of the international community of AMO science, in terms of cooperation, collaboration, and competition. The study resulted in a report composed in a style accessible to the non-scientist reader in order to understand how AMO science will lead the way in these fields and what AMO researchers want to learn in the coming decades and why.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Laboratory measurements of selected optical, physical, chemical, and remote-sensing properties of five water mixtures containing Calvert clay and a nonfluorescing dye

Total suspended solids concentrations ranged from 6.1 ppm to 24.3 ppm and sizes ranged between 1.5 micrometers and 10 micrometers with the most frequently occurring size less than 2 micrometers. Iron concentration was less than 1 percent of the total suspended solids. Nonfluorescing dye concentrations of the two mixtures were 20 ppm and 40 ppm. Attenuation coefficient for the five mixtures ranged from 4.8/m to 21.3/m. Variations in volume scattering function with phase angle were typical. Variations in attenuation and absorption coefficient with wavelength were similar for the mixtures without the dye. Attenuation coefficient of the mixtures with the dye increased for wavelengths less than 600 nm due to the dye's strong absorption peak near 500 nm. Reflectance increased as the concentration of Calvert clay increased and peaked near 600 nm. The nonfluorescent dye decreased the magnitude of the peak, but had practically no effect on the variation for wavelengths greater than 640 nm. At wavelengths less than 600 nm, the spectral variations of the mixtures with the dye were significantly different from those mixtures without the dye.

Usry, J. W.↗

Mineralogical, optical, geochemical, and particle size properties of four sediment samples for optical physics research

X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy were used to investigate the mineralogical and chemical properties of the Calvert, Ball Old Mine, Ball Martin, and Jordan Sediments. The particle size distribution and index of refraction of each sample were determined. The samples are composed primarily of quartz, kaolinite, and illite. The clay minerals are most abundant in the finer particle size fractions. The chemical properties of the four samples are similar. The Calvert sample is most notably different in that it contains a relatively high amount of iron. The dominant particle size fraction in each sample is silt, with lesser amounts of clay and sand. The indices of refraction of the sediments are the same with the exception of the Calvert sample which has a slightly higher value.

Bice, K.↗

Physical optics analysis of a 4-reflector antenna, part 2

The results of a rigorous analysis of the Deep Space Network (DSN) 70-m antenna S-band (2.295-GHz) RF performance are presented. Previous estimation of 1.6 dB S-band gain improvement of the 70-m antenna over the 64-m antenna has been revised to 1.5 dB by this analysis. The S-band right circularly polarized (RCP) beam position offset relative to X-band (8.45-GHz) beam position is predicted to be 0.0045 deg. (0.04 beamwidth). The effective S-band gain loss resulting from non-coincidence with the X-band is predicted to be 0.02 dB. Therefore, this is no longer a concern for the 64-m to 70-m upgrade project.

Cha, A. G.↗

Physical optics for oven-plate scattering prediction

An oven assembly design is described, which will be used to determine the effects of temperature on the electrical properties of materials which are used as coatings for metal plates. Experimentally, these plates will be heated to a very high temperature in the oven assembly, and measured using a microwave reflectance measurement system developed for the NASA Lewis Research Center, Near-Field Facility. One unknown in this measurement is the effect that the oven assembly will have on the reflectance properties of the plate. Since the oven will be much larger than the plate, the effect could potentially be significant as the size of the plate becomes smaller. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the effect of the oven on the measurement of the plate. A method for predicting the oven effect is described, and the theoretical oven effect is compared to experimental results of the oven material. The computer code which is used to predict the oven effect is also described.

Baldauf, J.↗

Research Center for Optical Physics: Education and Technology for the 21st Century

During the past eleven years since its inception, RCOP has excelled in its two primary goals: 1) training of the scientists and engineers needed for the twenty-first century with special emphasis on underrepresented citizens and 2) research and technological development in areas of relevance to NASA. In the category of research training, as of May 2003, RCOP produced 36 Bachelors degrees, 25 Masters degrees, and 13 Doctoral degrees. Of these, all 36 Bachelors degrees, 16 of the Masters degrees and 9 of the Doctoral degrees were awarded to African Americans. Four of the Doctoral graduates and one of the Masters graduates are working at NASA Field Centers. RCOP has also provided research experiences to 130 undergraduate students and 22 high school students through a number of outreach programs held during the summer and the academic year. RCOP has also been crucial to the development of the Ph.D. program in physics at Hampton University by providing high quality research training and technical electives required for a Doctoral degree in physics. RCOP has also excelled in research and technological development. Since 1992, RCOP researchers have leveraged over 8 million dollars in additional research funding, published 152 papers in refereed journals and proceedings, and given 125 presentations at refereed international conferences in the United States and eight other countries. RCOP also developed numerous collaborations with other research centers, universities and industries. In recognition of this outstanding work, RCOP is the first research center in the United States invited to join the Joint Open Laboratory for Laser Crystals and Precise Laser Systems headed by Dr. Alexander Kaminiskii of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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A Simple Physical Optics Algorithm Perfect for Parallel Computing Architecture

A reflector antenna computer program based upon a simple discreet approximation of the radiation integral has proven to be extremely easy to adapt to the parallel computing architecture of the modest number of large-gain computing elements such as are used in the Intel iPSC and Touchstone Delta parallel machines.

reflector antenna Intel iPSC Touchstone Delta↗

Quantum optics. Gravity meets quantum physics

Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity is a classical formulation but a quantum mechanical description of gravitational forces is needed, not only to investigate the coupling of classical and quantum systems but simply to give a more complete description of our physical surroundings. In this issue of Nature Photonics, Wen-Te Liao and Sven Ahrens reveal a link between quantum and gravitational physics. They propose that in the quantum-optical effect of superradiance, the world line of electromagnetic radiation is changed by the presence of a gravitational field.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Electromagnetic backscattering by corner reflectors

The Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (GTD), which supplements Geometric Optics (GO), and the Physical Theory of Diffraction (PTD), which supplements Physical Optics (PO), are used to predict the backscatter cross sections of dihedral corner reflectors which have right, obtuse, or acute included angles. These theories allow individual backscattering mechanisms of the dihedral corner reflectors to be identified and provide good agreement with experimental results in the azimuthal plane. The advantages and disadvantages of the geometrical and physical theories are discussed in terms of their accuracy, usefulness, and complexity. Numerous comparisons of analytical results with experimental data are presented. While physical optics alone is more accurate and more useful than geometrical optics alone, the combination of geometrical optics and geometrical diffraction seems to out perform physical optics and physical diffraction when compared with experimental data, especially for acute angle dihedral corner reflectors.

Balanis, C. A.↗

Bio-optical and physical variability in the subarctic North Atlantic Ocean during the spring of 1989

A unique set of physical, bio-optical, and meteorological observations were made from a mooring located in the open ocean south of Iceland (59 deg 29.5 min N, 20 deg 49.8 min W) from April 13 to June 12 1989. The present measurements are apparently the first to resolve the rapid transition to springtime physical and biological conditions at such a high latitude site. Our data were collected with bio-optical and physical moored systems every few minutes. The abrupt onset of springtime stratification was observed with the mixed layer shoaling from approximately 550 m to approximately 50 m in approximately 5 days. During this period a major phytoplankton bloom occurred with a tenfold increase in near-surface chlorophyll concentration in less than 3 weeks. Our statistical analysis indicates that the velocity shear in the upper layer is driven primarily by local wind stress. Mesoscale variability is also apparent from these and concurrent airborne oceangraphic lidar observations. Our complementary modeling results suggest that the near-surface layer may be reasonably well described by a one-dimensional model and that the spring bloom was initiated during incipient near-surface restratification.

Dickey, T.↗

Optical-based spectroscopic methods for measuring chemical, optical, and physical properties of thin polymer waveguide films

Non-destructive optical-based spectroscopic methods are needed for analyzing “real world” devices that consist of thin polymer waveguide films. Many applications (e.g., sensors, microelectronics, optics, and biomedical applications, etc.) utilize thin polymer waveguide films, and non-destructive characterization methods based on Fourier transform (FT)-plasmon waveguide spectroscopy (PWR) and scanning angle (SA) Raman spectroscopy are used to extract optical, physical, and chemical properties simultaneously. The FT-PWR method measures reflected light at polymer waveguide interface as both the incident frequency (wavelength) and incident angle are scanned. This method uses p- and s-polarized light to simultaneously extract the polymer waveguide thickness and apparent anisotropic indices of refraction. Polystyrene waveguide films ranging from 360 to 800 nm are used to demonstrate the method and it has an average 0.4% relative error when compared to profilometry and atomic force microscopy measurements. SA Raman spectroscopy is used to measure mixed waveguide polymer films consisting of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) and homopolymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA:PMMA), and poly(2-vinylnapthalene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (P2VN-b-PMMA). PMMA homopolymer is added to the PS-b-PMMA solutions to vary the chemical composition. The chemical composition of each mixed film is quantified (SA Raman peak amplitude ratios) and averaged over all incident angles and is termed the Raman amplitude ratio (rps). This parameter is used to calculate the refractive index of each mixed waveguide polymer film. The refractive index is an input parameter for sum square electric field (SSEF) calculations, which are used to model SA Raman spectra as a function of incident angle to extract the film thickness. The mixed polymer waveguide film thicknesses ranged from 495 to 971 nm, and the SA Raman spectroscopy method has an average 5% difference between the values determined by profilometry. The SA Raman spectroscopy method developed for mixed polymer waveguide films is used to measure the chemical composition and extract interface locations in bilayer and trilayer films consisting of PMMA/PS or PMMA/PS/PMMA, respectively. The rps value is averaged over angle ranges corresponding to waveguide mode 0 and waveguide mode 1 for the bilayer and trilayer films, respectively. Six multilayer films are analyzed and their total thicknesses range from 330 to 1260 nm. Iterative SSEF calculations are used to model the SA Raman spectra as a function of incident angle, and the best fit to the experimental data is used to extract the total thickness and interface location(s). The method has an axial spatial resolution of 7 to 80 nm and provides comparable values to films measured by profilometry with an average 8% and 7% difference for the bilayer and trilayer films, respectively.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Design Techniques for Beam Waveguide Systems

Various design techniques used for beam waveguide (BWG) feed systems are characterized. These include the use of gaussian beam, geometrical optics, and physical optics systems. Also introduced is a new technique based upon a conjugate phase matching focal plane technique. Advantages, disadvantages, and range of applicability of each technique is given, In addition, comparisons of computed and measured results from each type of design are presented.

beam↗